Chapter 7: Discovery
Dante parted his lips, but couldn't express his thoughts into words. Gemma stood steps from Dante, holding her arm as though it was limp. This appearance of hers shocked the man; she appeared before him as a demon peeling out of moist flesh It was too real. In a selfish way, Dante hoped he'd never see her like this. He didn't think he'd see this woman breaking in-between transitions.
Suddenly her words caught up to him. She said she needed to kill. Is she implying what he thought she meant yesterday? She's a demon in human flesh. Dante, still holding Braith, glared skeptically.
"What do you mean... you need to kill?" His tone uttered seriousness. He urged for comprehension. Gemma gripped her dripping arm and glanced between Braith and Dante. The black tears from her cheeks fell to the floor.
"...I need...to kill a woman, Dante." She sighed in exhaustion, "I need a woman's... flesh. Don't you see, Dante!?" Gemma's voice shuddered. She held out her hand, showing the clump of black slime to him. He was a demon slayer and she was begging him to do such an ominous task. Dante stared at her long and hard before clearing his throat. He stared at her with cold eyes. For her to ask, he couldn't awe at the fact. Her face looked degradable; the skin was peeling and strong with blood rushing veins. Her brown eyes, though, grew docile and innocent. She was begging for an answer. Dante huffed.
"No." He finally replied with a frown, "I'm the protector of these humans, not a murderer of them." She, instead, didn't rage, but her eyes grew watery. She didn't see it like that; she thought of it as generosity from their kind. She held her cheeks with her hands. She looked over at her daughter who remained still in Dante's arms. Her expression was of concern. Gemma looked up at Dante, trying to surpass his aggression.
"Dante, if I don't find another skin soon, I'll be sent back to a place worse than Hell!" She reasoned, "I broke my contract, Dante!" He didn't listen; his blood boiled heavily. He glared down on her; maybe all this time she was just a user. She used people for her personal benefit. She didn't think of others; she thought of herself.
"...Then maybe that's where you belong." His harsh words cut deep, "You're acting just like a greedy demon...I thought you wanted to be human." She wanted to cry, wanted to look him deep in his eyes that she needed this. But his answer was enough. She wasn't going to fight it any longer.
"Fine." She stumbled towards Braith, picked her from Dante's arms, and their diaper bag, and stomped to the door, "It's always been about you." She said before shutting the door. Dante stood there quiet and speechless. The moment before Gemma slammed the door, he saw a glimpse of Braith about to tear up. It was the first depressive facade she had ever shown to him. A feeling of ache hit his chest; was seeing the little girl leaving with her mother painful for him?
He denied it. He looked over at the wall and punched it fiercely. A dent was made against the metal. He slowly pressed himself off the wall and looked at the dent. It was deep. He exhaled heavily and rushed to the fridge in the kitchen. Quickly he grabbed a bottle of beer and beige. He knew he wouldn't be happy or tired for the rest of the night.
The streets weren't silent with Braith whining. Luckily, the skies were grey and Gemma hid in the shadows away from the human folk. Braith's cries were loud and aggravating to Gemma's ears. She hushed her daughter repeatedly by rocking her in her tired arm. She didn't want to see Braith sad, but she couldn't stay with Dante. His ignorance bothered her; it wasn't the fact of murdering someone bothered her, she had done it before, but the fact of all the kindness and politeness she offered to Dante, she thought she was just. Her mind was blinded by false morals. Tired and sleepy, Gemma stopped at a bus stop bench and sat down with Braith on her lap. The girl continued to cry.
"Braith, it's okay." She attempted to calm her, "We don't need him." Her words didn't appear to do better. The girl's eyes were red and her whimpers were annoying. Gemma sighed and looked both ways of the street. It was empty and the wind picked up. Gemma held her cheek to feel the ooze drip. She was disgusted with herself; she didn't want to resort to revealing herself as a demon. Especially in a world where Limbo and humans have combined. She was destined to be targeted and killed now by fellow city folk who braved missions like Dante.
Gemma's eyes began to water and her tears and slime mixed together. She whimpered, trying to suppress her sadness from Braith. It was too late though; Braith witnessed it behind her cries and stared at her mother sympathetically. With her tiny hand, Braith cupped her mother's chin.
"Momma?" Braith said. Gemma looked up and met her daughter's eyes. She couldn't help, but to cry more. All these feelings and emotions Gemma expressed took a heavy toll on her. She couldn't remain crying for the rest of her disintegration. She had to go find a woman... and skin her before Gemma, and Braith, were sighted by anyone.
It was only the afternoon and Dante was still drinking. He slumped against the couch, staring at the coffee table. He could envision Braith standing on it. He then looked over at the kitchen and a envision of Gemma taking the trash out came to mind. He frowned in anger and chugged his beer. After Gemma and Braith left, Dante wanted to forget everything about the two. He believed they were different. He believed Gemma was innocent and didn't want to resort back to becoming a demon. He was wrong. He couldn't think about the situation straight. The alcohol was clouding his mind. He suddenly figured something; he had to get out and let off steam. He didn't want to find Gemma. Not yet. He figured hunting some lesser demons could cool him off. He got off the couch, grabbed his jacket and headed out. The beer he drank sat on the coffee table, lonely and uninterrupted.
Dante walked passed his neighbor's trailer. It was still surprising to think this lady still remained in this part of town, being old and lonely. He really didn't know anything of her, but she was nosy and seemed to be very fond of Gemma and Braith. He then hoped the old hag didn't see the commotion and Gemma's current form. Last thing he needed was an earful from someone he hardly knew. Suddenly, the lady's door opened frantically. It was too late to escape.
"Dante!" The lady cried out, "Is everything okay?! I think I saw Gemma not too long ago." Dante glared at the woman over his shoulder and continued walking. The old lady stepped out of her trailer, making the steps creak. Dante didn't want to deal with this woman; she wasn't a demon, so he didn't want to kill her. He didn't want to be hypocritical since this idea was like Gemma's.
"Did they leave? Braith and Ms. Gemma?" the elderly woman asked, "I was going to come over and invite you three for lunch."
"Go away." Dante replied, aggravated by the woman's brown-nosing, "They're not coming back." Dante heard the lady gruff and stomp her foot. She appeared taken back.
"Did you do something to them?! I swear I'll-"
"DO WHAT?! HIT ME WITH YOUR FUCKING FRYING PAN?!" He turned to her and bursted out. The lady hesitated; although she continued to stare at him, her eyes grew wide and frightful. Dante saw the expression she held and sighed. The woman smacked her lips before she spoke.
"...I was only trying to help, boy." The woman managed to say, "If you knew what compassion was, you'd understand." The woman stepped back into her trailer and slammed the door behind her. Dante stood there, alone and uninterrupted. The wind picked up, but it didn't bother him. What did was the old hag's words. He decided he needed to do something about what's happening to Gemma. He needed answers, not violence to solve what was going on. He needed to talk to someone. Someone who knew spells and incantations. He knew exactly who to go see.
The wind created an eerie whisper against the sidewalk trees and ghetto avenues. It was too quiet considering many homeless people would live around these parts, but Gemma was used to this. From her experience, the homeless migrated to warmth and food and temporary shelters. The two days she stayed with Dante felt like her perspective changed quite a bit. She was homeless for two years before meeting Dante; she lived on the streets, scavenging for food, and hiding herself from other demons. She lacked fighting skills and solved her situations by escape. It came to her realization, she just did that with Dante. Instead of continuing to fight him, to make him understand, she left.
She sighed and walked passed a large apartment complex. Braith lied cradled against her mother's chest and arms tucked. The building looked renovated compared to its' neighboring buildings. Suddenly a sound caught Gemma's attention. It was from either the second or third floor of the apartments. Gemma stopped and stared up at it. The sound came again, more or less, of a woman.
Gemma's eyes widened. Her desire for flesh started to feed on her thoughts. Maybe this was Gemma's chance; she possibly had the chance to rejuvenate herself again. This area was desolent and there appeared to be no witnesses. Gemma's heartbeat increased, and Braith noticed. Her daughter's head lifted up to look at her mother with curious eyes. To see her mother like this, it appeared Braith was used to this. Maybe she's see it before? Gemma looked down at her daughter and smiled.
"Can you be a good girl for mommy?" She asked her little girl sweetly, "Mommy's going to get better, okay?" Braith, without a word, hugged her mother's neck and with that, Gemma walked up the stoop and entered the apartment complex.
Author's Note: Hey~ So if you're reading this, thank you! Also, if you're wondering how can Gemma's skin peel from sweat and moisture and not from the hot shower, then that will be answered. Actually the hot shower started her to peel. The club made it worsen because of the excessive heat. Gemma hadn't showered for ages because of this condition of her skin. I hope that answers any questions!