Devil May Cry Zero: Past Ties

Chapter 2

Enzo felt like the happiest man on the planet. He just cleared his debts, switched to a better job and bought a new bike. To celebrate, he was going to throw the biggest party in town. It was expensive but well worth it. In order to get the most gorgeous women in town to come, he bought new sound system, a huge TV and also renovated the house. He was overjoyed when more people than he expected showed up. The party was just getting started and already some people were singing karaoke, some were dancing and some were drinking. He was surrounded by a crowd of ladies himself.

"Enzo," a woman called Claire said to him while running her fingers down his chest. "What is it baby?" he asked, drawing her closer to him. Claire giggled but pushed him away. "There's someone at the front porch waiting for you," she said.

Rats, thought Enzo. He mustn't have heard it because of the loud music, not to mention he was drunk too. Scratching his beer belly, wobbly he stood up on his feet. Who dared enough to interrupt while he was having so much fun? Not even noticing he was swaying as he walked, he found his way to the front porch.

"Who the hell is it?" Enzo asked with irritation in his voice before his eyes made out who stood outside. His hands opened the door without thinking.

"I see that you're having a great time, Enzo," Dante said, leaning over to Enzo who was a head shorter than him.

Immediately, Enzo's drunkenness seemed to have cleared without a trace. "D, Dante!" he rubbed his eyes to make sure he was talking to the right twin. It was Dante all right. "Would you like to join in?" Enzo asked, hoping Dante would say no.

"I'd love to but something urgent just came up. I need to borrow your bike," Dante said, pointing at the shiny blue motor bike.

As though he was told a plague broke out in town, Enzo's knees buckled. "Oh Dante, please don't do this to me. I just bought it yesterday," he pleaded. Nothing he lent to Dante or his twin brother Vergil in the past ever came back in its original shape. These either came back half broken or they don't even get returned back most of the time at all. Those demon-like twin brothers had been his nightmare for years. Every so often they would rock up to his place and make him lend them things.

"I'm so sorry, please don't mind him," said a girl whom Enzo didn't notice the presence of until now. Seeing Dante scared him too much that his attention was all focused on him. "Like I said, let's find another way. We can call a taxi or something," she said to Dante, pulling his jacket sleeve lightly.

"I'm sure Enzo would kindly let us use it for a night, right?" Dante said to his neighbour. However, Enzo didn't appear to be listening. He was staring at Rei as though his eyes were attached to her with permanent glue.

In front of Enzo stood the most stunning girl he had ever seen in his life. It was not just because of her unusual combination of jet black hair and peridot green eyes; she also had a unique temperament. None of the girls at his party could compare. Rather than beautiful and sexy, she was more pretty and elegant. Regardless, she stood out like a diamond in a pile of stones.

"Hello, Enzo?" Dante waved a hand in front of Enzo's face.

"My name is Enzo, nice to meet you," Enzo took a step closer to Rei. He wiped his hand on his shirt quickly and offered it to her.

"Where are my manners? My name is Rei," Rei said and shook his hand.

Her voice sounded like a melody to him. Enzo felt like he could fly the instant he heard it. When her hand touched his, he felt like he was struck by lightning. He wished he could hold her soft and smooth hand just like that forever. It wasn't fair. He didn't understand why Rei would be acquainted with someone like Dante. Nor did he understand why she would go to Dante's trashy house and not his kick-ass party.

Great, thought Dante. They needed to catch up with Vergil and the mysterious woman quick and that idiot Enzo wouldn't let go of Rei's hand. From his back, he pulled out Ivory, one of his beloved guns and stuck it on Enzo's nose. "I thought I said we're in a hurry right now," he said impatiently. Enzo backed away a couple of steps. Then his attention focused back on the green-eye girl again, completely ignoring Dante.

"I'm sorry but," Rei began, silently thanked Dante for interrupting. "We really have to go." She was just beginning to feel uneasy at the incredibly long handshake.

"Oh that's right. It's me who should say sorry." Enzo dug into his pocket. It took him a moment to dig through his front and back pockets of his trousers. "Here you go," he gave his bike keys to her.

Dante snatched it right away. "Thanks," he said without any signs of gratitude in his voice and went to start the bike. Enzo's arousing anger towards Dante soon vaporised when he looked back to Rei. "Thank you so much!" she said to him and then got on the bike behind Dante, who helped himself with Enzo's brand-new blue helmet.

"We'll return it back to you as soon as possible," Rei said. Dante stepped onto the accelerator. The two of them was down the end of the street and out of sight in seconds.

She smiled at him. Enzo thought he could die happily like this.


After somewhat felt forever to Mia, the truck finally came to a stop. It was the most unpleasant car trip ever. The container couldn't be closed from inside so she had to hold on to it the entire time. On top of that, the terrible smell of raw seafood was overwhelming from inside. Nothing was in the container but it didn't take a genius to figure out what it used to contain. She heard the car doors being opened followed by the sound of feet dropping on the ground. She wasn't too worried about the chances of the container being opened, since it was empty inside. To be safe, Mia waited some more after she couldn't hear footsteps anymore. Little by little, she pushed on the metal flaps. Her eyes scanned the outside environment as much as she could from the widening crack. It opened with a long, low-pitch squeak. She winced at the noise. It didn't sound so obvious before when she opened it at the petrol station. However right then it sounded like a small scream in the dark, windless night.

Not letting her effort be wasted, Mia looked around to make sure nobody was around. From the back, it looked like she was alone. It was supposedly a new moon night. Yet, it could not be seen due to the accumulated storm clouds. The faint sound of thunder coming from far away could be heard. She walked around to the front of the truck and was stunned by what she saw.

A splendid medieval style castle stood on a hill. The truck was right at the beginning of a pathway that appeared to lead to the gatehouse. The cream coloured castle looked tall enough by having at least four storeys. Being located on a hill made it looked even taller. Faint rays of light came out from the large windows. Mia couldn't help but to pinch her own cheek to make sure she wasn't dreaming any of this. High protective brick wall surrounded the castle. The path seemed like the only way in.

On one hand, she was glad she couldn't see Vergil and the mysterious woman but on the other hand, that meant she had to go look for them. With no choice, Mia made her way towards the castle. When she reached the gatehouse, she discovered it was opened and unattended. She felt a bit silly to think about it. Of course it would be unattended, just what era did she think she was in? A little further was the front door of the castle. Mia looked around for another way in. It was just too bold to walk in like that. Unfortunately, the windows on the ground floor and first floor were the type that could not be opened. There was the option to climb up. The only problem was if she happened to slip it didn't look like she could avoid at least a broken bone or two. She checked on the rusty door handle. It was unlocked. Well then, here we go, she thought. No death sentence for trespassing I hope.


Trish was what that woman called herself. He didn't believe who he saw when she approached him from behind, calling his name. Never would he forget that voice, not even the day he dies. At first he thought it was just a coincidence, that familiar voice, that long blonde hair. The moment she removed her sunglasses, he knew there was no mistake. He was staring at a pair of blue eyes same coloured as his. He was looking at a woman who looked exactly the same as his deceased mother. She was around the same age as his mother when she died.

"There's someone who wants to see you," was what she said to him. It didn't take him long to decided whether or not to follow her. There was something he needed to find out. Following Trish was likely to give him clues.

While Trish was driving, she tried to start a conversation with the young man. He was about as responsive as a rock. After a trip that took hours on her truck, they arrived at an old castle. Trish parked the truck as near it as possible. Then, she led him into the castle. The moment he stepped into it, he could feel a strong presence of evil lurking in every corner. "Don't worry," Trish said to him, referring to the lower class demons. "They won't attack you as long as you're with me." Vergil didn't say anything in return. It was getting on Trish's never that he was seeing her as non-existent. "Starting to regret not brining your weapon with you?" she sneered.

"Is your job to take me to that person or have a chit-chat here with me?" Vergil asked her back coldly. He didn't like her from the very first moment she spoke to him. She was clearly a being hidden under the skin of his mother. Trish threw up her hands and declared defeat. Turning her back on him, she led him into the dark corridor.

It was not hard to figure out that no one lived there for a long time. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. Cobwebs were found on every single ceiling corners and windows. Despite its currently condition, there was no doubt it used to belong to a rich family. The floor was covered with fine red carpet. All the furniture was beautifully crafted and thoughtfully positioned. Vergil could see all these only because candles lit up the corridors they walked. Occasionally, Arachne and Blood-Goyle could be spotted but they never came close, as though they were fearful of them.

It wouldn't be far-fetched at all to describe the castle as a huge maze. The silver-hair young man was led upstairs, made half a dozen turns, walked past rooms that have identical-looking doors. At last, Trish stopped in front of a room that looked like it belonged to an important person. "Master, we're coming in," she knocked on the door.

"Enter," Vergil heard someone inside said. He couldn't make out how old the speaker was, but it sounded like a man. Trish pushed opened the door and he followed. In the dimly lit yet spacious room, a cloaked figure sat on a chair at the far end.

"I've been waiting for you, Vergil," said the cloaked man. The hood he worn hid the upper half of his face.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" asked Vergil, his eyes fixed on the stranger.

"My name is Sudnum and I need your help," the cloaked man replied. "I want you to work for me, Vergil. Do you see the darkness spreading in the hearts of humans? This world is deteriorating. The good is being consumed by the evil. Together we can gain total control of both worlds, make it a better place. You can acquire the power of your father, Sparda, which is currently sealed in the demon world. You will become the second most powerful figure in both worlds. Then you would be able to carry out your own justice and cleanse all evil in the human world. And of course, I'll be able to answer the question you have always wanted to know; the question had been haunting you since eight years ago. It is the very reason why you came here."

Vergil didn't like how much he knew about him. The man in front of him had too good an idea the way he thought, what he saw as important and what he wanted. He was sure someone else was behind this and he might have an idea who it was.

Hearing no response from Vergil,Sudnum continued. "In order to prove that you are sincere, all you need to do is kill those twin priestesses whom you acquaint with. That should not be a difficult task for you since you have their trust."

"I have no intention to help someone who would not even show their face to me," Vergil said, his handsome face remained expressionless.

Sudnum was not angered. "My appearance is not important. Until my full power returns to me, it is necessary for me to stay this way." Standing up, he slowly walked towards Vergil and Trish. He walked past the two and paused. "It was very courageous for you to come alone unarmed. I hope I will hear good news from you soon, Vergil," he said before existing the room. Trish followed her master, leaving the silver hair young man by himself.

By the time Vergil came out, he was just in time to see the two made a turn down the corridor on his left. It looked like he would find them in the West side of the castle. In the corridor he stood were many glass windows that stood grandly on the edge of the floor and extend up to the ceiling. A strong flash of lightning ran along the dark sky, brightening up night into day for a split second. Although well hidden, the silhouette behind the curtains didn't escape Vergil's sharp eyes. When he pushed aside the curtain, he found the dark haired girl looking at him, her peridot green eyes widened in surprise.

"Rei? No, Mia? Why are you here?" asked Vergil, glaring at her as though she had done something wrong.

"Does it matter who I am?" Mia asked him back. She had found the room by following the voices' origin by using herkeen hearing. If it wasn't the lightning, Vergil would not have found her. She was so close to evading him just like how she slipped under the noses of Trish andSudnum moments ago. "I should be the one asking you, Vergil. What are you doing here? Are you planning on betraying us?" she demanded.

Wondering how much she had heard, Vergil's lips curled up to a smirk. He slowly walked towards one of the empty silver knights that stood in the corridor. "Betraying you?" Faster than her eyes could follow, he pulled out a sword from a knight and threw it in her direction.

Responding as quickly as her body allowed, Mia hurled herself out the way. She looked back to Vergil but he wasn't looking at her. Above where she stood hung a dead Marionette, a type of demon that took the form of a human-sized puppet manipulated by evil spirits. The sword pierced through its head with deadly accuracy. Mia moved away from it but her shirt was already stained by demon blood spilled out from the Marionette.

"Betraying you won't advantage me. I'm here to find out about something," Vergil said, responding to the girl's puzzled look.

"To find out about what?" Mia asked. Perhaps she had misunderstood him.

"That's none of your business, Mia," Vergil said. The elder twin sister would never ask him so directly, he figured. In addition, she was more likely to be Mia, as only she would be mischievous enough to follow him there.

Mia could never understand why people could tell between her and her twin sister sometimes. "Aren't you going to kill me?" she asked him frigidly. "You can gain a lot if you do that, can't you?" Actually, she only heard the last part of the conversation. She guessed the cloaked figure would have offered him something great if he did what he was asked to. And she was proved herself right.

"You shouldn't be here, leave," Vergil said, his ice blue eyes penetrating into hers with an invisible force. He didn't seem moved by her words at all.

Mia indeed felt insecure in the castle and found no reason to protest. Without a word, she hurried past him, heading the opposite end of the corridor where Trish andSudnum went.


Author's notes:

Enzo is not an OC. He is from the DMC3 manga. Anyone who has read it will know. As with the castle setting, I actually did a bit of research on it before writing.I was surprised by the number of castles that still exist today.