"The time has come and so have I. I'll laugh last, cause you came to die. The damage done the pain subsides, and I can see the fear clear when I look in your eyes. I'll never kneel and I'll never rest. You can tear the heart from my chest. I'll make you see what I do best. I'll succeed as you breathe your very least breath. Now I know how the angel fell. I know the tale and I know it too well. I'll make you wish you had a soul to sell when I strike you down and send you straight to hell." -Devil May Cry 4. Shall Never Surrender.
Chapter 13
Last But Not Least
A small black dot appeared in the middle of a dirt road. The sky was darkening as the night grew near. Looking over the road stood a tall hill surrounded by tall pine trees, and on the top of it stood a grand mansion surrounded by a rusted iron gate. Within seconds the black dot grew larger and suddenly spat out both Dante and Raven as the rest of the black turned back into Raven's cloak.
Dante's feet touched the ground and he flashed Raven a small wink as they appeared at their next destination. He turned around and looked up the hill at the big manor they had just arrived at. The home was made from two different houses connected by a stone bridge on the second floor. The smaller house had boarded up windows and tree branches sprouting from holes in the brick. The downhill yard was most peculiar; with what looked like hundreds of crescent shaped swords stuck into the dirt, and wrapped around them were a great many skeletal bodies with their sword driven clean through the top of their rib cage and through the bottom.
Dante tapped Raven on the shoulder and pointed at them with a smirk. "That's new." He replied, as Raven turned her attention. They looked at each other with shared nods. "This place seems to fit. Let's go say hey to our old friend."
Right as he said that Dante turned around and took a running start at the iron gate, taking a spin through the air as he delivered a heaving kick that knocked both gates from their hinges and sent them flying into the yard. The iron gates landed with a crash on top of several of the swords, destroying the skeletons that were crucified on them. This, however, woke the others which lifted their heads, eyes shining deep pits of red. The skeletons reached their bony arms up and pulled themselves from the weapons, landing with a jump before they reached back and pulled their crescent shaped swords from the ground.
Raven floated in beside Dante, with her cloak covering most of her body. "There's more of them this time." She nodded as the demons grew nearer. Each of them clicked their teeth together as they limped toward them, trying to loosen their bones. A loud crack could be heard from them all as they bent their spines backward and then again as they snapped back into place. "A lot more."
"Well it's about time." Dante smirked reaching behind his back and twirling Ebony and Ivory as he marched toward the skeletons. "Start it up!"
The demons' eyes shined as Dante got closer to them and as soon as he was close enough the closest demons raised their weapons and lunged at him with great speed. Raven floated upward as a few demons leaped toward her a few times before they actually got close. As Dante ran at the demons in front of him, jumping high into the air and kicking off their heads to get higher. He pivoted in midair, firing a rain of bullets down at the multiple demons that were below him, breaking clean through their skulls and causing a cloud of red mist to fly from the holes.
Raven floated higher into the air as the skeletons leaped upward, getting surprisingly close to her with each leap. Her eyes glowed white as she looked at the tightly packed group below her and she threw out her arms. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" With one motion she threw out her arms, blasting a thick beam of black energy down at the demons and causing their bodies to fall apart into a mere pile of bones and swords. She turned the beam and fired through the gathering army of skeletal demons that marched closer and closer to them.
Dante landed with a powerful downward slash and jumped up upon landing, kicking a lunging skeleton backwards. With a spinning slash, he cut through the thick crowd, with nothing but bones and glowing red as far as he could see. It was an army of demons, but nothing he couldn't handle or Raven. However, just as he prepared to keep attacking, all of the demons suddenly stopped and just stood by staring at them both. Raven looked around in confusion, then across to Dante who shrugged. Their bones snapped and clicked together as they loosened until each of their bodies fell apart into pile of bones as large as the yard itself.
As the sun set upon the property, the skulls of the demons suddenly opened their jaws completely and out of them whooshed huge flames that lit the yard perfectly while their red souls floated upward, collecting into one big ball in front of the mansion's double doors. Raven landed on the ground, watching the strange activities of the demonic souls as they collected into a tightly compacted orb. She jumped as Dante's hand came to her shoulder and he slowly pulled her away from the orb and returned to the one open spot on the iron gate. As soon he came to a stop, Raven looked down as the hundreds of bones covering the yard as they began rattling and shaking. They rolled over each other and before long every single bone seemed to be crawling in a strong current toward the giant orb.
"A guardian?" Raven shrugged her shoulders as Dante smirked up at the collection of souls and bones. The bones then proceeded to fly into the air like a white serpent until crashing right through the orb and orbiting it at a fast speed. The massive collection of energy trembled as long tentacles sprouted from four points on in, immediately being covered by a set of bones until they touched the ground. "No. That would be too easy." She rolled her eyes at the giant forming demon.
Dante simply folded his arms and shook his head. The orb's appendages touched the ground as a set of bones snaked their way up the arms and legs forming a sort of white armor. The hundreds of rib cages snaked their way around the beast's body until they snapped open and clutched themselves to the demon's torso all the way around. Its head took the form of a bull type creature with the shin bones latching together into a pair of outward horns and the remaining pieces forming on its face to look like a cow skull.
The devil hunter shook his head as the giant beast and immediately ran forward as the last of the bones were finally gone. He dragged Force Edge along the dirt, knocking the demons' swords loose from the dirt into the air. He then came to a stop and jumped in the other direction, spinning through the air and kicking the butt of each sword to launch them at the big beast. The crescent shaped blades flew like bullets directly at the beast, sticking through its face and cracking the collection of bones on its face.
Raven looked around as the other swords began to tremble and dig themselves out of the ground, levitating in the air until they came to an ominous halt and began spinning. Suddenly Dante jumped over to her, throwing his arm around her shoulder and reaching for his sword as the spinning blades suddenly lunged themselves toward them. They each collided with Force Edge, flying sparks everywhere as they flew past the two half demons toward the giant beast.
Each of the blades began to form a tail that swirled over its head until it reached its face, pulling the rest out. Raven looked up at the white haired man who flashed her a wink before letting go of her and turning around toward the new enemy. The skeletal bull huffed its nose and scraped its giant hoof along the dirt as Dante approached it.
"You are not the one we seek." It huffed in a deep echoing voice. "Leave now or your body shall be stripped of its skin and become a part of my armor."
"Aww, someone's grumpy." He smirked up at it. "Well we both know how this is gonna go. So just go back to grazing or whatever it is that you do."
"You dare mock me?" The demon's bottomless pit of a voice raised as it scratched its hoof once more. "Then protect me you shall!"
Dante's smile grew wider as he leaned over, scratching his foot in the dirt in a mimic as the bull snorted its nostrils. "Torro torro."
"Die!" The bull shouted as it charged dead at him, but as it came close to him all it hit was air as Dante jumped out of the way, throwing up his hands with a clap.
The demon's hoofs struggled to stop itself dragging along the dirt until it slammed hard against a big black wall of energy. Another roar shook the area as it looked up at the second person now floating in the darkness. Raven threw up her hands, her eyes glowing white, and launched the big iron gates dead at the bull demon. It huffed its nostrils again and as the chunks of iron bars came flying at him it dropped its head low as its sword tail came lunging overhead, shattering the gates to pieces and with still enough force to nearly hit Raven.
She gasped as the tail came near through the cloud of dust and she instinctively threw up her hands, stopping the tail in midair with a tight grip of energy. Then as the tail came to a halt, the black hands that Raven had control over pulled back hard and launched the beast across the yard. Dante whistled up at her with a smirk. "Nice reflexes."
Raven beamed at him in response to his proud look then floated toward the bull to attack it further. Dante looked down as she soared off, the discarded iron bars lied on the ground, separated from each other. Each of them sliced clean through with points made at each end. Raven floated over the demon bull blasting a bolt of black energy at it then narrowly dodging a tail slash, and once again grabbing the weapon in mid attack. She managed to pick up the beast by its tail once more and slam it on the ground before throwing it back further toward the stone wall.
"Hmm." Dante hummed to himself with a brilliant plan as he approached the pile of bars. He stepped higher up the hill until he had a perfect view of the beast and picked up the bar over his shoulder, nearly twice as long as he was tall. He then took a running start before launching the giant bar across the yard dead at the bull. "Aaand, javelin!"
The demon snorted as it stepped back, avoiding the bar perfectly with an amused chuckle. "Don't get cocky. You can't get me that easily." When it looked back toward Dante's direction, its vision was completely blocked by the red clad demon hunter as he came hurdling down at it from the air, slashing his sword through the top of its skull helmet. Raven then reached out with her Soul Self and picked the bull up with a giant claw before throwing it back up the hill once more.
Dante held out his hand for her to stop as he too put his weapon away. The bull guardian shook its head before huffing and snorting in frustration, scraping its hoof once more across the dirt as it let out a low, but loud demonic growl. "I possess the souls of hundreds. I will not loose to two children!" It sniffed the air before snorting in anger again. "Especially not ones that have committed lust!"
Raven and Dante shared similar looks of indifference before they both looked to the bull. Dante spinning around until he stood right in front of the metal bar that propelled straight out from the stone wall. He scuffed his shoes again with a wide smirk, before he clapped his hands together and waved the bull toward himself. "Torro torro! Or are you just a cow?"
The demon let out a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the area before it came charging down the hill. Dante turned his back and held up his coat, burying his face behind it as the bull charged on, picking up more and more speed. Its roars of rage and frustration filled the yard as Raven flew backwards, away from the point of impact. She wondered why Dante hadn't done the same, but once she saw the bar behind him she quickly understood and let out a smile of amusement.
Then just as the bull got dangerously close to Dante he quickly stepped out of the way, allowing it to pass behind his pack. The demon attempted to stop itself, but only dragged its hoofs along the dirt until its entire body was impaled from the top of its head to it stomach. Its legs twitched and struggled to move until finally they came to a slow but steady stop and went limp. Dante's back was turned to the giant beast and he stared down at Raven with wink and a rose in his mouth out of seemingly no where.
He finally clapped his hands with a dashing wink at Raven. "Ole'." Raven blushed slightly as Dante threw the rose into her hand and brushed his hands off with a cocky gesture of no effort. "Lets go. It would be rude to ignore Jester's invitation."
"I'd hate to offend him." Raven replied sarcastically as she floated on. She and Dante headed up the hill with the devil hunter putting the rose between her ear despite her refusal.
A large circle filled the entrance room to the mansion as soon as they entered. The center glowed red with a warm pulse that illuminated the otherwise pitch black room. Raven and Dante looked over their shoulders at the door, waiting to it to seal so they couldn't get out, but it did nothing of the sort. The place didn't seem to be a trap despite the person who greeted them at the other side of the circle.
The familiar bald priest, Arkham stood with his back turned to them both. Dante tapped his companion on the shoulder and pointed to their target as they both circled from opposite sides of the ritual site. Arkham did not seem to notice them at first, but he quickly looked over his shoulder with his usual composure.
"Raven... you came." He greeted as the dark Titan approached him, turning around to face her. "At long last we can finish what you never could avoid."
"Think again." She shook her head with a determined scowl.
"First my father. Now her's?" Dante shrugged as he rolled his eyes, reaching for Force Edge. "I'm starting to think you have a fetish for fatherhood."
Suddenly his vision became filled with the wide insane smile of Jester who held his hands and long fingernails under his elbow. "Oh, but you'll come to understand very soon won't you?" He suddenly dashed around to the other side of his body with a wide smile through his teeth. "Now that you've done that I can finally ask the question I've been meaning to ask." In a second Jester dashed around the circle and rested his hands on Raven's shoulders with a wide smirk. "Is he compensating for something with that sword, hmm?"
Raven's eyes flashed red and she immediately held up her hand with an aura of black energy clouding it. Dante's hand was already stuck outward with a pistol in his hand aimed at the back of Jester's head. "I don't know what you want with me or him, but you can just forget it. Because it isn't going to happen."
"Oh but it will!" Arkham appeared between the two half demons throwing up his arms as the center of the circle glowed a much brighter red. "Trigon..." he looked to Raven who only glared at him. "After today he will walk the earth as his kingdom. And during that time I will take the power I was destined for!"
A click sounded from beside his head and when he looked, all he saw was the silver barrel of Dante's pistol. "The only thing you're destined for is hanging with my old man in hell." Then without warning he fired a shot at point blank that only hit the ceiling above Raven's head as Arkham disappeared, standing on the ceiling above their heads.
"Poor Dante. Without a mother, without a brother. Finally finds the girl he connects to both mentally and now physically it seems." Suddenly the priest held out his arm toward the door which became blocked by a big iron barrier with a single slot in the center. Arkham reached down for the glowing orb in the center of the room which then began to float upward toward him until it connected with his palm and glowed bright red until it finally disappeared.
Once again, Arkham stood in the center of the room, his eyes closed as he took in a deep breath. Then he suddenly opened his eyes with a red glow and held his arms outward as a pair of black blades appeared from his palms. "Now... I will make you realize how foolish you were to fall for this girl. Her destiny is not with you!"
Before either of them could react, the bald man dashed across the floor with barely any movement beforehand, slashing outward on both sides of his body. Dante flipped backwards while Raven caught the weapon in a shield of black energy. Changing its form into a giant claw she tried to pull the weapon from his hand, but it seemed to be bound to his hand and didn't move. Arkham came spinning around with a flurry of circular slashes, nearly missing as Raven floated backward.
Dante came jumping through the air, flipping over Arkham's head with Force Edge slashing down on the bald man. Both swords crossed as Dante flew overhead, reaching for his pistol in that brief second and firing as shot down at Arkham's head. He came to a flipping land as Arkham dashed across the room, grinding both weapons together with a grunt.
Raven floated higher into the air, crossing her arms over her body as her eyes glowed white. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" At the bellowing of the magical phrase, Raven's soul self took the form of a giant kitchen knife that she held over her head. Arkham readied his swords as the giant blade came slamming down toward him and crashed through the linoleum floor.
Dante lunged across the floor, slashing Force Edge forward as Arkham came into his line of attack. The bald man looked at him, his eyes flashing red and before Dante could react a dark red orb appeared in front of him and popped once his body collided with it. Dante's vision flashed silver and as soon as he did everything around him slowed down, even himself. Though Arkham still moved at the same speed as he previously did.
Raven struggled to speed up as Arkham stepped around in front of Dante. He picked his sword up from his hands and held the cold steel in his hand shaking his head as he stared at his reflection in it. "You know. I envy you. The power of Sparda flows through your veins and no one can take it from you." he let out a sigh and shook his head once more. Dante grunted to speed up, but he was immobile. "So I may as well spill the last of it while I can."
Raven struggled with all of her might to help him, but it was too late and Arkham had already held the sword back and in one motion he drove the sword through Dante's chest and poked out the other side. As time began to speed back up Raven fell to her knees, staring in distress as Dante fell to his back with blood spurting from his wound upon impact. Once again he had been striken down by his own weapon.
Her heart sank at the gory sight, wanting only to rush to his side and help him like the last time. Arkham turned around, his swords reappearing in his hands as he stood over Raven. Her hand clenched tightly, cracking the linoleum as she shut her eyes as tight as she possibly could. She gritted her teeth as she could feel hot tears being fought back by her own will. "Do not wheep, girl. Your feelings for him made you weak. Now you can become the powerful demon you were always meant to be."
"No!" She shouted, lifting her head at him through her teeth. "I won't!" She then stood up, reaching out with her soul self and picking Arkham into the air, slamming him against the ceiling then the floor. The priest flew across the room, slamming against the walls until she lifted him above her head and let go. As soon as she did so, she turned around to run to Dante. She gasped upon sight, when she looked up and saw a man standing over her. Her eyes fell on his white hair and casual smirk as she saw that it was in fact Dante fully healed from the injury.
"I don't go down that easily." he replied before holding Force Edge above his head, impaling Arkham through the chest and turning him to dust. The red orb appeared in the air and floated into Dante's chest as he replaced his weapon on his back. His finger brushed against her face with a wide smirk. Then without any further words they locked lips hotly embracing each other in a strong sense of desperation.
Raven smiled up at him with a nostalgic smile then quoted one of his own lines. "Lets rock?"
Dante chuckled hard at the remark then bobbed his head, pecking her on the lips before turning to the door. "Lets rock."
Chapter end.
Obviously not the end of the story. Why would it be that easy? It wouldn't.
Enjoy and stay beautiful those who have stuck around this long.
Special thanks to christian. a. lebron. Not sure if I spelled that right, but anyway thank you for enjoying the feedback and support.
;)