Chapter 9 - Here Goes Nothing

"V, I can...you know what no, no I can't do this..." I turn to walk away but Griffon blocks me with outstretched wings, "...Griff please, move aside, I can't do this right now" I mumble as I fluff the feathers behind the birds head.

Traitor I thought you didn't like it? I don't, ish but, I can't help it he's just doing as he's told.

Arms wrap around my shoulders and as I shift around slightly to see who it is, I find Vergil of all people stood behind me, face emotionless as always.

"Mel, please, talk to us" I glare at Lady, I do NOT need this girl. I growl internally as I take each persons face into perspective, none of them are happy, but I don't think any of them look angry at all, in fact they look...concerned? Confused?

"How long have you known about this Lady?" I freeze internally as I hear V's voice crack a little at the question. All I can think is I hurt him and now he won't understand. Then I realise they weren't looking at me a minute ago but at her, uh oh she's in trouble.

"Well, I, errr, um..." She's useless, officially.

"She's known since the Temen-Ni-Gru, in fact she's the only other person who knew ... Ever." They all stare at me. I take a breath and begin to explain that I'd snapped after Vergil had stabbed Dante on the top of the tower and after I'd jumped after him I'd landed near Lady, half delirious with the agony of my transformation because I was trying to hold it back. I told them how I'd attacked her and nearly killed her before calming down.

"We ransacked the library in the tower, where you and I fought, Dante, about who would kill Arkham. Hm. we found excerpts and passages explaining about the, would you call them symptoms Mel?"

I shake my head and look down, "no not symptoms just, abilities, hang on.." elllp! Yes abilities work."...yeah abilities. Anyway, the books suggest I'm either an elemental or an enchantress, which is how I can do spells."

I'm deafened by a loud common yell of WHAT! From everyone and I giggle at their surprise. I sigh out a long breath of air before I continue my explanation of each section. "An elemental gives me the ability to change form, as you saw when I jumped over the truck, I don't know what I turned into though, I just know that I did. The enchantress is spells and sensory stuff which I've always been able to do, Barron ground that does surround, fill with life in leap and bound!" As I finish the 'spell' the ground fills with fresh grass, flowers, fruit plants and other greenery, a beautiful little oasis if I do say so myself. I cast another spell to put a pond in the middle and then leave it there, knowing my point is proven. "That's not all but the next bit is hard to prove or explain as I dunno how to explain her without sounding crazy. But I can say this, her name is Shirai and she's been guiding and guarding me ever since I was a baby slowly releasing my abilities as I got older so I could learn to control them gradually. So she claims at least. I didn't know she existed until I got here" I indicate around me slowly.

That's right little one, now if you stand by the water I will show them who you are talking about. Ok, I tell the others to come to the edge of the pond and look at my reflection.

There, in the water is a shadow of sorts, bright yellow eyes and formless black. It isn't wrapped around me but appears to be crouched or lay behind with its head wrapped to the left side of me.

I gulp before asking can they see anything.

"Yeah a shadowy thing with yellow eyes, looks kinda like a wolf lay down to me" Nero jumps slightly as I look at him.

He sees a wolf at the side of me? I take another look and sure enough, as though someone had upset the still water, the shadowy form shifts to a HUGE black wolf, the yellow eyes remaining.

"Ok, ok, so your a badass hybrid who plays Eenie Meanie on what 'being' ya wanna be, that about right" Griffon squawks as he lands in the tree above me.

I step forward out of Vergil's arms, only now realising I'm still being held by him, I turn to tell Griffon to shut it but im cut off.

"Silence Griffon! Mel has explained the best she can and, while hard to fully comprehend..." He indicated the reflection"...it is impossible to doubt that which our eyes have beheld," he indicated with his cane to the surrounding greenery. "What I do not understand is this, why did you not say anything before now?" The ending question was asked by both V and Nero.

"I've been 'dealing' with this for most of my life V, the pain when I got angry, the shaking so hard I felt like my insides were turning to dust when I was frightened. I've always tried to fight against it and according to her..." I nod to the wolf in the water who runs her head against my hand, I actually felt that, hmm that was so cool. Hmhmhm.

"...all the 'symptoms' I've had in the past were because I tried to fight my abilities. So basically once I accepted them, well sort of, when there was nothing else I could do but want to get away, I came to my full power...I think. So I may be at my peak or I could get stronger, I don't really know to be honest."

I sit on the ground, rubbing my fingers through the grass and a gentle breeze picks up, ruffling everyones hair and making me relax.

"Gurrrrrl, I'm jelly af of you right now, a big ass wolf thingie teaching you from inside your noodle, you speak and you can make anything you want happen, who knows what else you could do!" Nico squeals with excitement and she rambles and the others add in things like;

Vergil saying it could be useful to know exactly how many demons are in a horde before we attack it without one of us being scout.

Dante saying training was gonna be hella harder now I had magic to use as well.

Lady saying she was relieved that we finally told my secret, though she regretted how it had come about.

Trish asking could I control the weather or other elements as well as the earth. I told her I hadn't tried so I didn't know, she offered to teach me lightning as a beginner and I agreed.

Nero and V just stand silently, taking in what's in front of them.

"I always called her pup, but I never thought that the 'pup' I'd found that day and brought to Dante and my dad had really been Mel when it woke up. I wonder if they knew?" He looks at V who nods, humming quietly. Apparently he'd missed the end of Nero's comment.

"All I see is the woman I love, granted she's now sexier than ever, hmhm, but this is indeed a development I, or it seems anyone expected. Though I agree with the others, she is indeed going to be more effective than ever..." He and Nero laugh as they talk and watch me lay back, not knowing I can hear them. Awww, wait pup Nero found note to self, ref that later.

He still loves you, this worked out better than expected little one, they seem willing to continue as though nothing has changed. This truly is a one of a kind group. Now give me form so I can swat that bird once and for all.

Haha leave Griffon be Shirai. I'll give you form, it'll make things easier if the others can hear you like I can, and see you.

I stand and walk to the waters edge, placeing my hand in the water and pulling on the shadowy form within, thinking I'll be leading out the wolf in the water to the bank. Instead another hand takes mine and I pull a woman who simply walks out of the still water, bringing it with her to cover her body while a set of clothes take form and she stands beside me, the water slowly fally back into place.

"Guys, this is Shirai, the errr...voice in my head?" I laugh openly at the crazy sounding comment. Everyone else laughs at my awkwardness as well.

She purrs slyly and shifts her form to the wolf from earlier, towering over my left side and letting off a low, sweet sounding howl as she sits, pushing gently against me before shrinking to a normal wolf's size for ease.

Here goes nothing, I just hope I can handle this.

I look at V and he dawns that sexy half smile of his, tilting his head down slightly to hide his eyes with his hair from the others. I run to him, wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his neck, crying a little in relief. He still wants me and I know that look. He wants alone time too I think.