I know this chpt is fairly short and kind of rough but I like what it ends up triggering. So plz enjoy and you comments are most appreciated. Plz review. Thank you and enjoy. =)
The red neon glow from the shop sign ended my search. The outline of a figure of red light, aiming a gun also confirmed that Dante's taste was present. Or, in his case, lack of taste. Though he had a logo, there was no name, which puzzled me but I waved it off.
I wasn't quite sure if what I was doing was the right thing to do, but I needed someone. After what I'd done to him over 2 months ago, I didn't feel very welcome, or right about this. I didn't deserve his time, and it was purely selfish of me, but... I had no one.
"Didn't expect to find you around here," I whipped around and was met with silvery eyes. Dante stood a mere three feet or so from me and was drenched in ink black blood. He held Rebellion, slung behind his head and resting on a shoulder.
"What happened?" I looked at him with what must have been horror because when he smiled, it was almost malicious.
"Some stupid human summoned a Lord. Malfax, I think his name was? The slimy bastard exploded after I hit his core, covering me in this..." He lifted up his arms and looked himself over before exclaiming in disgust, "...shit!"
"It smells horrible," I scrunched my face, "God, what kind of demon is he? He smells like roadkill and port-o-potties,"
"Are you trying to say I smell?" Irritation rolled off his tongue.
"Well, no, but I suppose you do," It wasn't exactly what I meant, but who could deny that he smelled like shit?
"What are you here for? Snap my neck again? Oh, yeah and thanks for the money, I was able to buy some time on paying the full rent," The irritation wasn't just an undertone, it was more of a Now that I think about it... uh, you're a bitch tone. Who could blame him, that had been a bitch move then, but I'd needed to get out of there quickly. It wasn't like I hadn't felt guilty afterwards... or right now for that matter.
"I'm pregnant," Word vomit, anyone? Pressure had just built up out of nowhere, and the sudden urge to just let it out had overtaken me. Now all was left was to see what he'd say, which terrified me.
"Funny. You know, you only tried that on me a dozen times when we were together. A joke like that gets old after awhile, babe-"
"I'm serious," I said straightfaced, not allowing my tone or voice to waver. I didn't know why I came to him now. So what if I was alone? Telling Dante was probably the worst thing I could possibly do. Especially to him. I realized now that it would probably only hurt him knowing the child wouldn't be his, but his twin brother's.
I truly was a selfish girl.
"It's Vergil's then, isn't it? I was gonna say, that blonde, Alice, I think you called her, couldn't have been the father. If so, then I'm amazed what surgery can do," Even in such a situation, he could still joke, but the bitter grudge hiding beneath the surface was all too visible in his aura.
Sometimes being able to read an aura as I could, really gave you answers you didn't want to know. Like for instance, when someone lied to make you feel better, you could tell immediately it was a lie and thus, that forged comfort was wasted. So even if Dante was joking, I already knew he was seething with anger and a whole lot of jealousy.
"I'm... sorry. I shouldn't have come. I'm stupid! Why the hell did I think I should tell you?" Guilt and a whole mix of ugly emotions were starting to overrule, and I found myself holding back tears.
God, would I ever quit crying? Crying was weakness and I could not afford weakness.
"Because you have no one there. You can claim you have Vergil but one person, your lover, isn't all you need. You were raised human, Sarla, and you'll always be human in your heart to an extent. Humans need relationships with people other than their boyfriend or girlfriend. They need their friends," He took a deep breath, "I guess Tami isn't here anymore for you. It's only natural you'd come crawling back to me," He placed Rebellion back in place behind his back and came closer.
"I might be willng to listen... for a kiss," He grinned wolfishly and pointed to his lips, "Lay 'em right here,"
"You know I can't do that," I blanked.
"Sure you can, you did it to me with Vergil,"
"We weren't dating, so technically I didn't cheat," I corrected, much to his annoyance.
"Well you were supposed to wait dotingly until I returned someday then we would get it on and then after a month or so when I would leave again, you would confess to me that you were pregnant with MY child," It was like him to be a smartass, but so NOT like him to make up scenarios like that.
Well, maybe it was. When he was trying to get a point across, anyway.
"Yes, well, YOU didn't return. Your brother DID. Anyway, there is no way to describe how I feel. He just... I feel peaceful, safe ...and he may be a cold bastard but I know he loves me, if he loves at all. He doesn't have emotions or a consience for all I know, but-"
"I'll listen to your pregnancy problems, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about your feelings toward my brother. Just because I understand, doesn't neccessarily mean I like it or want to hear it," Dante snapped with a snarl on his lips. I could see slight points on his canines and realized that Vergil wasn't the only one who had awakened their inner devil. Judging by his smell and aura though, he didn't seem fully awakened.
Slowly, as he calmed, those points retracted to normal.
"I'm sorry. I understand," I whispered.
"No, don't be, he is your boyfriend, only natural," I didn't know if I liked him being calm about or if I'd rather he yelled at me. He was trying to be mature, but didn't I deserve to be yelled at? If Dante couldn't tell me exactly what he was feeling, I wouldn't be able to feel comfortable telling him these things. I wanted honesty. In addition I didn't want him to feel he had to bottle it all up, "I knew when I saw you guys that one time that you were lying about being together. If you felt it was to keep me from being hurt, it was stupid,"
"How did you know?"
"You didn't smell like a virgin anymore," His eyes darted to and fixated on me almost menacingly, "Did you forget I can smell better than humans?" He was talking to me, but it was empty. He was closed off. This was the Dante that I hated. I'd always hated this side of him. This was his pouting and whining that I so desperately hated!
"No, but I understand why you asked for a kiss in front of Vergil. Cheeky devil," I muttered.
"I almost thought you would," He couldn't contain his grin.
"I'm no two timer. We weren't together when Vergil came back-"
"You don't have to justify it. I understand. I already know you didn't betray me so just drop it," He hissed through a snear.
"Okay," I breathed, not sure I could manage anything other than that.
"Let's head back to the shop. I need to wash up and then you can tell me about this whole ordeal of yours," Dante's hand rested on my head in reassurance before brushing past for the shop. I followed, watching the red leather coat trail behind him. The screaming skull of Rebellion stared back at me and I noticed a slight difference in the skull. It wasn't just a skull, it's mouth was wide open with teeth snarling back at me.
"Is that Rebellion?" I asked to confirm. I didn't to mistake it for another sword.
"Yeah, what other sword would it be?" He said cautiously and suspicion was lying beneath the surface.
"None other I suppose. It just looked different somehow," I murmured.
"Yeah it's been like this since Verge and I fought that day. You know, when-"
"Yes, I know," I stopped him. My mother's death was not something I wanted to be reminded of, even though I had accepted it.
Inside, the shop was quite bare. There was a pool table, a few couches and a desk. It was very open but just lacked the whole "business" feel to it. I spotted Eva's old vintage jukebox in the corner to my right, next a set of drums and guitar. Dante had always been skilled with the guitar. I'd often envied that, but at the same time loved it. He would serenade me whenever. Especially if he'd thought I was down about something. His performances were exclusively for Eva, Vergil, and myself. However whenever he played drums, it was more like savage noise than anything.
Reminiscing was quickly cut short when I caught sight of the mountain high pile of pizza boxes beside the desk. What a slob.
He'd never change.
"Didn't Eva ever tell you to pick up after yourself?" I giggled and he turned and smiled genuinely.
"Vergil was the neat freak, remember?" He hung the jacket on a hook placed on the wall behind the desk.
"I like what you've done with the place," I avoided speaking about Vergil and changed the topic. I saw the pool table and the urge to start a game rose within me. It'd been so long since I played a game of pool.
"You wanna play?" He'd caught my stare at the pool table.
"I would, but..." I sighed.
"It's not like you're drinking. It won't hurt Vergy Jr." Dante sauntered -shirtless- over to the sticks that were mounted on the wall grabbing a slightly smaller one for me.
"I don't know what it is yet," I laughed, taking the stick, "Who's breaking?"
"You can," He gathered the balls into the triangle then removed it, waiting for me.
"How many months?" He asked as I broke the triangle, watching the colorful orbs spread over the table. One managed to make it into a hole.
Dante scoffed, "As expected of you," He added, "So how many months?"
"A little over two,"
As the time passed and our game ended our conversation had become more natural. It felt like I was talking to the Dante I'd always known and loved. I apologized for the incident between us all a few months ago and he waved it off. It was so like him to put on the front of being unbothered. He'd whine and argue over it for a little while, but then he would just wave it off as if nothing happened. That was just how he was, and I loved it.
"So how does my beloved brother feel about this?" Dante offered me a pop.
"He would never admit to it, but I know that he's terrified. Kids were not exactly part of the plan. The only reason he'd ever want a kid would be to carry on the family line. Also, I think he'd want a powerful demon to have his child, not some half breed like me," Vergil hadn't disapeared or run off like when he found out about my dad, but he was slightly more distant than he already was. However, when he did become close with me, or intimate for that matter, he was so... fierce. So much so I would nearly drown in his intensity each time. He didn't dare go further than third base, but that was to be expected. I was pregnant after all.
However, not being able to be embraced by Vergil in the way I longed for, for a total of nine months would probably be torture. A torture I was glad to put up with for this child. I'd become more affectionate towards the idea and even looked forward to the child to come. I was already thinking of names and outfits. What would the child look like? It would most likely look like me considering I had the dominate hair and eye color but what about its features? Would it be a boy who looked like Vergil or a girl that looked like me? Or maybe the other way around? I was dying to know who the kid would take after!
"He may have changed a bunch since he left but I think I know him enough to say that he wouldn't have children with some random demon. Not just anyone could pop out his spawn. If he feels the way he supposedly does, he wouldn't let anyone but you have his kid, if he were to have kids at all," A knock came at the door and Dante set his drink down and walked with his own sexy swagger to the door. It was the pizza boy.
"Put it on my tab," He went to take the pizzas. I watched the boy's uncomfortable face. No matter how you looked at it, Dante was a fairly intimidating person. He was shirtless standing in the doorway, towering over the human teenage boy who was on the thin side. His big brown eyes looked as though he'd seen a ghost.
"But Dante-I mean- Sir, we've been ordered to not deliver you pizza unless you pay your tab or pay for the pizza up front," Oh dear, if that boy ever looked scared before, he looked like he'd just shit his pants trying to talk to the enormous devil boy. The pizza boy was probably the same age as Dante, but given Dante's body of a grown man, he probably felt pathetic in comparison.
"Gah, dammit, I'm barely scrapping by as it is-"
"Dante, relax, I'll take care of it," I laughed, pulling two twenties from my pocket. I never liked carrying a purse, no matter how cute they were, "How much, man?" His eyes widened even further once I'd peered in from behind Dante. A common reaction that I'd grown used to over the years. My beauty, though I never liked the idea of it, had always left others in a daze. I hate to brag or be so arrogant, but it was true. I also never looked at myself as any better than another. I hated those types of people.
"T-T-Twenty-two dollars and seventy-five cents," He stammered. I handed him the two twenties.
"Keep the change. And might I inquire as to what his tab is?"
"Sarla, you don't-"
"This is my way of saying thanks," I cut Dante short.
"Um, it's nine hundred-sixty dollars and thirty- five cents," The boy looked at piece of paper. No doubt it was a notice for Dante that he'd meant to give him.
"Good Lord, how much and often do you eat pizza Dante?" I exclaimed.
"They have good stawberry sundaes too," He shrugged.
"And you, why does your boss allow him to go this long?" The boy who now that I'd gotten a better look at, was fairly plain with sandy brown hair, brown eyes and the minor case of acne. I had the feeling he cleaned up well though. He dry swallowed when I addressed him.
"Boss just said that Mr. Dante wasn't someone to anger and that's why we let him go this long," He answered, watching Dante for any trace of anger. It was quite the opposite, he seemed almost indifferent.
"Look at you, what did you do to scare them?" I pointed out his nonchalance.
"The owner of the joint caught me in the middle of a fight with one of those lessar demons in the ally behind his shop," He shrugged. Did he not remember that most humans were unaware of devils, now? Except for our hometown.
I sighed before flipping through all my hundreds until I counted a thousand and handed it to the boy, "Consider the change as payment for his next order," The kid just looked at me astonished. I suppose it wasn't entirely misunderstandable. Here I was, an attractive girl just randomly handing out a thousand dollars plus the initial payment as if it were nothing.
As I mentioned before, I didn't know where Vergil got the money, but I wasn't quite sure I wanted to know.
"Uh, yes, thank you, Miss. Have a nice night to both of you," He waved as he all but run back to his delivery car.
"I'm not even going to ask where all that money came from," Dante laughed, closing the door.
"Yeah, neither am I," I giggled, "I don't think I want to know where Vergil gets it,"
"I probably wouldn't either, if I were you,"