Title:  Demons Don't Feel, but Humans do
By:  Metis
E-mail  m_metis@hotmail.com
Rating:  PG-13
Comments:  Some elements have been changed

Demons Don't Feel, But Humans Do




"You've got another customer."


Standing, Dante's silvery hair glistened fervently in the evening moon. It gave him the surreal aspect of a deadly angel. He lips tugged at the thought. An angel...

Trish watched all this with a trained eye. There was something odd about Dante--his usually deadly eyes were glazed with an emotion she couldn't quite place. She stiffened. At times, Trish felt intimidated by the young man's towering ominous form. Sure, they'd worked together many times, but that guaranteed her little given the fact he was a demon. Or rather say, part demon.

Dante trudged on methodically, not troubled by Trish's sudden string of silence.  She knew well he found conversations rather dull, and more often than not, she'd been smart enough to back off when he had thrown the right signals.  

He glanced at her through long shaggy bangs.  She was in a rather pensive mood--perhaps...

Shaking his head, Dante peered warily at his surroundings.  A cementary.  Not the best place to be at midnight--or at any time.  Especially when Dante's demon half seemed to give off a certain scent, pinpointing his location to enemy marionettes.

His ears picked up a faint trace of rustling leaves.  He paused.  Trish continued on, oblivious to the noise which only Dante's sensitive ears could hear.  Eyes narrowing, he continued, hands taut against the holster of his gun.  

Realizing her partner was sagging further and further behind, Trish slowed her pace, all senses now at an extremely vigilant stage.  "Dante..." she began, "the exit's to our left."

Nodding, he stealthily veered off, careful not to snap any twigs or lash out violently at the wrong opponent.  Dante could feel Trish's confident presence behind him, and felt gladdened her slight show of uncertainty had passed.  

The two soon reached a bank surrounded by a thick canopy of trees.  Trish blinked harshly, begging her eyes to adjust easily to the darkness.  She knew well Dante's sight was far better than hers, and Trish hated more than anything to seem incompetent to others, so, being as stubborn as she was, she continued on, pretending she could see fine and dandy in the darkness.

Stopping suddenly, and fooled by Trish's act, Dante was a bit surprised at feeling a small weight bump into him.  He turned and gazed curiously at the lifeform, an inevitable smirk making its way to his face.

"You could have..."

"Shh--"

Dante's brow burrowed.  Had she heard something he hadn't?  Furthermore, in his impulsive berate, the demon mercenary hadn't realized he had been pinned into a rather awkward position by Trish.  

Though she stood almost a foot shorter, Trish was, no doubt, a strong woman.  What he puzzled over, however, was not only her strength, but how she'd managed to press him against the bark of a tree without his noticing it.

"Don't speak," she whispered softly, her voiced sensuously glazed, "they might hear you."

Dante felt himself nod somewhat numbly before an ear piercing screech cut through the darkness.  Trish, who was still unaccustomed to the thrashing screams of marionette victims, jerked abruptly.

The young man pulled her close, knowing full well that the chatter of her teeth, as well as the shaking of her limbs would beckon demons their way.

Trish, however, took little  note, as she was too busy trying to slow both her breathing and heart to a normal rate.  "Dante?" she asked, pressing closer to his chest.

"Are...Are you gonna fight them?"

Dante was astonished at her tone.  Glancing down at the small being cuddled in his arms, he realized for the first time the fear and vulnerability evident in Trish's eyes.  He shook the thoughts away.  Of course he would fight them.

"You can either stay or leave.  If you leave then don't bother coming back--I will no longer have a use for you."

Trish's eyes hardened, pulling away from Dante with a violent push, she plunged into the darkness bent on destroying any demon who came her way; whether it be marionettes...or Dante.

End of Chapter 1

Chapter 2 will be up in 2 or 3 days.

Thanks!