Chapter Text
POV: Ashley McIntosh
*Beep!*
*Beep!*
The heart rate monitor signalled I was still alive. Waking up in a hospital bed wasn't surprising, especially considering my last memories involved nearly dying. I patted my chest, checking to see if there was still a hole where I’d stabbed myself. “We found your arm,” Aki commented stoically. He sat in a chair next to my bed, slicing the skin off an apple.
“Oh yeah. I forgot I lost it.” I raised my arm, seeing a bandage wrapped tightly around my shoulder.
“I guess it reattached itself when you got a blood transfusion. You really are a devil,” the top-knotted devil hunter added, his voice tinged with quiet malice.
“For someone who claims to hate all devils, I’m surprised you even considered forming a contract with one.” I lay back on the bed, turning away from him to get comfortable.
“That’s just how devil hunters fight. I’m contracted to the Fox Devil. In exchange for borrowing its power, I feed it part of my body. That’s the deal.” He rolled up his sleeve, revealing fresh bandages on his forearm. “This time, I fed it some skin.”
“Wish I had something like that... but I’ll take my regeneration and speedy recovery any day.” I glanced at his wound, then turned back with a fake yawn.
“Devils desire human death. Always. Fiends are the same.” His continued lecturing grated on me, so I turned back again.
“I hate ’em too, just like anyone else. Power’s different. Sure, she’s a pain in the ass, but at least she looks half-human and can be reasoned with. She kills other devils, that’s good enough for me.” I pushed myself upright, facing him fully.
“Security footage confirms the three of you left your patrol area. There was also a large amount of Isaac’s blood in the building where we believe the Bat Devil was hiding. You almost got killed by the Blood Fiend, didn’t you?” His glare cut through my attempts at indifference. “I’ve read your file. Your father was killed by the Gun Devil. So why are you sympathising with a devil?”
“You-” My fist clenched. If he’d been closer, I might’ve grabbed him by the collar. I gritted my teeth, trying to choose my next words carefully. Dad... he’s right about that. No! Power’s different. A little. Thoughts churned in my head, clashing with what I’d said, what I believed, and what I felt. My expression faltered.
“If I dig deeper and report this to the higher-ups, you, Isaac, and the Blood Fiend you covered for will be put down.” Aki finished peeling the apple, cutting the slices into neat little rabbits and placing them on a plate. “But there were no casualties this time. So if you accept just two conditions, I’ll overlook it.”
He pushed the plate towards me, his idea of a peace offering. I reached for it, still tense from our clash, not eating yet. “What are they?”
“First, when I tell you to do something, you do it. Second, I’m not your ‘pal’ or ‘buddy’. Just because you share a quarter of my nationality doesn’t make us family.” His voice rose slightly, clearly more agitated by the second point.
“Sure. Which side of your family’s that from then? Uh, partner.” I took a bite from the apple, he sighed sharply at my question.
“Mother.” Aki stood up, heading for the door. “Learn to speak with more respect, and you might earn mine.” He gave me a parting glance as he walked out. The door screeched shut behind him.
POV: Isaac Clarke
"See? Told you I was innocent!" Power waved her cuffed hands, thrusting them towards Aki. "Now that you know it, get these things off me!" The fiend’s eagerness made Aki hesitate for a moment, but he eventually unlocked her cuffs.
*Click!*
"I'm surprised you're giving the fiend any leeway." I watched Power glare at Aki as she rolled down her sleeves, hiding the marks left by the handcuffs. The stoic man glared back before turning his attention to me.
"We’re Devil Hunters. We use every tool at our disposal to do our job, even devils and fiends." We sized each other up, tension still thick after what we’d just been through. "I’ve no intention of getting friendly with one." He turned to Power before walking away. "Make sure you’re both on time tomorrow. Makima wants the two of you to get devil contracts."
"Tomorrow?!" I blurted out. I wasn't sure if I was more shocked about getting a devil contract, the fact it was happening so soon, or that Makima had noticed our efforts. It felt like the Devil Hunter equivalent of a promotion! Considering we’d fought off multiple devils with our hybrid nature, this seemed like the natural next step anyway. Even after seeing so many grotesque or terrifying devils, I was still giddy at the thought. Especially if it was hand-picked by Makima. I couldn’t help but wonder how much she really had me in mind...
*The next day: 12:23 AM*
Makima guided us towards our potential contracts. We were deep underground, dark and dank air clinging to our skin in an oddly humid environment guarded on all sides. "How deep are we now?" I asked. We’d been switching between staircases and what could only be described as a makeshift elevator, a shoddy, giant metal box rattling down the shaft.
"Yeah, why does it have to take so long?" Ashley echoed, our impatience becoming more obvious than I’d have liked. Each step echoed across the vast underground prison. According to the book Makima had recommended 'The Demonology Series' hundreds of devils were kept here for their useful abilities. It apparently had over ten volumes.
"Around twenty feet now. The more feared and valuable devils are buried deeper, for safety reasons." Those foreboding words did little to comfort us. I guess there was a reason they called it 'The Devil’s Library'. I wondered who came up with that one. Eventually, we came to a stop. Two soldiers stood guard by a reinforced door.
"Miss McIntosh-" Makima began, before being interrupted.
"Please, Ashley is fine." The blonde gave her usual smile, once again insisting on being addressed by her first name.
"Of course. Ashley." Makima gestured to the guards, who began unlocking the door.
"Which one is behind this door-" Ashley stepped forward, trying to peek inside. Without warning, Makima placed a hand on her back and gently pushed her in. The door slammed shut behind her.
"It’s impolite to interrupt others," she said, voice calm and sweet as ever. She turned to me with a finger pressed lightly to her lips. I let out a quiet chuckle, half amused, half unsettled. I nodded silently in agreement. Though I was excited at the opportunity, I was still about to speak with a devil, sacrificing a part of myself in exchange for power. I just hoped Ashley would come out in one piece. I followed as Makima guided me to my devil contract.
POV: Ashley McIntosh
"Fuck! That- " I took a sharp breath, holding back the rest of my words. "I have to at least somewhat stay focused. Let’s just get this over with." I approached whatever devil was waiting for me. Vines and roots stretched across the floor, thick moss carpeting the ground. The air was noticeably even more humid, it smelled fresh with vegetation and earthiness. My footsteps shifted from the sound of hard concrete to the squelch of damp, bushy grass. A bed of flowers lay before me.
*Huuuuummmmmmm...*
A low, droning hum broke the silence as the creature rose from the floral bed. Roots, vines, leaves, and petals combined and moulded into a massive flower bud, blossoming to reveal its face or lack thereof? It was hard to describe. An ever-shifting form: one moment a feminine humanoid face, the next, just a mouth with rows of razor-sharp teeth. It was an unnerving sight, especially considering its colossal size. I was surprised it could even fit into this single room. "What is it you seek, human?" the devil asked, its voice menacing as it loomed over me, emphasising our size difference.
"A contract. What do you want in exchange for your power?" I figured being straightforward was the best way to get the conversation going. The ground erupted with roots that wrapped around my feet, locking me in place. It leaned in closer before answering.
"Good, no beating around the bush," it giggled, loosening its grip slightly. "I’m thinking..." It formed petals into finger-like shapes and stroked its face while humming in thought. "I’m thinking... your sense of smell, ten years of your lifespan, and your devotion to nature." Its features began to shift again.
"My lifespan? You know how long I’m going to live?" The terms only raised more questions. What kind of power did this devil possess? I didn’t even know its name.
"Not exactly. We devils draw power from more than just fear. Age empowers us as well. For humans, age is a countdown to death. For us, it’s a sign of strength." Its monologue caught me off guard, it was far more intelligent than any devil I’d encountered so far.
"Uh, sure. I accept." I tried to brush aside my fear. Ten years wouldn’t matter much as a devil hunter, most of us die young anyway. I’d already come to terms with that. As for my sense of smell and 'devotion to nature'? I wasn’t losing a limb, or gaining some horrible side effect. If it brought me one step closer to killing the Gun Devil, I’d take it. Even if it meant using the enemy’s resources.
"So eager. No bargaining? No further questions? I'm starting to understand why they sent you to me." The roots on my right side stretched further, reaching behind my ear. One root crawled just under the skin before burrowing back into the earth. A sharp pain followed, and blood began to trickle down my neck.
"What did you do to me?" I scratched at the spot. I could feel a small bud. It itched. Badly. I couldn’t shake the sensation.
"A little piece of me, left with you. For future discussions, should you wish..." The bud began to dig deeper. I think it was moving into my flesh. The bleeding got worse. The itching. The pain. I just wanted it to stop. I knew it was too good to be true. The feeling was unbearable, sickening.
"Get this out of me!" I shouted. Finally, the growth stopped. The bump remained, but the pain dulled, apart from the blood.
"By accepting my contract, the Floral Devil, you now hold the power to accelerate the life of any plant you touch. From seed to bloom to withering decay, it is all in your hands." The Floral Devil retreated back into the ground, leaving me only with the knowledge of my new abilities. At last, the door opened. I clutched my bleeding ear, stumbling toward the exit. I’m definitely asking more questions next time. I don’t want my body being violated like that ever again.
POV: Isaac Clarke
"See you on the other side." I waved at Makima as the door closed. She’d told me that I’d been assigned a more difficult devil to convince, one they’d kept locked away for a while, unable to get any devil hunters to form a contract with it. Its name had conveniently been left out. I had a feeling she enjoyed leaving us in the dark sometimes.
*Woof!*
A bark? Here? It didn’t sound aggressive. Maybe… a puppy? I stepped cautiously towards the noise. The room was small, but the lack of lighting made it hard to see. "Hello?" I called out, unsure of what I was walking into. Maybe it was something like the Dog Devil, but if so, why would that be such a challenge to contract?
*Lick! Woof!*
It licked me? As my eyes adjusted to the gloom, I could just make out its shape. It was orange? And fluffy, like a bundle of cotton balls. Most noticeably, a serrated blade was embedded in its forehead like some twisted unicorn horn. Its tail began wagging rapidly, clanking against the ground with a heavy, metallic sound. Upon trying to pet the little thing, I noticed a weird handle on its back. At first I thought it was a collar, but no, it was a handle. Like something you'd find on a bucket or a door. Between the bizarre colour, the blade, the handle…This was no ordinary dog.
*Click! Clack!*
It sat down, staring at me with wide, googly eyes. Its tail continued to beat against the floor. "Well, what is it you want, little buddy?" I patted its head, hoping to calm the hyperactive pup. Suddenly, a sharp prick pierced my palm. An excruciating headache followed, crashing over me like a tidal wave. Epiphanies, memories not my own, rushed through my head. My mind flooded with knowledge and strange factoids. I dropped to my knees. And… and I...
"Hello, Clarke." A deep, rumbling voice cut through the chaos in my head. It silenced the pain. It was an ethereal voice. Intimidating. Something you’d expect from a demon. "I looked deep into your memories, and your future. I believe you are worthy of my power." I looked up. The voice… was coming from the dog?
"What? How are you speaking?" Its mouth didn’t move. It just tilted its head like any normal dog would.
"I speak telepathically. I hear your thoughts. You currently hold a small piece of me." I gasped. I tried to steady my mind, as if I could filter my thoughts, but it was no use. "I would like to know your dreams." Dreams? Was this really a devil? Compared to the Bat or Leech Devils, this one could reason, question, talk.
"If you looked into my memories, don’t you already know?" I asked aloud. it barked once before replying.
"I want to hear it from you. What do you believe you’re working towards?" The voice didn’t match its appearance at all. But then, who was I to judge the blade-dog?
"As a devil hunter? It’s a bit hard to explain." I paused. "I was forced into it. But the thing that’s kept me going, I guess…" Why had I continued? What gave me hope? What made me wake up each morning, knowing it could be my last?
"What’s your reason for becoming a devil hunter, Isaac?" Aki’s words echoed in my mind. How could I forget? It was always her. The beautiful Miss Makima. She’d pulled me out of debt. Given me a purpose. A job. A place to stay. I wanted to work with her. Earn her affection. Her elegance… her seductive mystery… I couldn’t put it into words. But I needed her.
"As cheesy as it sounds, I want to find true love… and protect the people I care about." Whether it was Makima, Ashley, Power, even Aki, I didn’t want them to die. I’d left high school early. Left my parents. I was chasing a dream, even if it wasn’t exactly what I’d imagined.
"Understood. We may begin forming our contract." Its confirmation solidified my decision. I nodded. "I shall help you achieve those dreams. In return, you shall bear my burden, as the Chainsaw Devil." I opened my hand. It placed its paw on my palm.
"I accept, Chainsaw Devil." It leapt forward, driving its blade straight into my chest. Tearing through clothes. Skin. Flesh. Piercing directly into my heart, like paper to a knife.
"I shall remain contained within your heart." The blood loss hit me like a wave. My heart burned. The Chainsaw Devil’s words echoed in my mind. And then, darkness.