Hmm, short chapter this time, maybe i'll post another tomorrow to compensate. Finally I get to write real action. I want to say such a huge thankyou to Embrace-the-Darkness and Keep Me In The Shadows, you kept my spirits up. This one's very definitely for you. It's a tiny tad more romantic than previous parts but I dislike gratuitous mush so it's only implied, not at all easy in an action chapter. But at last we get to see some vampire blood fly. Enjoy it, Skaye.

When they entered the scarlet palace, the vampires were just beginning to wake and shake off their stone skins like cocoons. As soon as the first of them saw the intruders, they attacked with teeth and claws. Dante and Lucia were ready. At a curt nod from Dante, Lucia turned and bolted the heavy wooden door.They thenran forward together and double jumped over the vampires giving them the advantage of space and pressing their enemies up against the wall and the firmly closed door. Lucia twirled and locked the opposite door of the foyer behind them then charged and slashed, Dante at her side hacked and chopped. Both fought hard pressing all the time to keep their position between the vampires and the open space of the hall. They were separated within 30 seconds but still continued their attacks relentlessly. Dante hated fighting at such close quarters and longed for his guns but coped, swinging his sword around his head levelling those who pressed at him. They scratched at his face and tore at his eyes with nails like knives but with yell after yell he slashed and cut like a slightly overzealous gardener. He uttered curse after curse as blood splattered his face and arms. Lucia kept more space between her and her foe using her speed to great advantage. The vampires fell in bloody screaming swathes.

On the other side of the door, the rest of the vampire court had begun to catch on to what was going on within. They beat against the door trying to enter and reinforce the falling numbers within.

Dante and Lucia finished off the ones inside with one last swipe of Dante's sword and then at a count of three unbolted the door. The vampires poured in wielding fierce demon knives and thin sharp swords. Entering in ones and twos through the narrow doorway, they stood little chance and over 20 fell before they realised it was futile and fell back.

Both sides had the space of about a minute to wait and breathe until the vampires, now fully grouped, charged down the door and overwhelmed the two demon hunters. They were trampled down under so many vampires, their faces were scratched and cut, their hair pulled at and razor-edged demon blades cut them over and over. Dante felt blood trickling down into his eye from a gash on his brow. In a moment of perfect calm and clarity, the blood ran into his mouth and he felt something inside him silently and sharply snap.

He straightened suddenly in spite of the force of the tide of vampires and his eyes glowed. With a snarl, he Triggered in a blaze of red light and licked his tongue slowly across his newly pointed teeth. The vampires had stopped their charge sensing trouble. When they saw him transformed, they began to run but he leapt on them, swiping with his bare arms and clawed hands. He redrew his sword and wielded it with great and terrible force ripping through vampire flesh like paper. Blood flew and the screams that filled the air were terrible.

As the last of the living flew, Dante slipped painfully back to human form. He had lost track of time slightly but he knew for certain he'd never sustained a transformation for that long before. Turning again, his heart leapt into his mouth at the sight of Lucia lying broken on the floor near the splintered door. He dashed to her side and inspected the damage. It wasn't good; her left arm was at a horrible angle, blood ran freely from her head, numerous parts of her face and an open gash in her stomach. Her legs were undamaged but curled around her form defensively and she flinched at his slightest touch. Not all bad news then, she was still alive. He moved her off her damaged arm and, placing his right hand in her mouth to stop her from breaking her teeth, he relocated her shoulder with his left. The pain in his hand as she bit down on it was quite remarkable but clearly not much compared to hers. She writhed and he almost dropped her but kept a firm hold until she stopped gasping.

He removed his now bleeding hand from her (he swore her teeth had, for a moment, met in the middle) and helped her to her feet. She looked around, dazed with pain. Dante smiled at her kindly and handed her the most precious of her weapons, the two curved Sai. She sheathed them and nodded her thanks to him raising her hand gingerly to her lacerated face. The hideous gash in her stomach was healing already as were Dante's wounds which he'd previously ignored. They stood healing for a few minutes without speaking; they had with time perfected the articulate silence. Eventually it was Lucia's voice which broke the silence;

"What happened in the end? I remember the stampede and not a lot else."

Dante gave a cocky grin and wiped the blood from his face.

"You didn't miss much, I was awesome, they didn't stand a chance. I reckon we can go after Madeline herself now if you're, uh…"

He didn't bother to finish the sentence. Lucia answered instantly;

"I'm ready if you are,homme diable, do you know where we're going?"

"I don't know this palace exactly but I think I can guess; the Ball Room. Madeline will be waiting for us and presiding over another one of those nice little parties of hers."

Lucia returned his slightly devilish grin which surprised him. She spoke in a low teasing tone;

"Want to go gatecrash?"

Dante nodded and they set off at a run following the sound of the intertwining strings melody which streamed like a banner from the ball room at the heart of the building.

Little post-script thingy here, just a straw poll. Is it just me or are there recently more fanfics about Vergil than Dante? Is he being overtaken asoverall favourate character? I'm still solidly behind Dante. Although Chaos' Warm Embrace by Laylah (highly reccomended) has made my mouth water at parts...(slaps self) sorry about that. Let me know what the general opinion is won't you?