Chapter 8 - The Pain Was Worth It

I reach the location of Morrisons mission in what feels like mere seconds, I'd passed three cities and a lot of countryside on my 'run' and only now had begun to calm down, I slowly began to feel whatever had happened pull back. Like someone had put a mosquito net over my and was slowly pulling it off. It didn't hurt, in fact only when I'd tried to hold it back had it. Now I felt strong, more so than ever.

Then I was crying, which quickly turns to sobs of uncontrollable emotions and I drop to my knees.

I'm being a literal cliche, my sobs begin to slow as I shakily stand, hating the fact I'd let myself be so damn dramatic, that was Dante's click not mine.

Ok now what Mel, you ran off before she could explain and for all you know Nico may have just guessed.

No impossible, but then how? And what will V think when he finds out... Oh...oh no, please NO!

Realisation slams into me like a pack of Behemaths and the hazy memory suddenly becomes painfully clear and crisp.

I'd jumped off of Lady's bike and OVER... over Nico's truck to get away, the truck that everyone else was inside of on the way to our mission.

With the realisation comes fear, for the the first time in my life.

As I shake from the overwhelming emotions I feel a sensation begin to creep over my skin, like the 'net' I'd felt earlier being dropped gently over my body once again.

I didn't fight it, hell I welcomed it this time and within seconds it was over, no pain, no fear, nothing but calm.

At last child a voice says gently, soothingly almost...and ... Inside my head?

" I haven't accepted anything, I needed to get away and I didn't think or care about how I did it." I state as I close my eyes and focus on the calm I feel.

Hmm, well I can work with that. You do not seek power, nor revenge or any such thing, nor do I require this. I do not offer a contract nor are we partners like the familiars your lover controls. We are one and the same... The voice calmly explains but I have to interrupt, rude yes, do I care, right now? Do I FUCK.

"Wait! What do you mean we are one and the same who are you? I don't want to say what are you but, yeah guess I just did"

I hear a sort of purr or growl reverberate through my head at my response.

I have no name, though I am not two days old child, I am ageless, though you are not, you are immortal, as are the sons and grandson of Sparda. You are eternal as am I. You are the earth and the sky, formed and formless, feared and fearless, powerful and also loved by those closest to you.

It sounds like V. I giggle at the thought and so does the 'voice'

This is a round about way to explain, and I don't understand at all what the 'voice' is saying but I know I'm not going crazy...at least I don't think.

You are being surrounded little one, though I sense you knew that, and these are not friends but foe, let yourself be and see what happens. At this my eyes snap open.

I'm surrounded all right, by demons of different types. I don't know what to do I admit, hoping the 'voice' can hear me.

Don't think, act little one, you shall see.

I nod at this and the advancing demons suddenly lunge at me. I roll my shoulders and raise my still gloved hands, intending to summon my daggers but instead seeing actual claws instead of nails. Not thinking, as instructed, I begin to fight as I usually would, slashing and tearing at the enemy and being a lot quicker at it than normal. A feral sound escapes my lips as I lean forward and charge an empusa Queen, as I lunge at her I feel my body change and my claws become paws as I rip into her side, dragging the sharp edges down and killing her. I jump into the air as she makes a final death attempt as she falls. It takes a second to realise I'm still in the air after the Queen hits the ground and I turn slowly to take in my surroundings. Seeing that there are only a few enemies left, then the 'voice' returns.

Spell them, it's quicker than landing and killing them.

"Flame of flames, pure and bright, take these creatures and set them alight!" I begin to descend to the ground as the demons burst into white flames and blow as ashes away in the wind.

Oh I could get used to this. I giggle as I observe the minimal damage and large demon numbers I took out alone. I sound like a mad person with all the laughing, I shrug at this thought, no one's around to hear me so it's cool.

"Horrid creatures, dark and bad turn to dust, be gone from the land!" I mutter as I move to sit on a bench a few metres from where the battle took place, watching as my spell sends flutters of what used to be demons into the wind and leaves not a trace of them behind. No signs of a battle at all in fact.

Well done little one, well done

Hehe, thanks, but who are you?.

My name is Shirai and I am your soul, an ancient being. That is all you need to know dear one.

So are you a spirit or an elemental if I, I mean WE, aren't a demon, or a human?

I am both and neither, now prepare yourself... they are coming.

I stand and prepare to fight again before I hear a soft laugh in my head, your friends little one, your friends.

I turn my head as Nico's truck pulls up and everyone rushes out, but not before Lady hugs me tightly from behind.

"I'm sorry Mel, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to push you over the edge! Are you ok? Did it hurt as much this time? What happened?" She begins to sob uncontrolably as she babbles squeezing me tight enough to limit my air supply.

I chuckle and pull her back softly, "it didn't hurt at all, now then, I have some explaining to do."

"Yes, it would seem that you do" I turn to see V standing with his back against the truck, eyes locked on me, oh crap. Gonna need help here Shirai.

Of course, but promise to cook, Griffon? Yeah! If he interrupts us?

Haha I promise.