Authors note: after a lot of deliberation I have decided rather than have two separate stories, everything will be incorporated into one.

I am adding the first two chapters for part 2: The In-Between.

More chapters are to follow as soon as my Beta-Reader and I have worked on them.

A massive thanks to Angel Wolf for agreeing to Beta-read for me.

The In-Between

Chapter One

Nero

Nero and Grant stood with wide eyes as they lifted their heads to follow the height of the tower, it had just broken through the ground rising from below in the middle of the city.

This was the second place they had been transported to the first time, it had happened had thrown both boys into confusion and panic.

Whatever had happened when Nero and Grant had been reaching for the pizza on Dante's desk, it had flung them into some form of a vision of the past.

How that was possible, Nero couldn't say.

They had found themselves watching the eight-year-old versions of his uncle and father, celebrating their birthday with Eva, his grandmother. As the scene had played out Nero and Grant came to realise no one could see or hear them.

If someone walked into either Nero or Grant, instead of meeting a solid human body they simply passed through them.

It was freaky and weird.

Grant had finally calmed down from his panic attack, It had taken Nero ages to convince the boy he hadn't killed them.

Sure they were like apparitions to the people in these visions or whatever they were, but Nero definitely didn't feel dead.

He shook his head and grunted, his mind wandering into thoughts like if it was possible to feel dead and how a dead person could tell they were dead. He shook the thoughts away to save himself the headache.

He just knew he wasn't dead, he couldn't explain it.

Nero did have a theory and frankly, he was surprised Grant hadn't figured it out- considering he was a Witch after all and had the ability to read residual energy.

He turned to his friend "could this be some kind of echo?"

"What?" Grant blinked from his trance and turned away from the tall tower jutting out from the ground.

"An echo, you touched the stone. So is it possible we've been drawn into the residual energy within the amulet?" Nero had no idea if what he'd said made any sense but Grant seemed to mull it over thoughtfully.

"I dunno, maybe." The sound of a car alarm blaring made the boys jump.

"C' mon lets see if we can get inside, this must be the Temen-ni-gru my dad told me about this tower...do you think the echos could be my dads?" They stepped forward dodging debris still falling from the sky.

"Maybe, do we really want to see all this?" Grant whispered as the passed a few stray demons, they didn't even turn toward the two teens as they strolled passed, pressed close together...just in case.

"Likely not, doesn't look like we have a choice though."

Unsure of what they were about to witness Nero headed forward, his father had told him an abridged version of his past with Dante, of his past actions and his pursuit of power. Nero knew he had kept the darker details from him.

The entrance to the tower loomed before them, as Grant and Nero took another step forward the scene before they spun in a whirlpool of colour, twisting and turning all around them. It settled quickly into a darker setting, as rain fell and lightning split the sky open, suddenly they were atop the tower looking down at the city below.

The same thing had happened after they'd seen Eva and the boys only that time it had made them feel sick and dizzy.

This time it wasn't so bad.

Grant shuddered beside him as he looked at the multitude of demonic statues lining the outer ring of the rooftop.

"You showed up."

Nero turned, he would know that voice anywhere. Grant froze and turned to grab his arm to stop him rushing into the centre of the circular rooftop, where his father stood looking in the opposite direction.

"You sure know how to throw a party! No food, no drinks, and the only babe just left." Dante stepped into the circle to face Vergil.

"Stop Nero, remember we aren't really here, this is the echo of a memory...I think." His friend soothed not sounding very sure of what this was.

"My sincerest apology brother. I was so eager to see you, I couldn't concentrate on preparations for the bash."

Entranced he watched his father, such coldness gleamed in his eyes, in his voice and Nero shivered.

"Whatever, at any rate, it's been a whole year since we last met." Dante stepped forward "how about a kiss from your little brother? Or better yet how about a kiss from THIS" He drew Ivory and pointed it at Vergil.

"No love lost here, is there?" Grant muttered.

"Shh," Nero hissed his eyes on the scene before them.

"So this is what they call a heartwarming family reunion?"

"You got that right."

As the two brothers battled ceaselessly Nero and Grant huddled as far away from the fray as possible, even if they couldn't be physically harmed in this place, seeing a sword slice through them or having someone walk into them wasn't the nicest experience.

Plus, it was just weird.

"Maybe you should touch it again" suggested the pale-haired boy his eyes avoiding the battle mere feet from them.

"It could make things worse, what if we become corporal instead" He threw back "I can see that going down well with those two if we showed up out of the blue."

Good point though was the last thing they needed right now.

"So what do we do, sit here waiting for the stone to keep shifting through echos?" Nero hissed "I need to get home, my dad is probably losing his shit right now."

He briefly glanced at the two battling brothers again, he wanted his Vergil. He wasn't sure he could go through any more scenes watching his dads' past play out.

He shouldn't be seeing these things, what happened when he saw something he couldn't handle. Would he start resenting his dad?

Obviously, he realised his dad had done some awful things, Vergil had never hidden that from him, but hearing about his past and actually experiencing it was completely different.

He didn't even know how all this was possible.

How the hell were they able to be standing here watching this.

Grant chewed his lip " I don't know, I've never read about this happening with echos before. I think whatever magic is in that stone reacted to both of our energies." He squinted through the heavy rain. "Have you touched the amulet with your hand." He asked pointedly looking to Nero's right arm.

The other boy shrugged "maybe, why?"

"I'm not completely sure yet, I might have a theory." He jumped slightly when Dante fired his gun at Vergil and his mouth nearly hit the ground as Vergil collected the bullets with Yamato and flung them back at his brother. "Holy shit, that was a skill." He admired.

"Why do you refuse to gain power?" Vergil said "the power of our father Sparda."

"Father? I don't have a father." Dante replied, "I just don't like you, that's all."

They charged each other again, deadlocking against each other with their swords. Rebellion being suddenly kicked from Dante's grasp and as Vergil moved in with such speed Grant nearly missed it as he plunged Yamato relentlessly through Dante's chest.

Both boys recoiled and Grant gaged as blood dribbled down Yamato.

"Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness..." he plunged the blade further into his twin's chest, eyes hard " might controls everything and without strength, you cannot protect anything" he pushed Yamato deeper into Dante's chest one final time. "Let alone yourself." He pushed Dante away, yanking the other half of the amulet from his brother's neck as Dante hit the floor.

"Bloody hell, you're dad is a complete maniac." Grant whistled.

"Shut the hell up." Snapped Nero, yet he himself was inwardly recoiling in horror at his dads' brutality. Vergil's words to Dante had hit Nero hard in the chest, he thought understood now. Losing Eva, no, losing his family had pushed Vergil to become the strongest in order to protect himself.

It was disturbing the brutality which Vergil used, yet Nero knew he could be different. He'd seen it with his own eyes.

He watched as his dad smoothed his hair back, stared at the amulet he'd taken from Dante and moved away to pick up rebellion. Nero moved forward, too fast for Grant to stop him.

Just for one moment, he wished his touch could be tangible, instead, his hand passed through Vergil's arm as Nero's whispered "...dad" before his father lurched forward, charging back toward Dante and drove Rebellion through his chest.

Pinning his twin to the ground.

Grant yelled in shock behind him and fell backwards, a hand covering his mouth.

Nero stared at the carnage his dad and uncle had unleashed upon each other but was caught up again as suddenly Rebellion changed letting out a pulse of energy, before shooting into the air as water shot high in a stream like a fountain, Nero hadn't even noticed the strange man enter the circle.

But Grant found his eyes straying to the odd looking man.

His eyes were wide as Dante shot to his feet and charged Vergil. a growl on his lips, Vergil drew Yamato and sliced through his uncle's palm.

"I see a devil inside you has awakened as well." His father said as Dante clenched his first around Yamato's blade, glaring at Vergil. Dante pushed the blade forward uncaring that his hand was pooling with blood as Vergil flipped backwards and prepared to charge his brother again.

"Wait, we should leave" Nero narrowed his eyes at the strange man, searching for a name from his fathers' story.

Arkham...Lady's father.

He reminded Nero of a zombie " for the moment we have all we need."

A flash of white to the far edge of the rooftop caught Nero's eyes, he squinted through the heavy rain but could see nothing.

Grant was at his side moments later as his father and Arkham turned away and jumped from the edge of the rooftop.

The scene swirled again and soon both Grant and Nero were stood, side by side in darkness.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Grant said hesitantly " I mean I know all the stories but...seeing them play out is pretty raw." He rested a hand in Nero's shoulder.

"Did you see that flash of white?" Nero asked turning to his friend" just now before the echo faded."

"No, maybe it was lightning." Grant suggested, " are we cool?"

Nero eyed him chewing his lip " we're cool." He understood Grant was shocked by what he saw, Nero hadn't enjoyed watching that play out much either.

The man back there was so far away from the man Nero admired.

And yet, regardless Nero had seen a flash of that man just for a brief few seconds. Underneath all that icy anger.

There was something more going on here, Nero had definitely not mistaken that flash of white for lightening. He had seen it on the rooftop dead opposite him, then puff it had vanished just as the scene fizzled out.

"God sake, here we go again." Grumbled Grant "please no more blood and gore, I hate blood."

Nero rolled his eyes " I would prepare yourself for plenty more, mate." He said with a sympathetic pat on his back.

Around them, the light began to filter through the darkness and both boys turned in a circle to observe their surroundings.

Nero knew this place, he'd spent time here recovering after his ordeal with Blake and Agnus. His father had brought him here, he sometimes wished they could come back.

They were stood before the wooden cabin outside of Fortuna. The trees surrounding them looked just as when Nero stayed here.

"Where are we?" Asked Grant edging forward toward the door.

"Outside of Fortuna, the place I grew up. This is the cabin me and dad stayed in." He glanced around listening for signs of life.

A voice broke the silence and both boys turned toward the sound, Nero watched with surprise as his mother exited the cabin, her light brown hair twisted into a braid over her shoulder, her blue eyes glittered as she looked off in the distance.

She walked off toward the large trees Nero and Vergil would frequently sit beneath, she scanned the forest off to the west and frowned before gently rubbing her wrist.

Appearing suddenly beside her was a large shadowy wolf with silvery eyes, Grant gasped aloud in awe as he crept closer to inspect the wolf. "Wow, I've never seen one before...I mean I've read about them but—" he trailed off seeing Nero's blank look.

"What a wolf?"

Grant shook his head "that is not a wolf, that's a familiar."

Nero frowned "whatever, more importantly, that's my mum." His eyes never left her small frame as she walked on the wolf at her side.

Following closely they paused when she sighed " you're still here, really?" Her gaze snapped to the right of her and her eyes narrowed on Vergil leaning against a tree, arms folded and a smirk on his lips.

"Until you tell me what you know."

She grumbled as the wolf trotted forward and wound itself around Vergil's legs, "traitor if I tell you will you go away? I have enough stalkers in my life." Her eyes held Vergil's for a moment before she turned them away.

"Perhaps." Came Vergil's response his gaze never leaving Nero's mother.

Grant snickered looking between them "I hope this ends soon, no offence mate but I'd rather not see you're creating."

Nero glared pulling a face "eww...what the hell...why would you even think about that?" He gave Grant a disgusted look before shaking his head.

His mother turned her back on Vergil and walked away leaving his father to raise a brow as he watched her leave, a small amused smile tugging at his lips.

"Well are you coming or what V?"

A small growl "stop calling me that, woman."

A bright smile "stop calling me a woman then V."

Through gritted teeth, Vergil said, "why does it feel like you enjoy irritating me, Emilia."

Another laugh with feigned innocence "I'm offended Vergil, here I am on my time off and being hospitable to the guy who's stalked me for weeks and you accuse me of purposely irritating you...Come Sliver." She called to the wolf who gave Vergil a look before trotting after her.

"Bloody woman."

"I heard that V!" She countered over a shoulder.

Vergil grumbled but followed behind her as they headed back to the cabin.

"I like your mum, I reckon she'd have been one of those cool mums." His friend commented offhand peering through the thick trees. "She's really pretty too—Ow" He rubbed him the shoulder Nero had just hit and glared at the pale-haired boy.

"That's my mum, shut up..."

"I was only saying."

"Well don't from now on," Nero grumbled passing his hand back and forth through the tree he stood next to, these bloody echo things were driving him nuts. There was no sense to them at all - one minute they were watching one echo and then bam they were into another one.

"Why the hell are we seeing these things?" He asked Grant

"Why are you asking me?"

Nero stared "well because you apparently know everything." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Grant scratched his nose " I dunno, but at least we learned one thing." He smiled brightly.

Nero raised a brow "and that is?"

"Your mother was a sorceress and a pretty powerful one...hence why she had a familiar," He drifted of thoughtfully his green eyes on Nero "that means you, part sorcerer, too, so cool."

Nero rolled his eyes "great, one more thing to the list."

"It pretty cool I mean—" his words fell silent as the scene changed again and they stood in darkness, Nero was starting to feel sick every time it happened.

When the scene came back into focus, they had returned to the Temen-Ni-Gru.

"Oh, this is excellent freak show is making a speech." Grant snickered leaning again the grey stone wall beside Nero, both boys watched Arkham and Vergil trail the corridor and come to a stop beside the huge double doors sealed with a glowing diamond shaped lock.

They had been trailing these two for a little while now and Nero had admit, Arkham was boring him now, all he did was talk and talk while clutching that stupid book to his chest.

"Gah, he's gonna make my ears bleed." Snorted Nero pushing away from the wall.

"Soon we will reach the lair of judgment. Temen-ni-gru will finally regain its full function and lead us into the Demon World." He turned to look at Vergil quickly then turned back to the book with his hands hovering over the lock. "The world where Sparda's power has been sealed."

He glanced at Vergil again with his next words "and the one who will lift the incantation is you." The glowing lock fizzled out and the room began to shake as the bolts sealing the huge door slid away with a thunk, thunk, thunk. "It must be fate." He finished stepping back to watch the doors open before them.

Grant yawned " or someone planned it all along." He looked at Nero "don't tell me that guy isn't in this for himself...he's practically drooling when he talks of Sparda's power." He rolled his eyes at Arkham and made a face.

Nero chuckled thankful he had Grant to keep him company.

Vergil walked toward the threshold then stopped "does that woman really bother you?" He asked and Arkham turned his head toward Vergil quickly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why didn't you kill her? Perhaps, because she's your daughter? Or does some pesky fatherly love get in your way?" Arkham walked toward Vergil who remained still, his back turned facing the open door.

"That's none of your-"Arkham gasped as Yamato was plunged into his chest, his book falling to the floor like drops of blood dotted the covering.

Nero watched with a flinch and thought back to the man he'd seen with his mother, he was starting to realise his father had many masks he wore.

This happened after he'd met Nero's mother and Nero idly wondered if he'd even been born yet, there had definitely been chemistry between both Vergil and Emilia so why did his dad leave?

Vergil stepped around to face Arkham "to further your study of the black arts, you sacrificed your loving wife, to become a devil as well." Arkham continued to groan in pain. "Knowing this I thought you be more useful to me, but I was wrong. No wonder your attainment of power is incomplete." He shoves forward plunging Yamato further into Arkham's chest.

Of course, Power and vengeance was the reason. But his father had openly admitted to having no feeling of love for his mother.

And Nero had accepted that, so why was it bothering him so much now?

Nero and Grant shared a look, " at least he deserved it." Grant muttered "poor Lady."

"Hmm..."Nero had little to say, his focus solely on his father and Arkham as more words were exchanged.

"What about you? You're an incomplete being as well. Both demon and human blood mingle in You're veins." Arkham glared at Vergil darkly.

"Shut up." Pulling Yamato free his father slowly sheathed his sword as Arkham fell to the floor "now that the final door is open, I have no use for you." Turning away Vergil strolled through the open door way, leaving Arkham laying on the ground his precious book beside him.

"Hey stop brooding Nero, at least we don't have to listen to him drone on and on now" Grant offered nudging his friend " Hey, what's wrong?" Grant frowned knowing he'd asked a stupid question.

"W-whose there?"

Green and blue eyes met and widened in surprise as Arkham's weak voice called out. Nero raised a brow and stepped around Grant to assess the devil laying on the floor. He waved a hand in front of his open eyes.

Nothing, not even a blink, so he couldn't see them.

"Maybe he's hallucinating." Nero shrugged only he saw Arkham weakly turn toward the direction of his voice.

Stepping away he watched the devil quietly.

"Holy shit." Cried Grant making Nero jump "I think I know where we are now...this must be The In-Between because he's on the cusp of death, he can hear us." He seemed really excited as Nero drew his brows together.

"You've lost me now."

He grabbed Nero's shoulders "it means we're definitely not dead, we're in the demonic version of the vale" he sighed pulling Nero away from Arkham so the devil wouldn't hear.

"Just spit it out damnit." He was so lost, Grant was so excitable he wasn't making much sense to Nero right now, he was already in a shit place emotionally and Grant was mentally baffling him.

"It means we're in between realities because this is the Temen-Ni-Gru certain spots are thinner, hence why he heard us but can't see us, sort of like ghosts...some ghosts aren't really ghosts but beings travelling The In-Between." He rolled his eyes again at Nero's blank look.

Drawing in a breath he tried again. " there are multiple realities layered upon one another, our decisions in life affect which future we get, for an example." He pulled Nero further from the devil just in case.

"I thought this was an echo."

Grant nodded "yeah, well it should be just an echo, but I think that amulet.."he pointed to Nero's neck "somehow the amulet has amplified the energy so only when the Vale is thinnest we could be heard, in the past at least." He grinned, clearly pleased with himself.

Rubbing his forehead "what do you mean in the past?"

Looking sheepish " well, I'm not completely sure but I think this is some kind of spell, we've been sent here...maybe there's something we need to figure out." He scratched his head. "That white light you mentioned."

Nero nodded "Oh, what the lightning?"

"Maybe it's not lightening, after all, it could be a Spirit Walker." Grant Puffed his chest out proudly like he'd figured out some great mystery.

Nero punched him in the arm. "right now I don't even want to know what that is...tell me later." He held a palm up when Grant opened his mouth. "No, later. I need to clear my head before we're thrown somewhere else." He sat down against the wall.

Arkham remained still on the ground, unmoving and silent, thank the gods.

Feeling deeply conflicted he punched the ground next to him in frustration, it went right through the stone and he wished he could feel something, anything just for a moment.

He loved his father, and once upon a time he'd told Vergil he could accept his past, but it was harder to watch first hand the things his father had done.

It was really bothering him, the difference between how Vergil had once been and how he was now.

He wondered what was happening back home, with his Vergil. He felt like a young boy again and wanted to go Home, back to his family.

he startled as the scene whirled again and wildly he looked for around for his friend, Grant was nowhere to be seen and yet he'd only been standing a short distance from Nero.

"Grant?" His surroundings came into focus slowly, debris littered the area around him as he eyed his surroundings.

His friend was nowhere to be seen and panic rushed through him, Grant was keeping him anchored through all this, even if he did drive Nero nuts with his running commentary.

"For god sake, Grant where are you?"

Grant didn't answer again and Nero growled: "excellent, just when I thought it couldn't get any worse."

Vergil

Vergil paced back and forth, back and forth unable to sit still as his son lay on the bed mere feet away from him, unconscious and lost within The In-Between somewhere. Greta the High Witch and her coven had been unsuccessful in their attempts to break the spell upon the amulet and summon both boys back.

They would have to let the spell play out.

Like hell was Vergil prepared to sit here for days or months as his son was going through who knew what. No, he and Dante had agreed they would search to the end of the earth and even the depths of the underworld to find a way to get them back.

Lady and Trish had agreed to stay with the boys and guard them while the brothers headed off in their search. Vergil hated the idea of leaving Nero alone and vulnerable but he just had to trust the two women would keep him safe.

He knew of one place he might find answers, though he was hard-pressed to return to that place Fortuna had a large and vast library where they might just be lucky enough to find answers.

He hadn't returned to the library in such a long time, thinking about the place had his thoughts turning to Emilia.

"Please don't leave...Vergil I-" Emil's voice was a whisper.

"Please don't say it..." he spoke into her hair "tell me when I return."

Liar, Liar. His mind echoed.

He'd never intended to return, though a part of him had longed to, because regardless of how careful and guarded he'd once been...a part of him cared for her.

More than he'd ever admitted to himself.

Closing his eyes as the memory played out, Vergil felt a sudden stab of guilt, he'd lied to Nero the last time they'd talked about Emil. He didn't know why he hadn't told him the truth.

No, that was a lie also. He knew the reason was that he wouldn't be able to answer the boys' questions.

He squeezed the bridge of his nose and tried to clear the memory of her away.

She was haunting him lately.

"You ready?" Dante asked

He opened his eyes and looked to his brother with a nod "The sooner the better, we must make haste." He said with a final glance at his son.

"I know...so where are we headed?" His brother asked adjusting his guns quickly.

"To Fortuna, they have a large library...perhaps we could locate more information about The In-Between and spirit quests." He hated the Witches terms for such things.

Dante gave a stiff nod, his hair falling into his eyes as he patted Nero on the shoulder gently.

"Let's hope so." He said leaving the boy and headed to the door.

Walking the familiar street was giving him a headache as memory upon memory flashed in his mind, last time he'd been here he'd avoided this area of the city for this exact reason. And he'd been so preoccupied looking after Nero and then with Dante's appearance at the cabin he hadn't had time to bask in the familiar rooms and remember times long past.

Even the cabin held ghosts from his past but he'd managed to overcome them by directing his focus on Nero. He grit his teeth against the swirling pit of guilt yawning open within him and stalked ahead no longer listening to Dantes babble.

Even now he was only here so he could find a way to help his son and yet his mind had decided to attack with an onslaught of memories, he'd rather not dwell on.

"Hey, Vergil, where are you going isn't this the place?" He stopped turning to look behind him at Dante who threw him a strange look.

He'd been completely lost in his thoughts he'd walked right past the library building, heading in the direction of Emilia's small apartment a few streets away.

Idiot, chasing ghosts. He silently snarled to himself feeling weary as his mind continued to dwell on a past he could never change.

"What's going on with you...you've been weird since before we left," Dante said walking up to the large double doors.

He ignored his brothers questioning and pushed past him, opening the doors and entering the building where he'd first met Emilia.

It hadn't changed at all really, the large room still contained vast amounts of tall floor to ceiling shelving housing possibly hundreds of thousands of books. He could see the staff bustling around restocking shelves or seeing to customers inquires.

His mind flashed an image of her airing behind the desk, half hidden behind a stack of papers or newly delivered tomes.

He approached the main inquiries desk brushing away the memories as he walked past it to the section of shelves thematic lay beyond.

He could hear hurried conversations around them as they wondered the aisles searching for right shelves.

"Sanct Samuel has returned to Fortuna"

"Really? When?"

"Two days ago...there's going to be a grand celebration to welcome his return to us."

"I love a party, where did that guy come from anyway?"

"Who knows."

Dante nudged his shoulder and Vergil turned and stalked down the aisle passing the gossiping duo without a second glance. He needed to focus on the task at hand, he was finding being in this place too much for his mind to bear.

He could feel the stitching usually holding him together tearing ever so slightly, he needed to find a way to help his son before he fell apart altogether.

"Slow down bro, what the hell is going on with you?" Dante gripped his shoulder " Vergil." He manoeuvred around to face him.

"Let's just see if we can find anything so I can leave." He snapped removing Dante's arm.

"Alrighty..." Dante watched him with furrowed brows but continued on looking for the right section.

Not at all sure was Vergil's problem was later, he was even crankier than usual.

He clearly was handling Nero's condition very well.

"Nothing...we've searched that library from top to bottom." Dante ruffled his hair puffing out a frustrated breath. He was sick to death of books and Vergil was inclined to agree with him as he rubbed his forehead.

Two days had already passed and they had found nothing of any use. The city was bustling around them as everyone prepared for the celebration to welcome back their leader Sanctus Samuel.

Vergil didn't particularly care to get caught up in the festivities "we should leave, perhaps we could locate another coven who may hold more insight." He suggested as the crowd around them became hurried and grouped together in excitement.

"Whoa Hey, Watch where you're going," Dante said as a couple of teens pushed past them.

The tallest looked to them with an apology "sorry just trying to get a good view Sanctus Samuel is parading Fortuna." He said and hurried on.

Wonderful, thought Vergil dryly it looked like they would be caught up in the parade regardless.

He could hear the procession approaching closer to where he and Dante stood among the crowd and cast his eyes about to catch a glimpse of this Sanctus Samuel.

It wasn't a name he was familiar with.

"Blessing Sanctus Samuel." Murmured the crowd lowering their heads as an entourage surrounded a small group of people on a raised mobile platform.

An auburn haired man with pale skin and dark eyes stood among the platform smiling and waving at the crowd, he was dressed in a navy shirt and dark trousers. There was something about his aura Vergil didn't like but he couldn't put his finger on what.

"There's the bride of Sanctus Samuel." Murmured a couple ahead of them.

Vergil turned away from the parade losing interest and retreated back toward the library building for some peace and quiet. He leaned against the pale brickwork and stared ahead ignoring the noisy crowd as he spotted Dante still stood among them watching the parade.

A familiar voice reached him, a voice knew and one that he despised coming from the platform and he turned his blue eyes and zeroed in on a figure he'd been hunting down for years, Agnus stood to Samuel's right-hand side a large grin on his face as he waved to the crowd.

Without realising he pushed away from the wall and would have drawn Yamato and attacked the slimy worm had Dante not appeared before him, clearly having spotted Agnus first.

"Leave it, we're here for Nero remember."

"I'll make it so quick no one will even notice." He said his eyes on the man who'd consistently targeted his son.

"Stop Vergil and look...beside Agnus." He did and surprise hit him, as standing tall beside Agnus, looking just a little older was Hector, his skin was paler and he was dressed in a ceremonial armour with a sword at his back.

His son had mourned as the loss of his friend, Nero had blamed himself for hector being targeted by demons. Vergil knew if Nero became aware that somehow Hector was alive and working alongside Angus, it would crush his son.

"Perhaps you're right, we should wait and figure out what's going on here." He said his eyes drifting over each member stood on the platform. Wondering what exactly Agnus was doing here as the right hand or this so-called Sanctus Samuel.

Something most definitely wasn't right.

Finally, his eyes reached the final member stood off to the side.

A woman in a pale blue dress stood as a breeze ruffled her hair, something about her caught his attention and though her back was to the crowd as she stood behind Santus Samuel, the familiarity tingled down his spine. Her light brown hair was streaked with black strands and it trailed her back. Silently she just stood there still as a statue. He watched as Sanctus Samuel gripped her arm tightly his fingers marking her pale skin.

"Vergil come on..." Dante nudged him again but his focus was solely on the woman being manhandled by Samuel, Vergil could see the dark predatory look in the so-called holy man's eyes.

Samuel whispered into the woman's ear and still, she made no move, he smiled at her widely his eyes suddenly turning to meet Vergil's and his smile seemed to brighten exponentially with excitement and challenge.

Though Vergil had never seen this man before today.

"What are you..."Dante trailed off following his brothers gaze as Samuel pulled the woman closer to him possessively.

He couldn't move his eyes from the scene as Samuel took the woman's hand and guided her in turning to face the crowd, He was rooted on the spot as his gaze took in the sight of who stood on the platform.

Her skin was so pale it looked almost tinged grey, her once bright blue eyes looked as dark in colour as Samuel's shirt, her face was blank, devoid of any expression as she stared unseeingly ahead guided by Samuel's hands.

Samuel smiled to the crowd as cheers erupted around them "I am delighted you have all come here today, in welcome of my return..." his voice was smooth and deadly as his eyes scanned over the crowd a sardonic smile on his face.

The crowd didn't seem to notice the deranged glint enter his eyes as they paused his name.

Dante's grip tightened on his arms and he stared at Vergil as a single word left him, "Emilia?" But surely it couldn't be, he searched his memory, before leaving Fortuna with Nero he'd searched for her and found Caleb instead. It had been Caleb who told him that she'd died shortly after Nero had been born.

That couldn't have been the case though, as she was standing only a few feet from him, devoid of emotion and barely breathing and clearly not herself at all, he hadn't even seen her blink as she stared ahead guided by Samuel's hands so she could see him.

She showed no recognition what so ever.

He couldn't do this, not right now and especially not with Nero in the state he was in. He turned from the smirking leader of Fortuna, turned his back on the woman who looked so much like Emilia but couldn't be her and he left.

His head near splitting with the throbbing ache overwhelming him.

He didn't even care that he'd left Dante behind in the crowd.

—-

I don't own devil may cry.