Chapter 7

Dante shuddered, feeling an eerie chill run down his spine. He shifted back underneath the shadows, trying to figure out where the coldness came from. The vampire shut his eyes, fading into mist before a tall figure with dark black hair holding a silver gun in one hand passed by his position. Reforming into full figure form, he trailed behind the red cloaked figure as silently as he could.

Vincent Valentine? What the hell is he up to? His hand grasped the man's shoulder, and a sharp claw gripped his neck, causing a sensation of prickling heat and pain burning his skin. Gritting his teeth, he tried to pull out, but he couldn't, due to the searing burn mark.

"Let go of me. . ."

A pair of crimson eyes glared back at his red ones. "Not until you tell me where Reno is, Dante."

Dante groaned, choking under his grip. He clawed helplessly at Vincent's grasp. ". . . He just took off somewhere. " Shaking, the vampire desperately tried to break from his hold.

"Where is he, Dante?"

"I-I don't know. . ." Strands of his hair fell over his face as Vincent dropped Dante onto the ground. Dark burn marks scarred his pale skin. "If-If I honestly knew, I'd tell you . . ."The vampire laid on his side, coughing up blood convulsing slightly. He feebly pulled a strand of hair from covering his face, just to find the triple barrel of Vincent's gun at his forehead.

"Wh-What are you doing?" Vincent closed his eyes, his finger tightening on the trigger. "V-Vincent, please . . . don't do this . . ."

"I have no choice."


Reno opened his eyes to nothing but darkness. He shoved the remnants of what was left of the roof aside, standing up and brushing several bits of gravel off his sleeves. Glancing at the opening above him, the vampire noted the moon hidden behind the darkened clouds. It was blood red, the color tingeing the edges of the clouds a darker color than that of the moon.

I've never seen the moon like that before. That can't be normal. He shrugged, looking away. I honestly couldn't care one way or another. The vampire's red eyes scanned the ground for traces of any source of blood. I have got to find something to feed on. At this rate, even rats would satisfy him, despite their taste

His eyes fixed on a figure in dark blue with black hair standing no more than several yards away and coming closer. Reno recognized who it was. His senses couldn't fool him. Between the last two Turks, the one he held some respect for, Tseng, held what looked like Vincent's triple-barrel handgun. The expression on his face made the vampire cringe slightly. Reno knew exactly what the purpose was at this moment: kill all the remaining vampires. And that included him as well.

What the hell is he doing here? The vampire shuddered, feeling weak in the knees. Damn . . . not again . . . Falling to the ground, he tried to glance behind him, but something held him back. Suddenly, a cold barrel touched the back of Reno's neck.

"Get up, vampire."

Vincent grasped the vampire by the throat with his metal claw, forcing him up from his place on the ground. Squirming out of his grip, Reno turned to face him throwing a dark glare. You again, Valentine. What the fuck do you want?

Vincent's eyes narrowed, striking Reno across the forehead, sending him sprawling to the ground. The red haired vampire scowled, feeling the cut heal on its own. "You were the one who shot Veronica, didn't you?"

Vincent suddenly shoved the vampire into the ground, just as a loud gunshot hit the ground near them. "No. If you want to stay alive and if you don't want the same fate as your girlfriend, you'd better trust me."

"Why the hell should I?" Reno growled, showing his fangs. "I know why you've come. I know you killed someone like me before you got here."

"Reno, your former partner, as well as Tseng, will hunt you and kill you on sight." The figure handed the vampire a plastic bag of red liquid. "They don't care if you were one of them."

"I don't need anyone else to remind me of why Elena is dead." Reno sighed irritated. "They have a decent reason to kill me." The vampire gave him a suspicious look. "Let me guess: Peace offering, right?"

Vincent nodded. "If you want to live, I suggest you come with me."