A/N: Thank you all for the Favs, alerts, and adds. Hope you enjoy this next chapter. :)

Within Temptation

14. So Cold

You're So Cold, But You Feel Alive. Lay Your Hand On Me One Last Time.

Pain biting into her skin, Alexa dropped to her knees. She threw her arms around herself, as if hugging her tearing body would vanquish it all away.

"GET OUT!" she screamed, blood flooding across her vision.

Vergil's dark power was overwhelming her. It was too much for her mere human shell to handle, the demonic energy breaking her bit by bit.

Alexa shoved him out, the intensity of the force knocking the breath out of her. Shooting her arms out in front of her, palms smacking into the filth, she spat blood, body quivering uncontrollably. She dropped on the ground, struggling to keep her eyes open as they threatened to bury her into a deep slumber, vision cloudy and troubling.

From the wavering sight, Vergil was found looking just as bad as she appeared. Beads of sweat rained down his pale completion, chest falling up and down with each catch of air. He forced his frail body up but failed. All his tremendous vigor swept right from under him, leaving the malevolent half-demon disgraceful and unpleasantly vulnerable.

Vergil groaned, face tight in an irritably scowl. He turned directly to Alexa, her still body stirring an unusual panic in him. With her eyes sealed shut, he'd thought for sure she'd gone lifeless. She then opened her light brown orbs, staring faintly back at him.

"Hello there." she uttered, a weak smile breaking across her face. She cringed as if it hurt to make such a soft expression. She'd tried to move her body though. It refused to twitch even slightly. Everything hurt. Everything ached like she'd been jumped by some ruthless gang. Like her entire body had gone to sleep only her mind was still wide awake.

She attempted another push up but barely made onto her knees before she collapsed, earning an additional mouthful of dirt. With a boost of his superior speed, Vergil came to kneel beside her. A grunt rumbled in his throat as he landed, a hand entangling itself in the roots of his hair. He moved his eyes shut, aiming to rid the bothersome fatigue.

"Stupid woman." Vergil scoffed, a sharp blue peeking at her.

Alexa brushed off the comment, too beaten to argue. She cradled dirt between the spaces of her fingers, watching it fall like sand in an hourglass. "I don't understand you." she whispered, voice raspy and cracked.

"You aren't supposed to." he said, releasing Yamato from his grasp. "If you expected this to be some bonding experience, you're wrong."

Alexa licked her chapped lips. "Then what was that just now?"

Vergil simply stared, tough eyes skimming over the gashes painted across her body. He took a halt at her face where several cuts marked the flawless skin that once was.

"I saw your eyes, Vergil. They don't lie." she softly spoke. Her eyes narrowed into slits before she could not lift her lids any longer, sealing them shut.

Alexa could not gasp; only hold her breath as Vergil had unexpectedly risen her off the ground, sitting her upright, the solid wall supporting much her weight as she leaned back into it.

"You think I enjoy seeing you weak and helpless?" Vergil hovered over her, so closely she could feel the warmth of his breath.

"Sort of." Alexa stated. "I don't think you liked the way Aidan was touching me either." She said into his eyes that remained ominous, a hint of softness rounding the irises.

"Of course I didn't." Vergil growled. He turned his head away, unwilling to look her straight in the eye.

Alexa must've lost her mind because she didn't stop to think twice before she acted, allowing impulse to propel her. She reached up to caress his pale cheek, not entirely caring if it resulted in him pushing her away or in the worst case, snapping her arm barbarically in two.

Much to Alexa's surprise, Vergil didn't even flinch. He sat motionless in the silent, colorless atmosphere. She drew a finger down the strong curve of his jaw then back up to stroke his soft cheek.

"I hated every moment of it." Vergil spoke, venom dripping from his words. "…the way his filthy hands roamed your body…pinning you down like another one of his whores…" His lips parted in a snarl.

Alexa dropped her hand as soon as his burning blues connected with hers. A breath whistled passed her lips as Vergil pulled her closer to him, her battered legs curling around his waist.

Vergil's lips brushed across the nape of her neck. She buried her blushing face in his chest, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt in her hands. Both his hands made its way underneath her top. He settled them at her hips where he motioned his thumbs in smooth circles.

Alexa sighed.

"What is it?" Vergil rasped in her ear.

"There you go again, tempting me." she exclaimed.

"Is that a bad thing?" His hands ventured up her sides and to her back. "I'm trying to prove a point."

"What point? That you're a devious devil?"

"The only devious one here is you, woman. And as if I wasn't clear enough before, let me restate something…"

Alexa leaned back, her glossy eyes traveling up to his face. Light chocolate eyes linked with icy blue orbs.

"You're mine to keep."

She sucked in a breath of air as Vergil leaned down, butterflies madly erupting within the pit of her stomach, heat rushing to her cheeks like a soft flame to her skin.

Heart racing like never before, she watched Vergil's strong face as he continued to move in. Alexa swallowed, gnawing at her bottom lip. Each second was a daunting beat in her ears, playing along the strings of her heart. His lips grazed the surface of her subtle cheek, teasing and creating fire under his cool touch.

"I heard everything you said to Arkham …in the library." Vergil whispered darkly. His tender hands found their way to her narrow shoulders, one of them knitting into the tangled waves of her dark mane and embracing the back of her slender neck.

Alexa nervously chuckled, eyes captured within his messy snow white tresses. "You weren't supposed to hear that." she muttered breathlessly, the fire already making its way to her chest as she pressed further against him.

"I can't say I agreed with your words." Vergil brushed his forehead with hers. "After all, I am a demon. Our hearts are black." His royal blues held no sinister presence, glistening with only serene waves. "And I'm warning you now, I'm not the most gentlest of lovers."

"I wouldn't want it any other way." she whispered, looking at his strong lips. He ran his wet tongue along the dry surface, leaving his lips slightly parted as they came to sweep along hers. Her heart right about stopped, breath freezing in her lungs.

Vergil captured her lips in a smooth, fervent kiss. No nibbling. No biting. She kissed him back, her lips molding perfectly with his as they moved together so sensually. Her hands slipped up his chest, spreading her fingers along his jaw and cheeks and pulling him further into her. She parted shortly to recapture lost breath, her head spinning feverishly. Alexa was completely taken back as Vergil crashed his lips down on her again, hands fondling and pulling wildly at her hair.

Vergil licked savagely at her bottom lip, demanding she allow him in. Alexa kept her lips sealed shut. He growled, receiving a mischievous smirk from the corpse riser.

Suddenly, a yelp escaping Alexa's lips, Vergil had her pinned down on her back, her arms and legs clutching onto him for dear life. He hovered above Alexa's petite body, gliding a hand up her thigh and giving it a tight squeeze, while the other snaked up her curvy body. Alexa moaned against his lips, melting in the electric streaks that came with his fiery touches.

With another hungry lick of his tongue along her lip, Alexa finally gave in, parting her mangled lips and dancing her tongue across his in a tasteful battle. She clicked the tip of her tongue against his. Vergil grunted in her mouth, digging nails in her skin.

Alexa gripped tightly onto him, another satisfying sound escaping her throat. Her lips were left cold as his mouth abruptly left hers. She craned her head to the side, allowing the callous devil to nibble on the soft flesh of her neck. Vergil flicked his tongue back and forth, taking greedy bites, suckling and caressing preciously.

"Vergil…"Alexa sighed contently, running shaky hands in his hair. He picked up her legs, straddling them around his waist. He trailed further down, using his untamed tongue to mark a wet path down to her collarbone.

Alexa squirmed underneath him as his mouth drew closer and closer to her luscious female mounds. She called his name once again. Vergil pulled back, leaving her crimson and breathing relatively hard. She slowly opened her eyes, her vision focusing and connecting with the lustful blues above her.

Alexa tightened her hold around Vergil's waist as he pulled her up from the floor. She shifted comfortably in his lap. He groaned.

She suppressed a smirk. "Sorry."

"You better be." Vergil's raspy voice purred in her ear.

Alexa chuckled, nuzzling her face into his neck. His arms wrapped around her in a secure embrace, fixing her against him. She heard him exhale deeply, her skin chilling at the hit of his cool breath. She watched his shoulders fall in relaxation, the tension crumpling away.

Alexa looked up, staring into his powerful eyes. She reached forward to touch his peaceful face, but as soon as she made contact, she froze, eyes glazing in disbelief. Her fingers slipped right through him, grasping nothing but air. "You're-"

"Don't." Vergil stopped her breathlessly.

Alexa dropped her hand. Vergil strived to retrieve it, but not even power could help him now. He stared at his empty hands, his body wavering in transparence. She could see straight through him, his figure stirring like an illusion.

"The energy you used while you possessed my body must've caused the link to weaken even more." Alexa articulated quietly. She watched the blue devil, his brows wrinkled in absolute frustration.

Vergil clenched his teeth in an angry bite, incapable of grasping his father's precious keepsake off the ground. The blade sat lonely apart, away from his master.

"Here." Alexa reached out. "I'll get it for you."

"No!"

She jumped back. Vergil sighed, looking up at her sad eyes. Contact did not last long as Alexa averted her gaze, eyes hardening into a blank stare.

"I'm sorry." he said. "I guess I'm no different from you throwing tantrums."

Alexa breathed through her nose. She shook her head. "You don't have to apologize." She grazed his hand that'd finally solidified. She was more terrified than anything. The last thing she wanted to witness was Vergil disappearing completely.

"I'm sure there's plenty of time left." Vergil answered as if he'd read her mind. "There's no need to worry."

"I hope so."

White specks began floating around them, the air filling with a chilly waft. Alexa warily looked around. She exhaled sharply, her breath coming out in a puff of smoke.

"It's snowing…?" she proclaimed with uncertainty.

Someone cleared their throat. Alexa jolted up, frantically untangling herself from Vergil's waist. She took a hard crash to the ground, eyes darting back and forth until they found what they were looking for. Her eyes widened in both fright and amazement.

He wasn't entirely man, neither angel, nor demon. He was all one beautiful creation. A stunning pair of wings, made of ice and shining magnificently like crystal, enveloped around him. They fluttered lightly, a single ice feather breaking apart and swaying sadly into the air. It landed on the cruel ground and it withered away in specks of snow.

"Sorry to interrupt you two." The dark angel crossed his arms over the leather straps crisscrossing each other in a giant 'X' on his pale chest. His shoulders were protected by shields of fine armor, one side pointing dangerously up into spikes while the other lay polished with a smooth façade. "Son of Sparda, it's an honor." His arms formed in an "X", taking a firm bow.

"The Oracle of Frost." Vergil announced, standing up defensively.

"That's him?" Alexa said, continuing to stare at the extraordinary creature, who had praised Vergil in his presence.

The wielder of ice nodded. "I am Demetrius." His deep voice stated. The floor beneath his feet had crackled into solid ice and as he took a further step, that place too, had hardened into white frost. "I am aware of what it is you seek. You want it, I will give it to you."

All around the stunning winter demon, the snow swirled. His frosty sapphire hair spiked up incredibly like lethal spears. His ice-covered brows remained resting above the intense, cerulean spheres he possessed. There were light blue crescents marked upon his unblemished face, the tips starting at the corners of his eyes and arcing along his cheekbones until they curved, constructing the proper, elegant shape of the moon.

Vergil scowled. "For what price?"

"No price." Demetrius stated. "I am not here to fight."

"You're expecting us to trust you?"

Alexa sighed restlessly, struggling to return to her feet. Her legs refused to cooperate, wobbling back and forth like jelly. She fell back gracelessly, nearly slamming her head against the concrete wall.

Something materialized beside her, deadly talons striking the ground as it took form. Alexa gasped. The demon had wings as brilliant as the ice bearer and in his hand was a weapon, aimed and ready to attack.

A/N: Thank you for reading. And please, don't forget to review. :)