IX

Mother Dearest

Bonnie's eyes were used to seeing the strange and bizarre. She had died too many times, seen vampires transform into hybrids, watched multiple people she loved be murdered. The sight of demons didn't frighten her, nor did they send a chill down her spine like she expected them to. But one thing she did know was that things in Limbo were much different than the things she saw on The Other Side. Ahead of her, her husband and brother in law walked, though her hand was held by Dante. He glanced back at her, his casual smirk on his face and she returned it with her own smile.

Even in the face of danger, her husband made sure she was safe. It was a sweet notion on his part but even he knew that Bonnie could take care of herself. Call it pride or just a sense of duty, but Dante refused to let his wife get hurt, even by his or her own hands.

Leading the way, Virgil turned to glance back at his brother's wife. She wasn't scared of Hell, surprisingly. Cautious of the place, yes. But not afraid. She walked watching for any signs of danger while the two hybrids walked in silence. Virgil had not said much since they had begun their journey. He just needed to help them find their mother, release their father and then he ecould disappear back into the depths of hell. Dante was everywhere, he looked around for danger of any sort that would harm his wife. Yes, Bonnie could stand toe to toe with any adversary but she was still someone important to him, someone he would protect until he died. He would make sure she was safe, after all their children would need her as well.

"How much further?" Dante asked.

"We're still a ways off, but hopefully soon." Answered Vergil, though the silver haired man stopped when they came to a series of floating pillars. "We have to cross here and then pass several more trials."

Bonnie sighed.

Just lovely.

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Elena was in pins and needles. It had been almost two hours since Bonnie's departure and her children were nestled on the study, reading Grams's grimoires. The witch who went by the name Kat was making them snacks with Caroline in the kitchen. Her brother was pacing around the living room while Stefan and Alaric simply sat and waited, playing a game of chess. The only one more putt off than her was Jeremy. But while Elena was worried for her friend's safe return to her children, Jeremy was still peeved about Bonnie's marriage.

He didn't actually expect her to wait for him after he cheated on her with Anna, did he? Because even Elena wouldn't have given him that second chance.

"Sit down, Jer." Elena told him as he moved along the floor. "You're gonna run a hole through the rug." Or the floor, she thought. An image of those old Looney Tunes cartoons came into her head.

"It's been two hours." Jeremy huffed.

"And Bonnie said we had twelve before Silas tried to come and stop us." Elena stated.

"I don't trust him."

"No one trusts Silas." His sister rolled her eyes.

"No, Bonnie's husband. I don't trust him or his brother." Jeremy clarified.

Damon snorted from his spot in the corner. He was holding a tumbler of scotch to his chest, watching them. "Still jealous that BonBon tied the knot with someone other than you?"

"Piss off Damon." Jeremy snapped.

"You know it's true. You're still holding a torch for someone who has moved on with their life. I don't know about you, Jerbear, but even I can see Bonnie wouldn't be leaving a guy who will die a thousand times over for her to get back with the ex who can't keep his dick in his pants for a ghost. She's got kids, morals, and she's even more badass than before." Damon said, though there was a hint of spite in his tone. He was angry that Bonnie not only left th but made a new life.

"Wow, and I thought we were children." A voice called out. Evan stood in the doorway of the room, his emerald eyes watching the whole scene play out. "How did my mom even remain friends with you guys? Ms. Caroline I can see, hell I can even see her," he paused pointing to Elena. "As my mom's friends. But you two idiots? Nope."

"Shouldn't you be learning your witchy ABCs?" Damon shot at him.

"And not figure out whose lurking around my great grandmother's house?" Evan asked and walked towards the door. The feeling he felt was like being around his mother, but it was mudddled by something cold. He opened the door, finding two women standing there. One looked forever in her late 30s to early 40s while the other woman looked like she was just entering her 30s.

Bennett witches, he mused before his eyes landed on the older woman. A chill ran down his spine, his eyes staring to bleed crimson. No, not a witch, his senses told him. A vampire.

"Abby? Lucy?" Elena gasped. "What are you two doing here?"

"Where's my daughter?" Abby questioned. "Where is Bonnie?"

Evan blinked. So he would be getting to meet both his grandmothers then.

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Eva shielded herself from another attack. Another horde had made its way into her prison. Another day day of surviving, using the training her late husband had given her. Sparda has made sure she was able to defend herself should an attack happen. And while she has fought formidably against Mundus, she had been distracted by the demons coming to harm her son.

In the end it had been her downfall. She could still feel Mundus's hand piercing through her chest, pulling her heart from her body. The wide eyed terror and cry of sheer horror from her Dante had been the last thing she saw. Not her beloved Sparda rushing to mourn her, or her sons' tear stained faces and the cries of her angelic sisters. No, she had died with the image of her seven year old son being traumatized imbedded in her brain.

She raised her shield once more and sent a blast of energy towards the horde. She was getting weak, but she wouldn't falter. She would fight until they were gone.

Her sense alerted her too late of the surprise attack. She turned to see a demon make his way towards her, jumping to attack.

"Incendia!" A voice cried out. The demon brusted into flames, as did the first wave of demons. Blurs of blue and red demolished the other demons. Eva watched as the red blur paused, and the white glow of Orisis shined as a wave of demons were hacked apart. The red blur stopped, revealing a young man with black hair, though silver was streaked along the nape of his neck, his eye were crimson, and he looked just on the cusp of his thirties. He wore a long red jacket, and had his arm wrapped around a young woman. Her emerald eyes were dark as blackened veins crawled along her arms and face. She spoke on Latin and Eva watched as she reached and took hold of Orisis.

"Go." The woman spoke. The man nodded, and rushed towards Eva. As he grew closer, she could see the features between her Sparda and him.

Dante? Was this her little boy, back from the dead? Vergil had lied to her?

"Mom." The young man answered, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay?"

Evan couldn't answer. This was her son? Her eyes went to the young woman who was fighting along side her other son. She moved with flexibility of a dancer, the scythe in her hand leaving a line of fire in its wake with every slash and hack.

"Why? How?" Eva whispered, cupping his face. "How are you alive?"

Dante blinked, "We'll talk about that later. Right now, we need to get you out of here and then find Dad."

Sparda was alive. Her heart swelled. "He's alive," she breathed as tears started to fall from her eyes. She looked at him. "Take me to your father."