Title: The Devils Cry Chapter 10
Category: Devil May Cry
Rating: PG-13
Devil May Cry and it’s characters and situations are the sole property of Capcom. I am making no money or profit off of this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended. On the other hand all original characters and situations are mine so please don’t run off with them without my knowledge or consent.
Summary: A daughter’s dreams of a place that Dante doesn’t want to remember make him recall things that he had once tried so hard to forget as the skeletons in the Sparda family closet come out to play. Lost family history is revealed, and people once thought long gone return.
SPOILER WARNING!!!: Spoilers for all three Devil May Cry games.
( “Next )10.
Vergil poured over the notes he had gathered from translating his grandfather’s book. There wasn’t much to work with. He had learned of only a few gates before the book had been taken and those had been permanently sealed by Sparda centuries ago. They could not be reopened even if Vergil wanted to take the risk. Straightening his back, which ached a bit from leaning over his notes, he sat down heavily in a chair which suddenly materialized behind him, courtesy of Dante. Pulling up another chair, the half demon sat down and looked intently at his adopted son.
“I’m sorry.” Dante said quietly.
Vergil didn’t look at him, instead turning his attention back to his notes. “Why” he asked calmly.
“For what I said yesterday. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
Dante closed his eyes. “I’ve always suspected that your father was still alive somewhere. I vaguely remember that our father told us that we share a soul, and we never could hide from each other or lie to each other, no matter how much we tried. After he was kidnapped I always hoped that I would find him again, because I could feel that he was alive out there somewhere. A year after we were separated, it changed. I could still feel him, but the feelings was very faint and distant, like he was dying or something. I tried, I really tried to track him down and bring him home, but no matter where I went, he never seemed to be any closer. Eventually Rachel made me give up the search, because it was exhausting me. I was just a kid still, and the burden of rescuing my brother was too large for me to carry.” He paused for a second and spared a glance over at Vergil out of the corner of his eye. The younger man wasn't looking at him, but he was listening intently, his pen resting forgotten in his hand.
“It was the nastiest shock I have ever received when I saw him again for the first time in two years - we were seventeen then - and he tried to kill me. He was a different person, someone that I hardly recognized as my brother. It killed me, leaving him behind in the demon world. I did try to catch him, but he wouldn’t hear of it. I’m not sure to this day why he stayed. I think that I could have forgiven him for all of it if he had come back with me.
“After that I had myself convinced that he was lost to me forever, that I would never see him again. But Mallet, of course, changed that. I had noticed similarities between the fighting styles of the Dark Knight and Vergil, but I had forced myself to ignore them, because the conclusion that they would have led me to was too horrible to think about. Once he disappeared in that blue fire and dropped the amulet, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I just wanted to crawl into the nearest hole and die. I gave Mundus the impression that it was my mother’s murder that I was angry over, but in reality, it was Vergil that I was thinking about. I didn’t say that to him, though, terrified that if I did, he would inform me that Vergil had done it all willingly. I don’t think I could have handled that.”
Dante put his head down on the table, aware of his son’s attention returning to his notes. The younger Vergil said nothing, and only the quiet rustling of papers and the soft sounds of his breathing were the only indications that he was there. After spending a bit collecting himself, Dante raised his head from the table.
“Find any possible gates?” he asked.
If Vergil was surprised at the question, he didn’t show it.
“Unfortunately no.” he replied. “All of the gates whose locations that I was able to learn before the book was stolen are closed. Some of them may be openable, but it’s not worth the risk. I wonder if Rachel would know anything? She got out too didn’t she?”
“Oh I’m sure, but I’m also certain that Dad helped her. He could have opened a small relatively unknown gate for her and closed it back up once she was out. Besides I already called her and asked. She said that she didn’t know of anyway to get in there without breaking a seal somewhere.”
“Did you tell her about what I want to do?”
“I did. She said she would look up some of her ‘connections’.”
“Connections? What kind of connections would she have?”
“One can never know with her.”
“Well, to return to our original subject, can you think of anyway to get my father out?”
Dante nodded. “He got out once, I’m sure. Otherwise, how could he have brought me you?”
Vergil’s head shot up. “He brought me to you? I thought you found me?”
“He did, and I did.. He left you inside Devil May Cry, curled up on the couch in the front office. That is where I found you.”
“Did you see him?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Then how do you know it was him?”
“I could sense him around you. Like he had been the last one to touch you. And you were holding the Yamato in your hands. That’s how I know. Vergil may have been cold and heartless towards me when I saw him last, but I know that he would have done anything possible to keep you from coming to harm. He was strange like that.”
“Then why? Why didn’t he stay?”
“I don’t know. He may have been pursued and wanted to lead them away from you. I won’t know unless I speak to him. Which I fully intend to do, once we find him.”
Vergil smiled a little. “So, where do we start looking?”
******
They were coming for him again. Vergil weakly raised his head from where it was lying on the floor and looked blearily at the door. Maybe if he was lucky.....
The door opened and four Abysses came in. Perfect. He let them haul him to his feet, while he contemplated if running was worth the risk. He might not get another chance for a while, if ever, but if he tried and failed to make it to his family’s tower - Lar'cincel, was what Luxian had said it was called - then he would never get another chance. He would have to wait and see if an opportunity presented itself. Like usual he was dragged through the Underworld, only this time they took the longer route, the “scenic route” is what he sarcastically called it. He felt his heart accelerate with anticipation: if they continued on the path they were one, they would take him right past the tower. If he reached it and was able to get inside no one, not even Luxian, would be able to harm him there. Years before, before the Temen-ni-gru, Luxian had mentioned something about the inherent magic within the tower walls would prevent anyone of Sparda blood from coming to harm once they were inside. He sincerely hoped that Luxian had not been lying.
Vergil remained still and limp in the Abysses grip, knowing that, while they were fast, they were not exceptionally smart, and would not be able to guess anything that he might be scheming. He watched through his thinning hair, which had fallen over his face years ago and which he had never bothered to push back, as the black obsidian tower came closer and closer.
Closer...
Closer...
He silently prayed to whoever may be listening that Luxian was elsewhere.
Almost there....!
As they passed in front of the tower, which was still a ways off, Vergil knew that this was as close as he was going to get. He decided to take the chance. He suddenly began twisting his body from side to side, wrenching his arms free, and broke into a full run towards the tower.
******
Luxian was in the throne room, updating Mundus on his slow progress with the book when a messenger ran full tilt into the room, ignoring all sense of propriety. The flustered demon stammered out something about the traitor’s half breed son having escaped his captors and making a run for the Sparda home. Luxian dropped the book in surprise as the half breed’s audacity while Mundus roared in rage.
“Catch him, Luxian!” the Dark Emperor raged “Get him before he reaches the tower! Do not fail me!”
Hastily scooping up the book, Luxian bolted from the throne room. As he left, he thought that his assessment of Mundus being a spoiled child was more than accurate.
******
Vergil tried to ignore the burning in his leg muscles as he ran for all he was worth towards the distant doors. Adrenaline had given him the strength and the speed to get away from his guards, but even adrenaline could not undo twenty-six years of beatings, starvation, and torture. The Abysses were hanging back, but he knew that they liked to toy with their prey like that. If they really wanted to, they could have him in a heartbeat.
******
Luxian ran towards the tower, moving so fast that he would not have been visible to human eyes, had any been around to look. He could not believe that Vergil was stupid enough to try such a stunt. It seems he had underestimated Sparda’s child. He could see the tower in the distance and in front of it, sprinting for the doors a disheveled figure with thinning white hair. He had not lied to Vergil all those years ago - he would be safe from anyone and anything once inside. Gritting his teeth in rage, he put on an extra burst of speed, determined to catch his delinquent nephew before he reached the safety of the interior of the tower.
******
Vergil’s lungs were on fire, and he was gasping for air. He was two thirds of the way, and his limited strength was nearly depleted. He was a little shocked that he had managed to make it as far as he had. His run slowed to a stagger as his leg muscles gave up. He couldn’t push himself any further. He wasn’t going to make it.
******
Luxian saw Vergil slow down and smiled in satisfaction. He was almost there, but it was obvious that he wasn’t going to make it. Slowing his own run to a walk, Luxian strode confidently towards where the half breed was still struggling towards the door.
******
His chest heaving, his legs spasming painfully, Vergil sank to his knees, unable to go any further. He could sense Luxian’s approach and had to swallow a large lump in his throat. Luxian was going to hurt him badly, quite possibly kill him. Funny, he found himself looking forward to death. At least he would be free of this place. Somewhere behind him, he could sense another demon approaching. Probably another demon to torture him. Well, maybe he would die faster then. Closing his eyes, he waited.
******
Luxian saw the breed give up, and smirked. Oh yes, the boy was going to pay.... He knew that Vergil was probably hoping that they would just kill him, but that was not going to happen. Certainly, he was going to meet his father, but not in the way he was hoping. He sensed another demon approaching and looked up in front of him and to his left. Zenedris Sarcesti was walking towards Vergil, ignoring everything else. Luxian’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. What could she be doing? The he saw her raise her arms and begin chanting, and his eyes widened, then narrowed again in fury. Breaking back into a run, he moved as fast as possible, abandoning his human form for his faster natural form, towards Vergil.
******
Vergil still struggling to catch his breath, heard words being chanted behind him, words that sounded vaguely familiar to him. He saw a flash of his godmother, Rachel, and thought that he had heard her chanting words like that before. No matter, he was going to die soon anyway, maybe whoever was chanting the spell that they were going to use to kill him.
His eyes abruptly flew open in shock as power surged through his body. He didn’t know what it was, nor did he care. He jumped back to his feet and sprinted for the tower, moving as fast as he did once years ago, before his demon half had been sealed away.
******
Luxian roared in rage when the half breed leapt to his feet and ran towards the tower. What in the nine levels was Zenedris thinking? Had she lost her mind? He could see a thin ribbon going from her to Vergil, and he realized that she must be feeding him some of her power. Pushing himself as hard as he could, he tried to intercept the half breed before he reached the doors. He was rapidly closing in on him. He only had to go a bit and.....
******
Vergil could hear Luxian closing in behind him. He was almost to the door...! He felt Luxian’s breath on the back of his neck. Taking one last chance, he leapt for the door, which mysteriously opened for him before he could touch it. He cleared the threshold and landed with a thud on the smooth stone floor. He heard Luxian shriek in rage and felt the power leave him as he swam into unconsciousness.
******
Vergil had been distracted for the past few hours, staring into space, while he absently cleaned his sword. Neither Dante nor Alastair had been able to get much of a response from him, So when he dropped the rag, the sound of it hitting the floor nearly started them from their chairs.
“What is it?” Alastair asked. He didn’t answer for a bit. He sat perfectly still, as if he were listening to something. Dante and Alastair looked at each other and shrugged. Then Vergil smiled, picked up the cleaning rag, and continued where he had left off.
“What the hell was that about?” Dante asked.
“Oh, nothing.” Vergil said calmly “He’s safe for now.”
“Who’s safe for now?” Alastair asked.
Vergil smirked a smirk that he had inherited from his father. “Uncle Vergil is.”
“How? What?” Dante sputtered, causing Alastair to giggle. “What happened?”
“He got away. He got away, and they are pissed!” Vergil laughed.
“Is he still in the demon world?” Dante asked.
“Yes, but he’s where no one can hurt him. He’ll be safe as long as he stays there.” He smiled again and lapsed into silence, focusing on the Yamato.
Dante and Alastair looked at each other and shrugged again.
******
Hours later, Vergil’s world swam into focus, giving him a sight that almost made him want to pass out again. Luxian was standing over him, still in his demon form, his face set in an enraged snarl, his hands clenched into fists. The demon was so angry that he was visibly shaking.
“You little bastard!” he spat, spittle flying from his mouth ‘What the hell did you think you were doing?!!! You have no right to corrupt this tower with your filth!! Only a true Sparda my step foot in these halls, and YOU ARE NOT A SPARDA!!!”
Vergil tried to scuttle back away from his uncle, but he was too weak. The run had taken everything out of him. Well, now was a perfect time to see if Luxian had been telling the truth about the whole protection magic in the tower walls. Steeling himself, he sent a cheeky grin at the elder demon. Snarling, Luxian reared his leg back to deliver a kick to his insolent nephew, but the kick was stopped a mere inch from the other’s fragile rib cage. Furious, he tried again, and again his foot seemed to hit an invisible barrier just before the kick could connect. Vergil grinned weakly and relaxed, sinking into a deep, restful sleep.
******
Back in the human world, Rachel let go of the amulet that she wore around her neck and watched as its glow faded. Smiling in satisfaction, she nodded and went back downstairs to tend to her shop.
Chapter 9 -- Chapter 11
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