The house was the same as when I had left it. I knocked once. Then twice. No answer. The door was unlocked so I let myself in. I stepped carefully through the small house, looking for the lightswitch. Instantly the room lit up and I was surrounded by pictures. Pictures of my childhood.
Pictures of the gang. Dante, Vergil, and I. Eva was in a few. Pictures of my mom and I. It was like going back in time and looking at myself grow. I stood in the living room after meandering my way around the rest of the lower level. The oven beeped to say it was at the right temperature. It all smelled the same as she had had it when I'd left.
Something felt different though. There was a chilled edge to the room. I searched for an aura and found it, or lack of one. That's when it hit me. The difference wasn't just the chilled atmosphere. The smell was slightly different. There was a metallic smell coming from the upstairs. No.
It was blood. The second I realized, I was flying up the stairs as fast as I could carry myself. What had happened?
"Mom?" I yelled frantically. She didn't answer. I couldn't bring myself to consider the lack of aura was her. I felt the presence of someone but it wasn't filled with life. The aura wasn't strong. It was fading quickly.
"Mom?" I screamed as I ran to her bedroom door. No one was there. I went to the spare room. No one.
I finally brought myself to go to her sewing room. I slowly pushed the door open only to find what I definately didn't want to see. My mother was laying on the floor, her blooding soaking her yellow top and staining the white carpet beneath her the color of deep red whine. Her strawberry blonde hair was colored a fiery red from the blood. I couldn't bear the sight but I still hurried to her side. Her jade eyes were half closed and it was then that I realized she was barely breathing. I couldn't even count the number of wounds inflicted on her. All from some horrible blade that had slit her delicate, small frame.
"Mom?" I whimpered.
"Sarla?"She said, without meeting my eyes.
"You're alive?" I cried, a tear falling onto her face.
"You're home?" She sobbed but it caused her pain as she winced.
"I'm home, mom. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner!" I cradled her and her eyes looked up blindly.
"Don't blame yourself baby. It was bound to happen sooner or later... I'm just... glad you weren't here ... when they came. ... I'm glad you went with ...Vergil. You needed to get stronger. ... if you were live ... being what you are." She paused between her phrases and it broke me to see her swallowing her own blood. It broke me to see her in such pain and agony.
"Don't talk mom, it will only hurt you," I hoped to spare her at least a little pain.
"I can bear the pain if it means to speak with you before I leave you." She coughed blood over herself and me, "I can't see, honey. How have you been?"
"Well, before I tell you anything else, I want to tell you that Vergil and I are kind of, well, together, but he wouldn't ever admit that, though he practically told me that he's been in love with me since we were little kids,"I laughed to hid the big sob that was about to tear through me.
"That's good. I always knew you'd fall in love with one of those boys. Everyone thought it was Dante, but Eva said at first that you and Vergil were made for each other. I guess she was right after all." She smiled, though it was a bloody smile that did her no justice. My mother was beautiful and held the attention of so many men caught in her gaze, but now she was bloodied and fragile. She was dying and she still gave a smile. The smile she always wore that warmed people's hearts but only killed mine at the moment.
"Mom-"
"I knew when you left with him, you would end up loving him. No matter what darkness laid in his heart," She reached up to touch my face but couldn't hold her hand there, so I held it there for her.
"Yeah, you were right,"
"Of course I was ... I'm your mother. ... not to mention a priestess... I know when I know," I held her as a cough ripped through her.
"Vergil is planning on reviving the temen ni gru , mom. I don't know what to do,"
"Isn't it obvious? You must... stop him. ... Bring forth whatever light is left in him. You cannot let him open the gate. The whole world will ... be devoured,
"But-"
"Your father, will ..."
"My father will what?" I pressed as she seemed to fade. No! No! She couldn't leave!
"Not even Vergil will be able to win." She whispered.
"What do you mean? Mom, please tell me," I panicked.
"You and Vergil. It's funny that you come ... from rivaled bloodlines... and yet... both he and you love each other. ...he does love you, Sarla. ... He's not entirely lost... save him." She finally looked at me like she could see me.
"Mom?"
"You're even more beautiful than before," She murmured and a tear fell, "both of you" She added then smiled wider.
"Mom,"
"Take care of her... promise me.,..." she breathed, looking past me this time. "You look just like him ... your mother would be amazed... you've grown up well ... all three of you," I didn't understand what she was saying until I saw the shadow standing over us. I turned my head to Vergil standing over me.
He didn't say anything to my mother. He looked like an angel, albeit one of the deathly kind. A guardian of death.
"Vergil," I felt the tears flow freely now as I said his name.
"I love you, Sarla. ... You will do well ... to remember that..." She was wrenched with another blood filled cough, "You're stronger than he thinks you are," She said barely audible before smiling that smile and fading away from me entirely. She was entirely still in my arms.
Vergil knelt beside me and closed her eyes for her and looked to me and those eyes seemed to darken when he saw me holding her closer to me.
"Priestesses are burned in their temple. Do you know where it is?" He seemed as caring as he could manage. That was enough though, for me to know he didn't want me to feel like this. I nodded in response and let him take her from me and he carried her the way he had the first time he'd found me after all those years.
"Come on, I saw you found a car," He waited for me to stand and I did, but it was at my own pace that I followed. I could barely find the energy to move now.
"I am sorry," He said once he laid her down in the back of the car and covered her with a sheet from the house.
I didn't answer him but only stared ahead as he drove. He didn't say anything more even during the ceramony. Watching my mother's body be devoured by flames was my reality check. She was gone. I would never see her again, but I would see the demons who so cruelly butchered her, and I would make them suffer four times more than she had by there hands. I would have my revenge.
One way or another, I would kill the fucking devils who took my mother.
...
It wasn't until three days after I moped and laid in bed did Alice come to tell me that Vergil had encountered Dante while opening the had tried to have Dante open the seal but Dante had refused. Vergil arrived in time to spar with Dante and release the seal. He had even let Dante have the Amulet that Alice had stolen.
When I heard he'd returned the amulet I couldn't help but wonder why. I wondered if it had been because of what I had said or maybe Dante had convinced him on his own.
I had wanted to talk to Vergil about it, but he had seemed distant since my mother died. He'd just told me that I needed to rest and I had. In fact it was about all I could do. Knowing my mother was no longer in this world was pain enough. Knowing that my existance was what had caused her death just made me want to die. How could I not feel responsible? Because she had given birth to me, demons had struck her down. It was all my father's doing too. I didn't even know who my father was, though. Vergil had done some research on the four most powerful demons, trying to figure out if any had abilities similar to my own, or if they had had any relations with humans, but none seemed to be fitting.
I would find out who my father was. Then I would kill him. I would obliterate him. I would exact my revenge a thousand fold to what was inflicted on my mother. To do that, I definately needed to get stronger. I would do anything to gain more power.
My thought process seemed borderline Vergil to me. Power was essential in my revenge. I didn't know what he wanted all that power for, but I wanted power to take revenge. I had a motive. I wouldn't gain that power by destroying the world without any care but, I would find a way. Nothing could stop me.
"Sarla?" Alice popped into view from my door. I didn't move from my couch.
"What is it, Alice?" I didn't bother with my usual irritation towards her. It all seemed like too much effort now.
"Do you want to go get something to eat? There isn't really anything here." She sounded almost sympathetic towards me. Demons didn't sympathize. Demons didn't care for others. Then again, she wasn't exactly a normal demon. She acted human more than anything.
"How about some cake," I had been eating incredible amounts of food. I guess I was a girl who ate her feelings.
"I suppose," I answered, making the extra effort to rise and walk.
She didn't respond but waited for me. I left a note on the bed for Vergil if he chose to visit me and I wasn't there, explaining where I was. I was definately in the need for some cake with gallons of Italian buttercream frosting slapped on it. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and threw on a pair of jeans, sweatshirt, and tennis shoes.
Yeah, I looked like a slob. This was my "I really don't care what I look like today" attire.
I was still in question where Vergil got the money to provide food for us. I only assumed he stole it seeing as how he didn't have a job or anything. Or maybe he was doing side jobs and I just didn't know it, though I knew that wasn't his style. He definately didn't work. I always concluded that it was probably best I didn't know where the money came from.
The bakery was surprisingly empty which was how I liked it. I ordered the most fattening cake imaginable and some cream horns. I'm aware that the name doesn't sound right to all those perverts out there. I might as well have cleared out the bakery with all the treats I bought. Thankfully Alice had found us a car to drive before leaving the mansion. She had definately gone all out to try and make me feel better, and it was definately not something expected from her.
I went to open my door when someone call my name from behind. It was a voice I wished hadn't called to me. How could I face him now with Alice in the car? How could I face him when I was allied with his brother, let alone having sex with him?
"Sarla!" Dante yelled more urgently. Half of me wanted to ignore him and pretend I didn't hear but the other half knew that he wasn't stupid and would know I was ignoring him.
"Don't get out, Alice, I mean it," I commanded before shutting my door and turning to face Dante who was running towards me now. He wore a shirt for a change and a pair of dark jeans. He still wore those damn worn out boots though. His hair was the same length as Vergil's if he let it down. I hadn't seen Dante in nearly a year and a half.
"Haven't seen you in a while," I forced a smile, trying to appear happier than I was. I was happy to see him but wanting to run all the same.
"Yeah, hey I got big news!" He sounded like he was going to die if he didn't tell me, but I knew what he was going to say.
"Oh yeah?" I said when he approached me and embraced me so fiercely I thought I couldn't breath. He gave me a quick kiss on the lips before letting me go, "well you get right to the kissing don't you?"
"I haven't seen you in so long, but I got to tell you something, now that you're here!" He seemed ready to burst.
"What is it?"
"Vergil isn't dead! He's alive and in the city! I had an encounter with him about three days ago! He's changed completely! If you see him, I want you to get away from him. He's not the same Vergil from before. He's entirely different. Hell, he tried to kill me." He held my shoulders firmly. I didn't answer, but just looked at him. I didn't know what else to say.
"If I can just convince him that what he's doing is wrong, and bring him back with me, it will all be the same. We can all be the way we used to! Which, by the way what he plans to do is open the gate to the demon world. I mean isn't it great, aside from him being a murderous asshole now? God, I'm so glad I found you. I've been looking for you for days. Vergil said you were in the city. I couldn't believe it." He smiled and kissed me again, but it was deeper this time. I didn't really respond and he looked at me baffled.
"What's wrong?" He quirked.
"I'm sorry," It was sincere. He had no idea how sorry I was.
"For what?"
"Sarla, sorry, but we need to go," Alice stood up on the other side of the car and looked at us with wide eyes.
"What. In. The. Fuck. Is she doing here?" He looked at me with fury. Not so much directed at me, but he was livid. He wanted to know now.
"I'm sorry. I knew Vergil was alive." I broke. Tears were welling and I was trying my best to hold them back.
"What?" He was confused.
"I've known for over a year. About six months after you came here. He saved me from a bunch of thugs in an alley." I confessed and he took a step away from me.
"You knew and you didn't tell me?" He raised his voice.
"You weren't around! Besides, he asked me not to!" I shouted.
"That's no excuse! You knew that my brother was alive and didn't tell me? God, you humans are all the same! You don't think!"
"Well if humans don't think, then you're more human than anyone!" Alice chimed in, "How could you not notice that she isn't human? Vergil did!"
"What'd you say you little shit?" Dante started toward her but I grabbed him.
"Sarla isn't any more human than you are! Even I know that!" She repeated.
"What is she talking about?" He demanded angrily.
I started to say something but Alice beat me to it.
"Didn't you ever notice? Vergil did! She's been with him for the past year getting stronger,"
"Alice-"
"What?" He shouted. Oh boy.
Great Alice. Really. You're lucky I don't kill you right now. My mind growled. I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. This was definately not how I wanted to start my day.
"You've been living with him?" I thought he was going to explode the way his face was turning red and his muscles were tightening.
"Something like that?" I sounded annoyed and tired. I wasn't annoyed, but I was tired, and I was about two seconds away from murdering Alice.
"So what? I leave and you shack up with my brother?"
I slapped him across the face hard, "It's not like that! He said I wouldn't be able to control my abilities seeing as how they weren't lying dormant anymore. He said he could help me get them under control! If it makes you feel better I told him to fuck off the first time! And I have been trying to bring him back! I don't like his plan but if I can't stop him then I can at least be there when he destroys himself, like Eva wants me to!"
"Your excuse is that promise that you made to my dead mother? You're saying you stay with my twin brother because my mother would want you to? That's bull, Sarla and you know it! Just-"
"She stays, because I want her to," Could the situation get anymore heated?
"Vergil, please-"
"Were you there when she was being beaten to death by some back alley trash? An enemy that she could have disposed of had she been able to utilize her abilities. I gave her the choice to follow me and gain control or to be a threat to everyone around her when she snapped one day. You left her alone, remember?" Vergil now stood between Dante and I. I held a hand at his back tentatively.
"Oh, you're one to talk! You left both of us without even a word. You let us believe you were dead for all those years! Do you know how many tears she cried over you and mother? She wasn't even our mother's daughter or your girlfriend and she wept for you longer than I grieved!" Dante flailed his hands around. He was seriously pissed. If the situation could get any worse, why not make it? Did it really matter now?
"I'm well aware of how she dealt with it. I'm also well aware of the fact that she truly is all alone now that her mother is dead. If she wishes to leave than she is free to do so. She stays now, because I want her to. If you can't deal with it, that's your own problem," I heard the ring of Yamato being pushed up by his thumb. Vergil was furious now.
"What?" Dante's expression changed. He realized now, "Your mother?" He looked at me with sorrow.
I only nodded. What on earth could I say?
"Forgive me," He took it in a moment, "had I known, I wouldn't have-"
"It's okay," I waved it off, sparing him the guilt.
"When?" His intentions were pure. He wanted to know, but he just didn't understand it still hurt to talk about it.
"Three days ago," I answered quickly to get it out.
"So that's why you left so fast," He turned to Vergil.
"I left because she wanted me to accompany her there," Well at least I knew that he'd gotten the hint that day.
"Wait, are you two ... together?" Dante dreaded the thought, that much was clear to me. All hell would break loose if Vergil or I said yes.
"No," I answered before Vergil could, "he's just helping me get stronger," Vergil looked like someone had run over his dog when I said it.
Dante eyed me in response. He didn't look convinced.
"Your kisses always make me feel better," He said with chagrin. I knew exactly what he was getting at. He was such a devil, but you couldn't help but love the kid. He was in his own rebellious and stubborn way, a sweetheart. He held that devilish smile with now shame.
Vergil on the other hand, looked murderous. It didn't help my front when he looked like he would pull Yamato at any moment. I never thought Vergil could be so jealous. He quickly composed himself though, and managed to appear his normal cold and detached self, so much that even his aura was under control.
Vergil pulled me back and I almost wanted to yell at him for acting like such a child but stuffed it.
"What the hell?" Dante snarled.
"I have no business with you, brother," Vergil glared.
"Then why are you here?" I looked at him confused.
"Arkham has need of you," He said to me and only me. Those eyes were completely focused on me and nothing else. I could hardly pull my own eyes from his.
"Who's Arkham?" Dante demanded.
"Dante ..." I said his name. I really hated to hurt him. This wasn't how I had pictured our reunion.
"Sarla," He pleaded with me.
"This won't be the last time Dante, I promise. I wouldn't let our last time together be so cruel, but I truly must leave at this-"
"With him? Do you understand what he is trying to do? He's not who he used to be Sarla! You have to understand me on this! You can't fix him! He'll only hurt you!" Dante started for me but Vergil pulled me behind him.
"Well then it's a good thing he and I aren't together, so there isn't anything to hurt over," I said then turned to Alice, "You know how to drive. You bring my treats will you?"
"Sarla, as much as I can't stand the thought, I can't just let you go when you're in league with him," Dante pulled Ebony and Ivory from behind his back where surely they had been tuck away the whole time.
"I'm sure you couldn't take her on in your present state, Dante," Vergil said as if it were a fact.
"Still, I can't just let you go-"
"Sorry, Dante," I was. I materialized behind him and turned his head just the right way and laid him down slowly before picking him up and throwing him over my shoulder. He was out cold.
"I actually hadn't expected you to take him out so easily," Vergil sounded impressed.
I nodded to Alice to get heading back with my sweets, then turned to Vergil, "It was only because he didn't know about my abilities, and was caught offguard by them. Next time, it won't be so easy." I retorted.
"Next time?"
"Whenever you open the gate, he will be there. Sooner or later I'll be forced to fight him again,"
I dumped Dante off at a restaurant that seemed to recongnize him and offered to take him for me. Ironically it was a pizza joint, so it worked out for Dante when I left him three hundred bucks so he could get his own pizza and a ride home. Maybe he would get a laugh out of it. Who knew, maybe he wouldn't hate me entirely.
Yeah. Probably shouldn't hope for the impossible. He would definately be pissed at the very least.
"What does Arkham want me for?" I said once we were back at the mansion and nearing one of many libraries.
"You wanted to know about your father and who he was didn't you?" He grinned and I was caught off guard by it.
"Well, yeah. Did he find something?" I pressed.
"I wasn't just hiding the past three days. I went back to your mother's house. I found a pendent in the shape of an odd symbol. I showed it to Arkham and he knew immediately where to find it in the books," He answered and opened the door to the largest of the libraries in the estate.
"A pendent?" Of all things a pendent? Then again, I didn't underestimate Vergil's snooping abilities. If he found something of particular interest it usually lead to what he was looking for. He could have been a detective or private investigator if he'd lived a normal life.
Normal. That was a funny thought.
"To be more accurate, a crest. The mark of a demon," Arkham answered from the middle of the room.
"A demon's mark huh?" I thought about it. Reading was about the only thing to pass the time around here, so I had read up on many things. ...Well, the books that I could read. The mark of a certain demon signified its influence. The more higher powered demons, like the high Demon Lords and for example, the demon king himself, had their own marks, or crests to symbolize their existance and bloodline. The easiest way of putting it was a family crest. Either way, depending on how you recieve the mark you could increase your own power. Many lords bestowed they're own power onto another through a mark. More often than not though, if you bore the mark, you were most likely possessed.