Sorry for the slowing updates, but i'm nearing finals. Expect delays, and try not to get too annoyed with me. I'll try to keep them coming at a steady pace, but definately a slower pace. That being said, make like a moogle and Enjoy!
Lauren
We were treasure hunting on a lonely beach miles from any recognizable civilization. And I was out of cigarettes…already. We'd arrived a minute ago after Vergil had driven like a bat out hell. Why am I not surprised? And wouldn't you know it, the demons had already rolled out the red carpet for him. Turning I drew a marionette face first into my knee before kicking it away. Stumbling, the last demon turned to ash.
"Finished yet Lauren?" Vergil asked, bored. I made a face at him.
"Some of us don't have a sword to hack things apart with," I snapped. He didn't bother replying as he turned and began the trek to the small rocky peninsula. I swear to god, Vergil is the scariest sword wielding half demon I've ever had to the misfortune of meeting. He did this thing with his aura, creating copies of his sword out of nothing but spare energy and sent them hurtling into the marionettes. It was interesting to watch, but he nearly nailed me with one when a marionette kinda…threw me into him… I think he was still a little annoyed about that.
"Why are we here again? What exactly does this treasure look like?" I asked staring at the peninsula and the sweeping beach around us. Vergil ignored me, not bothering to wait up. Figures. I wonder if we're looking for the next artifact… I felt a familiar warm tingling begin to throb over my heart. Looking down I saw my half of the Amerhusrt reacting again. It was glowing the same yellowish color that it had before, not to mention the black squiggles were coming to life.
"Vergil, what the hell are we looking for?" I asked holding up my arms. The markings were moving faster than I've ever seen them move before. Like they were excited or something. He turned, raising an eyebrow, studying me.
"Yes?" he asked, uninterested.
"What the hell are they?" I asked flatly, holding up both arms. He stared me strait in the eye, smirking. I knew before he even said anything that whatever he was going to say would be said with the single intent of annoying me. He was going to brush me off like a stupid inferior nobody...again. Knowing that in advance only pissed me off more.
"It means you're a fallen angel." I snorted, rolling my eyes. Seriously, that's the best BS he could come up with? He's losing his touch.
"You're an asshole," I grumbled. I could already hear the silent laughter in his voice when he spoke again, his demon eyes were laughing as well.
"As you wish Lauren."
"You seriously think that's amusing don't you?" I snapped, pushing past him. It wasn't his arms that were covered with these freaking things. Hell it wasn't even his body covered with these freaky things.
"Why would I know what they are Lauren?" he asked mildly. "I didn't give them to you." Yeah the hell he didn't, he knew something. He always knows something. Hell, Vergil makes it a point to understand what's going on. I've completely had it with this secrecy shit. I want these black marks gone. The tattoo I can live with, I think it looks freaking badass, but these living marks have got to go. Now. And if Vergil has answers and I want them.
"It's not funny," I growled, spinning around to face him. "These things are weird and I didn't ask for them. I have no freaking idea what they are. You being a jerk isn't helping."
"Does little Lauren need another nap?" he asked coolly, smirking. He would do it too, the asshole.
"Does Vergil want human Lor to kick his ass?" I snapped. "I'm serious. You know what the hell these things are, so spill."
"You really want to know?" Vergil asked, taking a couple of steps forward to close the distance between us. The last time he was this close a spider demon was staring me in the eye and drooling. He's trying to intimidate me the jerk. I glared at him defiantly. I'm not moving a freaking inch till he tells me what the hell these things are.
"Don't be an ass," I snapped tersely.
"Patience is a virtue Lauren."
"Something you should try to remember from time to time," I replied, snorting.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," he replied quietly. I stared at him, feeling his aura expand in a very scary way. It literally crashed around me like a tidal wave. His eyes were a cold blue. Cute. If he thought something like that was going to faze me, he was in for a rude awakening call. Using an aura and green stars were the first things I'd pried out of Verigl during our 67 matches. However, I could feel my heartbeat in the soles of my feet again. Damn him.
Reaching forward with out warning Vergil threw me to the sandy ground, unsheathing Yamoto in the process. Pain shot up my right arm as I tried to catch myself. A second and I was sprawled out flat on my ass, nice. Groaning I raised my head off the beach, trying to blink away the dancing black spots in my left eye. After my vision cleared, I recognized a familiar looking ax embedded in the rock I had been standing on a moment before. …oh, okay…nice to know the sword wasn't for me.
"Nallius," Vergil growled. Standing before us on the rock peninsula was the cat demonness from before. At her side were two more shadow panthers.
"By Order of the Queen you are sentenced to death," Nallius raised her chin proudly, a cold angry fire blazing in her eyes. "Should you return to her willingly, however, the death sentence will be lifted, Nero." Vergil has no tact what-so-ever. Grunting, I got to my feet, my head spinning a little. Leave it to him to nearly knock me out while moving me the space of two feet.
"Very well," Vergil replied coldly, "A convenience for you then, to come seek vengeance on your fallen comrades." He glanced at me over his shoulder. "Move it Lauren." He was telling me to get lost while he diced it up with catwoman? "Now," He said coldly when I didn't move. Jesus, where his eyes red? What the hell did that mean? I suppressed a shudder. Now that was scary, I can't believe I'd almost forgotten about Vergil's demon half. His demon side coming out to play? Hmm…I wonder if I could get him to do the eye thing by smoking around him. Either way I'm sure as hell not going to listening to him. As much as it pains me to say it, I can't fight shadow demons like he can. Therefore the weasel survivalist in me has decided its in my best intrest to stay planted where I am. I don't care what color his eyes change. Besides I distinctly heard a nice cracking sound as my right arm hit the ground, which would explain why I can't move it.
"Where to?" I demanded annoyed. "The rocks to the left or the sand to the right?"
"Stupid woman," he growled, nearly inaudibly. By then the shadow panthers where circling us. They were looking at me like I was dinner. What was I going to do when they decided it was time to eat?
"You broke my arm you asshole," I growled back. I turned to watch the panthers circling us. I don't like this.
"I demand blood for my comrades Nero," Nallius growled. "I don't want your pathetic human, you were correct, she's not my concern. You are." Her eyes were sly as she eyed the Halfling. "I have something you want, if a simple battle isn't enough to entice your participation." Delicately entwined in her right hand the blood of god stood out, a red drop of crystal ruby, against her dark fur.
"You would waist your life in such a fashion Nallius?" Vergil asked. He was using the pissed business tone again.
"Should I return with out you or your head, it was made clear to me my comrades will die slow deaths for my failure." Wow, now that was one hell of an ultimatum. Thank god I'm not standing in her shoes. Go figure, another woman Vergil's pissed off…I think the tally is up to four now, but I'm sure there's more I don't know about.
"I don't suppose you'd mind getting me some cigarettes after this, would you?" I asked Vergil. He was my go to guy for the day still, after all. He stared at me, red eyes, aura crackling. Eh, it was worth a shot. I shrugged, "I'm addicted." Nallius was staring at me now too, with unreadable eyes, studying me. After a moment she returned her attention back to Vergil. Vergil however, continued to give me the death glare. He knew I was doing this on purpose. It's rare that I get a blatant chance to piss Vergil off. I decided to push my luck and smile back at him sweetly, gritting my teeth together as my arm began to throb on a whole new level of pain.
"Is she what I think she is?" Nallius asked.
"She's nothing more than what you see," Vergil growled, finally turning to Nallius. I felt he muscles twitch under my left eye.
"Not like I'm standing right here or anything," I muttered. Both the demons decided to ignore me. The inferiority complex strikes again.
"I see," she said quietly, "you have my deepest apologizes Nero." With a lithe flick of her wrist she flung the ruby she was holding, Vergil's 'treasure' I realized, at me. I could feel something then, the final seconds I remember before passing out, an overwhelming sense of dread…and this unbelievable sense of…power. Like with the snap of my fingers I could topple cities, governments, nations, continents….worlds even. Then the ocean was roaring in my ears and the world was tipping and sliding as the amerhurst flared to life with scorching heat. I was a phoenix, burning with something I couldn't see and didn't dare touch. Through the burning sensation that was quickly driving me into blackness, I could feel my arm bones healing, stitching together again. Oh…so that's what it was…
Vergil
He could do nothing as the Blood of God reacted with Lauren, suppressing the demonic and angel influences alike within her aura as the small ruby joined with the amerhurst's central yellow crystal. Melding the two gems created something that hadn't existed for time out of mind. Something Sparda had foreseen the coming of. How had Nallius known? Silently, Lauren fell to the ground, the angelic scrolling vanishing from her skin. Her aura was that of a mere human's once again. The only thing that remained hinting to her nature was the seal of protection. Cautiously the panther demons approached Lauren, sniffing before backing up. They too knew she was some thing more.
"Your human," Nallius whispered quietly, "is no human." The demonness turned to him then, a grudging smirk rising to her face. "Did god listen to those such as I, he would hear a first prayer pass these lips."
"Spare me, Nallius," Vergil replied quietly, a deadly glint in his eyes. "What are your actions now?" On one knee Nallius knelt before him.
"You have my silence Nero, and my alliance, should you have need of it."
"No," he considered for a moment. "I've never required the help of Vali's dogs." At this Nallius only winced, but she remained kneeling. "Your silence on what you've just witness however, is mine till the last day you breath."
"A deal then General Nero," Nallius rose. The hidden barb in her words evident. She was reminding him, that he too was one of the queen's dogs. "Make no mistake, I will have blood for those of my comrades you've slain as well as those you kill by your refusal to come back in my company. However, I am more patient. Take your human, I wish you well in concealing her."
"Leave Nallius," Vergil replied wryly. "Or you will lose more of your comrades than is necessary." With a curt bow of the head, the other left, stepping through the barrier rip easily, her precious demonic offspring in tow. Nallius would return to the underworld now, he knew, only to have those she cherished so much destroyed before her eyes. Hope could kill a demon, or drive it mad as the queen was likely to do in Nallius's case. It was something he had never seen, a demon reacting so strongly…he'd half expected Nallius to attack while the blood and amerhurst melded. Yet she hadn't. He sighed then, turning to Lauren. The blood of god had done her wonders, already she was stirring. He knelt beside her. Groaning she opened her eyes.
"Enjoy your nap? Is it too much to ask that you're not quite as stubborn or as useless as before you slept?" She made a face as she pushed her self up.
"That was the weirdest green star I've ever seen," she grumbled. Rubbing her left arm, she slowly stretched it. "What is it with you demons? Every time you try to help someone you knock the shit out of them."
"Really? Perhaps it would occur to you to wonder why," he asked dryly. Annoyed she socked him, pulling him from his thoughts.
"You broke my arm you jerk."
"Do you want me to break the other one?" he offered, rising to his feet. There were times when Lauren ceased being amusing. They weren't often, but there were times. Like now for instance…
"Hey what happened to Nallius? Where'd she go?"
"It's none of your concern," he replied, yanking the girl to her feet. He'd broken her arm? …Humans broke so easily it was absurd.
"I can stand up on my own, thankyouverymuch," she snapped, facing him. She studied him with worried eyes, though her stance and face gave no hint to her fears. He also knew she was exhausted again. The crystallized blood droplet would have expended any extra energy her aura had managed to gain in the last weeks. "You didn't kill her did you?" Fortunately, Lauren went from annoying to amusing as quickly as the wind shifting on a gusty day. Though the thought of Nallius, kneeling before a half demon she had sworn to the queen of hell she would kill was…unbelievable. Even if he had just witnessed it. Hell's high ranking generals did not sway alliances so easily. He had to wonder if Nallius's fate was worse off now than what she might have faced at the edge of his sword.
"For an angel Lauren, you have very little faith in me," he remarked, a smirk finding it's way to his lips. Baiting Lauren was starting to become second nature. He began to head back to the parked bike.
"You jerk! Dammit don't you ever listen? My name is Lor! And I'm not a fucking angel!" Lauren yelled. If she didn't believe him when he told the truth, how would she know when he told a lie? Perhaps that was something he could use to his advantage in the future.
