Chapter 5 A Storm is Approaching

Angry winds howl across the night sky, causing the tumultuous ocean below to slam against the rocks of Fortuna island. The raging storm created a tempest, which only increased the the chaos of the surrounding seas.

"Ya know, you picked a helluva time for a cruise, Lady." Dante maintains his lightheartedness even as he holds on for dear life to the rail on the boat.

Lady leans calmly against the ship's tower with her arms crossed, ignoring Dante's comment."We're almost there."

Trish ignores them both. Not saying a word, she peers into the deep blue sea as the wind flings her golden hair about her face.

"Trish, you haven't said a word since we left. What is it?"

Trish hesitates as her features betray her apprehension, "The demon back at the club. If he was telling the truth...He has come back...." She pauses again as the apparent fear in her eyes increases, "The Beast"

The storm stops instantly and the rain ceases to fall. Calm rushes over the sea.

Dante raises a brow in puzzlement and Lady uncrosses her arms. They give Trish their undivided attention.

"Sparda? My father died decades ago. You know that. The demon was full of it." The disgust in Dante's voice is evident.

"No…I don't mean Sparda. The symbol branded on the demon's back….The Mark of the Beast." Trish's voice is now a low whisper as it seemed like her fear was causing her to hesitate with her explanation. It was strange for Dante see the normally headstrong and stoic partner like this, and it put him on edge. Lady listens to what Trish was saying but does not turn towards her and instead keeps an eye fixed on Fortuna castle looming above the city. Dante's gaze is fixed on Trish's face, examining her carefully. Trish does not meet his gaze.

Trish is now physically trembling as she firmly clasps the perfect amulet hanging around her neck. Dante walks over to her and grasps her arm reassuringly. Lady looks over at Dante in the midst of this compassionate gesture. He removes Trish's glasses and looks at her, "I don't know what's got you so spooked, but you know there's no devil we've faced that we couldn't handle. Go ahead, tell us what's going on."

Trish slowly regains her composure and begins to speak very slowly, "When I was created by Mundus, I remained in the Demon World for what seemed like years, learning the specifics of my mission and more importantly, learning how to use my powers. During my time there, I would hear rumors that a Being existed before the time of Mundus, even before the Underworld itself."

All the ominous rumblings and thunder had ceased as if it was trying to assure Trish's voice would be heard:

"Since I didn't know the history of Hell, I had no way of knowing if these rumors were true. I had assumed it was just grumbling of demons unhappy with Mundus' rule. But even the more ancient demons would tell stories of the end of days. They said that the Mark of the Beast indicated the beginning of this end. The end of everything, human and demon alike."

"Armageddon huh? And who is this 'Beast' guy anyway?"

"I was never able to find out what it was or if it existed at all. Mundus would become furious if it was ever mentioned. Some say it was simply a metaphor for damnation, or a great savior of the Demon World, even the embodiment of Hell itself. But what was absolutely clear is that the Mark signaled a return to chaos, something unstoppable..." Trish seems to be getting frustrated with her fear at the situation.

Dante sees this and tries to calm Trish, "If this thing has come back then he'll be getting a rude welcoming party. We already took Mundus down without breaking a sweat, and we're more powerful than ever with my father's sword. I say, bring it on!"

"You don't understand, that attitude won't help us, Dante! If what the legends say is true then we have big trouble on our hands..."

"Hmm, we'll see about that. If there's one thing I've learned from my father, it's that even legends can die..." Dante says this without the usual, cocky tone. His tone is serious and cold, mirroring his older brother Vergil from years ago. He hops off the boat and onto the dock.

Lady follows suit. "Well Trish, if this Beast does exist, I think I know where to find him," Lady looks up at Fortuna Castle, the entire island now almost seamlessly fortified by a great wall.

Trish looks at the two in confusion. "You can't be serious. Look, this isn't something I can't explain to you, but I can feel it, as a demon, something inside me is saying that this is bad news."

"This is as serious as I'll ever be. It's time we end all the chaos" Dante looks at Trish indicating in his face that she needs to get off the boat in the next few seconds or she will be left behind.

"But….if the legends are true……"

"Legends are just old fairytales for people who can't deal with what's happening right now." Dante snaps at Trish. "But you have to put things in the past where they belong. I can feel it too, you know, that sense of dread, right in the pit of my stomach."

"Aren't you at least a little worried about this?"

"The way I see it, we got two choices, A. Defeat this thing, or B. Die trying. Worrying isn't one of the options."

Trish looks at Dante with an odd sadness in her eyes. The look on her face reminded Dante of his mother right before she died. However, the look only hardened Dante in his resolve. Trish knew he was right. There was only one choice to be made. Trish hops onto the dock and takes a deep breath.

Dante grins at her, "Now that's more like it!'" Dante kicks over a wooden bucket of water as he stormed toward the wall surrounding mainland. Lady follows closely behind.

A thick gust of wind smacks Trish as she remains still contemplating the decision. When the wind clears, Trish puts on her sunglasses, and smirks, "You better be right about this, Dante" she fastens the Sparda to her back and bolts off toward Fortuna proper.

The three demon hunters fly off into the night heading towards the ominous fortification. Off into the distance the three hunters draw nearer to the beginning of their journey and their ultimate destiny. Nothing could be seen in the city anymore. There was almost complete darkness. The crimson clouds and intensely bright lightning were the only source of color. The world was born from darkness and thence would it return……