Bleed For Me
Chapter 4
The rain had begun sometime while Amy was telling Dante the story she had never forgotten. It had played over in her mind all these years, every waking moment when she wasn't keeping busy had reminded her of it, never letting go.
Now here she sat, looking into the face of a man who looked like an older version of the boy she once thought she knew. A face she never thought she would see again aside from her dreams and her nightmares.
Vergil had never really understood her reasoning for why she'd taken to him after their first encounter. In those days most people had thought it was a crush, but if anything she had feared the steely gaze that had glared at her on a daily basis. It wasn't love that bound her to try to get to know him, but familiarity.
The night she had tripped over Vergil she didn't honestly expect to find him lurking outside the door, especially with how cold he had been to her since her arrival. But the fact he had been caught there fascinated her. Not to mention it brought about painful and yet comforting memories of her younger brother Nathan.
The details of her past were never something she wanted to discuss, and somehow she felt they were hers, and hers alone to know. But she mentioned to Dante that she had had a younger brother who died. He, like Vergil, would listen to her play the piano.
The image of Vergil outside the door had momentarily made her believe it was Nathan there, crouching near the door to listen to her. The fact he seemed to loathe the very sight of her added to her own curiosity about Vergil as a person. He never took an interest in anyone or anything and yet he'd religiously followed after her when she left her room at night.
She had never told him she'd known he'd been listening to her play the entire time, because despite the fact he was outside the room it felt like she had someone there with her. Vergil seemed the type who took his pride very seriously, and if he'd known she enjoyed his quiet company he might have stopped coming all together. She had to let him think it was all his doing and not for her benefit.
After the night he came inside the room willingly things changed. While he was still quiet and easily annoyed he did show her more courtesy than he had previously. On occasion he did allow her, during their night time excursions to ask him questions, but they were generally short or one word answers.
The thought of this Vergil made her smile. He was with her the way he was with no one else and vice versa. They had found quiet companionship with one another, and soon she found herself anxious to be near him, to know more about him.
A year and a half after she arrived at the orphanage a new boy came to the school. David was tall, and at the same time, a wide boy with dark eyes and even darker hair. He was polite to the teachers, but there was something in his smile that spoke of cruelty. It made Amy unconsciously walk slowly to Vergil's side and take hold of his sleeve.
Vergil took no notice of her, but glowered at the boy like he did every new arrival. Even so, she could've sworn she saw his hand twitch inches below her own as David's eyes fell upon the two of them.
"What do you think of the new boy?" Amy had asked him later that night as she idly played with the keys before her.
"I don't think anything of him" he said simply, head leaning back in the chair he was sitting in, eyes closed.
"He scares me, I don't really know why" she continued hitting the same two keys over and over.
"He should, I've seen that kind of smile before"
Amy looked up to see Vergil staring at her over his nose. "You have?" she asked looking towards the fire, never really able to look at him when his eyes seemed so concentrated on her.
"Of course... Every morning when I look in the mirror". She noticed there was the smallest hint of amusement in his voice, and it made her smile.
"Your smile has never scared me... Then again I don't think I've ever seen you smile" Amy looked down at the keys again, he was still watching her and it made her feel uneasy.
"Be glad, the day you see me smile won't be a pleasant one" he said, his voice dropping an octave that made the room suddenly feel cold.
Amy fell silent at these words. What if I want to see you smile? Although she wasn't sure if she'd want to see the smile he spoke of. The child in her wanted to think everyone could smile with ease, but Vergil was different. The smile she wanted to see she wasn't sure if it was something he would give so easily.
Amy jumped at a brush near her shoulder and almost fell off the bench when she realized Vergil was no longer in his chair but standing behind her. "You're not playing" he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Oh!" Amy set to playing, although she was still distracted by the fact he was still standing behind her.
"Don't worry" Vergil said, leaning down and whispering over her shoulder, his cheek so close to her own. "If he tries anything I'll kill him". A tremble ran through her, although she wasn't sure if it was his claim to kill or the closeness of him speaking into her ear. She feared the daring in his voice, it didn't sound like an idle threat. Some part of her heart leapt at the protectiveness in his voice though, whether he had meant it to be there or not. Amy cleared her throat.
"Want to try Vergil?" she turned only slightly, not wanting to capture his eyes. "I'll teach you..."
Vergil remained leaning over her side for a moment before sitting next to her. She felt a bit more relaxed now that he wasn't hovering over her, but then she realized that this was the first time they'd sat side by side. She turned to look at him and found him concentrating once again on her. This time however she didn't look away, more like couldn't. His eyes weren't icy, in fact he actually looked...interested in the idea of learning to play.
"Well?" he said after a long moment. Amy didn't know if this was an open invitation but he put up no objections when she took his hand and set it in place on the keys.
The nights turned into practice for Vergil, although Amy had never tried to teach anyone before he adapted quickly to playing. Even seemed to be enjoying it, although he was quick to point out when he learned to play himself he would have no need for her after all... She never knew if this statement was meant as a joke or seriously. She hoped he would never toss her away like that.
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The new boy David was 17, two years older than Amy and Vergil. He had a very manipulative air about him that adults didn't seem to catch onto. This scared Amy more than any of the bullying he had been doing behind the adults backs, because it meant he could weasel his way out of anything since the adults considered him a perfect angel. He would always wait until a teacher was not looking, or out of earshot to bully the younger kids. Which considering he was the eldest boy in the home at the time meant everyone... Everyone but Vergil and Amy.
To Vergil's great annoyance Amy had taken to following him around whenever David was in the same room as them. She couldn't help it, she somehow never felt safe if Vergil wasn't close by. It was easy to see why Vergil had been left alone, considering he looked a lot stronger than the 17 year old, but also because of his reputation. Amy believed Vergil was the only thing preventing the boy from bullying her. But it didn't change the fact David eyed her with that polite smile everytime she walked by him in the hallway. The same smile that spoke of cruelty.
One day in particular Vergil seemed to have reached some sort of limit with her.
"Amy..." Vergil said annoyed, standing straight and tall in the doorway. Amy's head poked out from around the corner but Vergil did not turn to look at her.
"Yes Vergil?" she replied, feeling like a child who was about to be reprimanded. She hated when Vergil got in these moods, they were the same age and yet he oozed a kind of unbreakable authority.
"I told you not to follow me didn't I?" Vergil still didn't turn around.
"Yes but..." she stopped as he put a hand up. He didn't say another word, just walked out the front door and shut it behind him. Amy stood in the hallway unsure of what to do next.
Jerk... her mind said. She knew she'd come to rely on him more than was necessary, but even though he was cold he was still the closest thing to a friend she had here. She wondered if she should sit and wait for him. Why should I? He would never sit around to wait for me... At this thought her heart sank.
Vergil had not come back by the time the sun had gone down, and despite her earlier feelings she sat on the bottom step of the front porch to wait for him, all the while feeling worried. She'd never known him to stay out so late. Amy skipped dinner and refused to come in when one of the adults came to talk her into coming inside.
"I'll wait for Vergil" was her only reply.
Amy wrapped her jacket closer to herself as chill of night set in. It was well after 10 now and still there was no sign of Vergil. Soon though she heard footsteps coming around the house's porch but to her dismay it wasn't Vergil. It was the new boy David.
"You waiting for that albino kid?" he smiled broadly, sitting down beside her. Amy said nothing, only pulled her jacket closer. "If you ask me, a wild animal probably got him"
"I didn't ask you" she snapped under her breathe.
"There are mountain lions out there, bears, poisonous snakes..." he continued as if he didn't hear her. "I wonder if that white hair of his turns red when soaking up blood"
Amy turned half glaring half wide eyed at him. He was putting thoughts in her head that she didn't want there. Could something have happened to Vergil? Is he all right? What if he's out there somewhere hurt...or worse...
Amy closed her eyes at the thought of it, trying to block out the idea of it all. She reminded herself of how strong a person Vergil was, and how stubborn. He wouldn't have went out if he didn't know how to take care of himself.
"Oh my God, what's that?!" David suddenly yelled, pointing out beyond the circle of light that came from the front porch. Amy's eyes tried to focus on a patch of bushes beyond the light. Something was reflecting there, glinting wet in between two bushes. Something...white.
"VERGIL!" Amy screamed as she jumped up to dash for him. David grabbed her wrist though to hold her back.
"Don't be stupid! Whatever got him could still be around!" David tried pulling her back but she wrenched herself away from him, not noticing that cruel smile playing on his face as she made her way into the darkness.
Tears were beginning to stream from her eyes as she tried to find where she had seen Vergil, but the white was gone from the spot. She knelt down to where it was and felt something wet and warm against her palm as she touched the ground where it had been. Blood, a pool of it where she had seen Vergil only minutes before.
"VERGIL" she cried out into the night. It wasn't Vergil who responded, but a small giggle just behind the bush. As Amy stood up she noticed one of the younger kids looking at her over the hedge holding a dead white rabbit.
"Got you!" he said gleefully before taking off towards the back of the house. As Amy turned to follow him, with her red eyes, Daniel came into view again. He smiled widely at her and turned to go into the house, whistling as he went.
Amy rubbed her bloody hand on her pants before crouching down. Despite the fact it was only a twisted prank she still felt the tears coming. She had never thought about what would happen if Vergil should go away. But the prank had brought it to the surface and forced her to face her unspoken fears. Alone... The revelation of it being a prank didn't calm her thoughts about where Vergil might be.
"Stupid girl"
Amy jumped as she heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned to see Vergil standing on the opposite side of the lawn.
"I TOLD you not to follow me, do you realize what time it is? Don't tell me you've been out here since..." he continued as he took long strides towards her. But Amy hadn't been listening. He didn't need to walk to her because she had flung herself around his mid section while he ranted about the time.
Vergil stood still, not saying one word as she cried into his stomach. She lifted herself up to her full height, never letting go of her hold on him, now crying just under his chin.
"Don't leave me behind again" she sobbed. "I don't want to be alone"
"Amy, let go" Vergil said after an awkward moment.
"No" Amy whispered holding tighter to him
"AMY! Let GO!" Vergil ordered. There was menace in his tone, that unbreakable authority.
"NO!" Amy yelled back at him, this time turning her face up to meet his own. For a moment she thought she saw shock in his eyes. Vergil could see she had been crying, but he was too unaware to really know why. To know the tears she had shed were for him.
Vergil stared down at her stubborn face, tear streaks making pathways from her eyes, to her cheeks, to her lips... Amy could feel his heart beat in his chest and felt warmth spread through her as she realized it was beating as fast as her own. Vergil lifted a hand and unconsciously wiped one of her tears.
"You really are a stupid girl" he said very low, his breath coming quick. Amy was lost somewhere in the blue fire of his eyes, but the flame there was too much for her to stand. She tore her eyes away and placed her head back under his chin.
"I am stupid..." she said softly chuckling. "But I'd rather be here and stupid than somewhere else and smart"
Vergil didn't respond, he almost seemed at a loss for words. He lifted his arms as if to embrace her but he hesitated, then took hold of her shoulders pushing her gently away from him. Amy looked up at his face at the loss of his warmth. Instead Vergil took her by the hand.
"It's late, and it's cold. We really should go to sleep" he said quickly, turning from her and walking towards the porch.
"What about the piano?" Amy asked trying to keep up with him
"Tomorrow night" he replied. The two walked in together, Amy gently squeezed his hand as they went. Her heart full to bursting as she felt a small squeeze in return.
Amy was amazed over the next couple of weeks at a subtle change in Vergil. She remembered their first encounter, but the boy she spent time with now seemed very much changed. He was still stubborn, arrogant, and cold but there was something very gentle about him now. He had stopped calling her "Stupid girl" and didn't mind her following him around. In fact he had begun playing for her at night, and sometimes they would play together.
Vergil had strictly forbidden her to leave his side if David was around. She had told him of the trick David had played on her. Vergil's eyes grew dark and she had heard sometime later of a small "accident" that had befallen the younger boy who had helped David. The boy wasn't hurt so much as scared whitless by something... or someone.
Whenever Amy tried to ask if Vergil had anything to do with it his answer was always the same.
"Would it make you feel better to know?"
He had grinned at her whenever he said this, knowing full well it wouldn't.
David on the other hand had seemed to take the hint. He rarely even looked at them anymore, but it was well rumored amongst the kids that David was known to call Vergil a "monster" whenever he thought it safe to do so.
"He thinks he's so clever" Vergil said as they sat outside by an old tree. "He only calls me those things because he knows I could break him in two... It would be a waste of my time too" Vergil continued as he laid back in the grass, arms tucked under his head.
Amy leaned over him.
"It doesn't hurt you? Him calling you that?"
"HA! It would take more than that to hurt me. He and I aren't even on the same level, he can't touch me. And if he tried..." Vergil picked up a dandelion and popped the weeds head off, throwing it back onto the lawn.
Amy sat in silence for a moment, watching his face. His eyes were closed and when they were she didn't feel so self conscious about looking at him.
"I don't think you're a monster" Amy said sincerely, turning before he could open his eyes and look at her. She leaned against the tree trunk closing her own eyes. She could feel him watching her, but she didn't care. It seemed like such a long time that they had a beautifully sunny day like this.
"Here" she heard Vergil say as she felt something fall into her lap. Amy looked down to see a small leathery bag. She looked up to see Vergil sitting next to her.
Amy took the small bag from her lap and undid the tie strings on it. As she turned it over a small hair comb with a light pink metallic flower, accented with opals and rose quartz jewels fell into the palm of her hand. Amy stared down at the antique and then looked up at Vergil.
"Don't get the wrong idea" he warned, not looking at her. "It was my mothers. It was one of the things I managed to recover from the house we use to live in before it burnt to the ground"
"Why are you giving it to me?" Amy asked.
"Technically I'm not... That night I was out late I went to the new place where I stashed the things I took from the house. Someone had been in there" he paused a moment. "I want you to hold onto this until I can find a good hiding place for it." Then he added quickly, still not looking at her. " You can wear it if you want to though"
Amy smiled at Vergil who still wasn't looking at her. She didn't understand him most of the time and today was no different. He seemed to hate her, and yet on more than one occasion he had surprised her with a single comment or gesture.
"Look, don't get all sentimental" he said. Amy hadn't realized how long she'd been staring at him. He took the comb from her hand and tucked it neatly into her hair. "If you lose this, I'll kill you"
"Then we'll make a deal" she said, coming out of her stupor. She reached her arms around to the back of her neck. For a moment Vergil didn't know what she was doing until she pulled a silver chain out from inside her shirt. She then leaned forward and clasped it around Vergil's neck. "This was the last thing my father gave to me." she looked up and smiled at him "You hold onto this and we'll exchange them when you find a new hiding spot for the comb"
Vergil picked up the charm at the end to examine it. It was a small silver key with a pure white stone set in the handle. "If you lose this..." Amy grinned broadly "I'll kill YOU"
"I'd like to see you try" Vergil retorted laying back down on the ground looking up into the blue sky.
By the time they decided to go in it had already grown dark. They decided to head down to the music room early that night. Vergil told her to wait by her room for him. They had been doing this ever since David had played the sick joke on Amy, mostly because Vergil didn't trust the line David had crossed on his first assault on her.
Amy went to her room to grab her sheet music and to tuck the comb Vergil had given her safely away. Vergil was not back yet as she stepped out her door, and so she waited. Waited, until she heard footsteps near the bottom of the stairs.
"Vergil?" she called out quietly, so as not to wake the other kids in the rooms around her. She got no reply, but again she heard footsteps.
Amy crept down to the stairs out of curiosity. As she hit the bottom step however she met David coming out of the dark room just beside the bottom of the stairs. She nearly collided with him and dropped her sheet music as she jumped backwards.
"What are you doing out of bed so late?" he asked casually as she bent over to retrieve her sheet music.
"Glass of water" she mumbled standing up and looking behind her for signs of Vergil.
"You need paper to get water then?". David snatched a piece of sheet music out of her hands, looking it over. "What's this? A love song for your white haired freak of a boyfriend?" He gave a cruel smile that made her take a step back.
"Please give that back" she said trying to sound stronger than she felt. She was suddenly aware of just how big he was in comparison to her.
"It is a pity, such a sweet young girl always spending her time with a monster like him" he continued, ripping the sheet in half. Amy reached out to stop him but he pushed her to the stairs. "Don't think you can touch me after being with that freak!"
Amy felt the stairs hit her back hard and for a moment she felt dazed, her eyes clouded by bright shapes that flashed in and out. When she tried to move he pushed her back down and came so close to her face she could feel his hot breath on her cheek.
"I might let you get close though, if you promise to stay away from him" he said in a coldly low and gruff voice. Her mind was still hazy, but she was very aware of how close he was. With Vergil no where in sight she did the only thing she could think of and kneed him in the groin.
Maybe he had thought her too weak to lash out at him, because his face looked very much surprised before it twisted in pain and he fell to the side. Amy scrambled onto her stomach and began climbing the stairs on all fours. She felt a hand grab her ankle and as it did her weight shifted, her face crashing into the step. She could taste blood in her mouth from where she'd bit her tongue and a sharp pain in her ribs that made her gasp.
"You BITCH, I'll kill you!" David snarled behind her.
Then there was footsteps from above. Vergil stood at the top of the steps looking down at them, and at first she felt her heart sink at the look on his face. Was he going to help her, or just leave her here? But then something happened that she would never forget. Vergil's eyes changed, something in him changed and a look of sheer burning anger etched every fasset of his face. He leapt down the stairs, bypassing them both and turning with such accurancy to pull David off of her she could've sworn he had flown into him.
Vergil ripped David across the room and wrapped his hands around his throat, squeezing. David's face twisted in agony as his face turned bright red and his eyes bulged out of their sockets. Amy stood and ran to his side, pulling on his shoulder.
"STOP VERGIL! PLEASE!" she tried coercing him, but there was something wild and raw about the boy standing before her. He was out of control, in a blind fit of rage. She heard movement upstairs.
"What's going on down there?" a voice called. Amy turned to Vergil and pulled with all her might at him, but the voice of the adult seemed to have distracted him enough for Amy to pull him away. David dropped to the floor gasping for air as Amy pulled open the front door and ran with Vergil in tow behind her.
They ran for a long time, long enough for the lights of the building behind them to be barely visable anymore. Vergil dropped to the ground heaving as Amy collapsed by his side.
"God Dammit, you stupid girl!" Vergil hissed trying to catch his breath. "What were you thinking?! You should've waited for me like I TOLD you!"
Amy couldn't catch her breath, her ribs still hurt and now her lungs were on fire from running. Her mind was reeling from the sight of Vergil almost killing someone. There was no doubt in her mind now that he could have killed David if they hadn't managed to have woken everyone in their struggle.
Vergil stood up again, still fuming, pacing back and forth. Amy sat up on her knees and watched him with a look of anger in her own eyes.
"How was I supposed to know he'd be waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs? I thought it was you waiting for me!". She realized this was the first time she'd ever risen to one of his tyrades, but couldn't he cut it out long enough to realize just how horrifying that all was for her?
"You were the one who said he made you uneasy! I said I'd come for you at your room!" he growled pointing a finger in her face. "You've been following me around school like a lost puppy, why not at night when you're even more vulnerable?"
Amy just turned and looked away from him. She was too tired, and too hurt to fight about this. But Vergil swooped down and lifted her to her feet.
"Maybe you were hoping to run into him" he said very coldly.
"What?!" Amy yelled at him incredulously. Her green eyes glaring back at his icy blue ones. "How can you even say that?"
"Isn't it obvious" he spat viciously, digging his fingers into her shoulders. "I SAW the way he was always looking at you, and damned if you don't smile for every person who looks at you. Perhaps I interrupted something when I found you two tangled at the bottom of the..."
Without thinking Amy reached out and slapped him across the face. She watched him with a mix of disgust at his comments and horror at her own actions. Her body ached, and she could still taste the blood that had been trickling down her throat since she'd been knocked down earlier. For a brief moment her slap seemed to have tamed whatever beast had been raging within him. But as he turned back to face her she saw him smile and it terrified her beyond anything she had seen tonight.
Amy backed away from him until she bumped into a tree. Vergil sat fingering his cheek that looked bright red against his pale skin in the moonlight. His eyes flashed as he looked up at her and she couldn't think of anything as he slowly closed the gap between them. There was something very carnal in his eyes that threatened her. This was not the boy who she had spoken with just hours ago. The deepness of his voice when he spoke next sent a chill down her spine.
"I never wanted any part in this you stupid girl" he said in a very deep and husky voice leaning in close to her until he was whispering in her ear. "I should've just let him take you". A hand crept up her side and made its way into her hair. Vergil pulled very tightly, forcing Amy's face to look up at his as another smile spread across his face. Amy was trembling from head to toe as she struggled to keep her voice steady.
"You could have..." she said in a breathy, quavering tone. "But you didn't. Why Vergil?" Amy started to feel light headed. He really was much too close now, so much so that her eyes strained to focus as she looked at him.
"If you think I'm going to tell you I did it because I have feelings for you then you are sorely mistaken" he said softly with a mock chuckle. "If anything I did it because I pity you... You're a poor stupid girl who always smiles and isn't even brave enough to face up to her true feelings and desires. Instead she hides herself away where no one can hurt her." Vergil eased his grip on her hair as he continued. "You are like a parasite that clings to someone stronger than you, and feeds off of them to survive"
Amy tried to push him away but the more she struggled, the tighter he pushed her against the tree. "Let me go Vergil!" she spat at him, willing the tears that threatened to spill, away. She couldn't let him see her cry. "You are so cruel!"
"But isn't this what you wanted? To know me, the REAL me? You've been so inquisitive up until now. Am I your savior, your white knight? Tell me Amy, WHO will save you from me?"
He leaned in close and this time he captured her mouth with his. Amy was so shocked all she could do was stand there, watching him wide eyed. His free hand at the small of her back pulled her in closer, leaving no room between them. Amy wanted to pull away, but the warmth spreading through her demanded more. She knew he could have easily wrapped his hands around her neck at any moment and squeezed the life from her, but he didn't. He only deepened the kiss, taking and demanding with his mouth and his body.
She didn't have the will or the strength to fight him, and while this side of Vergil scared her, she couldn't help but be drawn in by the kiss that was not so terrifying. She followed his every move, induldged in his every demand.
Amy lifted her arms to embrace him and felt her knees give way as he pulled quickly from her. She fell to the ground at his feet feeling the cold night air against her face. She looked up to find Vergil walking away from her, leaving her confused and trembling in the middle of the clearing.