It's been a long long time since I have written an author's note for this story, at least it feels as though it's been a long long time. Mostly because I haven't updated this for a while. Anyway, just a note again to say thank you all very very much for all the wonderful reviews. They really make my day, more than you guys can possibly imagine. Seriously, when things get rough, I go back and read the reviews that everyone's given me. Most of the time it is more than enough to cheer me up again, to make me remember that there are actually people out there who give a damn.

It is for this that I thank you all, and to remind each and every one of you who might be reading this that you all matter a great great deal to me, whether you review or whether you don't.

Again, I thank you all from the deepest part of my heart.

Ihope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others before it.

Chapter 25

The sun began to sink in the western skies. Dante paused to take in the sight, his normally aquamarine coloured eyes darkening to become almost a navy blue as the sun cast shadows almost playfully on his face, warping his features, making them twisted and sinister in the light of the dying day. His eyes narrowed against the glare of the sun as he pursed his lips together in a frown. He was aware of something and the realization of it made him stumble slightly in the slippery surface of the frosted-over snow. He wanted to turn home before it got completely dark. This somewhat ordinary statement was something of a surprising revelation for him. He knew at once that this was not because of some random fear of the dark. No, he wanted to turn back home, back to Trish; he'd been gone long enough as it was and it was about time that he got back. Knowing her, she'd be worried half to death by now, the way she always did whenever he went on a mission without her. It was odd, at first Dante thought that Trish got worried because she had developed a crush on him. At least, that was what he had thought in the past, when she had just entered the partnership with him. Well…if it had been the case, he wouldn't have been able to blame her. He wasn't being big-headed or egotistical when he was acknowledging his looks, he was simply stating the truth, that the devil and human cocktail of blood in his veins had blessed him with the looks of an Adonis. He had thought that it would have been natural for Trish to develop a fondness for him, as most girls had done as he had grown older, but he knew that whatever feelings Trish had for him would be unable to be reciprocated. It would just be too odd, too strange. Too…gross. Trish was a clone of his mother and the thought of her even having feelings for him was enough to make him feel sick to the stomach. Yet his surprise had been insurmountable when Trish had shyly confessed to him that she had feelings for him, but probably not in the manner that he thought. She had feelings for him yes, but these feelings made her want to take care of him, wanted to act as a comfort for him, make sure that he was kept safe at all times. She had shyly apologized, telling him that she was sorry if her behaviour had appeared to be too clingy, too overprotective, too paranoid. In the face of her honesty, Dante had finally been able to understand Trish's reasons for her concern; she was truly a clone of his mother through and through. Not only did she resemble her looks but also her personality.

With this knowledge fresh in his mind, somehow remembered due to he sight of the sun, he licked at dry lips before looking towards the sky. He smiled as he spotted the phoenix, wheeling and soaring overhead, uttering his strange piping cries from time to time, warming him from head to toe with an intensity that was so powerful that it made him shiver with a strange type of pleasure. The phoenix slowly descended to perch on his shoulder, his wings flapping slightly, struggling to keep his balance, buffeting Dante's face by accident, causing the devil hunter to sneeze.

'It's time we went back. Tonight, we reach home.' Dante said firmly, his brow furrowed slightly, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 'Come on. Let's go.' Dante knew that there really wasn't much of a chance that he'd reach Trish before nightfall, so he had created a new aim, that he would reach her and deliver the news of his safe return and the important announcement regarding his success on the mountain. As his eyes fell upon the phoenix he smiled. Well, that last part would be only too obvious when Trish saw the magnificent creature for herself. She'd be thrilled, and knowing her to be one who possessed an affectionate personality, as well as a fondness for children and animals of any description, excluding animalesque demons of course, unless they had proved themselves to be of a decent heart. Dante remembered a few comical situations but forced them out of his mind quickly, telling himself that now was not the time for a trip down memory lane. He began his descent once more, trying to navigate his way down carefully, trying his utmost to avoid any patches that had frozen over and had become slippery as a result. The sky was beginning to turn into a light dusky pink as Dante finally moved onto ground where the snow was beginning to thaw out, leaving only slabs of hard grey rock underneath. Dante was more than glad for the change, finding the hard stone a welcome sight after being witness to seas of endless white, where wolves ran rampant, waiting to pull down any unsuspecting traveller. Dante had survived and had even managed to destroy a fair number of the teeming pack. The thought helped to further warm him. He broke into a run, leaping from rock to rock, his coat billowing behind him in his wake, the phoenix crying out again having flown off from Dante's shoulder as soon as the demon slayer had begun to move once more. His mood appeared to be lifted by Dante's return to himself. The man was truly back in his element, and the demon hunter could feel the adrenalin pumping through him, filling him with an excitement, making him look forward to what events that could only lie ahead, not so far into the future. He felt that anything could come and try and take him on but he'd be able to deal with it easily, layout out his enemies in one swift and deadly blow.

It was these kind of thoughts that accompanied him as he finally hit the bottom of the mountains, finding himself in open countryside, in the middle of Scotland. Though it was still quite cold, Dante felt that this was nothing and was actually quite mild compared to what he himself had just gone through. It had been so cold up there that he had passed out! Well…really it was because of the wolves attacking him but Dante knew that the cold would have caused him to sooner or later. There was no point in denying it really. He passed his eyes over the surrounding countryside, taking in the frost covered grass, paralyzed by the cold, the speeding blinking lights as cars raced along the road in the distance. He could hear their far away roar, even from where he stood. He scanned the area, looking for any signs of civilians. Seeing none, he concentrated all of his energy into one single blast, feeling the power running through his body like liquid fire. It started to spread outwards to his fingers and his toes. He felt his skin change, becoming hard and like rock as his transformation began. Wings spread out on either side of his body, flapping several times as they felt the wind meet against them. Adrenalin coursed through him, making his heart swell as though it were fit to burst and he let out a huge roar as his change was completed. Throughout all this, the phoenix watched him calmly, motionlessly, his eyes fixed unwaveringly upon him, as though this was entirely expected.

The devil stood up straight and inspected his surroundings again, watching carefully, alertly for any sign of civilians, or for anyone that might spot him and run off in a mad panic, planning to tell the police. Seeing that the coast was still clear, he spread out his wings to their full span and took flight, the phoenix following him immediately, as though able to understand that this new beast was still the same man. Together they soared through the sky, their wings beating the air silently, their movements graceful and fluid. The land passed by underneath them in a blur. Dante looked below him and felt for a surreal moment that they were hovering in the same place and that it was actually the ground that was speeding by in a dark mass of trees, grass, bushes and the occasional animal. Dante knew only then that no human would be able to spot them, for they were flying at such speeds that an ordinary man would not be able to identify what exactly they were. The thought pleased him immensely but not as much as when they finally crossed the border between Scotland and England. He was close now; there was not much longer to go. If he started driving back now, from where he was, it would have taken him about six hours, but as the demon flew, he knew that it would only take him about forty-five minutes in this form, especially if he kept at the pace he was going now. He looked behind him swiftly and smiled seeing the phoenix right behind him. It appeared as though the great beautiful bird had no trouble in keeping up with him whatsoever. He grinned as he saw that his home had finally come into view and he began to slow down, gradually descending, coming to land neatly on the porch. He quickly changed into his human form and stretched out his arm, allowing the phoenix to perch there comfortably. He fumbled in his coat pocket for his keys, silently marvelling at the fact that he had not lost them in the snow and unlocked the door, allowing himself inside and finally back into the warmth, deciding that he would never take such a simple thing for granted ever again. Then he wondered privately to himself how long that would last for. Probably not even to the end of the week knowing him.

'Trish! Trish, I'm here!' he called out to the building, He was met with a grim silence. He frowned and was about to shout again when he noticed a pair of misty green eyes staring out from the kitchen door, misted over because of her unshed tears. His frowned deepened as he walked towards her, but then he was eventually able to force a smile onto his face. 'Lorelei. What's up?' The girl looked up at him silently before craning her head, as though trying to see past him, to see whether there was anything behind him. He blinked and looked over his shoulder but seeing nothing, he turned to watch her again.

'Reiko is not with you?'

'No?' Dante said slowly, looking puzzled. 'Where's Trish?' He waited and watched patiently as the girl appeared to collect herself and her thoughts together. Her shoulder shifted and she moved her head so then she was looking directly at him, into the clear depth of his aquamarine eyes.

'Trish is upstairs. Showering. Have you seen any sign of Reiko?' she asked, her voice monotone yet pained. Dante shook his head regretfully and felt even worse when her eyes darkened with misery.

'I thought you hated him…' he murmured. Lorelei looked up at him sharply, her face suddenly hard. Then her eyes cleared and her face softened slightly.

'I did, once. God…isn't it odd to think that once I had hated him with such a strong passion? Things have changed since you left for the mountains, Dante. Well, even before you left if we want to be technical. He was kind to me, he listened to me and he never laughed at me, not even once. And even though I was mean and spiteful towards him he still treated me with all kinds of respect. Then I saw him cry one night and it made me realize that he is still human in nature, that he wasn't evil at all, that he wasn't a monster or a beast.'

'And then you fell in love. Should have guessed,' Dante finished for her. Lorelei looked slightly taken by surprise but then she nodded her agreement.

'He left a while ago. He wouldn't say where it was he was going. I fear only the worst, that I'm never going to see him again,' she whispered, breathless. Dante noted with a mild concern of how her face had turned pale, and of how she looked as though she were about to faint at any given moment.

'Go and get some sleep Lorelei,' came his quiet command, hoping that his words would convince her. However, his hopes were dashed when she frowned and shook her head.

'I have tried but I can't. Not until he is safe and back here, alive and in one piece.' Dante didn't have the heart to tell her that if Reiko did happen to come back in one piece, it would be nothing short of a miracle, especially with the vampire's penchant for getting himself into all kinds of trouble. Still, if she wanted to remain hopeful then that was her choice and he did not feel as though it was in his place to try and make her anything else. The phoenix suddenly gave vent to a low yet sweet melody, causing the girl's eyes to snap onto it. To Dante's relief, she smiled.

'Woe,' she gasped, reaching out automatically to stroke the long beautiful head-feathers, causing the phoenix to croon with pleasure. At that point, Trish walked down the stairs, her hair still wet from her shower and breathed in sharply as she saw the magnificent crimson bird. She no longer seemed to care about her damp hair as a wide grin pasted itself onto her face, knowing what the bird meant.

'Wow,' she whispered, sounding for all the world as though she were Lorelei's echo. 'He's gorgeous…' She looked up at the silver haired hunter, her eyes shining with wonder and excitement. 'Doesn't he remind you a lot of-'

'Yeah,' Dante cut in, his voice gruff.

'I say he looks exactly the same.'

'Maybe. I never paid much attention. But I doubt it.'

'You did it! I can't believe it! You did it! You really did it! The legend is true! Now we can go and finally get rid of that dragon!' She pulled away from him, her eyes brimming with merriment. Despite himself, Dante couldn't help but feel a grin spreading across his own features.

'I know! I just thought that the legend was a bunch of crap.'

'So did I! Just wait until we tell-'

'Rose!' Lorelei suddenly gasped. The two frowned at her before turning around, become suddenly aware of the cold blast of wind that blew against them. Rose stood in the open doorway, her hair dishevelled, hanging about her face in a wind-blown mess. Tears fell from her violet coloured eyes, streaking her face. Her eyes were wide, her mouth hung open as she gasped for breath. Dante was the first who sprang into action, pulling her to him and shutting the door.

'Rose,' he said, his voice soft. 'Rose, what is it? What's happened? Is it the dragon? Is it here?' At the mention of the beast, more tears flowed freely down her face and she began to cry hysterically. Lorelei shook her head, looking suddenly weary.

'It's not the dragon, Dante. No…It's Reiko…' she said, her voice toneless, her eyes far away and numb. Dante turned back to Rose, his hands holding her by the shoulders firmly. Rose leant into him and then nodded in confirmation.

'He's been sent to his death. He went alone into the harpies' kingdom and promised the Queen great power if she formed an alliance with him. The Queen was about to agree but then she heard news that a vampire force was launching an attack on the royal palace.'

'It was Remy,' Lorelei whispered, sounding faint. Rose paused to give her a quick look before continuing.

'The Queen thought that it was Reiko who was to blame and she had him thrown into the dungeons. She told the guards to torture him however they want. They'll kill him!' Rose ended on a high hysterical note, her voice echoing throughout the room. Dante's face had turned hard, as though it were carved out of stone. Trish had turned pale.

'Shit…' she cursed and started to pace. 'We've got to help him.'

'Without him, we won't have his vampires in our army,' Dante said thoughtfully. Trish looked at him, her eyes cold, like steel.

'Is that all you're worried about? He's your friend, Dante!' There was an uncomfortable pause before Trish's eyes flared crimson. 'Don't tell me you're still sore about the fact that he once helped save your life!' Dante growled in reply to that before checking his items.

'Come on. Let's go.'