Beneath The Shadows

Chapter 3

Sipping a glass of his cheap red wine at his desk, along with reading one of his favorite magazines, Dante was enjoying the peace and tranquility of a quiet day. The last autumn leaves tumbled through the streets in the brisk November wind, clicking off of the doors of Devil May Cry. He pondered deeply about the situation at hand. Amethyst and his men knew what they were doing. No trappers had the weaponry and resources they had. And despite the lack of size the demon had, it was the first one he'd ever seen fully subdued by trappers. And that they would leave it there without much care, as if they had bigger fish to fry. There were more than a few ins and outs in this situation.

As the sound of his doors opening split the peaceful silence and his train of thought, Dante looked up to see Morrison walk in.

"Of course you'd show up, I was actually enjoying myself for once."

"Nice to see you too, shit head."

"You better have something good for me."

"I talked around some of the hunters in town."

"And?"

"They told me that someone has been taking out the majority of the hunters that are left."

"Well it sure as hell isn't the demons. They're turning into pussies."

"I know. I'm thinking it might be this group that captured you."

"Probably. How the hell are they getting away with it?"

"Good question. I know the cops don't favor of you guys. They probably just write each one off as death by demons."

"Wouldn't want them to have to do any actual police work." Dante scoffed. "Who'd you talk to?"

"Nasty Ricky's crew and Kifer"

"How the hell has Kifer not gotten killed by something yet? I swear he's half-retarded."

"Only half?" Morrison laughed and lit up a cigarette. "I haven't gotten much word on how these twats are getting money. It has to be coming from a higher power, probably who they're selling them to."

"The FBI? They've been wanting to study on demons for years."

"I don't think so."

"Well, you know how frowned upon it is by the government for them to go after any. Maybe they're using these guys. It would explain their equipment, too."

Morrison shook his head.

"There's too many whistle-blowers in the FBI. That scandal would get uncovered in less than a week."

"Who then?"

"I don't know. I'll see what else I can dig up."

"Do that. See if you can't get me a job while you're at it."

"Will do."

He got up to leave.

"Don't over-exert yourself today." He groaned.

"I won't." Dante reassured.

He propped his feet up on the desk and rested the back of his head on his hands, looking up to the ceiling and off into space. Of all the places his mind could've wondered, he started to think about Lady. He was happy to have spent the night at the bar with her after the long and crazy day that had ensued. He wasn't sure, but he felt like she actually did enjoy herself when she spent time with him like that. He knew he did.

Amidst all the killing day in and day out, moments like that were a nice reprieve for both of them. It wasn't so long ago she could hardly stomach him, but he had grown on her. Seeing his dedication in helping Patty was enough to convince her that he didn't just do it for the joy of killing demons. Almost losing his life to save someone he hardly knew was as human as she could want him to be. As much as she hated admitting it, he had saved her in more ways than one.

Still, he wasn't going to do a one-eighty just to get in her pants. But he'd be lying to himself if he didn't want to. He laughed at the thought of being able to have anyone he wanted, yet being disinterested at every gorgeous woman that threw herself at him. He wanted Lady because she was one of a kind.

Nearly lost in his cloud of thought, he looked up to see Lady walk in with a large duffel bag.

"Hey," He began. "I thought my debt was paid off."

"It is."

"Then what are you doing here?"

She let out a sigh.

"Look… the landlord at my apartment complex got pissed about the incident the other night. He told me that I was attracting and causing too much commotion and destruction… so… he evicted me."

He looked up from his magazine.

"Dante, I'm broke. That last payday went to fixing my bike and a pile of overdue bills. I…"

She sighed again.

"I don't have anywhere to go."

Dante knew what Lady was doing took a lot of pride swallowing. He knew that she never wanted to consider him someone she needed to depend on, and that this had to be killing her to come to him in this kind of need. The last thing he was going to do was make it difficult for her.

"You know you can stay here."

"I know, Dante, but it's not your responsibility."

As bad as she was making herself feel about this, Dante took it upon himself to reassure her.

"Lady, I have plenty of space here. It's not a big deal at all. Besides, I could use the company. It's been fucking boring here by myself."

She smiled. She knew that Dante enjoyed his solitude, and it was big of him to pretend otherwise.

The only thing was, he wasn't pretending. Though being on his own had its perks, and as much as he enjoyed it at first, he was over it. He hadn't quite become lonely, but companionship seemed like a better idea with each passing day. Not just companionship, but intimacy as well.

For a time, he thought Trish could be the one, but she was too much of a mom to him. Not just her very similar looks to his mother, but her constant nagging and advice that he didn't care to hear too much. Couple in that Dante was never too keen on the concepts of Freud.

Lady was something different. He had been attracted to her since first seeing her in the Temin Ni Gru as a young woman, and she had only gotten more attractive over the past few years. Though the first year of their acquaintance consisted of the bickering at each other near-constantly, along with debt issues, the past few years had been different.

Dante had seen Lady go from an angry girl out for revenge in a tower of demons to a beautiful, intelligent, and vicious young woman who was so deadly and efficient with her work, and who had unshakable confidence.

How she had completely filled out was what made him stair at her like an idiot, though. She had become a very shapely woman. She was a perfect blend of slender and bodacious traits, a truly voluptuous figure. And how her face had matured was what really turned him on. Her facial structure and smooth skin were just as attractive as the rest of her body. Her smile, with those ruby red lips, would melt most other men. And those eyes...

But what attracted him to her the most was the fact that she was a human. She showed the toughness and cold-heartedness of a devil, but all in a human. Curiosity often lured him to wonder about her humanity, and her deepest feelings.

This was his opportunity.

"I owe you, then."

"Bullshit. You don't owe me anything. I'm doing this as a friend."

She smiled.

"Thanks, Dante."

"Anytime."

"Hope you like pizza."

"Ugh, I'm not crazy about it, but I could eat a horse right now. Get it with the works, though. I'm talkin' extra large, deep dish, pepperoni, sausage, extra cheese, salami, peppers,"

"Yeah, you're not crazy about it at all." Dante thought to himself.

He chuckled as she continued into her massive mountain of toppings. Not four hours into living with her, and he was already starting to see that "other side" of Lady. He guessed it to be her separate personality, one away from her work of hunting demons. A calmer, more agreeable Lady, yet still demanding.

As far as nicer went...

"And would you turn the fucking heat up? It's freezing in here!"

Not so much.

"You gonna' toss in on the heating bill?"

"Maybe if we can get a damn job."

"Morrison's working on it. Anything else you want besides the giant Italian pot pie that we're calling a pizza?"

Lady paused.

"Bread sticks."

"Bread sticks."

"And fried dough."

"Damn, tryin' to give us both heart attacks?"

"I haven't eaten all day."

He kicked the desk, sending the phone into his left hand as his right quickly dialed the memorized number of the pizzeria.

He preceded to give the man his order as Lady situated the couch closer to the corner to the room where heat from the air vent flowed. She was happy with the convenience of Dante investing in a foldout couch.

"Look at you, redecorating my office. Why don't you move my pool table and my jukebox while you're at it?"

"Shut up." She snapped as she set Kalinna-Ann on the couch, along with her guns.

Ten minutes went by while an impatient Lady waited.

"Where the hell is this guy?"

"They don't have these things pre-made, ya' know."

"Thank you, Dante. I really didn't know that. That wasn't me just venting at all."

"Oh, I look forward to more of that."

The knocks on the door interrupted any comeback by Lady. She turned sharply as Dante walked to the door.

He opened the door to retrieve his triple-stack of boxes.

"Thanks. Put it on my tab."

"But, man, you owe us like-"

Dante slammed the door.

"That's nice." Lady huffed.

"You have any money on you?"

"No."

"Then shut up and eat your damn pizza." He dropped them on the desk.

Lady scowled at Dante as she got up to retrieve her meal.

Dante rolled his eyes at another series of knocks.

"Is this guy fucking serious?"

He stormed over to the door and flung it open.

"Look, idiot, I don't have-"

He didn't see anything.

"Ugh, don't tell me you're still eating nothing but pizza."

He looked down to see where that little but loud voice was coming from.

"You little shit."

He embraced Patty as she threw her arms around his waist.

"And no better at greeting a lady?"

"Patty!" Lady excitedly jumped off the desk and ran to her.

"Good to be home to see you guys for the holidays."

Dante smiled.

"When'd you get back?"

She had been on vacation in England for a few months.

"Just a few days ago. My mom and I are on the way to see some of our family. I just wanted to drop in and see you guys."

"Well, don't be a stranger." Lady said.

"Yeah, she's my roommate now, so she'll always be here." Dante smirked.

Lady proceeded to give him the death stare to end all death stares.

"See that, Patty? She wants to shoot me."

Patty chuckled. "Some things never change. I'll see you guys later!" She ran back to the car.

"You're an asshole."

"... Yeah?"

She shook her head and went back to the pizza.

"Oh, what? Like she wouldn't have found out eventually anyways?"

"Well why don't you just take out a fuckin' full page ad, then?"

"Let's just eat."

"No arguments here."

OK, barreled this shit quick before the last day of work for this week. Then, relaxation for a few days. Oh yes. Can't fucking wait.

"Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man."

PEACE!