Smoke, ash and burnt sulfur lingered in the air. The young boy walked slowly through the burnt remnants of what was the only home he knew. The large estate had been burned down to the ground. His feet burned as he walked over still hot coals and embers raking them to life with his bare flesh feeling the sensation of pain for a second only to have the skin heal stepping down to do it all over again. It didn't matter. His mind didn't register anything around him. His eyes hurt from crying and sleep deprivation. His throat had long since gone hoarse and he had given up calling out for his mother, brother or protector. They were gone. Everything was gone.
Dante held fast to the hilt of his sword Rebellion remotely grateful he still had something to hold onto. The night before was just a horrific blur in his mind. His mother had awoken the children telling them to take nothing but their weapons; there wasn't enough time to grab anything else. With their mother in the lead holding fast onto Dante's hand as he held onto Vergil's with Starina bringing up the rear, she had been insistent on this. The smell of electricity hung in the air around them and sparked almost angrily as they made their way down the back stairs into the kitchen. Eva stopped in front of the large island that she used to prepare food opening up the trap door in the floor that led to an underground passageway. A crash sounded as demons and devils broke through the heavy back door and windows shattered sending glass and debris flying everywhere. Dante grasped his mothers hand tighter as he felt his brother let go of his hand to attack despite his mothers screams of protest. Dante gripped the hilt of his sword as Starina ran after Vergil her own swords drawn to attack knowing he should do the same.
He let out a panicked scream when he felt his mothers hand rip away from his turning just in time to see her grasped by several demons out for the blood of Sparda's woman. In a spurt of red and flying disembodied limbs his mother lay dead on the floor. Dante turned when he heard another higher pitched scream watching his eyes wider than what should have been physically possible to see his protector receive a jagged talon raked down her face. In a gush of blood Starina fell to the floor. Vergil ran to her aid shouting a battle cry only to be impaled by the same devil. Dante nearly fell to his knees as he watched Yamato fall from his brothers quickly limp hand as he was tossed to the ground lifeless. That was when Dante ran. There was no logical thought behind his instinct it just told him to run fast.
He ignored the screeches and angry yells of protest from the monsters that he had never imagined existed as he reached the woods that stretched out for several acres around estate. The small boy stopped when he reached an uprooted tree that had left enough space between the bottom of the trunk and the earth to provide a hiding spot. Dante unsheathed Rebellion and crawled into the small space making himself as small as possible. He placed his sword across his legs as he brought his knees to his chest whimpering despite his efforts to remain silent. Now only a few hours later it was as if there had never really been anything there at all.
Dante stopped in what he knew to be his fathers study dropping to his knees in the charred, blackened remains of his father's desk. He sifted through the ash not quite sure what he was looking for but knew he had to take something to remind him of home. His eyes watered from the heavy smoke that still filled the air as well as the soot that kept flying into his face. He stopped to rub at his eyes with the backs of his hands leaving dirty smudges across his forehead and cheeks. There just seemed to be no end to the smoke, ash and…
"Sulfur." Dante whispered to himself wrinkling his nose at the offending odor. Nero and Avangeline had jumped out of the car running into the burning city assuming Dante was close behind them. He stood staring unblinking at the scene that lay before him slowly shaking his head from side to side. It wasn't possible. There wasn't any way the situation with the younger Dante and this were related. He felt his stomach knot tightly as his head swam. In an instant he gripped Ebony and Ivory from out of their holsters.
"Come on girls. Let's rock!"
Shouting from outside brought both Kyrie and Ambra out of their half dozed slumbers. Ambra grabbed for Yamato securing it to her hip and checking for Devastator finding it still in her thigh holster. Kyrie made her way to a window pulling aside a corner of the curtain to peer out into the night.
"See anything?" Ambra asked walking up beside her sister in-law. The younger woman shook her head.
"No not really just figures." She replied.
"I'm going to go check it out." Ambra said taking the curtain out of Kyrie's hand letting it settle back into place. Kyrie followed her to the door and watched as she cracked it open just enough for her to slip out.
"Be careful Am." Kyrie said receiving a nod and a small grin she was sure for her own ease of mind.
Ambra waiting until she heard the door lock behind her before making her way down the streets of Fortuna. She kept one hand on the hilt of Yamato with the other wrapped around the butt of her magnum with her finger laced through ready to fling it from its holster and pull the trigger. The dim lights from the flames of the street lamps flickered casting more shadows than what Ambra knew were really there adding to the eerie ambiance as she walked past the buildings and houses that appeared to be vacant. Her feet picked up their pace as she neared the center square and shouts reached her ears. She stopped in her tracks as she saw residents of the city sitting on the ground each in a kneeling position with their heads down and their hands folded almost as if they were in prayer. Slowly she walked forward asking a few what had happened to receive nothing short of silence.
Another shout came as two men gripped another roughly forcing him from his home to sit in the street with his neighbors.
"Hey!" Ambra yelled out to get their attention. "What is this all about?" The two men looked in her direction as if stunned into silence both clearly uncertain what to do.
"Well, well. What have we here?" A voice from behind her drawled causing Ambra to spin around quickly.
"What is your business here?" She asked feeling an unsettling feeling emanating from the man who stood a few feet away from her.
"I should be asking you the same question sweat heart." He replied. "Now why don't you be a good girl and sit with your friends here so we can straighten this all out."
"Straighten what out exactly?" She felt her blood begin to boil in her veins as her questions were easily evaded. The man began to walk towards her again stopping in his tracks as her arm swiftly moved training her gun on him taking aim.
"Now, now is that really necessary here for you to be so rude?" He asked plainly.
"I do not take kindly to people assaulting innocents. Now tell me the nature of your business with these people." She retorted.
"Well since you put it that way you see we're looking for some dirty devils. You wouldn't happen to know anything about them would you?" The man asked. Ambra remained silent feeling her knees suddenly weak threatening to spill her onto the ground. "The bastard scum of Sparda is here isn't he?" Ambra felt her rage reach its peak as she willed her finger to pull the trigger or swipe Yamato from its sheath to teach, whom she now understood to be, so called protector his place. Her body however refused to respond.
Ambra felt her panic rise as she was frozen to the spot where she stood. The man smirked maliciously.
"I haven't properly introduced myself have I? My name's Gabe and from the look on your face you must be one of the reasons why we're here." He watched as she struggled to speak in reveling in her obvious predicament. "I'm sorry did you want to say something well now that just isn't going to be possible." He said taking out a small piece of paper from his pocket. Ambra's eyes flicked to it momentarily knowing well what the hand drawn rune meant. She had been bound. "It wasn't too hard to make a bunch of these babies up I mean you are after all just a lightning demon." He advanced closer to her inspecting her further. "You and I we go way back. I remember when you were just a baby in your stroller with your pretty little mother protecting you. Oh but better yet one day I saw the two of you on the bus do you remember that day? What was it she called you, Ambra is it? Yeah that's it Ambra. Remember that day Ambra because I sure as hell do and let me tell you there won't be any escape for you today."
"Stop it!" A woman's voice yelled out. Gabe turned as Ambra's eyes shifted to rest on Kyrie. Her mind began to swirl as she desperately wanted to shout out to her to run away. "Leave that woman be."
"Oh yeah? Who's going to stop me? You?" He asked taking a few steps towards Kyrie as she swept her shoulders back taking a deep breath to steady herself. "You despicable people who worship Sparda as a god; delusional nit wits is what all of you are. Now you would stop me from ridding the world of this devil woman? Tell me woman do you revere this abomination as highly as you did your so called god? A sacred prophet perhaps this bastard spawn from hell." The man in front of Kyrie spewed obscenities in her face about her family. Her small hands clenched into fists as she thought about her daughter, her sweet baby who always had a smile for her along with a giggle no matter how old she got. Her Nero was certainly not an abomination but the noblest warrior and caring man she had ever met just like his father. Dante and Ambra had never made her feel anything less than family. They had opened their home and hearts to her as well as Nero making her feel secure again after losing her own family. They didn't have to they just did. Then of course there was her nephew. No matter how old he got she still saw him in her mind as the chubby selfish toddler she had first met years earlier. He was insulting her family and to that she didn't take kindly.
"Unless there is another reason you're here." Gabe said as a thought came to mind. The look on Kyrie's face faltered from one of determination to that of panicked worry. The smirk the man wore turned to a full blown smile. "Grab her." He ordered as Kyrie began to back away before turning to break into a full run. "After her; don't let that woman escape she is one of them." He yelled as four people seemingly faded away from the shadows running after Kyrie. Gabe turned back around to face Ambra closing the gap between them. "I'm getting bored with you. She seems like more fun." He said ripping Devastator from her clenched hand successfully breaking her trigger finger causing her to visibly wince. Pain filled her heart as Yamato was pried away from her as well for the second time in her life and she wondered, not for the first time, if her father had simply dropped it or actually thought she was capable of taking care of it herself.
She watched as the large man in front of her emptied out the chambers of her gun allowing her ammo to clatter against the cobbled ground. He reached into his jacket pocket and produced small transparent bullets. Ambra's eyes narrowed as she attempted to get a better look in the flickering light.
"These here I made myself. Think of them as a one size bullet fits most guns thing. The casing is just plastic and normally breaks on impact but it's what's inside is the neat part I guess you could say. It's exceptionally good at killing the hard to exterminate devils I've found like yourself." He said as he loaded the chambers of her gun with his invention. He closed the chamber taking aim at her smiling viciously. Ambra could smell murderous intent on him as he placed his finger against the trigger placing the barrel of the gun against her forehead. "Holy water." Ambra recalled the first and only time she had dabbled with holy water. She had been twelve and decided to start packing it in her arsenal of goodies that was until she spilled it all over her arms and hands. She had watched in horror as the flesh and muscle burned away leaving almost nothing until she had managed to rinse it off of herself with regular tap water. She knew if she survived it wasn't going to be pleasant experience.
Vergil's daughter took a deep breath as her gaze moved from the man to the large water fountain behind him. Her mind wandered to only a few hours earlier where she had sat with her younger brother in the sunshine feeling his support and love. Nero.
'Sorry.' She thought languidly as Gabe pulled Devastators trigger.
Kyrie ran into the guest house slamming the door behind her. It had been bad enough she had fumbled with the keys but now as her fingers trembled to lock the door again behind her tears began to flow down her face. She berated herself for being stupid wishing she had just stayed home to watch after Dante knowing well it was already far too late to start regretting her actions. Her feet flew to the back bedroom where he was afraid to turn on the lights that it would cause attention to the household. She was nearly certain she had lost at least a couple of them but knew it was only a matter of time before they found her. All of her life she had been around warriors and hunters, she knew what they were capable of. The worst part of it all was that these particular hunters had been trained with hatred fueling their predatory impulses that at the moment were aimed towards her. Briskly Kyrie made her way to the bed placing a hand against her nephews shoulder.
"Dante?" She whispered receiving a groan in return. The teen opened his eyes seeing the form of his aunt from his swollen lids. "Don't say anything just listen to me. We have to leave Dante. I think the protectors are here. They've over run the city and are looking for us." At her words Dante made an attempt to sit up only to be met with a sharp pain in his side. Kyrie placed a hand against his shoulder as well as an arm around his neck helping him to sit up. He visibly winced in pain as he felt his head swim. Kyrie knew that the boy wasn't ready to be moved from his bed but under the circumstances knew there wasn't much of a choice. She wasn't even certain if he would be able to walk but she had to try and get him to safety.
"Aunt Kyrie, you should…run." Dante said through closed teeth thanks to the wire that held his jaw shut. She replied by shaking her head forcefully.
"No way am I leaving you behind. I could never live with myself. Now I don't mean to rush you sweetie but we need to move. Come on swing your legs over the bed." She said steadying him as he did as he was told. His legs cramped from not being used in a few weeks as he placed his feet against the wooden floor. "Good, good." Kyrie praised sitting down next to him taking his arm to wrap around her shoulders for support as hers snaked around his waist. "Alright Dante on three, ready?" She asked.
"Yesh." He answered softly readying himself for what he knew wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. Kyrie counted to three and heard him grunt in pain as she helped him stand. He pressed his weight on her nearly causing her to topple over but a quick readjustment of her feet steadied them both. Kyrie decided a few minutes of allowing him to gain his balance and composure were best.
"You know Dante. I remember when you were so small I could pick you up by one arm and carry you around." Kyrie mused. Dante let out a soft chortle of sorts.
"Not so little, hmm?" He asked amused.
"No not at all. Look at you, big strong guy." She teased causing him to shake his head once.
"Yesh…lot a good it did…me." He said. Kyrie smiled despite herself.
"Was it really over a girl?" She asked unable to stop the words before they came out of her mouth.
"Yesh." He replied sounding somewhat embarrassed.
"Well she must have been something then to have caught you so off guard." Kyrie replied tightening her grip around his waist as she felt him begin to sway.
"She..was so beautiful Aunt Kyrie. Talented, amazing." Dante said. "I won't see her…again though."
"Why do you say that?" She asked curiously to which she felt a shrug. "She did get help for you didn't she? I mean to me that speaks volumes."
"How..so?" He asked his tone now taking on one of curiosity.
"Well Dante if she obviously didn't care about you in some way she wouldn't have. This girl would have just shrugged it off but she went looking for your mom and uncle, a girl who knew what they were capable of." Dante nodded in agreement.
"Mom hates..her." He said somewhat sadly.
"That's normal though granted her reasons behind it are I guess justified but I know Ambra and she won't condemn one person just because of the majority." Kyrie replied recalling the order and the savior.
"I guess." Dante said allowing what his aunt had said to sink in.
"If it was meant to be Dante then fate will bring you both together. That's the way of things." Kyrie said. Dante glanced down at the dainty woman his uncle had chosen to be with and smiled back at her the best that he could.
As a child he had adored her, admittedly even had a crush on her at one point in time. As he grew up he saw not only her physical beauty but her true inner light that shined brighter than the sun. Kyrie he was certain as an angel in disguise. She showed kindness and compassion to everyone even those who wronged her, though there was hardly anyone who would ever want to hurt the woman. The thought brought his attention to the present.
"Aunt..Kyrie. They..do they know who you are?" He asked dreading the worst as he felt her stiffen against him.
"Not exactly I don't think but they know I am someone associated to the family of Sparda." She said cringing as she remembered the ugly words that man had used to describe them.
"We..need to..go." Dante said softly illicit ting a nod from the woman supporting him. Slowly he moved his feet forward feeling the tightness in his muscles as the cold floor sent painful sensations through the souls of his feet.
Mentally he did a physical check of his self as he had done after every torturous round of 'electro-therapy' as he fondly liked to recall the incident. His ribs seemed to have healed fairly well but probably wouldn't be able to hold up if he were dealt a direct blow. His worst fear had been that his spine wouldn't have been able to heal itself and he would have been left paralyzed. The last blow that that big bastard had given him had left his brain numb and sent him reeling into unconsciousness as his head had snapped back. He had heard the pop of his vertebrae giving out and slipping out of place. Slowly he moved his neck to the side receiving a small crack but nothing to be concerned about. For the most part he deduced that the worst of the damage had managed to heal leaving only the superficial behind.
Why couldn't he be physically more like his uncle? It wasn't the first time the thought had struck him. When he was small he imagined growing up to be the big burly demon hunter but instead was stuck in his gangly body that seemed incapable of producing any type of muscle tone no matter how many protein shakes he chugged or weights he lifted. Damn genetics. His mother had said though that his father was, how did she put it, 'Too skinny to ever be considered sexy'.
'Well doesn't that just make me feel better about myself. I'll be cute but never really attractive. Great.' He thought to himself as they neared the door. The sound of splintering wood was what got their attention and Dante went on auto pilot. He wrapped his other arm around his aunt taking the brunt of the hit as the door seemed to explode off of its hinges into the room sending splinters flying in every direction. Kyrie let out a scream that Dante remotely registered as being his name. He turned around after he was certain the threat of the door had passed keeping Kyrie behind him. He blinked his eyes a few times in an attempt to clear them wishing that his face still wasn't so swollen.
"Who the…hell are you?" He asked angrily feeling the sting from many sharp pieces of wood piercing his skin.
"I would ask you the same question but I can smell the filth of Sparda on both of you. Granted your's is your blood and hers is only skin deep but still…" The person said stepping from the shadows into the room. The voice seemed feminine but Dante knew it was nothing short of a devil in disguise.
"Well so nice that you know who we are but you didn't…answer my frigin' question." He retorted.
"So rude I would have expected more from the grandson of Vergil. Given he too was a bastard at least he was a gentlemen." The demoness stated. "I am Valaria. I am here to bring you death." She stated simply as if it were a matter of course.
"Is that..so?" Dante asked vehemently.
"Oh yes." Valaria replied.
"I take it…you're with those protectors then?" He questioned to which he received a nod.
"Wait I don't understand. Aren't the protector's intent on ridding the world of demons and devils? Why would they employ one?" Kyrie asked suddenly catching Dante off guard.
"Do you really think they could pull off half of the stunts they do with out us? They are after all simple humans. Very simple humans at that." She said. Dante wasn't certain what exactly she meant by 'stunts' but filed it away to the back of his skull to mull over at a later time.
"And you're helping them…out of the…kindness of your heart I'm…sure." Dante said feeling his anger nearly reach its peak pushing him towards maximum rage. Was this the real reason why his uncle had never pursued the group? Had he known that they had employed strong demons?
"They allow me access and free run between what ever world I wish to reside in. It's as simple as that." Valaria stated.
"Well…sweets I got some news for you…this world is mine and I don't…take to people running around…doing as they please." Dante replied causing the devil woman to laugh out loud.
"Oh child, please. You are in no such state to stop me from doing anything I wish. You are weak and unarmed." She said taking a few steps towards them. Dante clutched his aunt's hand tightly knowing she spoke the truth. He watched as she advanced thinking that if he could at least hold her off for a minute or two it would give Kyrie enough time to run. He assumed that the rest of his families were somewhere in the city possibly fighting off the hordes of whatever. If she could find his mother or Nero then she would be safe. He had to at least give her that chance. With a squeeze to her small hand Kyrie felt her heart sink and she knew it was her nephew's way of telling her to run away. She grasped his hand back in an attempt to keep him close to her but he shook her hand off balling it into a fist readying to punch the demon in the face. Valaria stopped as she saw the boy advancing at her letting out a sight.
"Impetuous boy." She said placing her hands out in front of her using her energy to send out a small pulse wave that sent Dante back a few feet. He regained his balance and advanced again this time jumping up to try and land a kick to her midsection or head. When he didn't land again and felt himself suspended in midair knew he was in trouble, again. "Honestly if only Sparda could see how far his noble line has fallen. You child are a dunce." Valaria commented more to herself than to him casting him to a wall across the room holding him there.
"Dante!" Kyrie shouted running to his aide only to be caught by the wrist by the demoness.
"Hm, I take back what I said earlier. The stench of Sparda's blood does permeate your veins as well. It mixes with your own human blood feeding the abomination you carry." She remarked. Kyrie's eyes grew wide as the realization of what she said hit her full force. "Oh you didn't know yet? Well it is still quite early, a week gestation perhaps two but still it is there." Valaria said tossing the woman down to the ground. "I was once a favored one of Sparda, I too bore him children however one look from a human woman, a priestess was all it took to steal him away from me. My children died in their fathers name to fight for the sake of your weak race. So pathetic."
'Great a jilted ex-lover, thanks gramps.' Dante thought as he struggled against the invisible bonds that held him fast. Kyrie began to back away from
Valaria only to be knocked back down.
"This house will be your tombs." She said simply walking away with out a single glance back. Kyrie stood shakily before rushing to her nephew's side pulling at him in an attempt to free him from what she wasn't sure.
"Run." Dante said as he stopped struggling. Kyrie blinked back tears as she let out a cry of frustration. "Please…run." She looked at the teen and saw in the dim light from the window his resignation. She shook her head forcefully thinking about what the demon had said about her. She had to tell Nero. He would be so happy. Avangeline too. The thoughts seemed out of place in her head given the circumstances. She reasoned that by now they would be back from the city. It wasn't going to help Dante if she stood by while he was trapped and did nothing. She had to get him help.
"I'll be right back." Kyrie said running for the door feeling the electric charge shock her to her very core tossing her back a bit. She brought her hand up to the doorway passing it over it seeing the sparks that flew. She turned back towards Dante her voice nearly confined in her throat. "They've warded the house. We're trapped." Dante began to struggle again as her words reached his ears knowing it was ultimately in vain. He felt useless and pathetic.
"Damn it! I am..the great-grandson of Sparda and I can't…I can't…damn it!" Dante shouted feeling his body heat up with anger. Kyrie ran to the window tossing aside the curtain to see outside. The early morning sky seemed so calm while her insides were in turmoil.
'How confounding.' She thought to herself as something outside caught her attention. It was Valaria. The female stood with her hands placed against her hips as if bored staring straight at Kyrie as she brought one of her hands up sending a fire blast towards the window.
Dante ran through the streets of Fortuna choking on the smoke and ash that not only offended his senses but brought back too many memories.
"Fuck!" He yelled to himself, not for the first time since he had run into the inferno that was the main part of the city. His main goal after herding panicked humans running for their lives was to get to the guest house but with every block burning to the ground it all looked the same to him. "Yeah isn't this fun! This party's definitely rockin." He rounded a corner taking note that it was the main square and stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes registered what his mind refused. The figure of a woman lay on the ground arms splayed out to her sides as well as her legs and he willed his legs to carry his feet forward.
The alleyway was too dark to properly see the person that was laying there on the ground. It was almost dark and still overcast even though the rain had stopped a few minutes before he arrived at where Ambra had hurriedly instructed him to go. His hand let go of his guns allowing them to slip back into the holsters on his back even though he hated they way they trembled when he did so. The smell of the blood that was splattered everywhere was unmistakable even if most of it had been carried away by the rain still he refused to believe what his mind told him to accept. He stopped over the body of the woman as he felt his soul quake with in his body with grief.
"Star." He groaned out as if it would somehow rouse her from her now eternal slumber. He dropped to his knees placing a hand to her stomach as he felt his dinner lurch in his stomach and emptied its contents onto the ground. He swiped a hand across his mouth to wipe away the spittle from his mouth before gathering her into his arms. The angry bruises on her wrists declared that she had been bound while the one across her neck spoke of strangulation. It wasn't enough that they rip her child from her and gut her like a fish they had to choke her to death. Dante buried his face into her wet hair as he breathed in her scent desperately wishing he could catch one last whiff of her sweet lilac smell that her soul emitted only to be met with the cold stench of death. "Oh babe I'm so sorry." He sobbed into her hair.
Starina had told him on several occasions over the years that she thought she was being followed. She would come home from a mission or just a walk to the grocery store every once in a while visibly shaken but didn't know from what. Dante had simply shrugged it off which caused her to do the same because if he wasn't worried why should she be? He berated himself for being lazy and stupid. He wondered what Vergil would think if he knew his idiot brother had been unable to protect her. Dante had always known his brother had the hots for her but have never wanted to admittedly see it. She swore up and down she loved him; she always had, even when she willingly went with his brother and took part in the Temen ni-gru incident. Vergil would probably try to kill him if he caught wind of her death and he knew the demonic world would be buzzing with the gossip of how the little protector had been killed by humans.
Of his fact Dante was sure. He could smell humans. Very dark, twisted humans while there was a scent of one redeeming one the fact remained that the people who had murdered Starina were out for blood. While his grief was thick and he felt compelled to begin his own murderous rampage until he found out what happened to his son his thoughts turned to Ambra. He had to protect her from these people who ever they were. Dante stood with Starina in his arms in which he knew would be the last time he held her so close to him probably.
"Come on gorgeous girl. Let's go home."
Dante shook the old cobwebs from his mind as he fell to his knees next to his niece.
"Ambra!" He shouted as he held her close to him cradling her against him. She was still breathing, breathing meant alive. He swiped her hair aside with his free hand and grimaced at the bullet hole that still oozed out her blood even though it appeared it had been a few hours since she was shot. He brought his thumb to the wound feeling the burning pain as his skin blistered. "Oh come on! Holy water! Now that's just fuckin' dirty." Dante shouted into the burning inferno.
"Grandpa!" A familiar voice shouted as Ava ran towards him only to stop dead in her tracks as she froze in place. "What happened to her?"
"Not too sure but this shit's bad news kid. We gotta get the hell outta dodge. Now! Where's Nero?" He asked picking Ambra up causing her to groan stiffen in hi arms. "Just hold on doll. Uncle Dante is here now. Everything's going to be okay sugar." He soothed feeling her soften again against him.
'The guest house." Ava said already breaking into a run. The girl was more than grateful for her uncanny ability to heal quickly as more than once they had to break through something or other on fire. The worst damage she realized would be done to her hair. With a sigh she conceded it wasn't the time or the place in vain, besides her mother would fix it for her. As they neared the guest house and Dante knew from the amount of damage that had already been done it was where the fire had started. His stomach flipped as his thoughts turned to Kyrie and Dante.
'Please just once give me a happy ending. That's all I'm asking for, please let my family be safe. I swear I won't ever ask anything else ever again. Just let them all be safe.' Dante thought to himself as both he and his granddaughter came to an abrupt halt. There was a demon. It was clearly a male with an impressive wing span. His eyes blazed red as coals with his scales as black as midnight. His ivory white horns that sprouted from his head were small still marking him as an adolescent. He held a woman in his talons. Her red hair sparked and flared with demonic energy as he choked the life out of her. Avangeline brought her pistol quickly in hand from its holster and took aim ready to shoot the devil.
"No Ava!" Dante shouted bringing his hand to grasp at the barrel of the gun lowering it for her.
"But Grandpa that's…" Avangeline began before she was cut off.
"Dante." He said. Ava stared at her grandfather uncertain of what he meant before her eyes widened bringing them back to the demon. The female he held was clearly dead yet still he held tight unwilling to let go of the lifeless body. The elder Dante walked to his nephew cautiously knowing well what a half breed, or whatever it was he was, in full trigger was dangerous especially the first time. "Hey kid." He said breaking the ice. Dante turned his coal red eyes to his uncle glaring him down. Dante felt his own eyes spark of their own accord as his devil clamored to be let loose and show the upstart who exactly he was challenging. Dante swallowed hard to keep it at bay. "Look the bitch is dead. Let go."
He watched as his nephew blinked a few times before turning his attention back to the female who stared back now with glassy eyes. He snarled at her angrily before tossing her aside into the fire that had been a house.
"Good now the trick is getting you to calm down because I don't want to have to unleash hell on your ass Dante but you damn well now I will." The teen brought his attention back to his elder as he caught an eyeful of his mother lying limp in his arms. He growled again showing off his fangs that dripped with venom while his palette craved blood. "Chill the fuck out Dante!" The elder hunter shouted the same way he did when he had been an unruly brat breaking his stuff.
He watched as his nephew blinked a few more times shaking his head from side to side. Slowly he felt the demonic energy subside back into his body or soul or where ever it went, Dante wasn't quite sure exactly. The boy fell to his knees gasping for air the bruises he had had earlier gone. Ava took the opportunity to run to her cousin's side wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"Come on kiddy's time to jet." Dante said as Ava helped her cousin to his feet grasping his hand tightly as they attempted to run away from the burning inferno hoping there would be some sanctuary in the woods that lay beyond its outskirts.
"It's so weird. I feel different somehow but I think I'm still the same." Ava glanced back at her cousin after his comment and gasped feeling her lungs burn from the lack of oxygen in the air.
"Dante your eyes, they're still red!" She exclaimed.
"Really?" He asked with a pleased smile crossing his features to which Ava nodded. "Well good maybe people won't fuck with me anymore if I scare the hell out of them then." He let out a scoff for good measure.
"Yeah don't bet on that." Dante glanced back at the kids grateful they were both alright. "As for not feeling right you'll get used to it. It's normal for you to feel out of sorts once your human side dies and the devil one takes over." He said matter of factly.
"So which way did my mom and dad go?" Ava asked suddenly catching the boy off guard.
"Well you see…"
The fire blast ripped through the window melting the glass before actually breaking it. Kyrie let out a screech as she attempted to save herself by falling to the ground with her head to her chest and hands covering her skull. Dante knew it was futile based on the sheer magnitude of the blast. It wasn't fire it only resembled it, it was raw demonic energy directed at Kyrie specifically. He prayed that the hell fire would kill his aunt instantly.
'Please don't let her suffer. She's too good for that.' He had thought frantically in the few precious moments that she was still in tact. His prayer fell upon deaf saviors or gods or prophets or whoever it was that was supposed to keep watch over innocents because Kyrie had suffered. The energy clung to her skin burning her slowly, deliberately to cause her an excruciating death. Dante felt his soul seize in his chest as something took over. The room became hazy as his senses dimmed down to nearly nothing. His aunts tortured screams faded into the black along with whatever reason he attempted to retain.
"Kyrie!" He heard the yell as well as a strangled scream from outside. Minutely it brought some of his hearing as well as sight back. Nero burst into the room by way of the melted window and now crumbling wall grasping her to him as he wrapped his energy around her binding it to her successfully cleansing her of the vengeful Valeria's malicious attack but he knew the damage had already been done Kyrie was close to her last breath. Nero held her close to him as his eyes fell onto his nephew. Rage filled his soul pure and blind as he watched him struggle against the bonds that held him. He felt his hand grasp the hilt of Red Queen as he revved it hearing the demon woman outside begin to recuperate from her nasty head wound he had given her. He could feel Dante nearly triggering knowing all he needed was a push in the right direction. Any other time he never would had conceived what he was about to do but in his anger and hurt Nero could give a damn less. He gently let Kyrie back down on the ground before standing in front of his nephew. "Here, let me help you." Nero said impaling the teen straight through the heart.
It caused him no satisfaction to see the blood bubble out from the boy's mouth or watch it gush from the wound he caused once he dislodged his sword but knew ultimately it was for the best. It wasn't Dante's fault he hadn't been able to protect Kyrie, Nero berated himself for leaving the city. He should have stayed. "Now be a good boy and avenge your aunt dip shit." Dante heard as his eyes closed heavily on their own and his breath choked off in his throat.
"I'm not sure where they went too Ava." He replied honestly leaving out the part where he was more than sure her mother was dead. Dante caught the boy's hesitation fearing the worst.
"This way." He said jumping up and over the large stone wall as they reached the edge of the city. Dante and Ava in turn followed the older man barely missing a beat when the landed breaking back into a run.
"Uncle Dante, Yamato…it's…." Ambra whispered softly causing Dante to glance down at her.
"Oh where have I heard this one before?" He replied receiving the small smirk that he wanted to see on her lips.
"Sorry. I…I screwed up again." She said attempting to regain consciousness. He held her closer to him in a tight squeeze.
"Don't worry about it doll. We'll get Yamato back for you. Hell last time not only did you find your sword but you found your brother too. Can't wait to see what we'll find this time." Dante said trying to put her mind at ease.
"One crazy party." Ambra remarked.
"What else would you expect from me? Life's just one big rave for us!" Dante exclaimed sarcastically.
"Vergil would be mad at me, right?" She asked.
"Hey don't you worry about your dear old dad okay? That prissy ain't got nothing on you babe and that's the truth." Dante said feeling Ambra sigh. Dante had made it a point when she was a child to refrain from using his favorite words to describe his twin but once puberty hit it was no holds barred and she had heard them all. She had often wondered if one of the reasons her uncle insulted her father so adamantly was because he was angry at him for strapping him with the responsibility of being a father to her but knew in her heart that that wasn't the case. Aside from the first years following her mother's death he had been her white knight. He was always there to chase the monsters away and make her feel safe, even still at her age. She couldn't help but muse over that fact but it was true. For a while she had been horrified by the fact that she knew she was in love with her uncle that was until she understood that it was strictly plutonic and he felt the same. It had even become one of their jokes that they shared that not many people understood. It was the strength of the bond that they had to form out of necessity in order to survive a world that hated them for what they were and craved their blood.
Dante looked back down seeing she had passed back out knowing it was for the best. She was going to have one hell of a headache when she did finally regain herself fully but she still seemed mentally intact which had been his first major concern after seeing she was still alive. He picked up his run when he felt Nero's energy close by and stopped when he saw him huddled on the ground holding Kyrie the same way he was holding Ambra. His sobs reached their ears causing both Dante's to stop and stand a distance away as Ava ran past them straight to her father falling on the ground next to him.
The blaze from Fortuna lit up the area well enough for the girl to see the evident damage that had been done to her mother. She smelled of brimstone fire and hellish intent causing the girl to see her own kind of fire.
"Mama!" She called out taking one of her mothers limp hands in both of hers. She stroked it gently not wanting to cause her mother anymore pain than what she knew she was in as her tears fell freely from her eyes. Kyrie opened her eyes as she gasped out her daughters name offering her a small smile. Ava briefly glanced at her father watching his normally serene eyes change from light to dark in seconds, it was strange to see them glacier then midnight but knew it was because of his inner turmoil as well as his tears. "Papa, help her." Nero shook his head sadly.
"Baby, I can't." He said miserably. Ava brought her eyes back to her mother watching her struggle with each breath wishing there was something she could do to make her mother whole and healthy again. It wasn't right. Her mother was one of the good ones. She helped the hungry, tended to the sick and wounded. She had always taught her to protect the innocent with her weapons and always give people the benefit of the doubt; there was goodness in everyone. Avangeline shook her head.
After her ordeal she had been reduced to nearly nothing. The only thing that kept her sane was her mothers calming voice. Whenever she felt herself drifting she would focus on her mother's voice and her warm reassuring embraces. When the demons in her own mind surfaced causing her to see all of those horrid things that other people couldn't see her mother made them go away. Who would make the monsters go away if her mother wasn't around anymore?
"Mama don't die. Please don't die. We need you, papa and I both need you mama please don't go." Ava gushed out feeling her soul in anguish as she sobbed. She closed her eyes tightly feeling her mother squeeze her hand to the best of her abilities.
"Oh, Ava." She managed to whisper out before turning her attention back to Nero. Her eyes fell on his and her heart swelled with love for her husband. "Nero…you will…never..g-guess what our…our love made." She said softly barely holding on.
Nero felt his heart stop dead in his chest as Avangeline reopened her eyes wondering what her mother was going to say. Nero sniffled pathetically trying to find his voice knowing she was moments away from her last breath and she was using it to tell him this.
"What did our love make Kyrie?" He asked his voice coming out flat as he attempted to regain some form of composure for his wife and daughter. He had to be strong. He could be strong. He would be for them. Kyrie deserved to see him one last time as she said she did; a fearless warrior.
"It made…a baby." She said barely audible as her eyes rolled back in her head and her eyelids closed indefinitely. That was when Nero lost it.
Dante felt his fingers hit something hot to the touch. He grasped it ignoring the pain it caused his hands to pick it up and wondered how it had ever survived. The picture frame was blackened from the fire but the pictures inside seemed intact. He held them to his chest knowing that now this was the only way he would be able to see his mothers soft smile or his brothers brash grin and Starina's brightness. Slowly he stood glancing around suddenly feeling exhausted from the entire ordeal.
"Damn I hate fires."