He comes in the night
The story continues.
Chapter 18
With Rebellion drawn Dante approached.
Vergil noticed the dead look in his brother's eyes. He realised that he had been like that, stuffed inside the Nelo Angelo harness. Dante had been controlled without it. The idiot must have approached Mundus, cocky as hell, thinking he could defeat him on his own. Foolishness!
But was it foolish? Dante had defeated Mundus before, had prevented him from reaching the Human World. How had Mundus gained control over Dante? No promise of power could have turned his brother. Mundus didn't have anything Dante wanted or cared for. A battle of wills then. Dante looking too long into Mundus's eyes when the latter put every ounce of his power into his hypnotic gaze; Dante listening too long to Mundus promising in that voice that penetrates to the core; Dante entering a battle he could not win. Probably, but the answer didn't sit well with Vergil.
And now? Vergil feared the outcome of this battle. To the death? No doubt. And Vergil wasn't sure he wanted to kill his brother. Not like this, not fighting an empty shell. But he had no choice. This thing didn't recognize him and would kill him without emotion.
The swords clashed together, Yamato and Rebellion, like they had done so many times before, in play, in training, in deadly earnest.
Vergil realised that Dante never used his guns, a sure sign something was seriously wrong with him. Even when he left a clear opening the guns remained in their holsters. That did not stop Vergil from using his Summoned Swords. Most were swatted away; others reached their target without causing serious damage.
Vergil felt like he'd never fought his brother this long. Both he and Dante were bleeding from numerous wounds, none of them even close to fatal. Vergil had triggered, hoping it would give him the edge over his brother. Dante never triggered. It was as if he couldn't. One of the side-effects of Mundus's domination Vergil remembered.
He knew that to stop Mundus he had to stop his brother first. What had Mundus promised Dante? It couldn't have been power or money. Dante didn't care about those. A lifetime supply of pizza? No. Dante was shallow but not that shallow. What then?
Family! He only thing that got through to Dante was family. Mundus had promised Dante either news of Sparda or their father in person. That would have done it.
Rebellion and Yamato kept clashing into each other, as if some force drew them together, again and again. The fight reminded Vergil of the fight on Temen-Ni-Gru. That one had gone on and on until he had stabbed Dante with Rebellion and activated his Devil Trigger, just like his had been activated by Yamato in that horrible graveyard when he was a child.
The memories were unsettling. Vergil increased the speed of his attacks, taking more risks in order to defeat his brother and end the damned fight. Finally he saw an opening for Yamato, and it slid into Dante's body like it was its saya. Then Vergil felt how Rebellion was pushed through his body. He staggered back letting go of his sword. Rebellion had pierced him through, just as Yamato had pierced Dante.
They both fell on their backs. Darkness was enveloping Vergil's senses. The last thing he heard was Mundus's laughter, then nothing.
ooOOOoo
Vergil woke up to the same hideous laughter.
"Obviously it does take a Sparda to kill a Sparda," the Demon Emperor said. "I wish I could have pitted one of you against Sparda himself. Unfortunately the weakling didn't want to live anymore once I told him his mate and spawn had been killed. Well, I learned later that you two still lived. But in the end I won. The traitor and his offspring are dead. Sparda's blood has been wiped out."
Then he continued laughing.
Vergil rose up from prone to standing, like a corpse in a horror movie. His brother standing opposite him, had done the same. It certainly had put a stop to the irritating laughter. The bodies of the twins started to shake. Light exploded out of them, and they triggered.
Dante took a step towards Vergil.
"I believe I still got your sword," he said. "And I see you've got mine."
They pulled their swords out of each other's body.
"You look a lot like pop now," Dante added.
"So do you. Are you okay now? No longer possessed by the idiot there?"
"No. I'm all me. I could murder a pizza," Dante joked.
"Let's start with him," Vergil said waving vaguely in Mundus's direction.
"Good idea. For once pizza can wait."
They turned towards the statue on the throne. The image of a heartless man with a look of contempt for anyone who stood in front of the throne. Two of the eyes were gleaming red. The third one had a white glimmer.
"Right, he's gonna shoot red rays from his eyes," Dante said. "I remember. They're painful but not lethal. He shoots a white ray from the middle eye. That will knock you out. Pure energy, I think"
Not taken by surprise this time he managed to knock each of the red rays out of the way. When the white energy from the middle eye came towards Dante, Vergil jumped in front of his brother and absorbed it instantly.
Cracks started to appear in the statue.
"Act two coming up," Dante said.
Vergil used the energy he'd absorbed to charge his Summoned Swords. They embedded themselves in the cracks. Their explosion rocked the throne room and sent slivers of throne and statue to every corner. When the smoke and dust had settled Mundus was standing among the rubble of his throne, an angelic figure with the face of a benign, bearded patriarch. Behind him the wall disappeared and spreading its white wings, the angel rose to shine amid the stars of a universe.
"This guy is a one trick pony. Nothing I haven't seen before," Dante said.
"Quite," Vergil replied.
In their new Devil Triggers the brothers rose to take the fight to Mundus.
Platforms appeared around Mundus. On each platform stood a knight in white armour.
"Those are new for him," said Dante. "A white angel with white knights. He must be the good guy … NOT!"
Vergil had jumped onto a platform and started fighting the white knight on it. His every move was parried as if the knight knew what his next move would be. Dante jumped on a second platform and started fighting his knight. Vergil noticed an odd hesitation in his knight's moves. A quick combination cut through the knight who fell apart in pieces.
"Empty armour," Vergil said.
"Seen those before. Wonder who's the copycat," Dante said.
"More important is that Mundus controls them. How quick is his mind?" Vergil wondered.
"Yeah! Let's play mind-games," Dante shouted as he cut through his knight.
Vergil took on the next knight. He changed his strokes and combination quickly and randomly making it nearly impossible for Mundus to guess what the next action might be. Dante meanwhile divided his action between three knights which meant Mundus had to control four of his empty armours. One by one they fell to Sparda's sons.
Now only Mundus was left. Vergil and Dante attacked from opposite sides. Swords flashed, Summoned Swords exploded, rays from Mundus's eyes flew around.
Despite being hit the twins kept going in their new Devil Triggers. They knew they couldn't keep up the fight indefinitely. Sooner or later they would need a rest but while their strength and Devil Trigger lasted they kept attacking.
"Don't give him any quarter, Dante," Vergil said when Dante sheathed his sword.
"Not even thinking of it," Dante answered shooting round after round into his enemy's body.
They continued fighting for what felt like ages, hacking and slashing at the demon who had destroyed their family. Eventually the brothers jumped on a now empty platform as their Devil Triggers disappeared. Breathing heavily and bleeding from several wounds that were slowly healing, Vergil and Dante looked at their enemy. Mundus hadn't done any better. His once shining white gown was cut and streaked with blood and dirt. His wings looked tattered and motheaten. Despite this he still looked defiantly at the brothers.
"I think I'm ready for the second round," Dante said, and triggered.
"Quite," Vergil replied.
Again Mundus was facing two images of Sparda, and they looked barely touched by the intense fighting. He felt something he'd never felt before. Fear of these sons of Sparda. These two he'd mocked with their diluted blood. Half human, half devil, but wholly Sparda's sons.
The Sparda twins attacked Mundus again. Vergil stylish, every stroke a hit, not an unnecessary movement, not a Summoned Sword astray. Dante hacking and slashing like a man possessed, occasionally switching to his guns. Not as stylish but certainly as effective as his brother.
Dante's Devil Trigger released while Vergil's still kept going.
"Take a rest, and you can do the same for me later," Vergil shouted over the din of the fight.
Dante, seeing the sense of his brother's remark, did as he was told. When Vergil's Trigger released he took on his devil form again. His ferocity surprised even Vergil, but when he rejoined the fight he was as fierce as his brother.
Mundus was no longer the pristine white angel. Sooty and bloody, his wings cut to shreds, he started to lose control of his environment. The smaller platforms crumbled and fell in rubble to the ground. Even the larger central one where the three devils were fighting shook.
"Time to bail," Dante said and jumped off the platform immediately followed by Vergil.
They landed on the shore of a boiling lava-lake. Up in the sky the bigger platform broke up and fell into the lake with Mundus still standing on the biggest piece.
While the piece of the platform lasted Dante and Vergil took turns in jumping on the rock, attacking Mundus with a quick combo, then returning to the shore. The last piece disappeared into the lake and Mundus waded through the lava to the shore. The brothers didn't let him get out. They kept fighting Mundus from the edge of the lake, and every time Mundus tried to get out he was pushed back into the lava.
The lava boiled higher and higher. Instead of gaining power from it, Mundus was burned by the lava. His effort to leave the lava-lake became more desperate. Then inevitably he stared begging.
"Please, let me go. Don't do this to one of your own kind."
"Our kind?" Dante said. "Surely not. We're only low half-breeds."
"I was wrong. You are truly Sparda's sons."
"That was never in doubt," Vergil said.
The giant angelic figure started to shrink, and pieces fell off him as the twins kept hacking and slashing at Mundus, pushing him away from the lake-shore.
"Your father was my friend," Mundus said. "Please show mercy to your father's friend."
"We will show you mercy. As much as you no doubt showed Sparda. As much as you showed our mother. As much as you showed us as children and throughout our lives," Vergil said.
His icy gaze had not a flicker of mercy, only cold determination to finish this fight, revenging their parents.
Not another word was spoken. Mundus was consumed by the fire and lava. When the last of his life flickered out the lava stopped burning and solidified. On top of the solidified lava lay a lightning-shaped blade with a handle.
Vergil looked at it and shrugged.
"If you want it, take it," he said. "But be quick. I'm returning to my mate."
"For my collection," Dante said, picked up the blade and followed his brother.
ooOOOoo
They found the portal in Mundus' s room, just as Dylan had promised. When they stepped through it they were in the Human World, but not in Capulet City. They were in the ruins of a factory outside Capulet City, the opposite side to where they wanted to be.
Vergil growled.
"Why did I trust that Fanshaah?" he said.
Before he could start a rant on the disadvantage of trusting others a car came roaring up the disused road and came to a screeching halt next to the brothers.
"Mr Vergil, Mr Dante, please get in. I'm to take you to The Plains," the young Fanshaah driver said.
"Did you have to wait a long time? All our portals have been re-routed. No use in having others find them and create havoc in our homes and the hotel. Somebody decided to re-route Mundus's private portal as well. It took me a while to find out where it had been re-routed to," he said. "Dylan would have ripped me inside out if I had failed to find you."
The young demon kept talking about the war, the Fanshaah regaining their power, their fight to keep the hotel and their home safe, and on and on and on.
"Kid, I would stop talking now if I were you. Vergil looks about to burst. He's not one for small-talk and even less for non-stop chattering."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Nearly there now."
Vergil and Dante could see and hear the first signs of the raging battle.
"Stop here," Vergil said. "We'll walk from here. You return to the city. You're still needed there."
"Yes, of course."
The car stopped and the brothers got out.
"Good luck, Sirs, and I do apologize for the talking," the young demon said then the car sped towards the city.
Vergil and Dante walked towards the noise. The demons that were left outside the grounds of the house were all looking at the fighting, so nobody saw them approaching. Solaris was still on the platform carried by golems. She was standing rather than lying down in order to follow the fighting. Her 'armour' – no more than some carefully placed pieces of leather and a floaty skirt – made Dante laugh out loud.
"Look at that! Are you taking the warrior princess, Vergil? Or shall I?"
"Be my guest," Vergil answered. "Should be an easy kill."
"Scared, Vergil?" Solaris said. "Afraid you can't kill the woman you really love? Or afraid of what Mundus would do if you killed his sister?"
"I don't care to soil Yamato with your entrails. Dante has no such objections regarding his sword."
"Why are you here? Ran away from Mundus, did you?"
"She's got a high opinion of her brother," Dante said. "Squealed like a piggy and begged for mercy. We showed him all the mercy he showed our mom and pop. There's no more Demon Emperor."
"The Emperor is dead?" one of the demons asked.
"Yep, and here is the Devil Arm Mundus," Dante said, holding up the lightning sword.
Soon the whisper of Mundus's death spread on the battle field. Higher devils and demons retreated from the battle.
"You craven cowards," Solaris shouted. "Fight for Mundus. Fight for your loyalty to your Emperor."
"Sorry, Solaris. There's an empty throne in the Demon Realm. Mundus is dead and my loyalty is not towards you," one of the devils shouted as he left the battle.
Solaris was red with rage. She jumped of her platform and drew her sword. With a nod to his brother Dante approached Solaris. He played with her to begin with. Some slashes she could easily parry, a loose combo to make her think she had a chance. When the game bored him he slowly increased his speed. Solaris attacked blindly and inevitably Dante's Rebellion found an opening and pierced Solaris. Dante withdrew his sword and turned towards his brother.
"I'm done with her. Alive or dead, she's not important anymore."
Vergil nodded, then shouted, "Dante, watch out."
Solaris had not accepted her defeat and rushed towards Dante's unprotected back. At his brother's warning call, Dante swivelled round and sliced at his attacker and cut Solaris in two. Where she had fallen lay a strangely wavey black sword. Dante picked up the Devil Arm Solaris.
"Mundus and Solaris. They will make a nice new wall decoration for the office," Dante mused. "Crossed swords on the wall behind the desk. Yeah! Classy."
"Tacky," Vergil retorted.
"Well, I'm gonna have some fun. Still plenty of fighting going on there."
"You do that brother. I'm going to find my mate," Vergil said and made his way to the house.
There was indeed still a lot of fighting, and he didn't want to be held up. So Vergil triggered. The new trigger had the desired result. The Fanshaah made way for the devil who looked so much like Sparda. Very few of the other demons and devils cared to take the fight to him. Those that did had barely time to regret it. Vergil just hacked them down in passing.
When he reached the house he saw a cordon of Fanshaah defending it and preventing anything from entering. Dylan and Daryl were standing near the front door.
"Daryl, Dylan, great work. Is Mrs Redgrave inside?"
"She is, Sir, but this door is locked. Dylan, take Mr Vergil round to the kitchen door."
Dylan started to walk around the house.
"Dylan, I know where the kitchen door of my own home is."
"Of course, Sir. It's defended by Mistress Trish and Mistress Lady though, and they are trigger happy. They might not recognise you in that new Devil Trigger."
They had just rounded the corner and Dylan didn't waste any time.
"Mistress Trish, Mistress Lady. This is Mister Vergil. he wants entry to go see Mistress Redgrave."
The women looked up and saw Vergil before they saw Dylan.
"New DT," said Trish. "Must have been some fight."
"It had its moments. Can I get in?"
Trish opened the door.
"You know the way." she said.
As soon as Vergil was inside she closed the door.
"Never thought I'd see that cold fish so eager to see a woman, and a human one too."
"Strange things have been happening eve since this invasion started," Lady said. "I found patience I never knew I had."
"You still haven't got any, my dear."
ooOOOoo
Still triggered but silent as always Vergil reached the bedroom. As he entered a gun went off, but he moved too quickly, and it hit the doorframe.
Eve was kneeling on the bed, two guns aimed at Vergil.
"Get out or I send you back where you came from, you creep."
"Guns! Despicable! Casting a spell would be preferable, you witch."
"Vergil?"
Vergil released his trigger, came to the bed, and lifted his wife in a bearhug.
"You've got a new trigger. You idiot, I could have killed you."
"No, you couldn't. Where are my children?"
"Here, in the cot next to the bed. Twin boys. They were born when the wards had broken, and fighting was at its fiercest. That promises for the future."
"I'm sure you're the right mother for two grandsons of Sparda. Fierce, fearless, and a bit crazy. Just the kind of mother they'll need."
Eve yawned.
"Now you're here I'm going to sleep a bit more. You stand guard over me and the children."
Watching over his wife and children, Vergil thought of the day she had dragged him into this house and cared for him. Without trying or doing anything special she had awakened longings and feelings in him that he had been sure he was no longer capable of.
"Witch, succubus," he whispered and felt content like never before.
ooOOOoo
Once the news of Mundus's death spread on the battlefield the war could not last for long. Devils and demons alike fled. There would be a contest to gain possession of Mundus's throne. It was important to be in the Demon Realm, helping here, backstabbing there, and always trying to be the victor.
Soon quiet returned to The Plains. Daryl went to see Vergil.
"Sir, I believe we are no longer needed here. With your permission we would like to return to Capulet City. We may need to clear up a few remnants of this war and then start on re-building. The Klondike Gold Rush Hotel did not suffer extensive damage. It will soon be up and running again."
"You and your tribe want to continue at the hotel? You don't want to try to gain the title of Demon Emperor?"
"We've always preferred the Human World, Sir. We love working in the hotel and the casino. It is fun. So, we hope you'll allow us to continue living and working there."
"The place is as much yours as it is mine. What would the Klondike be without the Fanshaah? I'll be honoured if you stay."
"Sir, we'll make sure your office and apartment are in tip-top condition. I hope one day we may welcome you and your lady."
"You will. I promised her and, believe me, she'll hold me to that promise."
"Until we meet again then, Sir."
Just then Dante burst in, and Daryl left.
"Did the Fanshaah want something, Vergil?"
"Just my permission to stay at the Klondike."
"Why would? … No! … Must be! … The Klondike is yours?"
"Yes. I killed the previous owner and the Fanshaah made it a success. And I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine. Just came to tell you all the vermin has been cleared out. And I want to see Sis and my nephews."
Vergil took his brother to the main bedroom where Dante greeted Eve and cooed over the babies.
"Fool," Vergil hissed.
Eve laughed at her husband's reaction since he'd been cooing at his children when he thought she was sleeping.
"I suppose you two are hungry after all that fighting. There are plenty of pizzas in the freezer. Just ask Lady or Trish. They can find them. and bring me a piece as well."
"Pizza!" Dante cried out. "Sis, you are wasted on my brother. Let's go and get some food."
While the brother were going downstairs to the kitchen Dante said to Vergil, "You've always admired pops, haven't you. Always wanted to be like Sparda, and you really went for it, didn't you? Including the whole family life with a human wife and twin sons. You even gained Sparda's power and trigger. And you got your revenge on Mundus as well. He won't bother anyone anymore."
"I couldn't have done it without you, little brother. Finally the spectre of mother's death has been laid to rest."
"And now Vergil? What are you going to do now that you've found Sparda's power?"
"The Demon Realm still exists, Dante. A new Demon Emperor will rise eventually. Sparda's power will always be needed to defend the Human Realm, and I will be ready. Can I count on you?"
"To fight a Demon Emperor? Always Vergil. Just don't call me if you want help changing nappies. I'll leave that job to you."
THE END
A.N.
It is finished. At one point I feared that might never happen.
First and last time I start posting before my story is finished.
I hope you liked it.