And now for something completely different.
Okay, this is basically me having fun and welcoming you along for the ride. If you've read my other stuff, you'll see a hodgepodge of ideas, themes etc. from my other stories. Personally, I think you're missing out if you don't give this story a chance while keeping an open mind. I'll try my best to make things understandable for those of you who don't know my other works or may not know about the Mother Earth Goddess (though I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything and indulged in artistic freedom in this area). Also, to avoid confusion, you should be aware the characters can speak to each telepathically or "feel" emotions, auras, different types of energy or power, etc.
To all the pagans out there, please remember I based much of this story on ancient mythology so no disrespect is intended as I added creative twists.
Due to the low number of readers and reviews, I may not finish this so you need to let me know if I should continue. I will post several chapters, then we'll see, alright?
I truly want you enjoy yourself so definitely let me know what you think or if I need to clear anything up in my endeavor to try make things understandable. Thanks!
Imaginary
I linger in the doorway.
An alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name.
Let me stay where the wind will whisper to me,
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story.
In my field of paper flowers and candy clouds of lullaby,
I lie inside myself for hours and watch my purple sky fly over me.
Don't say I'm not in touch with this rampant chaos - your reality.
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge,
The nightmare I built my own world to escape.
In my field of paper flowers and candy clouds of lullaby,
I lie inside myself for hours and watch my purple sky fly over me.
Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming,
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights.
Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming - the Goddess of imaginary light
In my field of paper flowers and candy clouds of lullaby,
I lie inside myself for hours and watch my purple sky fly over me
If you need to leave the world you live in,
Lay your head down and stay awhile.
Though you may not remember dreaming,
Something waits for you to breathe again
by Evanescence
Going Night Trippin
After the demonic assault on Nero and Kyrie, Vergil had left with Kyrie as they felt she should be removed from the scene. The demoness had been particularly vicious in its attempts to kill Kyrie in order to obtain Nero (snarling, he sure enjoyed giving the demon whore what she wasn't asking for) and none of the men wanted to take any chances on her safety. Heart breaking, Kyrie conceded to their wishes only after being reassured of Nero's well being.
Heart broken himself, Nero allowed Dante to watch over him as Kyrie was placed in Vergil's safekeeping. Though the thought rankled, Vergil had been the one who ultimately saved Kyrie and Nero felt in all fairness he should be grateful (the key word here being 'should'). He should be the one protecting her, not sitting here with Dante waiting for his rampaging devil to settle down. Telling himself to get a grip, he couldn't take in what had happened.
Did a DEMON seriously think he'd welcome any ... uh... amorous passes... or whatever that gross to max ... flirting?... advances?... was? Just thinking about it made him shudder. To add to his misery, he'd never forget the petrifying sight of Kyrie, with no regard for her own life (what else was new?), hurtling herself in the demon's path with Blue Rose in hand in front of Vergil as the bitch from Hell went for him.
First, Nero was enraged the demoness had gotten the drop on him by causing him to drop his gun. Second, he was damn glad Dante and Vergil had arrived in the nick of time when they sensed the demon attacking them. And third, he was worried (as in out of his mind with worry) for Kyrie who'd never used a gun in action before.
What the hell had she been thinking? Oh. Yeah. She hadn't been.
Diverting the demoness from Nero when he lost Blue Rose (he blazed red thinking about that one too), Kyrie had run so the filthy slut would go after her, breathing fire on her heels with jagged claws spread and hungry, greedy fangs wide open. Out of thin air Vergil had landed between it and Kyrie, calmly looking for an opening to strike. Backtracking, Kyrie had come to a standstill, shielding Vergil from the creature streaking toward him and had (unbelievably) fired off round after round until the chamber was empty.
He hadn't realized she'd scooped up Blue Rose on the run until he saw it in her hand. Nero could only guess Kyrie had been searching to somehow get the gun back to him.
Cringing under Blue Rose's merciless fury, the demon had skidded to halt and Vergil had instantly blurred forward with a blow so ferocious, he had spun the nasty thing close enough for Nero to get a solid hold. And, man, had Nero put his Devil Arm to good use until there was nothing left of that piece of slime.
Unfortunately, when Kyrie had been in mortal danger beyond his reach, Nero's Devil had gone berserk. Immersed in a frenzied red haze of hatred and terror for her, Nero couldn't quite recall how he'd utterly decimated the demoness. His Devil still continued to rage out of control as it threw a temper tantrum threatening to trigger his damned arm into demolishing a city block - hence Dante's babysitting detail.
...
Currently hanging out in a woodsy city park, Dante was doing his level best to put the kid at ease though he wasn't making much progress. Not that Dante blamed him. Who would? Nothing like a horny demon to scar you for life.
Ah... OK. Maybe not every demon. Just the ones... Shit. Never mind. Alright, time to change this stream of thought before he got in scalding water. He was bound to stick foot in mouth by cracking a joke which would surely set the kid off. Thinking about Nero's predicament and what he'd gone through made several tacky witticisms spring to mind aching to roll off his tongue which would be received as being in poor taste (oops, there he went again 'cause that demoness sure found Nero to her taste).
His lamentable sense of humor starting to get the better of him, Dante was searching for a safe topic when Nero suddenly went on alert. Feeling his intense concentration, Dante came to an arrest. "What gives?" he asked casually, casting out his senses without finding anything amiss.
"It's... It's Kyrie. She's flying under the radar on a bike." Shaking his head, Nero denied, "I can't be right. Kyrie doesn't drive. I mean, she rides with me but I'm picking up she's in the lead. And why can't get I hold of her? Kyrie wouldn't block me."
"She's with Vergil, remember? Bet ya two ways to Sunday he's providing the block since he wouldn't be wanting any unpleasant surprises jumping them from nowhere. Seems he left a special opening for you. Thoughtful of him, don't ya think?" Dante reminded him.
Nero's brows drew together, "Yeah, Vergil." Simply saying Vergil's name had his arm erupting in a white blue blaze as Kyrie with Blue Rose in hand with tears streaming down her cheeks exploded in his mind's eye. Immediately he looked at his ferociously flaring incandescent hand, then at Dante.
"Hit me. Hard," he demanded.
Thoughts elsewhere, Dante was taken off kilter by the non-sequitur. When he sounded a confused, "Huh?" Nero motioned to his flaming arm, scowling, "You said you'd help me with this. So hit me."
"Oh, right," Dante replied mildly before granting a hard fist to Nero's request. Slammed to the ground with a jarring impact, he distantly heard Dante chide, "Bad demon. Bad demon. Naughty, naughty little devil. Down boy. You ballistic twit."
Nearly blacking out, Nero gave a groaning laugh of pain as his devil retreated with its tail between its legs - though it did growl a bit at the rough manhandling.
Hauling Nero upright by his now powered down arm, Dante steadied him. "Where're they going? Come on kid. Snap out of it and give me some directions." At Dante's command, Nero groggily fought to connect with Kyrie through their bond.
"Crap the block's tough to breach. Wait. I'm getting something. I'm picking up something weird through Kyrie. And she's headed straight for it like it was a beacon." Growing anxious, Nero tried to explain, "She's being drawn there. I don't sense evil. I feel... I don't know what. It's some kind of tingling power I haven't come across. If I take a stab in the dark, I'd say it's kinda in keeping with the magic you use Dante. Is there a type of energy, or magic, that's sorta... like, more... natural?"
Shaking his head with his hair fluttering in the breeze, he pleaded in dread, "I can't be right. Magic's got to be conjured by someone, right? Not a vacant area in the middle of nowhere - 'cause from what I see, she's on a deserted road. Or am I wrong? Please Dante. Tell me I'm wrong and no one, or nothing's out there hiding, wielding magic enthralling Kyrie."
Perturbed, Dante didn't like his answer. If Vergil was with Kyrie, wouldn't he be feeling the same thing as Nero? And if not, why? From Nero's fumbling attempt to clarify what he was picking up, they could be talking elemental magic, which was dicey at best and worldwide catastrophic devastation at worst. With this in mind, he went on high alert. Without answering his question which Dante knew wouldn't go over too well, he asked Nero bluntly, "Does the source feel feminine or masculine?"
Confused, Nero answered, "Huh? You want me to look for what? What for?" As Dante gazed unblinkingly at him as still as a panther studying his prey, Nero shivered a bit under his unreadable predatory stare before prodding his senses further into the energy field Kyrie was entering. "Alright. I'll try. I could be wrong but I'd say it has a feminine feel mixed with a lesser male spirit."
Fearfully, Nero thought about their female enemy. Maybe this was, or had been, like, her homebase, and she'd had a male partner in crime.
Not quite thinking along the same lines as Nero but likewise alarmed, Dante gripped him by the shoulder to ease his own power into his to see and feel what Nero was talking about. Concern for Kyrie overrode Nero's attention and he unconsciously grabbed hold of the additional surge of energy to sharpen the lens on her and the area she was in.
Together they saw a brilliant night sky fraught with brilliant stars and thick forests whipping by. There! With the location made clear they knew where she was and where she was heading. Luckily she wasn't too far.
Reeling from working to maintain contact, Nero staggered while yanking Dante's coat urgently, "You gotta go to her Dante. I'm begging you. I can't... Agh!" Suppressing the yell of frustration, there was no way he could endanger Kyrie without knowing for certain if he would be attacked again. Catching this, Dante didn't hesitate.
Telling Nero a bracingly confident, "I'm on it kid. You stay cool and I'll stay in touch. Ya got a grip on me?" Dante turned with a sweep of his coat to hit the road.
Somewhat reassured, Nero nodded as he pressed a palm to his throbbing temple, "Yeah, I got ya."
...
While Dante throttled his bike to full gear, Kyrie was pulling off the road and as close to the trees as possible.
"Kyrie, do you not think this is a strange place to stop?" Vergil asked behind her, wondering if he should take control. In order to help get Kyrie's mind off her recent ordeal, he'd been guiding her. Though he wasn't as into riding motorcycles as Dante, he had discovered a sense of freedom in borrowing one of his bikes to cruise this particular stretch of road. He hoped to share this feeling with Kyrie as her emotions spoke of sorrow she was trapped in a world of violence.
Vergil wanted to remind her there was restful beauty alongside those moments of stressful uncertainty. This had proved effective since Kyrie was openly relieved to have something else to focus on and had rapidly learned to drive as the ride filled her with exhilaration.
Struggling to control his fury toward the demon attacking Kyrie and his horror when he saw her move to protect him (out of anyone, anywhere, for hell's sake), Vergil had been pleased his tactic worked but wasn't too pleased he'd let his vigilance relax to the point of letting her slip under his guard. Again, he inwardly cursed. As if in a trance, she had gotten off the bike and walked toward the forest. Fluidly sliding a leg over the motorcycle, he glided to block her path.
Startled, Kyrie stopped before she ran into him. "What is it Vergil? I merely wish to see what is behind these trees," she assured him soothingly.
Glancing around while casting out his senses, Vergil felt peculiar vibes from the land before them. They were strange and elemental which meant much power abounded here. "No Kyrie. I do not believe that would be prudent," he answered decisively.
"But why? It feels good here. I can tell. I can hear the trees and land speaking to me," she informed him serenely.
Instantly, Vergil went into alert mode. Was this a trap set for Kyrie? Although he could detect no evil, evil could be masked, especially if elemental magic was at work. Cautiously probing deeper, Vergil sensed the vast well of power lay dormant and he did not want in any way to trigger a call to battle. Extending his silent cursing, Vergil had no illusions he would emerge the victor - if possible. He had no protection specially designed to combat this magic.
To him there was a simple solution. They should leave at once and get as far away as fast as possible. Of course, while he thinking, Kyrie would touch one of the trees. Berating himself, Vergil realized he'd forgotten to tell her not to touch anything - not the slightest leaf or blade of grass.
With trepidation, Vergil readied himself as a glowing light appeared under her hand and Kyrie felt the tree rouse. She gave a soft laugh in delight as she could feel the land around her begin to stir and awaken. It murmured great mysteries of nature to her and she felt its glorious timelessness.
The light began to spread rapidly much to Vergil's alarm and before he could react, Kyrie was swept up by the trees to be handed to and fro between them until gently setting her upon the ground in the middle of the grove - beyond his grasp. Moreover, he didn't dare enter what he clearly sensed was a circle of protection in fear they'd both be trapped inside.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Kyrie felt a force rise up from the earth and into her. Filled to the brim, she thought she would've been fearful of this frothing invasion of intense power thrusting into her cells. Instead she felt a rejoicing bubbling sensation as a mixture of fire, water, air and earth tightened around her to meet the fountain rushing upward through her. The basic elements met what she recognized as a natural power mingling with her spirit.
With a tremendous surge, the two forces embraced, using her as a conduit. The light of creation blasted forth from the inside out, flooding foliage which rustled in joy, leaped to dazzling life and burst into blinding colors. In addition to this amazement, instantly an invisible to the naked eye, shimmering veil became an impenetrable barrier around the circle.
Thrown back by the protective shield, Vergil stumbled to catch his balance. The expanding light became so bright, he had to hold a hand in front of his eyes. When he lowered his hand, he was stunned to see Kyrie laughing lightheartedly.
Crowned in flowers intertwined with oak leaves and adorned in a radiant gold gown, Kyrie held a cup in one hand and a wand in the other with a silver carved harvesting knife hanging at her waist. He watched in wonder as a crystal clear spring rose up behind her and animals of all sorts, from birds to deer to predators, came to her.
Attempting to remain calm Vergil heard, as did a blissful Kyrie, whispers riding the air exclaiming excitedly, "The Goddess has answered our slumbering call. A young sorceress or enchantress has come. And a witch to care for us as well. Come. Look. Behold. Could the Mother have blessed us with one so precious she can be taught the role of a high priestess?"
Bedazzled by the display, Vergil could only stare in astonishment as he had heard and read of these places called sacred groves. In truth, he had thought them mere flights of fancy dreamed up by mortals' wishful longings. As much as he wished he was dreaming, based on what he heard, he was now in a position where he had to search his data bank to discern the differing rites a Mother Earth Goddess sacred site practiced.
Bloody hell. An apt phrase if this was a sacred site thirsty for a life's blood sacrifice to fully restore it to burgeoning health.
Completely understanding they were in a tenuous spot, Vergil swiftly gathered together the situation and everything he knew to find the right equation to sum up this problem. Well, at least he'd solve the mystery why he, himself, had felt a sense of tranquility whenever he traveled near this region. Hopefully, this was a positive sign this was a positive force of nature not easily roused to violent fits of temper (or devastating earthquakes).
From his studies, if he recalled correctly, those who worshiped nature claimed Mother Earth, which they named as a goddess, gathered all to her bosom to share in her bounty, yet earth's incomprehensible, alien consciousness did not see tectonic upheaval as the disasters mankind did.
From using magic and his power on a consistent basis, Vergil didn't discount the theory the earth had an unfathomable awareness. He understood the science stating everything was encased within an electromagnetic field he conceded could possibly be the very soul of every living thing. Combined with the physical elements of earth, wind, fire and air, those with talent or knowledge could utilize them for various purposes and magic.
Carefully, he went over the different rituals and practices of high priestesses, sorceresses and witches (the wise women others sought guidance from, midwives gifted in childbirth, kitchen witches versed and drawn to home, hearth and gardening, etc.) as they celebrated the different cycles of death and rebirth, the changing seasons and blessings.
In addition, he thought of how sorceresses used the earth's power, witches were able to conjure magic through spells added to tools of the trade, and a talented few priestesses could do both in manipulating the forces swirling throughout the Human World.
Though he was far more familiar with the "dark" forces, like the "light" forces, they could be used for either good or evil, regardless how much practitioners of the white arcane arts protested otherwise. He also knew those of the light had long proclaimed "vortexes" made up of pure elements and the strongest soul energy located in different parts of the world were only found in the human realm. While he'd once doubted their claims, he didn't dare doubt the evidence he was sensing and seeing before him.
According to legend, because the Demon World was beneath the surface, the Human World had full access to this power as it breathed the elements of crisp air, fresh water, rich soil, clean fire and basked under the wholesome natural sun and moon. If this was one of the very special vortexes of energy white sorceresses, priestesses and witches proclaimed as real, its potential for destruction or creation was immeasurable and unimaginable.
And Vergil didn't want to get on this sacred grove's bad side. Heart lodged in throat, he was certain Kyrie had been purposely placed in the center of a grove containing the heart of the land.
From what he'd read or been told, she'd be near the ever present, irreplaceable, to be guarded at all cost, Sacred Oak he couldn't see. Praying he'd gotten his facts straight, Vergil took an educated guess the huge, long lived, oak tree would be a passive bridge between the earth's power and magical elements the same way Kyrie had been seized as an active bridge between them to awaken the grove.
Why did I not sense the elemental power before? Vergil internally bemoaned. Even if asleep or passive, he should have been able to recognize the residual lingering of a power this vast. It was unlike him to accept a change in emotions caused by an area. Realizing he was used to swiftly noting a change in the air denoting the taint of evil, he had purposely opted to accept his sense of contentment provided by this land at face value.
Further kicking himself, he also realized this particular domain of the Mother Goddess had felt Kyrie's inherently gentle yet protective nurturing nature and purity of spirit while tapping into her recently acquired powerful (and, yes, often magical), talents after her horrific past trial in being submerged in demonic power inside the disgusting "Savior" statue. After this night's events, in her present state of mind Kyrie had been seeking solace. The land must have felt her and made itself irresistible for her to ignore.
Surveying the circle of protection, he recalled whereas he could not enter, she could leave without hindrance - maybe. "Kyrie," he called calmly, "Can you hear me?"
She turned to him on bare feet with a brilliant smile alighting her entire body. "Yes Vergil," she answered with awe, "Isn't this fabulous? I never knew a place like this existed."
"I was thinking exactly the same myself," he replied smoothly. Then he asked mildly, "Do you think it wise to remain in such a magical place of power?" phrasing his question so as not to offend the mystical beings he was sure were guarding and hiding the mighty Oak.
"But Vergil, I feel great peace and joy, not to mention a strong sense of protection and safety here," she told him. Of that he had no doubt - he was fearful the grove may decide to keep her.
He sought to phrase his request properly, "Truly a marvel, yet I feel, now that you have brought life to this miraculous, lovely grove, perhaps it would be best if you came to me." In other words, "Come to me NOW," he projected to her mentally.
Nodding graciously, Kyrie regretfully, carefully, placed the cup and wand on a glittering boulder near the stream and began to move forward. Immediately she was surrounded by peaceful felines and deer. Laughing in delight, she stroked them as they vied for her attention.
The huge cats purred, the deer nuzzled her and Vergil blanched.
"Look Vergil! The predators do not hunger for the prey and the prey are unafraid of the predators. Isn't this the most wonderful thing in the world?" she exclaimed.
"Kyrie, you know this is not the way of the world. In the real world, the hunger for prey is part of the natural cycle of life," he told her as a matter of fact.
In pensive understanding, she nodded as she continued to pet each new animal as it arrived, whether horse or squirrel. "So, I am, therefore, in a dream? An unnatural world?" she asked him sadly.
Striving not to wince, Vergil didn't think the magical beings of this realm would take too kindly to being called unnatural - and he was correct. As he feared, two shimmering, majestic shapes appeared and solidified as they flowed from within the trees. Damnation, he thought, What should I say or do?
A female and male regally clothed and made splendid by various natural ornaments, came to stand in front of him behind the impassable elemental forcefield. Physical manifestations of the Sacred Oak, he could tell the female was the most powerful, though the male was no slouch, as Dante would say, either.
The resplendent woman in the forefront held herself in such a way Vergil knew she was the primary elemental embodiment representing the magical grove, which must make the man, who was as spectacular as she, the necessary balancing male element. Therefore he deduced they reigned as guardians - meaning any perceived threat was an instantly annihilated threat.
Arriving at the conclusion good manners never hurt (they certainly worked to Kyrie's advantage many times), he performed a graceful, polite bow. Though they nodded in pleased acknowledgment of his show of esteem, the elemental guardians retained a stern demeanor.
"You would remove the youthful priestess who can become a living vessel for the Goddess when she has only arrived after we have waited many long seasons for one such as her? You also have the temerity to imply we are unnatural?" The female elemental made her questions an imperial warning. Much to his heightening alarm, her dulcet voice resonated throughout Vergil and the entire area, which was much, much larger than he thought.
Referring to herself in the third person as a queen representing her entire country would, she was proclaiming she was in fact made of the elements themselves and a force of nature not to trifled with. Literally forcing his heart to beat a normal rhythm, Vergil was going to have to tread very, very carefully if he didn't want to incur the mystical beings' wrath - and he definitely did not.
"I sincerely beg your pardon. The young one is under my protection and I have the honor of her safekeeping. Please forgive me if I in anyway offended you. If so, my offense was due to ignorance as I have never beheld ones such as yourselves," Vergil made his voice beguiling and beautifully serene while holding a note of deference.
"Ah," she said delighted, "Behold, my dearest, a most unusual Noble Lord pays us homage."
"Yes my beloved. I see this as well. A most unusual one to be sure. In addition, he is a warrior of power and well versed in the magical arts." The male's deep voice resonated as strongly as the female's.
Unsurprised they could see this in him, Vergil was a bit concerned they would discover something he had no wish for them to find. Doubly glad he hadn't tread on the hallowed ground, he didn't know how they responded to devils and he had no desire to find out. Based on the unnatural (in his experience) peaceful surroundings, he surmised they wouldn't respond too well. From this premise, he lowered his guard as much as possible without being rude.
Speedily, he came up with an idea he hoped would cause them to accept his mixed heritage - because at this rate, as the saying goes, they weren't going to be left in the dark long.
Standing gracefully confident, he suggested, "If I may be so forward, I believe it would behoove us both if you were to speak to the young woman of talent who has caught your interest. Much to my chagrin, we came upon you while unaware of your slumbering. If we had known, I would have returned with more knowledge on how to proceed in this situation."
And he would have. After memorizing up-to-date techniques employed by a bomb squad and wearing a haz-mat suit in protection against radiation fallout in the unlikely event of accidentally detonating this unstable chemical explosive, Vergil was too curious to pass by something of this magnitude without studying it in-depth. What he didn't say, and buried as deep as he could, was he wouldn't have returned with Kyrie.
Gambling her guileless, tender heart and purity of spirit would please them, he counted on her genius use of truth, manners and loyalty to help him reclaim her because there was little chance on doing so by force. Approving his grace and proper respect, they took his advice and turned to Kyrie.
Kyrie was overwhelmed as the resplendent beings approached her. She instantly went into her most graceful, respectful, deepest bow as she waited for them to acknowledge her. Vergil breathed a sigh of relief when he sensed how thrilled they were by her admiration and courtesy. "Please," assured the female guardian, "There is no need for one of your worth to bow to ones such as us."
Kyrie replied a lovely, "I humbly beg to differ. In awaking this fantastical land, my soul felt the fabric upon which life, hope and dreams are made. I'm certain of it. Being magical entities of superlative beauty and mysticism, I must afford you the recognition due your rarity and value. I rejoice in your existence and am blessed to have helped you in my small way. " The guardians of the grove were overcome by her sincere amazed joy.
And that easily, Kyrie had them where Vergil wanted them.
Gesturing to a verdant log inviting her to sit beside the them, the female elemental asked Kyrie, "May we speak with you about certain matters we wish to address?"
"Of course," Kyrie replied graciously as she sat in a composed ladylike fashion upon the log, as regal as the magical beings. Evidently completely at peace and at ease with them, Vergil wasn't certain if this was a good or bad sign of things to come.
The female guardian motioned to Vergil asking, "This one says you are in his safekeeping. Is this true?"
As Kyrie's eyes grew golden when they fell on him, a warmth melted through Vergil at the affection he saw in them. "Yes," she answered with feeling.
The male spoke up, "Then he is your protector? Does he speak for you?"
Vergil groaned inwardly, Must he phrase his question in such a way? He had been hoping he or she would ask if they should speak to directly to him since Kyrie was unknowledgeable in this subject.
Kyrie quietly told them, "An honorable, mighty warrior, Vergil is my special friend, mentor and counselor. His words are most wise. I listen to him carefully and follow his directions to the best of my abilities." Heartened, Vergil's attention sharpened.
"Yet we feel your sorrow in relation to him," the female began.
Good God, I had no idea they were this astute, Vergil mentally started as he stiffened.
"Can you explain this? We will be most happy to protect you if you have need."
Needing proctection from me? Do not think so. Feeling helpless and not liking it one bit, Vergil couldn't stop the, Surely these beings would not force her to stay within their realm? Cautiously stilling in readiness, he felt the female veiw him suspiciously as she heard him. Rising fluidly, she glided to stand before him. Distantly, Vergil wondered if she was floating as her swirling colors, entrapping, eyes met his dangerous, lightened, cobalt blue ones.
"You would be wise not to interfere Noble Lord. We will forgive your ignorance of our nature to a certain extent. You should know we clearly perceive the churning darkness within you and find your fierce predator distressing. Do you heed my words?"
Narrowing his eyes, Vergil heard the threat beneath her tranquil tone. Not about to be intimated (even if by something that could eradicate him before he could blink), he languidly shifted inconspicuously into a casual defense stance. Letting her know how much Kyrie and her safety meant to him, he returned a warning of his own as he purred silkily, "I heed you and understand. Though difficult, I will attempt to restrain myself from interrupting your discussion with the precious one under my guard."
Gaze widening at first, the woman, if he could call her so, then narrowed hers to match his, "You are bold. Do not make the mistake of becoming tiresome as well."
Hearing the exchange and sensing a possible storm brewing, Kyrie hurried to intervene on Vergil's behalf. As she pacified them, he was surprised the entire land, and everything else, responded to her. Not only did the mystical beings sigh in contentment so did the plants and animals.
"Wait. You do not understand his own distress. You see, Vergil saved my life tonight from a hideous creature. At great risk to himself, he struck a mighty blow to fling it from me. Afterward, he soothed my mind and heart when I did something so repugnant to my nature, he was fearful I was hurt. In seeking to bring me solace, he took me to this region since this land brought him a peace he wished to share with me."
Caught off balance, Vergil was hit by a dizzying, nerve quivering wave of power in praise for a job well done from within the circle. Steadying himself while attempting to rapidly assimilate the giddy brew, he refocused to hear the female comforting, "And what did you do he feared would hurt you?" Sadness enveloped Kyrie as she sank into silence and the animals gathered close to her consolingly encouragement to talk to them.
Burying her dainty hands in the thick fur of a lioness, she lowly confessed, "I used Blue Rose to ward off the creature attacking Vergil. I had never purposely caused harm before. Even if evil, I could feel its pain, but I couldn't allow a vile demon of the netherworld to injury or possibly murder him."
Reflecting her sorrow these horrible abominations existed, the elementals, foliage and animals did what they could to ease her suffering. Reassuring her she had done nothing wrong in defending an innocent (taken aback, Vergil certainly didn't see himself as "innocent"), she had used precisely the correct tool to defend him.
Brows drawing together, Vergil sensed they didn't understand Blue Rose wasn't actually a blue rose. Ah... Best not to enlighten them, he concluded.
After awhile, Kyrie explained softly, "Vergil actively hunts and destroys these atrocities wherever he finds them. As you can imagine, if he makes the smallest mistake, he would suffer the torments of the damned. You should know he has already experienced this ordeal and I couldn't allow him to do so again. I'm sorry he feels he failed us by not arriving earlier to dispatch the vile one himself."
Thrown into a another warm, head spinning, nerve quivering wave, Vergil was rewarded with a stare of awe and admiration, though this time he beheld a regret he should face a heinous duty. Shaken and stirred, he heard the male speak, "Indeed, this Noble Lord is made worthier of his stature in assuming the role of a warrior of valor. Though strange to us, I understand now we should not judge him by the darkness within him. Courageous warriors often confront terrible deeds they must punish. The knowledge of these deeds, along with eliminating the evil perpertrating them, leaves dark scars within those with honor."
Glad he was no longer tottering on the precarious edge of obliteration, Vergil sent, "You have my gratitude and I am in your debt, Kyrie. Now will you come to me?" Unfortunately, the beings heard his unspoken plea.
"We hear and feel your councilor's call. We understand as we are strange to you. However, we have waited long for one such as you to reawaken us. Would you leave us to wither and sleep again?" the female proclaimed, "Your ability to penetrate his inherently strong private shielding to perceive his chagrin confirms our belief in your remarkable insight rarely seen in mortals. Would you turn away from us in our time of need?"
When Kyrie remained quiet as she searched to understand what they desired of her, the female grew thoughtful in how to solve this dilemma. Arriving at a solution, she exchanged a significant, meaningful look with her male counterpart who nodded in agreement. Glancing in Vergil's direction, she mused, "Perhaps you would be agreeable to using a most powerful virile vessel conveniently near to aid you in aiding us."
Lost in his thoughts, wondering if he'd ever get used to Kyrie's ability to sense his emotions so easily, Vergil suddenly became aware of an intense scrutiny coming his way. Swiftly searching out the source, he saw the female elemental's speculative gaze change to a gleam he immediately recognized and did not welcome. Barely standing firm, his flesh crawled as he was examined like a tray of delectable deserts.
"My. Perhaps you have earned the right to your boldness. We see your unwavering will and impressive stamina combined with the heady power embedded within you. Your darkness reaches for the young priestess' purity and light which speaks highly of your noble nature. As the night balances day, if you are willing to embrace her radiance, our precious land could be restored to full health."
Oh NO. Vergil did not misunderstand what the elemental magical being was suggesting - and she (or the Sacred Oak ) wanted HIM to help (if he could call it that) Kyrie rejuvenate and make the earth fertile.
This wasn't going as planned or anywhere he conceived of. Egads. Wrong word. He was SO not going there. That would be...
Gack! How was he going to explain there was no chance of such a... er... highly inappropriate... not EVEN to be considered... unnatural (and he was sticking to that term regardless of what the mystical beings' thought) act?