A/N: *sigh* Usually I'm not one to complain about reviews, especially inside my stories, but I'll make an exception, for there is one thing I MUST make clear. If you are going to leave a review or message COMPLAINING about certain aspects of my writing then I ask you leave CONSTRUCTIVE criticism afterwards so that I may improve upon characterization and plot flow; not cater to whether you enjoy the plot or not.

Remember, you're not being forced to read anything. If you don't like it, then march on. Thank you. Enjoy the chapter.

A Devil Inside

A palpable air of tension descended upon the hall. Angela was hesitant to speak, for she feared any word might be the catalyst needed to set either half-demon over the edge.

The silence in the hallway was broken as the steady rhythm of boots clacking against the stone floor approached Dante and Angela. Soon, it was followed by the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath. Angela gulped.

"Vergil wait-" Was all Angela managed to say before the devil dashed forward in a Rapid Slash.

'CLINK!'

"Nice to see you too, bro." Dante had stopped the attack, locking Rebellion with Yamato. "What, no hug?" Dante swung Rebellion, forcing Vergil to slide back. "We are the rescue party after all."

Vergil took another attack stance without hesitation. He again dashed forward with Rapid Slash as Dante countered with Stinger. The blades locked once more, but quickly slid away from each other as their wielders dove into a flurry on nearly invisible slashes.

"What's with cold shoulder, Verge?" Dante grinned. "Tera got your tongue?"

"Insolent fool." Vergil teleported several yards back in a stance for Judgment Cut. Yamato began to crackle with a dark purple hue. Dante positioned Rebellion to counter with Drive. His sword's bright red glow was intensifying to match Yamato's. "You talk too much." Vergil unsheathed and sheathed Yamato three times in such rapid succession that it appeared as if he only tugged and pulled the sword while it was still sheathed.

"Nice try." Dante swung Rebellion three times causing the large red rifts of Drive to crawl across the floor and collide with the purple orbs of Judgment Cut, negating their power before they could reach Dante. "But no dice."

"That's new." Vergil narrowed his eyes.

"Picked up a few tricks while you were gone." Dante drew his pistols from their holsters. He unleashed a rapid fire of bullets charged with demonic energy towards his brother. Vergil wind milled Yamato in front of him, catching the projectiles one by one. He stopped with his katana's point aimed skyward. Seven bullets sat perfectly stacked on the blades tip.

"So have I, while in my meditations." Vergil moved Yamato to allow the bullets to fall waist level before he swung several times at the stack. Individually he ricocheted the bullets off the walls at different angles to converge on Dante. Dante shot seven more rounds off to collide in midair with the returning bullets. They all dropped harmlessly to the ground.

"Is that the best you got?" Dante shrugged his shoulders, trusty pistols still in hand.

"Don't get cocky, Brother." Vergil warned as Spiral Swords circled into life around him.

Angela had watched in amazement at the fighting prowess of the Sons of Sparda. Their abilities were uncanny. They were a league all their own. She wasn't anywhere on their level. From where she was standing compared to the brothers, she couldn't even visibly see their level, let alone attempt such feats as to catch and stack bullets on the tip of her sword. The gap between their powers and hers was infuriating. And here they were wasting it on a sibling rivalry!

"STOP!" Angela screamed at the brothers. Her canines grew two inches in length, emitting black lightning. It crackled forth from her entire form and struck each Spiral Sword, shattering it. The Sons of Sparda halted at her intrusion, and gave her their undivided attention. "Enough! We have achieved our goal! We don't have time for your family feud." Several streaks of the black lightning danced into life around Angela, each surrounded by a white aura. Feathers began to fall from her wings as they took on a more sinister bat like shape. "Let's get the hell out of this place!" Vergil and Dante exchanged knowing glances, and then looked back to Angela's raging form, as if they had shared some obvious profound knowledge. "What?" Angela questioned as her demonic power began to subside as suddenly as it came.

"So there is a devil inside." Dante was the first to respond as he watched the remnants of the black lightning dissipate.

"Which she has no control over." Vergil sheathed Yamato. "And is the reason why you should not have come. "

"But, Mentor I-" Angela started.

"We have run out of time. And neither Dante, nor I have the combined power to suppress it any longer. You might have doomed us all." Vergil scolded. Angela hung her head in failure as she exited her half angel-half devil trigger.

"Man, that seems a little a harsh, don't you think, Verge?" Dante poked his brother in the shoulder, much to Vergil's dislike. "A 'how you doing Angela', or 'geez, thanks for saving my dumb blue butt, Angela' seems a lot more appropriate." Dante tsked at Vergil. "And you didn't even compliment the lady's attire, bro. Bad manners." Dante shook his head as he wrapped an arm around Angela's waist. Vergil's features grew stern.

"There is a lot more at stake here than questionable fashion trends, brother." Vergil growled at Dante. "Incase you are not aware, you entered the Devil King's prison, and I'm sure once he is aware of what is transpiring here, he will not let us leave so willing."

"Alright, then let's do as Angela said, and vamoose." Dante chucked a thumb over his shoulder.

"RRHAAAAAAAARRRGH!" An unidentifiable roar shook the entire building around the trio, causing loose stones to fall to the floor and crumble to gravel.

"If it only were so simple." Vergil said as he started down the hallway past Dante and Angela.

"Hey, babe." Dante tugged Angela closer to him by her waist as they followed behind Vergil. "Don't let Verge go killing your buzz. He's always been a party pooper." Angela gazed up at Dante and gave him a somber smile. "By the way, Vergil." Dante addressed his brother. "What is the it you were referring to earlier."

"It is none of your concern." Vergil replied. "It deals only with me, and the half-angel." Dante looked down at Angela, who was still looking solemnly at the ground at her feet. "Oh, and brother. One more thing." Vergil glared over his shoulder.

"And what's that?"

"Take your hands off my apprentice."

A/N: It's been awhile, hasn't it? Sorry...There's no point in me grovelling for forgiveness. I'll just take the well deserved torches and pitch forks to the face as I will have to do for all my stories.

Any CONSTRUCTIVE feedback is appreciated, especially since I haven't written in this genre in forever. Let me know if it's staying true and lining up with what's already posted. I don't want to deviate too much in style if possible.