Devil May Cry

Dimensions to your world and the next

Chapter 58

Wanrings: Language and Violence

*Author's Note: Hmm, so now what? What's gonna happen now?

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"Dante, why don't you stop at a diner and eat something?" Lucinda suggested. The concern in her voice complimented the look of worry on her face.

Dante shook his head, his gaze firmly on the road ahead. His grip was so tight on the steering wheel that his knuckles were going white. "I'm not hungry," he replied.

Lucinda sighed. "Hun, you haven't eaten or slept as much as you should since we have begun driving. I'm worried about you, you're aura is unnaturally low."

The truth was spoken, but Dante could not admit to it. He lost his appetite since this search began and the only time he slept was when he knew for certain he could contact _______. It was the only way he could see her, it was the only way he could hold her until Dante would rescue and protect her once again. Lucinda has kept with her health, although she did not eat as much. But Lucinda was used to not eating. At times of different seasons and months, she'd fast and meditate through the days. Strength with the mind and body was required with that kind of training. Dante knew he did not have the will power, but _______'s voice was the only motivation he needed to keep himself going.

"I'm fine," he finally replied after a moment of silence.

"Dante, how are you really?" she asked.

Her ability to see right through him impressed Dante, but he chose not to give Lucinda that realization.

"Angry, annoyed..." he replied "and worried."

"You're worried about her." Lucinda took in a short breath. "Something happened, in your last contact with her. What did she tell you?"

Dante frowned. "She was...scared." He straightened himself before continuing. "She was afraid she might not be able to make it through this. I think what she really meant was that she was afraid she wouldn't stop Aeon in time."

"You were her courage, her strength..." Lucinda whispered. The sadness in her voice was so overwhelming that Dante felt he was suffocating in the vehicle. "Dante, I believe we should quicken our pace, I'm not exactly sure how long she will hold up."

Dante brought his gaze to her. He felt his pulse quicken. "Lucinda," he said firmly "what do you know?" His voice was demanding, but he was afraid to know the truth. There was a reason Dante never asked Lucinda for advice on the future, he was afraid to know what would happen next. He rather stay in the dark then be told what the next day will bring. "What did you see?" If it had to deal with her, he had to know, if it involved her safety, he had to know.

She shook her head. "No. Not now. It's better if you do not know. We still have time."

Lucinda was speaking in riddles, but what more could Dante say? He knew not to push her, and she had a good reason to not say what misfortune her vision brought. Curiosity was enough to break the ice, however. He was now more frightened for _______ more then ever.

One knock. Two Knocks. Three Knocks. You laid in your bed, not bothering to go to the door. You couldn't exit from the room any longer; you rather die here, alone. Unfortunately, death was one of your darkest fears, and though you may say things like 'I'd rather die, then' or 'you might as well kill me now', you don't mean any of those statements. You brought your fingers to your lips and thought about the dream. It was nothing more then a dream and with that little fact you were discouraged more then ever. If only you could speak those words, I love you, when he was still alive. And though he said those words to you in the dream, they meant nothing, not in a figment of your imagination anyway. It was only something you wanted to hear. Oh, how your mind teased you so.

"_______, are you in there? Please, answer me."

Tina. She was good company, she understood your condition, but she was still a servant of Aeon. She was possibly following the order of getting into your room, no matter what. It wasn't going to happen. Solitude was something you needed right now. However, you did not come to think she had the key and opened the lock. Tina slowly opened the door.

"I'm sorry, hun. But Aeon needs you with him immediately," Tina apologized.

You didn't gaze at her. Focusing your attention to a spot on the ceiling, you replied. "Tell him I'm not coming."

Tina sighed. "I'm afraid it is not your choice. Please, you must come. Aeon is not in his best of moods and will not take lightly that you refused his demand. This is not a request."

You sat up and stared at her. Your eyes were wide. He couldn't be still raged about your intrusion to his privacy, could he? He seemed forgiving before you left. Why the sudden anger?

"What's going on?" you asked.

Tina shook her head. "I don't know, really, I don't."

You were hesitant. The slight hysteria in her voice was hard to miss and you were now curious and afraid. You gazed at her for a long time, contemplating.

"I..." You cleared your throat. "I'll come."

Tina forced a smile. "Thank you," she whispered. She folded her hands in front of her as she waited for the effort to lift you from the bed. "I'm sorry; I know you are not up to it. I realize Aeon is not your most favorite of people, but I believe it is not wise to deny him today. Something has really made him..." She paused. "Angry."

You swallowed hard. That bit of information was better left out but you had to thank Tina for warning you. However, your fear of Aeon heightened at every passing second. What had you done? Fought him, resisted him, and looked within his most secret (you supposed) and valuable possessions. Oh, God, you wished there wasn't so much of an answer to that question. Again, you swallowed down the lump in your throat. Tina knew she did not need to say more and led you out into the hallway.

"This way," she announced after closing the door to your room. She began walking passed you to your right.

It was difficult to catch up with her, but you managed to push your tired legs. "Has he said anything to you or to anybody? Why does he need to see me?" You knew she did not know, so why did you ask? Well, it helped your state of mind.

She shook her head. "I haven't seen or heard from him directly, to be honest," she replied. "Eerious gave me the strict order. Judging by his voice, even Eerious seemed frightened."

Eerious? Frightened? You couldn't believe it. Your fear was the only thing that brought you to think it a lie. No longer did you ask anymore questions, you didn't want to hear anymore, and the silence helped the distance seem longer.

During that specific moment did you remember the warmth and safety that Dante's arms brought you. Through actions he was saying he'd never let anything happen to you. His death, no, his murder broke that promise, and you could have sworn you were just about to cry. Fortunately, the will that you have expected to be weak was holding every tear that was ready to drop.

No, I will not cry, you said to yourself. I have to be strong, I have to be strong, for Dante, for my parents, for everyone in every dimension. No matter what happens, I will not let Aeon manipulate me into conquering the lands that are not rightfully mine. You smiled at the sound of your inner voice, how brave and loyal they projected.

But were you really ready? Blinking away your thoughts, you looked around. The different turns and directions led you somewhere completely anew. You were not going to the library or the dining room. Where were you going? A staircase was brought into sight and the marble flooring clicked into your memory. Going down the stairs and through the corridor, you realized where you were. Flashes of images seem to fly by through your mind's eye. That room with the statue that held Dante bound, his screaming, that loud painful screaming. The red blood, his blood on your hands as you stared at him with tearful eyes. And then the room Eerious brought you in and locked the door with those strange statues that attacked you. And then, Dante's Devil Trigger. The walls seemed to be reconstructed since the battle, since the escape. How long has it been? Days ago? Maybe even more. You remembered the white walls, illustrations engraved into them. Was it professionally done, or did Aeon actually carve the images?

Tina stopped. She inhaled sharply. She was nervous, and you wouldn't have thought that if it weren't for her trembling hands as she pushed against the tall double doors in front of her. Yes, these doors you could not forget, these were the same doors Aeon pushed open. However, Tina seemed to be struggling as she pushed the heavy weight. She left it open at a large enough gap that you and herself could squeeze through. The setting was the same, the white room, the circular statue. Dantes screams echoed in your mind and you shut your eyes. A part of you was happy he did not die in that way, in a death so painful. Aeon stood in front of the circular statue, his brows furrowed from what you could see and his arms crossed over his chest. The muscles on his upper and lower arms flexed, completely defined considering they were exposed from his black tank top. Buckles extended from the bottom of his shirt to his neck line. It was something festive then his usual attire. His brother stood beside him, his eyes glowing rather radiant. His hands, or claws--being the more proper term--were balled up into tight fists. You stood at the doorway, timid if anything. Everyone in the room seemed to be perturbed. You were not so sure you wanted to be in such negative energy. Tina pushed you ahead, and when you turned to her did you notice Eerious in the room as well. He seemed to be keeping his distance.

"You may go now, Tina," Aeon order in a very firm and potent voice.

She stood averse, staring at Aeon with uncertain eyes. Shortly, she bowed her head and followed the order. Tina placed a hand over your shoulder, smiling a small smile. She squeezed it with affection and then whispered the words, "Be careful."

How? you thought. How was I supposed to be careful when I don't know who I should be protecting myself from?

Of course, you did not ask this question verbally, and all you could hear for an answer was the sound of her footsteps retreating back into the hall, back into the depths of Aeon's sanctuary. You exhaled the breath you hadn't realized you were holding and stood with a straight posture. Whatever would happen next, you needed to be ready.

"Aeonium, you cannot be saying this trash is visualizing the truth!" Orein's voice was at the highest volume, echoing in the large white room as if speakers were at every corner, projecting his voice.

Aeon stood at a nonchalant posture. Never, did he take his sight off the circular statue. "This 'trash' speaks no lies, brother."

Orein's gazed snapped to you, finally acknowledging your existence in the room. His glowing eyes narrowed, raising his right arm, his index finger point straight to you.

"You..." If you had the eyes of a demon, you might have been able to see him approach you and grab your neck. But, you were only human, with human eyes just able to see a mobilizing blur coming at you, and before you knew it, the blur had a claw around your neck lifting you from the floor. You coughed and kicked in protest but he cared not of your struggles. "You...how'd you do it?!"

"I--" You coughed.

Orein pulled you closer. "How did you do it?" His whisper was violent and frightening.

You face began to turn red from pressure, your eyes beginning to leak with tears. You averted your bloodshot eyes to Aeon. He watched from the corner of his eye, his arms still crossed. He won't stop his brother, you realized.

"Pl-please," you pleaded.

Orein squeezed your neck a final time before letting you drop to the floor, gasping for the oxygen to flow back in your lungs. You held onto your neck while kneeling on the floor before finding your voice.

"I don't know what...what you're talking about," you said and rubbed away your tears.

You heard footsteps approach at that moment and another tall shadow overlap your body. Aeon grabbed you by the arm and pulled you to your feet.

"I think you know very well." His indifferent attitude appeared to have been frightening you the most, more then the enraged demonic soldier beside him. "Just tell me how you did it."

Furrowing your brow, you looked up at him with anger. "I told you, I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Aeon's golden eyes glowed, his grip tightening on your arm. He pulled you close to him, his eyes in level with yours. "Don't you play ignorant with me! There is no way he could have survived!"

Although Aeon's voice wanted you to curl up in a ball, like a scared dog with its tail between its legs, you only became angrier. "Who! What the hell are talking about?! I haven't done anything!"

"She's lying," Aeon's brother stated.

You couldn't believe their words. No matter what you said, they never opened their ears and listened, they only heard what they wanted to hear. Although anger was an emotion that raised high in your mind right now, you could not help but wonder the questions that surfaced from every accusation they spoke against you. What were they accusing you of?

Aeon stared at you with contemplation. What he was thinking about, you didn't really want to know. "I know you had something to do with this, whether you are aware or not."

"Do what?" Your shout echoed throughout the room. It could have been your imagination but you could have sworn Eerious flinched at your outburst. However, neither Aeon nor his brother Orein moved an inch. The arm that Aeon held was pulled and before you knew it, he threw you in front of the circular statue. You landed on your knees as Aeon began to speak.

"Watch the monument, and I'm sure you'll have a full understanding."

You gazed at him with hard eyes but only realized a second after the movement your eyes were trailing to. Slowly, you stared up to the shine of the statue--or now formally known as a 'monument'. It rippled and an image began to form on the surface like the talking mirror in Snow White. Your eyes grew with confusion along with your brows furrowing. It was an image of a car but the vehicle didn't concern you, whom was driving it did.

"What is this?" you asked almost in a whisper.

"This monument is much like your television you humans watch, except it helps me see the truth in things. It is like my spy of the world," Aeon explained, though he sounded irritated.

"It can't be...I don't understand," you said.

"There isn't anything to understand. What you see is the truth."

You haven't taken your eyes from the monument, and you believed you were inches away from breaking down. You couldn't help but slightly smile. He was there, driving with Lucinda by his side. He was alive. "Dante..."

"Now, sweetheart, I would like you to explain to me how it is possible for a half demon to fall victim to the sword of a commander of hell, and survive, especially when I heard no pulse left in his body."

You weren't listening, nor were you looking at him. Everything that involved in your world at the moment was that Dante had survived. How it happened, you didn't know, but those were not the questions you were asking. Those dreams you had before, what did they mean? They were made from your subconscious, figments of your imagination showing you what you really believed, that he was dead. It was something you were so sure about. But thank everything in the world that you were wrong. He's coming, isnt he? He's coming for me... your inner self spoke.

Eerious reached Aeon's side. "It isn't long before he makes his arrival."

"It's long enough for plan B. I knew I didn't have time to persuade her, I guess force will be necessary," Aeon replied.

"And when he arrives..."

Orein's eyes narrowed. "I'll finish him."

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*Author's Note: It looks like these are finally longer, like they should be. This was roughly how long the RE4 Chapters were, would't you just love if the DMC chapters were like this, too?

Dante's alive! 'You' just found out! He's gonna come save you ^^