Well so much for these being chronological. I think parts of this will be posted in a nonlinear order, so I will make sure to post what chapter or when exactly these events take place. Just keep that in mind.

I wanted to write some Vinny POV and It will likely be a while yet before Vince makes a real appearance in the main line, so this is a little follow up with him. Enjoy some Vincent angst, it's what he's good at and it's almost Valentines Day after all. ;P

Shadows of Ghosts

*After Veld's visit to Nibelheim in Chapter 12*

The heavy black coffin lid shifted. With a scrape and dull thunk it fell from the top of the coffin. Vincent sat up stiffly and watched the dust that he had disturbed settle. It had only been a few hours since Veld left and he fully intended to return to his deep sleep, but he couldn't. Veld had been real. There was too much running through his head. He couldn't settle back down, and after staring at the silk lined lid of his prison for hours he finally gave up. Vince swung his long legs over edge and stood shakily. It had been a while since they had gotten any use.

He wandered uneasily out into the cavernous hall. For a moment he glanced down the path that led to the labs and gave a slight shudder. No... He wouldn't be going down there. The memories were still too fresh in his mind. He took the stone spiral staircase that wound its way up to the second floor of the mansion.

The manor was caked in dust and cobwebs, but otherwise looked as it was left. Vincent's clawed hand made a soft scraping noise when it dragged along the banister rail as he passed the great windows in the foyer. It came up thick with dust. Sunlight filtered weakly through the grimy windows as he sat on one of the benches in an alcove. Motes of dust danced in the thin rays of light, but he saw none of it. His mind was elsewhere. Veld had given him a lot to think about.

The boy was alive... He felt a sudden twinge of guilt. He hadn't even considered the fate of the child.

Lucretcia's child.

He silently cursed himself. That poor kid left at the hands of that monster... for his whole life...

20 years.

Had it really been that long? It felt like only yesterday that Hojo was shoving knives in his chest.

Knives in the boys' chest.

Metal ground and scraped against itself as Vincent's' fists clenched. When he unclenched them they still shook.

More sins... you left Hojo with a newborn…

Goddess forgive me. His throat tightened and he fought the urge to scream. His was assaulted with further guilt… was it his own mind or the demons that berated his every move? It made him want to crawl back into that coffin and never come out. But was my absence just as damaging as my involvement?

You should have stolen him away.

He gave a short laugh that sounded more like a sob. And done what? I can't even take care of myself. How could I care for a child…Could I have even awoken if I tried?

You know the answer to that…

Vincent shivered. He did… he could have. In fact he had awoken a number of times over the years. He never tried to escape. He simply surrendered to the darkness once more.

Coward.

Shut up… The bite lacked venom and only earned him a low chuckle. Definitely the demon. The other three would bombard him with emotions and urges, but only one actually spoke. Chaos.

What will you do human?

Am I human?

Does it matter?

Vincent had nothing to say to that. His emotions protested, but he could find no valid argument. I don't know…

I'm sure I could give you some ideas…

He scowled. He could feel the others excitement. Bloodshed, chaos, destruction, murder… He knew what Chaos had in mind.

You could always just call it revenge… or justice.

Revenge…Turks don't do justice. Chaos chuckled darkly from within the reassesses of his mind. Revenge against Hojo… against ShinRa. Force himself at odds with his old friend. Veld. It shook him seeing Veld… seeing him so old. No… he wouldn't force Veld to hunt him… to kill him.

Veld said he'd be back.

For now he would wait. He would regain his strength. Keep to the shadows and stay out of sight. He knew he couldn't convince Veld to aid him in this. He was a Turk after all; his loyalty was pledged to ShinRa. But maybe…maybe he could just look the other way… for old times' sake.