We are sorry for the long wait but real life is being a bitch right now, so things are going slow, but thanks for your patience with us.
Here's the next chapter for you.
Brothers in Arms 5; Breaking point
Chapter 2: Poison
Dante came around slowly he felt as if he had only slept a few minutes hardly enough by his standards. He also felt exceedingly hot. He moved to sit up and winced looking down at his wound, it was still there.
Spike was alerted to movement and immediately went to check on Dante who had been out for a worrying long time, "how do you feel?"
Dante looked at Spike, "Your still here? Thought you'd have left," He shifted trying to hide his discomfort.
Spike snorted, "Leave you alone in this state?" he shook his head, "even I ain't that bad." he sighed, "You've been out for days mate, I was worried, besides that asshole you call a brother ain't been back either."
Dante looked up again shocked, "Days you're kidding?"
Spike shook his head, "nope. Three days."
Dante started, "I feel like I hardly slept at all..."
Spike frowned, "there's definitely somethin' not right with that wound...you're gonna have to get someone to look at it, at least find out what the hell it is."
Dante looked at him again "Yeah right I've never been to a doctor in my life, no weapon has ever, should never cause lasting damage..." He winced prodding at the wound.
"That's why we are going to an…ally of Angel's…he was with the team a short while but hated the idea of being with Wolfram and Hart so he left, if he can't sort it out then you're screwed."
Vergil entered the shop during the short pause in conversation and looked between them both.
Spike stood glaring at the newcomer, standing in front of Dante as if to shield him.
Dante got to his feet unsteadily, "Verge, where'd you run off too?" He pushed past Spike and looked at his brother's puzzled face.
Vergil frowned, "what do you mean? I haven't left the shop."
Dante blinked "But you walked out, then I slept for three days apparently..." He glanced at Spike.
"Three days?" Vergil frowned deeply, "I don't know what you're talking about... I haven't left the shop...why are you still here?" he looked to Spike with a dark glare.
Spike growled, "Because you ran off leaving Dante badly injured."
"I. Haven't. Left. The. Shop." Vergil ground out getting annoyed with the vampire.
The two glared at each other before Vergil stalked out again, this time taking his blade of air with him.
"Wanker," Spike muttered under his breath and saw Dante sway on his feet, "come on," he moved Dante back to sit at the sofa.
"I'm fine sheesh," Dante sat, suddenly feeling not so fine.
Spike snorted, "Yeah right and we're both human, come on we are going to see Lorne." he paused, "how is your singing?"
"What?" Dante looked at the vampire gone out.
Dante followed Spike in to the nightclub as night descended over the city, he was miffed that he had to leave his guns behind, but he went anyway; Vergil had just disappeared and the older him had too. The nightclub was filled with humans and demons alike all drinking, talking, and singing?! "You brought me to a karaoke bar?!"
Spike grinned, "Yeah," he moved over to the bar, "Lorne," he spoke to the green demon, "could you give Dante a reading? Something is wrong and he hasn't healed from a wound...and his brother is going psycho."
Dante blinked at the green demon, he hadn't seen one of those before.
"Sure," Lorne sighed, "Name and the song you will be singing please." he smiled pleasantly.
Spike sighed seeing Dante's objective expression, "He reads you when you sing, now get thinking."
Dante looked at Spike then at the demon then back to Spike. "Read?"
"He's an empath demon, he tells futures and stuff when people sing, go and sing and he can tell you what's going on."
Dante looked disgruntled, he should have brought Nevan, he was a good performer after all, but then again he did feel like crap. "Fine, I'll sing Numb, by Linkin Park, will that do?" He asked the demon.
Lorne nodded and went to the stage, "Put your hands together for Dante singing Numb by Linkin Park," he moved to the side and looked at Dante, "Go ahead kiddo, the crowd awaits."
Dante got up on stage and the music started, he wished he had a guitar, but hay he could sing what did it matter.
Lorne frowned as the song went on.
"What's the verdict?" Spike asked half way through.
"I'd rather tell him first," Lorne said softly.
"Sure." Spike nodded and the two moved to a table as Dante finished.
Dante walked off at his applause and made for the table, where Spike and the green guy were.
Lorne sighed taking a long sip of his drink, "Right..." his cell phone rang, "Excuse me."
"Put Dante on, please." a voice spoke.
"It's for you," Lorne handed the small plastic object over.
Dante took the phone already knowing who it was. "Yeah?" He asked cautiously.
"Hey mini me," Older Dante sighed, "This is not good, but please, try not to freak."
"I'm not going to freak," He stated defensively.
"Yes you are," Older Dante rolled his eyes getting strong déjà vu.
"Haven't we had this conversation before?" He growled.
"Yes but this time it is serious," Older Dante said sharply.
Dante didn't answer and simply hung up and looked at the demon.
"There's no easy way to put this kiddo," Lorne frowned pausing a moment but decided there was no point in sugaring it up, "you're gonna die."
Spike stared open mouthed between them.
"What!?" Dante growled.
"You are dying," Lorne repeated.
Spike continued to gape.
Dante looked at him, "I'm barely 20 how am I dieing," He stood up but instantly sat back down wincing.
"That wound is poisoned, it's killing you."
The phone rang again.
Dante looked up, "Poison...?" he looked at the cell phone on the table.
Lorne nodded, "That's why it's not healing." The green demon looked to see there was no number, "must be for you again."
Dante grudgingly answered it.
"He's right," Dante said sadly, "it's slowly killing you..."
"Why? Couldn't they just kill me honourably? I don't understand..." He looked at Lorne.
Lorne watched him, "They are getting to Vergil...you're the key to undoing him. I can't see who they are exactly, but they are sneaky, and I don't think it will stop with Vergil."
Spike just continued to gape, for once lost for words from shock.
"What!" He slumped back in his chair. "Why is it always Verge?" He mumbled.
Lorne shook his head, "I'm sorry, whatever is doing this is blocking me from anything more specific," he got up and moved to other customers.
Spike snapped out of it, "well..." was all he could manage, "Guess we find out who's doing this." he looked to see Lorne was already busy. "Looks like we're on our own for this one. You're not bloody well dying with me around," he said seeing Dante's expression, "we're gonna find an antidote for the poison and help Vergil, got it?"
Dante looked at Spike strangely, "And why do you give a damn?"
Spike just shrugged and looked to Dante, "Well you need help...I'm not completely soulless you know."
Dante smirked and got up ignoring the pain. "So then first we find Vergil and then...Ok first I really want my guns."
Spike nodded and helped Dante back to Brothers In Arms.
Vergil looked around the empty shop, his eyes rested on the crimson blade that hung on the wall, he slowly made his way over to it and his hands gripped the hilt tightly, he could feel the raw power of the blade in his hands as it coursed through him.
Older Dante had been following Vergil, he had discovered that Vergil was being controlled by the devil knight that he had fought a short while ago, he had also found out that the knight realised his presence was strong and that he helped the twins. The knight had discovered a way to counter Older Dante's influence on the corporeal world, and was using it to stop him from affecting Vergil, which not only frustrated Dante, but also worried him; knowing Vergil could do anything and he couldn't stop his twins past self. He could only follow him and hope to find something that would help Vergil.
It did not help that his younger self was getting iller by the minute and would not last much longer if an antidote was not found...the only trouble was the only known antidote he had discovered when he was spying was in the underworld. He growled repelling the feeling of defeat, he would not give in yet; he perked up seeing his younger self enter the shop followed by Spike.
Dante walked purposely towards Brothers in Arms, he kicked the doors open venting some of his frustration, and pain. He was not going to take this lying down; he walked into the shop with a scowl on his face then stopped when he saw is brother "Verge? Where have you been?"
Vergil stared at Dante as he entered the shop, "Out," he answered simply in a strange voice as he held Sparda threateningly.
Spike stopped in the doorway, alarms ringing in his mind as he saw Vergil holding the powerful sword, "Dante…" he started but trailed off.
Dante took a step back realising that something was not right; the feeling of cold that crept up his spine was not good. "What's going on?!" He asked sternly edging toward the desk and his guns, he could practically feel the anticipation for a fight brewing in the air.
Vergil glared at Dante icily, "I have just come to retrieve my power."
Older Dante stared momentarily shocked; no this could not go like this, after what he had done, he could not let this happen…he would not.
Alastor floated toward Vergil and tried to attack him only for the sword to be knocked aside with ease by Sparda.
Dante pulled Ebony and Ivory from the desk and aimed them at his brother, "I'll say again. What's. Going. On?" He looked at Vergil, but it wasn't his brother, there was something in him; Dante sighed inwardly, why was it always Vergil?
Vergil just sneered at the weapons, "As if they can hurt me, as if you can hurt me, brother," he watched Dante a moment before rushing past Dante and knocked Spike out of the way; the vampire managed to grab Sparda pulling something from the sword as Vergil yanked it away.
Spike stared holding an amulet.
Older Dante stared at the amulets, this was not good, he closed his eyes a moment before taking the amulet from Spike and placed it around his younger self's neck.
Dante lowered the guns and stumbled back to sit on the sofa, he shuddered and looked at Spike, "Shit," He sighed and lay back. "This is not good, no way, and I don't feel so hot."
Spike smirked, "No but you look it," his grin faded at Dante's glare, "Not like that." He sighed, "Well, at least we found Vergil," he shrugged, "Now the antidote. Hey ghosty? Got any idea where we can find an antidote?" he called to the room but there was no answer.
Dante holstered his guns. "My guess it's some where in the underworld; it would make sense no human poison could affect me." He sighed and tried to get up.
Spike looked at Dante, "You sure you're up to it?" he watched the other with concern.
Dante glared at the vampire and forced himself to stand he walked over to the wall and picked up Rebellion. "Let's rock," He strode to the door.
The pone ran suddenly making Dante stop in his tracks as the cordless receiver floated over to him.
Dante sighed grabbing the floating phone "I knew it was a bad idea getting this phone," He grumbled as he put the phone to his ear. "Yeah?!"
"You're not looking so good," Older Dante commented, "Look, you're right, the antidote is in the underworld but you've gotta find a way to open a gate. There's a guy I know…he's the one that sent me back here…Druce…he's a bit of a nut but he can help you. He should be in a large old mansion, you really can't miss it. It's just outside of town."
The mansion was large, hell it was massive. Dante and Spike walked up the gravel drive, and up to the classically English front door. Dante leaned on the alcove and let out a sigh, he was really lagging.
He looked at Spike, "Are you gonna knock?"
Spike knocked the door and it opened moments later, the phone, that had followed them all the way there, snaked up between them.
"Be careful," Dante warned, "he's very jumpy; don't get him started on cheese."
Dante quirked an eyebrow at his older self's comment and took the phone in his hand.
The door opened and a man dressed in jeans and a blue shirt opened the door, he had long brown hair tied back neatly.
"Hello. Can I help you?" Came the very English accented question.
Older Dante stared, "What?" he was shocked seeing the insane mage looking well…sane.
Bet you weren't expecting that XD
Curious as to how he ends up the nut he is in the prequel? Find out in an upcoming BIA fic XD