I've been debating over this chapter. Didn't know what I should write down, what would happen. And then all of a sudden, it came to me. Hope that this will work. Review for me and tell me? ^_^
I should really do some Authoress' Notes, shouldn't I? Well what can I say apart from thank you everyone for all the reviews. (hugs to everyone)
Chapter 8
'You have to eat something!'
'I'm not hungry.'
'But how will you ever get your strength back if you don't eat?'
'I just really don't feel up to eating anything.'
'Dante…'
'Trish…' Dante flopped back on the pillows, looking up at her weakly. Trish sighed.
'Please try and eat something?' Dante tried to raise his head but fell back again, his eyes drooping slightly. He was panting, just from that small move. Trish sighed and then looked towards the bowl of ice-cold water. Beside it lay several damp cloths. Trish slowly dipped a cloth in, wrung it out and placed it on Dante's forehead. This earned her a yell that shook the rafters.
'ARGH! SHIT, WOMAN!' Trish giggled.
'Is that any way to talk to a lady?' Dante shuddered, but sweat ran down his face even then. Trish sighed again. She had never seen Dante in such a state. Even when he had been impaled by his sword on one occasion he had never looked as weak as he did now. It was a reminder that he was still part human; he still had weaknesses. Dante's shivering grew less and he shook his head away from the towel and snuggled down into the covers.
'Dante, you have to eat something. Please?' No reply. Trish peeled back the covers from his face and frowned as she saw that he had closed his eyes, shivering still. Tears leaked out from underneath his closed lids. Trish quickly corrected herself. No, he wasn't crying. The effort of keeping his eyes open caused them to water. She shook her head and moved him gently so then his head was resting completely on the pillow.
Dante's breathing was even and peaceful, but his face was troubled. Trish felt his forehead and sighed. Hopefully, Dante's demonic blood would start to kick in by night and they'd be able to carry on the fight. She turned to leave the room but then stopped as she heard Dante shift position on the bed. She paused for another few seconds, listening to Dante's breathing. She was about to go when she heard him whisper her name.
'What is it, Dante?' A wan smile.
'Can you stop feeding me soup? I'm not an old man with no teeth…' He tried to raise his head but fell back again. His eyes flickered slightly but then he smiled weakly at her. Trish smirked.
'The silver hair leads me to believe otherwise.' Seeing the scowl on his face, she smiled broadly and came closer. 'So…what do you want to eat then?' Dante blinked and closed his eyes as though thinking. At last he grinned. 'Anything you haven't cooked.' Trish frowned and glared at him.
'Very funny.' Dante curled up and looked at her.
'Pizza?'
'No.'
'…Chinese?' Trish narrowed her eyes, drawing out the suspense. Dante watched her steadily.
'Alright,' she at last conceded. 'Oh and Dante?'
'What.' His tone had suddenly turned cold and bitter.
'The cute act really doesn't suit you.' He scowled.
'When did I act cute?'
'With all the begging for pizza stuff.' Dante blinked. Trish realised that he hadn't replied. She smiled and ran a hand through his hair. 'Just get better. I'll order it now.' No response. Without another word, Trish left. Dante heard the door click softly shut and immediately sprang into action. He quickly turned back the covers and sat up. He froze and started shaking where he sat, panting slightly. At last, the shivering died down slightly and he felt able to move onto the next stage.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he smiled as he felt the solid wooden floor beneath his bare feet. He gritted his teeth as the wind seemed to blast against him. He then realised that there was no wind; it was just the intense cold that seemed to be pervading his senses. He held back a moan and slowly stood up. A feeling of nausea began to creep up his throat. He felt sick and dizzy. He swallowed hard, trying to fight the urge to throw up. He was aware that his legs were shaking with the effort of supporting his weight. The room seemed to swim and spin around him, and he closed his eyes, still trying to fight. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes, his vision no better and took a step forward. He promptly collapsed.
Trish slammed the door shut, hearing the thud of his body against the floor from downstairs. She sighed seeing Dante on the ground and slowly pulled him up onto his feet and tucked him back into bed. Dante slowly opened his eyes, the cold fire that normally blazed in them dimmed and dull. He stared at her, unable to recognise her. At last, he smiled and held her close.
'Mother…' he breathed out softly. Trish froze, feeling herself grow cold at the word. Dante nuzzled against her, convinced that Trish was the woman from his childhood days. Trish slowly began to relax and held him gently. At the response, Dante did something that completely took her by surprise. Crystal tears formed in his eyes and ran freely down his face.
'Mother…' he whispered again, repeating the word. 'Mother…I…I'm sorry…I-'
'Ssh…' Trish whispered softly. She started to stroke his hair soothingly.
'I…I tried to save you.'
'I know…and I love you for it…' Trish continued to keep her voice soft, trying to calm Dante, allowing him to believe that she was really his mother, returned from the past. 'Don't be sorry…it was meant to be.' This seemed to work. Dante pulled away, his lips moving but no sound issuing forth. He blinked and whimpered softly as Trish laid him back onto the pillows. Trish fought back her own tears. Never had she seen him in such a state…it was heartbreaking to watch him as he wept freely, possibly for the first time in years.
'Mother…don't leave me yet…'
'I won't…I promise.' Dante nodded slowly and then closed his eyes. Almost immediately, his breathing grew heavy.
Trish watched him for a few minutes and then left the room.
Even the strongest of men must weep.
Reiko opened his eyes to find himself in a room he didn't recognise. He blinked and sat up, only to find that bandages had been wrapped around his chest and arms, and that he was in a bed that wasn't his own. He blinked and tensed as he heard the door open. Steph slowly came in and smiled nervously at him. Reiko looked around again and then turned his attention onto her.
'Where am I?'
'In my house.'
'Why?'
'The sun burnt you as it came up.'
'Hence the bandages?'
'Hence the bandages.'
'You brought me here?'
'You know I did.' Reiko paused and closed his eyes, trying to remember. Oh yes…the sun had started to rise and he had stepped into it by mistake. Steph had pulled him up and had dragged him here. He smiled. Stephanie has basically saved his life.
'Thanks.' She smiled at the simple acknowledgement. Reiko looked away and saw the time. It was ten o' clock. 'How long have I been here?'
'Four days,' came the immediate reply. Reiko blinked. 'You can't go yet. The sun is out. I'm sorry.' It sounded as though she meant everything she had said. She really was sorry. Perhaps because she wouldn't be able to see the back of him? He found himself looking into the mirror. He didn't show up, only the blank wall behind him was visible. He slowly looked in Steph's direction.
'I scare you don't I?' Steph blushed. 'I take that as a yes. Don't worry. I told you last night that I don't kill humans. I won't hurt you.' Reiko slowly stood up and walked towards her, almost lazily. Steph blinked but stood her ground, as though in defiance of her obvious fright. Her eyes had widened slightly and she was trembling slightly. Reiko smiled thinly and tilted her head back so then her eyes stared directly into his own.
'Why did you kiss me?' he asked softly. Steph's eyes widened even more and her face flared up.
'I did not!' she squeaked. 'I just bumped you accidentally!'
'And it was just coincidence that your lips touched against mine?' She said nothing. Reiko grinned, showing his fangs unconsciously. Steph saw them and started trembling again. She was frightened, like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car. Reiko sighed and backed off. 'Forgive me, I was just teasing you.' Steph offered him a weak smile. Reiko sat down on the edge of the bed and started to unwrap the bandages from his arms, much to Stephanie's alarm.
'No don't!' The bandage fell to the ground, showing the pale cold skin of his arm. It was fully healed. Steph gaped at it. Reiko smiled.
'One of the perks of being a vampire.' Reiko started unwrapping the bandage from his chest, revealing his toned body. Steph was ashamed to find herself staring. She looked away hastily and made a great show of picking up the bandages from the floor where they had fallen. Reiko stretched out and flopped back onto the bed, closing his eyes. Steph straightened up.
'Um…what do you want to do?' Reiko smiled.
'Watch TV…go for a walk…'
'You can't walk right now. Not while the sun's up.'
'I know…but I wish I could.' Steph looked at him steadily at that point.
'You don't like being what you are?' No reply. Reiko had fallen asleep again. Steph decided that she should do the same. After all, spending several days without sleep was a particularly exhausting experience.
It was about nine o' clock at night when Reiko woke up. The first thing he was aware of was that Steph had gone to sleep beside him, and that at some point in his sleep he had wrapped his arms around her. The second thing he noticed was that someone was ringing the doorbell.
'Steph?' He nudged her gently. 'Ste-eph…' Still no answer. He paused. 'Steph!'
'Nn…' She slowly turned onto her other side, facing him and opened her eyes slightly. 'Wha-?'
'Someone's at the door.' Stephanie blinked, leapt off the bed and ran downstairs. Reiko looked around but failed to see his shirt. He sighed and followed her downstairs, hearing a raised voice and Stephanie's quieter one.
'I thought we were going to go out and have fun last night! But no! I was waiting for hours!' Stephanie lowered her eyes.
'I'm sorry, Lisa, but something came up and it just slipped my mind.' Lisa blinked and her eyes widened. Stephanie spun around to see Reiko standing there, face sombre. Steph cursed inwardly, only realising then and there that her hair was a complete mess. For that matter, so was Reiko's. She began to worry. Lisa always got the wrong idea of everything. Like now. Lisa smirked and looked at Reiko in a purely predatory way.
'Something came up, did it?' Steph scowled at her. 'No wonder why it slipped your mind.' She smirked at Reiko who simply narrowed his eyes, taking an instant dislike to her. 'Well, there's no reason why we can't all go out and get drunk and have fun tonight now, is there?' Stephanie walked upstairs miserably. Reiko looked impassively at Lisa.
'You have a poor sense of fun.' Lisa glared at him.
'Well, you'll soon realise your mistake, won't you?' she said primly. Reiko shrugged as he followed Steph upstairs, only to find that she was in her room blushing furiously as she sat cross-legged on the bed. Reiko said nothing for a while but noted down silently that Stephanie had turned her head away from him.
'She's a bit of a whore, isn't she?' This brought out a giggle.
'Reiko!' It was meant to be a reprimand, but she giggled again. Reiko frowned.
'You don't particularly enjoy her company, do you?' She shook her head without thinking. 'So why associate with her?' Steph looked sheepish but found herself explaining to him.
'At school, she was always so popular with the guys and everything. So when one day she came up to me and started talking to me I was honoured. I wanted so much to be her friend and be liked. So I hung about with her because I thought maybe her popularity will rub off on me too. I guess the habit's stuck.'
'But you're unhappy because of it.'
'How do you figure that?'
'One doesn't have to figure out anything. It's obvious. Anyway, if she's acting like that I guess the only reason she's popular is because she's a slut.' Again she laughed. 'If you were yourself a little more, you'd find you'd be more respected than her.' Steph looked at him.
'Reiko?'
'Yes?'
'Are you gay?' Reiko blinked and then shook his head, laughing.
'What makes you think that?'
'You're acting like some kind of counsellor. And you're giving me advice on how to get guys to like me.' Reiko chuckled.
'I'm talking about people in general. And you must remember that I am a vampire. As much as I hate being one, I am what I am. I've been around for a long time. I learn more stuff about human nature as the years pass.' He shrugged. 'And no. I'm not gay. Just stating facts.'
'Reiko?'
'Yes?'
'Are you mad at me? For asking?' Reiko snorted and shook his head but then stood up. 'I really don't want to go to the club.'
'So don't.'
'But she'd be pissed off. And then she's going to start spreading rumours about me.'
'You worry too much about what people think,' he said bluntly. Steph sighed again. 'Go out for yourself. Not her. Besides, she's not going to make you do anything you don't want to.'
'What makes you say that?' Reiko grinned.
'I might as well come too. Keep an eye on things.' Steph looked at him curiously but then nodded.
Lisa sailed into the club and promptly settled herself at the club. Steph stood about nervously, playing with a chain that hung around her neck. Reiko shuddered, thinking that it was a cross but then relaxed as he saw that it was a red jewel that hung from her neck.
Music pounded and smoke from cigarettes formed a kind of haze. Steph slowly inched her way to the club and sat down, listening to the music, moving her head slightly to the beat. Reiko was left standing by himself, keeping an eye on Steph and listening to Lisa as she flirted loudly and obviously, her high pitched giggling annoying him intensely. He noted down the back entrance of the club and the fire exit. He breathed out heavily and then tensed.
'Oh shit…' He looked around wildly but could see nothing, the cigarette smoke getting into his eyes, people crashing into him every so often by accident.
'Watch where you're going!' someone snapped. Reiko bared his teeth, and the man's face drained of all colour. Reiko suddenly felt an evil surge from directly behind him and turned around, pinpointing Mostro. He seemed to be focused entirely on something. Reiko followed the path he was taking through the throng of people and felt sick as he saw that he was making a bee-line for Stephanie.
At that point, the dancers seemed to pack closer together. Lisa suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started dancing in front of him.
'Come on, dance with me!' she said. Reiko blinked, seeing that she was drunk and then gasped as he heard Stephanie screaming. The crowds all started yelling and started stampeding out of the club as quickly as possible. Reiko crouched down slightly as people ran by him, crying out with sudden fear. Rumours were rampant as people started talking about shootings and stabbings. Reiko started pushing people out of the way as he charged towards her.
'Steph!' he yelled, bulling through the crowds. He rushed at Mostro and knocked him away from Stephanie, who was bleeding from her arm. She looked terrified and could only stand in one place as Reiko tried to battle with the demon. Mostro soon stood up, hissed and joined the group of people who were running out of the club. Reiko grabbed Steph's hand and dragged her in the opposite direction, towards the fire exit.
Outside, it was cold, and a wind had picked up. Steph started shivering and then looked into Reiko's eyes, fear showing only too clearly in her blue eyes. Reiko held her softly by the shoulders.
'Who was that guy?' she whimpered. Reiko held her close, hugging her protectively.
'His name is Mostro. He's a being of immense evil.'
'But…what does he want with me?'
'I don't know. I just don't know.' Steph started crying. Reiko stroked her back soothingly, trying to calm her. It would be suicide to return back to her house. She had to be kept safe, where she'd be protective. A sudden idea entered his mind.
'Come on, follow me.'
'W-where are we going?'
'We're going to Devil May Cry.'