Summary: His family shattered before his eyes, the first time he ever took a life. The events that would steal Dante's innocence, making him the hunter he is today...

Disclaimer: I do not own squat. I know the twins, but I cannot claim ownership over them. Only the almighty Capcom can dare to do that, which is reasonable. They own the games, after all.

Calm Before the Storm

Eva had finally finished cleaning when the car pulled out outside. Tommy waited in the front seat while his father, Douglas, took Dante and Vergil up to the door. "Here are your sons, Eva," he said when she answered his ring. "They had a good run on the playground. Perhaps they won't be so full of energy for a while."

Eva rewarded him with a grateful smile as her sons strolled through the door. Douglas' wife had died when Tommy was just a baby, but after grieving for three years he had suddenly taken notice of the beautiful blonde living next door. The tall, thin man had known that she was living with someone else, a man he could tell from first glance that he did not want to piss off, but that hadn't stopped him from slyly hinting at his interest in her. After all, he had never seen a true wedding band on her finger. Just an engraved silver ring with an amethyst setting, and that ring was on the wrong hand.

He had no way of knowing that that ring was her wedding band.

"Thank you, Douglas. I hope you are right about their energy. I could use the rest." She ushered the boys into the dining room, and told them she'd make lunch in a moment.

Douglas still stood in the doorway. "Douglas," she began.

"Eva, please." He came forward and caught her hand. "At least let me take you out to dinner. Your sons' father has been gone for two years; at least give me a chance." He gave her a sad, puppy-eyed look. "Please, will you go out to dinner with me? Next Saturday night, perhaps?"

"No, Douglas. That's always Movie Night with my sons." She tried to pull away, but he would not be so easily dissuaded.

"Then Friday night? Please, Eva. I'm not going to be put off forever."

Eva still held out hope for Sparda's return, even though the chances were getting slimmer with each passing day. But she had to admit that she missed the company of a man. Douglas was not a man she could see herself spending too much time with, but it wouldn't hurt to go out with him. Would it?

Besides, he was a good man. The intricate wards protecting their home had never reacted adversely to him.

"Fine," she sighed. "Friday night it is."

"At 8:00." He kissed her hand, then went out the door, a wide grin on his face. Eva closed the door behind him, then put a hand to her temple. How was she going to get a babysitter for her sons? Most of the neighborhood girls would be busy on Friday night, and all of the ones she would have trusted with her boys would have dates.

And of course, some would simply refuse. Before the boys had learned to control themselves, they had scared several girls away from baby-sitting permanently. Their very first sitter, in fact, had come down with something very much akin to schizophrenia.

There was, however, no doubt in her mind that she would need a sitter. Vergil was responsible enough to stay at home alone, but Dante just didn't strike her as being ready, even if his twin would be there to make sure he stayed out of trouble. And there was no guarantee that he wouldn't get into a fight with his brother. She simply couldn't trust the boys alone in the house. Maybe their neighbor Ingrid would watch them. She needed the money, after all, to feed all of her hundreds of cats.

The boys were sitting patiently when she entered the dining room. "How about ham sandwiches and potato chips for lunch?" she asked. "With cake for dessert?"

"Sounds good!" They said it in unison, and she went back into the kitchen to make lunch.

"So she's really going out with Tommy's dad?" Vergil asked softly.

"Looks like it." Dante traced a circular patter on the table's polished surface. He had been the one eavesdropping on their mother. Neither of them were pleased by her agreement to Douglas' advances.

"Guess she thinks Dad isn't coming back." Vergil scratched at the back of his hand.

"She didn't sound as if she wanted to go on a date, Vergil."

His brother made a non-committal sound. He couldn't help but think that their mother was somehow betraying their father by agreeing to go on a date with another man. He knew, deep down, that Sparda wasn't going to come back, but he couldn't dismiss the thought.

Their mother came through the door a few minutes later, bearing a plate of sandwiches and a fresh bag of Doritos. She set them down on the table, then went back into the kitchen. Her return saw her put a paper plate at all three seats, as well as one pile of napkins for each twin. When she came back a third time, she had three tall glasses, filled with root beer and ice cream.

Vergil's eyes lit up when he saw them. Root beer floats were one of his favorite treats. He and Dante sometimes argued over which was the better dessert: root beer floats or strawberry sundaes.

After saying grace, the boys grabbed for the sandwiches and a handful of chips. There was little conversation as they devoured the meal, finishing off the entire plate of sandwiches in only a few minutes. Eva had no idea where they had learned the habit, but both of them were voracious eaters, quick to throw anything and everything down their throats. She nibbled at her sandwich while they gulped down fistfuls of chips.

Dante finished first, and got up from his chair. "Thanks, Mom!" he called as he ran up the stairs. Vergil slowed down to savor his float, and Eva went back into the kitchen briefly.

"Vergil, I found something of yours today."

He looked up, a smear of ice cream on his chin. "What?"

"This." She presented him with the toy lion, all fresh and clean, his mane soft and fluffy from the dryer.

"You found Charlie!" He took the lion and hugged it to him, seeming more like a child then a preteen at that moment. "Where did you find him? I looked everywhere for him!"

"Beneath the couch. I cleaned him for you, and if you will notice he is no longer missing an eye."

Vergil hugged the toy again, then his head snapped up and he glanced back at the stairs. "Dante is upstairs, right?"

Eva nodded, trying hard not to grin.

He got up slowly, and walked around the table to his mother. After a moment of hesitation, he threw his arms around her neck in a heartfelt hug. "Thanks, Mom," he whispered.

She put her arms around him, laying her cheek against his soft hair. "You're welcome, my son."

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

The eyes stared at her, seething red orbs floating in a cloud of velvet black. Threatening. Demanding that she bow to him.

Nalasmil did not.

Raksh was her master, not Mundus, not even by default. She would work with him, but not for him, not as a servant. She was powerful, but Mundus had other servants far more powerful than she. He would not fight Raksh to claim her. She simply wasn't worth the trouble.

The air filled with a wicked laugh, a sound that reverberated in her bones. He was amused by her defiance.

The bunt begins tonight, he announced.

He cannot gain complete physical form in the Human World at this point, Raksh whispered within her heart. This is as complete as he can become until……certain conditions are met.

"Are your servants ready to go?" Nalasmil asked, inwardly nodding to Raksh.

They will be, once darkness shrouds this city and increases their strength. Gather your strength, Raksh. We shall feast on their pain this night.

Now, how many can we expect in their home? the Prince inquired, the fires of his eyes leaping at the promise of violence and death, of the screaming agony of his victims.

Nalasmil started to reply, but Raksh took over her body briefly. His voice emerged from his throat in the guise of her own. "Two, master. Sparda's woman, and one son. The second died in a tragic accident some days ago."

Good. Part of our work is done for us. Now we must kill the remaining two, and no one will stand between us and domination of this puny Human World. The eyes glowed even brighter as the sun sank below the horizon, and blood-red gateways opened as demons who had been trapped on this side of the portal two thousand years ago spilled into the Summoning Chamber, their scythes held high and their eyes glowing red with blood-lust. Ready yourselves. We go.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Queen: I alone am going to continue from here. I don't want to bring back bad memories for Dante and Vergil, so I shall post these chapters only while they are out on hunts. They deserve some peace of mind, not remembering this. Here comes the Nightmare.

(transmission ended)