STIGMA 2: Memory
Chapter 5: Ophelia's Descent Part 1
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Dante demanded.
It never failed to amaze me how two people who were physically identical could look so different in my eyes. Dante was the more human of the two. He had an energy and a boyishness about him that never seemed to fade. Even now when he was angry with me it was because he cared. I had nothing to fear from his anger unlike Vergil. The last time I pissed him off I ended up with his hand around my neck.
Of course he had ended up with at least six bullets in him too.
We had moved off the dance floor and over near the refreshment table. I had picked up a glass of champagne and was fiddling with it absentmindedly instead of drinking it. Dante was waiting for an answer.
"Well?"
I fumbled for an answer only to discover that I didn't have one. "I suppose I didn't want to worry you."
"Well you've worried me more than if you had just called me to say, 'hey your bro just bit me on the neck.'!"
"I'm sorry." I retorted. "I wasn't sure what to do. I haven't seen Vergil since that night and I've been fine since then."
Dante pushed back my hair from my recently bitten neck. "Well it looks like he did it right. He could have easily killed you. The process was banned on humans years ago. You need to be more careful around him. He's here and he looks like he's ready to kick your pretty boy's ass."
I scoffed. "Yeah right. Vergil could care less about me."
"I know my brother pretty well enough to tell when he's jealous. Look this aside, I want you to come home with me after tonight so I can keep an eye on you."
"What for?"
"You may not know it now but there will be consequences from this. I don't even know what they are. At least stay for a few days so I can make sure everything's going to be okay."
I sighed. "Alright. We'll need to swing by my apartment on the way home so I can get my things."
"Fine." He hugged me and grinned. "You humans are always getting yourselves into trouble."
"Good thing I've got you to protect me huh?"
"Go dance with your man. I'll go talk to my bro."
I found Logan waiting for me.
"Sorry about that." I apologised. I noticed that the classical music had stopped.
"No that's cool. The boring part's over. It looks like they're bringing in a d.j anyway. The fun's about to start!"
"Alexandra," I head the cool vocal tones of Mr Giovanni behind me. He was accompanied by two people. A woman whose skin was somehow whiter than Vergil's dressed in black lace. A pearl circlet decorated her violet hair that was shot through with silver. The man was human enough or at least appeared to be. His brown hair was cut short. He was simply dressed in a black suit, black shirt and white tie.
"This is council member Vakos from the Vampire High Council," Mr Giovanni introduced the woman, "And her human liaison Nikolai."
"Good evening." Vakos prounounced in a thick Russian accent.
"This is Logan Di Massey from our cleaning department."
"Is this the one who executed fledgling vampires?" Vakos questioned him while looking him up and down.
"All done within the confines of the treaty." Logan responded, clearly not afraid of her. "One of those fledglings nearly tore out Agent McCann's throat as well as endangering my people."
"I am not questioning the legalities of your actions, only verifying them." She replied. "But your directness is appreciated. It is so rare among humans."
"We are here to discuss those events with your leader." Nikolai spoke for the first time. From his accent I also judged him to be Russian. "We wish to coordinate a joint effort to find this murderer."
"And we welcome those efforts." Mr Giovanni interrupted. "But tonight we encourage you to enjoy our party and to mingle with STIGMA's many staff."
"And we shall do so." Vakos bowed and linked arms with Nikolai. As they walked away I looked to my boss.
"Was that a show of force we just pulled off?" I asked him.
He laughed quietly but sadly. "You could say that. The moment the report about the murders came to me I had contact from the High Council requesting us to let them join us tonight. They either know something or are behind this. Either way this is a situation I don't care for."
"What are your orders from here?" I stood ready waiting.
"The same request I gave to the vampire and her pet human; enjoy the party." He disappeared into the crowd of people. I noticed the contempt he put into the word 'human' and frowned.
"This is turning out to be a really weird night." I commented to Logan.
He nodded slowly. "So, dance?"
"I'd love to."
The music started.
All the kids in the club give it up for what I'm dishin'
This beat's got heat and so tonight I'm wishing
To get to the floor
So I can get me some more
I wanna put out a toast to those who freak me the most
This song was amazing. It brought out something within me. I raised my arms above my head as Logan circled his arms around my waist and we danced.
I got a feeling and I just can't let it go
Now I can't stop it baby let's get physical
Just wanna get up in the good vibrations
And I can feel it in the air
It's gonna be a hot summer
Were we amazing dancers? No but I still enjoyed myself. So much so that I tripped on part of my dress and would have fallen backwards onto the floor over if Logan hadn't caught me in his arms.
"Whoa, easy there Alex." He lifted back up to stand on my feet. "You're lucky you're so light."
"Just pretend that I did that on pur-" He silenced me with a kiss. It wasn't like when Vergil kissed me. It wasn't full of need, passion and intent. It was soft and gentle. It was like I was fragile object he was afraid of breaking.
It was in that moment that I realised I would never care for him as I would Vergil. A sharpness hit my neck and I pulled away.
"Is there something wrong?"
I shook my head. "I just need some air. I'll be right back."
I found my way to the balcony near the cloakroom. It was a clear night and the wind danced around me, playing with loose curls.
"Miss, is there something wrong?" A voice from behind me asked. I turned around.
A man in his late fifties was next to the door to the cloakroom. His black hair was marred by streaks of grey. Faded green eyes appeared concerned.
"Oh I'm okay." I lied. "Just a little overheated."
"That is good to hear." He fiddled with a pocket watch. "My name is Daniel Clarke. I am a former agent for STIGMA, here at Mr Giovanni's request. And you must be Alexandra McCann."
"Does everyone know who I am?"
He stood and turned to leave. "Only those who matter. Good night Agent McCann."
"Good night Agent Clarke."
As he left I frowned. He was somewhat familiar but I couldn't place him. The only conclusion I had was maybe I had seen him somewhere in STIGMA's records.
I decided to get my black bag and find Dante so I could leave. As I approached the door, I stopped. The sounds of people arguing were coming from the room. I was about to walk away.
"Don't pretend she doesn't mean anything to you!" I could hear Dante. "Marking her was dangerous. Do you have any idea what this could do to her?"
"She won't die." Vergil snapped. "Fate seems to have made sure of that, leaving me with a burden such as her."
"That's not what I meant and you know it. Marking humans was banned for a reason."
"Mom survived it."
"Mom consented to the progress you idiot! Alex didn't have a choice. You may as damn well have raped her!"
"How dare you." Vergil sounded like he was itching for a fight.
I decided that this would be a good moment for my escape. Or it would have been if I hadn't run into the vase on a cabinet next to the door and sent it to the marble floor with a loud crash.
"Fuck." I muttered.
"Alex, you're out there aren't you." Dante called.
I pushed the door open and glared at Vergil. "Yeah I was. I just came to get my bag. Didn't want to be such a burden on you and make you wait all night. If you need me I'll be at the shooting range."
I stalked out, heels clacking loudly on the floor as I walked. I fumbled in my bag and found my gun. I was in the mood for shooting stuff.
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Bang, bang, bang, bang….another target sheet was obliterated in my anger. I poured my rage into each shot and pretended I was shooting Vergil's perfect stone face.
"Evil bastard." I muttered as I pulled the trigger. "Die you evil, lying weasel."
Diabolique had never had such a workout until recently except for when I visited the range for practice or when I needed to blow off some steam. I was thankful that the gun never ran out of ammunition. It made target practice a hell of lot easier.
"Remind me to never get you pissed off." I jumped a metre in the air. Adrian was just casually standing near the door, still dressed in a tux.
"So when were you planning on telling me about you and Micah." I turned to him.
He shrugged. "I'm not sure. I was a bit afraid of what you would think and decided to hold off."
"Why would you be afraid of what I think?"
"Because she's a sweet young girl and I'm a dirty old man."
I laughed loudly. "Firstly she's eighteen and she's legal. She's old enough to make decisions about who she wants to date. Secondly we're the exact same age, dumbass. Are you calling me old?"
He snickered. "Whoops."
"You're not over the hill yet, bro. Don't worry so much about what everyone else thinks and try to be happy that you have someone unlike your spinster of a sister."
"You're not a spinster and you know it. By the way Dante's looking for you."
I took my protective goggles off and put the gun away. "Well guess I'd better go. I'll be staying at Dante's for the first few days of my vacation."
"Sounds like fun. Just be careful. I always worry when you go demon hunting with him."
I hugged my brother. "I'll be fine, Adrian. I can't really die you know. And apparently neither can you."
Adrian shook his head. "I'd prefer for you to not test the limits of your supposed immunity to dying. Promise me you'll be careful?"
"I will." I tried to ruffle his hair but found it to be stiff with gel. "Hair products bro? Didn't you say they were for pretty boys?"
"Yeah yeah. Shut it."
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I found Dante by the entrance to the ballroom.
"What kept you so long?"
"Just working out some anger. Are you ready to leave?"
"Pretty much. We'll stop by your apartment first. It's a long drive to my place so you might want to catch some shut eye on the way."
After stopping by my apartment for a change of clothes and packing some spare ones along with my sword we headed out.
It was after nine pm now as we drove along the highway. Dante's rock music blasted out of the speakers. I sat there just numb to it all. All I could hear were Vergil's words, calling me a burden. That's all I was to him, just a burden on his time.
"He loves you, you know." Dante's voice cut through my thoughts. "He's just too damn stubborn to admit it."
"Bullshit." I replied darkly.
"I'm serious. Despite what he said, he does have a heart."
"I can't feel anything anymore, Dante. I'm so fucking numb to everything. It's like I'm not real without him. And that's the worst part, knowing that I suffer while he just stands there and stares at me."
Dante opened his mouth to reply when his phone rang.
"Trish, what's going on?"
"We just got a call for a job." Trish's voice echoed over the tiny mounted speakers placed in the front of the car. "There's a reported vampire attack in a cemetery halfway near us and Caruso Port Town. "Can you intercept?"
"Got it babe. I'll see you when I get home." Dante grinned and sped up. "Guess now it's your chance to find out if you're really alive, huh?"
Author's note: Sorry for taking so long. Writer's block struck once more.
Thanks for everyone's comments so far. Please keep them coming.
Next chapter: Ophelia's Descent Part 2.