STIGMA
Chapter 10: Betrayals and Revelations Part 1:
"Vergil?"
"Yes Alex?"
"I hate you."
"Really?" His voice although as harsh as a cold winter's night was infuriatingly calm, perhaps bored. It almost never seemed to change.
"Yes really. If I survive this, I'm taking your ass down."
"At the risk of your own life?"
I opened my mouth to retort but thought for a moment. "Never mind."
"If you would just hold on in the manner I suggested it wouldn't be so bad."
"Fine!"
We were flying…or rather Vergil was flying. He had shifted back to his demon form. I was barely clinging to his waist. He had suggested that I…well…embrace him to hold on properly. That was a concept I was not entirely comfortable with.
However under the current circumstances I was forced to adjust my position to cling to his neck and rest my head under his chin and he wrapped his arms around my torso…just great.
"You won't fall. Now where do we have to go?"
"A good three hours south of Redgrave. STIGMA headquarters is located in Giovanni Manor in Caruso Port town. Besides the shipping village near the docks, it's the only thing out there.
My right hand was sore for two reasons. Firstly I had landed on it running back down the hill and the bottom of my palm was scraped. Secondly I now had a bandage around a cut that this particular devil had given to me; another cut that would probably leave a scar.
"So who's Lariska?" I dared ask the question.
The wind rushed over us as he sped up. The light of the day was dying now. I felt cold. My short jacket was doing nothing against the wind. However the flat leather knee high boots which had miraculously survived every battle I had been in for the last couple of years seemed to stave off the cold and enclosed themselves over my pants. At least a part of me was protected. I clung to Vergil a little tighter in an effort to keep my upper body warm.
"Someone who died again a long time ago. But I believe I will see her again one day."
"Oh." I had expected either to be told to mind my own business or something more cryptic."
"It's a beautiful name. She must have meant a lot to you."
He didn't say anything. I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted from the day's events. It wasn't so bad. I guess I could tolerate it for a few hours. At the rate we were moving, it wouldn't be too long until we reached STIGMA. He didn't smell too bad either. Those were my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep.
Wait…what did I just say?
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"Alex, wake up. I think we're here."
My eyes flickered open and I turned my head to look down. It was now completely dark but sure enough I could see the lights of STIGMA welcoming me home.
"Yeah that's it. But we can't go in the front way. We'll have to sneak round to where the cleaners loading dock is."
"The what?"
"It's where the cleaners assemble for departure into the vans. You see how the gate is lit up all around?" I pointed downwards, "The front is marked by two red lights on either side of the gate. The right side with the blue lights is the cleaners loading dock."
I switched on the recorder on my headset and checked the time. It was just after 8 pm. "Okay we just got lucky. From five pm onwards cleaners usually leave for routine patrols on the hour to support the agents. There should be no one there until 8.30 when the next group come in to do their final equipment check before their patrol starts.
My stomach was in my throat when we flew in a downwards direction.
"You don't find it odd that we are infiltrating the organisation you work for?"
I grinned weakly while trying not to vomit. "Considering there is an extremely high possibility someone I work with is trying to kill me and you, no I don't. The less people I drag into this the better.
"How many people will be up?"
"Well this place is operational around the clock so around so all of the night staff. I guess around two hundred give or take."
"You are suggesting we hide from two hundred people?" He slowed down as we neared the ground.
"Relax. It's a big place. We'll be able to hide. More importantly I'll be able to find a disguise for you."
We ran up the ramp next to the parking spaces that were reserved for the eight vans. Four of the spaces were empty. At the top of the ramp, three HAZMAT suits were hanging on hooks.
"Perfect." I grabbed one and tossed it to Vergil. "Here put this on."
I watched with interest as he shifted back to his human form and pulled the white pants over his leather ones and then pulled on the jacket and buttoned it up.. He raised the hood over his spiky hair.
"Just keep your head down and follow me. You won't be wearing that for too long."
I then ran to the security door and punched in my access code. The light turned green and the door unlocked.
"Come on," I held the door open while he ran inside. "We have to get to my room. I need a few things.
We walked briskly down the hallways. It would be quiet in this part of the manor for a few more minutes. We would have to be quick.
"How far is your room?"
"The dorms are about fifty meters at the end of this hall.
"Convenient that we came in so close."
"Why do you think I chose that entrance?"
As we reached my room I quickly opened the door and shut it quietly behind us. Vergil pulled off his disguise. The walls were cream but had no posters or pictures on them. Besides the wardrobe with my clothes and a bed there really wasn't much in here.
"What did you come here for?"
I dropped to the floor and reached under the single bed. "I needed extra weapons." I pulled out my black katana and a metal box. I handed Vergil the red katana.
"Here. I think this might suit you more. Sorry, I know it's not exactly Yamato but the blade's pretty damn strong."
"You know about Yamato?" The look on his face suggested he was impressed. I only shrugged.
"I read about it in your case file. It's a nice sword." I opened the metal box and grabbed two extra magazines for my desert eagle and shoved them in the slots of my holster. The black katana went into its slot on my belt.
"You have a gun that never runs out of ammo but you insist on taking bullets for a gun that does?"
I withdrew the desert eagle checked the current magazine. It was still full, paranoid as always.
"Whoever had the power and the knowledge to summon the Ravenetta must have some serious magic backing them up. I'm willing to bet it's someone who has the powers of a witch or warlock. I'd prefer to carry weapons that aren't affected by magic. It's my fall back plan." I then threw him my STIGMA windcheater.
"Put that on and keep you hood up. It will be easier to get into the ops centre if everyone thinks you're an agent. Oh and take this." I handed him Adrian's ID card. "We should be good to go."
As we left I could hear him mutter behind me, "Yes despite the fact that I don't look anything like your brother."
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We had managed to reach the ops centre quickly and without incident. However upon entering ops I breathed cautiously and tried to walk normally past the geeks. I hoped Vergil was doing the same. I had no idea what was going to happen when we passed the Seers.
But as we reached where their chambers were I gasped. The glass room were empty, the candles weren't burning. There was nothing.
"Where are they? Where are the seers?"
"They're gone." Carmen's voice echoed from where she stood in the doorway. "Yvanna ordered them away temporarily. Apparently we're all in danger." She sighed and shook her head. "You had better come in. We have much to discuss."
Inside her office I sat down. Vergil followed behind me. I motioned for him to pull his hood back. Carmen breathed in sharply.
"So this is the infamous son of Sparda. I was wondering if I would ever get to meet you."
"Carmen, what the hell is going on?" I demanded.
"Early this morning, Micah woke up screaming. I should know. Her room is right across from mine. When I ran into her room, she was shaking. She said she had and I quote, 'a vision most awful and unprecedented'. But before I could get anything out of her, she ran to Yvanna. I later found out that she had seen you and brother being attacked. So I assumed the worst."
"You thought I was dead?"
Carmen shrugged. "From what I understand, Yvanna demanded Micah's silence. She later presented a report to myself and the boss that you and Adrian were both dead and that a beast so foul would soon attack us all. Hence all the seers except for Yvanna herself were ordered away."
She handed me an internal email to all department heads. It cited mine and my brother's untimely death as well as the events that lead to said death. The report indicated that Vergil was most likely responsible. If only they knew how true that report could have been.
"I had my doubts about you dying but if the head of the Seers presented a report that you were dead than who was I to question it. But since you're alive and well I'd like to assume that your brother is too and that Yvanna is up to something."
"My thoughts exactly and yes Adrian is perfectly alright." I took a seat. "But what would Yvanna have to gain from my death? More importantly how can Micah have visions of me when the rest of the Seers can't?
She shook her head and reached for her pistol, Osiris. "I don't know but Yvanna is up to something and it's big. We need to be careful here. She's not only the head of the seers but she's also a powerful witch too."
I blinked. It was all falling into place. "A witch…of course! Vergil, she summoned the Ravenetta after us. It all makes sense. Who else could access Sphinx's tears without raising suspicions?"
"The question is why?" He started playing with the hood on his jacket. "Why go to all this trouble? Yes my brother and I are sons of Sparda, your brother and yourself capable fighters, powerful in your own right but so what? What does that mean to someone like her? You said this woman is a seer. Is it possible she has seen something in our futures that she wishes to prevent?"
"I don't know but we'll know soon enough. Either way that bitch is going down tonight!"
Author's note: I'm surprised at how quickly this chapter came together. Sometimes the words flow like water, other times it's like trying to draw blood from a stone.
Comments, reviews & criticisms are always welcome. Thanks for everyone's feedback so far.
Next chapter: Betrayals & Revelations Part 2.