Authors note: Took a bit longer, probably cause I ran into a problem of typing out a story and then not liking it anymore, so I had to start all over again.

But I have something to give you for reading. Hopefully it will be enough till I manage to figure out how to do the next theme, all depends how comfortable I'll be in describing something I'm not really familiar with.

12. Whisper

When you have demon blood in you and don't shy away from walking among humans, you are faced with the fact that sometimes your sensitive ears pick up every whisper in the room you just walked into. And some you won't like one bit.

Dante just shrugged them off. No matter how much humanity evolves regarding equality and tolerance, there will always be whisper when they see someone different from them. If he cared about everything that people say about him and started slapping them around for it, he would find himself going from hero to villain real fast. And he could bet that at the end of that road, if he were still alive, would be Vergil, standing with his arms wide open and saying: "I told you so!"

Nero was different. He took everything to heart. Thankfully, he never thought about taking any hearts for it, being too nice and all, but all that hiding and being depressed was breaking the hearts of everyone around him. Especially Dante, who saw in that kid something like a little brother, or maybe even a son.

The only whisper he wanted the moping teen to care about was the one that passed his lips, telling him that everything will be alright, that he will always be there for him.

13. Echo

Deep in the caves everything echoes. His voice echoes, his heavy footsteps echo, even the sounds enemy makes echo, making it harder to determine their exact location.

This particular cave was a tourist attraction and made to be as safe and comfortable for regular, not much into exercising, people as possible. There was a marked path that continued into a railway when large spaces were interrupted by long passageways, and all along there were electric lights, some broken at the moment, but still enough that he didn't need to rely on his night vision for most part.

His job took him away from this luxury, from spacious caves decorated with breathtaking formations of stalactites and stalagmites, into the cold darkness, where every now and then a tourist would vanish never to be seen again.

From somewhere in the distance he could hear water dripping, not just one rhythmic sound, but many from different directions.

And then he saw them, red glowing eyes in the dark. Waiting for him, waiting to draw his blood and tear his flesh till there is nothing left of him but scattered bones.

Well he ain't going to give them that pleasure. His twin guns could also produce a rhythmic sound. One that echoed far away and was followed by screams of dying demons.

And then it was dark again. And once again the only thing breaking the silence was the sound of water dripping. Somewhere in the distance, the hunter in red continued his quest of bringing light where dark reigns.

14. Jealousy

No, he was not jealous. Okay, maybe a little bit.

He was looking forward to this night. Trish was back from another one of her travels and he managed to talk her into getting few drinks at the bar and catch up on what's happening in each others lives like two old friends.

But as soon as Dante let his blond partner out of sight to visit the bathroom, he swooped in like a hawk with the intention of stealing her away.

Upon returning Dante sincerely wished they just stayed at home, where there is plenty of alcohol and he is the only man around. But it was too late now, Trish quickly introduced him as her business partner and continued to happily flirt, even play with her hair, with this newcomer.

He was attractive, Dante had to admit, one of those that have a gym membership and actually use it. And apparently he has a good dentist, too, judging by his pearly white smile with no imperfection. Oh how happy would he be to give him an imperfection or two with his fist.

Wait, why was he jealous? Trish and him were never an item. As much as he loved her, the fact that she looked like his mother's long lost slutty twin would always stand between them.

But maybe that was the problem. A woman with his mother's face and an unknown man standing so close to her, making her smile, taking her attention away. Away from him.

Could he really be that childish, he asked himself, eyes fixated on the glass of whiskey in his hand.

Yes he could!

Jumping on his feet, he grabbed Trish by the arm and dragged her outside so fast her suitor didn't have time to figure out what was happening, let alone react.

"Let's go home, it's really stuffy in there." It was a poor excuse, but he was too upset to think of a better one.

For a moment Trish considered to fry his ass for being a possessive jerk, but then she noticed how jealousy made him look cute. And besides, revenge is a dish best served cold.