Act 2: Mira
A castle, why is it always a castle? Dante thought. First it was the castle like tower that was Temen-ni-gru, then Mallet Island and Fortuna, now it's a castle compound fortress in the demon world. Is it a popular esthetic choice for demons or a way to show off your sick pad with endless death traps and puzzles? Temen-ni-gru was fine and Mallet Island at least had a court yard or two and he didn't back track nearly as much as the tower; but Mallet and Fortuna did have the same kind of feel in they were shoving it in your face how eerie/holy the place was.
So the epic quest continues with another epically large castle with presumably many epically time wasting secret twists and turns. Hurray. Dante unenthusiastically thought. It didn't help any that both Dante and Nero wrecked their bikes on one of the castle's fire breathing guards; making it back to the portal is going to be a chore, but Dante didn't come here for an easy win. Standing in front of the castle entrance reminded Dante of those castles used in vampire movies with its gothic design choice, wonder who designed it.
"Well kid, shall I knock or do you want the honor?" Dante asked.
Nero wasn't paying attention; he was staring down at the steps, his left hand lightly rubbing the right side of his neck obviously deep in thought. Waving his hand in front of Nero's eyes, Dante said again.
"Kid; Nero snap out of it." Dante snapped his fingers three times in front of the kid's face before finally getting his attention. Nero looked up confused and asked what Dante wanted.
"Look kid, I don't mind bringing you along on a field trip. But this is the demon world and you're not exactly an expert on fighting guys that are above your weight class. So don't get distracted and get in a place you can't get yourself out of; I'm a demon hunter not a babysitter."
This is probably the first time Dante had to act like a responsible adult in a long time, but in a place like this he might not be able to keep Nero from getting killed if the kid won't focus on keeping himself alive. But like the stubborn punk he is, Nero shrugged Dante off with a 'whatever' and opened the door.
Nero walked in first followed by Dante, both gazing up and down at the design choices. It was much bigger and more "evil" looking than Mallet but nothing else really stood out as different. Nero began making snide remarks about how demons in the underworld had no sense of taste when it came to décor while walking around. Dante has noticed a difference in Nero's behavior since entering the demon world; he's somehow easily distracted by his own thoughts to the point where Nero lets his guard down completely.
Unfortunately this wasn't the time or place for a heart to heart; the demons have sensed their presence and are about to begin a long and tedious assault. As usual the cannon fodder have no idea who they are up against, if they can even think that much at all. Against both Dante and Nero the basic demon enemies were literally slaughtered in a barrage of gunfire and sword slashing. With the first wave gone both demon slayers looked around hoping to find a way out of the first room.
Walking past the wall behind the staircase Nero stopped and listened. Whistling? He thought; who could be whistling in a place like this, then he noticed his arm was glowing. He listened harder but it was muffled or far away.
"Hey Dante, I think I found something." Dante went over to where Nero was who gestured to his right arm and told Dante to listen for the whistling; Dante could hear it too. He started feeling around the wall looking for a secret entrance then he turned around and saw a mark on the back of the staircase. Jackpot. Dante shot the mark and the entrance opened up and the whistling was louder and easier to make out.
"Sounds like a melody." Dante said. It was slow and whoever was whistling was good at it, but Dante was sure he'd never heard the song it was from before.
Nero's arm kept glowing without fading, an indication that something or someone was nearby. The entrance was just a long dim hallway and the whistling song still going; Nero kept staring down at his arm every chance he got, Dante asked why it was glowing now. Nero obviously didn't want to talk about it but he explained anyway, he told Dante the first time it glowed was just before he crashed through the glass ceiling during Sanctus's speech and the other time was when Nero found Yamato in Agnus's lab.
"There's a connection" Nero said still staring at his arm. "Sparda's blood, that's what Sanctus said. He said I have the blood of Sparda and that's why I was able to repair Yamato and awaken the Savior."
It's more than that Nero. Dante thought, so much more.
"But now I all I want is whoever's whistling, to shut the hell up!" Nero's patience was wearing thin, but his expressing was pained by something else, not the constant song being whistled; but it was starting to get on Dante's nerves as well. As if on command the whistling stopped.
"Thank you!" Nero said annoyed. He threw his arms up in relief at the peace and quiet.
The duo walked in silence still walking down the hallway, but why Dante was still on guard was because this was a building inside the demon world. Ever since entering this hallway they haven't seen any demons; the only reason that would be is because they entered the territory of a powerful demon. Dante noticed that the hallway looked like it was coated in something, every so often he would catch glimpses of the demon's power; it briefly shimmered purple. So far he's only met one person recently who gives off that kind of power and if she's here, that means she is here as an ally or another woman who's tried to use his loved one as means to an end; then the whistling started again.
"Oh come on!" Nero growled in frustration, clearly someone is just messing with them now.
Finally they reached the end and saw a large ornate double door, the whistling was coming from the other side and Nero was ready to kick it down and shoot the whistler to make sure they stop for good. Dante took one side and Nero took the other, ready for their grand entrance. With one kick from both the door fell down hard; both raised their guns ready to open fire when Dante froze in absolute shock.
"Mother." Dante managed to say, he was almost trembling.
Standing in front of them was Dante's mother Eva, he knew it wasn't Trish. She looked the same as he remembered her; her long blonde hair with one side of her bangs brushed off to the side, fare skin, her lips red with her favorite lipstick and she smiled that made her radiate with much love and kindness. Eva was wearing her black dress and gloves and her red shawl over her shoulders; looking at her Dante believed she was pulled from his own memories and placed in front of him as a gift. Which sickened Dante to his core for what he had to do next; his mother was long dead and standing in front of them, with her arms open wide for a much wanted hug, was a trick and a distraction and Dante had to get rid of it.
BANG!
The illusion fell back and changed purple before shattering into purple crystals; Nero looked up and saw a woman standing on thin air clapping with a satisfied smirk. She had black hair tied back low; she had no bangs on her right but a small amount in front of her ear on the left. She looked elegant and dignified with a blue jewel as the center of her lacy ascot, she wore a long sleeve black shirt with the shoulders missing and tan long pants with black high heeled boots over the pant legs. But what got Nero's attention the most was her purple eyes, why is he arm glowing brighter now that she was here.
BANG!
Dante shot at the woman without hesitation, he was not happy to see her. But the woman looked down at Dante and crossed her arms at her waist but didn't lose her smirk.
"Sorry about the illusion Dante, I just wanted to have a little fun before we get down to business."
"Before we do that why don't you come down here face to face." Dante wanted nothing more than to shoot her for the trick, unfortunately she wasn't that stupid.
"I'm quite happy where I am, thank you. But before that I must apologize for my behavior earlier at your office, I was so wrapped up in giving you what you needed to know that I completely forgot to give you my name. From now on you can call me Mira." From her tone she sounded like a business owner trying to impress clients at a meeting.
"How about bitch, will that work too?" Nero interjected. Mira looked at Nero finally acknowledging his presence and her expression soured like his existence offended her.
"Cute, you brought the boy to tag along with. What's wrong Dante, resorting to bringing a child along to witness your glory as another way to stroke your own ego?"
"We're on a field trip, I'm his chaperone; signed his permission slip and everything. Now, what business did you come all this way to talk about?" Dante demanded; Mira put her hands on her hips and let out a sigh.
"Your brother is ahead, you merely need to kill one demon guard and what little stragglers you find on the way to get to him."
Nero didn't trust her, she made an illusion of Dante's mother and he shot it because of the insult. For all they knew the illusion was probably a trap and since Dante didn't fall for it Mira is out here trying to talk her way to save her own ass.
"Really" Nero chuckled. "Is that all or are you just full of crap."
Mira rolled her eyes in annoyance. "It seems Fortuna can train humans to fight demons, but can't teach children proper manners when speaking to a lady-"
"Is there anything else I should know or can we get going."
Dante interrupted, as much as he loves a good back and forth of sarcastic remarks, he isn't really in the mood for it. Mira gave a slight chuckle then disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared in front of Dante; Nero was shocked and pulled out Blue Rose ready to shoot her.
"There is. The demon guard is, how should I put this, familiar with you and he's quite eager to see you again." Dante thought back to the many demons he's encountered over the years, the only one that he didn't kill was one he couldn't kill.
"Mundus?" Dante said. Mira must have found something he said hilarious because she just started laughing.
"Not exactly. I'll save the lecture for another time, but the guard used to take orders from Mundus and they are far stronger now than they were all those years ago."
"You're going to have to be more specific." Dante said, thinking about what she said, Dante can't seem to understand what she means if Mira won't give him a straight answer.
"I don't like telling people what they already know, so I'll just help jog your memory." Mira disappeared again and reappeared face close to Dante caressing his face with her hand making sure he looks into her eyes, which shimmered with a purple glow and Dante could see himself in her eyes and he heard Mira whisper.
"Remember that night when all fell apart." Then everything went black.
Dante felt comfortable, his head on a pillow laying on his side on a mattress with a blanket over him, and more than anything Dante felt safe and at peace. Something he hasn't felt in years.
STOMP STOMP STOMP
Dante could hear someone running up the stairs, they sounded like they were in a hurry. The door to his room swung open, waking them up.
"Get up we have to go!" Eva was panicking over something. She rushed over to their bunk beds with Dante and Vergil wondering what was wrong.
"We need to leave now!"
Eva grabbed Vergil from the top bunk and quickly helped him to the floor and practically yanked Dante out of bed by his arm then grabbed Vergil's. Eva led them out of their room when they heard a monstrous scream stopping them in their tracks. Eva had a horrified expression and was shaking; the scream scared Dante and clung to his mother's arm. Vergil was scared too but he yanked his arm out of their mother's grip and ran down the stairs.
"Vergil!"
Eva yelled for her son to return, she and Dante ran down after him but when they got to their living room Vergil was gone. There were more screams but there was more than one making them and they could hear stomping sounds that make the floor vibrate with each stomp. Eva grabbed Dante and made him hide in the stairwell and covered it with anything she could find; several boxes and a bookshelf anything would do.
"It's okay Dante, just cover your mouth and stay put; I'll get Vergil and make sure he stays safe as well. Listen Dante, whatever you do, do not come out!"
Dante was shaking with fear, tears stung his eyes and he wanted to cry out and beg his mother to stay, but he did as he was told. Dante covered his mouth and tried to control his breathing. Something hit the house, it sounded like an explosion, and wood hit the floor then the smell hit Dante. Oh the smell was bad, combined with fear it was enough to almost make him throw up but he forced himself not to.
Father, daddy help. Dante thought. Please help, I'm scared. Mother, she needs help. I'm scared, Vergil where are you, come back. Please come back, father come back, I want you to come back. Please father, I'm scared.
"Vergil, no!"
Dante heard his mother scream and then she screamed again followed by the sound of two things hitting the ground and then laughter. Dante peeked out and the slight burned into his mind forever. Blood everywhere, his mother on the floor covered in blood; Dante nearly threw up again. Vergil was lying on his back, his head turned to Dante staring at him, his face frozen in shock and his torso ripped through from chest to back. Blood stained his brother's silver hair, his half of the amulet still around his neck; Vergil didn't get up.
Dante looked at his mother again, her long blonde hair also stained with blood; he tried to see if she was alright but he made a gruesome discovery. Dante had been staring at his mother's decapitated head and her whole body had been ripped apart and smashed into the floorboards in a mess of blood. Then a giant disfigured hand with claws came down and crushed her head.
Tears ran down his face when he slumped back to hide and he thought to himself. Why! Why didn't you save them father, you're supposed to be the strongest ever. Why didn't you save mother and Vergil, Why did you let them die!
"Did we kill them all?" Dante froze, whose voice is that; a demon, Dante realized.
"Sparda's whore, his son, did we kill them all?" A second asked
"Yes" A third confirmed. "We slaughtered Sparda's whole family. Just as Lord Mundus wished, well killed them all."
"Dante!" BANG!
Dante's vision returned, he heard someone shout his name and Mira was now on the far side of the room. He looked to his side and saw someone with silver hair next to him.
"Vergil?" He asked. Dante's vision cleared and realized his mistake.
"Nero, what happened?" Nero explained that Dante let Mira get close and touch his face; he saw Dante wasn't making a move to get some distance so he decided to do it for him. Dante asked how long until he decided to act and Nero said he shot at her to moment she finished her sentence.
"Do you remember now Dante!? The guard may have acted on Mundus's orders but it's his hands stained with the blood of your family and if you can kill this one, you may be able to complete your revenge by slaying the other two AND reunite with what little family remains!"
"Cram it bitch! Like hell we believe you now, so fuck off!" Nero was convinced now that he wanted nothing to do with her.
"To be fair, I haven't lied once since I met either of you. Why lie and risk exposure when the truth makes much better leverage; which is more than I can say for the two of you."
"I don't give a damn, Get lost!"
"So defensive." Mira was sounding more and more smug, she knew something and she was enjoying that they didn't
"Does Dante know about your little nightmares and how you've been having them even while awake now? No? And what about you Dante, when were you going to tell little Nero here that you know his true connection to Yamato and how it relates to you? Everyone has secrets boys and the thing I find most enjoyable is finding then using it."
Nero opened fire several times but Mira disappeared for good in more purple smoke.
"Good riddance." Nero said; he was reloading his gun when Dante finally spoke up. He may have been in shock but better he say it before Ms. Knows-everything does.
"Kid." Dante sighed "We need to have a talk."