The Beginning Of It All
Kortniee sat at the desk, looking over the blue heart in her palm. Tracing the edges softly. "It's been nearly a year." she thought sadly, her heart aching. Suddenly, Dante kicked through the bathroom door and made his way to the pizza on the pool table. "Did he come yet with the pay?" he asked, slurping up some melted cheese that was falling off the slice. Kortniee shook her head, "Not yet." Dante cursed and sat on the desk, chewing angrily. Then the double doors opened and in came a fat Italian. "Hey Dante! You here-! Ah, good. I got you and girlie's pay." he said, pulling out a fat envelope and waving it with a smile. Kortniee put the heart in her pocket and went up to him, "About damn time, Enzo." She went to pluck the envelope from his hands but he pulled it back. "Pay the price, girlie." he cooed and puckered his lips slightly. Kortniee's eye twitched and cracked him in the jaw, sending him out the doors. The envelope fell into her open hand, "You're lucky that was my left." She heard Dante chuckle and stand up. "Thanks, sweets." he said and picked the envelope out of her hands, he started counting the money inside. Kortniee blushed and went to grab a slice of pizza. " 49, 000 … 50,000. It's all here." Dante announced with a smile, he waved it and put it in his back pocket. She chewed, "Can we tell Enzo to take a hike? PLEASE?" He scratched his head and picked up the last slice, "He brings us the good jobs, sweets. Until we can get on our own two feet again, he stays. " Kortniee pouted. He stuck the pizza in his mouth and let it hang as he looked at the fresh crisp bills in the envelope, "Bills, debits, and bar is all paid for now." Suddenly, he was knocked over. The envelope and his pizza gone. Kortniee was on top of him, the money in her back pocket and pizza in hand. She took a bite, teasing him. "This money is going to pay the bills and debits. But after that the rest goes to the bank. No bars. Last time you proposed to a mop." she said, chewing slowly. Dante glared up at her and grumbled, " Damn woman … stealing MY pizza." She giggled, " Oh, you'll live." After she swallowed the last of the pizza she got up and made her way to the desk, grabbing some papers. "I'll go pay these and go to Pizza1 to pay the tab. I'll be back soon." Dante sat up and scratched his head. Damn woman. He worked hard for that money. He lost his motorcycle at the mission. His baby! She refused to use the payment to buy a new one. "Are you're legs broken?" she asked at the time, crossing her arms. Dante rolled his eyes and walked away; limping.
Kortniee grabbed her black coat and made her way to the doors, "Be good. Don't make a mess." He sighed and stood up, "Yeah. Yeah, what are you my mom?" She chuckled and opened the door, Enzo stood there. "Hey! You broke three teeth! You'll pay for tha-" he begun to say when she kneed him and kicked him aside. "I don't waste my time on shit like you, Enzo. Get out of here or I'll scorch you like last time. " she said, her red eyes burning with the urge to burn the Italian alive.
The fire demon walked past him in the alley way. He watched her as the the clouds parted and the sun shined off her now copper brown hair. The fate that would await her would surely kill her. What a shame for him to waste such a good chess piece. Vergil and Dante were his Kings. His daughter, Mary, his Queen. Tayler the Bishop and Kortniee the Knight. All the pieces would be used in this game. To make him become a full fledged demon. Nothing could stop him. He waited a few moments before he stepped out into the light on the street and made his way to the unnamed office. He stopped and looked upon the doors and then looked at the sky. By the end of the day, the sky would be blood red. He could hear the screams of the weak humans and the roar of demons. He , Arkham, would watch it all burn. When it would all be destroyed he would build his dark empire. Rule of the world. A smile played at his lips but he pushed it away. He looked to the doors and walked inside.
Vergil stood in front of the under ground tower of Temi-Ni-Gru, Tayler close beside him. "You should take out any obstacles, Vergil." Arkham had said. So far nothing seemed odd about the front courtyard of the tower. Tayler looked around, "Uh … Vergil." He felt her grip his arm and soon enough demons arose from the ground. He scanned and made some calculations in his head. Twenty seconds tops. Tayler looked up at him. "Run to the stairs when I say." he said, glancing at her for a brief second. She nodded and got ready to run. The demons came closer, their groans agonizing to Tayler's ears. Their scythes gleaming in the torch light of the tower. She could see her face in the deadly metal. "Now!" Vergil said plainly, Tayler ran for it. Although she never looked back, she could hear the slicing of flesh and smell the blood being spilled. When she reached the top of the steps she realized there was hair on her shoulders. Her hair. She reached to her shoulder and picked some of it off. Vergil must of miscalculated slightly. She was extremely lucky. With a sigh, she began to brush it off. Feeling the back of her head she realized how short it was. She shrugged, she was going to cut it anyways. Turning around, she watched as Vergil cut the demons down two at a time. He moved with such grace and ease, it was almost like a dance. A dance of blood. His hair was down now, slightly dripping with demon blood. At first glance, you would think it was Dante, but once you looked into those cold blue eyes you know it's Vergil. Vergil roared as he slashed through the last of the demons. After the demons were cut he flicked his sword and slipped into it's sheath behind him. Silence. Then the demons split in half. Slowing turning into sand Vergil sleeked his hair back with a Hmph and made his way the top of the stairs. When he reached the top she stood beside him, looking over the huge door. " … it begins." Vergil said plainly and headed for the door. Tayler following him closely. "No turning back now." she thought.
Kortniee walked back to the office. All the bills had been paid and Andy at the pizza parlor had taken care of Dante's tab. All was covered and accounted for. She even deposited the rest of it to the bank, keeping some on hand for groceries later that day. Suddenly, something grabbed her shoulder. A rough, clawed hand. Instinct kicked in and she set her body aflame. The screeching behind her confirmed it was a demon. A grin came across her lips, the smell of burnt flesh and blood exciting her. Then a familiar face popped in her mind. The pained face of a man. A little boy's screaming in the distance. The smell of her home burning and the rubble falling down … blood sprayed across the floor from the fallen rubble. Hot tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry! Dad don't go! I'm sorry!" her thoughts screamed, then suddenly she was pulled into reality when a flying door hit the burning demon. She blinked, tears threatening to drip from her eyes. She wiped them and looked to the office to see Dante. She saw him throw his sword up and get his coat on with blinding speed then catch the fallen blade. If he hadn't his head would've been cut in half. He seemed pissed and pointed Rebellion at the demons that were now behind her, "I hope you have enough to cover all of this!" He stormed down the stairs and started to get to work. Kortniee blinked and shrugged then walked inside but stopped. Horrified, she scanned the destroyed office. What. The. Hell. Happened here? She stormed inside. Desk was tipped over, papers scattered across the wooden floors. The expensive pool table was cut in half. One piece in the wall and the other where Dante's drums were. The jukebox coughed up the last of the song then gave out. Kortniee's anger rose. The meter exploding. "DANTE!" she shrieked, and turned to the street. "I don't have time for that! Shut the hell up and help me!" he replied quickly as he sliced down the last demon before another huge one appeared. She growled and focused her anger on the demon. Her eyes slightly burned and the demon caught on fire, the small ball of flame growing bigger and bigger inside it until it swallowed by it. Dante panted and sheathed his sword, " 'bout damn time." Kortniee stomped over and glared up at him, "What the hell were you thinking? You messed u-" A rumble shook the earth and the arch of the office caved in over the entrance. " … DESTROYED the office!" she finished, fists clenched. Dante sighed and rolled his eyes, " We have bigger problems now, babe. Like since when could so many demons appear here of all places." Kortniee was about to answer when the ground shook again. This time it continued to shake the earth beneath them. Cars started moving slightly and signs fell. People screamed in surprise. Dante stood his ground with ease and caught Kortniee as she stumbled. She held onto him tight as she look up to see a tower rising from the ground. Her eyes widened. Temi-ni-gru. Shit. "You hear that?" Dante asked, face puzzled. Kortniee blinked and listened hard. " WHEEEEEEEEEEE! I CAN SEE MY HOUSE FROM HERE!" cried a voice. ! Kortniee knew that voice. "Tayler!" she called and began to struggle away from Dante. He held on tight. Not wanting her to hurt herself due to the shaking ground. Kortniee's heart pounded against her ribs. Tayler was ok .. and she wasn't far. Now was her chance to save her from that heartless bastard Vergil. Dante seemed to read her mind and watched closely as he watched his elder brother rise above them. What is he planning now? The rumbling stopped. Everything around them was destroyed. People scrambled about, running to their cars or hailing a taxi. Dante and Kortniee stood, looking up at the tower. "No doubt you got something fun planned for me. Right Vergil!" Dante shouted, smirking. Kortniee could already tell … that this was going to be one hell of a party.