Disclaimer: I do not own the boys, Lady, or DMC!
Chapter 3: The Alegra
Vergil stepped out of the limo and looked up at the towering hotel and casino, unimpressed with the glitz and glamour. He gazed about in disdain as numerous humans moved here and there, some coming from the casino, some arriving and still others moving about in hurried movements as they attended to their jobs. There was even one man sitting on the steps that led up to the casino, sobbing uncontrollably he covered his face with his hands.
In the time that it took Lady to get out of the limo, two men dressed all in black - obviously the casino security - came down the steps and after having a short conversation with the sobbing man, they hauled him up to his feet and quickly escorted him off the premises.
"Scary, uh?" Lady murmured softly as she too gazed at the broken man being nearly carried away.
Vergil didn't answer her, only twisted his lips further in displeasure. Dante would most certainly pay for this!
"Hopefully this will be quick." Lady stated her own unhappiness evident in her frown.
"This way." Danny gestured toward the casino entrance. "Someone will look after your luggage."
Sighing softly - he honestly was not fond of the idea of having so many people handling Yamato - he followed Lady and Danny into the casino, unconsciously keeping close to Lady's side as upon entry the number of people seemed to dramatically increase.
Unlike the exterior of the casino the interior was considerably darker, lit mostly by hundreds, if not thousands, of flashing and blinking lights. There were a few shouts of joy scattered throughout the crowd as someone won something, but even those were far and few between. People pressed further together in an attempt to see some of the higher paying games of chance.
Disgusted, Vergil focused entirely on weaving his way through the tightly packed crowd of people, insuring that he never once lost sight of Lady's lithe figure. They were half way across the casino floor, making their way through the slot machines when an older woman jumped off her stool and cried out in happiness as the slot machine began spewing out quarters. "I won! I won!" she danced around merrily, grabbing out and attaching herself to Vergil as he tried to move around the woman as Lady and Danny had just done.
"Madam, if you would kindly extract…" Vergil started coldly, trying to pry the plump woman off his body.
With little regards to his efforts, the woman began trying to force him to dance with her.
Having a mind too firmly and permanently extract the woman from his person, Vergil recalled Dante's last words to him.
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"Remember to behave yourself! The last thing we need is more headaches from the law enforcement community. That means NO miming, killing or otherwise slaughtering ANY humans. And For God's Sake DON'T PISS LADY OFF!"
Rolling his eyes in disdain, something that Dante caught all too readily, Vergil was unable to say anything in his own defence as Dante continued.
"And if you break any of those rules or Lady ends up hurt because of your stubbornness, you might as well stay in Vegas, cause you won't be welcome back here."
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Normally the threat would have been meaningless to Vergil, but after finally feeling like he belonged somewhere again, he was loath to give it up - a small fact that Dante was obviously all too aware of.
Growling in frustration over his situation, Vergil grabbed a hold of the woman's wrists and giving her a firm shake, tried again to get through to her. "Ma'am!"
At that the woman looked up, fear suddenly filling her eyes as she gazed into the icy depths of Vergil's eyes.
Before either of them could do any more, Danny calmly pulled the now shaken woman away from Vergil.
"Sorry 'bout that." Danny gave Vergil an apologetic smile, not noticing the menacing look still dancing in Vergil's frigid eyes. "It's great that you've won miss!" Danny encouraged the woman, skilfully guiding the woman back to her slot machine. "I'll have someone bring you a bigger cup for all those coins straight away."
Still warily watching the woman with hatred, Vergil nearly jumped at Lady's light touch on his arm.
"You alright?" she asked, her voice in a low whisper.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Vergil responded grouchily. In all his years of dealing with demons and other such creatures, none had ever been able to sneak up on him. Yet Lady always managed to catch him off guard, a fact that was more irritating then being forced to come on a trip that he had not wanted to take. "She is only an elderly over-weight human." he stated with finality.
Lady shook her head, a frown marring her earlier concerned features. "That's not what I meant and you know it!" she hissed, angrily glaring at him.
Returning her glare with one of his own, Vergil folded his arms across his chest and using his superior height to his advantage, towered over Lady. "Then let us get this case over and done with so that we might return home, where I need not be attacked by fat women and neither of us needs spend time in the others company." he stated venomously.
Bristling, Lady spat back with a "Fine by me!" before storming back off in the direction that they had been heading.
Cursing Dante for what seemed like the hundredth time already that day, Vergil followed Lady toward the now insight elevators.
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"I will not!" Vergil exclaimed with a growl as he faced his twin.
Dante crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against his desk with one leg crossed over the other in a posture that clearly announced that he wasn't bugging in his decision. Too bad Vergil wasn't about to either.
"Look, you and Lady have issues that need working out. Neither of you are going to do that with us around." Dante tried to reason.
"You really intend for me to kill her don't you?" Vergil asked, fingering the hilt of Yamato grouchily. In years past he would have already pulled the slender blade from its sheath and reminded Dante that he could not be ordered about.
"Right," Dante rolled his eyes in disbelief. "You wouldn't be able to kill her anymore than I would."
"Don't be so sure." Vergil sneered.
Dante shook his head and pulled a hand through his unruly hair. "Jeez, talk about denial."
Raising his eyebrows in astonishment and then furrowing them a second later at Dante's accusation, Vergil responded threateningly, "Do you honestly believe I do not have the ability to kill a human?"
"Oh, no!" Dante exclaimed, raising his hands defensively. "I know you don't give a rat's ass about killing humans."
Relaxing slightly now that Dante obviously was in agreement with him over at least a portion of their argument, Vergil's jaw nearly dropped with Dante's next comment.
"You just couldn't bring yourself to actually kill Lady, that's all I'm saying."
Recovering from Dante's assessment and now furious at the implications behind it, Vergil frowned deeply at his younger brother. "I suggest that you retract your statement, forthwith." Vergil growled angrily.
"Or what?" Dante sneered childishly.
"Or I will be forced to remind you of who is the eldest." Vergil snapped irritably, annoyed and furious with Dante's attitude.
Dante laughed outright, "Come on Verge! It's not like I haven't kicked your ass before! Besides it was 'you' yourself that told me that you cared about her!"
"I did no such thing!" Vergil snarled and crossing his arms across his chest, turned from Dante forcing him to talk to his back.
With his back turned, Vergil missed the expressive eye roll from Dante. "Don't tell me you were too drunk to remember?"
"Exactly, I was under the influence of a great deal of alcohol and thus nothing I said could ever hold any truthful merit." Vergil stated matter-of-factly, refusing to so much as look at Dante, partially because he knew his twin well enough to almost visualize the dopey grin plastered on Dante's face. So long as Vergil didn't physically see it, he could keep his already seething temper in check.
"Ah, come on now." Dante chuckled mockingly. "I think that was actually the first time you were completely honest!"
"And how would you be able to ascertain the difference when you were as intoxicated as I?" Vergil inquired, risking a glance at his brother to find him looking to the floor, his right hand idly twirling Rebellion.
Dante shrugged nonchalantly, and then hefted Rebellion up to examine it more closely. "Look," Dante started, his softer words forcing Vergil to turn towards him once more. "It'll be just like when we were kids and constantly fighting. Do you remember? Mom would send us to our room until we could learn to get along again."
Vergil listened absently, his thin lips twisting in outraged remembrance, his fingers once more moving along Yamato's hilt. He could know see the only plausible outcome to this conversation. Well, there certainly was nothing like old times.
"Just think of Las Vegas being a really big room for you and Lady. And until you two can get along, you're not coming out." Dante continued, still inspecting Rebellion, without any regard as to what Vergil was doing.
"Unfortunately for you, I am no longer a child." Vergil replied stiffly and then with a short mocking chuckle, he added, "And you most certainly are 'not' my mother!"
"Maybe not, but at least I'm using the lessons I learned in the past and putting them to good use." Dante replied accusingly.
Feigning a hurt look, Vergil flicked his thumb up on the hilt of Yamato, causing the sword to be removed from its sheath by a bare inch. "Well, I'm hurt Dante. I feel I've learned my life's lessons rather well, and as I recall the only way to get you to shut up is through Force." Vergil snapped out and drew Yamato from its sheath.
"Bring it!" Dante challenged, and drove toward Vergil, already prepared with Rebellion to meet Yamato, only problem was Vergil disappeared into thin air. Instinctively Dante swivelled and was forced to dodge as a number of ghostly swords flew toward him.
Vergil laughed, "You will need to do much more than that if you wish to win this argument." Using his abilities to his advantage, Vergil teleported, leaving Dante standing and staring into thin air, again. Appearing behind Dante once more, Vergil was slightly surprised and a bit impressed, when Dante anticipated the move, Rebellion moving to intercept Yamato before it had much time to move.
The blades locked and both brothers placed all their weight into the hold, each trying to exert their will on the other.
"You are…" Dante ground out between clenched teeth, his face screwed up in concentration. "Getting on that plane!"
"NO!" Vergil snarled, and teleported from view, causing Dante to stumble forward without Vergil's weight to hold him up.
Throwing a set of quick slashes at Dante, Vergil returned to the furious battle with his brother. It had been far too long since they had fought in such a manner, and Vergil found himself oddly enjoying himself for the challenge.
Dante dodged all the slashes and then closing with Vergil, a huge grin on his face, began slashing with Rebellion, each strike meeting Yamato with a clang.
Coming to a lock for the second time, now each twin looking for a possible weak point in the other in which to exploit and end the battle, Dante growled out determinedly, "I swear, I will drag your ass onto that plane if I have too!"
Glaring icily at his twin, Vergil countered angrily, "Just try it!"
"No problem!" Dante returned Vergil's challenge. "I've kicked your ass before, not to mention there are other ways to skin a cat!"
A quick jump backward to break the hold with Dante and Vergil growled, "I wouldn't speak of skinning cats when there are felines present." Moving to attack Dante again, Vergil was stopped when both he and Dante were struck with force and knocked off their feet.
A crackle and a hiss filled the room as Trish's furious voice spoke, "Gawd, look at this mess!"
Using Yamato to pull himself up, Vergil looked to the mirror image of his mother standing just a few feet away. Knowing Trish's affection for felines, Vergil grimaced slightly; he knew that Dante should have never mentioned cats, but the mess? They hadn't made a mess, had they? A quick glance at the floor showed blood splatters covering parts of the polished wood, confirming that there was indeed a mess.
"Why can neither off you argue without resorting to an all out blood bath? You two are such children!" Trish shouted. "And if anyone says Anything about skinning cats again, I will personally cook them for dinner!"
"Hey!" Dante cried indigently as he made it to his feet once more.
"I resent the implications…" Vergil was unable to finish as lightning snapped out from Trish's fingers striking both him and Dante, sending them flat onto their backs.
"I don't care; you're both cleaning this up!" Trish yelled with finality and turning on heel, stalked into the kitchen.
Sighing in defeat, both twins allowed their bodies to sag fully to the floor in defeat.
Softly padding across the floor, Ravage approached his fallen master, sitting down beside Vergil's head, a mouse clutched between his sharp teeth.
Vergil groaned at the ominous sight, taking it as an unhappy omen.
"Tell you what," Dante's voice spoke from beside Vergil, sprawled as he was out on the floor. "I'll clean up; if you get on the plane without anymore fuss."
With his eyes on the small mouse held in Ravage's jaws, Vergil petted the black cat fondly and agreed. "Deal."
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Thus far that deal wasn't turning out to be in his favour.
Rushing up to them from the casino floor nearly five minutes after Lady and Vergil had reached the elevator doors; Danny apologized as he pressed the up button on one of the elevator doors and then took a moment to catch his breath.
"I don't know what you said to that woman, but I just spent the last ten minutes persuading her not to sue!" Danny finally spoke, straightening now that he had caught his breath.
Silently glad that he had successfully struck such fear into the woman, Vergil murmured caustically, "She should be thankful that I do not sue her."
Looking to Vergil with a confused and somewhat disbelieving look, Danny questioned, "She didn't actually hurt you, did she?"
Pulling away from the wall where he had been leaning when the elevator door opened, Vergil answered simply, his blue eyes piercing into Danny's pointedly, "I believe that is not the point."
A glance at Lady as they entered into the elevator, revealed an accusing glare, her bi-coloured eyes speaking worlds of displeasure at his uncooperative attitude.
Snorting disdainfully and turning from her, he leaned against the side of the elevator and crossing his arms against his chest, watched as Lady took the opposite wall and once more opened the case file in her hands.
Women! After dealing with three very head strong women - one in particular giving him no end of trouble - over the last year, Vergil had seriously begun to contemplate how his father had ever managed to put up with his mother.
Fidgeting uncomfortably in the silence that was so tense and so thick a knife would have been needed to cut through it, Danny stood between both of the demon hunters. When the elevator came to a stop on the correct floor, the poor man nearly jumped out of his skin in relief; his job mere moments from being completed.
Waiting for Lady to exit first, Vergil already could foresee the disaster approaching as Lady refused to put the file down and the hotel staff had carelessly left a cleaning cart in the middle of the hallway.
Smirking in glee at Lady's impending doom - Dante had said nothing about saving Lady from her own misfortunes, and this was just the type of small revenge that he was in dire need of - Vergil was faced with a mixture of emotions as the raven-haired huntress nimbly avoided the cart, her booted feet not even missing a beat as she continued down the hall.
Irritated that he hadn't had any sort of revenge, yet still secretly impressed, Vergil was reminded of his days spent working alongside Arkham. Regardless of how involved in study the man had been, he also had been meticulously aware of his surroundings, and although Lady would vehemently deny any such comparison, Vergil decided that she was not completely unlike her late father.
Stopping before a door, Danny knocked sharply on it and waited patiently for a reply.
Coming to a halt directly behind Lady as they too waited, Vergil took advantage of his superior height and peered over Lady's shoulder, examining the contents of the folder for the first time.
Studying a photo quietly, his eyes paying close attention to the wounds on the body within the picture, Vergil deduced that they could not have been caused by a ghost, but by something significantly more powerful. Skimming the report opposite the photo, his eyes settled on the time of death. "Dawn." he murmured softly, causing Lady to lift her head and look at him over her shoulder.
She was kept form saying anything as a permission of entry was given and Danny opened the door into an extravagant suite.
Both hunters were guided swiftly across a spacious living room, the very modern furniture looking more stylish than comfortable. The suite itself was brightly lit by the afternoon sun, as large picture windows allowed the sun rays freedom.
Vergil paused to study a seemingly out of place African tribal mask when a resounding crash from just the next room put his senses on high alert. Seeing Lady stiffen as well at the sound, Vergil moved forward, coming to her side once more, the mask now forgotten in light of the possible danger.
As another crash sounded, Vergil's fingers twitched, yearning for the comforting grip of his sword. Danny brought them into the next room, completely unperturbed by the sounds. The moment they took their first step into the room, Vergil irritably felt rather ridicules.
The suite, as it turned out was also equipped with a single lane bowling alley, the crashing having originated from the pins being struck down.
"Mr. Palmer," Danny started addressing the only other man in the room, whom seemed to be paying them little heed as he reached for the bowling ball as it returned on its chute. "Mr. Vergil Sparda and Miss…" Danny paused and looked to Lady in askance.
"Lady," She spoke with a slight measure of annoyance.
"Thank you Danny. That will be all for now." The man spoke, bringing the ball to his chest and then with a few quick movements sent it spinning down the lane.
If this was the urgent matter that the man had been attending to over meeting them at the airport, Vergil was even less impressed than he would have been just by looking at him. Dressed in blue jeans and a gaudily coloured Hawaiian shirt, Vergil would have never taken this man to be the type of business man required to successfully run an establishment like the Alegra.
The ball struck the pins causing another crash as Danny departed.
"Lady, hmm?" Mr. Palmer turned toward them for the first time. "Something wrong with your given name?"
Hands folded neatly over the case file, Lady's face remained completely emotionless under the scrutiny of their new client. "A long story. One I would prefer not to discuss." she answered formally.
"Fair enough." Palmer spoke, scratching his black scruffy beard absently. There was a clunk as the bowling ball returned down its chute, rolling past Vergil as the pins were reset. "So, Mr. Sparda, I hear you've been missing for some time. In fact a certificate of death was even issued, mind clarifying that?" Palmer continued, picking up the newly returned ball.
Frowning deeply at being interrogated, Vergil answered sharply, "My business is my own, and none of your concern."
"Maybe so, but…" Palmer started, lining up once more to send the ball rolling again, but was prevented from asking more by Lady's cold voice.
"As I recall Mr. Palmer, it was you who asked us here. Considering the nature of our business, it is we whom should be scrutinizing how you came by 'our' number and why it is that you believe you require 'our' services."
Vergil couldn't help but smile inwardly as Palmer turned toward Lady once more to stare at her in surprise. Honestly he didn't think he could have done a better job.
For his credit Palmer recovered quickly. "Apologies." he stated, his dark eyes meeting Lady's unwaveringly. "But I did not get to where I am today by taking chances."
"Then the back ground checks you've already done on us should be enough." Lady returned curtly, her voice all business.
"For you, yes. Unfortunately, there are 'many' holes in your companion's records."
Vergil narrowed his eyes at the insinuation, but wisely kept his mouth shut, allowing instead for Lady to handle the matter.
"As I said it was 'you' that asked us here and I know for a fact, Dante vouched for his brother. If that is not enough then there is no sense in us wasting anymore of our time here." Lady defended, her face completely devoid of emotion, save for her bi-coloured eyes which burned hotly, daring their new client to challenge her.
After a few moments, Palmer conceded the win to Lady. "Very well." he said and turned back to his bowling lane.
Rather than smirk or grin in her achievement over the hotel owner, Lady remained silent, the same unemotional expression on her face.
The bowling ball went rolling down the wooden lane crashing once more into the pins before Palmer spoke again. "Have you had a chance to look over the file yet?"
"I've glanced over it." Lady responded matter-of-factly.
"Good. Have you any idea what it might be?" Palmer asked, paying either of them little attention as the damn ball returned yet again.
"Not with so little information. Have you tried hiring perhaps some local hunters?" Lady asked, the tone of her voice suggesting that the case was beneath their expertise something that Vergil was already heartily agreeing with.
"Those would be the last set of victims." Palmer stated, picking up the ball and sending it down the lane yet again. "They attempted to document their presumed success of the hunt. Danny has all their gear." Palmer finished, the ball crashing once again.
"Did they say if they had any clue as to what they were dealing with?" Lady asked.
"They were unable to pinpoint anything exact and had decided on spending the entire night within the suite in question in hopes of sighting and perhaps eliminating the menace." Palmer replied as the ball returned.
Vergil decided that that wasn't such a bad idea, unless of course you were a weak and apparently stupid human. There was little though that could injure him and even less things within the human world that he couldn't kill. Therefore the failed plan of the human hunters would suit him just fine and if all went well, which he was certain it would, then he could metaphorically 'stick it to Dante' and be on the first flight home.
Jolted from his thoughts by the collision of the bowling ball hitting the pins, Vergil decided enough was enough! A glance at Lady told him that she was pointedly ignoring everything that was going on around her, focusing exclusively on her conversation with their client.
Internally grinning like a madman, Vergil folded his arms over his chest and watched Palmer line himself up once more, waiting patiently for his chance to strike. Vergil's eyes followed the bowling ball as it rolled down the lane, concentrating on it as it struck the pins. Discreetly pointing his finger toward the dark space behind the pins, Vergil waited for the ball to disappear into darkness before summoning his mystic swords to surround the out-of-sight bowling ball.
There was a satisfying sound of crunching and grinding as his magical swords sliced through the ball.
Startled by the noise, Palmer looked toward the return chute, as the now mangled ball rolled back toward him. Picking it up, the ball fell into four perfect quarters in Palmer's tanned hands. "I've never heard of that happening before." he muttered, walking forward to inspect the mechanics of the bowling lane.
Feeling Lady's glare, Vergil turned to look at her giving her the most innocent look he could muster. Lady very clearly didn't buy it, as she narrowed her eyes and shook her head, completely aware of what he had just done but not willing to argue about it in front of their client.
Vergil responded with a shrug, just as Palmer returned from his inspection.
"I'll have to get that checked out." Palmer muttered, his dark eyes going to the ruined bowling ball. Sighing, he turned away from the bowling lane and with a gesture headed into a smaller less brightly lit room. "We'll finish our meeting in my office."
Lady nodded and followed after him silently. Once again Vergil brought up the rear, entering into the decently sized office. Gazing around him at the oddities adorning the walls and corners of the office, Vergil was slightly confused as to the reason behind such an odd collection. An old saddle, an antique suit of armour, a broad sword and a Mexican sombrero, were just a few of the ridicules assortment of objects.
Palmer moved around a moderately sized mahogany desk, gesturing to the two chairs standing before it. "Have a seat."
Both hunters took their seats with the feline grace that was practically a job requirement.
"As I was going to say, I'll have Danny set everything up for you." said Palmer, taking a seat himself. Catching Vergil's gaze on the mounted broad sword, the hotel owner smiled. "You like my collection?"
Turning his head to meet Palmer's dark piercing gaze with his own frozen one, Vergil answered stiffly. "An odd assortment to be sure."
"Things I've come across in my travels." Palmer stated pride fully, seemingly unfazed by Vergil's frosty gaze.
Clearing her throat, Lady successfully ended the staring contest and brought Palmer back to business. "There is still the matter of our accommodations and fee." she said, crossing one leg over the other.
"Of course." Palmer answered, his attention focusing once more entirely on Lady. "Your accommodations have already been taken care of. You'll be staying in the renaissance suite, since it'll give you a bit more added incentive to deal with the issue in a timely order."
Lady frowned deeply in displeasure, Vergil's own expression a near match to hers. "I'm afraid that is not acceptable." Lady nearly ground out. "We will need two…" she wasn't able to finish as Palmer chuckled and rudely interrupted.
"Don't think I'll be paying for two rooms for the both of you. You'll be staying in the suite in question, and that's final." Palmer stated and before Lady could open her mouth, Palmer continued. "Besides, I'm sure two beautiful people such as yourselves won't be doing much sleeping anyway." He winked suggestively, eyeing both hunters sitting before him.
"Excuse me!?"
"Pardon me!?" Vergil and Lady responded in unison, both surprised and aghast at Palmer's suggestion.
"Well as they say 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' so it's a prime opportunity to vent all of that sexual frustration." Palmer practically beamed and Vergil narrowed his eyes dangerously.
He knew without a doubt that somehow Dante was behind the hotel owner's idea.
"At the very least, a second bed." Lady nearly pleaded.
"Nope. The room will stay as is and if that is not acceptable, then I'm sure there are a number of men and women currently staying within the hotel that would be more than happy to 'share' their beds." Palmer replied, his grin downgrading to halfway between a frown and a smile, which combined with his black beard looked downright sadistic.
If Vergil had been aghast at the idea of sleeping with Lady, he was utterly repulsed by the notion of quite literally pimping himself out to the female clientele of the hotel.
"I think I'll take my chances." Lady grumbled out angrily, voicing his exact thoughts.
Slightly surprised by Lady's apparent ability to accurately read his thoughts, Vergil glanced toward her to see her glaring at Palmer, with her hands clenched tightly in her lap to keep herself from jumping up and throttling their client. Inwardly happy that he wasn't the only one thinking of disembowelling the over eager casino owner, Vergil relaxed back into his seat, eager to see the outcome of any of Lady's further negotiations.
Visibly taking a deep breath, Lady continued her negotiations in a tight cold voice. "As for our fee… we have a starting rate of five hundred thousand."
Vergil knew that Dante's normal starting rate for those that could afford it - for those that couldn't it was adjusted or sometimes waved - was only one hundred thousand, though he could completely understand why Lady was dramatically raising the fee. The longer he spent in Las Vegas the more irritated he became, the hotel and casino owner sitting before them doing little to alleviate that irritation.
"If it turns out to only be a simple spectre or something else that is dealt with easily we'll only charge an additional one hundred thousand. If it is something worse… I'll determine the charge." Lady stated, the tone of her voice leaving no room for argument.
Palmer's smile completely faded as he too returned to the business at hand, finding a formidable opponent in Lady. "How soon will you know what it is?"
"Tomorrow morning." Vergil spoke before Lady even had a chance to formulate her answer and received a pointed glare for the effort.
Palmer nodded and Lady continued, "If either of us are injured not only will you be responsible for any medical costs, but you will also pay an additional five hundred thousand in compensation. If a fatality occurs, the compensation fee goes up to a million."
Palmer sat quietly, chewing on the inside of his cheek, undoubtedly mulling over Lady's terms, perhaps even attempting to gauge her seriousness. Unfortunately for him, Lady wasn't completely through yet.
"Furthermore, any additional costs we might incur will also be covered by you." Satisfied that she had now covered everything, Lady relaxed back into her seat.
"What type of additional costs?" Palmer asked, his lips twisting in concentration.
Lady waved her hand in a gesture that meant she thought it should be obvious. "Food, transportation, extra equipment… things like that."
Stroking his short beard, Palmer remained quiet for many long minutes as he thought things over carefully. Finally, he leaned forward, eyeing Lady sharply across the desk. "You drive a hard bargain, Lady. If you can promise me to have the matter dealt with within the week, I'll give you everything you want and more."
Lady nodded, "Unless something unforeseen happens, then I'm sure we can have this mess cleaned up in less time than that."
Smiling, Palmer stood and extended his hand to seal the agreement.
Both Lady and Vergil stood, though only Lady accepted Palmer's hand and shook it formally.
"Wonderful!" Palmer spoke, practically beaming at the two hunters. "I'll have Danny take you to the room and if there's anything else you need… just talk to my hotel concierge Charlotte. She'll be sure to get you anything."
Vergil almost wondered if this Charlotte would be able to do away with her boss for him.
Authors Note: Well look I finally updated. Took a long time, but life has a way of doing that to you. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I'm looking forward to all your thoughts. Talk to all of you soon... hopefully. Also LadyRoze has started a doujinshi on her deviant art page. She is an amazing artist, and you should all check it out at ladyroze. Deviantart .com/!