It was already night by the time they'd gotten back to Leila's house. It was a small cottage tucked away in the hills, a whole lot smaller than the Langs' ranch, but it was big enough. Leila offered for Dante to spend a night at her house before trekking off to the Noble's castle.

"Here we are... Welcome to my humble abode," Leila said with a giggle as she opened the door. She was aging, yet she still had a bit of youthfulness to her. Dante had smiled and admired his surroundings.

"It's very homey," he said after inspecting the cute little flower pots spilling with flora, and the little fountain she had in the back yard.

"Thank you," she said as she went inside, holding the door for Dante. She flicked on the kitchen light as she entered. "My husband and I built this from scratch."

"Wow," he said, looking around the kitchen. It was a blue and white-oriented room, with everything from dishes to the floor, to the walls and even the pictures-- all was blue and white. There was a bit of cream colored things too, but the blue and white patterns, specifically checkered, had dominated.

"So, you have a husband?" He asked as Leila offered him a chair. He sat down and looked at her, expecting her to sit down across from her, but instead she pulled out two cups and grabbed a bottle of brandy.

"Yes, his name's William. William Jameson." She held out the brandy bottle, and he graciously accepted. "I kept my maiden name, though. I was always known as the sister to the Marcus Brothers, but now I can live up their names to the fullest." She poured the glasses with brandy and set one out for Dante, then one for herself and sat down.

"The Marcus Brothers..." Dante said, taking in the name. "I've heard of them. What were their names again? Borgoff..."

"Borgoff, Kyle, and Groveck," Leila happily answered, sipping her drink. She seemed a bit distant though, perhaps remembering them.

"Grove... He was sick all the time. Had seizures and things... Died because of it." She shook her head. "That and Borgoff's agitation. Now, Borgoff, he got eaten alive by ants..." She shuddered. "And Kyle... He was bitten by a vampiress."

"That's horrible," Dante said, looking down at the table. Blue and white. How fitting.

"Yeah, but that's in the past. You know, I owe it to your father that I'm here today," Leila said with a nod. "We had quite a showdown in the Castle of Chaythe."

"Tell me about it," Dante said. They chatted the night away, Leila telling stories of how D and Camilla had battled, and how Meierling and Charlotte had died in each other's arms.

"It was quite a romantic way to die, if you ask me," she said as she sipped her third glass of brandy. Dante still hadn't finished his first one, and noticed that Leila wasn't really holding her liquor all that well.

"Maybe I should retire for the night, Leila," Dante said with a small smile. She nodded.

"Alright, let me show you to your room." She stood and led him up the stairs, a bit wobbly, but strangely holding up the conversation all the while. She opened the door and held out her hand to show Dante the small room.

"It's a bit ordinary, but it's all we got," she said. He nodded and stepped inside. He inspected the room. The sheets on the bed were white and covered in lace. The pillows were fluffy, and there was an antique dresser with some bottles of perfume on it. It all looked quite girly.

"Thank you," he said as he took off his cloak and hung it up. "Do you have a daughter or something?" he asked, inquiring about the feminine room.

Leila was speechless for a moment, but quickly regained her confidence. "No, no I... I don't have children." She smiled. "G'night."

Dante nodded and sat on the bed as the door closed. Why was that so difficult for her to say? It seemed like there was a little more to this that he knew of.

Then he noticed it. On the dresser there was an antique-looking picture-- a vignette with a girl smiling. She wore a frilly white dress that was a little tight around her protruding bust. A good deal of cleavage was showing, covered ever-so slightly by a ring of pearls. The girl's hair was long and wavy, either red or brown-- he couldn't tell, for the picture was a bit faded. And her eyes...

Wait. Eyes... those eyes... he knew those eyes!

A flash in his memory, sparkling emerald eyes that looked at him, if only for a moment.

This was getting too weird. That woman... That was the woman in his dream! He wanted to go ask Leila about it, but instead he stopped himself and picked up the picture to further inspect it. Yes, it was her alright. Her hair was red, now that he had a closer look at it. She seemed so happy, so giddy... not anything like she was in the dream. She seemed controlled, possessed, anything but this smiling, happy girl.

This could not have possibly been a coincidence. It was fate. Yes... fate. That's what he told himself. A Master Lucius, the same name of the Noble that lived in the castle taking girls from their families... A girl whom he saw with Lucius... Precisely the same time she disappeared. This was strange. Absolutely strange.

What did this mean? Only time would tell...

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Another chapter in one day! Whoo! Thanks for reading, and please review!