His eyes upon your face
His hand upon your hand
His lips caress your skin
It's more than I can stand
Why does my heart cry
Feelings I can't fight
You're free to leave me
But just don't deceive me
And please
Believe me when I say
I love you
~El Tango de Roxanne, Moulin Rouge



Luce ed Ombra
Chapter Twelve

Flash in the Night
[By Ultema and Guo]


Using the distraction of the red clad man on the dance floor, a man quite similar in appearance to him was approaching Isabella. If the other weren't in the room, one might actually mistake the two of them. Isabella most likely hadn't noticed him, nor anyone else for that matter, as if he just suddenly appeared. Each time Dante had gotten rid of a woman coming up to him, he was stopped in yet another way, a man complimenting him, a woman asking him to dance, however through all of the distractions he had now seen the other man.

Glancing over to Isabella, he seemed to want something of her, one way or another, and yet, he was also hurrying, perhaps to not have to deal with the other of the two. In a way, he blended in with the rest of the crowd, but in another stood out amongst them like a black whale in a snowfield. No one thought otherwise, however as he approached swiftly through the crowd. The soft textures of the black overcoat moved silently against the similar texture of matching pants, and his footwear was the only thing to make sound, though dulled by the din of noise around them. The cream colored ascot, bunched just below his chin, could have nearly blended in with his flesh.

Turning slightly on her heels, Isabella caught a glimpse of this phantom doppelganger. Both brows rose upwards quickly as she glanced around the vicinity for her partner, who was caught up in the crowd. Her eyes shifted swiftly from side to side before resting on the figure moving through the throng of bodies, heading straight for her.

"Vergil ..."

"I know what you're doing." The man reached out and grabbed Isabella's arm. This action was usually considered heresy and would result in death, in fact, it might still spell death for him.

"You know you can't take that, it has a lot more importance to us than it does to you... even if it is your life." A strong statement, it was hard to believe that they ever didn't hate each other. Their history went back a lot further than perhaps it seemed at first. Not just a fling a few years ago. Vergil slowly dragged his captive over towards the other part of the room, once again moving her away from Dante, to whom it seemed like the other people, at least a few of them, were following untold orders to keep him away. Vergil merely glared at her, his next sentence was sure to be a threat of some kind, but in his eyes, one could see his reluctance.

Isabella could only stare in disbelief as she was dragged along, bodies dispersing back into their path as though made purposely to create an ever shifting human maze, just to keep Dante out of reach. As they came to a stop, She caught his glare, but even in the eyes that reflected no light, she could see into them - two blue pools.

" Vergil, you don't understand -- You know me better than anyone. What would your father say?"

"Yes, I know you better than anyone.." A monotone chuckle came from Vergil, he seemed slightly amused, but became much more serious, "... sometimes I regret that, Isa." It wasn't that he didn't like her, but his life wasn't exactly made easier by hers. He was here for only one reason:

Her.

*** He back turned from his mother, a young boy not older than 5 was having a huffy fit; angry at his mother for apparently favoring his brother. Of course it wasn't true, but everyone knew how kids got. Storming off without looking back, the young boy sat down in between a couch and a radiator, his small little hiding spot where he could go. Sitting there, hand pulling hard on his silver colored hair, he couldn't help but be angry. Meanwhile, his mother only chuckled to herself, she'd go and apologize, getting her soon to be sadden child. The brother, however, looked concerned, he cared for his brother, as much as a little child could understand so. After hearing the argument from the other room he came out to find his brother, looking for him in all of the many spots he liked to go. But before finding him, an earth shattering noise was heard, with a feeling of an earthquake, originating right outside of their house.

The clouds swirled; the sun engulfed by the fervor of black and gray, devoured in the abyss that formed in what was once the cerulean blue sky. The skies ripped asunder by a fearsome bolt of red, jagged and sharp that came screaming from the void. Where it struck, the earth trembled, roared and split - fissures developed along the grassy green, and all greenery in its path died as the fissure widened along the ground. Barren earth soon took the place of the grasses - a solemn thud resounded as from above descended wings that blocked out what little light was left. Heavy clawed feet, attached to legs like the trunks of trees connected with the dirt - a billow of dust and ash, two great wings spread, a shrill call from numerous sets of sharp hawk's beaks all connected at the same point to form a single head. Brilliant lenses of crimson flickering left and right as sable feathered wings spread, pumped the air until it turned blistering hot and condensed creating pulsing orbs of magenta that ripped through the very foundation of the building ahead of this monstrous beast.

From the darkness that those great wings had caused, rose a pair of brilliant blue eyes. A feline's body formed from the blackness that enveloped it, and as though a flower in bloom, appeared, pale fleshed and gore-horn laden the upper body of a woman attached at the creature's chest. Massive, she stood, towering feet above the door itself. One great, clawed hand reached back, plunged forward, and took the door down. Impassiveness rampant in her expression, to the family that rest inside, inexplicable horrors rampaged through their minds.

The horror in all of the family members was apparent. The young boy searching for his brother had made his way into the attic, and with the breaking of the door down, the building shook, knocking crates of old things over onto the boy. Stuck underneath, unable to move, he could only listen in horror to what was going on below him. His mother screamed as the beast had come through the door, though it was only out of surprise... she knew what the beast wanted, who had sent her. Slowly backing off, she shook her head. She wouldn't give in and give away the only thing to remind her of her husband, something which wasn't to be given over to evil.

The young boy was hiding just a room away, he ran out to the room where his mother was, fear in his eyes. He wasn't quite sure what was happening, but for some reason, he wasn't afraid.

The half woman, half feline that had entered paused, the mother's indignant refusal to hand over what was desired elicited a sneer from the much larger beast. The beast opened her mouth wide, 'Give them over to me NOW ' she demanded; gleaming, dagger-like canines bared as she rushed the other woman, grasping her by her throat and lifting the mother off her feet into the air.

The blonde woman protested once more, her hands winding around the pale, steely wrists of the creature that held her off the ground. With a sharp twist of powerful, pale shoulders, the frail woman's back was slammed up against the wall. No attention permitted to escape towards the child standing wide-eyed at the scene before him.

'Now, or DIE!' the creature commanded again, her grip visibly tightening around the blonde woman's throat as she gurgled a resistant response once more, and turned her eyes towards her young son. Tears welled in those eyes, rolling down a porcelain cheek and onto the dead, grayish flesh of her captor.

Having had more than enough of this nonsense, the half woman plucked the mother from the wall and held her at arm's length. Her own, wicked blue eyes skipped from the child she now knew was present, and bore deep into the soft eyes of the blonde woman, whose paling, trembling lips uttered the lowest of curses to the beast.

Free hand reared back, long, thin, sharp claws slid forth from their restraints in the beast's hand, and where slowly driven into the soft flesh of the young mother's stomach. A shriek, agonizing pain welling up in an anguished flush as the creature gave a sharp turn to her wrist, twisting the blades inside of the woman like a blender, and the next thing was the lifeless, wet thud on the floor where a pool of red stained the carpet below. ' Useless, stupid woman...' the creature muttered, eyeing the fallen body before shifting her gaze to the child that had just witnessed his own mother's death. A maniacal grin spread over her pale features.

The boy was the next most useful thing to the woman, who was now of no use to anybody. He didn't know anything either... but that wasn't to be his purpose. His eyes grew wide, but he didn't shed a tear, he was too horrified, too confused. Standing there motionless, staring at the floor, soaked in the blood of his mother, and then shifting his gaze to the person who had committed the deed. But what could he do?

He stepped forwards towards the beast, which had turned and was staring directly at him. He didn't know what he could do, but he had to try something. The young boy pulled his hand back and swung at the creature's front kneecap. Hot tears flowed from the boy's eyes; he was just barely beginning to realize what had happened. The only thing he wanted more than to be held by his mother now, was to be with his brother -- the only other family he had.

The boy upstairs in the meantime had regained consciousness after being bombarded with various boxes and items, including an amulet of his mother's. She hadn't worn it in years, and he didn't exactly understand what it was, but for some reason, he thought she'd need it now. It took a moment or two for him to get free, and immediately began running down the stairs to see what had happened.

The first instinct of the beast would have been to kill the boy, too -- but instead, she paused after having been kicked. Orders were orders, and she had hers. Backpedaling all four feet from the child, she stopped again -- the blackness of her feline body swirled, dispersed into a thick violet mist that engulfed her entire form. It wasn't long before the mist cleared, and a dark haired young woman stood in its place.

Vivid, bright mocha skin, full cinnamon lips, beautiful green eyes, a serene smile formed over the voluptuous curvature of her lips. All dressed in a stainless white and sky blue - so pure, so radiant. She approached the horror-struck child, bent down and rested on the tips of her bare toes. A slender hand reached out, cupping the boy's cheek in her hand as her thumb brushed away the warm, salty liquid from his face.

'It's all right,' she whispered, extending the other hand out as though to shield him from the darkness that had fallen over the previously comfortable, loving home.

The boy didn't know what was going on, he stared confusingly at first, and still angry ran into the arms of the woman, pounding his hands down on her shoulders, crying to no end in her breast. He didn't understand, he was just sad just confused,, and this woman was providing the love he needed. Clinging to the previously much larger and beastlier woman, head off to the side, he noticed his brother arrive.

The other's eyes filled with tears, he understood, looking over to the others. He didn't know the details, but he knew who was responsible -- and it wasn't either of the two over there, but something that his father was connected to. He held himself close to his mother's blood-ridden body. Looking up towards his brother and the woman, though his eyes only saw his brother. He wondered what happened... he didn't question his brother's intentions or doings.

The other boy removed himself from the woman, looking towards his brother, holding the amulet near his mother in anger. Why wasn't he there to help him and mother? Why was he being so selfish? Why isn't he over here with me now? Questions filled the boy's head, and it only served to help the woman. She merely gave him a look, it was all too easy to make the boy serve her now. He ran over to his brother and tackled him, grabbing the amulet from his hands, yet the other end was still being held onto. A struggle between the two children and a tug of war upon the amulet ensued. Anger was now in both of the brothers. Neither truly knowing what they were fighting over.

As the struggle ensued, the light-clad woman rose to stand fully upon her bare feet, and stepped lightly over the fallen body of the blonde-haired mother. She stared into the area between them both - towards the amulet. She moved to grab it to break up the scuffle and be on with things, when the hands of the one whom had taken to her slipped from the metal surface. The trinket fled from both their grasps and dropped down between them to the floor below.

With a sharp crack, the glittery amulet fell into two pieces on the cold, bloodstained ground below. The woman picked up one of the pieces, as did the brother who had suddenly appeared moments earlier. The boy who had witnessed the atrocity, still confused and upset, reached out towards his sibling, grasping the precious item with both hands to ensue in another struggle. Soon enough, though, the weeping boy plucked the piece from his brother's hands.

That was good enough for the woman. Casting a gaze back towards the other boy, the one left with neither brother, mother nor trinket, her expression showing neither happiness nor sorrow, but compassion, she plucked up his sibling and held him tight to her tear-dampened clothing. Turning her gaze away, she strode out the door, child in hand - she walked on shadows, her own being not obscured by the darkness as she approached the great bird waiting outside for them.

'Is it done?'The massive avian queried, an eye turning towards the child in his companion's arms before turning his red gaze upon the woman herself.

'It is done.'she replied, peering down at the boy. She should have killed the other boy while she had the chance, she thought - but even she was unlike the great bird before her.

The avian nodded in response, and with a single flap of his wings took to the air again, vanishing in the swirling void of gray clouds above. The woman took a glance towards the ransacked house, and then proceeded forward towards the darkness as the fissures closed, and the sky became bright again. ***

His eyes shimmered, the lights from the chandelier reflecting off of the liquid, which had accumulated in his eyes. Held in, of course, Vergil showed nothing more than a scornful look towards Isabella; he had only recently found out the truth about his past, but what could he do about it. His life was much different now.

"But ... what would my father say if he knew you killed my mother?" One last attack, perhaps the only time he had really mentioned it right out to her. His eyes glanced over to his brother, just now finally getting through the crowd, controlled in part by him. Turning to the side, his eyes remained fixed on her even as he began to walk away. One hand held the other half of the amulet close to his chest while his other raised a finger to her like a mother would say no to a child. Ironically, it would have been quite normal had the roles been reversed.

"Stay ... away from it..." he hissed, and moved deep into the crowd.

Stumbling as his foot was caught by one of the patrons of the dance "by accident", Dante glared in the direction of the man whom had been talking to his date had disappeared. Half out of jealously, and half because for some odd reason he felt a bit of resentment towards whoever it was. He hadn't seen the face, only the hair.

Glancing back to Isabella, "Having a .. good time?" Odd.. one would think he'd go for the more direct approach, but it was quite obvious what he meant. His vision wandered back to where the man should have been by now, but instead, no sign of him at all. A slightly puzzled look on his face remained, however despite this confusion, he refocused his attention on Isabella. Leaning all of his weight onto his right arm, stabilizing himself on the table, his leg lifted to rest on it as well, grinning at her, as if expecting a lame excuse for talking to another man.

" Dante ..." Isabella murmured, her attention focused in the direction that the other man had left. Her mouth left open, head turned slowly back towards her date for the evening, though her eyes stayed glued in the other direction until she finally managed to pull herself from whatever trance she was in. Stammering for a moment as her composure was regained, she shook her head gently, lacing her fingers before her.

"I, uh, actually ... "

Dante's right eyebrow was twice as high as the other when he just decided to treat it like nothing, though it almost seemed like an old boyfriend was just mesmerizing her before. He moved himself closer to her, a slight nudge into her hip, it was time to put on the old Dante charisma,

"You alright there...?" His smirk changed into an empathetic smile, for no apparent reason. A hand found it's way to the small of her back while the other was used as a nice leaning post as he leaned back a bit. A nod in the direction of the refreshments and the door, "Maybe you'd like.." He trailed off as to wait for her response, his question ready to be molded to suit her mood.

"I'm fine ... Yes, let's get something to drink." Isabella's response was choppy and abrupt, nodding in response to Dante as she turned around to face him, making sure as to not lose eye contact as she slipped through the bit of crowd piled up at the refreshments. Although there was a smile attached to her lips, there was an air of dishonesty in the expression, however slight.

The bright cherry material of her dress moved with her steps as she weaved through the crowd half sideways, beckoning her companion on through it. Bodies moved, sort of glided by without her recognition. She was to busy thinking about things now, from her personal mission, to the people and creatures she had come to know over her extended stay in the world of the living, and now her partner and friend. But this had to be saved for another time. This was not the time for thinking of such things.

"How about you ... are you enjoying yourself?"

Though he followed, Dante was barely able to keep up with her maneuvering. He eventually made his way to the drinks, eyeing her from just enough of a distance to avoid being slapped. Well, that was the theory anyways, in a moment or two he realized she could stab him from across the room, so, what was a little slap,

"Ya drag me here and force me to dance with an ol ... er, with a novice.. then ditch me.. all fine, babe." He was actually quite far from being sarcastic, he was bothered, of course, but he didn't know what happened, all he knew was she looked distraught. His arm held around her shoulders, pulling her near him, "I think you've had enough for tonight, don't you think?" His hand taking the punch from her hands only to drink it down himself.. "Still, you sure know how to flatter.. and confuse a guy.. I give you credit."

He slipped himself out of his trench coat, revealing a clinging thin black turtle neck, and draping the coat over a nearby chair with a quick toss -- how elegant. Knuckles were cracked, and a stretch or two ensued, it felt quite good to be out of that restricting jacket. His outfit may have been reminiscent of a 70s dancer, but it wasn't going to stop him from getting his groove on and making Isabella forget all about that other man.

"Look, I'm really sorry about that," Isabella started, before witnessing this sudden turn of events, and while she had no punch to sip on, her hands fell to her hips. Her hips cocked in accord with her head, and a brow rose upwards before offering a half-assed smile in response to Dante's actions. How convenient, she thought -- this whole scenario felt like something straight out of the disco age, music and all. Well, why not get into it? It wasn't before too long that she had stepped to her partner and date flashing the longer half of her dress over her leg in order to keep it from tripping either of them up; both slender legs exposed to the thigh, eyes locked on her companion's.

A stance taken in his ridiculous looking outfit for a ball, his eyes never moved from her, either. As soon as the music, which must have been mistaken for the most popular of America, started, Dante began to shake his rear. In stomach churning display of finger points and spins was all but upon them. Surprisingly, and unfortunately it seemed as though the other attendants began to join in. Dante's hand reached out to take Isabella's. His eyes stayed locked into hers, he could already sense her previous problems being forgotten at the sight of this new challenge of his. And why not... forgetting one's worries, no matter how important, for just a short while is quite therapeutic.. after all, "Don't worry, just smile!" he grinned, hands flaring in the air.

Isabella couldn't help but laugh at this, grasping Dante's hands. It took her a while to get that particular rhythm down, since the Disco era wasn't exactly her favorite, but nonetheless in no time had she been able to pick up on his moves, modify them, and make them into her own all the same. Out of sight, out of mind was the current name of the game concerning problems, and that solemn smile had become quite genuine, especially now that the whole room was more or less making fools of themselves equally, so there was no problem with it.

He could only offer a grin of approval, she had surpassed all of his expectations.. her dancing skills had seemed to be limited only to the classics at first. A spin in the direction of the center of the dance floor, and she was tossed in front of everyone. Rushing in from the side he jumped and landed in a split. If one listened closely, they could have heard a slight splitting sound, but the music and people were loud enough to drown anything so trivial as that out. A seam rip in pleather pants was generally a large concern, but showing off to the crowd was much more important at the moment. A twirl of himself and subsequently his partner the rest of the attendants were actually cheering them on, secluding them to a circle. A lift from the floor, a pull through the legs, they were a hit.. although it wasn't long before the song was nearing completion, as was their dance.

As though on cue, the sound of a large clock bell striking the same moment the last beat of the song ended with the two of them dead center of the circle in a thunderous hail of applause. One hand lifted into the air, the other around her partner's shoulder, hoisted up on the toes of her finely polished stiletto heels. Beads of glistening liquid rolled down off her forehead and into her plum smile, bright eyes locked on those of her dancing partner, and what felt like best friend now.

Her shoulders heaved with each breath drawn, only to hold that pose for a few moments more of applause, and then let her other arm fall to his opposite shoulder. Chin declining to chest as she regained her composure, this was a night to remember.

It took a while, but the sweaty Dante had finally acknowledged the other people around. The rest of the time, he had merely been staring directly at Isabella, she was unlike anything he had really encountered before, but perhaps that was just because of the mysterious plans and rapid mood changes. He let his head fall to her shoulder for just a moment, it was tiring. Slowly they made their way back to their seats, it seemed as though the ball was ending. Surprisingly, Dante had made it through, and actually enjoyed himself. Slumping in his chair, it seemed as though the person who had gotten this whole thing together, King, or whoever, was apparently making some sort of toast... to Isabella nonetheless, though he was too preoccupied with resting to really pay attention. He merely smirked in the general direction of the speaker as his eyes wandered the room, settling on his companion just beside him.

"Agradecimentos! Comemore meu sócio!" A breathless Isabella called out, grasping a nearby cup and filling it with punch and holding it up towards the gracious host, then turned her attention towards Dante with a full smile. With her opposite hand, she picked the next glass and filled it, handing it to him, and offering her own glass out to him, toasting obviously to him as well. Even as she took a drink, she didn't allow her vision to escape the cool hues of his.

Once again, a bit behind all of the action, it took a glass shoved in his face to get him to react -- Dante had been staring in the place Isa was even after she had gotten up. He took the drink and finishing it off in a quick gulp, just what he needed. When the next glass was held out in his general direction, and since he couldn't understand Spanish, or Portuguese ... or whatever, he immediately assumed it was another for him, and snatched it following her own sip, and drank the rest before realizing it was another toast... this time, to him. He was even blushing, though it wasn't like you could tell, his whole head had been a bit red since the dance. A smirk towards his date, and a nod towards the others, and he just sat himself back down, a haphazard smile across his lips.







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Author's Notes Yes, Sequel will be planned. ^^;; Uh, this is an odd chapter, I know. It's really important though, but I'm afraid I can't explain any of the stuff here just yet, because we need a reason to plug the 'fic's site when we release it ;D ... Just taking it slower as the semester winds down, and all this work slowly comes to a close. Please hang in there, everyone. ^^