The Seventh heaven Chapter: Dante & Trish on a bad day
****
(insert cool brazilian translated poem)
To keep
To keep something is not to hide it or lock it up.
In a coffer we don't keep anything.
In a coffer we lose sight of something.
To keep something is to look at it, to gaze at it,
To eye it for admiring it, that is,
to illuminate it or to be by it illuminated.
To keep something is to watch it, that is,
to keep vigil for it, that is, lie in wait for it,
that it, to be awake for it, that is,
to exist for it or to be for it.
That's why we better keep
a flight of a bird
than a bird without flights.
That's why we write, that's why we say,
that's why we publish,
that's why we declare
and recite a poem:
To keep it:
So that it, in turn,
will keep what it keeps:
Will keep whatever
a poem keeps:
From there a poem's spirit:
For keeping
what we want to keep.
--Chico Buarque de Holanda
******
It is always warm in Rio, fair sunshine streaming through the windows of the rooftops and the nightlife is full of entertainment and music that echo through the entire city. Some may say that it is a place of dangerous temptations. We could find the sources of those words and they usually come from the most religious. The Annual Samba Parades are not only in Rio but all over the world and they invite everyone to join into the fun. In Rio the Parades are festive and held in the earlier months of the year. It was easy for an individual to get lost in the night life. Virginte goes into a club while Dante makes a visit to the local police department. She sits there, becoming shy all of a sudden, listening to the rythym of the music blaring in her ears and the crowd becomes a swirl of bodies.
"Hey baby wanna dance?"
A man voices out the question behind her and she flashes him a bright smile. Although enjoys flirting, she wanted to wait for Dante to return.
"No thank you."
It was the first time she was ever polite but she promised Dante no more trouble and for some odd reason she wanted to comply to his ridiculous demands. Like she could cause trouble. That causes a derisive unladylike snort from her.
"I think you do want to come and dance, gorgeous."
What the fuck does it have to take to get these guys realize that a no is a no? She turns around and blasts him with her icy blue eyes, her mouth in a stern line,
"I said NO. Now get the fuck away or I'll have to reconsider the fact that you are only here because I'm beautiful and I should be flattered instead of the real reason is that you're an asshole who can't take no for answer and need a fist up your nose!"
"What the fuck?"
The man shakes his head at her, calling her names under his breath and walks away.
Virginte takes a drink of the margarita and relaxes against the booth. She crosses her legs and allows herself the freedom of viewing those around her dancing and enjoying their nightlife. It didn't take long till a dance number came up that she liked very much. She decides to get up. The rythym of the music penetrating into her being and she feels a delicious wave after wave of harmonious bliss. The disco lights flashing on the dance floor, illuminating everyone's glittery shoes and the movements of their dancing. Virginte lifts her hands and arms up and snaps her fingers to the beat. Her head shaking back and forth, allowing her silver hair flow around her face and back. Some of the men had stopped dancing to watch her and note the curves of her hip to the progress of the music.
Some people had started to clap their hands, enjoying the wanton display of the young woman whose looks could turn heads and cause accidents. Her hips swaying back and forth in a seductive gesture and she allows her hands to glide over her body in a sensuous way. It was then that Dante had walked in to see her. He stares at her dancing and the way she had attracted attention.
He allows her to keep dancing until the music dies down but during that time, he wasn't complaining about the view. She was an incredible dancer and with a hot body like hers, it was no incredible feat to see the men flocking to see her moves. It was as if she did possess a power, a witch's power greater than mere mortal beauty could give off. He leans back against the bar and folds his arms, allowing his eyes to wander across her gyrating movements, which accentuated her lovely curves. Remembering how she looked naked, he adjusts himself, and then turns around and orders a drink. Watching her wasn't what he wanted right now. He wanted a strong drink and let his thoughts go to Trish. Did she really go back to Mallet island? There was a great possibility of an opening to the demon world. There were little pockets of them everywhere.
Downing down the cold bitter taste of strong spirits, the music stops and there was a cheer in the crowd that sent Virginte laughing and spiraling her way through the crowd of people. They had enjoyed her little dance and were shouting for more. She shakes her head to allow the bright strands flip back and walks over to Dante. Brushing back her silver hair from her face, now full of damp perspiration, she lifts them up in a twist and holds them up with her two hands. Virginte looked brightly flushed and loved it. Her voice came out in soft gasps from the slight exertion. His mind tries not to wander how she would sound if he decides to take a few minutes of their time and go upstairs to give her a lesson in how to become devirginized. Clearing his head for a moment, he listens to her question.
"What'd you find out, Dante? Any leads?"
"Nothing significant. Why don't you and me go to the areas where these people had disappeared?"
"You think I know about it?"
"I know you do."
Pouting, she lowers her lashes and groans, "Alright. Come then."
Dante shakes his head at her constant lying. She was such a inconstant person that didn't think much of morals and their rules. What was even more interesting was her ability to scoff things off as if she didn't feel the ability to feel a bit of consciousness about the whole affair.
They had arrived at one of the places. In front of a 30m (98 ft) tall statue of Christ the Redeemer that stands with arms outstretched atop the rainforest-covered mountain of Corcovado. The air up here was strong and brisk and flows evenly to make a wave out of Virginte's hair. She stretches her arms out and looks atop the great statue and yells,
"Oh wondrous creation! What mankind can do! Isn't it magnificent?"
Dante had heard something on the way up here and he kept his ears pricked at any kind of sound. He could hear his boots make crunching noises upon the graveled ground and he tells Virginte to be quiet. The city lights beneath were vibrating full of energy and electricity, and that's when he could recognize them.
Creatures from the underworld flying towards them, as if from the black clouds they appear, several of them with bull like bodies and wings like a bat. They possess upon their head, horns that bend back and nostrils that flare out, only to emit clouds of poisoinous gases. He was ready for this. They flew at them with incredible speed. Flying in and out to attack them.
Virginte rolls out of the way and curses, quickly grabbing one of her pistols from the side of her hip and starts shooting. The creatures dodges away from the bullets and they fly closer to send their strong hind legs to kick at her but she moves away just in time and does a backward flip.
"This fucking sucks! I wanted to just relax up here and smooch with you, Dante."
"Dream on."
Was all Dante could say as two of the creatures came at him and he let loose Ebony and Ivory. The blasts took the flying monstrosities back, bullets hitting their mark and a couple start to fall. Dante then leaps up and devil triggers, flapping his wings up in the wind and swoops up to catch one of them on the way down, violently pushing the held creature in great speed against the graveled ground. A loud thud could be heard and gravel and dust make a quick uprising cloud around them.
"Alright, you ugly shits. You better fucking tell me what's up? My brother Virgil sent you here to attack us?"
They spoke in a separate language and although the creature was wounded it began to speak in that foreign tongue in which Dante understood.
Virginte on the other hand starts shooting rapid fire, round after round and screaming word by word lengthy curses in the name of the bible quotes;
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Mathew 4, baby!!" then slashes with her large knife upward to send the creature back, falling into the pitfalls from the cliff. ""All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, hallelujah!!"
Dante shakes his head at her insanity, "What the fuck are you on? You don't even worship God, you crazy bitch!"
Virginte sticks her tongue out, "God shall give His angels charge over You, lest You even dash Your foot against the stone." then scratches her silver head, "Don't know which quote was that from but hey, we're in the presence of a beautiful statue representing His glory, Dante!"
Dante resumes to talk to the wounded creature beneath him, ignoring the wierdness coming out from Virginte. He had almost forgotten her usual way of battle cries.
*******
Trish runs up to Virgil and pulls at his arm, "What the hell is going on, Virgil?"
He points over to the valley below. And Trish follows the direction of his raised arm. She looks further down to see not demons or spirits or moaning and groaning carcasses all begging to be released and brought back up. She instead sees human beings. They were crying out to get up out of their predicament and the expressons on their faces a horrifying mask of suffering. They weren't suffering really, they were in complete fear and therefore their suffering intensified despite the lack of harm being done to them.
"What's going on, Virgil?"
"What's going on, Virgil..." The silver haired man mimicks back, "Damn, I know you're smarter than a broken record, Trish."
"Shut up."
"My darling look a like mother of mine, they are my ticket out of this world."
"Seriously? Humans? How so?"
Trish wanted to slap herself for her innane questions but she was so curious and in desperate need to affirmation to all the suspicions flying in her head.This absolutely puzzled her. She waits for him to speak. Virgil turns and gives her a frank smile,
"Simple really. I didn't even think of it before. I start with Brazil, in a place where it's population of people enjoy festivities, no one is the wiser and then I continue onward towards other areas of the world. China next, then parts of Europe where the density is quite large and the tourism is great."
"I don't get it. So when you get your collection of people?"
"Ah, Trish, you want to know so much don't you?"
"Virgil, if I'm to live here for eternity I want to know."
"You weren't so demanding with Mundus. Why now? Oh, wait....don't tell me, it's my brother isn't it? He has you talking back, using your brain for once, and wait, you are now officially in possession of a heart correct?"
The blonde shakes her head at the insanity but then wasn't she used to this kind of stuff? What makes a few years with Dante so special? Can a demon or even a human change so much in such a short space of time?
Perhaps. Though the answers aren't exactly promising coming from Virgil. He was still up to something. The new hobby he has picked up doesn't precisely spell out in so many words that he is about to be the first to come back from the pits of hell. At least in his case it was different. His own brother had nailed his coffin beneath these surfaces.
"You're the key, Trish."
Then it hits her. A girl like her, sharp as a whip, guesses of Virgil's plan but had to make sure. Just for her own sanity sake. "Virgil, you are believing that Dante will come for me?"
"Isn't that what you want?"
"Yes...no....but, what does having Dante come here do with you? He had already killed you once. You can't do anything else..."
"That's right you fucking bitch! I can't do anything!!"
He nearly screams the words out. His face now a mask of contorted anger.
"If you want to know.....take a look further. I have something to show you. Watch."
In front of her, she sees a small global sphere wavering, and it had suddenly appeared so that she could peek inside. It seem like a tiny device for both of them to look in and Trish scans inside. Astonishingly, she could take in the past and beyond.
"It's a special device given to me by Virginte."
Her head jerks up. The mention of the name unfamiliar. "Who is Virginte?"
"My brother didn't tell you? I thought as much. She is as you would say, our other half, or our female self."
"Don't go yin and yang on me, Virgil. Dante would have told me."
"Why? You two were cozying it up in your little Devil Never Cry establishment, trying to find loose demons upon the world. Who do you think sends out those demons, Trish? I do. So you two could have a decent job."
Laughter came out suddenly from her, and the noise seems to vibrate around the corners of every hellish hallway there, causing several suffering spirits to pause and hover.
"Now that's fucking rich! You do this for Dante? You keep Dante in business?"
"If I didn't. What would my dear brother do? Get a nine to five boring job? Work as a surgeon? Dante likes to rip skin and tear flesh not sew it back up. Maybe he would do well as an attorney, but nah, not quite. He hates them too and would rather end up ripping their guts out in court. Physically."
"Hmmm. You have a valid point, Virgil. So what is this about me being the key?" she points at the device, "What does this do?"
"Curious Trish. Like a cat you are, seductive and feline, and with absolute pleasure you like to use your claws when nipped."
Trish looks into the device and she sees upon her shock, Dante and another woman together and they seem to be in a locked embrace. She gasps aloud and swallows, biting back the wave of intense jealousy that slowly makes it way to her heart.
"What the fuck? Is that Virginte?"
"None other. She is also the key to my plans."
"Whatever your plan is Virgil, I think you need to get me back out to the material world because I am not pleased with this."
"Tsk tsk, jealousy looks very nice on you. Nonetheless, I need Virginte to bring Dante here."
"You didn't answer my previous questions. Why would you want Dante here? To keep you company? He doesn't belong in this hell, Virgil. It's not allowed and because he was able to before was due fact that I led him to Mundus."
Virgil stares at her through half lidded eyes and their colors of ice blue challenges her. He folds his arms and walks around her, obviously liking what he saw and a noise erupts to bring both of them alert. They look up to see Gryphon flying above with wings spanning high and the electricity of the sky melts around him.
"What the fuck do you want, birdshit?"
"Boss, a message to tell you that Dante is on his way."
Virgil snaps his fingers and laughs, "Excellent. Is the female with him?"
"Yes." Gryphon sees Trish, shifts his beady eyes away, and makes no comment but flies in the direction he came from.
Trish is definitely amused. Gryphon as his servant? She shakes her head. "It's interesting to see what kind of duties you have given Gryphon these days since Mundus took most of his powers away. Yet I see it still stands. Don't tell me you gave pity to a poor bird?"
"He has his uses, Trish. He keeps things pretty much in order in the lower depths. Don't like to go down there myself. Pretty disgusting business. That deep unending tunnel where all the souls try to climb up on old decaying flesh and moldy moss and not to mention the skulls implanted between the grates of the tunnel walls. Smells too. At least the old bird can fly up and down with ease. Sometimes he gets stuck." Virgil shrugs, not caring to add if anyone cared to help Gryphon out in his predicament.
"Virgil, you can't just take innocent people from the earth like that. It's not their time. You'll eventually capture a few poor suffering souls when they meet their death but you're disrupting what is order, even among our kind. You're a fucking half breed! Is this part of your plan? So Dante can rescue them?"
"People have always been degradingly immoral, shiftless, self-gratifying, good-for-nothing shits. Besides, I'm part human right? I am immoral and I'm not losing any sleep over it."
"You don't sleep, Virgil."
"Look inside, Trish, check out what has caused you to come here. That was part of my plan and Virginte helped me greatly."
Drawing in a breath, she takes another look and then sees the woman called Virginte in an ethereal form, but now is more visible. There was a commotion that morning, her having this terrible feeling, the sounds of cursing the moment Dante wakes up and calls for his breakfast and the passage of time goes backward, whence he had gone out. There seems to be nothing wrong but a woman had approached him at the bar, it was Virginte, she could feel it yet she didn't look like her. Some kind of manipulative ruse and Trish wonders why Dante hadn't noticed.
"You are wondering why Dante didn't recognize Virginte?"
Trish winces, surprise in her face as Virgil knew exactly what she was thinking. Then the face of anger replaces her shock, "Don't pry into my mind, Virgil. You do that and I'll have to challenge your superiority."
"Be my guest, beautiful. But I'll tell you what happened. Virginte had been given a spell from her spiritual realm and it was the only spell she could bring over to attain what she needed. To get Dante and you broken up. She came to me first. Asking me to help out. I was quite amused because I'm quite jealous that she would pick Dante over me. I suppose I've been too rough for her in the past and Dante's indifference probably drove her a little wild. Little bitch."
The statesque blonde grits her teeth, "You bastard. What was the exchange? What's in it for you?"
"When Dante comes with the help of Virginte I take his place. We are similar in everything, right down to the blood type and physiology. Mentally I can cope. Our signatures are very much the same."
"Not possible, Virgil. Dante hasn't committed a thousands acts of depravity as you."
"Care to wager a bet?" His silver brow arches upward and the quizzical blue steel of his eyes bore into hers, challenging her statement.
"TRISH!"
They both turn around to see Dante coming in, blazing bullets with his Ebony and Ivory at the demons that try and bar their way. They were unsuccessful against the silverhaired couple whose battle moves and modern ingenuity at disposing their foes leave them no more enemies in their wake. The black and silver guns shine brightly in this hellish realm and now they point their barrels at Virgil and a woman with long platinum hair right behind Dante held her own weapons in hand, similar guns yet smaller to fit her slender, more feminine fingers.
"Dante, welcome back to hell."
Virgil said the words and remains rooted in his position. Trish calls out, running to Dante and she pauses momentarily to see the other female whose beauty rivaled hers.
"Don't ask, babe." was all the demon hunter said and he kept his pistols aimed at his brother. The two of them of the same height, same appearance, walk around eachother in a slow stance, eyeing one another with a menacing look that glints off the clear blue of their eyes.
"I see you've kept yourself busy with all the demon killings and abductions in Brazil, Nelo Angelo, or should I call you Virgil?"
"Oh please, we don't need to go into the formalities and all that. We've fought a hundred times before and the only time you ever won was the last time you were here. That was my own weakness, a faulting. I had let my own emotions get in the way. You are after all my brother. But then again, don't brothers kill eachother throughout the course of jealousies and coveting over one woman?"
As Virgil said those words, his eyes swiftly moves to Trish. Dante's side jaw ticked and he was about to forward lunge at his sibling but for the click of a gun at his temple stayed him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Dante. You'll just make me kill the little blonde that you both lust over."
"Virginte, what the fuck are you doing? Get that gun away from my head or you'll regret it."
There was silence in the air and the four could hear faint human cries from afar in the pits below, darkness encompassing their pitiful surroundings. Dante grates out in a harsh tone,
"Damnit, you two! You need to return the humans back to where they belong."
"I was going to, my good brother."
Virgil slyly replies and before anything could happen, Trish slams into Virginte, devil triggering quickly with yellow aura light and a swift upper kick to the other woman, sending Virginte back and the pistol in her hand flies in the air. The silver haired young woman was not in equal strength to Trish but she did have her powers. Wiping the corner of her lip with the back of her slender hand, she sneers,
"I've been meaning to kick your ass."
****
(insert cool brazilian translated poem)
To keep
To keep something is not to hide it or lock it up.
In a coffer we don't keep anything.
In a coffer we lose sight of something.
To keep something is to look at it, to gaze at it,
To eye it for admiring it, that is,
to illuminate it or to be by it illuminated.
To keep something is to watch it, that is,
to keep vigil for it, that is, lie in wait for it,
that it, to be awake for it, that is,
to exist for it or to be for it.
That's why we better keep
a flight of a bird
than a bird without flights.
That's why we write, that's why we say,
that's why we publish,
that's why we declare
and recite a poem:
To keep it:
So that it, in turn,
will keep what it keeps:
Will keep whatever
a poem keeps:
From there a poem's spirit:
For keeping
what we want to keep.
--Chico Buarque de Holanda
******
It is always warm in Rio, fair sunshine streaming through the windows of the rooftops and the nightlife is full of entertainment and music that echo through the entire city. Some may say that it is a place of dangerous temptations. We could find the sources of those words and they usually come from the most religious. The Annual Samba Parades are not only in Rio but all over the world and they invite everyone to join into the fun. In Rio the Parades are festive and held in the earlier months of the year. It was easy for an individual to get lost in the night life. Virginte goes into a club while Dante makes a visit to the local police department. She sits there, becoming shy all of a sudden, listening to the rythym of the music blaring in her ears and the crowd becomes a swirl of bodies.
"Hey baby wanna dance?"
A man voices out the question behind her and she flashes him a bright smile. Although enjoys flirting, she wanted to wait for Dante to return.
"No thank you."
It was the first time she was ever polite but she promised Dante no more trouble and for some odd reason she wanted to comply to his ridiculous demands. Like she could cause trouble. That causes a derisive unladylike snort from her.
"I think you do want to come and dance, gorgeous."
What the fuck does it have to take to get these guys realize that a no is a no? She turns around and blasts him with her icy blue eyes, her mouth in a stern line,
"I said NO. Now get the fuck away or I'll have to reconsider the fact that you are only here because I'm beautiful and I should be flattered instead of the real reason is that you're an asshole who can't take no for answer and need a fist up your nose!"
"What the fuck?"
The man shakes his head at her, calling her names under his breath and walks away.
Virginte takes a drink of the margarita and relaxes against the booth. She crosses her legs and allows herself the freedom of viewing those around her dancing and enjoying their nightlife. It didn't take long till a dance number came up that she liked very much. She decides to get up. The rythym of the music penetrating into her being and she feels a delicious wave after wave of harmonious bliss. The disco lights flashing on the dance floor, illuminating everyone's glittery shoes and the movements of their dancing. Virginte lifts her hands and arms up and snaps her fingers to the beat. Her head shaking back and forth, allowing her silver hair flow around her face and back. Some of the men had stopped dancing to watch her and note the curves of her hip to the progress of the music.
Some people had started to clap their hands, enjoying the wanton display of the young woman whose looks could turn heads and cause accidents. Her hips swaying back and forth in a seductive gesture and she allows her hands to glide over her body in a sensuous way. It was then that Dante had walked in to see her. He stares at her dancing and the way she had attracted attention.
He allows her to keep dancing until the music dies down but during that time, he wasn't complaining about the view. She was an incredible dancer and with a hot body like hers, it was no incredible feat to see the men flocking to see her moves. It was as if she did possess a power, a witch's power greater than mere mortal beauty could give off. He leans back against the bar and folds his arms, allowing his eyes to wander across her gyrating movements, which accentuated her lovely curves. Remembering how she looked naked, he adjusts himself, and then turns around and orders a drink. Watching her wasn't what he wanted right now. He wanted a strong drink and let his thoughts go to Trish. Did she really go back to Mallet island? There was a great possibility of an opening to the demon world. There were little pockets of them everywhere.
Downing down the cold bitter taste of strong spirits, the music stops and there was a cheer in the crowd that sent Virginte laughing and spiraling her way through the crowd of people. They had enjoyed her little dance and were shouting for more. She shakes her head to allow the bright strands flip back and walks over to Dante. Brushing back her silver hair from her face, now full of damp perspiration, she lifts them up in a twist and holds them up with her two hands. Virginte looked brightly flushed and loved it. Her voice came out in soft gasps from the slight exertion. His mind tries not to wander how she would sound if he decides to take a few minutes of their time and go upstairs to give her a lesson in how to become devirginized. Clearing his head for a moment, he listens to her question.
"What'd you find out, Dante? Any leads?"
"Nothing significant. Why don't you and me go to the areas where these people had disappeared?"
"You think I know about it?"
"I know you do."
Pouting, she lowers her lashes and groans, "Alright. Come then."
Dante shakes his head at her constant lying. She was such a inconstant person that didn't think much of morals and their rules. What was even more interesting was her ability to scoff things off as if she didn't feel the ability to feel a bit of consciousness about the whole affair.
They had arrived at one of the places. In front of a 30m (98 ft) tall statue of Christ the Redeemer that stands with arms outstretched atop the rainforest-covered mountain of Corcovado. The air up here was strong and brisk and flows evenly to make a wave out of Virginte's hair. She stretches her arms out and looks atop the great statue and yells,
"Oh wondrous creation! What mankind can do! Isn't it magnificent?"
Dante had heard something on the way up here and he kept his ears pricked at any kind of sound. He could hear his boots make crunching noises upon the graveled ground and he tells Virginte to be quiet. The city lights beneath were vibrating full of energy and electricity, and that's when he could recognize them.
Creatures from the underworld flying towards them, as if from the black clouds they appear, several of them with bull like bodies and wings like a bat. They possess upon their head, horns that bend back and nostrils that flare out, only to emit clouds of poisoinous gases. He was ready for this. They flew at them with incredible speed. Flying in and out to attack them.
Virginte rolls out of the way and curses, quickly grabbing one of her pistols from the side of her hip and starts shooting. The creatures dodges away from the bullets and they fly closer to send their strong hind legs to kick at her but she moves away just in time and does a backward flip.
"This fucking sucks! I wanted to just relax up here and smooch with you, Dante."
"Dream on."
Was all Dante could say as two of the creatures came at him and he let loose Ebony and Ivory. The blasts took the flying monstrosities back, bullets hitting their mark and a couple start to fall. Dante then leaps up and devil triggers, flapping his wings up in the wind and swoops up to catch one of them on the way down, violently pushing the held creature in great speed against the graveled ground. A loud thud could be heard and gravel and dust make a quick uprising cloud around them.
"Alright, you ugly shits. You better fucking tell me what's up? My brother Virgil sent you here to attack us?"
They spoke in a separate language and although the creature was wounded it began to speak in that foreign tongue in which Dante understood.
Virginte on the other hand starts shooting rapid fire, round after round and screaming word by word lengthy curses in the name of the bible quotes;
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Mathew 4, baby!!" then slashes with her large knife upward to send the creature back, falling into the pitfalls from the cliff. ""All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, hallelujah!!"
Dante shakes his head at her insanity, "What the fuck are you on? You don't even worship God, you crazy bitch!"
Virginte sticks her tongue out, "God shall give His angels charge over You, lest You even dash Your foot against the stone." then scratches her silver head, "Don't know which quote was that from but hey, we're in the presence of a beautiful statue representing His glory, Dante!"
Dante resumes to talk to the wounded creature beneath him, ignoring the wierdness coming out from Virginte. He had almost forgotten her usual way of battle cries.
*******
Trish runs up to Virgil and pulls at his arm, "What the hell is going on, Virgil?"
He points over to the valley below. And Trish follows the direction of his raised arm. She looks further down to see not demons or spirits or moaning and groaning carcasses all begging to be released and brought back up. She instead sees human beings. They were crying out to get up out of their predicament and the expressons on their faces a horrifying mask of suffering. They weren't suffering really, they were in complete fear and therefore their suffering intensified despite the lack of harm being done to them.
"What's going on, Virgil?"
"What's going on, Virgil..." The silver haired man mimicks back, "Damn, I know you're smarter than a broken record, Trish."
"Shut up."
"My darling look a like mother of mine, they are my ticket out of this world."
"Seriously? Humans? How so?"
Trish wanted to slap herself for her innane questions but she was so curious and in desperate need to affirmation to all the suspicions flying in her head.This absolutely puzzled her. She waits for him to speak. Virgil turns and gives her a frank smile,
"Simple really. I didn't even think of it before. I start with Brazil, in a place where it's population of people enjoy festivities, no one is the wiser and then I continue onward towards other areas of the world. China next, then parts of Europe where the density is quite large and the tourism is great."
"I don't get it. So when you get your collection of people?"
"Ah, Trish, you want to know so much don't you?"
"Virgil, if I'm to live here for eternity I want to know."
"You weren't so demanding with Mundus. Why now? Oh, wait....don't tell me, it's my brother isn't it? He has you talking back, using your brain for once, and wait, you are now officially in possession of a heart correct?"
The blonde shakes her head at the insanity but then wasn't she used to this kind of stuff? What makes a few years with Dante so special? Can a demon or even a human change so much in such a short space of time?
Perhaps. Though the answers aren't exactly promising coming from Virgil. He was still up to something. The new hobby he has picked up doesn't precisely spell out in so many words that he is about to be the first to come back from the pits of hell. At least in his case it was different. His own brother had nailed his coffin beneath these surfaces.
"You're the key, Trish."
Then it hits her. A girl like her, sharp as a whip, guesses of Virgil's plan but had to make sure. Just for her own sanity sake. "Virgil, you are believing that Dante will come for me?"
"Isn't that what you want?"
"Yes...no....but, what does having Dante come here do with you? He had already killed you once. You can't do anything else..."
"That's right you fucking bitch! I can't do anything!!"
He nearly screams the words out. His face now a mask of contorted anger.
"If you want to know.....take a look further. I have something to show you. Watch."
In front of her, she sees a small global sphere wavering, and it had suddenly appeared so that she could peek inside. It seem like a tiny device for both of them to look in and Trish scans inside. Astonishingly, she could take in the past and beyond.
"It's a special device given to me by Virginte."
Her head jerks up. The mention of the name unfamiliar. "Who is Virginte?"
"My brother didn't tell you? I thought as much. She is as you would say, our other half, or our female self."
"Don't go yin and yang on me, Virgil. Dante would have told me."
"Why? You two were cozying it up in your little Devil Never Cry establishment, trying to find loose demons upon the world. Who do you think sends out those demons, Trish? I do. So you two could have a decent job."
Laughter came out suddenly from her, and the noise seems to vibrate around the corners of every hellish hallway there, causing several suffering spirits to pause and hover.
"Now that's fucking rich! You do this for Dante? You keep Dante in business?"
"If I didn't. What would my dear brother do? Get a nine to five boring job? Work as a surgeon? Dante likes to rip skin and tear flesh not sew it back up. Maybe he would do well as an attorney, but nah, not quite. He hates them too and would rather end up ripping their guts out in court. Physically."
"Hmmm. You have a valid point, Virgil. So what is this about me being the key?" she points at the device, "What does this do?"
"Curious Trish. Like a cat you are, seductive and feline, and with absolute pleasure you like to use your claws when nipped."
Trish looks into the device and she sees upon her shock, Dante and another woman together and they seem to be in a locked embrace. She gasps aloud and swallows, biting back the wave of intense jealousy that slowly makes it way to her heart.
"What the fuck? Is that Virginte?"
"None other. She is also the key to my plans."
"Whatever your plan is Virgil, I think you need to get me back out to the material world because I am not pleased with this."
"Tsk tsk, jealousy looks very nice on you. Nonetheless, I need Virginte to bring Dante here."
"You didn't answer my previous questions. Why would you want Dante here? To keep you company? He doesn't belong in this hell, Virgil. It's not allowed and because he was able to before was due fact that I led him to Mundus."
Virgil stares at her through half lidded eyes and their colors of ice blue challenges her. He folds his arms and walks around her, obviously liking what he saw and a noise erupts to bring both of them alert. They look up to see Gryphon flying above with wings spanning high and the electricity of the sky melts around him.
"What the fuck do you want, birdshit?"
"Boss, a message to tell you that Dante is on his way."
Virgil snaps his fingers and laughs, "Excellent. Is the female with him?"
"Yes." Gryphon sees Trish, shifts his beady eyes away, and makes no comment but flies in the direction he came from.
Trish is definitely amused. Gryphon as his servant? She shakes her head. "It's interesting to see what kind of duties you have given Gryphon these days since Mundus took most of his powers away. Yet I see it still stands. Don't tell me you gave pity to a poor bird?"
"He has his uses, Trish. He keeps things pretty much in order in the lower depths. Don't like to go down there myself. Pretty disgusting business. That deep unending tunnel where all the souls try to climb up on old decaying flesh and moldy moss and not to mention the skulls implanted between the grates of the tunnel walls. Smells too. At least the old bird can fly up and down with ease. Sometimes he gets stuck." Virgil shrugs, not caring to add if anyone cared to help Gryphon out in his predicament.
"Virgil, you can't just take innocent people from the earth like that. It's not their time. You'll eventually capture a few poor suffering souls when they meet their death but you're disrupting what is order, even among our kind. You're a fucking half breed! Is this part of your plan? So Dante can rescue them?"
"People have always been degradingly immoral, shiftless, self-gratifying, good-for-nothing shits. Besides, I'm part human right? I am immoral and I'm not losing any sleep over it."
"You don't sleep, Virgil."
"Look inside, Trish, check out what has caused you to come here. That was part of my plan and Virginte helped me greatly."
Drawing in a breath, she takes another look and then sees the woman called Virginte in an ethereal form, but now is more visible. There was a commotion that morning, her having this terrible feeling, the sounds of cursing the moment Dante wakes up and calls for his breakfast and the passage of time goes backward, whence he had gone out. There seems to be nothing wrong but a woman had approached him at the bar, it was Virginte, she could feel it yet she didn't look like her. Some kind of manipulative ruse and Trish wonders why Dante hadn't noticed.
"You are wondering why Dante didn't recognize Virginte?"
Trish winces, surprise in her face as Virgil knew exactly what she was thinking. Then the face of anger replaces her shock, "Don't pry into my mind, Virgil. You do that and I'll have to challenge your superiority."
"Be my guest, beautiful. But I'll tell you what happened. Virginte had been given a spell from her spiritual realm and it was the only spell she could bring over to attain what she needed. To get Dante and you broken up. She came to me first. Asking me to help out. I was quite amused because I'm quite jealous that she would pick Dante over me. I suppose I've been too rough for her in the past and Dante's indifference probably drove her a little wild. Little bitch."
The statesque blonde grits her teeth, "You bastard. What was the exchange? What's in it for you?"
"When Dante comes with the help of Virginte I take his place. We are similar in everything, right down to the blood type and physiology. Mentally I can cope. Our signatures are very much the same."
"Not possible, Virgil. Dante hasn't committed a thousands acts of depravity as you."
"Care to wager a bet?" His silver brow arches upward and the quizzical blue steel of his eyes bore into hers, challenging her statement.
"TRISH!"
They both turn around to see Dante coming in, blazing bullets with his Ebony and Ivory at the demons that try and bar their way. They were unsuccessful against the silverhaired couple whose battle moves and modern ingenuity at disposing their foes leave them no more enemies in their wake. The black and silver guns shine brightly in this hellish realm and now they point their barrels at Virgil and a woman with long platinum hair right behind Dante held her own weapons in hand, similar guns yet smaller to fit her slender, more feminine fingers.
"Dante, welcome back to hell."
Virgil said the words and remains rooted in his position. Trish calls out, running to Dante and she pauses momentarily to see the other female whose beauty rivaled hers.
"Don't ask, babe." was all the demon hunter said and he kept his pistols aimed at his brother. The two of them of the same height, same appearance, walk around eachother in a slow stance, eyeing one another with a menacing look that glints off the clear blue of their eyes.
"I see you've kept yourself busy with all the demon killings and abductions in Brazil, Nelo Angelo, or should I call you Virgil?"
"Oh please, we don't need to go into the formalities and all that. We've fought a hundred times before and the only time you ever won was the last time you were here. That was my own weakness, a faulting. I had let my own emotions get in the way. You are after all my brother. But then again, don't brothers kill eachother throughout the course of jealousies and coveting over one woman?"
As Virgil said those words, his eyes swiftly moves to Trish. Dante's side jaw ticked and he was about to forward lunge at his sibling but for the click of a gun at his temple stayed him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Dante. You'll just make me kill the little blonde that you both lust over."
"Virginte, what the fuck are you doing? Get that gun away from my head or you'll regret it."
There was silence in the air and the four could hear faint human cries from afar in the pits below, darkness encompassing their pitiful surroundings. Dante grates out in a harsh tone,
"Damnit, you two! You need to return the humans back to where they belong."
"I was going to, my good brother."
Virgil slyly replies and before anything could happen, Trish slams into Virginte, devil triggering quickly with yellow aura light and a swift upper kick to the other woman, sending Virginte back and the pistol in her hand flies in the air. The silver haired young woman was not in equal strength to Trish but she did have her powers. Wiping the corner of her lip with the back of her slender hand, she sneers,
"I've been meaning to kick your ass."