Chapter 11
Dante
I swirled Osiris about me like a aura of angelic death. Vergil had been right, we did fight well together. But still, this demon was thousands of years old and was quicker and more experienced than we were.
He was fast in a way Mundus, for all his power, never had been. His fighting reminded me more of the Dreamrunner's than any other demon but he wasn't nearly as predictable or vulnerable after an attack as they were. Still every demon I had ever faced had a weakness.
I watched Vergil's back almost unconsciously both of us moving together to press the attack or defend one another from the oil covered swords.
My devil power still sung in my veins, refusing fade as it had in the past. It burned for the kill, for the joy of the fight. I knew my hair must be completely white by now, a true a mirror of my twin.
Suddenly the demon stopped. The first pause in our wickedly fast dance since I had summoned the power of my demon father. Vergil and I advanced together Yamato and Rebellion both poised to strike when we saw that another blade had taken the honour of piercing the demon's chest.
Princess. For a moment I was wildly furious that Kat had stolen my kill. As the Demon crumpled to the ground I didn't halt my deadly swing. I saw Kat's face go white with shock as Rebellion whistled towards her and I grinned. A small part of me rebelled and I felt the devil trigger fade slightly but it was too late to stop the swing.
CLANG. Rebellion crashed to an abrupt halt a hairbreadths from Kats neck. Yamato strained for a moment against the force of the blow, giving me time drop Rebellion which vanished the moment it was out of my hands.
There was a stunned silence from everyone for a moment. Vergil looked just as surprised as Kat to find himself standing between myself and her with his naked blade levelled at me.
I felt a bleak horror rise in me as the last of the euphoric power drained away.
"Kat I..." I didn't know what to say. I felt myself flush with shame, and revulsion twist in my gut. The burning cracks in my skins faded back to a normal tan brown and a consuming exhaustion swept through me.
I started to back away and Vergil seemed inclined to let me but after a moment Kat gathered herself and pushed past him grabbing my wrist before I broke out into a run.
"What have I done?" I asked my voice a hoarse whisper. "What am I?'
"It wasn't you," Kat told firmly. I was reminded strongly of when she had cupped my face on that rooftop after battling Vergil for the first time. You are Dante. I still didn't know what that meant.
"It was a part of me." I didn't deserve to have her touch me.
"Yes, and there's also a part of you that almost sacrificed everything to save me."
"We are Nephilim Dante. We have to accept both the angel and demon parts ourselves if we want to control them. Otherwise they control us. And maybe neither of us have done a very good job of facing our dual nature lately." This time it was Vergil speaking. "Limbo used to be a place where and angels and demons could meet in peace. Maybe it's a good time and place for us to make peace with ourselves and with each other."
"Dante, you told me that the demon Phineas said you had yet to reach your full potential. I think I know what he meant," Kat stated quietly. "Full potential is making peace with both angel and demon side. You use both but you don't accept either. You fight your demon heritage and you feel unworthy of you angel blood. But they are both a part of you Dante, just like Vergil is."
I had fought my demon heritage. That was evident enough. But did I feel unworthy of my angel heritage, I wondered. I certainly didn't feel angelic at the moment. I was tainted. But I couldn't help but think of all the good I had done since meeting Kat. Defeating Mundus and Lilith. Freeing people from their demon gaolers.
Vergil held out his hand and let me grasp it as we had done so many times before. I felt a warmth on my chest and saw the both Vergil and my pendants had started to glow.
I still felt the demon energies inside me but they seemed balanced somehow. As I watched my red pendant and Vergil's blue one glowed brighter and brighter becoming almost painfully hot against my skin. Then after a few moment they both started to fade, settling into a matching deep amethyst colour.
