The Queen and I

-By Tsundere

Chapter 2

The Second Day in Hell

After that little run in, with Ms. Croft, he walked back to his respective room. Smiling to himself, the young girl sure had a nice body. His pay had been doubled, from 100$ to 400$, seems as though the big shot had made a mistake.

"Evening, Mr. Sparda." Winston said, smiling at the young lad. Dante nearly jumped out of his skin, was this man everywhere?!

"Hey. Hey, mind not calling me Mr. Sparda?" Dante asked, he hated having his fathers' name, this had to change that everyone calls him Mr. Sparda.

"Ah, alright. What would you like to be called, then?" He asked, cocking a head to the right, feeling confused.

"Just Dante. Dante is fine." Dante told him, grinning at him. Winston, wrinkled his nose and nodded slowly. Then he turned on his heels and walked away from Dante.

"Ah, fuck. I don't know where to go." Dante said, looking around in every room. The hallway was long, and had the doors standing like perfect soldiers. Which room was his? They had nothing on them, but they all looked the same. He knocked on one door, and heard a grumble from it.

The door opened, and an old man walked out. Having a burly beard, coat half his mouth. Steely blue eyes, and sun kissed skin. His build was strong, hands were calloused. Having a scratch under his right eye. He was hunched over, holding onto a cane like it was life support.

"What is it?" The man, asked harshly at Dante, "What the devil do you want, hmm?!"

"I—I just wanted to ask if you knew where my room was..." Dante asked, biting back the urge to tell him to screw off. The man cocked an eyebrow and looked at him.

"No, no I don't. Can I please go back inside?" He asked him, Dante sighed and nodded. He turned and slammed the door in his face.

Dante sighed but backed away from the door, going to check the others. He went and knocked on the one next to the old man's, but no one came out and it was locked pretty tightly. 'Where the hell do I need to go?' he thought to himself, then heard someone downstairs. He rushed to the railing and dunked his head down, but only saw the figures body.

The figure had a strong build, and pale skin. Wearing a sharp, blue suit. With a red and white striped tie. Hands tied behind his back, smiling wickedly. He turned round on his heels as someone, one of the butlers, went to greet him.

"Ah, Mr. Croft, so nice to see you again." He said and Dante's eyes widened.

That was Mr. Croft? Not that he looked much at him, only his body was seen. He looked like a real bastard.

Mr. Croft nodded his head, "Good to be back, did you by chance take a good look at the new butler?"

"I have not, but ask Winston. I'm sure he is around here somewhere."

"Right, I'll do that." Mr. Croft said and started walking up the stairs. Dante tried his best not to be seen, but too late. "You there!" he heard him yell, he turned on his heels and looked at Mr. Croft dead in the eye.

"Are you the new butler?" Mr. Croft asked, but Dante didn't say a thing. "Well?"

"Y—Yes, I am. Thank you, again, for hiring me." Dante said and bowed to him. Mr. Croft smiled and nodded slightly.

"I owed Enzo a favor, so you shouldn't really be thanking me."

"Yes, and by the way, what was this favor of yours?" Dante asked, and saw his mouth thin slightly into a frown.

"That is not here or there, and it was a long time ago." Mr. Croft said and turned his back on Dante. "Your room, by the way, is on the 5th floor. With the rest of the help." Dante nodded and walked away, passing him by. Not daring to look back into his blue irises.

--//--

The next day. Dante awakened like crap, he didn't feel like cleaning again, but this was about the money, if he does a damn good job, he can get the money. Getting up from his bed, he walked to the bathroom and took a quick shower. Then, went back in his room and put on the suit. Once he got out from the room, he saw Winston, writing something on a board.

Going over to him, Dante tapped him on the shoulder and saw him turn his face to him, "Hey, what are you doing?" he asked the fellow butler, who smiled at him.

"I am just marking everyone's tasks for today. Yours are, waking up the madam, and then cutting the

roses," Dante gulped at the roses part, "tending to the horses and finally, sweep up the foyer. Better go get started then." Winston said, as he walked away from him.

Dante sighed, and walked away from the board. Walking out, he walked up those stairs. He still can't forget Mr. Croft's face. The hardness of it, the vibe those eyes gave out, the frown then tightened his face. Like he was going to blow up at Dante any minute.

Dante, forgetting to knock, just swung open Sarah's door. Then stopped dead in his tracks.

Her back was gleaming in the fresh sun that was casting it's rays on her. Her bra was almost unhooked, as her black hair coated it's strap. Long slender legs, bare and underwear was black lace. He grinned as he saw her, half naked, and nodded his head in approval. She looked back and screamed, putting on her robe and throwing her slipper at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She yelled, tightening her robe to her body

"Nothing, I—" Dante said and cut off, staring at her body wrapped in a robe. And shook his head. "I'm sorry I didn't knock." he said and tried to calm her down.

"I do NOT want to sleep with you!" She yelled, glaring as she gritted her teeth. He blinked in confusion.

"W-What?!" He asked, cocking his head to the left. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about—"

"STOP CUSSING!" She yelled and threw the vase at his head, and he dodged it.

"Don't throw things, and I will stop cursing." He told her and she lowered the jewelry box down. "I'm sorry, I—was distracted, by something that happened the other night, so I forgot to knock." He said and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why should I believe some sex hound like you?"

"Ouch!" he said and grinned, "Thanks for the compliment, but I wasn't hounding you."

"Yes, you were." Sarah said, she was stubborn, and angry. He sighed out.

"Whatever, I don't care what you think. Now that you are up, I can go do something else." he said and left her there, still steaming.

Walking away from her room, he still grinned when the image of her being half naked popped into his head. Then he went outside. The sun almost blinded him, it was too goddamn bright. Winston was outside pouring something into the cup of three young women.

One woman has a busty build. She has pale skin, which glowed in the sun. Bright blue eyes, with can look straight in your soul. A beauty mark on her right upper lip, her lips were rosy and pouty. Her golden blond hair, tied in a long pony tail, brought out going across her shoulder. Wearing a white dress, with a pale pink large hat on her head.

The other one, had a slim build. She had slightly pink skin, which shined. Dark chocolate brown eyes which are exotic. Her lips were full and looked soft. She had burnt sienna hair, which reached to her shoulder, but it was tied up in a bun. She was wearing a long blue dress with a light blue small jacket around her.

The other one, had a curvy body. With tanned skin, which illuminated the sun. Fierce green eyes, which could've turned your blood cold. Full pouty lips, which was always kept in a frowning position. She had copper hair, with started out straight but curled up in the end, which reached up to the middle of her waist. With a fringe blocking one of the eyes. She was wearing a creamy white dress, and holding a Grey-ish umbrella over her head.

"Who're they?" Dante asked, to himself, but Winston was behind him who offered the answer.

"Those are Lady Croft's friends. The blond one is named Trixie, the other one was Michelle, and the one with the copper hair is Laurie." Winston said and Dante kept gazing at him.

"Dude, how do you keep following me?" He asked, in confusion.

"I have almost the same tasks at you, so I am always where you are." He said and added a smile.

"That's damn scary.." Dante muttered and walked away.

Sarah walked out. Her beautiful body wrapped tightly in a black dress. Long, straight black hair down to the middle of her back. Steely blue eyes hid behind black sunglasses, lips pouty and delicate as she walked towards her friends and started talking with them.

Dante went and started kneeling down, cutting roses in the spring sun. Cursing and muttering, why did they need the heads anyway?! It was a sticky job, then he took off his shirt, letting his visage gleam in the sunlight, getting looks from everyone. Even Sarah herself.

"My God he is sexy." Said Trixie, eying him up and down. Licking her lips in a seductive manner.

"Yes, where did you find him?" Asked Michelle, eye's gleaming playfully.

"My father did, I don't know from where, he is an urchin.. one of the lowest class of society." She said, huffing, "He hits on me every chance he gets."

"Lucky!" Laurie squeaked out, chuckling with Trixie.

"So, you don't know him?" Michelle asked. Sarah nodded.

"God knows what he worked as before, possibly a prostitute."

"...Or a stripper." Trixie said, and grinned. Sarah rolled her eyes and smirked slightly.

"But he has to be disciplined. And I swear if any of you make a sex joke, I'll knock you into Tuesday," Sarah said and eyed the three who stayed silence with grins, "so, I was thinking, I'd tighten the leash a bit. What do all of you think?"

"You're taking advice from horny girls who are staring at a half-naked man. I wouldn't trust us." Trixie said and laughed out.

Getting ready from the job, of cutting the heads off the roses, he stood up and cracked his back. Before going over to the stable he needed a drink. A nice cold drink, the harsh spring sun was beating down his sweating back. Walking over to the table where the four ladies where he smiled and asked for a drink. Sarah nodded and gave him iced water as he drank it down. The ladies fawned over him. Hearts beating.

"And again, I'm sorry about walking in on you." Dante said, and received a glare from her. "What?"

"Nothing. Just... leave." she said, holding her anger.

Dante scoffed out and left, not really sure what he did wrong now. Sighing, he went to the stables. Where the horses were neighing and kicking the dirt under them. Grimacing he walked in. Not really thrilled.

Grabbing up some hay, he fed it to one of the horses. All in different colors. Some white, some black, some brown. Then some were mixed, black and white, white and brown, white and gray. Smiling as he was stroking one of the horse's head. As it looked at him, swinging it's tail in a rapid speed.

"Dante, hurry up." Winston, interrupting his stroking, told him.

"Right, right."

--//--

He was sweeping the foyer painfully slow. He wasn't really in a rush, besides he got the best view of Sarah's rack here. She looked to him and sighed.

"I was needing to talk to you." She said and got up. He stopped sweeping and listened to her. "I am not thrilled with your behavior, which is why, I wanted to tell you: That if you continue with this behavior, you will get a pay reduction or I might go with the easy decision and fire your ass. Your choice." she said and turned to walk away. He blinked and cursed. He should really stop being horny.

He sighed and finished, dropping the broom somewhere he walked up the stairs and felt tired. He saw Sarah cry for help, she was stuck in a closet. He walked inside and accidentally locked the door.

"Ah.. shit.." He said, they were now stuck in a closet together.

--//--

"You... idiot!" Sarah yelled and hit him on his back with her fist.

"Ow!" He said, "Hey you have a bony fist!" He whined and complained, "ARGH Stop it!" he said as she continued pelting at him.

"Fine! Why did you lock the door?!"

"I didn't fucking mean to!"

"YES YOU DID!"

"NO I DIDN'T!"

They continued arguing for an hour, or more, they weren't sure. When they were done, they stayed back to the wall, leaning against it.

"We're gonna die in here..." Sarah said, looking at Dante, who nodded.

"Why do you hate me that much?" Dante asked to Sarah, who simply gave him a side ways glare. "Alright, I'm a pig and all that."

"Yes, so stop asking obvious questions."

"Fine, then... when's your birthday?"

"May 8th. You?"

"21st June." He said grinning.

"Ah, so you're a Gemini," she said "So you have a twin?"

"Y-yeah, and you're a bull right?"

"That's right."

"Suits you." He said and chuckled sheepishly.

"Screw you." she said growling.

He sighed and thumped his head back on the wall.

"Where were you born?" She asked.

"Well, I got born in Italy, but I lived I America."

"That explains your name."

"So, really, why do you act so mean and distant? I heard some of the maids commenting about you earlier." He asked her.

"I don't care what they think." she said and sighed out. Dante smiled slightly and patted her head, and she slapped his hand away "Get off me."

"Sorry." He said and sighed, sitting down on the floor with her. Sarah whistled dryly as she waited.

"...wanna toss around the bleach?" Dante asked and stared at her, waiting for an answer.

"Why not, not like I'm doing anything." she said as she caught the bleach that he tossed to her and tossed it back. He continued to toss it to her, until they got bored.

"What now?" Sarah asked, staring at him.

He sighed and sat down, "I can try and kick the door down?" he asked her and she nodded, feeling tired. He went and kicked it, but it wouldn't come down. He tried again and again, but it wouldn't budge.

"I don't think it will work." she said looking at it. Dante sighed, he didn't put much force in the kick, watching her squirm in a closet was fun.

"So... how long do you suppose we'll be in here?" Dante asked.

"Morning, I don't know." Sarah said, sounding tired.

"Morning?! You're kidding right?"

"I don't know, I'm sure someone will come."

"How do you know?"

"I just do." Sarah concluded. She sighed, leaning her head back on the wall. "What did you used to do for a living?"

"Nothing..." he told her, irritated by the closet.

"Really?"

"Well... let's just call it family business, without the family.."

Sarah blinked, what did that mean? Dante was the shifty type, but she didn't care, but now, she is seeing a different light of him, he is quiet, and almost secretive. And how can his hair be that white anyway? She narrowed her eyes at his appearance. Maybe she should do some checking up on him...

"So! What do you like to do for fun?" Dante asked.

"I like to, listen to music, read, go horseback riding, I hate swimming, I usually take long walks and think. I don't really have a lot of things, what about you?"

"Listen to rock music, eat pizza, drink beer, tomato juice—I don't get free time either."

She and Dante stayed in silence, not really knowing what to say. The door knob started to shuffle back and fort, and Dante got up. It was Winston, he blinked as he saw the two. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, fine." Sarah said as she got up and dusted herself off. Dante grinned at Winston who gave them room and they walked out.

"Winston, did you get the preparation for the party?" Sarah asked, and Dante cocked an eyebrow.

"Party..?"

Author's Note:

I'm gonna stop here, ^_^ Please rate and review.

Next Chapter: Bitter Wine

Oh, and by the way, Sarah is not a Lara croft rip off. So please, don't flame her on that.

-Tsundere