Chapter 4 for you^_^ Sorry I didn't update sooner. Anywho, hope this chapter is up to standard. I enjoyed writing this one. Everybody loves DantexNero, right? Hope you enjoy. Reviews are nice, yes? Yes.
I don't own DMC, it's characters, or concepts....I just add twists.
WARNING: Contains hot man sex, cursing, atheistic themes....don't like, don't read. Simple as that.
4
Nero had trouble focusing on what Trish and Dante were talking about. He was too excited and too focused on what he'd heard to completely devote his thoughts to the Talisman. He tried his best, though, not speaking, but trying to absorb all he could from what the other two said.
"It looks interesting" Trish said, switching between studying it and an old, worn book she'd brought with her. Nero couldn't read what it said on the front, but it was probably directly from the demonic realm.
"It's got some power to it" Dante said, lifting it and turning it over, "it doesn't seem like negative power, but it has the potential to be morphed that way."
The female nodded, "I can sense that. Ah." She pointed to a passage in her book, "I think this is what we've got", she put the book on the table for the other two to see and read the passage in English:
"Soul Cross Talismans have become a rare occurrence in the Underworld since the number of High Order Andrises fell to near nothing. Soul Cross Talismans were used as a magical source of power to open hell gates, summon once deceased beings (see Soul Cross Resurrections), and trap the souls of other demons, seeing as demonic souls were the Andrises main form of sustenance. These Talismans only become evil when they have captured a demonic soul. If the Talisman has yet to be used for soul capturing, it is quite harmless. However, if it has been in the clutches of an Andrisis, it can be very dangerous."
"Andrisis" Dante muttered, "Those still exist?" he'd faintly remembered his Father speaking of them onve upon a time.
"They were too low, even for the demonic realm" Trish looked as if she were recalling something, "I've only seen one in my entire life…..and that's been a good damn while."
Nero was stirred form his la-la land, quite interested in the topic, "This one isn't evil though….is it?"
"Doesn't seem that way, kid" Dante picked it up, staring at the black jewel on it's front, "Any idea what the writing on the back says?" He asked Trish.
"Let me see"
Dante handed the golden thing over to her, laying it in her hand. There was an instant sizzling sound and small red flash. Trish screamed, one that made Nero jump. He'd never heard her make that kind of sound before. She nearly threw the thing on the table, holding her hand close to her, hissing under her breath. Nero gasped as fangs poked out of her mouth and her ears became pointed. Trish was full-blooded demon, of course, and he'd never seen even the slightest bit of her "true form" till now. It was a little unsettling.
"Whoa, whoa" Dante got up and placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked her in her eyes, now black, trying to get through to her, "It's okay. Come on, Trish. It's okay."
She quickly regained her composure, much to Nero, and Dante's, relief. She shook her head, "What the hell?"
"Jesus, I thought you were gonna spazz out and go berserk on us there. What did that thing do to you?" He inspected her hand when she held it out to him. It had burned her badly, leaving a charred, deep wound on her palm. It smelt of sulfur and her own burnt flesh.
"You don't feel weird do you?" he asked her.
"Not now" She said, eyeing the thing with distaste, "But when I held it, it was like I wanted to kill everything. My mind went to shit…" She shook her head, massaging the skin around her wound. She looked at it, not picking it back up, "All it says is that it belongs in the Underworld, anyways", she shook her head at the crimson writing.
"Here" Nero searched through Dante's desk, finding gauze and bandages. He gave them to the female, who smiled and began to wrap her hand. "Does the book say anything about what it just did?" The younger slayer scanned the page. No use. It was in the same language as the cover was in.
"Let's see" Trish brought the book to herself, putting her wounded hand in her lap. "Here."
The evil power of a Soul Cross Talisman lies with the number of demonic souls it has captured. It is nearly impossible, even for the most keen of demons, to pick up on whether or not a Talisman is evil, seeing as the source has usually left the trinket, or it was designed to look innocent"
"Should have read that before" Dante sighed, grabbing a beer from the fridge.
"There's more" Trish began to read again:
"When a demon, besides Andrises, comes in direct physical contact with a Soul Cross, the results can be one, or more, of the following:
1. Fire- When certain demons touch the Talisman, they will be severely burnt. This is the most fortunate of injuries. It will heal within 5 days, leaving no scars or marks. While being burnt, however, if the demon is foolish enough to hold it for too long, feelings of wrath will engulf the holder. This has led to massacres, however, That is rare. Usually, the Talisman is thrown out of surprise, leaving only the burn.
2. Poison- This is the unfortunate disaster of many demons who touch the device. A Soul Cross Is usually the valuable possession of a High Order Andrisis, therefore those who touch it besides the Andrisis would be poisoned for taking it. This is done as a defense. The poison is a strong one; reeking havoc and excruciating pain to those who are unfortunate enough to be poisoned. The only way to cure the poison is to kill the owner of the Talisman. (See Poisons).
-When the Talisman senses a pure, powerful, untainted soul, it will begin to suck the soul out of the demon. The demon has to be one who hasn't consorted with humans, or betrayed an Elder Demon Master. It also has to be a powerful one, not just a low level one such as a Marionette (see Lower Demons).
"Whew" Trish sighed heavily, "I'm one lucky bitch."
"What If I'm poisoned?" Dante suddenly asked, dropping the Talisman onto the table. He'd touched it, had it in his pocket….Why did he pick up strange objects? Hell, he thought.
Nero walked to him, "You can't be…" his face was wrought in sadness.
"He isn't" the woman said, turning the page, preparing to read more:
"Half blooded demons are unaffected by the burns and poison, even the soul sucking. Andrises find the souls of Half demons unfulfilling and tainted. However, the scent of a half blooded is unique and rare in the demonic realm which will lead the Andrisis back to their Soul Cross.
Andrises are able to see and smell who has taken their Talisman through the usually black jewel that adorns the front of the Talisman. Full demons do not concern the owner as much, seeing as they either fall prey to the Soul Cross, or their scent isn't unique enough to be followed when they escape. Half demons, however, enrage the Andrisis by having the Talisman in their possession, for when any creature with human blood within them is thought to be filthy.
When a Half blooded has touched a Soul Cross, battle awaits. The Andris will, no doubt, come to kill the one who took his possession. While this may seem odd, there is good reason. When a half blooded has touched the Talisman, it becomes tainted and will not capture souls. The Andrisis would have to take the infected Talisman and turn it back. Therefore, he will kill any half demon who defiled his objects.
An Andrisis is a powerful being and battle would not be easy. The only way to kill the Andrisis is to shatter his Soul Cross. This is not simple. The only thing that can shatter a Soul Cross is the Andrisis himself. In order to defeat the Andrisis, and banish him to oblivion, is to somehow trick him into shattering his own Talisman. To this date, no one has been able to do this.
"Looks you two are in huge trouble" Trish snapped the book shut, "How many times have I told you not to pick up shiny things, Dante?"
'You've never told me t- Oh yeah…." He grunted.
"What if we took it back to where we found it?" Nero suggested.
"It wouldn't make a difference", Trish stood, searching the fridge and finally finding the elusive Jack that Dante hid, "It has your scent. It'll come looking for you."
"And I just fixed the doors not too long ago" The elder sighed, "This place will be a wreck when it's over with."
There was an awkward silence between them. Nero couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. He'd just found out about Dante's feeling toward him, and now they have one, extremely pissed off, extremely powerful demon looking for them. It made him feel uncomfortable. Of course, Dante didn't look phased. Why would he be? He'd dealt with things like this before. That man….
"So, what are we gonna do?" Nero asked, breaking the dreadful silence.
"We'll figure it out, Nero. Don't worry" Dante said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry about it too much."
He felt better, just at the gesture. He embraced the elder, wrapping his arms around his waist and pushing his head to his chest. It was almost like every problem in the world, even a demon who wanted their ass mounted on plaques, melted away when he was close to the older hunter like this. Dante smiled, rubbing the kid's back.
"You really need some drinks here that aren't alcoholic, Dante" The female laughed, pouring a small glass of the elusive, foul smelling drink, "I'm surprised you aren't drunk all the time."
"Eh" was all he said.
"Well, If I'm no longer needed, I'm leaving". She set the glass in the small sink in the kitchen, gathered her book, and walked to the door, "You guys need anything, you know how to reach me."
"What about the Andris?" Nero asked.
She sighed, "You really can't do anything except wait for it to find you. Then, just kick it's ass. You've killed things more powerful, haven't you?"
"Get outta here Trish" Dante waved her out, "We'll take care of it."
She waved, saying goodbye, and it wasn't long before her black, 76 Corvette pulled out and left down the street. Nero felt uneasy. It amazed him that Trish and Dante took this lightly. It goes to show exactly how inexperienced he really was. He turned to the elder, who had already returned to his spot at the desk, sitting the Talisman with his devil arms, "We're screwed, Dante. We should have never brought that thing back."
"Think about it this way, kid. Was it better to leave it there for a human to find? Isn't it better that we have it, half-demons who can handle that sort of thing, than for half of Fortuna get killed because someone was curious?"
He had an excellent point. Nero nodded, "Right. I just don't like waiting. It makes me feel….anxious, uneasy…" He trailed off.
"Things are usually not easy, Nero", He sat up straight, looking into the younger's eyes. It made Nero feel all sorts of great things when he stared into those azure blues. "Besides, worrying does no one any good."
"I know, I know" the younger slayer took a seat on the edge of the desk, "I just need to not think about it right now."
"We do have things to discuss" Dante smirked, leaning onto the desk, crossing his hands, knowing how to get the younger's mind on another subject, "Ya know, when Trish so graciously interrupted us and then blurted out my deepest, most prized emotions", he faked a swoon.
It made Nero smile, and laugh, at the elder, "Right, right. So, uh, is what she said true?"
The elder hunter continued to smirk, "Sure is. I wasn't lyin'."
"Really? So, how long have you, well, loved me?"
Dante wasn't exactly prepared for that. He thought for a moment, then, giving the younger a thoughtful expression, he said, "I honestly think I've loved you since I left Fortuna. Maybe even when I first battled you", the elder leaned a little closer to the younger, "I thought about you ever since. Haven't been able to get you off my mind".
Nero's breathing hitched slightly. It was the most amazing feeling to hear that some out of the elder's mouth. "I have to say the same, Dante" he leaned a little closer to him, "ever since you left, I've thought about you. I didn't admit it, or realize exactly how much until I left, but I have loved you…for a good time."
They were only inches apart now, gazing into one another's lucid, azure pools.
"You know what else I've thought about, Nero?" Dante slathered the word in a seductive tone, almost touching the kid's ear with his tongue.
"Probably the same thing I've been thinking" the younger replied, his body buzzing with the intoxicating sound of the elder's voice so close to him.
"And what would that be?"
"How much I want to fuck you into the mattress" Nero grinned mischievously, reaching out and pulling the elder's face up to his.
They kissed. Demons, Talismans, even Hell itself, could wait.
