Devil May Cry

Dimensions to your world and the next

Chapter 60

Wanrings: Language and Violence

*Author's Note: Last one for the night, so let's see what happens....

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Dante had floored the vehicles engine as soon as Lucinda felt ______'s aura become stronger. He knew they were getting very close and he knew where she was being held. The streets were familiar, as was the atmosphere. Dante did not need Lucinda to tell him something terrible was about to happen. He felt it inside; once again he felt ______'s emotions. Fear and regret. I'm coming, babe, just hold on. He swerved to the side, dodging the car in front that was going way to slow for this moment. He did not blink as he stared down the open road, hoping that he would turn soon, through the terrain, in front of Aeon's home. That sonofabitch was going to get what's to him. Dante swerved the vehicle from another car, the muffled shouts from the car's driver not appealing.

"Please tell me this is the turn," Dante spoke.

Another stretch of road was at the distance. It wasn't made of tar nor concrete, instead, it was mainly dried dirt. He could see faint tire marks against the dirt, and wondered if that was a trail to be followed.

"Wait..."

Lucinda paused and closed her eyes. She had an intake of breath before she slightly lifted her head. Not everyone could see people's auras. This was a gift given to Lucinda when she was very little. In replace of her eye sight, she was given the ability to see the auras of humans and demons alike. It is much like seeing, however, the color is distorted. A person with average sight could see the color of the individual's hair, skin, eyes, etc. Lucinda, on the other hand, could only see the color of his or her aura. Rather then seeing the body of the person in front of her, she could only see the light of color their aura was manipulating. Dante, for example, was radiating a reddish tint of aura. Although, an individual only obtains one tint of color, ______ holds many hues. From purple, to white, to blue and so many others, the colors mixed together like a rainbow. Lucinda could not determine how this was so, but she realized the different powers she had had individual colors. ______ was definitely one of a kind, which came to an immediate advantage. She was a lot easier to find. Lucinda specifically used her power to help those less fortunate to find their loved ones when ever they came for a reading. Some were easier to find then others and all Lucinda could reveal was the name of a place. She wasn't able to give a full description. But with ______, it was as if she was locating right down to the very apartment number in a city.

It was rather convenient, especially now Lucinda knew the clock was ticking.

"Turn," Lucinda said instantly. She could feel the cold draft of the spiritual energy come from her right, exactly where the terrain road began.

Dante jerked the steering wheel to the right and brought the vehicle onto the unleveled terrain. Dirt clouds formed behind the wheels, hiding the scenery behind them. Dante followed the trail of the narrow road, wild trees lining at every side.

Over the trees, Dante caught a glimpse of one of the towers of the temple, or rather cathedral of Aeon's. He narrowed his eyes with disgust. Why couldn't this vehicle go any faster? They left the last motel with a full tank, and it was now halfway. However, Dante still had enough gasoline to bring ______ home, and safe. The car jerked as the tires drove over gravel. Dante spotted the white van Aeon had used countless times.

"Lucinda, I want you to stay here until I come out. Who knows what they might do if they see you again," Dante said in a firm voice. He turned the car and braked, parking so that the front was pointing towards the terrain road, for a fast getaway. Dante began unbuckling his seatbelt until Lucinda grabbed his arm. He looked up at her. Her brows were furrowed with all seriousness.

"This isn't up to you, Dante. I am coming with, no arguments."

"Look what they did to you before, they could do worse then put you in the hospital this time. I can't protect the both of you if something goes wrong."

"That demon caught me straight off guard that time. I don't look into the future unless necessary and this I believe is a necessary time. I'll know your moves before you do. I know you can't get ______ out there without my assistance."

Lucinda let go of Dante's arm.

Dante stared at her for a brief moment. "All right, but you'll be a last resort. Stay back until you know something is about to happen." Lucinda began to argue but Dante spoke again. "Listen to me; I know you're not fully healed. That potion you swallowed a few days ago doesn't heal all wounds, you know that. Not unless you know _______ and I are really in danger do you enter in there, you hear me?"

Lucinda lowered her head. "All right," she sighed. "But I'm barging in there as soon as I feel something is wrong."

Dante smirked at her. "You may be able to see the future, sweetheart, but it still has time to change."

A slight smile formed on Lucinda's lips and she gave a nod. Dante stepped out of the vehicle, closing the door behind him and jogged towards the entrance doors of the cathedral. There was nothing but silence in the air, even as he pressed his ear against the wooden doors. Stealth was not necessary for this mission, an element of surprise was. Dante took a step back, pulling both Ebony and Ivory. He lifted his right leg and advanced his heel against the doors. He kicked it as hard as he could. The two doors burst open. Dante aimed forward, and saw nothing but a long corridor extending afar.

Taking a few steps forward, he kept his eyes peered and his ears open. All he could hear was silence. Someone had to be able to hear his noisy entrance. Nothing stirred near or far, still Dante kept his guns aimed and his focus strong. His boots echoed against the walls along with a strange click. Dante aimed his guns towards a door to the left that was a few paces away. He heard a creak and then the door drew open. A woman stepped out; wearing what looked like to be a dirty old dress. She had short, black hair and was holding something in her hands. She closed the door behind her and turned. She stopped at that instant when her eyes spotted Dante, his guns still aimed towards her. He couldn't figure out whether she was a threat or not. Who was she? What was this girl doing here in Aeon's home? Dante lowered his guns.

The girl dropped the pile of sheets in her hands and turned down the corridor. "Intruder! Intruder!" she shouted. The girl ran.

"So much for the element of surprise. Damn broad." Dante put away his guns when suddenly the floor began to ripple in many areas of the corridor. Dante took stance and watched as the Armmedessons dematerialized through the marble floor. They screeched and wailed as Dante pulled out Rebellion. "I hope this will be the last time I ever get to see you guys."

As one of the creatures jumped towards him, he slashed through its body, running to his right and slicing another in half.

Dante ran forward, resting Rebellion on his shoulder as more Armmedessons began to reveal themselves. Dante could no longer see the girl, but it didn't matter to him. With the Armmedessons knowing his whereabouts, Aeon had to know Dante was the intruder, who else would be looking for him? Dante immediately ducked away from a creature's attack, stabbing his sword against the Armmedesson's foot. It cried out and Dante silenced it by swiping the blade across its neck. Two others crossed his path, slowing him down as the other creatures behind him caught up. Dante turned to find four others.

"I didn't think I'd ever need to use this, but..."

Dante brought his hand up and snapped his fingers. An orb of grey began to increase from the snap and devour everything in the area. Dante smirked and watched all movements of the Armmedessons slow down. Dante took out Ebony and shot at two, while slashing Rebellion at the others. His attacks were still at the same pulsing pace while as the fiends got shot, they flew back at a slow speed. The grey decreased and immediately were the creatures back in their originally speed, gravity making them fall faster and harder to the ground.

Quicksilver was an attack Dante normally didn't use, and he almost forgot how useful and amusing it was. As Dante killed the last of the Armmedessons, he saw more were being revealed. If he focused on killing them all, he wouldn't be able to get to ________ whatsoever. Dante shot at one as it approached and continued running down the corridor. A question came to mind as he ran. He wondered why he never thought of figuring out how to find her in a place like this.

Once he reached the end of the corridor, he found that there were two paths to choose from. Dante looked from either side. Now was a good a time as ever to pick a path but Dante was pressured. He could still feel ______'s emotions, and they were growing stronger ever since he entered the building. Suddenly, the floor beneath him began to ripple, and he felt a strong grasp on his ankle. Twisting his leg, Dante brought a hard kick down onto an Armmedesson that came behind him. He aimed Ebony towards the Armmedesson that held his ankle and pulled the trigger. Five good shots killed it off when he realized the massive amount of the fiends that began to approach.

Left, right, left, right, what to choose from?

"Hey, you!"

Dante turned towards the left path where he saw a door ajar. He saw the face of a woman and her gesture to him to enter through the door.

"Hurry," she whispered.

Dante glanced back at the approaching demons and thought no other choice. He ran towards the door, busted in, and closed it behind him. Instantly, he turned to the woman, aiming Ebony towards her. Eyes narrowed, he observed the woman's profile. Her golden blond hair was tied up in a tight bun and she wore the same dress the other girl had, however this one seemed cleaner. The woman's stare was calm and stern as she looked towards Dante. She took no realization of the gun in front of her.

"You're the one Aeon is afraid of," she alleged.

"Who are you?" Dante questioned. "Why are you helping me?"

She slightly smiled. "My name is Tina. I'm a servant of Aeon's." She took a moment before answering his other question. "I believe you are here to help her."

Dante shifted to the side. "Depending on whom you're talking about."

"________," Tina answered. "You're here to save her, are you not?"

Dante froze. Slightly, he lowered his gun. He stared towards the woman for a long time but he said nothing.

"I can lead you to her." She averted her gaze away from him towards another door across the small room Dante hadn't realized he entered.

It was compact, and a square of a room. The decoration was poor and out dated, probably not have been updated in years. Dante, however, paid no attention. He wasn't here to judge old fashion. He gazed across the room where a wooden door, the door Tina set her sight on, stood closed. This girl, who was she?

"That door leads to the next hall. That hall contains the room in which the ritual is being held."

Dante stared back at her. "Ritual? What ritual?"

Tina frowned. "Aeon knew your arrival was only minutes away. He went to the last resort. The ritual was to be used upon _______ in order to obtain all ounce of her power, even to the point of death."

"What?" Dante gasped.

His shock did not surprise Tina at the least. She had expected his plan was to be a surprise for her master. He could not be more wrong. "Aeon knew you were coming."

Dante lowered his head and strode a few steps away before glancing back at her. "The bastard knew I was coming all along. How'd he find out?"

"Aeon carries a circular statue he calls a monument--"

"You mean that piece of junk he bound me on?"

Tina tilted her head. "I'm not exactly sure. I've never seen you here, I've heard about you, however."

"What have you heard?" Dante paced a moment before ceasing once again.

"That you were dead." Dante scoffed and Tina continued. "I overheard Aeon speaking, saying something about killing someone who was an obstacle to capture her. Aeon found out about your coming with his monument. It speaks the truth about the world. He found it unbelievable that you had returned that he even accused _______ for bringing you back."

Although that was the truth, ________ did bring him back from the dead, but Dante still felt anger against Aeon for accusing her of such a crime. She had no idea he was still alive, let alone realize it was her that resurrected him.

When Tina noticed Dante wasn't going to say anything, she continued. "You're her boyfriend, aren't you?" Dante snickered but did not reply. "She cared a lot about you. I hadn't seen a real smile from her until after she found out you were still alive."

Dante's smile lifted away from his lips and he stared at her with all seriousness. _______'s voice whispered in an echo in his mind, the words she had said to him: "I love you". She hadn't said it as a return policy for his confession to her; _______ said it out of her own accord. To hear that she hadn't smiled since she found out he was still alive on earth brought chills down his spine. This could have been the first relationship he had with a girl that went far beyond lust and external attraction. Dante didn't know if he was considered boyfriend material, but he knew he was considered more as a lover, a person apart of _______'s life as much as she was in his.

"You shouldn't be waiting here. The ritual has probably started." Tina walked towards him, turned him around and pushed him towards the door. "Go on, before it's too late."

Dante brought his hand towards the knob, his back to her. "You know, you might get into real trouble if Aeon finds out your helping me."

Tina smiled sweetly. "That won't matter to me. So long as I know _______ will be safe in your hands. I have my morals as much as everyone else. Aeon cannot control what I believe, and I believe she doesn't deserve to be here, she doesn't deserve to die behind the reason of obtaining power."

"Tina, _______ and I owe you a lot." Dante gripped the knob tightly. "Thanks for taking care of her for me."

Dante turned the knob and stepped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Tina watched the door with complete depth. Those two cared deeply about each other, she thought, I hope they make it out okay.

The hall was empty as Dante stepped out into it. He gazed around searching for the nearest door which possibly would be the room where she was being held. His eyes caught sight of very tall doors, reaching up to the very high ceiling.

They were made out of stone, engraved with what looked to be demons, images of fire and punished angels. Dante caught a glimpse of light coming from the crevice between the end of the door and the marble floor. He knew she was in there. Her emotions were very strong in that area. He couldn't stand here any longer; he had to go in there.

The marble floor suddenly began to ripple once again and he knew he really didn't have the time for monstrous delays.

You forced your wrist away from the monument, but it was as if they were literally stuck there. They did not budge at the least. You stared down at Aeon whom grabbed the silver dagger from the Alter. He smiled as he ran his finger passed the blade. You really did not want to know what he was going to do with that dagger. You couldn't do this anymore, being strong wasn't enough, you were going to die here, you were really going to die here in a dimension not your own. You closed your eyes, wishing that the tears would go away. A part of you wished that Dante would be here to help, but the rest scowled at the idea and believed he was safer away from this place.

"This may pinch a little," Aeon advised.

Holding the chalice in one had and the dagger in another he walked towards you as his henchmen, the Armmedesson's chanted in whispers. You stared towards the blade of the dagger, the shine it created as it cut through the light that came towards it like butter. You didn't care if you were crying anymore; you just shook your head.

"Please, don't do this"

Aeon looked into your face. "I gave you the opportunity to join me. I have no other choice."

Aeon brought the blade of the dagger against your forearm in the area between your wrist and the opposite side of your elbow. He applied pressure and glided it down the arm. You cried out as it cut through your flesh. Aeon brought the chalice under your arm, every drop of blood falling into it. You whimpered as you watched it fall, your blood, into Aeon's hands. Bringing his finger into the blood, he stroked it onto the space of the monument just below your right rib and drew some sort of symbol. You closed your eyes tightly, the pain stinging greatly, as if he still had the blade on the gash, rubbing it deeper. Aeon brought his finger to his lips, licking away the blood as he went to your other side. As you watched him lift the blade to your other arm, you closed your eyes tightly. However, you felt no touch for a moment.

Opening your eyes, you observed the situation. Aeon's attention was brought to his right. At the corner of your eye, you watched as one of the Armmedessons slowly dematerialize into the marble floor, along with another. Aeon gazed at his brother.

"We have an intruder," Aeon informed.

Intruder? Your eyes widen. Dante...!

Aeon walked back to the Alter, and placed down the chalice and the dagger. "He has made it into the building. The Armmedessons will not hold him for long--"

Just then, a large crash erupted into the area, debris flying across the room, debris of what once use to be the large illustrated doors. You turned your head to the side and closed your eyes as fragments and dust flew in the air. Both Aeon and Eerious covered their eyes while Orein dodged a large fragment that came at him. A figure stood behind the clouds of dust, slowly walking into the room. An orange glow disintegrated from the figure. The clouds dispersed, and the figure was brought into the light. The room went silent, and you looked towards the figure. A grin was plastered on the man's face, with his sword, Rebellion, in his right hand.

"Back from the dead," he spoke. "And I brought Hell with me."

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*Author's Note: So close, but Dante jumped in to save 'you' from dying. Aww....still pretty epic, though!