The Houseplant Tango

Chapter 3: Loneliness Lines the Silver Clouds

An hour after Dante had left, the phone rang. Trish answered it carefully, only to discover it was her boyfriend calling from his hotel.

"Yeah, yeah," Trish sighed into the receiver, "I get it. I will, okay? No, I was out shopping. With who? With no one, why? So you don't trust me? Fine, I said I would. Okay! Bye, you too."

She turned and stared at the houseplant sitting ominously on the counter as she hung up the phone, "You'll keep my secret, won't you?" She smoothed out one of the shriveled leaves affectionately, as if petting an animal. A smile crossed her face, "I'm an idiot, huh?" No answer was received, and the plant seemed to stare at her mutely.

Trish placed the houseplant back on the shelf where it belonged and stared out a window for a few minutes as rain began to fall across the darkening horizon, "If he finds out I even spoke to his brother, he'd murder me… but… I don't know, what do you think? Am I going crazy?" The houseplant was silent, and Trish laughed at herself, "Yeah, I guess I am… talking to Vergil's plant…" Her smile faded and she sat on the couch, hugging her knees and thinking solemnly.

A few minutes later, she stood and grabbed her jacket, throwing it over her shoulders and new tank top, and ran out the door and down the hall.

Dante was outside the building, waiting for something to happen. He didn't know what had kept him there, but he had gotten out of the revolving doors and into the rain outside the tall apartment building and had stopped. He had been standing there for nearly an hour and a half, and just as he was about to go back to his apartment, someone ran out of the doors and into him. They hit the ground and lied there.

"Whoa! You okay?" Dante reached down to help them up.

"At least I didn't have a latte with me this time," Trish laughed and took his hand, "It's the second time today I've ran into you. But this time I'm glad I did. Say, want to go get some coffee or something?"

"Haven't we established you don't have good luck with coffee?" Dante pulled her up and smiled. She stared at him without saying anything, and his smile faded.

Trish shook her head and laughed quietly, "Yeah, I guess we did… well… want some coffee anyway? I could use some, I hate sleeping at night anyhow."

His smile returned, "Sure. You pick the place."

Trish nodded and began walking quickly across the street, Dante trailing behind.

He then had a thought and ran next to her, taking her hand in his. She turned her head in surprise, but he only smiled.

In a few moments they reached the coffee shop where she had been with Vergil earlier in the day, "Have you ever been here before?" Trish asked Dante skeptically.

"Nah, I'm not one for expensive coffee shops," Dante shook his head as they made their way up to the counter.

"But you're one for splendid pizza restaurants?" Trish tilted her head to the side and giggled, but immediately became quiet when Dante didn't laugh as well, "Sorry."

They ordered their coffee and sat down at a small table by a window. Dante shifted his feet uncomfortably and stared at the steam rising from his drink. Trish also stared at her drink grimly, wondering whether or not she had made such a good decision.

She was just about to break the silence when a familiar voice rang out from across the room, "Trish, is that you?"

Trish recognized it immediately and a twang of fear rippled through her body. It was one of Vergil's closest assistants who would be leaving the next day to join him at his work site.

"Who is it?" Dante asked in concern when Trish didn't answer the man.

Trish shook her head, "No- Oh no… I'm dead…" She buried her head in her hands.

The man came up beside the table, his eyes studying Dante peculiarly. There was a large scar on one side of his face that seemed to sway and move. He was dressed in a very plain suit and his bald head reflected the light fixture on the ceiling, "Trish, why wouldn't you answer me?"

Trish looked up, her face smooth and tranquil. She smiled at the man and stood slowly, easing between him and Dante, "I didn't recognize you, Arkham," she turned to Dante, "Please excuse me for a moment."

Arkham and Trish walked outside, leaving Dante sitting uncomfortably in the fancy coffee shop alone. He decided to stare out the window at them as they talked. Trish kept stealing uneasy glances towards him while her mysterious acquaintance did the same.

"What are you doing here with his brother?" Arkham tried to keep from yelling, grabbing his cell phone from his pocket, "You had better give me a good reason, or I'll call Vergil and tell him what is going on. He'll give me permission to kill you, I'm sure."

Trish backed against the wall, her head swimming with possible lies he would believe, "No! No, you mustn't tell Vergil. That will ruin the surprise, won't it?"

Arkham raised his eyebrow in question, "Ruin what surprise?"

"Dante's death… I… am going to kill Dante as a birthday present for Vergil. I know how much it weighs on his mind knowing his brother is still alive. I want to surprise him. Oh Arkham, please promise me you won't tell him?"

He stared at her for a few moments and then nodded, "He's to be dead. And soon. I'll be seeing you in a short while, my dear. You have such a good idea, let's hope you don't do something foolish and ruin it."

Arkham left without his order and Trish walked slowly back inside, wondering how she had managed to persuade him as easily as she had. Suddenly a thought crossed her mind. He's going to tell Vergil… and let him deal with me as he wishes, she thought, and grew cold.

"Hey, you okay?" Dante asked, walking up to her with her drink.

She jumped and looked up at him, "I'm fine." She took her coffee and looked out the glass door, "What do you say we go for a walk? You can show me where you live."

Dante nodded and they headed out. The rain had stopped, but threatened to resume.

"Who was he?" Dante asked as they strolled along. A police siren sounded in the distance, but they ignored it.

Trish looked at him with fear in her eyes. The same evil was in Dante that was in Vergil. When she looked into his eyes she could see it there, fainter and different than his brother's, but there all the same, "Arkham. My boyfriend's work colleague. He wanted to know who you were."

"And what did ya tell him?" Dante asked with a grin, "Did you tell him I'm your new boyfriend?"
Trish shook her head, "No, I didn't. I… I told him I was planning to kill you."

"What?" Dante asked in surprise, "Why?"

"Because my boyfriend is …your… twin brother," Trish said slowly and then looked at the ground, waiting for whatever Dante would say.

Dante froze, "My… Vergil?"

"Yes," Trish nodded sadly, "Don't get me wrong- I'm not going to actually kill you."

"Vergil is dating you?" Dante let out a laugh, "Whatever! He wouldn't date a human! Don't be stupid! … Unless you …aren't a human."

Trish emitted a sigh and looked at him sorrowfully. Rain began to fall slightly and lightning flashed against the sky, "No. I'm a demon."

Dante's eyes blazed as thunder rolled through the clouds but then diminished and he smiled. Trish sensed the rise and fall of anger in his mind and she leaned against the tall building they were standing beside.

"Are you angry with me?" Trish asked, feeling quite dumb after the words left her mouth.

Dante shrugged, "Nah, why would I be? I like you, and I figure Vergil probably doesn't… besides, you could do a lot better than that loser."

"Meaning you?" Trish laughed.

"Sure, why not?" Dante grinned, "Unless of course you don't like me."

Trish watched as the rain fell into puddles along the side of the street, "No, I like you a lot… a whole lot."

Dante leaned forward and kissed her.