Chapter Text
You tried to make your peace with it all.
This was a normal you just… had to get used to.
Dante not being around anymore.
It had been four months, yes you were keeping track. Four months of just going back to the way life was before you two met. It wasn’t impossible, just challenging. Your world didn’t revolve around Dante, you had friends you hung out with, a hobby here and there, and you had a job that had you focus more on the task at hand rather than your own lingering thoughts… which worked. Sometimes.
But your coworkers were starting to take notice.
At the start, you had taken some time off after… everything, which no one kicked up a fuss about. Four months ago, everyone discovered Hell was indeed real and Demons invaded for a good… how long was Sparda’s barrier down again? You weren’t sure, your main focus was Dante as he fought the White Rabbit, it felt like hours… it easily could’ve been minutes though.
Either way, the world was still recovering from the Demon attack. It wasn’t just the U.S. sending their soldiers into the war, other nations were doing it too.
It sickened you.
As a Catholic, a part of you should’ve been glad this was happening… Demons were evil creatures after all. But… these weren’t the Demons you grew up to be cautious of. These Demons didn’t value a Human being’s soul, didn’t try to persuade others to a darkness that would eventually drag them down to a fiery pit upon their death. Not to mention, marching into ‘Hell’ to claim land and slaughter any Demon that got in the way, it just seemed like one was asking for trouble.
Dante never tried to go to Hell to kill every last Demon. He just killed the ones that decided to choose violence that day. And the longer you thought of it, Dante got offered those jobs because no one else wanted to risk others. And they certainly didn’t want to go running to the U.S. military branch or whatever and plead for help.
You made your peace with Mary Arkham. Got along well enough to exchange numbers. It got a point where she informed you that the government didn't believe you would go blasting to the media about what happened. So while she wouldn't be 'guarding/watching' you, you knew they'd still be keeping some kind of an eye on you.
It wasn't so bad. Once and a while you would text her, checking up on her in some manner. She'd respond back after a few hours. You didn't ask for anything personal about DARKCOM, just... how she was. Although it seemed that even in texts, her swearing didn't die down sadly. When you texted one time for her to try and lessen the swearing- at least a little bit, she started censoring the words in whatever new texts she went out from then one. It was... kind of funny. You could properly understand just why Dante offered her an invitation to join him and you on the quest to look for Vergil.
It made things a little better.
At least… you told yourself. Some days you’d feel it, that spike of rage and betrayal, during the most mundane things. Whether it be at work, or when you were home.
You wanted to forgive her though… she took no true pleasure in her actions. But that dark part of you, whispered something else. “Look at her, the dutiful little soldier to DARKCOM. Just following orders. Does she even own a spine?! And let's not forget the good ol' Vice President! Sprouting off about God like he knows what God Himself wants!"
You always shoved down those thoughts into a box in your mind. It’d keep busting free though, much to your frustration. It sucked more because, who could you talk to about this? No one. Not a damn soul on God’s green Earth could know about this… safe for God Himself of course. And talk you did. When you got ready to say your prayers before going to bed, you prayed to try and forgive… everyone involved in Dante’s capture. Prayed that Dante would be set free, but if he couldn’t… then to let him remain in a cold slumber. Where he couldn’t be used like some crazy version of the Winter Soldier. It was a cruel fate, but better than being used like a mindless puppet in a war.
A war he didn't want. He made it very clear that night on the rooftop after the White Rabbit's supposed death.
Back to the matter at hand involving your coworkers however, you’d have to do something. And soon.
When things got serious in your relationship with Dante, he’d often come by your workplace to pick you up or even drop something off. No, the man never took you to work, for you sadly got up at the crack of dawn. Sometimes you wished he did, but you knew he needed sleep, plus… the times you spent the night at his place and had to head to work that morning… he just looked so peaceful as he slept. Then he’d turn on his back and break into a snore, shattering that peaceful image. He was still cute though. And you didn't have it in you to wake him up and escort you to work.
You gave an excuse saying Dante was away on a bounty hunting mission. But after the two month mark… you had the sinking feeling that they believed he broke up with you. Or something horrible happened in general. Thank goodness no one outright asked you what happened… yet. Part of you was tempted to just find another job. That was what you were doing before meeting Dante… but then you two met, and suddenly your job didn’t seem so hard anymore.
Even still, finding a job was always such a hassle. Plus you couldn’t just up and quit like that because you couldn’t tell your coworkers the truth. Technically you couldn’t for legal reasons… but still!
Walking out of the grocery store one late afternoon, you adjusted the bag you had in hand and got ready to move. Only to stop and look a few yards across the street, at the local gym. Boxing classes along with a self-defense course had recently been added. The colorful ad promised the first month free if one signed up at the gym before a certain cut off point.
You gripped your bag tighter.
You thought about it, finding a way to fight… be strong enough to do something rather than just sit on the sidelines. But what could you possibly do, if a Demon did decide to attack you? Throw a haymaker at it and hope its skin wasn’t thick or anything? Besides, you, a Hunter? Dante did more than just hunt Demons, that’s how he was able to at least afford his apartment. Doing all of that… it could mean having to quit your job entirely.
Was that something you were willing to do?
You sighed aloud and started to move to head back to your apartment. You needed to do something with your life, something that had meaning. Something that… took your mind off on who you lost. Your world revolved long before Dante came into your life… but he became such an important part, that you… had to remember what it was like beforehand now.
Walking down the sidewalk, you paused when catching sight of the posters of a… concert, for- “Huntrix?” You read the purple themed poster before you in surprise. You heard of Huntrix. Who hadn’t? A famous K-pop girl group that consisted of three members. They had been leading the billboard for pop music for five years now. Your music taste varied, but you did enjoy a small handful of their songs. Their voices just… it just reached into your soul and promised nothing but strength and hope. Call it cheesy, but that’s what you felt every time you listened to their music.
You looked over the poster, taking note of the time and the location of their performances. One of the performances would be in town… the date itself not too far off.
A thoughtful frown appeared on your face before you began the trek back to your place, when was the last time you went to a concert? Too long. Not that you hated concerts, but it always seemed to be singers/bands you weren’t familiar with. Or singers/bands you were familiar with, were playing in places that weren’t close by, or even better- at times you couldn’t possibly hope to attend.
That wasn’t the case for Huntrix at the moment though it seemed.
Frowning to yourself in thought of the dates and whatnot, you continued on to your apartment, your mind still lingering on the concert. You should be focusing on other things, more important things… things normal people needed to focus on in life.
Except, you weren’t exactly normal now, were you?
Such a question remained rooted in your mind as you put your groceries away and started to get dinner going. You had work the next day so you couldn’t afford to stay up late.
Besides, when was the last time you did something on this scale? Hardly ever.
As the work week went on for you, the more the idea settled properly into your mind. Suddenly you were picturing yourself going to said concert, having a good time as Huntrix sang. You’d probably be up all night, exhausted in a way that you hadn’t felt in a long, long while.
Why not take some time off? You had the PTO collected to a nice amount, not to mention had plenty of time to put it in before the actual concert.
A chance to have fun and then relax the next day? It sounded wonderful. But… was it too wonderful? No, it was something regular people did. And you had to get back into some semblance of normal. That thought weighed heavily on your mind that early evening as you scheduled your PTO accordingly through your phone. You hit the send button before losing your nerve.
Later though? After you had a shower and curled up under the covers of your bed then turned off the light? After you said your prayers and closed your eyes? You saw him again.
The last time you saw Dante was in a nightmare. Him in DARKCOM attire, him with that cold look in his eyes. And the White Rabbit mercilessly suggesting that DARKCOM would make him their own Winter Soldier. You hated how such a wild theory stuck itself in your head.
This time? This time you were falling. It was that day all over again. The day it truly was confirmed, that Dante was half-Demon.
The plane blew up in the end, despite Dante’s efforts. Everything went black afterwards for you for a while… at least it felt like a while, you never figured out how long you were knocked out cold. Then you could feel it, the wind rushing past your ears, your hair hitting your face-
That bellow of anguish and fury pulled you out of the darkness.
Your eyes snapped open just in time to see Dante… change. From your distance, it looked like sparks of fire shifted around his arms and legs, leaving them a shade of red that matched the trench coat he always wore. His back had been to you at that point, the transformation had made his whole form turn around so you two were finally face to face.
Albeit at a good distance since you had fallen further along with the others on the plane.
You could see it though, the change in his eyes like back on the plane. A rich ruby red that took over completely. Then whatever caused him to change, whatever started to take over- ended up sending his body further away from you and the other members of the plane. You weren’t sure what happened to Dante exactly, but when you, Enzo, and the others fell past him? You understood what happened.
He just transformed into a Demon.
Your mind recalls a being, a bright red being with black highlights. Most importantly, you remember his eyes. The pretty sea glass color was gone, replaced with something akin to gold.
There was something else your mind latched onto at that moment. His wings… they were so were beautiful, and they gave a powerful flap as he flew towards you, black taloned hand reaching to grab you-
The sound of your phone alarm ringing jolted you from the dream. No, from the memory, you sat up in your bed in disbelief as the alarm on your phone slowly grated on whatever nerves you had that early in the morning. A frustrated sound left you as hastily shut the sound off, your grip turning white as you clutched your phone like it personally betrayed you.
It hadn't, but it didn't make this whole situation any better, did it?
This dream/memory whatever, it wasn’t a bad one… you knew how it ended too. Dante had caught you, Enzo, even that damn Vice President, the others as well. But then your mind supplied you with all the bad memories that spiraled afterwards, and you hated it.
Fatigue was all but forgotten as you sat in your darkened room. The sun barely peeked in through the window, curtains closed so the light crept in through whatever open gap there was. You set your phone down before you did something stupid like throwing the stupid thing. The last thing you needed was a busted up phone.
But that feeling… it wasn’t going away.
Nor were the memories.
The last few precious moments you spent with Dante before everything went to Hell. Literally. Days that felt okay and the days that left you feeling hollow. The days were you weren’t angry, where you felt like you could forgive and move on.
That was hardly the case now.
You licked your dry lips as fresh tears rolled down your face. You didn’t bother to stop them, why? You were alone in your own bedroom, you could do whatever you damn well pleased! And right now, you felt like letting that anger settle into your bones so you could- could… do what, exactly?
Get revenge on DARKCOM?
Your anger slowly burned away, leaving the kind of tired you felt when Mary stopped by those two weeks after… everything. Revenge would not solve anything.
Look where it got the White Rabbit.
All that planning, plotting, the urge to get back at Mary Arkham and all the other agents. And it ended with him killed by Dante, and the world he claimed to have cherished, along with its people- being attacked by Human beings.
Besides… God wouldn’t want you to take revenge. Just as well, you didn’t want to, not really.
Wiping your face with a tissue from the box on your nightstand, you slowly got up while cracking your neck with a groan. “Fun way to start a morning.” You muttered to yourself. Time to properly wake up and head into work.
The two weeks that either went by too slow, or too fast, work made it easier to stay concentrated on your tasks at hand. Although once in a blue moon the memories would creep back, but it was fine. Something you were starting to slowly get used to.
And now? Tonight was the night of the Huntrix concert, excitement had filled your veins the moment you got up that day, mostly 'cause you slept in since you took off of work. After spending a good day relaxing/getting ready, it was time to head out.
Your phone was fully charged, you had your apartment key safely tucked in your purse, there was a brand-new pack of travel tissues in your purse… yep, it looked like you had everything. Even the travel sized bottle of Holy water too. You carried it long before you realized Demons were tangible beings, more so now. Granted you never learned if it could hurt them… you had faith it would though. You didn't want to be lugging around your usual size purse however, so you opted for a smaller one and carried your essentials.
It paired rather nicely with your outfit. You hadn't been to a concert in a long while, so it was… perhaps a bit tricky to figure out what to wear. But you settled on an outfit you were comfortable with, showed off your form rather beautifully, and it made you feel… well, like the young woman you were.
A grin spread across your face as you took a double look in the mirror attached to your dresser drawers in your bedroom. Your makeup was on point and the dangly silver colored earrings you wore caught the light in the most perfect way possible. A wonderful night enjoying a concert suddenly didn't sound so odd anymore. With one final look, you headed out of your apartment- not without double checking the locks- and then hurried to your apartment building's elevator.
Time a fresh change of pace.
The line was… extremely long.
It was a good thing you got there a little bit early, not early enough apparently. Doubling checking the ticket you received via email on your phone, you decided to kill the time by playing games on your phone.
The line moved at a snail's pace. Much to your frustration. Deciding to give the games a break, you took a glance around at the stadium that Huntrix was performing at this evening. Everyone was dressed head to toe in some form of Huntrix gear and/or carrying signs. What you noticed though? Everyone was naturally excited, but no one was starting anything, no negative shouting, just… a positive crowd. Up ahead, a group of girls a little bit younger than you were singing lyrics to one of Huntrix's top songs.
How It's Done.
You felt hope bloom in your soul as you hummed the lyrics. A smile gracing your features as you started to quietly sing your favorite part, "Hear our voice unwavering, til' our voice defeats the night. Makin' fear afraid to breathe, till the dark meets the light…" You let that final note carry out under your breath, not wanting to make a spectacle of yourself in front of strangers.
Singing was something you enjoyed when you were younger and as you got older. Although in your adult years, it started to tapper down into… well, you had other things to focus on. Besides, you had no interest in being a singer. You were happy to sing for God and yourself.
As that final note carried out, something shimmered.
You paused and looked to your left, the shimmer spreading topographic lines. That's what it reminded you of at least. The colors shimmering between what looked like blues, then soft greens- the color vaguely reminding you of sea glass- before it faded.
That… what was that?
Turning your head, you tried to see if anyone else noticed it. But no, they were still talking among themselves.
Maybe it was… just a trick of the light.
That was what you kept telling yourself as the line eventually progressed, which made you grateful, it gave you something else to focus on rather than your concerns at the moment. Getting into the stadium at long last, your ticket on your phone was checked and you along with the rest of the fans were guided to your seats.
Excitement and joy curled in your chest as it properly sank in.
You were at an honest to goodness concert for a popular K-pop idol group, you were going to enjoy some awesome music, and the best part? You didn't have to worry about going into work tomorrow. "Thank you dear Lord for PTO." You muttered aloud with a happy grin as you took your seat. You were a bit high up from the center of the stadium, where the members of Huntrix would be performing on stage. While you were doing well with your funds, the tickets for a spot closer to the stage were… well, suffice to say, rent would've been a problem if you had gotten one.
But you were happy with the seat you got. You were close enough to properly see and hear the members of Huntrix.
And now? Now you could properly relax a little before the concert started. Or you could have… if your throat didn't feel so dry. Grimacing a little, you carefully got up and weaved in and out of people filling in. "No one better take my seat." You thought aloud as you headed down one hallway, looking for the closest water fountain you could find.
Which you did, thank goodness. The water didn't even taste lukewarm or gross, a nice little bonus to your evening.
Once done, you used the nearest reflection to double check your lipstick, only to go still when seeing something in the reflection.
What looked like a magenta colored tear along the wall behind you.
You whipped around, expecting the worse, you found no such tear though. Not a thing.
"I'm not crazy, I'm not."
Right?
You grimaced uneasily, soon bringing a hand up along the wall where you could've sworn you saw that magenta tear. The gray brick felt cool to the touch. You even knocked on it, like how they did on TV. It wasn't hollow.
"I'm not crazy." You muttered again to yourself. That same unease you felt less than a minute ago, returned tenfold when you heard someone whisper your name. The voice sounding like it was dragged through something sharp. Slowly turning, your face went pale when seeing them… Demons. Three of them, each one just tall enough so you had to crane your neck to face them. They smelled of something disgusting to where you gagged and hastily backed up, if to at least not breathe any more of that wretched smell.
Their coloring reminded you have a desolate swamp. Truth be told, their appearance was like the Lizard from the Spider-Man franchise fused together with Killer Croc from the Batman franchise. Only these three were more lanky, and they lacked regular lizard qualities.
Except for the forked tongues, which stuck out to taste the air.
"You smell of him." The middle one of the trio growled out with a dark glint in those yellow eyes. That remark made the color drain from your face.
After your last bad dream, you found some comfort in wearing one of Dante's shirts when you went to bed. You still had dreams… but they were so jumbled that you barely remembered them when you woke up. You considered that a win.
You didn't think it would put a stupid target on your back.
And of course it would happen when DARKCOM decided that they didn't need to have a guard watch you. You could call Mary, run as fast as you possibly could and call her.
But something in your heart told you… you were on your own for this.
You stood there, frozen. For you knew that a situation like this could drag out, but finish in the blink of an eye.
Eventually the flight or fight response kicked in, and you picked the former. Spinning on your heel you took off down the hallway as your fingers fumbled with the zipper of your purse. You just got it open when you were grabbed by the back of your neck by a large hand. The cool scales against your skin making you shiver, more so when you felt the nails dig into your skin too.
Next thing you knew, you were being pinned against the equally cool brick wall face first. Although you were able to angle your face well enough to get a look at the three Demons. Fear gripped in your chest as your breathing became rapid.
Was this what prey felt?
It must be.
The Demon keeping you pinned to the wall let out a dark chuckle that only increased that fear in your veins. Toying with you… this Demon was toying with you! Now anger paired together with your fear, you focused on that anger. Better than to let fear consume you.
"Do you think he will want to learn of her?"
Who were they talking about?
"What for? This is just a worthless little Human. Even if she was close to one of the sons of that filthy traitor." The Demon that had you pinned, growled out at the one who spoke up.
They were distracted, meaning you had an ample window to try and do something.
Your purse was still open, and while you were pinned face first, your arms were free. With Demons arguing among themselves, something about taking you to someone they knew, you let your purse slip down your arm. Your fingers caught the strap at the last second, letting you swing it to your dominant hand. It didn't take long to feel for your keys attached to your ice cream key chain.
These weren't the Demons you grew up learning about. These… these came from a whole other world.
But the one keeping you pinned still had eyes, just like any flesh and blood being. Meaning it was going to hurt something awful after the stunt you're about to pull…if you could.
'Please, dear Lord, please!'
You gave no warning as you treated your two keys, one that led to your apartment, and the key Dante gave you last year- like little daggers- jamming them right in the Demon's eye.
It was a wretched sound, but it was drowned out by the roar of pain that the Demon let out. The scaly hand dropping you to cover at the eye you had stabbed. The other two Demons converged on their comrade, prompting you to hurry off after you were let go.
"Get her!" The main one roared out as the two dashed after you.
You ran as fast as you could, but you knew they'd catch up to you. You were the prey after all.
But one thing was certain, you had to lead them away from crowded areas! Sooner or later someone would check out all the noise, then it would be the plane ride, the highway fight, and the rooftop takedown all over again!
Looking around, you were able to spot a fire alarm, and while ignoring that rational part of you to not break the law, you yanked down the handle of the fire alarm. Just as the Demons tackled you down.
With your anger from earlier returning, you struggled the best you could. You tended to make things harder than they should be, most days. And it seemed like this was one of those days.
There was one comfort though, the thunder of footsteps back at the entrance to the inside of the stadium back where you came from.
At least no one would get hurt by these three…
The two hauled you two your feet, just as your face was gripped so you could look the wounded Demon in his one good eye. You winced in pain as the grip on your face tightened. "You pathetic little Human." The main Demon snarled out, making you chuckle inwardly.
The Demon said it was like an insult. Maybe to the three around you, it was. But you loved being Human, the good, the bad, the pretty, and the ugly that came with it.
So beautifully imperfect.
They raised their other hand as they gave you a fanged grin, "Maybe we should take you to meet him. Bet he'll cut you down before you even realized-"
The treat was cut short when three sets of… glowing blades with golden colored tassels at the end, embedded themselves through the Demon's scales. Much to their shock as they whipped around.
"No-"
The two Demons holding you up suddenly dropped you as they let out frightened noises.
Why were they so scared?
Slowly sitting up, your eyes widened as you saw three figures walk down the hallway towards you and three Demons. Your confusion only growing when you saw it once again, that shimmer of light from earlier- ripple all around the hallway and the floor itself.
It gave off a pulse of light that made the weapons in their neatly manicured hands, glow a touch more.
"No way…" You breathed out in shock as the K-Pop group, Huntrix, advanced on the Demons, as the latter charged back when defiant roars.