Darkest Cold Chapter 2
"Here is fine." Ailie told the parents when they had reached an rusty iron gate with an old patina sign that read:
H.J. Wales Orphanage
Est. 1906
"The gate's broken," She explained. "Most of the other kids just go through that old trail, it snakes all the way around to the grounds line." She pointed to a faded old tract of dirt that wound into the thin tree line.
"I assume you take a different route." Vergil said.
"I just jump the wall." She said. "It's easier than picking my way over sticks and roots and stones and whatnot in the forest."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Vergil's mom, a blonde haired hazel-eyed woman named Eva asked/
"Nah," Ailie said dismissively. "It's not that high. Besides, it never feels dangerous."
Vergil snickered.
"Somehow that does not surprise me." He said as Ailie got out.
"Thank you for the ride home." She told them and closed the door. They watched as she walked up to the wall and threw her bag over first, watching as it flew over the top and disappeared on the other side. She backed up about ten feet and then took a running start, jumping at the last second, and the toes of her combat boots hooking into a hole in the stone that supported the iron, her fingers closing over the lip. She hauled herself upward and when she was standing securely at the top, she turned and waved at them before jumping down the other side.
"She could give Dante lessons." Vergil commented. "Not that he would listen."
"She seems nice, there's no way she's a criminal." Eva said as they drove away. "What do you think Sparda?"
"It is not our place to say." The Dark Knight replied. "Son, what really happened today?"
"He threw the first punch as I tried to move her out of the way, she wouldn't budge, and it was like she wanted to get hit. Anyways, he missed, and then she swung and missed. I finally manage to move her away and I get hit. After that I don't remember much, it moved pretty quickly at that point. I fo remember Andorra managed to punch him in the nose."
"Ah. You said it was not your blood you have streaked throughout your hair…"
"I assume ti must be Jons." Vergil replied. "He did have a compound fracture to his femur, although that didn't seem to stop him."
"The principal thought it was strange you didn't have a mark on you." Eva said. "How did you explain that?"
"Andorra was the main target, not me."
"Okay, now that's twice you've called her Andorra. I thought her name was Ailie." His father looked at him through the car's rear-view mirror.
"Andorra is her first name; Ailie is a nickname she prefers to go by."
"Hmm, the principal said her last name was Darke…I know that name sounds familiar."
"She certainly looks like someone I used to know," Eva said. "But I can't place where from or who.
Silence then filled the vehicle and lasted until they got home.
-B-R-E-A-K-
By the time Vergil had showered and dressed, it was no later than 11:30. Deciding he had nothing else to do today, he went out into the hallway to the sword cabinet and carefully removed the keepsake Katana his father had given him when he was no more than six. Yamato seemed to be waiting for him, it hummed though his skin at the idea of a training session.
"Yes, an entire afternoon." He muttered as he left the house.
Hours later, Vergil was thinking of retiring when he heard a shrill whistle from behind him. He turned to see the silhouette of his brother across the meadow they often practiced in.
You've been misinformed." Vergil told his brother as soon as he had teleported beside him.
Why do you get the cool teleportation powers?" Dante grumbled. "I could use them so much better…"
"Yes, for sneaking into the girl's locker rooms and watch them change…you are a pervert Dante."
"Why'd you do it?"
"Huh? Do what?"
"Ugh, fight with Jon!"
Vergil sighed and cast his younger twin a sideways glance. They were dressed similarly, only Dante was wearing black leather pants and red vest , where Vergil's were both blue. Dante had no shirt-sleeves as well. His silver-white hair was hanging disheveled in his face hiding his cerulean eyes, but not the cocky grin he always had on his face.
"I did not start the fight. I tried to prevent it."
"Aw, for once I thought you were cool." Dante mocked. "Anyways, I heard the new girl was involved, broke his leg or something."
"Compound fracture to his right femur." Vergil clarified.
"That explains the bounty Mary Jo put out on her; it could screw with his scholarship at the end of the year.
"That pixie-headed rail-thin bitch shall not lay a hand on her!" Vergil said vehemently, causing Dante to stop and stare at him.
"Dude, what's got your underwear in a wad?"
"Andorra was only trying to defend herself."
"Andorra? I though her name was different."
"She does go by Ailie, but Andorra is her first name." Vergil replied. "What are the details on the bounty?"
"Oh, M.J. just wants to beat the crap out of her, show her whose boss."
"She will lose that fight."
"Yep, I think so too."
-B-R-E-A-K-
"Dante's turn this week so I'm assuming-"
"Let's go t Daom's Place this week." Dante interrupted. "There's a new band coming out from 1113 tonight since their school burned down."
"Oh, what the name of this band?"
"Priestess." Dante said. "They're only doing cover songs tonight, it's only a five song set, it won't take long."
"You don't have to beg," Eva said with a chuckle. "We're going. Do you think Ailie will be there?"
"Why would she?" Dante asked.
Because she is from 1113, dunce." Vergil replied.
"Don't call me a dunce you dill-hole!"
"Cuntscab." Vergil threw out one of Dante's favorites.
"Oh yeah? Queerbait!"
"Fucktard."
"Boys!" Eva was appalled.
"He started it!" Both boys said in unison.
"I don't care! Where did you learn to speak that way?"
"School." Dante replied simply. "Does that mean you'll take us out so we don't learn any more bad habits?" He asked hopefully.
"You wish son," Sparda replied. "Just, do not use that kind of language in front of you mother again."
"Yes sir." They replied.
They drove in silence for a few minutes until they reached their destination, an old warehouse that had been converted into a teen club; equipped with a mini-arcade, stage for karaoke and bands, and a huge dance floor for when there were DJ's. The on;y drinks served were sodas, the food was mostly fry-cooked, with the exception of when pizza was served.
The large gravel parking lot was beginning to fill up already as cars from near and far (not really) from 1113 came to see the debut of the underground rock/metal band.
"I wonder if we can see them yet." Dante said once they'd left the car and started meandering through the parking lot.
"Bands use back entrances when they play." Vergil stated. "We will not get to see them until they perform.
"Aw, man that sucks!"
"Only for you."
"C'mon, let's see if we can get a good spot."
"I don't think I've seen him so excited before." Sparda said with a chuckle as Dante weaved in and out of the crowd.
"You should see him when he catches a 'Girls Gone Wild' commercial." Vergil muttered.
"Oh dear, I can just imagine…"
Inside the club was dark, the only lights coming from the stage and kitchen. Then main lights had already dimmed as a large man with dark brown hair and eyes stepped onto the stage.
It was Dom, the owner and proprietor.
"Alright, Priestess is gonna be about five minutes late, they had a last second change in their song line-up.
"Finally!" Vergil turned to see Dante waving them over to table near the front of the stage. They would still have a good view, and the music wouldn't deafen them all too badly. "You guys are slow!"
"We did not go barging into the place like a bull in a china shop." Vergil quipped as they sat down.
"Tch, I'd rather be a bull than an albino hedgehog." Dante bit back, referring to his brothers spiked hair.
"At least I can see where I am goig-"
"Boys…"Their mother warned as somebody walked onto the stage. He was a tall but thin emo-looking kid with large brown eyes and sideswept hair.
"H-hi everybody." He addressed the crown nervously. "I know Dom said five minutes but it may take longer than that, we can't seem to locate our lead singer-"
A large girl with bright pink hair interrupted him, pointing to her phone then gesturing wildly into the crowd.
"Oh, right I knew that." He murmured to her, the mic picking up everything he said. "Ok everyone, never mind we'll be starting momentarily."
"Wonder what that was all about." Dante asked as music began to spread through out the place. It sounded somewhat like a siren then was accompanied by the emo kid pulsing out a heavy riff. Once the intro was ending, a voice began to sing from somewhere:
Is it sick of me, to need control of you?
Is it sick to make you beg the way I do?
Heads turned as they tried to find the singer but even byt eh time the chorus came, there was still no sight of her.
Are you sick like me?
Am I beautiful, as I tear you to poces?
Am I beautiful, even at my ugliest you always say
I'm beautiful, as you tear me to pieces
You are beautiful, even at your ugliest I am always say
You're beautiful and sick like me.
At the pause, where the music was just flowing, a voice said from somewhere in the crowd.
"Is that her?"
Heads turned to see the vocalist standing on an empty table near the back of the room.
Andorra. Vergil thought as soon as he caught sight of her.
Sure enough, it was the same girl from earlier today, only she was dressed completely different this time.
Clad almost entirely in black, her long-sleeve shirt and cargo pants had spikes studded at strategic points on her clothes, and chains hanging from her waist, clinking ever so slightly with every move she made. She even wore black gloves that were studded with tiny spikes. Her ebony hair was loose and flowing around her as she swayed to the guitar and drums, her emerald eyes looked even more pronounced with the heavy make –up she now wore.
"Hey!" Dante yelled into his ear. "Isn't that the new girl?"
"Yes!" Vergil called back to him as Ailie jumped to the floor, preparing to sing the second verse.
Is it sick of me, to feed the animal in you?
Is it sick to say, I tease the hunter like I do?
Is it sick of me, to watch the wicked way you thrill?
Is it sick of me, to say that I live to break your will?
She was on the stage now, her movements timed to the words as they flew effortlessly from her lips. She seemed to be able to control her voice to match the pitch perfectly, even when it seemed impossible.
You're beautiful and sick like me
She sang the last line and waited for the band to finish before she stepped to the edge of the stage to address the crowd.
"Hello citizens of Scarsborough!" She said to a screaming crowd. "Thank you for having us tonight, we are Priestess!"
Cheers and and scream erupted from the audience, eliciting a smile from the raven-haired beauty.
"So, I take it you guys liked that performance? Good, it's one of our more difficult covers. It's the band In This Moment and the song is Sick Like Me, it took us months to get it right. But now, how's about we do one that didn't take so long, and I know you all would enjoy it."
More screams and cheers.
"All right, tehn we're gonna go ahead and fo Stardust, from Gemini Syndrome, how's that?"
"Never heard of it!" Dante cried, trying to get her attention. It worked because she zeroed in on him and smiled when she saw Vergil standing next to him.
"You'll like it." She said. "Hit it!"
Vergil sat back and smiled as they lauched into the next song, smiling to himself as one thought kept circling in his head.
This might just turn into a decent friendship after all…