Back with another update for you freaks. See how wonderful I am? …Ok. Maybe not. But you guys rule. I love reading your reviews. And anybody who's asked me to review for them, don't worry. I didn't forget about you. I will get around to reading your fics. Just gotta scrounge up some time.

And just a quick note to all you fellow Trish-haters…and you other folk..:

Trish will not be making another appearance in this fic. The only reason she was even brought in for the phone conversation was because I got a review telling me that it was strange Trish wasn't in the fic and that I didn't explain her whereabouts.

And now I have. She's somewhere, so forget about her.

She won't be coming back, and if she does, you can bet your ass she's gonna die. It's a tradition I take great pride in keeping.

Also there will be NO ROMANCE, for those of you who were afraid it might happen. I hate writing it, hate reading it, most definitely in DMC fics. This is ass kicking all the way.

So in the words of Dante: "Let's ROCK. Baby…"

Enjoy the next chapter

One Will Fall

Chapter 7: Obey

Vergil groaned loudly as he awoke, feeling icy water drip onto his face from the ceiling. His body felt cold and numb all over and he shivered violently. More than actually feeling it, he heard the gurgle of water move around him. The frigid pool of water he lay in was shallow, barely rising a few inches up his body, but it was enough to freeze him to the core and cause pins and needles all throughout his limbs, even with the smallest twitch of his fingers. He grimaced and coughed, feeling the touch of the tiny knives all over, and he shivered again, more for effect than anything else because he was almost beyond the point of feeling cold and he hardly felt attached to his body. He would have assumed he no longer had one if it weren't for the constant, aching reminder of his prickling skin every time he dared to move.

When his eyes finally flickered open, he saw exactly what he'd seen behind his eyelids—absolutely nothing. Whatever room he was in was pitch black, and he could only assume that he was still lying in the cell he had been chained in before.

"Sleep well, Pet?" Maj's silky voice drifted towards him over the water and he growled inwardly and shut his eyes again. "Do not pretend to sleep. I know that you are awake," the goddess said sharply, annoyed that Vergil was going to make it a repeat of their last conversation.

The water rustled by the half-demon's ears as Maj approached. He kept his eyes closed, hoping to will her away with a strong enough thought.

"Open your eyes NOW, Nelo Angelo. I will not be ignored," the goddess growled as she hovered over Vergil's prostrate body. Despite himself, Vergil lifted his eyelids and had to squint immediately as the bright light surrounding the goddess blinded him. He growled at her, but it came out as more of a feeble rasp. His voice was nearly gone.

Maj smiled. "Good boy. You are beginning to obey," she said sweetly, floating down to rest above the water at Vergil's side. "It seems beatings ARE the way to get through that thick skull of yours."

Vergil opened his eyes enough to glare, having no other way to respond to her comment. Maj suppressed a laugh and lifted her hand, the water swirling around the son of Sparda and slowly lifting him up in a small whirlwind. He scowled and turned his face away, hissing out his breath as his body was turned upright.

The goddess frowned. "Look at me Nelo Angelo."

Vergil snorted defiantly and kept his gaze averted.

"I commanded you to look at me," Maj repeated more slowly, more venomously. Still Vergil would not look at her and she grabbed his jaw roughly, turning his face and pulling him forward so that he leaned out of the whirlwind. She raised her other hand and brought it close to his face, her long nails hovering just above his eyes. "If looking at me is so difficult," she said icily, "Then I will simply do you a favour and pluck out your eyes. Then you will not have to worry about gazing upon my face, seeing that I disgust you so."

"NO!" Vergil managed to gasp, his eyes widening out of fear, instead of shutting for protection.

"No?" The goddess tilted her head, pressing her nails softly against his eyes so that he gasped at the sting and his eyelids partially shut. "Now you are giving ME orders, Nelo Angelo?" she inquired scathingly.

"No," Virgil moaned, his eyes tearing. "No—I'm…sorry." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Maj snorted and ran her thumbnail across his cheekbone, just below his eye. Virgil blinked out of reflex. "You're sorry," she leered, "Well that would be a first, now wouldn't it Nelo Angelo?" Vergil squinted at her, afraid to nod his head in case her nails stuck into his eyes, and he mumbled an almost inaudible 'yes.'

The goddess drew back immediately, stopping the swirling water and letting Vergil fall to his knees in the puddle below him. She listened to him heave a wavering sigh and she crossed her arms. "You are lucky I believe that to be a sincere apology. Otherwise I would have to cut out your lying tongue as well as those defiant eyes of yours." She finished with a sneer.

Vergil shook, unsure anymore whether it was due to the cold, or if it was actually out of fear of the goddess, though he would not allow himself to assume the latter. Maj watched him tiredly for a few moments and then asked calmly, "Have you suffered enough?" Vergil nodded weakly and she scowled. "I beg to differ, my pet. That decision is not yours to make."

Vergil scowled in turn. "Then why ask me?"

"I wasn't asking you. I was thinking out loud. And I would watch my tone if I were you. My threats still stand."

Pissed, but keeping his rage to himself, Vergil tried shakily to get to his feet, hating to look so weak in front of the goddess, or anyone for that matter. He managed to rise to about half his height before his knees trembled and his legs gave out. He fell heavily back into the puddle, creating a splash.

Maj chuckled. "Such weakness. I knew you were pathetic the moment I saw you. I very much doubt your brother would be falling over himself like this, were he in your position," she stated derisively, waiting for Vergil's reaction.

Vergil knew she was goading him, but he found it difficult to clam up and ride out the verbal abuse. He clenched his teeth to keep from saying something Maj would make him regret.

The goddess noticed him struggling to hold back and she smiled. "You must envy your brother—having the ability to defeat both you and the Darkness WITHOUT the use, or need of my amulet. It must be terrible to be second best."

The comment came like a slap to the face and Vergil felt more shocked by it at first than angry. "I'm not second best," he said irately after a minute, through his tight jaw. "I was the first to discover and harness my powers."

"And yet you fail to use them as sufficiently as your twin," Maj pointed out mildly. "Or have I simply imagined your crushing defeats all this time?"

"Is that why you are here?" Vergil snarled. "To mock me? Don't you have anything better to do?"

Maj's upper lip twitched as she scowled. "I will warn you again, Nelo Angelo," she began smoothly, "Be mindful of how you speak to me. I do not make idle threats. So carry on as you are only if you are tired of that spiteful tongue roaming within your mouth."

Vergil huffed in response, dizzy with rage he couldn't release. He felt his hands form into fists without him actually thinking about it and he bit down on his bottom lip to keep the insults inside.

"I must say, I am impressed," Maj said, studying his bent over figure for a little while. "I honestly expected you to have lashed out at me by now. You have more control than I previously gave you credit for…Or perhaps," she grinned, "I have made you frightened enough of me that you do not dare."

Vergil growled—oh how he wished he could tear her head off.

"Look at me," Maj ordered. Vergil jerked his head up obediently, trying hard not to let his anger form itself into a glare. The goddess grinned widely, amused by his struggle, and she raised him to his feet herself with a motion of her hand. Vergil felt himself propped up on invisible strings as he stared into deep violet eyes.

"You are doing well Nelo Angelo," Maj commended him again. "I am pleased that you are making an effort to keep your eyes and tongue. Now would you like an opportunity to unleash some of that anger you have built up?"

Vergil narrowed his eyes, wondering what she had in mind, and at the same time, also wondering how he was going to manage any sort of physical activity in his current state.

"I will heal you completely of course," Maj offered, seemingly in answer to his thoughts. "All you must do is agree to my proposal. And if you don't, well…you won't be of any use to me and I will let you continue suffering as you are…perhaps even make it worse for you. Now what do you say, Nelo Angelo? Will you be a good dog and obey?"

"What would I have to do?" Vergil asked untrustingly.

"Agree. And then I will explain." Maj replied. "I promise you. This little mission is right up your alley. And I am quite certain that you will get some satisfaction from the job."

Although he loathed her with every fibre of his being, and did not want to agree to anything she asked, Vergil found the condition of being completely healed too good an opportunity to pass up. He nodded his head solemnly. "I'll do it."

Maj smiled. "I new you would." She placed her hand on Vergil's chest and a white glow began beneath it. Vergil welcomed the warmth at first but as the light grew, the more his body burned and he soon felt an incredible spasm of pain that started within his chest and moved to the ends of his limbs and to the tips of his hair. He cried out and the goddess ignored him, pulling her hand back after a full minute of causing him pain.

Vergil gasped as he was freed from the spell and he bent over, staggering back a few steps. He straightened himself again, breathing hard and looking at Maj. "Did that have to hurt?"

"No." The goddess smirked. "But I decided it would be more fun. Weren't you entertained?"

Vergil growled low, unable to keep that much of his anger suppressed. "I'm healed. Now what?"

Maj frowned but allowed his tone slide and she held out her hand to him, his sword appearing out of thin hair. She passed him the hilt. "Now you will have a little reunion with the reincarnation of someone you knew very well as a child."

The half demon narrowed his eyes. "Trish?"

Maj nodded.

"Why?"

"Because she is getting in the way of the fun I am having with your brother," she said simply.

Vergil scowled. "But I was under the impression you liked my brother."

Maj laughed loudly. "You are the offspring of the devil Sparda. I don't like either of you. But I am dealing with both of you in my own way. Now go take care of the blond woman before I take great relish in reverting you back to your previous state." She opened up a dark portal for Vergil to walk through, calling back to him as he turned to leave with a grunt. "And don't do anything stupid, Pet. I promise you I will make you pay dearly if you do." She shot a small blast of energy at him that knocked him through the portal. It closed behind him.

Alright guys. That's it for another chapter. I was going to have Dante's section in this too but then I got lazy. Sorry. He'll be in the next chap. Don't know how soon that'll be up considering it's xmas, but I'll try to get it up ASAP.

Once again. Luv you guys. Keep those great reviews comin.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW