Yeah so here's the first chap...hm i don't really have anything else to say except remember to review.
And as always,
Enjoy
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Awake & Dead
Chapter 1: Laughter in the Darkness
"Come one, come all-to the spectacle of all spectacles. Come be amazed by the big top-the clowns-the trapeze. Don't miss out on the final show before we take to the road again. Get your popcorn. Get your treats. Make sure you have your tickets! Tonight's show promises to be the most exhilarating. Come one, come all. The big top is waiting. Don't miss out!"
'Yeah? Just watch me,' thought Dante as he stood beside Trish in a line of excited people waiting to be admitted into the large, red and white striped tent that housed the circus' main attraction. He tried to drown out the sound of the man shouting through the megaphone a short ways away, but he quickly found that the rest of the noise around him was equally as irritating. He could hear the bangs and pops from the various game stands, the annoying jingle of the carousel music and the laughs, cheers and normal banter of the crowd milling about the fair grounds.
He didn't want to be at the circus. He didn't know why Trish had even suggested it. It wasn't there style. Demon hunting was their style-not standing in a line to see a bunch of clowns fall over each other or get hit in the face with pies. The circus was definitely not Dante's idea of a good time.
"Explain to me, again, why we're here," he asked grumpily.
Trish stopped watching a group of children and turned her smile on him, "Because we're here to have a good time and because I've never been to the circus before, have you?"
"No."
"Well there you go. It's something new and different."
Dante scowled. "I don't do new and different."
Trish shrugged, "Well at least it's a break from devil hunting."
"Who said I needed a break? I like wasting devils."
"I know you do," Trish sighed, "And I do to. I just needed a change of scenery."
"...And you chose the circus."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing...It's just that if you wanted to do something other than hunt, why didn't you choose dinner and a movie? That's what normal couples do. The circus is for teenagers and parents trying to amuse their kids-We don't have any kids and we're not teenagers."
"You could have fooled me," said Trish evenly, looking away from Dante. "The way you're acting right now, you're worse than a child. I can't believe you're taking a tantrum over spending a few measly hours at the circus."
Dante folded his arms. "I'm not taking a tantrum-"
"No? Well you're certainly being very immature," Trish said, watching a couple trying to control their bouncing children at the head of the line, "I just thought this would be fun for us both-but I obviously made a big mistake. All you've done since we got here is sulk. You haven't made any effort to enjoy yourself at all."
Dante frowned. "That's not true."
"Right," mumbled Trish, "You've just been a ball of sunshine the whole time."
"Well what the hell, Trish?" Dante said with rising anger, "The circus isn't my thing-ok. I can't force myself to have a good time."
"Then pretend, Dante," said Trish, exasperated. "Smile just to humor me. I don't care what it takes. Just be pleasant from now on, Ok?-because I've had enough. You don't want to see the show? Fine. Leave. Go wander around for half and hour. Wait in the car. Do whatever the hell you want. I'll watch the show by myself if I have to but I'm not going to listen to any more complaining. Alright?" She held Dante steadily in her gaze, "Alright?"
"...yeah," Dante nodded coldly,
"Good," Trish murmured, turning back to watch the children on the carousel.
Dante followed her gaze, "What's with all the kids anyway?"
"What do you mean, what's with all the kids?" Trish asked shortly, "They're here to enjoy themselves. According to you, that's what the circus is for."
"No," said Dante, "I mean, why do you keep watching them? I've noticed you doing that since we got here."
Trish went quiet.
"Trish-"
"Come one, come all!!! Show your tickets and find your seats. The show is about to begin. Come..."
"Fuck," Dante glared at the man with the megaphone as the line of people moved forward.
Trish turned to him. "Here," she said, handing him a ticket, "In case you grow up."
"Trish-" Dante began but the blond woman had already skipped the line and disappeared through the opening of the tent.
He watched her go and then looked down at the ticket in his hand. He didn't want to see the show, but he also didn't want to sit alone in the parking lot, moping pathetically, while everyone else was either at the show or having fun.
Breathing gruffly, he stomped off towards the tent.
"Better hurry or you'll miss the show," the man called amusedly over the megaphone.
Dante turned to him, eyes flashing. "Miss this," he growled, leveling the guy with his fist and almost ramming the megaphone down his throat.
A few onlookers gaped in horror while others, heading towards the final show made a hasty retreat away from the main tent, dragging their protesting children with them towards the parking lot.
Dante stood and smiled, regaining his composure. He didn't care what people thought or who he had scared away.
He reached the tent entrance and stopped, feeling a pair of eyes on him. He twisted his head around and saw a gypsy woman watching him from the dark doorway of her tent.
"What?" he asked curtly.
The woman shook her head slowly.
Dante looked back the man he had had just incapacitated. "He'll live," he said.
"It is not that," the woman spoke in a thick accent, "I sense great evil surrounding you."
Dante smirked. "Tell me something I don't know, lady." His eyes glinted with a demonic light, "I'm half devil."
"No..." Again the fortune teller shook her head. "It is more than that. You alone are not the evil I sense, and I fear that great sorrow will soon befall you."
"Oh yeah?" Dante strode up to her stall, "And did your crystal ball tell you all that."
"I do not need a crystal ball to see the danger you bring."
"Right," Dante huffed, pulling out his wallet, "And how much do I owe you for that little bit of information?"
"I do not wish for payment," the woman said calmly, "I merely wish to warn the son of Sparda of the encroaching darkness."
"Son of Sparda?" Dante said, startled, "You know who I am?"
"Yes," the woman nodded, "Beware, Dante, for your life will no longer be the same after tonight."
A loud shot fired in the big tent as the show began. Dante looked around and when he turned back to the gypsy's stall, she had disappeared.
"Crazy broad," he mumbled and jogged off to the tent, quickly handing over his ticket to the person at the entrance.
::::::::::::::::
The doors of the tent were closed behind him and Dante was left stumbling around in the unlit path between the sets of bleachers. He had no idea where Trish was sitting and there was no way of telling where she had gone because only the perches where the acrobats were performing were lit.
The crowd was in almost quiet amazement as the figures on the trapeze swung and twisted their supple bodies through the air for everyone's enjoyment. Occasionally a resounding cheer would break out, but Dante couldn't tell from the noise whether Trish was a part of it.
Dante was still tripping over people in his search when the acrobats finished and the large spotlight came down on the center of the arena. A loud voice welcomed everyone once again to the final show and asked the crowd for applause for the trapeze artists. Afterwards, the speaker introduced the clowns who ambled around the arena, performing various tricks and stunts to elicit laughter from the audience. Dante watched a bit but quickly grew tired of their antics.
As he looked on he could also feel his breath constricting in his chest when he glanced over at the clown wearing a large tattered green jacket and skull-like make-up that stood out from the bright and humorous attire of the other performers.
The ghostly clown walked up to the center of the ring and just stood there, waiting beside the MC. His sunken eyes seemed to be combing the crowd, and for an instant, as they rested on Dante, the devil hunter felt a strong shiver run up his spine.
The clown continued to gaze at the crowd but his mouth curled up at the corners in a satisfied smirk. Dante looked wearily back, hoping to catch something in his face but he had already turned towards the MC and nodded.
The MC lifted his microphone to his lips. "Now ladies and gentle...Jester would like to perform a stunt to test the courage of one of you," he said, motioning to the dark clown beside him. "We will now ask for a volunteer from the crowd. Someone brave, who is not afraid to stare death in the face."
The crowd rose up in cheers. People stood and hands were raised and frantically waved to get the MC's attention, but Dante already knew who had been chosen and before he could move, he was blinded by an intense spotlight beaming over him.
"Well I think we have a volunteer," cried the MC, drawing applause from the crowd.
Dante stood helplessly on the stairs, feeling completely exposed but the light and eager faces watching him. He wondered briefly if he could make a run for the exit, but quickly abandoned the thought as he remembered that Trish was in the audience somewhere. He didn't want her thinking that he was immature and spineless all in the same day.
"Come now," called the MC, smiling from the arena, "I think he needs some encouragement!" His hand waved up and down at the crowd, making the clapping and cheering rise until it sounded like a long roll of thunder.
Dante closed his eyes and breathed deeply as he took the first step towards the sandy arena. He was having difficulty controlling his growing anxiety. His heart was beating quicker and his hands were tingling with every step that brought him closer to the ring. He hoped that it was just stage fright and not the fact that Jester seemed to be oozing evil through his pores.
Dante knew that Jester was watching him-of course everyone was-but the dark clown was the only one Dante was concerned with. He came to the bottom of the stairs and walked towards the MC, seeing Jester's lips spread into a disconcerting smile that he hoped to forget.
'Fuck. Get a grip, Dante,' he told himself, trying to calm his nerves a little. 'Stop letting him affect you. He's just a clown.'
He came up to the center of the ring and stopped a few feet from Jester and the MC.
'Just a clown,' Dante thought. 'Right-and nobody's afraid of clowns...'
"You made it!" shouted the MC, "Did you have a pleasant trip? I hope traveling wasn't too hard on you."
Dante smiled indulgingly at the attempt on humor and took the opportunity to scan the crowd. He still couldn't see Trish but he knew she was definitely out there.
"And what is your name, brave volunteer?" asked the MC when the laughter had died down.
"Dante," the devil hunter mumbled into the microphone held out to him. He noticed a twinkle come into Jester's eye as he mentioned his name.
"DANTE!" cried the MC. The crowd broke out in deafening cheers and applause. "Well Dante, your task is very simple," the MC continued, placing his hand on the white-haired man's shoulder, "All you have to do is stand in one place while Jester and his companions juggle various blades and flaming objects around you. And you must, of course, stay deathly still otherwise you may end up that way permanently," the MC said in a light chuckle that hushed the crowd. They waited, expecting Dante to back out.
Dante clenched a fist, looking darkly in Jester's direction. "Alright," he said into the microphone, "I can do that."
While the audience whistled and clapped their approval, Dante was told to stand on an X previously outlined in the sand. Two clowns positioned themselves in front and behind him, each holding three long curved sword. Dante could tell by the way the light glinted off them that they were real and very sharp.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Jester and the MC watching him with interest.
The MC held up a hand to silence the crowd. "This stunt requires precision and concentration. Any noise could result in the demise of our brave young friend, so I must ask the audience to remain as quiet as possible throughout the spectacle and to keep all cheers and applause until after Dante survives." He bowed and stepped out of the spotlight to signal Jester and the clowns to begin.
The first blade whisked by Dante's head. He felt a cool breeze rustle his hair as the swords continued to switch hands, passing back and forth to each clown. Jester added a new blade every once in a while until there were twelve lethally sharpened blades skimming through the air, close to Dante's body.
The silver hunter remained relaxed and kept his breathing steady, trusting fully in the entertainers' juggling skills. He'd been closer to death in battles and was not going to let swords whizzing by his face bother him now. The only trouble was avoiding a glance at Jester. Dante wanted to keep an eye on him but knew that if he looked at the clown's face, his calm would shatter in an instant.
Five minutes into the juggling act, two more clowns were added on either side of Dante. The one on the left, he knew without having to look was Jester. He could tell by the way the air changed around him. Dante suddenly got short of breath and felt like a frigid hand was stroking the back of his neck and moving down his spine. He nearly shivered but held his composure. He didn't want to move a muscle because of all the swords rushing by.
The new arrivals grasped three flaming torches each and immediately began tossing them to one another the moment they stepped into place and got them into rhythm over their heads.
The flames danced through the air and expertly crossed the paths of the dozen swords. Dante couldn't help holding his breath as the clowns gradually began to move out of position and come around him in a circle. He knew that Jester would eventually make his way to face him and he was preparing himself to look into the clown's soulless eyes.
The sand crunched with every calculated step the performers took. Dante could hear Jester's footfalls edging ever closer. He closed his eyes, telling his body to stay cool. His pulse was getting rapid and he needed to calm down. He just couldn't explain why the clown was having such an effect on him. He'd only been this scared once in his life and it was so long ago. He had been just a kid, but the fear was the same.
He was chilled to the bone and weak in the knees. It took all his strength to keep from collapsing or blacking out. He kept his teeth ground together to stop them from chattering and he balled his shaking hands into fists.
All Dante needed now was the insidious laughter he had etched in his mind and it would be all over for him.
He opened his eyes to the sounds of demonic laughter.
Bloody Mari stood before him; its body drooped to one side and its spindly arms madly flinging swords through the air past him. Dante's pale eyes widened in surprise and he stumbled back a step, feeling a blade clip him across the cheek. The warm blood rose and trickled down his face, slowly edging along his neck.
He froze in place before another sword could slice him, but unfortunately had already stepping into the path of the fiery torches. Flames shot out from either side of him, directed by a pair of Fetishes and as he darted out of the way, a blade caught him across the side and a blast of fire across his chest.
He fell to his knees, gasping and holding his lacerated side. His fingers touched Ebony's smooth handle beneath his coat and before he knew it, his hands were closing around both handguns.
In an instant, he stood and had his weapons aimed at the demons in front and to his side.
"DANTE!!!!!!" shrieked someone from the crowd.
The lights in the tent came on and Dante watched the clowns drop their swords and torches with fear and scramble away as fast as they could.
The horror stricken crowd began racing towards the exit in a stampede. Trish ran down from the stands and leapt into the arena.
"Put them away," she ordered loudly, meeting Dante in the center of the ring, but before the white-haired hunter could react to her command; she grabbed his arm and dragged him hastily towards the performers' exit of the tent to avoid the terrified crowd. They ran through the deserted back stage and exited the tent.
Trish pulled Dante behind an empty cotton candy stand.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" she hissed the moment they were alone, "What were you thinking? Why did you bring them here?"
Dante looked hazily down at Ebony and Ivory. He couldn't speak. He had no idea what was going on.
Trish slapped him.
"Are you insane?" she yelled, "What were you thinking? There were children in there, Dante-Children. Do you hate the circus so much that you'd be willing endanger them just to waste a few harmless entertainers?"
Dante looked up and saw tears in the blond woman's eyes. "Trish, I..."
He didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure if he could tell Trish what had happened-what he thought he'd seen. He didn't want to think about it again.
"I...don't know what happened"
Trish bit her lip. "Wonderful," she almost sobbed, "Innocent children could have been killed-But that's okay because you don't know what happened."
Dante snarled. "What are you talking about? I wasn't trying to kill any clowns. They were demons!"
Trish's eyes widened in shock, "Oh my God," she said unbelievingly, "You've completely lost your mind."
"No-" Dante started, "They were demons...two marionettes and two fetishes. I know what I saw. I can't explain it. But they were there-Jester-"
"Oh what?" Trish said, frustrated, "Now you're going to tell me that that harmless looking clown was out to get you?"
"Harmless?" Dante cried, "Are you blind? Did you not see his face? It was a skull!"
"You really have gone insane, haven't you?" Trish whispered. "You honestly think that the clown with the big red wig and bright red nose tried to kill you."
Dante shook his head. "He wasn't wearing a bright red anything. He was all faded. He looked like the walking dead."
"He was wearing a vibrant green jacket and orange pants, Dante, and as far as I could tell, he was nowhere near evil looking. I don't know what you saw, but you're obviously not on the same planet as the rest of us."
"But-"
Trish reached into Dante's pocket and lifted out his keys. "I'm taking the car," she said, walking away.
Dante began to follow.
"Alone," Trish said over her shoulder.
Dante stopped, "What do I do?"
"Walk."
"The city's miles away!"
"I know," Trish remarked, "It should give you plenty of time to regain some sense."
"But Trish-"
"Look," Trish whirled around. Tears streaked down her cheeks but she was suddenly very serious. "I don't know what's up with you today, but you're really scaring me and I'm tired of trying to figure you out."
"Me?" Dante said incredulously, "What about you? I'm not the only one acting weird today. You never did tell me what all the kid stalking was about."
Trish sighed. "If you haven't figured it out by now, Dante, I guess it's just too bad for you. It'll be obvious in a while. But right now, though, I'm just not sure I'm ready to tell you. I don't need you flipping out on me anymore tonight."
"Trish, I won't-"
The blond woman reached the parking lot and walked towards Dante's car, feeling the hunter's eyes on her all the way. She swung open the door to the driver's seat and got behind the wheel.
"I'll see you at home," she said quietly and started the car.
Dante watched her drive out of the deserted parking lot and head down the road. When she was out of sight, he angrily launched a fist into the nearby support of a game stand and knocked it to the ground.
"FUCK!"
Now Trish not only thought he was immature, but also completely off his rocker and she was keeping a secret from him that he was already supposed to have figured out.
"Damn it!" Dante kicked the pile of wood and material at his feet, "How can things get any worse?"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Famous last words, huh....
Anyway, that's it for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it.
PLEASE please please REVIEW.
I really wanna know if this is interesting enough to continue.
