The following morning, Selene got out of bed. She felt full of inexhaustible energy every since her incident with Mead and the spear. Ever since ... she had seen her own power for the first time. Nero had promised he would help her understand it ... and Dante had agreed he would chip in.

She got herself dressed. Her black t-shirt was undamaged because it cut off at her midriff ... but her shawl had a gaping hole through the back. So she left it for now. It had been her mothers ... and she was a little upset that it had been damaged. But ... there were bigger things to worry about now.

Just as she strapped on the holster straps over her arms, there came a knock at the door. Then Dante poked his head around the door.

"Room service." He teased.

"What do you want?" Selene asked with a sigh.

"Awww. And here I thought you'd be happy to see me." Dante snickered.

Selene made an expression that said: 'Just get on with it'.

"Nero wants to talk to us." Dante said. "Not that I appreciate that kid giving us orders or anything ... but I guess we better head out. He called Lady and he has her on speaker phone."

Selene nodded, and grasped The Seraphim from the side table, holstering them.

Dante looked at her shirt, smirking as he read it.

"What ever doesn't kill me ... better run fast ...?" He read aloud. "Not the sort of thing a noble woman should wear."

"I think it makes the statement I'm aiming for." Selene said.

Dante chuckled. Not, he thought, with a body like yours it won't.

"You better not be ogling me, Dante, or I swear my gun ... is going to rip you a new one." Selene growled, glaring at him.

Dante raised his hands in surrender. "Me? Do something like that? I'm hurt you would even think that."


Selene and Dante wandered into Nero's study. Selene stifled a laugh. The book shelves were empty, the desk was cluttered with unorganised paperwork Nero probably had no idea what to do with it ... and he was using expensive, delicate antiques as papers weights, and one item Selene knew was worth more money than what her brother was probably paying Dante, was propping open the door.

There was a phone beneath all the crap on Nero's desk. Nero stood behind the desk, his hand poised on the speaker phone button, the receiver at his ear. When they came in, he pressed the button and lightly set the receiver down.

"Okay, slave driver, we're here." Dante said.

"Just what the hell have you been doing Dante?" Lady's voice squealed over the intercom of the phone. "I swear to god Dante ... what I said when I gave you this job ... I meant it."

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." Dante said, waving his hand dismissively, though he knew Lady wouldn't have been able to see it. "Just get on with what ever you need to tell me."

"First ... is Selene with you?" Lady said.

"Present and accounted for." Selene piped up.

"Good. I'm in London right now. I've managed to dig up a good lead, and I've found somebody else with an angelic weapon." Lady paused. "I'm going to send Belmont over with The Book of Gabriel. I'm still a little tied right now ... but I'll join you guys there soon. In the mean time ... just keep Selene in one piece ... without anything poking out of her ... and out of demon hands."

"Will do." Dante said.

"And Nero." Lady said. "Keep that Book of Michael you have safe."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Nero said.

"Give my best to Kyrie ... and my congratulations." Lady added as an afterthought, and then she hung up.

Dante sighed dejectedly. "God that was it? You got me out of bed ... for that little ear bending?"

Nero shrugged. "You really need to take this more seriously, Dante."

"I am taking this seriously. She's safe, isn't she?"

Nero sighed, shaking his head. It was pointless to argue with him. He turned to Selene.

"We're having a festival tonight." Nero said. "I think it would be best if you went. It would be easier for me to help keep an eye on you."

"You're still having that stupid ball?" Dante said.

Nero glared at him. "Yes ... and you're going with her."

"What?" Dante spluttered.

"You're her body guard ... so guard her." Nero made a smile that seemed to say 'gotcha'. "I can dig out a tuxedo for you ... and Selene, Kyrie has a dress you can borrow. She can't wear many of her old gowns because of her bump. I'm sure she wouldn't mind lending you something."

Selene nodded and smiled. "Okay."

"Nero! This is horse shit! You can't make us go." Dante said.

"You're right, I can't. So ... Selene ... if you decide you want to go willingly to this party tonight ... then Dante has to go, since he's your body guard. How about it? What's your decision?" Nero turned to Selene. "If you don't want to go, I won't force you."

Selene looked at Dante ... and then ... she smiled.

Dante was screwed.

"I would love to go." She said, poking her tongue out at Dante who huffed and stormed out of the room.

Selene folded her arms over her chest, chuckling to herself.

Nero looked at her. He really did like that she could get at Dante. The guy needed to be knocked down a few pegs.


Kyrie fussed through her wardrobe, holding out one garment, looking at Selene, then shaking her head.

"No, not that one either." She would say.

She got to the end of her closet ... and then stopped.

"I found it! Just the perfect one!" She pulled a white frilled dress from the hanger and held it up against Selene. "Yes ... this one is definitely you. Try it on!"

Selene undressed. When she pulled her shirt off she heard Kyrie gasp. Then she remembered.

"What is that?" Kyrie asked, pointing to the jagged scar running down alongside her spine.

"Oh. A scar. From a demon attack when I was a child." Selene said.

A scar from when her mother was killed, she thought.

"It must have hurt." Kyrie said.

"It did." Selene said solemnly.

Kyrie frowned. Selene had lived through a lot of pain. She smiled suddenly, desperate to change the subject.

"Well then ... let's get your dress on ... come on ... I can't wait to see how you look in it."

She helped Selene slip it over her head, and tugged it down gently. Selene saw the dress in better detail now. A corset top lined with silver thread and pearls, with feathery down lining the sides. The skirt billowed out slightly, and was lined with the palest pink frills down the sides, and silvery ribbons coiled down. The neck was square cut. The arm were long, and there was a loop the Selene had to hook her middle finger into, cause a triangular segment to rest over the back of her hand.

It felt strange not to wear her gloves ... she had worn them so long that she felt naked. Kyrie brushed through Selene's fiery red hair. She wished her hair was this thick and lustrous. Selene was a beauty alright.

Kyrie scraped her hair back ... and then clipped it up with a decorative bull dog clip with ivory roses showing at the back, making it look like the flowers clasped her hair to her head. Then her hair that poked out the top of the clip spilled out and coiled down Selene's back. She left a few tendrils at her ears, and teased out a little at the front.

Kyrie studied her. "You should see yourself ... though I'm sure you've probably worn better clothes than these."

Selene turned to the mirror. It had been a very long time since she had worn a dress. Kyrie may have thought she attended things like this every other night because of her noble family ... but the truth was-

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Are you girls dressed yet?" It was Nero calling in through the door.

"I still have to get dressed!" Kyrie called.

"Are you ladies ... you know ... decent ...? Can I come in a minute?" He called again.

"Yes, we're fine." Kyrie said.

The door creaked open. Nero paused in his step as he looked at Selene. For a moment he thought he had seen wings at her back, but it was just the stark white of the dress.

"You've done a good job, Kyrie." He said. "Here."

He handed Kyrie two black garter belts.

"Nero?" She squealed in disbelief.

"It's okay, they're infused with holy water. They'll act as a demon repellent. Just in case. You ladies put them on. I don't want anything happening ... especially not to you." He gave Kyrie a tender look and she smiled.

Kyrie's hand flew to her chest. "Oh ... sorry."

Nero made a sheepish face. "It was the best I could come up with ... something that you girls could wear that wouldn't affect your movement."

"No, no really it's fine." Kyrie said. "We'll wear them. Thank you. You're a sweat heart."

Nero nodded. "I'm ... uh ... gonna go. Dante is putting up a fight with the whole tuxedo thing." Nero said. "I'll see you at the party."

Kyrie handed Selene a garter belt. Selene turned and lifted up her skirts, sliding it up her leg and letting it rest on her thigh. The garter felt ... warm ... tingling against her skin.


Dante scowled, fiddling with his bow tie. He wanted to kill Nero. He imagined how he would do it, grinning with satisfaction.

"I don't see what the big deal is." Nero's voice came from the door way.

"You're not my favourite person right now, piss off Nero." Dante hissed.

"I can do your tie if you want." Nero said.

"You come near me ... and I'll cut you in half." Dante warned, his tone indicating he was very serious.

"Jeez ... it's just for one night, Dante."

Dante huffed.

Nero chuckled and closed the door, moments before Rebellion was hurled at it. Rebellion poked right through the door where Nero's head had been. Nero wandered off down the hall, dressed in a black tuxedo, smiling to himself.

Dante studied his reflection in the mirror. Unlike Nero, he had a white Tuxedo, with a crisp red shirt beneath, and white, polished shoes. He felt utterly ridiculous. Selene had certainly gotten her own back on him.

He stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He wandered through into the Grand Hall. As he walked in, shoving passed the usher at the door, who looked at him startled, he glanced at the guests gathered on the dance floor below. He stood now on a landing. A grand stair case led the way down to the dance floor where a band was playing dreary waltz music.

"Dante!" Came a voice in front of him.

He flitted his eyes up ... and the other side of the landing, by the stairs leading to the dance floor ... was Selene.

He sucked in a breath. She had always been a looker ... but now ... she was so beautiful he couldn't even speak. She swept towards him in her dress. His sour mood completely lifted ... and he finally forced his legs to move. He met her half way, at the top of the stair case leading to the packed dance floor below.

"Wow." Selene said, straightening his bow tie. "One might almost think you were a civilised gentleman."

"Shall we, my lady?" He said, attempting a prim posh voice, crooking his arm.

Selene smiled softly. "Of course, good sir."

She threaded her arm through his elbow, and together they walked down the steps. She used her free hand to lift her skirt. As they passed the bottom of the steps, Dante plucked a white rose from a flower arrangement.

"Here ... you just need one final touch." He threaded the flower into her hair by her ear. "There. Perfect."

"Perhaps you are a little charming." Selene said.

There were ballroom dancers swirling around the dance floor. Dante wasn't really sure how to dance like that at all ... and began to feel awkward. He noticed that a man was walking towards Selene, about to offer her a dance, enthralled by how she looked.

Dante placed his hand around her waist, and pulled here towards the dancers, cutting the man up. The man watched a little disappointed, his shoulders slumping.

"Dante, you know how to dance?" She whispered.

'No. But I thought I'd give it a try." He took her other arm and laced his fingers with hers. "I don't suppose you know?"

She nodded. "Of course I do. Here ... follow me. Just follow the music ... it goes one, two, three ... one, two, three ..."

They whirled along the dance floor, Dante mirroring what the other men were doing, guided slightly by Selene.

"There, you see. It's not as hard as it looks." She said.

"I still think it's boring. There's no life to this at all." Dante said.

"Well ... we could liven it up a little." She gave a mischievous grin.

Dante flung her outwards, her hand still grasping hers, then pulled her back in, spinning her around.

Some dancers stopped. Dante and Selene weren't following the dance properly ... but ... it looked like fun. Before long, everyone else was following suit. The band sped up the music, slowly sinking into something more upbeat.

Not really Dante's thing but a whole lot better than the snooze fest that they had been playing. He and Selene spun across the dance floor. Selene laughed as he twirled her again, throwing her out then wheeling her back in.

As they whirled along, Dante picked up another rose, holding it in his teeth. The ballroom dance had become more like a salsa, and the people around him were joining.

As the song reached its end, he spun her closer to him, and then leaned down, holding her tightly as he tilted her further and further back. She looked up at him, an infectious grin on her face. She took the rose from his mouth, raising an amused brow. He shrugged and then slowly his head lowered and Selene closed her eyes.

"Dante!" Nero's voice boomed to him.

Dante pulled up, bringing Selene up with him.

"Can't I leave you alone for five minutes?" Nero said.

"Hey ... this is supposed to be a party, not a funeral." Dante shrugged. "I just gave it a ... little more spice. That's all."

Nero shook his head, signalling the band to play the music as they had done originally. Then he trudged off to go and find Kyrie.

Dante chuckled to himself. "That kid really has no sense of fun since he took on leading these people."

"He's just trying to keep everything in order." Selene said. "Besides ... I'm a little bored. Do you want to take a walk?"

Dante nodded. "Sure thing."

They headed out the doors to the small garden that the Grand Hall backed out onto.

"You're a better dancer than you let on." Selene said.

"I may have some moves." Dante said.

They walked across to a fountain. The night sky was clear, a full moon blazed in the sky. Looking up at it now ... Selene felt ... different. It reminded her of when she was with her brother.

Dante opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He didn't want to ruin this moment. He studied her face as she looked up at the moon. Selene shivered ... and he put his arm around her.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Selene said, referring to the moon.

"Gorgeous." He said, referring to her.

Selene sighed deeply and leaned against him. Then ... there was a static shock that seemed to run up her spine. She stepped away from him. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

"Dante ..." She said,

"What is it?"

"I think ... I can feel something." Selene looked up.

Now, against the moon ... a large bird was homing in on them and fast. Dante looked up.

"A demon ..." He said. "Come on, move it. I need to get you somewhere safe."

He grasped her arm and pulled her along.

Selene barely had time to lift her skirt up, having almost tripped over. Ahead, the demon bird screeched, gaining ground to them quickly. Dante pulled her through the empty streets, hoping Nero had caught sight of the demon too.

Selene had sensed the demon before he had.

"Dante I-" Selene tripped over, wrenching herself away from Dante's grasp. She fell flat on her face.

Dante swerved around to stand in front of her. Too late now to get up and run. The demon swooped down, baking sharply ... and with a great blast of air, it landed. It looked like a smaller version of Griffon – the bird demon Dante had killed on Mallet Island, and it was jet black in colour like a crow, with sparks of black lightening snaking along its body.

He reached into the inside pockets of his tuxedo jacket, pulling out Ebony and Ivory.

"Son of Sparda!" It cawed. "I have come for the girl."

"Over my dead body." Dante growled.

It laughed gratingly. "I had hoped that would be your answer! So be it!"

Dante turned to Selene, aiming his guns at the demon. "Run! Get inside the Headquarters building, and stay there."

"What about you?" Selene said. "You've only got your guns."

"That's more than I need." Dante said. "Now get out of here."

The demon surged for him, snapping its beak at him. Dante fired at it, and it squawked, stumbling backwards. It then launched into the air, dropping a series of sparking black orbs his way. Dante fired at them. It took many shots before he could break even one apart, so he had to dodge the others that hurtled towards them.

As they hit the ground, they lit it with sparks of electricity. One of the sparks hit Dante ... and his body went stiff. Wave after wave of the electricity coursed his body until he cried out in pain. Forcing his hands to comply, shakily and slowly he lifted Ebony and Ivory.

"Dante!" He heard Selene scream.

He turned and saw her bolting towards him, dodging the bolts of electric racing along the ground. The demon was hurtling towards him. If Selene kept up her course, she was going to run right into its talons.

"No!" Dante yelled, using his demonic power to shift off the electric. He didn't do it quickly enough.

Selene threw herself in front of him. The talons of the demon pierced her side ... and then ... an eruption of light sent the demon flying backwards, the electrical charge ebbing from its body while it was weakened.

The garter on her thigh that Nero had given her, infused with holy water, had repelled the demon, and temporarily weakened it. The sparks coursing Dante dissipated as well. He watched in horror as Selene slumped to the ground in front of him, blood spewing from her.

"Selene!" He yelled.

Selene looked up at him.

"I'm ... okay." She managed.

Dante could hear Nero calling to him, he was tearing round the corner. But Dante wouldn't let him have this one. This one was personal.

As the demon bird got to its feet, it jumped into the air. Dante bolted after it, leaping after it. He shot it in the neck, sending blood spattering everywhere. Somersaulting, he kicked it down to the ground. It pelted down with a thump, the force causing it to bounce. Dante fired relentlessly as he fell down after it. Then as he neared ... he forced his fist into it with a cry.

The demon exploded, vanishing.

Selene was getting shakily to her feet. Already her wound was starting to heal.

"Dante!" She called, running up to him.

"You stupid girl!" Dante growled, rounding furiously on her.

Selene stopped dead in her tracks, stunned. "Dante ... I-"

Dante stalked towards her. "I told you to run, told you to get away."

Nero was now closer to them. "Hey! Dante calm down. Don't shout at her like that!"

"You ..." He pointed at Selene. "You have got to stop running into danger like that or you'll get yourself killed."

"But I-"

"No." Dante cut Selene up again, standing face to face with her. "You ... you've probably spent your whole life just waltzing around at parties, riding horses and all that kind of crap. Like I said before, I've got better things to do than baby sit some spoilt princess born with a silver spoon in her mouth. In the real world you sometimes have to do as you're told. And being that reckless when I told you to run ... I'll bet that's how you got your brother killed-"

Selene slapped him hard across the face, forcing his head sideways, tears burning in her eyes.

"Dante ..." Nero said. "That was a little harsh."

Selene ran away, trying her hardest to stop bouts of sobs from coming out. She would not cry in front of him.

"Selene, wait!" Nero called.

She ignored him, tearing through the streets and back to her dorm.

Nero turned to Dante and scowled at him. "Smooth move, Dante. You just couldn't stop being an asshole just for a moment, could you?" He turned away from him. "You should go and apologise to her. That was an awful thing to say. Even for you."

Dante didn't move. He touched his hand to his cheek. It really stung. He honestly hadn't meant what he said ... it had just come out.

Nero eventually walked out of sight, probably to go and rally his troop to ensure there were no other demons attacks on the back of this one. Dante sighed disgustedly, yanking off his bow tie and throwing it to the ground. What the hell was wrong with him?


Selene had shut herself in her small dorm room. She had taken off the dress, apologising for the hole and blood stains on it now. Kyrie had given her a cotton night dress to wear, assuring her that the damage to the dress was fine, as long as Selene was alright.

Then, Selene had asked to be left alone.

Now she sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing into her hands. How had Dante ever managed to hurt her that much? She thought about while they had danced … how she was sure when they finished that he was going to kiss her. But after what he had said …

She pulled the white rose Dante had given her out of her hair, staring at it. She had been so happy … happier than she had been for a long time dancing with him tonight. He had an uncanny ability to rile her … but at the same time … he made her feel-

There came a knock at the door.

"Go away, Dante!" She screamed. "I don't want to talk to you."

The door creaked open, and Dante's hand poked in waving a white cotton hankie as a surrender flag.

"Can I talk to you for a minute …?" He called softly through the door.

"Just leave me alone." Selene said, her voice breaking, throwing the rose away.

"Can I at least give you this …?" He drew his hand away, poking the other in to reveal a crudely made hot cocoa. He had even sprinkled on marshmallows.

Selene sniffed.

Dante opened the door, still dressed in his tuxedo. He had pulled open the first few buttons, the jacket was unbuttoned, his bow tie was gone, and his shirt untucked.

He brought it over to her and set it down on the side. Selene wouldn't look at him.

"Look … I'm …" He exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry. I was a total jerk. I didn't mean what I said. I deserved that smack … I deserve worse. I'll even stand here and you can shoot me a few times if you like."

Selene looked up at him, a tear rolling down her cheek. Dante sank down beside her, wiping the tear away.

"I just … forgot for a moment that you might be as strong as me, that you could heal … I thought the demon was going to kill you and I …" He sighed again, forcing him to say what was on his mind. "I freaked out. It's no excuse for what I said."

Selene looked at him. "I guess I'm so upset because maybe … it's true. I didn't listen to Michael that day either. He told me to run back to the house but … I didn't. I wouldn't. When I was a little girl I watched the demons rip my mother to pieces trying to defend us and I … I didn't want to leave Michael alone. I didn't have The Seraphim with me. I don't know how to use anything except for guns. Michael could use guns, swords, bow and arrows … just about any weapon. But I … I only learnt how to use a gun. We spent so much time running from demons that I never really learnt anything else." She broke into tears. "I didn't run. Instead I tried to take the demons on myself. A demon was about to swing for me and he … he jumped in its way … he took the hit. For me." She buried her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking. "It's my fault he died!"

Dante grasped her shoulders, wrapping his arms around her, pressing her to his chest.

"That's not true." Dante said.

"I was never born with a silver spoon in my mouth … I never went to parties … not with demons tailing me. I never made any friends, could never do anything else other people did. We might have been rich … but that meant nothing. We lived in fear. There is nothing money can do to stop that." Selene wept.

"I'm sorry I said that too." Dante said, rubbing her back soothingly. "I know you're nothing like that."

Selene cried against his chest, soaking his shirt. Eventually she subsided, sniffling slightly.

She looked up at Dante who smiled back at her. "Now … shut up and drink your cocoa, okay?"

Selene managed a bubbling laugh and nodded. She grabbed the cup. She peered into it. It was a far cry from the perfect presentation her brother had always managed. She took an experimental sip. It tasted just as good anyway.

"Thanks." Selene said.

"Why did you … jump in front of the demon …?" Dante asked.

"I though … I thought it was going to kill you. I … Nero gave me a garter belt soaked with holy water. I didn't have The Seraphim so I …" Selene trailed off as the rest was self explanatory.

"What about your wounds?" Dante asked.

"Completely healed." Selene said.

"Well … thanks … for trying to save me." Dante said. "If you like … I can teach you how to use a sword."

Selene beamed a bright smile. "Really? You would do that?"

Dante touched her cheek. "There isn't anything … I wouldn't do … for you."

Selene drew back in shock.

"I'm sorry." Dante hung his head. "I just … from the moment we met … I've just … felt something about you. It takes everything I have to control myself. I don't know what it is but … you drive me crazy."

Selene just stared at him, unable to will her mouth the move.

Dante pushed himself up. "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have said that either."

He began to walk out. Selene surged to her feet.

"Dante wait!" She called.

He was wandering out the door.

"Please … Dante … stop." Selene grabbed his arm and he froze. "You can be … infuriating sometimes. You drive me crazy. But I … it takes everything I have to not throw myself at you. I've never known anyone who makes me feel the way you do. I've never wanted to be close to anyone … because everyone I ever loved was killed by demons. So I tried to stop myself … but I couldn't … can't … please don't walk away, Dante."

Dante studied her face. He closed the door gently and turned to her.

Everything happened quickly. He grabbed her, pulling her towards him, turning her around so her back was against the door. Then his lips swooped onto hers, pressing his body against hers. She was kissing him back, her arms wrapped around his neck.

He ran his fingers through her hair, his kisses growing hotter and more insistent. He ran a hand down her side … letting them explore her body. Her hands were slipping to his chest, unfastening the buttons of his shirt. She slipped off his tuxedo jacket, and then his shirt, her hands sliding over his now bare shoulders.

They hobbled away from the door, lips still interlocked. Selene tumbled onto the bed and he followed her down. Propping himself up on his arms, he wrenched his mouth away from hers and looked down at her with heavy lids.

He face was flushed, and they were both starting to pant with excitement. He brushed a hand softly over her cheek.

"Selene …" He whispered.

He unbuttoned her night gown slowly, feeling her heart beat quicken. He pulled her up so she sat upright on the bed. The night gown hung half open. He shimmied so he was behind her, and he embraced her tightly, resting his head in the curve of her neck.

"I love you, Selene." He whispered.

He heard her sigh.

"I love you too, Dante." She returned.

Gently he slipped the gown off over her shoulders. As it slid down, he noticed her scar.

"What's that …?" He asked.

"I got it the night my mother was killed … when the demons came for my brother and I." Selene said.

Dante kissed all the way down her scar … wishing he could take it away. He couldn't. But he wouldn't let demons hurt her ever again.


The following morning, Nero wandered the hallway to Dante's room.

"That stupid ass better have apologised to her." Nero muttered under his breath as he neared the room.

Nero stopped at Dante's door and knocked. No response. He sighed disgustedly and banged louder.

"Dante! Come on, get up you lazy bastard!" Nero shouted.

When he got no response … he kicked open the door.

Dante wasn't in his room.

"He got up already." Nero mused. "Or maybe he just never came back last night. Still sulking."

He tapped on Selene's door to rouse her. He got no answer, and worried about her after what Dante had said to her. He carefully opened the door a crack and peered inside.

What greeted him was Dante lying in her bed, grinning at Nero with his arms behind his head on the pillow, Selene curled up to his bare chest, still asleep, her messy hair falling over her bare shoulders and back … their clothes strewn all over the room. Nero shook his head furiously and closed the door.

"God … he really is an asshole." Nero growled.

He stormed off down the hallway.

"When I told him to apologise … that is not what I meant." He mumbled as he stalked down the hallway.


Selene stirred, her eyes opened slowly.

"Morning." Dante said softly.

She looked up at him and realised she was lying against him. She caught his devilish grin and blushed despite herself. This made Dante laugh.

"After last night … you're going to blush now …?" He wrapped his arms around her. "I definitely think that demon was wrong about you being an angel now."

"No … I've just been corrupted by a demon like you." She teased.

Dante rolled slightly and kissed her. "I didn't hear you complain. You were certainly vocal … but you weren't complaining."

Selene pushed herself up. "You really aren't as charming as you think you are, you know."

Dante grinned and sat up. "Am I not …?"

Selene sank onto the edge of the bed. "Maybe a little."

Dante raised his brows and crawled up the bed to her. He nuzzled her neck. "So … I'm a little charming then …? I can live with that."

They shared one last kiss … and then got dressed.

Dante and Selene made their way out of the room and traipsed down the steps. They headed towards the head quarters side by side.

When they got there, Nero was standing in the doorway of the entrance giving Dante a hard stare. Dante just grinned boyishly, his eyes daring Nero to say anything. The younger man didn't oblige.

"A guest arrived this morning." Nero said, not tearing his eyes from Dante. "Lady couldn't make it, so she sent Belmont with Gabriel's Journal."

"Belmont is here?" Selene repeated.

"Yeah. Lady is tailing behind and should be here by tomorrow evening. She's bringing some guy she met in a bar …" Nero's face twisted.

"She's bringing … a guy … she met … in a bar …?" Dante's shoulders shook as he spoke, laughter breaking through his voice.

"Apparently this is the guy who has another weapon like The Seraphim." Nero said.

Nero turned to Selene. "That Belmont guy is asking after you … he's in my study. You go off … in the mean time … I'd like to talk to Dante. Alone."

Dante sniggered. "Nothing you can't say in front of Selene …?"

"No. It isn't." Nero said flatly.

Selene looked from one man to the other. "I'll uhm … go and see Belmont. He must have been worried about me."

She skipped off, running up the stairs.

Nero suddenly cracked into a grin. "Not you type … no?"

Dante shrugged. "You wanted to talk to me so you could mock me? Kid … that's just wrong."

Nero chuckled. "I'm just happy for you. I could tell by the way you looked at her. I mean shit – you ripped a demons head off. You pummelled that bird demon last night. Trust me … I know what it's like when a woman you care about is in trouble. I've been there, remember?"

Dante sighed. "I guess so. And here I thought you were going to nag me."

"Lady might … but me … It's not really my style." Nero said. "But I just hope this doesn't complicate the matter, Dante."

"Why would it?"

"We don't even know what she is. Demons are after her. There's a vault which supposedly holds the key to demolishing all the barriers that separate the human and demon world. And Selene is at the centre of it. Just … think with a clear head, okay?"


Selene slunk into the study to find the familiar, friendly face of Belmont. He was still dressed in his sharp white suit. On the desk he had place Gabriel's Journal.

"Belmont!" She said smiling.

Belmont nodded. "Selene. It is wonderful to see you. You look so … happy. I haven't seen you smile this much in a long time."

Selene flushed slightly, then shook her head. "No just … Dante has been guarding me really well."

Belmont made an unusual smile. "So I can see."

Selene fought to stop her blush from deepening.

"You must be … the butler." Came Dante's voice.

Selene turned to find him leaning in the door way.

"No … I am a close friend of the family just acting as manager of the estate. Belmont." Belmont bowed slightly and held out his hand to shake.

Dante grasped his hand, and obliged him.

"You must be … Dante?" Belmont said.

"That'd be me." Dante agreed.

"I would like to thank you for taking such good care of Lady Selene. I am forever in your debt, young man." Belmont said.

"The pleasure is all mine." Dante said, his eyes brushing over Selene … making her blush even more.

"If I am correct … you are the son of the infamous Sparda … right …?"

Dante nodded. "Yeah."

Belmont smiled … and it seemed like the room brightened … even though it stayed exactly the same. "I will take my leave. Please excuse me. I promised that young man Nero I would go with him and take Gabriel's Journal with me to the library." He looked at Selene. "I am relieved to see you are safe at last, Selene."

Belmont left.

Dante's face became serious.

Selene looked at him. "What?"

"Do you ever notice … how quietly that guy walks?" Dante said.

Selene nodded. "He's always been very light on his feet. For as long as I've known him."

Dante lifted her chin up with his finger … and kissed her gently. "Come on … I'll start that sword training now … if you'd like."


Lady shuffled herself in her seat. Isaac sat in the opposite one. They were in a train carriage. She noticed that Isaac didn't talk very much. Every now and then he would begin scrawling more notes in that little black note book of his.

"What is that?" She asked.

Isaac looked up. "A travelling diary I suppose you could say."

"So … this Angelic Vault you were telling me about." Lady said, trying to ignore the fact that there was something about Isaac that weirded her out.

"Well … I suppose you could call it a skeleton key for all the barriers that separate the human world and the demon world. It's not really a vault. It's … a statue."

"A statue …?" Lady said. "What does it look like?"

Isaac sighed. "I'm sorry. I-"

"Really couldn't tell me." Lady finished. "That's starting to bug me. You and that Belmont guy."

Isaac's mouth twitched again in humour. He found something funny about that too. Who was this guy? She normally didn't warm up to people this easily. But something about him just … made her feel at ease. He was immediately likeable. She couldn't explain the sensation. It was the same with Belmont. Both of them seemed to walk without making any noise.

Her mind raced back. The Whithouse estate was a bright and airy place. Despite the families obvious obsession with angels … an obsession which showed throughout the rooms of the house, in the gardens, the rooms, the wall paper … it still felt light and airy, as though even when the sun set, the cheerfulness of morning still bounced through the house.

Why didn't she question why these guys couldn't tell her something? What was wrong with saying they just didn't know? Or that they weren't sure?

She sighed, shaking her head. "So … if I understand this correctly … there's The Herald – the spear which has to absorb enough angels blood."

"Angelic power." Isaac corrected lightly. "It must absorb angelic power to first activate it … and then demon blood and human blood must be poured on directly after to set it off. There is a small window of time before it wears off."

"Right, right." Lady waved her hand dismissively. "So after that … there's the Angelic Vault … which isn't a vault it's some giant statue …" She sighed. "God this is bringing back memories of His Holiness and Fortuna." She noted how Isaac's mouth twitched in humour when she said 'giant statue'. "And then what … the doors of hell open up?"

"Not … quite." Isaac said.

"Then there's more?"

"Something of this nature is hardly simple." Isaac said.

"How do you know this kind of stuff?" Lady asked suddenly.

"The Book of Michael." Isaac said.

"You read the book. Nero has it now … the order must have taken it from you. Okay. And you have one of those weapons." Lady sighed, sinking back into her seat as the train rocked back and forth.

She thought again of her time at the Whitchurch estate. She had wandered through the garden, to where Michael had been killed by demons and his body taken away. There had been some kind of a tomb … a statue of an angel. It had held a spear in one hand … and a book in the other. She remembered it because it was painfully detailed, and life size. Everything was to life size scale.

"You seem lost in thought." Isaac said, his lip twitching again. "Anywhere … nice?"

Lady looked at him. What was it about this guy?

"This Selene Whitchurch." Isaac said. "Do you … have a picture of her at all?"

Lady straightened, reaching into a pocket. She pulled out a photo she had been given as a reference. In it stood Selene and her older brother Michael beside that same statue. Selene was about ten in the photo. She handed it to Isaac. Why was he so interested in somebody he claimed he didn't know?

He did the same twitch with his mouth when he looked at Selene. Blazing red hair … cat green eyes.

"She reminds me of somebody." Isaac said.

"Who?" Lady asked.

"An old friend … you might say." Isaac sighed wearily … is if at some sad memory. "She is a very pretty girl. Her brother … Michael you said, yes?"

Lady nodded.

"He is very blessed in looks as well … but … the two look … very different. But some how … you can see they are brother and sister." Isaac said.

"I'm an only child … so I really don't know." Lady admitted.

"Siblings can have an unusual connection. Whether they like one another or not … they cannot escape that they will always be siblings … always be linked. She looks … as though she might have a voice as beautiful as she is."

Lady shrugged. "I've been told she does. I've never heard it myself. I've only ever seen her briefly."

"Interesting." Isaac handed her back the photo. "Very interesting."