Chapter 28

Rose, Dante and Trish ran on through the night, unaware of the fact that they were being followed. Lorelei had found it oddly easy to follow them, all her heart set entirely on trying to help Reiko somehow, or at least making sure that he spent his last moments with her, knowing that she loved him and would never forget him. She had waited for about thirty seconds before speeding out of the doorway after them. She felt as though she were flying; she was all but certain that her feet had never carried her so far so fast. What was more was the fact that she was so suddenly, painfully aware that she was moving quietly, with all the silence that she had seen Reiko use so many times unconsciously as he walked about his home, as he had walked the streets with her at his side. People had stopped to turn and stare as the two had walked, at the man who walked with supernatural grace. Now she was aware that she was trying to mimic his movements and was doing a damned good job of it too, moving as soundlessly as he had done before. It was in this way that she was able to track down the other three. And each step she took only seemed to strengthen her and make her resolve all the more powerful. Each step she took brought her fresh knowledge that she was coming closer and closer to Reiko with every passing second.

Several times, one of the three friends – well, she supposed it would be a great injustice to them to call them anything else – would pause and turn their heads. When this happened she would quickly duck behind a wall or crouch behind a bin, glad that she had her long hair tied back, that it would not betray her presence by allowing the wind to blow through it. She knew that their eyesight was sharp; a single strand of hair blowing in the wind would not be lost upon them. If their vision was heightened then it would be only logical that their hearing was also keener than that of an average human being. So it was that she took to holding her breath too whenever she went into one of her brief periods of hiding. She would wait for no more than ten seconds whenever this happened. To an ordinary person this might have seemed as though this was a small amount of time but once she had made the mistake of waiting for about half a minute before venturing out. She had almost lost them and had almost blown her chances of seeing Reiko again because of it.

Ten seconds proved to be more than enough. The harpy and the two hybrids were furtive in their movements, quick and never staying in one place for too long. Any longer and she'd run the risk of not being able to keep up with them. As the journey wore on, Lorelei became more and more thankful for her strict upbringing, not because she thought it was best for her, oh no; she still hated her mother for being unable to treat her as an adult, but because of the fact that it had honed her skills of stealth, allowing her to seem unobtrusive as was possible.

At that point, Dante came to a pause again and looked over his shoulder only to be greeted by an empty street. Lorelei had anticipated the action and had promptly melted into the darkness. He seemed to stare directly towards her before shaking his head as though in bemusement before turning back to face the front. Lorelei came out of hiding, clutching her long black coat about her, sneaking a little bit closer.

She had come so far with them, and she was not going to turn back now.

---

'Is she still behind us?' Trish whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

'Yeah…you have to admit, she's got some guts,' Dante muttered. Rose simply rolled her eyes.

'If you ask me, she's foolish.' Rose stole a quick look behind her and then frowned. 'I can't see her anymore. We must have left her behind. She must have turned back.' Dante took the opportunity to scan the area behind him.

'Hm…that's odd. I could have sworn I saw her a moment ago.'

'You can't see her?' This came from Trish, who looked anxious as she hissed under her breath. The red-clad demon slayer shook his head, frowning.

'Not any more.'

'In that case, Rose must be right. She must have turned back to go home.'

'Will you two shut up?' The harpy in question snapped suddenly, her intense violet eyes narrowing and darkening.

'Jeez…' Trish grumbled. 'You weren't kidding when you said you lot were temperamental. One minute you act all calm and collected, almost like Dante, the next you're all weepy and emotional and scared and the next you're pissy. What crawled up your ass and died?' Rose seemed to think that Trish's question was so below her that it was not worth the time or the effort to dignify with an answer. Instead, she merely walked right past her, ignored her completely and looked to Dante expectantly.

'Did you hear that?'

'Hear what?' came the ready reply.

'Something…while Trish was talking?'

'Yeah…like a low groan, right?'

'Right. It was definitely male. I think it came from somewhere in that direction.' Rose made a wide gesture. Dante raised his eyebrows and frowned slightly, his brow creasing. The phoenix let out a low questioning cry, as though reflecting Dante's current frame of mind.

'Do you want me to take care of it? Do you want me to check it out?' He watched as Rose shook her head.

'No…I think I've got it covered.' Rose stalked forward as she talked, her movements cat-like, filled with an infinite grace. She disappeared momentarily as she crept around the corner. There was a silence for a brief minute before the sounds of scuffling reached the hybrids' ears, causing them to look at each other in alarm before they ran forward to investigate. As they rounded the corner, they heard another low pained moan. They both stopped as they bore witness to the scene in front of them.

Rose towered over a male vampire, her eyes narrowed, her body trembling with rage. Trish took a moment to recognize the vampire before her face darkened. She stormed over to him and hauled him to his feet.

'You!' she spat. 'What the hell were you thinking?' she screeched at him, her voice reminiscent of a banshee. Dante looked about warily. If they had been hoping to approach the castle stealthily, then they had just blown their cover, thanks to Trish. Remy quailed under Trish's wrathful glare and stammered out something that sounded vaguely like an apology, but Trish was having none of it. 'Of all the idiotic stupid things to do!'

'Since when did you think you were allowed to disobey your master?' Rose picked up where Trish had left off, her eyes wild with anger even though she was somehow able to keep her voice under control. Dante sighed and then stepped forward. The two women looked at each other gleefully, knowing that if there was one person who was good at bitching people out, it was him. They immediately made way for him and stood on either side of him, waiting eagerly for Dante to begin his tirade.

'Remy, right?' Dante spoke finally, his voice low and even. The vampire nodded and watched him cautiously before letting a tiny glimmer of hope enter his heart. Dante sounded reasonable enough; he wasn't shouting and that had to be a good sign.

'Yes. I'm Remy.'

'Yeah…thought as much. Never did like you. You were all but useless when you tried to fight against Vergil with us.'

'I did try my best,' Remy growled defensively.

'Like you tried your best now?' Remy was silent. 'because of your actions this time, Reiko's been thrown into the dungeons. He was just about to clinch the deal when you messed it up.'

'How was I meant to know?'

'Well, did Reiko give you orders to launch a full-scale attack while he was still inside the palace?' Remy said nothing. 'Well…did he?'

'He said that I was to be left in charge of the guild.'

'I'm sure that's his mistake. I wouldn't have left you to be in charge of shit. Still, it's one of his only mistakes so I guess he can be excused.' Dante sighed, looking to the girls, who nodded agreement eagerly. Remy's face had become tight with anger and his eyes flashed dangerously as Dante continued. 'You were left in charge of the guild. I'm sure he was talking about guild matters and holding meetings and stuff. Not waging war.'

'Didn't Reiko give everyone orders, including you, before all this happened?' Rose said at this point, eyes glinting. Vampires had begun to appear here and there, more and more gathering as they were attracted to the noise. They stood silent and still, their eyes fixed upon the three friends and the "leader" of the clan. Dante raised his eyes and made a point of looking at them all, showing them that he was all too aware that they were standing around them in a circle. But the rest of the vampires seemed to have better memories than the one that cowered before him now; they all seemed to remember Dante and Trish as friends of their true leader. As for Rose, no one dared to make a move against her.

'So Remy, did Reiko give you any prior orders that you had to follow?' Trish asked, reiterating Rose's question. Remy drew back his lips in a fanged snarl, reminding Dante vividly of a cornered fox. The vampire looked all about him as though searching for an escape route but came face to face with yet more vampires, all who stared at him emotionlessly, some of them bruised and others still bleeding. None of them seemed willing to clear a path for him and so it was that Remy found himself trapped.

'Oh come on Remy,' Dante said at this point, his tone one that was willing to trick him into believing he could confide in him. 'Surely the question isn't that difficult, is it? All you have to do is answer yes, or no. Simple, don't you think?'

'I can tell you.'

'Yes, we can tell you.' Dante turned around to look at the two vampires that had spoken. They were both quite lean with a freshness about their faces which suggested that they had been vampires for less than a year. Remy glared towards them and hissed warningly but the male seemed to take no notice. The girl however, tossed her head and mirrored his angry gaze. Dante nodded towards Trish, signalling for her to continue.

'All right. Step forward.' They did so immediately and vampires replaced their positions in the circle, closing it once more. 'What are your names?'

'Asrun.'

'Lily.' The two hung close together, Asrun's face stern. He reached for Lily's hand and held it tightly, watching the harpy, the slayers, the vampire warily, as though unable to trust any of them. Lily didn't seem to feel quite as threatened and watched unblinkingly as Trish stepped forward with them and spoke out loudly, her voice clear.

'Asrun and Lily are going to answer for us the question that Remy seemed unable to answer. Whether he was merely unwilling or whether he actually lacked the intelligence to answer is still something of a mystery.'

'Asrun, Lily,' Rose addressed the two young vampires, a gentle smile on her face. 'Please tell us. Were there any orders that you were given to follow?'

'Yes,' Asrun answered at once, his face hardening. 'We were told to behave as friends to the harpies. We were told never to attack them, never to threaten them or make them fear that they would be harmed. We were told that any who disobeyed these orders would be dealt with accordingly.' Remy gulped and licked at dry lips, his eyes widening. Dante gave Rose and Trish a quick look but had no time to say anything else as another vampire stepped forward into the centre of the circle. Rose recognized her instantly, she was one of the vampires who had been there when she had met Remy for the first time. The vampire cleared her throat and nervously spoke.

'When I met the harpy before…well...Remy was with me. One of our number said that we should have killed her. Remy ordered his death immediately. A hum of whispering broke out as she said her piece. Dante knew exactly what it was they were whispering about. Trish began to speak.

'You were given an order by Reiko Kaneshiro and it is obvious that you were expected to follow it, especially considering that one vampire who failed to follow the rules was put to death. I assume Reiko also expects you to follow all of his other orders as well, right?' Trish watched and listened as a general noise of assent sounded and as vampires nodded. She turned to look at the miscreant. 'Remy, am I right?' The vampire nodded mutely. 'I can't hear you.'

'Yes…you're right…'

'I see. So why did you decide that it would now be safe to break those rules?'

'You're not being fair!'

'He gave you orders to stay put! He told us that no one was to follow him!' Lily piped up.

'You broke those rules too,' Asrun murmured, his voice low. Remy looked as though he were about to cry. A memory sprang unbidden to Rose's mind. Remy had escorted her back to Devil May Cry, had clasped her hand between his own and had asked over Reiko, whether she had seen him or not. The look in his eyes had been something alien and yet familiar and she remembered that she had been unsettled by it. An image of Lorelei sprang to her mind, the same light shining brightly in her eyes. Rose gasped, suddenly understanding everything, suddenly knowing why Remy had committed these "crimes". He had sincerely thought that Reiko was going to die and he had broken the rules, every single one of them, just so then he could have tried to save him. This was nothing about power going to his head. She bit her lip and then looked to Dante and Trish, wondering whether they realized the truth about Remy and his feelings for Reiko. But it seemed that they were clueless. She paused and frowned…it was so odd really…how that memory had come back to her…she shook her head and then tuned in to what was being said.

'We should put him to death!' cried one vampire.

'Yes! Burn the traitor! Burn him!'

'No! Starve him! Make him truly suffer!'

'He has disobeyed our master! He is a pretender to our master's position!'

'Kill him!'

'SILENCE!' A dead hush fell upon them all. Rose felt her skin prickle with discomfort as she became aware of how everybody's eyes were upon her, watching her unwaveringly, attentively, expectantly. She licked at her lips before pursing them together, looking towards Dante and Trish for support and guidance. Trish looked nonplussed but Dante, who seemed at that moment to be much older and much wiser than what he really was slowly inclined his head, the simple movement seeming somehow majestic. It momentarily took her breath away, freezing her. She was about to speak when she was rudely interrupted.

'Why do we become silent when it is a harpy that commands us to?' cried one voice loudly.

'Shut up.' Dante's voice had not risen above it's normal level, yet his voice seemed stronger and not his own. Trish caught the stunned look in Rose's eyes and smiled before whispering to her.

'He is truly his father's son.' The vampire that had spoken out had turned immediately silent as Dante continued, not seeming to have heard Trish's proud comment.

'This honoured friend of your master wishes to speak. I'm sure you all remember me and I'm pretty sure you all know what Reiko addressed me as.'

'The son of the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda…Dante…' whispered Asrun, his eyes wide, his voice an awed whisper.

'You heard the kid. Rose is going to talk and if you've got a problem with that, you're going to have to answer to me.' He took a few paces back before nodding curtly towards the harpy. 'They're all yours.' She smiled her thanks before clearing her throat again in readiness.

'I think it is best if we do not decide on Remy's fate at this moment of time. There has been enough bloodshed on this night. I do not know how many of your number have been lost but I can see by the amount of ash on the ground that it's certainly been cut down, that the numbers have been diminished somewhat. Let us spare Remy's life. More blood does not need to be spilt tonight. Besides, it is not in our place. There is only one who can decide the fate of this vampire and he is not with us. He is in there, in that palace, locked somewhere in those dungeons. You are all as much to blame as is Remy. Just because he commanded you, it did not mean that you should have automatically followed. You all should have known that Remy's actions were in direct contradiction to your master's laws and you should have corrected him, not follow him blindly. Thus, let it be said that his life is pardoned.' There was a stunned silence before Asrun bowed his head in agreement, Lily following suit along with the rest of the vampires. Dante smiled and decided that now was the time to clear things up.

'Go home, back to the guild and stay put until further orders are given to you. You've tried force and that didn't work. Now it's time to try another method. We'll take care of things here. And you,' he dropped his tone as he passed Remy. 'You better just go back to Devil May Cry and pray that Reiko comes back alive and well. Because if he doesn't, I'm not going to be happy and you're the one who's going to pay for it!'

---

Lorelei breathed out a sigh of relief as she watched the vampires disperse, melting away into the shadows as they drifted back towards their guild in twos and threes. She was happy to see that the thin wiry vampire had gone unscathed, even though he had been threatened and had nearly lost his life as a result. It was true that while she wasn't able to hear very much of what was said, the facial expressions of those involved told her what she needed to know. Besides, for some strange reason she had known, just known somehow that everything would somehow be all right. She just wished that she would be able to say the same for Reiko, that she wished she knew whether she was ever going to see him alive again.

She watched through narrowed eyes as the three continued on their way, Rose in the lead, guiding them down steep stone steps, forcing them up hills and through narrow alleyways until they finally reached the old building. Lorelei looked up at it and stifled a gasp. Her first thought was that it was truly an example of architecture that would have appealed to Reiko instantly. She looked to her side, as though about to ask him what she thought when she remembered that he was not beside her. A pang of loss made itself felt in the pit of her stomach. Loving him was like having a limb amputated; though it was no longer there one kept imagining that it was. So it was with her in relation to Reiko. She shook her head slightly, as though this would help to clear her thoughts and then continued after the trio of rescuers, careful not to trip over any loose stones or any cracks in the pavement.

---

'Woah…' Trish gasped, staring up at the palace. Dante snorted, clearly unmoved.

'Somehow I was more impressed when I looked at Mundus for the first time and saw that the Prince of Darkness was wearing a loincloth and that was all.'

'Actually, I've seen you the most impressed by that crappy little bi-plane,' Trish said with a giggle. Dante's eyes misted over nostalgically.

'Man…driving that baby was like a dream!' he sighed. Rose blinked and frowned, confused.

'He can fly planes?'

'Well…he thinks he can but between you and me he was utter shit.'

'Hey!'

'Well it's true! Your brother was the one who was the real flier you know. He was the one who built that plane from scratch when he was bored in the castle.'

'Really?'

'Yep. And you crashed it when you tried to land the damned thing!'

'…shit.'

'Indeed.'

'Don't you think we're getting a bit off-topic?' Dante said hastily, quickly looking back towards the building. Rose looked confused and Trish could only grin. 'I mean, how the hell are we meant to get in that place? We can't just walk on in there!'

'Yes we can,' Rose said, her tone one of surprise. Dante rolled his eyes and glared at her.

'If you hadn't noticed, the palace has just been attacked. They're not just going to let anybody walk in there you know.'

'No, but you have a harpy escort with you. Or rather, we will soon.'

'You mean,' came Trish's uncertain voice, 'you're not going to act as our escort?'

'No. I'm sure I've been spotted hanging about with Reiko several times by now. They probably wouldn't trust me.' She reached out at this point and stroked the phoenix's head-feathers, a serene smile crossing her face as the bird sang it's beautiful melody. 'While we wait, what's his name?' Dante blinked in the face of this question.

'I don't think he even has one. At least, Jean never said anything about it.'

'Jean?'

'The angel on the mountain who helped me out.'

'Why don't you give him a name in the meantime?' Rose suggested, her eyes still fixed on the magnificent bird.

'Inferno.' Trish answered immediately, her face set. Dante frowned and looked towards her.

'Trish…'

'I'm going to call him Inferno. Okay?' Aquamarine met turquoise in a silent battle of will. Dante sighed and shook his head regretfully.

'Fine…do whatever you want…'

'I will do.' There was an uncomfortable silence between them all. Rose fidgeted nervously before looking up, her smile returning to her face.

'Jay!' Trish and Dante also looked up to see a male harpy float down to greet them. His face was anxious, his eyes shone with worry.

'Please tell me that you're here to free him!' he whispered, his voice an echo of some horror that the three could only guess at. Rose nodded, her face grave.

'Yes, if he's still alive.'

'He is…for now anyway. I really don't know for how much longer he can hold on though. What are you going to do? How are you going to break him out?'

'Break him out? No, we're not going to be doing anything that's even vaguely illegal.'

'So what are you going to do then?'

'We're going to go to Her Majesty and beg for her grace. We're going to go about this properly. Hopefully, if this goes to plan, Reiko will be set free, we'll have an alliance in place and I'll probably be sent back into favour for not acting like how a heathen would. The Queen is impressed by little gestures like that. She'll put me back in favour simply because I went to her first.' She watched her brother, who nodded'Please…please do whatever you can for him. He was kind to my daughter. He was also kind to our cousins, the ones that brought him here in the first place. He was bruised when he first walked in here but they were totally unharmed.'

'I'll do what I can. Now if you please, take us to the Queen. The quicker I get this done the better it will be for Reiko.'

'Follow me.' Jay started walking immediately, the three close on his heels, Rose's face impassive, Dante and Trish giving each other significant looks. It seemed Rose knew the Queen very well, even to her habits and the way she thought. It also seemed as though Rose had grown in stature somehow, had now come into possession of a voice that commanded power, or at the very least, respect.

Soon, they came to the set of ornate doors, Trish gasping aloud as she caught sight of the intricately set jewels. Rose turned towards her at the sound, her face stern.

'Listen to me carefully, you two. You must remember everything that I tell you now and you must do everything I tell you, no matter how absurd it sounds. Okay?'

'All right,' Trish readily agreed.

'Get on with it.' Rose knew Dante well enough by now to know that this was the demon slayer's way of giving his consent.

'All right. When we walk into the chamber, do not bow until I tell you to, no matter what. Do not compliment her on anything. Not her looks, not her clothes, not the throne room, not her shoes, not her hair and especially not her jewellery,' she said, aiming a dark look at Trish as she said this last part. She paused here. 'Basically, you need to piss off the Queen and let me smooth things over, making me look good in the process.'

'Piss off royalty? Sounds fun,' Dante chuckled, a fiendish grin appearing on his face.

'Fine. But don't get angry at me afterwards for yelling and insulting you, okay? Remember that this is all an act.'

'Do you think the Queen will really fall for this?' Trish asked, her face a picture of worry.

'Trust me, she'll fall for it. She isn't all that smart. Brutal and devious most certainly, but not smart. There's a very fine line between being devious and smart.' All this time, Jay had been talking to the guards, and had waited as one of them had gone in to the Queen. Jay knew that if he could not hear a word of the rescuers' conversation, then there was no way in heaven or hell that the two guards would have been able to hear a thing. The guard soon returned and nodded to him formally, indicating that they had been granted permission to enter. Jay looked over his shoulder and called to the three friends.

'Come on. You've been granted a hearing. The Queen does not have all day!' Rose spread out her wings, stretching them to their full span before walking inside, her head held high, her posture straight and refined. Halfway into the room, she dropped to her knees and bowed. Trish and Dante stood behind her, looking faintly nonplussed, trying to act out their roles of rude strangers, who had no idea how to behave.

'Rise,' commanded an imperious voice. Rose immediately stood up, bowing again once more as she straightened up. Romana's eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared at the two hybrids. 'Do you not know who I am?' Rose affected a look of surprise immediately.

'Your Majesty! I bowed before you! I know who you are! Why do you ask me such questions?'

'Not you, Rose. Them.'

'Did they not bow?'

'They dared to disrespect me!' Romana growled, her eyes flashing with anger. Rose gasped with outrage before whirling upon the two slayers.

'Fools! Do you really not know before who you stand? You stand before the Queen!' Dante blinked.

'Really? I thought the Queen of England was older by a year or two.' He squinted at this point and then smiled. 'Oh right! I get it now. Now I see. Yeah…she looks as old as the Queen…'

'Therefore she's got to be the Queen,' Trish piped up helpfully.

'Still, now that I look at her, she actually looks older then when she looks on the TV.'

'You know, I think you're right.'

'SILENCE!' Rose cried, her voice horrified by such behaviour. The Queen of the harpies looked almost apoplectic. Rose immediately began smoothing over the situation. 'You will not speak in such an insolent manner towards the Queen of the Harpies, against the most glorious, the most feared, the most spectacular, magnificent and wondrous woman ever to fly the skies! Her beauty is without parallel. Now I command you to bow and treat her with the respect that such a ruler deserves!'

The two hybrids immediately bowed, Dante feeling secretly sick at the fact that he was bowing down to authority. In his head, he flipped her off multiple times. He allowed himself to smile inwardly as his stomach began to calm down and as the nauseous sensation gradually died away. The ruse appeared to have worked however, for the Queen was beginning to smile.

'Oh Rose, you have always ensured that my subjects remained loyal to me, my brilliant right hand, my advisor. You have always been there for me, haven't you?' Dante had a hard time trying to keep the shock away from his face. Rose? A Royal Advisor?

'Your Majesty has doubted me in spite of this,' Rose murmured.

'Yes and I am sorry darling. Really I am. How might I ever repay you?' Romana asked, her voice as sweet as honey. Sickly.

'There is nothing you can do now, my liege,' Rose replied, lowering her head and looking away. 'My feelings have been wounded most grievously. Your words offended me beyond measure, that you even doubted me for an instant.'

Romana's words became high and pleading at that point. 'Come come now, Rose. This is not right. I will do you any one favour as a token of my gratitude.'

'There is nothing you can do for me.'

'I will not have this. You will demand something from me or I shall have your head!'

'Anything?'

'Yes.'

'Anything at all?'

'Yes. No matter how ridiculous or how petty, yes.'

'Then I wish only for the vampire Reiko Kaneshiro to be freed.' A deathly hush fell upon the room, a silence that nothing could ever hope to possibly stir. Romana sighed.

'You do know what you ask of me, correct?'

'Indeed.'

'Tell me, why are you so eager for the vampire to be freed? Do you remember what happened when you chose a-'

'This is nothing like before, Your Majesty.'

'It better not be.'

'It was simply that I heard he was giving us a rare and powerful gift in return?'

'Yes. I have taken it from him already, just before I threw him into the dungeons.'

'Yet this is doing nothing to enhance our reputation. I say that we should let him go. After all, it was not his fault, I am sure of it. This one seems a decent sort from what I have heard. Did he seem vicious to you?'

'No.'

'Well then, Majesty, what's the harm of letting him go?' The Queen was about to answer when Inferno suddenly burst into noise and began to fly about the room, surprising everyone. They watched silently as the bird fluttered around, moving from one corner to the other, clearly agitated. At that point the guard came bursting through the doors.

'Your Majesty!' he panted. 'The dragon has been sighted!'

'Give orders to get everyone inside this minute! Now!'

'Your Majesty,' Dante spoke up at this point. 'I can defeat the dragon.'

'So do it then!'

'What's in it for me? For us?' Dante was careful to keep his voice level as he addressed her.

'What do you want?' The Queen sounded suddenly weary as panic began to overcome her.

'If I kill the dragon, you let Reiko go, got it?'

'Fine…Fine! Just go! Go!' And with that, she had them thrown out of her throne room. Jay stood there, his eyes wide and frightened. Rose turned to him immediately.

'Where was the dragon sighted?'

'Near the sea…'

'Take us there. Immediately! There is no time to lose!'