It took a moment for Vergil to realize what had just happened and once it hit, he slammed his fist into the nearest wall with Beowulf. Cursing, he faced the still boiling water and stared into the depths.
"Godammit Dante, I had it under control."
The only demon he knew would know the answer not only played stupid, but now his hard-earned relationship with Meris was ruined all because of his idiot brother.
Vergil could only wait for something to form out of the water; his power useless in the face of the unknown.
Dante took the full force of its charge. His body propelled backwards and slammed into a marble pillar that threatened to crack. He rose slowly and with great caution; blood trickled down from a large abrasion on his neck. Dante's grip slackened on Rebellion and at that moment he realized it was either him or Meris who was going to die. The boy called the beast back and before another demand could be spoken, the demon hunter sprinted to the other side of the pool and ducked behind a pillar.
"Come out and face us!" Meris shrieked, his child-like voice ringing in Dante's ears.
Dante suddenly sprinted out from behind the pillar and hooked Meris in the gut, sending him sprawling to the ground. Curiously, the frog remained passive, it's beady eyes locked on the two, but it's body remained perfectly still. The boy collapsed onto the floor, tightly clutching his tie-dye shirt. Before he could take another breath Dante grabbed his mouth and brought the boy to his feet.
"Try anything with your little pet again and I'll make sure it will be the last thing you do."
Meris clawed at Dante's muscular forearm fervently before whimpering.
"Please, just let me go- I didn't mean to hurt you…"
Dante chuckled. "Yeah sure 'kid'." Without looking he drove Rebellion straight into the frog head. An eruption of acid and liquid mixed with Meris's muted screams.
"Get me out of this place and I'll think about letting you live."
Meris nodded his head enthusiastically, the same suffocating feeling enveloped Dante once again and milliseconds later he was brought back to the ruins.
Dante coughed harshly and let Meris drop to the floor.
"Vergil!' Dante called, concern flooded his mind.
After a few moments Vergil stalked out from the entrance, his face a mix of rage and thankfulness.
"I did not think you would come back." He declared, running a hand through his hair.
"I got the little brat to bring me back." The younger brother gazed down at the slumped body.
"Now will you be a good little boy and tell my brother here what he wants to know?"
Meris gasped for breath and nodded.
"Pisinoe, she only has one weakness." he explained "you must resist her advances and stab her in the heart." He stood to his full height. "And kill those stupid birds too, they are an extension of her."
"Well that can't be too hard could it?"
Vergil pinched the bridge of his nose. "Again, you don't know her." Vergil uttered.
"Is there anything else you know?" Vergil questioned; his body looked drained, like he needed to rest.
"No, Pisinoe is a siren clouded in mystery and time." Meris stepped back into his pool. "Vergil."
Vergil stared at the boy with clouded eyes.
"Good luck."
Vergil nodded and they both watched the boy silently slide into the water. Suddenly, as if someone turned off the lights, the room was pitch black and the brothers quickly ran out to the courtyard.
Dante glanced at his brother who now kneel on the rough gravel surrounding the building.
"I have to prepare. Only I." Vergil announced to Dante and a soft breeze of Mediterranean air.
Dante looked up at the Little Dipper and rested a hand on his brother's shoulder. For the first time, he was unable to find the words to help his brother.