Nina's eyes flickered open groggily to be met with dizziness. Everything in her screamed for her to get up and move but her body refused to obey. She wasn't even sure where she was. For all she knew she had been captured by her father. If her limbs didn't feel like a dead weight attached to the anchor of her torso she would have jumped at the warm contact of another hand on top of hers. Her eyes flicked to the side and she smiled as best she could. Dante smirked at her with a half crooked grin and squeezed her hand tighter.
"Welcome back." He said gently.
"Thanks." Nina croaked out. She cleared her throat a few times to get the vocal chords back in working order to no avail. "I wasn't sure where I was at first."
"It's no surprise you were disoriented. It looked like you had a rough time." Dante stated with a frown. His eyes darkened to a deeper shade of red as he brought his other hand to swipe some hair from her forehead.
"It was." Nina said. Her thoughts were still scattered everywhere. Most of which still lingered on the dream she had had. She had remembered the last time she had seen her mother, the last time that everything had been alright. She couldn't help but wonder if her father had known then on that day at the beach that he was going to kill her mother. Even though she knew that fact and the realization dawned on her that now the man would stop at nothing to find her and kill her as well she still wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt even if she knew he didn't deserve it.
Tears began to form in her eyes and spill down the sides of her face falling into her hair. Dante was quick to catch most of them but some were too fast even for him. He brought his face closer to hers lacing his fingers with hers while stroking her cheek with his thumb. He had no clue what exactly had brought on her upset but decided that she deserved it. If she wanted to cry he wouldn't do anything to try and stop her.
"I'm sorry, sorry. I just…I can't believe…" Nina tried to get her words out only to have them begin to get choked off by the heavy sobs that resonated in her chest and ripped out of her open mouth in what sounded like hiccups.
"Shh, shh…calm down Nina." Dante replied kissing her forehead and cheek a few times before rubbing his nose against hers. In desperation she caught his lips with her trembling ones and kissed him. His warmth was welcome as she took as much of him into her as she could. Dante didn't object as he tried to make the kiss as tender as possible without trying to overwhelm her in her already overwrought state. She broke the kiss and seemed a bit calmer than before.
"Dante, thank you." She whispered her tears seeming to dry up somewhat with a few stragglers.
"You're welcome Nina. I know this is going to be a really stupid question but are you okay?" He asked concern evident in his voice. She shook her head once slowly.
"No, not really." She replied. "I found something out while I was there, well no that's a lie. I found out a lot while I was there."
"Like what?" He asked. Nina adverted her gaze to the ceiling and he wondered if she was going to answer him at all. She took in a deep shuddering breath and held it in her chest for a few moments before exhaling slowly.
"I saw the room where they do their experiments. I knew that they did but to actually see where they…it just brought it into a new light for me I guess you could say. That was where I found Yamato." She said.
"They were probably using Yamato's power as a catalyst for changing people into those things." Dante said his voice low in his chest. While he didn't necessarily feel any real emotional attachment for the sword or the devil that resided in it he still felt a slight stab of pain to his chest. They had used the devil much the same way as the so called scientists at Fortuna had done years earlier. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the male that had sired him.
Nina saw the obvious change in Dante's demeanor. His eyes took on a more morose shade as if he were thinking or sad. His frown had become even deeper and resembled the one Vergil seemed to always have in place. She managed to squeeze his hand a bit even though her hand felt swollen and useless.
"Are you okay?" She asked taking on the same tone he had had. Dante attempted to give her a small half grin and nodded his head once.
"Yeah I'm fine just thinking, I guess." He replied.
"What about?" She asked. Dante broke into a full nervous grin cocking a brow at her.
"Hey I thought we were talking about you." He replied in an attempt to get her back on the track they had been on.
"We were but now it's your turn. I told you something that was bothering me now you get to tell me what's bothering you." She stated. Dante let out a small chortle of sorts before nodding.
"Fair enough." He said taking in a breath similar to the one Nina had before she had began talking. He found it did help clear his mind and prepare him for whatever it was he was going to say.
"You remember how I told you when we met that I didn't know what I was." He stated more than asked. Nina nodded slightly giving him the single to continue. "Well I found out." Dante moved his gaze to the wall staring at it intently as if he were trying to disassemble it with his mind.
"That's good thought, isn't it?" She asked.
"Yeah it's good it was just a shock. I always thought I was more human than devil but it's the other way around." He said. "My mother is only a quarter devil but my father is a full blown demon. A very powerful demon or at least he was."
"What happened to him?" Nina asked interested. Dante brought his attention back to her and shook his head.
"What else is on your mind?" He asked.
"Hey, that's not fair. You didn't finish telling me what's bothering you. I can tell." She stated somewhat defensively.
"Neither did you." He replied. Nina let out a sigh and shook her head once.
"When I tell you the rest I don't think I'll be able to function afterward very well. You're better off telling me." She said. Dante only shook his head.
"It can wait." He said. Nina let out another sigh relenting that he wasn't going to give her much of a choice.
"Alright then but just remember you asked for it so keep that in mind when I become a mess all over again." She replied. Dante nodded his head in understanding.
"I overheard my father talking with his right hand man. They were in his office and I had to pass by there to get to where the weapons were being held. I eavesdropped on them when I heard my father shout about Yamato." Nina stopped talking for a moment deciding to just get it out into the open and say what her father had admitted to. "He killed my mother."
"I'm sorry." Dante whispered out not all to surprised seeing as how his memories of the man were only severe cruelty.
"I know that he's done a lot of things that are beyond the pale of being anything short of evil but he is my father and she was my mother. That isn't supposed to happen." She said feeling the tears fall back down again.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Dante asked feeling his anger come into full boil over the anguish that Nina was in. He had over the years thought up a few creative ways to dispatch of the man that had caused them all so much pain but none were as graphic as they were now. He would pay dearly for all of the people he had hurt but he would suffer because of what he had done to his daughter. Dante would make certain of that.
"I just want to feel better again. It's been such a long time." She stated. Dante nodded in understanding. He couldn't recall the last time he had felt as if the entire world wouldn't come crashing down on his shoulder. Dante laid down next to Nina as he pushed to the edge a little bit to make room for him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly as she rested her head just below his chin.
"You fit so well in my arms." He whispered into her hair inhaling her scent deeply. He held onto her exotic sweetness until his chest felt as if it would burst forcing him to exhale. Nina nodded her head.
"You're so warm. You make me feel safe. It's nice." She replied laying a soft kiss against his neck. Dante felt the shudder run down his spine leaving small tingles in its path. He couldn't help but let out a soft amused laugh.
In turn he kissed her forehead moving down the bridge of her nose until he reached her lips and grasped for them greedily. She was the one who applied pressure to the kiss and deepened it allowing him entry. He ran his tongue along hers sucking gently as she did the same and began running hers along his teeth. She nicked the soft muscle against his fang filling his mouth with the taste of her blood.
He felt his heart beat faster in his chest as a great need began to well up within him. He felt the devil inside of him begin to manifest itself. Desperation soon took over and he knew that soon any rational human thought would be flying out the window. The last thing he wanted was to traumatize Nina anymore than she already had for that day.
Nina felt him break away in a hurry but all questions ceased before they were even started when she saw his face. She gasped slightly turning herself to sit up slightly. His grip on her became tighter but not out of passion. He held onto her as if she were a lifeline. His breathing came faster and in gasps of air as if he were trying to stay in control even if it appeared to be in vain.
"Dante? Dante!" She said bringing her hand to his cheek resting it against his flesh. Her instincts told her to take it away as soon as she felt the heat that he was generating. It felt hot enough to blister her skin. Instead she stroked the side of his face as his breathing came in more gasps.
His eyes flashed crimson and seemed to pulse outward from the pupils. Small sparks seemed to move towards the whiter part of his eyes before dissipating. Nina felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end as a heavy static seemed to settle in the air around her. In any other circumstance she would have gone on red alert since that was what normally meant a devil was around but in this case she knew it was coming from the man next to her. Dante was about to trigger.
He let out a strangled groan before releasing her. In a flash he was out the door of the room disappearing from her sight. Nina attempted to swing her legs over the bed but only managed to fall heavily to the floor landing with a thud that knocked the wind out of her. After a few minutes of oxygenating herself again she grasped onto the edge of the bed pulling herself up. Pins and needles ran up her body while her ankle protested loudly with a searing pain that made a light quickly flash in front of her eyes.
"You shouldn't do that. It's broken." A soft voice said from the doorway. Nina looked up to see Ambra standing with her arms crossed and leaning against the door frame. She let out a sigh walking into the room holding out her hand to the younger woman. "Let me help you get where ever it is you're going."
"Dante ran off. I think he was about to turn into a devil." Nina replied breathlessly. She couldn't help but hesitate once Ambra came closer to her but grasped onto her hand to steady herself. Ambra wrapped an arm around her waist not replying to her. Nina took a better look at the older female and swallowed hard.
Ambra's eyes were a murky teal color while the skin around her sockets were a crimson red. There were still tear stains on her cheeks but appeared to have been brushed away for the most part.
"I know it's not my place but are you alright?" Nina asked. Ambra let out another sigh and Nina began to wonder if the woman was getting ready to let go of her as her weight began to sag more on her.
"No, not really." She said in the same tone that Nina had used with Dante. "It's not important though."
"Yes it is Ambra." Nina said softly. Ambra looked at the younger woman before both of them sat on the edge of the bed. Nina rubbed at her ankle noticing for the first time the thick bandage that wrapped around it tightly to keep it in place. "I mean, I know that we don't know each other well and I understand why you hate me but I want to try and help out." Nina straightened herself back out placing her hands in her lap to stare at them intently.
Ambra studied the young woman for a moment sensing nothing but sincerity from her. She let out another sigh. "I know you do Nina." She replied softly. "And I want you to know that I don't hate you. I think I've even gotten used to the fact that my son is in love with you. That is certainly a point he has driven home for me more than once."
"Really?" Nina asked as if caught completely by surprise. Ambra allowed a small smirk to cross her lips as she nodded once.
"Yes, really. Even when I would argue with him about it he always pointed out that you came back for him and brought help as well. He was so certain that that meant you were in love with him." Ambra said her eyes taking on a distant look. "I hoped that for his sake it was true." She brought her gaze to Nina who was watching her with trembling lips.
"I do love him." She said moving her gaze back her hands. "I knew that night that he was taken away the huge mistake that I made. I had been watching him for a couple of weeks. I found out where all of you were. All I wanted to do was make my father proud of me." Nina said her voice choking off in her throat while Ambra's breath hitched slightly. She quickly cleared her throat.
"So what changed so quickly?" She inquired gently. Nina shut her eyes and let out a sigh before smirking to herself.
"He kissed me. It was only a for a second but there was a spark, a connection I guess you could say. It was there and it was real. It was as if I had been woken up from a deep sleep and I understood what was important, what was right and what was wrong. I knew that what I had done was horribly wrong and I knew that I needed him." She stated reopening her eyes. Ambra was nodding her head as if to a beat in what looked like deep thought.
"The first time that Dante's father kissed me it was only for a second but I knew, I just knew." She said more to herself than to anyone else. She stopped for a moment holding her breath as Nina brought her eyes back to the elder woman. "You can't help who you fall in love with. It just happens but when they return that love..."
"It's wonderful." Nina said softly finishing her sentence. Ambra nodded in agreement. They sat in silence for a while both with their thoughts when Nina let out another sob. She caught Ambra staring at her out of the corner of her eye. "I'm sorry. I know I said that I would help you but honestly I've never been much help to anyone."
"That isn't true. You helped all of us, more than you could ever know." She replied. "So what's wrong?" Nina took in a deep breath before letting it shudder out.
"My father killed my mother." She said trying her best to sound 'matter of fact' about it but in the end it came out as a weak whisper. The words seemed alien and foreign on her tongue as if they shouldn't fit together and it hurt her that they did.
"He killed my mother too." Ambra said her voice coming out bitter.
"I know and I'm sorry." Nina replied. Ambra scoffed slightly at the younger woman.
"You have nothing to be sorry about as far as that is concerned." She stated.
"But he's my father. He's done disgraceful, awful things to people. His own wife! My mother!" Nina shouted out despite her best efforts to keep her composure finally resting her head in her hands.
"There was a friend of ours that was more family than anything. She took me in after my mother was killed. I began to look to her more as a mother than anything else. Her name was Lady and her father killed her mother when she young." Ambra stated as if it were a matter of course to say it. Nina brought her attention back to the woman. "She threw away her name, I never even knew what it was but I think that Star and Dante may have. Anyway, that's why we called her Lady. After her mother died she didn't ever want anyone to say her real name again. She killed her father out of revenge but again I don't know much about it since she never wanted to talk about it."
"What happened to her?" Nina asked.
"I have no idea but all I know is that she is dead because of your father." She said. "One of the weapons you brought back was hers. Kalina-Anne, the rocket launcher." Silence resumed for a while before Nina realized it was her turn to talk.
"My father killed my mother because she saved the baby that Star was carrying." Nina blurted out. Ambra nearly jumped out her skin her mouth slightly agape before settling back down a smirk on lips.
"Well that explains that then." She stated.
"Explains what?" Nina asked somewhat confused.
"How Nero ended up in Fortuna." She replied with a tone of amusement on her voice.
"It was Nero." Nina said with a far away tone as pieces began to fall into place into her mind. "That makes sense then. Nero is your brother and Ava is your niece?"
"That's right." Ambra said with a nod. "Since you're apparently a part of the family now I'll fill you in on the tree." Her voice took on a lighter, friendlier tone as she sat to face Nina better. "There's Dante and Vergil who are the twin sons of Sparda. Vergil and Star are my parents."
"Okay." Nina said with a nod.
"Dante and Star are Neros parents. I am Dantes mother and Yamato is his father." She stated interjecting Nina when opened her mouth with a confused look. "Don't ask because I don't think I understand it all yet either. So Nero is Avangelines father and her mother was Kyrie." She stopped for a moment to make sure that Nina was grasping everything before continuing. "There is Trish who is the blonde devil. She is a part of the family..."
"Not by blood though right?" Nina asked. Ambra brought her hand up in a so-so motion.
"That's where it may start to get confusing, well more confusing. Trish was made in my grandmothers image on my fathers side. It's a long story but once upon a time she was the enemy but turned around to ally with us." She said.
"I only know my father as being family. I barely remember my mother anymore." She said.
"Not anymore." Ambra said. Nina brought her teary gaze to rest on the other woman and nodded her head grinning. Ambra stood holding out her hand again to the her which Nina accepted leaning her weight against her. "Now lets see if we can find our boy, shall we?"
"Sounds good." Nina said. Ambra gave her the time to rest when she needed to due to the pain but other than that she was able to hobble around fairly well. They passed by Nero and Ava who were sitting in the front room by the front door. Both promptly stopped talking to watch as Nina limped by with Ambra holding onto her.
"Now, now Nero. Its rude to stare. Stop setting a bad example for your daughter." Ambra said in a mock scold. The male rubbed at his nose with the talons of his devil hand as if he were embarrassed.
"Oh please Am." He said. "Don't mother me."
"On the topic of mothers, you should be grateful to Ninas." She replied walking out the front door before Nero could utter another word.
"Are you guys always cryptic with each other?" Nina asked.
"It keeps life interesting." Ambra said. "There is nothing more fun than annoying your relatives. You'll learn."
The two women stared out across the green grass and rocks that made up the terrain. There were a few hills but nothing really to large. It was more or less flat with the small house built into bottom of the only cliff in sight. The wind whipped around a cold breeze that smelled of salt.
"Dante!" Ambra yelled out receiving no answer. "Dante Vergil!" She yelled out again. "That's his middle name, just so you know whenever you get mad at him." Nina let out a small short laugh.
The elder Dante appeared as he climbed up towards the house with Mensch and Damon secured to his back. Force Edge was held tightly in one hand while Devastator was in the other one. "Hey, have you seen the boy?" Ambra asked her uncle.
"Yeah he's down at the bottom of the hill by the rocks." Dante replied. "Gotta get a leash on your man Nina." He said with a wink causing Nina to blush slightly.
"Here Am take these inside and I'll bring you to your boy." Dante handed her Force Edge and Rebellion along with Devastator. Ambra gripped her magnum tightly smiling to herself gladly trading the weight of Nina for the familiar weapons.
"And those?" She asked motioning towards her mothers swords.
"Well these I'm going to hold onto. With Vergil around you never know." He said taking note of the pained look in her eyes as Dante picked Nina up into his arms. The younger woman flushed slightly as Dante let out a laugh. "I know, I know you've never seen such a handsome devil." Nina blushed brightly adverting her gaze quickly.
"Oh yeah, that's right Dante steal your nephews girl." Ambra said playfully as if she were fighting with him.
"Not my fault if the kid can't hold onto her." He replied as his niece walked back towards the house shaking her head and laughing to herself. "Ready punkin?" Dante asked her when Ambra was out of earshot.
"For?" Nina asked her stomach erupting into butterflies and quickly wrapping her arms around Dantes neck once she felt his knees bend slightly. He smiled at her showing off his teeth before leaping into the air forward. Nina held on tighter burying her face into the thick leather of his jacket closing her eyes. "Get used to it punkin, if you're going to hang with us that is." He stated.
"Why do you keep calling me that?" She asked as she felt them land before Dante relaunched himself back into the air.
"It suits you." He said simply. Nina relented knowing that there were worse names he could have called her before they landed again. "Here's your stop." She took her head away from him with the smell of leather still strongly in her nose to see her Dante staring out across the landscape sitting on the ground.
The elder put her down close enough to him so that she wouldn't have to walk to far to get to him with out intruding on his nephews space before launching himself back towards the house. Nina stood wobbling for a moment before making her way over to him. The rock was big enough for her to sit next to him.
He didn't acknowledge her and she remained silent wondering if she should have just left him alone when his fingers snaked around hers as he grasped her hand. "I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't want you to see me like that."
"Did you turn into a devil Dante?" Nina asked more out of curiosity than anything else. Dante lowered his gaze to stare at the ground as if he were being scolded or ashamed.
"Yeah, I did." He stated. Much to his surprise Nina let out a giggle that turned into a laugh. He brought his attention to her staring at her intently as she had lost her mind. Fear he had expected, even disgust, but not amusement.
"Sorry, sorry I just...I know that it's not funny but all I could think of when you said that was, 'damn I'm good'." She said still giggling as she talked. Dante caught on and snickered along with her before eying her sincerely.
"Yes, yes you are." He agreed. "I still want to feel better though." Nina stopped laughing to nod her head. She smirked at him as her eyes sparked with lust aimed directly at him. Dante leaned in again to kiss her deciding to take the kissing slower than before.
"You know what's going to happen right?" Dante asked his niece as they say on the ground outside the house.
"Yes Uncle Dante." Ambra replied in a tone that told him she didn't want to.
"That they're going to go down there and just start rapi..."
"Yes Uncle Dante!" She said loudly as if attempting to shut him up even if she knew it would never be enough to stop his mouth from running, all for the sake of annoying her.
"They'll get all dirty and have grass stains." He said trying not to laugh out loud as he saw her head turn slowly towards him. "Grass stains and..."
"Oh my god. I am so out of here!" Ambra exclaimed rushing into the house bumping into an amused Nero in the front doorway.
"Grass stains and.." Nero began as he had caught onto most of the conversation.
"Shut up! God, you're just as bad as he is!" She yelled at him pushing him aside.
"That's what you get for before. Saying something and then walking out." He replied. Ambra turned to glare at her younger brother.
"Well it got that dense head of yours thinking didn't it? I know it hurts Nero but you should do it more often." She snapped at him placing her hands on her hips.
"You know what Dante and Nina are going to be doing now, more often...probably all the time." Nero said in a thoughtful voice. Ambra covered her ears and began to hum loudly as she stomped away.
"That's gross papa. I don't want to have that mental image." Ava replied still sitting in the chair. Nero glanced at his daughter.
"Not like I have to worry about anything like that." He said more to himself catching quickly as Avangeline adverted her eyes from him. "Right Ava?" Nero stood up straighter as he cleared his throat. "Right Avangeline?" He received only silence.
"In my defense there were devils that look human!" She replied defensively.
"Wait, what?" Nero asked as if he had been struck in the face. "You mean to tell me that your not..."
"I'm grown papa and I can mate with whom I wish." Ava said standing quickly her face flushed. "Now if you would excuse me." She said before walking towards the back of the house.
"Grow up fast don't they?" Dante asked. "One day they're not even born and then the next you meet them on some remote island somewhere and they won't leave you the hell alone." He smacked his son on the back of the shoulder hard. Nero cleared his throat as well as his head as his daughters words swirled around in his head.
"Well as long as you don't tell me how you really feel old man." Nero said.
"Nah, I'm just screwing with ya' kid." His father replied rather quickly rustling his hair up somewhat.
"Yeah, I know Dante. I know."
Days passed by which sped by into weeks and eventually months. The house was small but quarters weren't cramped due to the fact that normally three or more of the group would leave for days on end or even a couple of weeks to take care of things wherever they were needed. Transportation was never a problem as Ava began to make her own orbs but no one was necessarily brave enough to use them aside from herself, even Nero was hesitant opting for the ones Vergil had made.
Automatically the group went out into pairs with Ambra going with her uncle and Trish. Vergil normally went by himself refusing to play 'third' wheel to anyone's group but on occasion would accompany Nero and Ava or pair up with his daughter but adamant refused to every go with his brother. It was a mutual decision. In the end the two would end up on different sides of a room slinging insults at the other. According to Dante his brother was a stuck up priss and as far as Vergil was concerned the younger twin as an uncouth neanderthal.
Naturally Dante and Nina went together finding on occasion a few humans in hiding. They did everything they could to help them but it never seemed as if it was enough. Nina felt especially bad about the situation. More than once they came across a group of protectors which left her feeling even more ashamed of the group that she had belonged to for most of her life. No matter how many times she was reassured by more than once person that it didn't matter anymore it still gnawed at the back of her mind like a bug.
She was certain the only way she would ever rid herself of guilt was to dispatch the protectors for good. It wouldn't be an easy task but it had been agreed upon by everyone the time for battle had come. Regardless if they were human or devil, if a person was doing wrong then they would meet either a blade or the barrel of a gun.
The worst part of it all were the hybrid creations that they had to kill most of the time by the dozens. They bled as humans would and screamed out in human voices. It wasn't uncommon for Nina to become unhinged to the point of holding a shaking empty gun after a fight was over with tears streaming down her face. That was when Dante knew it was time to go home.
Despite their efforts however it still seemed as if there were always more hybrids in larger numbers and there were always protectors. A more radical course of action had to be taken and Vergil was not afraid to voice it. On a rare night when all of the group was together, Lucia included, the descendents of Sparda fought over a large fire that Nero had built earlier in the day outside of the house.
Each brother stood on one side of the flames attempting to make the other brother see their point of the matter in vain.
"The time for hiding is over Dante." Vergil said his voice louder than usual but still cool and calm. "What more will they have to do to you to get you to stop cowering?" He demanded.
"Cowering Vergil? You call going out and leaving for weeks fighting off hordes of whatever the hell they are, cowering? I think you need a dictionary bro." Dante stated defensively.
"That is the point! You leave but you come back. You put minimal effort into everything that you do!" Vergil replied.
"Then maybe I won't come back!" Dante shouted.
"You are nothing more than an overgrown child! What Starina saw in you I will never know." Vergil said. Ambras lips tightened as she sucked in her breath casting a weary eye at Trish who returned it. Nero froze wide eyed as Ava held her breath afraid to exhale catching Lucia's eye who swallowed hard. Dante and Nina sat side by side staring at the scene uncertain what to do if anything.
"What did she see in me? Well lets see, I loved her. I always loved her even when I didn't know who the hell she really was or who I really was for that matter let alone you!" He yelled at his twin.
"And what makes you so certain that I didn't?" Vergil cast a lingering eye at his brother that seemed to cast shadows of regret under the dark blue orbs. His voice held something that no one could ever remember hearing before. Vergil sounded old and tired. He sounded like a man realized he had taken the wrong road and found himself at a dead end.
"You had a funny way of showing it. You took off into the underworld leaving Star, pregnant. You didn't give a damn about anyone but yourself Vergil." He said his voice softening. Vergil suddenly found himself overcome with emotions that he knew he had sought to bury years before and whatever few memories he could bring to the surface along with them. He clenched his fists in an attempt to gain control over himself again.
"We can banter all night about things past but it will do us no good now. She knows where they are hiding, where their base is." Vergil said indicating Nina. "It is time to attack. If you won't then I will." With that said he turned to head back into the house.
"Hey priss! I'm not done with you yet!" Dante called back after him and ran after his brother.
"They're kind of cute together when they aren't hitting each other." Trish stated sarcastically.
"Yeah but it does take away from their charm though." Ambra replied.
"So true." She said standing. "I'm afraid I have to excuse myself. Duty calls." With a small wave Trish launched herself into the air out of sight.
"I have some things that I have to collect." Ava said standing as well walking away into the dark.
"Hey Nina." Nero said suddenly. Nina visibly flinched. The male had never spoken to her directly and normally stayed well out of her way when he saw her come into a room. He didn't seem upset or angry at her which only peaked her curiosity.
"Yes Nero?" She asked the name sounding foreign on her tongue and she wondered remotely if it was the first time she had said his name.
"Ambra told me that your mom was the one who brought me to Fortuna when I was a baby. I just wanted to say thanks. I mean I know it doesn't matter but still, thanks." He said. Nina smiled at him and nodded her head once.
"You are most welcome." She replied. Nero nodded back at her standing to go inside the house as well. Lucia followed quickly after him nearly on his heels.
"What is up with that?" Dante asked staring after his uncle and the female.
"Oh I'll tell you what that is son, that is blackmail on my brother." Ambra said rubbing her hands together a grin crossing her lips. She stopped when she saw a look cross Ninas face. It was a passing look of pain mixed with sickness as if she were about to toss the contents of her stomach onto the ground. "You alright?"
Nina looked up at Ambra and shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't felt that great this week. Knowing my luck I caught a bug." She replied.
"Why didn't you say something?" Dante asked wrapping his arm tighter around her shoulders.
"It doesn't do any good to complain." She stated. Ambra stood up and walked over to her.
"Just nausea?" She asked. Nina nodded. "Anything else hurt?
"I have been getting kind of dizzy lately but I think it's just stress." She replied.
"Nina come with me." Ambra said motioning for her to follow her. Dante let go of her and gave her a look that appeared to be mock sympathy. Nina followed her into the house and into the back room where there was a large bed. The bed where a few months prior Yamato had died upon. Ambra didn't necessarily want to go into that room but the other door was shut tight with some interesting muffled noises coming from it.
Nina did as she was instructed to do which included unfastening her pants to loosen them. She laid down on the bed and sucked in her breath as Ambra began to poke and prod her lower stomach.
"What are you doing?" Nina asked lifting up her head slightly to get a better glimpse of what was going on.
"Something that Lady taught me once when I was feeling sick and there it is." She said pressing down on a particular part more than once. She smiled at Nina brightly. "Granted your timing is awful but still..."
"Still what? I don't get it." Nina said confused. Ambra took her hand moving her fingers aside pressing down Ninas. There was a very hard bump deep down in her stomach that seemed to disappear after a moment before returning. "What the hell is that?"
"That, my dear, is your baby." Ambra said. Ninas mouth moved but no sound came out of it as she came to grasp with what Ambra had said. She was about to ask her if she was sure when a knock on the door resounded before it was thrown open.
"Let's go girls. We're moving out tonight." Dante said before sauntering off. Ambras brows furrowed together as she glanced at Nina.
"You should stay." She said as Nina stood up and buttoned her pants.
"Would you?" She asked the elder female. Both knew what the answer was as they headed for the door. They walked outside to find everyone else already there except for Trish.
"Don't worry about it boy. If I know Trish she's already headed to where we can find her. She's a crafty she devil that's for sure." Dante said to the younger male. As Nina exited the house her weapons secured to her person Dante came over to her with questions on his eyes.
"I'm fine." She said. He nodded relief written clear across his features. The desperation to tell him that he was going to be a father burned on her tongue but she kept it to herself for the time being. If they were going to end up fighting the last thing she needed was Dante worrying and protecting her. She caught Ambras eye who slightly nodded her head at her as if in understanding.
"I hate to be one to interrupt." Vergil began and cast an eye at his twin who scoffed. "But we really must be going. Nina by my side." He commanded. Quickly Nina walked over to him feeling her entire body shake. In her mind she told herself that she had nothing to fear from the male, he was after all Dante's grandfather...her child's great grandfather, but at the same time it was Vergil. The eldest son of Sparda held himself away from them for the most part and while even Ava had began to warm to her slightly Vergil still held nothing but cold hate in his eyes for her.
Vergil watched her as she made her way over to him with his impenetrable orbs of ice producing a transport orb once she was by his side. The rest of the group knew better and quickly surrounded them each taking a hand of someone. Nina felt reassured as Dante gripped hers tightly offering a light smile which she tried to return but didn't feel certain she had been able to under the circumstances.
Even the elder Dante remained silent and serious filling Nina with morose and a bit of dread. She wasn't disillusioned into thinking that what they were going to do would be easy. There was a good chance that there would be casualties on their end, more likely herself being the only full human in the group, but what worried her the most was coming face to face with her father. She had been dead set on killing him with her own hand, it was the only way she felt that she could fully avenge her mother and be set free from his wicked deeds. Now as the moment arrived faster than what she had anticipated she wasn't so certain of herself anymore. She gripped Dante's hand more tightly for reassurance feeling a light hand touch her shoulder. She didn't have to look to know that it was Vergil.
He didn't check to make sure that everyone was ready or if they had a firm grasp on each other but at the same time nobody in the group expected him to either. Nina pictured her fathers office. In her mind she saw the door that led inside and pictured the desk that he often sat at. She saw the two red leather chairs that were in front of his desk and the worn floor as well as the book that he always had open to some page or another. The most important aspect that had become a more frequent 'decor' of the room over the last few years was the bottle of bourbon sitting beside the glass that was always empty but always smelled of the alcohol.
She hoped that her father would be in the room. From there she wasn't sure of what would happen but wouldn't he be surprised to receive all of the descendents of Sparda in his own office. Vergil tossed down the orb as soon as she had shut her eyes. The sound of smashed glass reached the group as well as the pulsating energy that soon engulfed all of them.
Gabe sat at his desk staring at the door ahead of him. He couldn't believe that his daughter, his own blood, had betrayed him in such a way. Sure she was also that damned Rina's daughter too but she had been his longer. He had made sure that Rina was gone long before she made an impression on Nina or at least that was what he thought. Maybe it was just in her blood to side with the devil spawns. The thought of it made his stomach churn.
With out looking he grabbed the bottle that he had sought comfort from for so long and poured it into his glass nearly to the top. Expertly he put it back down before any spilled over the rim. He grasped the smooth glass firmly in hand and drank down the contents in one gulp not even noticing the burn it caused anymore. He was used to it.
After Nina disappeared in a flash of light back to wherever they were hiding themselves Gabe had stood still shooting his revolver at the empty spot where she had stood. He had heard the click of the empty barrel but hadn't been able to register what it meant. Ryce was the one who had walked up to him and lowered his hand telling him that she was gone.
It didn't take long after that for him to regain his composure, what little he had of it, to understand what had happened. Nina had been helped. A thorough search of the complex ended when Morrison was brought to his office beaten up but still with a glare in his eye. Gabe had always considered the man a pacifist. He stayed more or less to himself and didn't get caught up in the gritty work that the protectors had been taking the last few years.
He remembered Morrison when he was a small child but even then the man managed to go about his own business and stay away from the larger part of the group. After he had dispatched of the treacherous so called protector to the sons of Sparda Morrison had appeared and stayed but still kept his distance from the group.
Now as he glared at the elderly man with nothing but contempt he felt the anger fill his being to the very brim. Morrison glared back at him his emotions evidently mutual.
'I'dliketosaythatI'msurprisedbutatthesametimecan'treallysayIam.'Gabebeganrubbingathischinthoughtfully.'Notmuchthesedaysmakessenseitseems.'
'With this group nothing has made any sense since you took up the leadership and got rid of the council.' Morrison replied his voice coming off rough with disdain. Gabe smirked down at the man who was being held by two others and forced to kneel in front of him.
'That's funny considering your predicament.' Gabe stated squatting down in front of him. At eye level he saw more clearly the hate that the man held for him. He wasn't the first but for some reason there was a profound reason for it that he was going to get to the bottom of. 'Where are they?' Morrison remained silent. 'I asked you a question and you are damned well going to answer me!' Gabe shouted in his face spitting as he did so. Still the man said nothing glaring at him.
After landing a few punches to his face he was almost certain that Morrison would confess. He wasn't a bit man and sure as hell didn't look like a fighter. Gabe was easily well over a hundred pounds heavier of pure muscle. The only sound that escaped from the mans lips was a snicker that turned into a laugh. Gabe recoiled back somewhat nearly falling back onto his rear.
Morrison laughed himself to tears through the blood that now leaked from his nose and mouth as well as cut above his eye. 'You're pathetic!' Morrison said spitting out blood onto the floor. 'You can't catch that lazy bastard of a devil but your little girl certainly did. What kind of a man are you? Oh I know, one that murders pregnant girls in dirty alleys.' He mocked.
Gabe let out an animalistic growl unleashing hell in the form of his fists on the man. He didn't care anymore what he knew. He was tired of people second guessing him and judging him based off of what he couldn't do. He would make damn sure that Morrison was the last to do so.
His eyes fell to the spot where the elderly man had fallen to the ground once he was dead. Gabe had known that he was gone long before he stopped punching him but he couldn't stop himself. Everything that he had felt had been relayed in that beating. After the body was taken away he had sat in his chair and had barely moved since.
Ryce would come in to check on him and bring some food as well as remind him to use the lavatory and shower but other than that he had remained at his desk drinking. Now he regretted killing Morrison right away. He knew that the information he could have provided him with was priceless but there was no use in crying over it now. He reached again for the bottle when there was a knock on the door.
"Go away." He replied gruffly. Instead the door opened slowly as the one person he knew that he could depend on come hell or high water stepped in, Ryce.
"Come on Gabe. Time to make the rounds." He said knowing that that usually got the man up away from his desk.
"What's the point?" He retorted taking a swig from his glass.
"I made some adjustments to the perimeter. I need you to take a look at them." Ryce stated walking towards the desk and moving the bottle further away from him. Gabe didn't respond he simply stared ahead. "Listen, Gabe, I know that you're upset over what happened but you can't let it get to you."
"I don't give a god damn about that little Jezebel!" Gabe shouted slamming his fist onto the desk hard enough for it to give a small crack in protest.
"You still have a responsibility to the group Gabe. There are people who need a leader. People who need to know what the next course of action is going to be." Ryce said opting for a safer route with the man who was staring at him menacingly. He was almost sure that if Gabe had had a gun in one of his drawers handy then he would have been on the floor in a pool of blood.
"A responsibility to the group, please. These people don't really care, they don't really understand what is going on or how dangerous those bastards are. I mean with Nina knowing where we are she could just lead them all to us." Gabe stopped as a sudden realization came to mind. Ryce saw him suddenly jolt as if struck my lightening. "That's it. Damn it Ryce, that's it!"
Ryce gave his friend a confused look as he suddenly stood letting out a loud belt of laughter. "Don't you see? Nina hasn't betrayed me after all. She is baiting them, leading them to us!" Gabe shouted heading for the door. Ryce stared after him uncertain how to proceed.
He was sure that Nina had in fact defected to join the descendents of Sparda but if her father wanted to believe even if for a small while that she was still on their side then maybe it would be enough to sustain his sanity just a bit longer. As Ryce walked out the office door with his friend who heartily clamped him on the shoulder he was sure that it was already to late.
The room spun as they made contact with a space that was real but by now all of the group had had extensive experience with their chosen mode of transportation so all ill side effects were mild if not gone all together. It was lighted with a desk lamp while the overhead remained off giving the room an eerie glow casting silhouettes on the walls before ending towards the door in darkness.
Quickly the group disbanded to different parts of the room deciding to go out in groups of two. Nina gave them a run down of the complex even though the elder Dante and Ambra had a vague idea of it from their last visit. It was agreed upon that they would meet back in the courtyard. With that Dante and Ambra exited the room running off to the right taking their first left. One by one the group disbanded with Dante and Nina leaving last.
They took a left out of the room pressing themselves against walls making sure to draw no attention to themselves. After each empty corridor they faced Dantes anxiety began to build despite his best efforts to quell it. He watched Nina carefully and couldn't help but wonder if he had been trapped by her again. He shook his head more than once to rid himself of the thoughts but they wouldn't stop swirling. They came to another empty hallway and before Nina could run down it to the next intersection he grabbed onto her wrist. She looked back at him pressing herself back against the wall her eyes full of questions.
"Where is everyone?" Dante asked as softly as he possibly could. Nina shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Dante decided to leave it at that. He had trusted her this far and knew that he still should. He summed it up to the place and all of the bad memories of what had happened to him when he was younger in the complex but there was still that bit of lingering doubt that maybe he had been an idiot again. Maybe she was only pretending again and would run back to her fathers side the way she had seemingly done before.
"Dante." Nina whispered softly as they came to a door. He blinked rapidly as he was brought out of his thoughts. His gaze fell to her before examining the large steel door. "This is it." She stated making sure that the gun she held in her hand was loaded. Dante nodded going to the other side of it before the two of them kicked the doors in guns aimed. They opened easily. Too easily for Dante's liking.
Nero and Lucia were already there keeping themselves hidden from sight. The only indication Dante had that they were there was a white scarf Lucia had tied to a tree limb. Nina and Dante crept down low to the ground as well hiding behind a bush. Dantes eyes adjusted more quickly to the dark than Nina's and he took in the area around them.
Tall stone walls surrounded them from all sides. He was certain he would be able to jump them if need be to climb up or over but every instinct in him screamed that they most certainly were not alone. A small glimmer of light appeared before quickly dissipating announcing that Vergil and Ava had arrived as well. He just hoped Avangeline would be able to control the eldest son of Sparda until it was time to attack. There was no doubt in his mind that Vergil would be able to take care of whoever was lurking in the dark with stealth and efficiency before the rest of them could blink but he recalled back to Nina's father and his use of runes. Dante flexed his fingers just to make sure he was still able to move. Even still there had been Valeria, the she devil that had killed Kyrie. Dante felt himself shudder at the thought but shook it off quickly.
"Here I though we came to party!" Dante announced loudly as he came into the courtyard with Ambra both walking cockily.
"They much have heard you were coming and closed down shop." Ambra commented. Dante let out a laugh.
"Come on now. That's no way to treat your old Uncle Dante." He replied before turning his attention to the dark walls of the compound. "Regardless it's no way to treat a guest." The lights quickly lit up one by one illuminating everything brighter than the sun ever could. "Yeah now that's more like it."
Dante stood up from his hiding spot with Nina who held on tighter to her gun. They were surrounded. Protectors stood on the top of the wall where there was a walkway. They were all armed. Directly on top and in front of the elder devil hunter and his niece was Gabe, leader of the protectors who had once sworn their allegiance to the devil Sparda to protect humans; her father.
In an instant the entire group was standing each from a different point in the courtyard all cautiously studying what exactly they were up against. "Oh look, we're outnumbered." Ambra said sarcastically.
"Yeah well, I've always liked those odds doll." Dante said to her clutching the hilt of Rebellion but kept it in place on his back.
"Good job Nina." Gabe bellowed out from above them. Dante flicked his eyes to her quickly before returning them to bore holes into the large man. "I knew I could count on you. I have to say though that you did have me for a while there darling. Now come up here with me so we can finish taking care of business."
"The only business I have to take care of is to put you in your coffin!" Nina shouted up at him. Gabe held up a hand at her for a moment before she could say anything else.
"Now I know that you were upset because of what you overheard but Nina I did it for you. Rina would have polluted you into thinking that it was okay to trust these devils, to defend them. I had to do it sweetheart, to make sure you were raised right." He said in a calming tone. Nina felt her blood boil over.
"Pollute me? My mother would have taught me tolerance not indifference! She saved a baby and gave him a chance to grow up to be a noble man after you cut his mother open! Tell me who is the monster, because it sure as hell wasn't them!" She yelled up at him. Gabes face twisted as he suddenly seemed to be under some strain as realization crept into his eyes.
He pulled a gun from his holster pointing it down at his daughter. In an instant he had seven guns trained on him while the rest of the protectors drew shotguns taking aim at the group. "Nina I will forgive you for everything if you just come up here and stand by me. I can still save you from them." He stated.
"There will be no forgiveness or absolution as far as any of you are concerned." She stated a smirk forming across her lips. She watched as her fathers brow twitched up in a questioning glare. She placed a hand to her lower stomach. "I've got a little devil in me."
Dante quickly turned his head to her with wide eyes. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and winked.
"Hey congrats boy!" Dante shouted over still aiming Ebony and Ivory at the group.
"Thanks Uncle Dante." He replied loud enough for the elder male to hear. Gabe let out a growl that turned into an enraged howl as what his daughter had said sunk in. With out warning he let loose a barrage of gun fire that landed close to Nina. Dante grabbed her as the protectors began to shoot at them.
Shots from Ebony and Ivory resounded in the courtyard accompanied by Devastator as Dante and Ambra ran in separate directions. Nero revved Red Queen jumping high as Vergil swung Yamato lining up the bullets on the ground before launching them back at several members. Lucia spread her wings soaring into the night sky to launch back down knocking over quite a few protectors while slashing at the rest.
Ava shot with red rose before jumping up and drawing blue princess slashing through the humans that lined the wall easily enough. She met her father in the middle. The two of them placed their backs together as they shot with their pistols.
"This is why I don't party with grandpa." Ava said. Nero smiled and let out a small laugh.
"Yeah the old man sure knows how to throw some crazy ass party's." Nero said. Dante landed next to them catching what his son had said. He stabbed someone with Rebellion and threw him at the rest who ended up falling over the wall.
"It's only a party if someone drops." He said a smile plastered on his face. "And this is one hell of one!"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Dante asked Nina as he slashed with Force Edge and shot at a person coming in from their right with Artemis.
"In my defense I just found out." Nina said hacking with her own weapon letting off a few rounds as well watching people fall around her.
"Well you still could have told me." He said in a defensive tone using the hilt of his sword to fend off a protector who seemed hell bent on getting up close and personal with him.
"I didn't want you to worry." She said loud enough so only he could hear. There was a brief moment where they two caught each others eye and were able to smile at the other as they rejoiced to themselves before a spurt of blood from an unsuspecting protector erupted between them.
Vergil stood somewhat off to the side giving them a scolding glance as if telling them to pay better attention. Nina watched the eldest son of Sparda for a moment but lost sight of him as he rushed a group that were climbing down into the courtyard.
Ambra gripped onto Mensch and Damon feeling the devil throb in her hand thirsting for blood. "I know that it's been a long time since you've tasted blood Damon. Don't worry tonight you will feel like a glutton." Ambra said softly to the sword as she swung the blades high above her head before rushing into the midst of the group slashing her way along.
Gabe watched the carnage unleash. He heard the screams of his people as they were mowed down by the hell spawns. With every howl of pain or anguished death cry he told himself to just wait a bit longer. He had his sights set on who he wanted to take care of. The devil he had wanted all along, Dante.
He had never personally seen the bastard before but he had heard from others in the complex what he was like. Watching him in person only made him angrier. He was enjoying it. He was enjoying killing his people. Dante was nearing him but at the same time avoiding him. Gabe decided it was time to take matters into his own hands.
He drew out the heavy sword that closely resembled a machete pushing the other protectors out of the way in order to get to who he knew was the leader of the group. "Dante!" He shouted out catching the other males attention.
Dante had managed to clear a path somewhat and seemed to widen as the so called leader of the protectors made his way closer to him. Dante walked closer to the large man but stopped a footballs length away from him. Gabe did the same.
"So I hear you've got a bone to pick with me." Dante stated wanting nothing more than to rush the man with his sword. The only thing stopping him was the knowledge that Nina wanted to do it herself. The young woman reminded him much of how Lady had been when he first met her in Temen Ni-Gru. That wild look of wanting revenge but unsure if she would be able to do it pained Dante to see but understood it. Despite all of the wrongs he had done to Dante it wasn't his place to take care of him. He would leave that to the mans daughter.
"You could say that. I gotta say you are a hard man to find." Gabe replied hoisting his sword over his shoulder.
"Not really you just have to know where to look. See the problem with big guys like you is you rely to much on your muscle and not enough on your brains. I mean your daughter didn't have any trouble finding us." Dante stated deciding to get the man riled up early in an attempt to unnerve him.
"You know I could say the same thing for your tribe or whatever it is you people have." Gabe said watching the devil for any sign of change in his disposition. "That little girl of yours wasn't to hard to find either time." He thought for a moment that the devil flinched if he did though it was to quick for him to catch it with his eye. Gabe decided to cash his chips in. "Good girl that one, Ambra. I'm sure she would have tried to protect her mother if she hadn't been told to run. Guess it made our job easier in the end. I do have to say Starina was spitting mad towards the end. If she could have there's no doubt she would have run me through with her swords but being pregnant and all made it hard for her. I really wasn't to difficult to punish her in her fragile condition."
Dante bared his teeth at the man and rushed him. Gabe rejoiced in his head smirking. He lifted his sword up off his shoulder to bring it above his head. As Dante neared the human he felt his body become heavier with each step he took. Rebellions eyes glowed a dark red as it's mouth open wider in a silent scream as if warning its wielder not to approach the man but it was already to late. Dante fell on the ground as his body became to heavy for him to hold up any longer. He landed at the mans feet with a thud knocking the wind out of his torso. Dante stared at the large sword finally seeing the runs and incantations that were welded into the blade. He didn't have time to curse himself out for his brashness or down right stupidity as Gabe swung down the sword onto his torso.
He felt the blade slice into his flesh as if it were a hot knife cutting butter. He felt it sink into him cutting through organs and reach down to his spine. Blood spurted from everywhere so quickly his world became a blinding crimson. Remotely he heard someone scream and a dimmed shot was fired. Before he could comprehend what was going on he found himself on a patch of grass with his head resting in his nieces lap.
Warm wetness fell onto his forehead dripping down into his hair and mingling with the blood that steadily spewed from his open mouth as he fought for air.
"You promised that you would be around for forever, remember?" Ambra said softly in his ear as she placed a soft kiss against his cheek.
"Sorry...doll." He slurred out in response blinking rapidly as his eye sight began to fail him.
"Uncle Dante." Ambra said as he felt his lids close heavily on their own. He couldn't believe it but he was dying. He felt his hand grasp against the ground as if he were attempting to find purchase onto something. It wasn't the first time he had been run through with a sword but it was different than before. It was slower this time and seemed more final. It suddenly hit him that his number was up. He was dying. He sucked in another shuddering breath before releasing it hearing only one thing repeat over and over as he began to let go.
"Dante...Uncle Dante...Dante..."
