It wasn't unusual for the clock to chime. But not this loudly. Or for this long. It loomed over the sitting area which surrounded the fireplace. But even the calming glow of the subtle flames couldn't ease his impatience. Dio lay on the lounger. The clocks chimes continuing. Again, and again. He put the book on the table and sat listing. Chiming again and again.
And just as he was going to destroy the damn thing; it stopped.
Midnight.
He turned to see the time. But huffed in annoyance.
"Only midnight?"
He turned back to the book. But the table was missing something. He rose to his bare feet and sighed.
"Maybe that's why it feels so-" He mused on his word choice. Making sure to fit this lacking void's feel. "-baren? or perhaps hollow?"
He looked back at the clock.
1 minute past 12.
"Time has slowed. Is this a new ability? I wonder." But he knew it wasn't. It couldn't be.
He turned to his stand. The World hovered gently next to him.
"Is this your doing? Making time go slower than it should?"
But the stand shook his head and disappeared up to one of the rooms above. Shortly coming back with a glass jar, covered in a pristine velvet cloth.
"Place him here." Dio sat back down and pointed at the empty space next to the book on the wooden table.
The stand did as he was told. He made sure to place him gently, as to not break the jar or the table. Consequences from shattered glass filled his mind as the table wobbled under such weight.
He picked up his book again. But reading wouldn't settle him. Even though he had Jojo with him. Jojo's head.
He gently floated peacefully in his container. A similar container to that Dio had been stored in. And though this bothered him a little, it was the only way to keep Jojo intact.
And Dio would do anything to keep that head intact.
"Jojo. Maybe I'm going insane?" He looked to the head. But the silence continued. He couldn't bring himself to remove the cloth. The thought of empty eyes and pale skin behind the cloth gave his hand a reason to shake.
"Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, you know? Maybe if you had done this and I had done that then-" He turned from the head to the clock again. "If only we had known sooner what was to come."
5 minutes past 12.
It ticked mercilessly onward. "You think I've gone insane? Some of my followers think so."
He turned the page of the book and sank back into the lounger. His hands still slightly shaking as his nerves began to calm. Though he had grown fond of that head he still couldn't shake the unease he sensed whenever the head was present. It wasn't right in his mind that Jojo should be dead. Nor was it right that his severed head bobbed like breathing in the container. Never to speak or hear or even see again. Never to experience the world, forever in a void of nothing.
"I'm a fool thinking I could get a response."
"Maybe you can and get a response."
Dio looked to the giant double doors and within the light stood Pucci. He let the book slide through his fingers and onto the floor.
"And what do you suggest to achieve such a dream?"
"I have a few ideas."
"Go on."
Pucci sat on a neighbouring chair close to Dio and observed the jar. He lifted the cloth from its resting place. Dio's breathing grew heavy. His eyes never wanting to look away from Jojo. His peaceful expressionless face filled Dio's face with a disguise of disgust.
"You make him a vampire. Like yourself."
"Jojo never wanted to be a vampire."
"But if it means bringing him back to you?"
"There's more to this isn't there?" Dio sat upright, never breaking his gaze. Pucci looked from the head to Dio and back again. Pucci's thoughts ran wild at the prospect of the idea.
"You make him a body."
"Made of what?"
"Made of many who have already fallen. Stitched together to create a body that will serve him well. You know his body type is very few and far between to find these days."
"Like a Zombie? Pucci-"
"You could be like the man from that book. A smart man who brought someone back to life. Only you'd know what to do with him and not run away. After all, you are one of the smartest vampires I know."
Dio mused on the idea. Silence fell them for a while. Only the flickering fire in the hearth spat noise at them.
Eventually Dio was inclined to give the verdict to Pucci's outlandish suggestion.
"Frankenstein Jojo a body?"
"Yes"
"And make him live again by turning him into a vampire?"
"Yes."
"The very thing that would tear him apart."
"He should get used to it. And you'd get to enjoy his suffering."
"Pucci. Jojo is the only person I don't want to see suffer anymore. He's suffered enough. For someone so-"
"But he's a worthless human."
"The only human, besides yourself, worthy of respect. I thought you knew that." Dio's tone grew colder with each lingering word. "I will muse on this idea. If I am inclined to agree, I shall start work on him. Tomorrow."
He sat up from his lounger and cradled the head in his arms.
"Though I must admit."
Pucci turned to Dio. He stopped by the clock.
"There are certain aspects of your idea." He turned to Pucci. Just enough so only his eyes could be seen through the lingering darkness. "That have benefits." He smiled with such content; it shivered down Pucci's spine.
Pucci knew it was such an outlandish idea and only suggested it because it was the only idea he had. The only idea that would help Dio be happy again. Though he decided maybe reading such books and relaying their ideas of reanimation may not have been his wisest decision.
In spite of his doubts, Pucci nodded politely. "Have a peaceful rest."
"To you as well."
Dio made his way up the stairs. The head still cradled in his arms.
"Someday soon. Someday soon, my precious Jojo."