A/N: This chapter is 3rd pov, due to the action scenes: Enjoy!
Red Petals from the Night Sky
Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. - The Bible : 1 Corinthians
Vergil's moves were rapid, his grip tight on the samurai sword and with a forward movement, closing the distance between himself and the centaurs. Mary could do nothing more but watch helplessly as the demon slashed away, taking an arm off one half man. Then another, and another, all the while, chaos ensued. The hooves lifted in the air, smoke rising and swirling around the commotion. Another centaur from behind Vergil had turned around and sent Sparda's spawn off the ground with two round kicks. That gave him a slight opening; it brought his enemies closer to him; they greedily wanted to destroy this usurper.
The shouts from the half beasts were crying for blood; and, Vergil took no time as he went flying backward, whipping through the air, landing precisely on his back. Taking the momentum to roll backwards, he immediately got to his feet in one fluid motion. The glinting blade in his hand took another forward swipe and his opponent reigned back; their legs lifted in the air as a warning; they commenced another frontal attack on him. Before the deadly hooves could make contact with their enemy, Vergil rolled over, and connected with the large flank of a fallen centaur - their arms and one leg hacked off.
Lady Mary watched almost spellbound as he used his incredible skills to leap backward away from the attacking centaurs. She wanted to help; however, that wasn't possible with all the dust and bodies kicking around; she would have to just throw something at the centaurs, but again, an impossibility as she didn't have any human or non human weapons to control any of the beasts. Her muscles tensed as she watched with bated breath at the speed and talent he was able to use against a group of centaurs, which were about a dozen of them if she counted. An arrow spun it's way towards her, hitting the ground by her feet; she side stepped, avoiding the mark and placed a safe distance between herself and the group. The thoughts that ran in her mind were confusion and fear for if he could defeat them in such a short time, then how is she, a mere mortal woman able to take him down? If indeed that was the plan…..
From the corner of her eye, a centaur away from the group started at her, and she readied herself for the attack, facing him. Quickly sidestepping with a backward bounce and producing a double barreled shot-gun. She pulled at it as the charging centaur came at her. The impact of the shot sent her reeling back towards the edge of the cliff and while some of the bullets had hit the centaur, most of it disappeared into the background of stars. The horses hooves came on her before she could move, imprisoning her, her body held there as the centaur above laughed and kicked away the offending shotgun from her hands.
She responded quickly, her mind swift with another blade in her hand, and struck the centaurs hind legs, producing a cry from him. He withdrew and as she allowed herself to get up, the feeling of slipping off was painfully close as small rubble of rocks fell downward, creating an echo as they went splashing at the depths below. Turning her head, she couldn't believe her predicament and wouldn't allow herself to fall again. Giving herself a quick glance at the Sparda half-demon, he had already fallen most of the centaurs and was about to use his blade for final swings at the remaining three.
Vergil's sword spun in butterfly movements and had lifted himself off the ground, high above the centaurs and his blade sparkled against the stars reflection. Upon landing, he had fallen on the back of the bearded centaur, now partly bloodied from the battle. Vergil's arm came around his neck while the centaur tried to pull him off with a back kick of his powerful legs and pull the offending demon with his arms. The silver haired man used his strong legs to flank the horse and with his other arm brought the sword against his neck, cutting a little flesh.
Vergil gritted his teeth, his face now against the other centaur as he pulled him up, "If you wish your death, I'll gladly give it to you."
Mary stood up from her corner and shouted, "NO! CEASE!"
The commotion had stopped, the half horses were about to throw long sharp poles at the demon, which sat rigid upon their leaders flank. They all looked at her.
Resolve overtook her and she held a crossbow pointed at the demon, "Let him go! I think we've had enough violence don't you all agree?" Her blue and violet eyes grazed over at the centaurs, "Look at your comrades, you proud half breeds, they've all fallen and do you want to die so easily!"
Vergil held the bearded centaur tight, his arm around him, nearly choking the beast. His silvery blue eyes alight with rage and amusement at the young human female though his voice laconic and smooth "Looks like the little Lady wants the remaining few of you to live out your miserable lives after all. Should I comply with her wishes or write loving words on your epitaph?"
The centaur beneath trotted violently, but his choked voice stilled his comrades, "We never back down, no matter our opponent!"
Mary's eyes were wide with surprise and with swift speed, raised the arrow up in the sky, and released a bow that flew straight into the depths of the night sky. Then she brought them back at the centaurs, her voice wavered on a shaky brave front, "Cease this! Why do you want to attack us! If it's me you're after, then what is your purpose! Speak or I shall bring this poisoned arrow through your heart. And trust me; you won't die a merciful death."
Vergil grinned up at the female, "Demons certainly aren't as generous as you, dear lady. Still, I'm feeling very generous today and the thought of this creatures slow death would be better than the end point of my sword."
The remaining centaurs grumbled and chorused between them, "Let us leave here and take our dead companions a place to rest so we can re-live another time…..come, Roland, do not be stubborn this time….we do not need the girl…"
After what seemed an eternity, the centaur beneath Vergil stopped his violent movements and whined down to a slow trot and complied, "Just this time, we will back down…." His dark eyes took on a less violent hue, giving his assent to the young woman as he nodded, "We shall not bother you again…."
The demon jumped off his back with one quick side leap, landing elegantly on his feet.
They had left, taking what little they could of their fallen comrades and Vergil turned to Mary, his eyes turned a soft steel blue, "What a choice you've given them. It's too late for the others though. So tell me, why did you decide to be so generous?"
Before she could answer, the breeze picked up and instead of cinnamon Mary had expected, the scent of roses were everywhere. She lifted her head and a rain of red petals fell around them in a gentle caress. The half demon's eyes narrowed, suspicion in his boyish features, "Roses? Was this your idea of sending the arrow in the sky?"
Mary's dark lashes lifted, her blue and violet eyes were reflecting her soul to him, "I didn't know. I wasn't sure….I thought that if I could send a poison arrow in the sky, that I would make something come down to stop everyone if they didn't comply." She walked slowly, the scent of roses overwhelming her and her booted heels treaded softly on the crushed petals. Her arms reached out, taking some of the petals in her open palms.
Vergil steadily watched her, noted the soft reaction of her expression, the innocence of her smile as she stared at the open sky with a sense of wonderment and awe. She breathed a sigh, "Vergil, you did not tell me about the scent…you were about to….the cinnamon. Now, roses…."
His gaze scanned the sky for a moment then back at the girl, his body relaxed but his fist clenched. The feeling he felt was an alien thing. Vergil reminded himself that he didn't want to feel anything….not for her, not for anything….but her face, alight with a child's mystery and purity made him slowly soften despite himself. He could hardly remember his own beloved mother and the amulet he kept inside his shirt. Now it seemed to him that it was pulsating with a kind of magic of it's own and though he had softened, his response, however, was as cold as ever,
"Don't you know anything? Cinnamon has powerful antiseptics, capable of killing bacteria, fungi and viruses, which for me are pretty much null…,.but for you, a mere human…." He stopped himself and the need to kick himself for his rudeness multiplied as her innocent expression changed, anger replacing them.
Vergil groaned, running a hand through his silver locks, "Listen, your ability in this realm has surpassed more than I had hoped, and…..you have just one more step to take me over….to finally release me……"
His hand held out to hers…..
She looked at him strangely, "Wha-?"
Her body seemed to move of its own accord. The scent of roses all around them, as the petals fell from the sky….her mind screamed out, He's a demon, don't trust him…..but instinct told her something else.
