Chapter 11 - I Got Nothin!

My jaw drops as I enter the study, V right behind, so close in fact he crashes into my back. In any other situation we would have laughed and turned that into a play fight ... Then probably had sex the mood we are both in at the minute. Dante pisses himself behind V.

Anyway at this present moment in time all I can do is stare. Vergil is lay on the ground, surrounded by blood and bits of what I assume is the demon. "Dante what the actual!?" I try and keep my voice calm but it's shakier than I want. I go to step forward but get yanked back by Shirai.

NO CHILD. It's a trap, the elder son of sparda vergil is fine, this is just an illusion from the parts cut away. The blood of the demon forms halusinagens when met with air from this side of the portal.

I sigh in relief, "Dante it's ok. The hell it is fix him! That isn't Vergil, he must have chased the demon off after the halusinagens kicked in on you." V begins to nod slowly as he realises what's going on. Dante on the other hand looks confused as hell, but decides to go along with it.

"Wait Shirai did they not hear you explain it?" I ask out loud so the guys can hear. They should have, I look to V who glances at me as though oblivious to Shirai, ok? Ugh work on that later Mel find Vergil and our target now...and fill in the others.

I bolt out of the study without another thought, saying a spell to highlight the path Vergil took so I can track him, but before I get even a third of the way down the corridor I hear Nero scream Kyries' name and then something slams into me from the side.

My ears ring as I hit the wall, bits of debre scattering over me and coating me in brick dust.

I try to look around through swimming vision but everything hurts. All I hear is distant noices but I can't destinguishe any one thing from another.

Dante tries to talk to me but he sounds distant and hard to hear, then everything simply fades away.

"...l, Melodie. Damn! Wake up please!" V sounds frantic, all semblance of calm gone entirely, his cracking voice makes my heart break but I can't breath, let alone speak and let him know I hear him.

Slowly I force my eyes open. All I can see is blurred colours and then black. At first I think I've blacked out again, then I realise it's V's hair over my eyes while he hugs me.

"Princess!" Griffon screeches as he lands in the dip of my body formed by my bent knees. He wraps his wings around me and pushes his beak against my chest, "thought we'd lost ya for a second there, sorry if ya tingle I had to shock ya!" I try to lift my head to nose him but it instantly falls back against the wall, or what's left of it and my eyes flutter closed again.

"What happened to the demon?" I ask not daring to move and feeling brick dust move in my throat as I speak.

"Dante and Vergil are battling it in the ballroom, they know of the halusinagens as well, so are being careful." V runs his fingers through my hair as he explains and then he stands, shouting for Trish and Lady to come and help move me.

"No! Don't move me, gimme a minute and I'll heal, I already have mostly, it's just my head now but I have to be careful, don't wanna cause more damage" the girls appear seconds later but V tells them what I'd said.

Shirai, you doing ok? No answer, I panic but the realise she's probably either still out or dazed like I am.

After a few minutes my vision clears and I stand, feeling 98% better, then a roar errupts from below us and the whole mansion begins to shake.

"Dante! Vergil! Dad!" Before I have chance to think my legs move and I run ahead of the others, leap over the balcony at the top of the stairs and land in front of the door V and I had used for support earlier.

I turn to my right and see two grand double doors, or what's left of them, shattered into pieces and leading into what should have been a stunning ballroom.

Flash images of party goers flicker over my eyes and then, the truth.

The demon is stood, no more like towering, over Dante and Vergil just inside the doors.

I chant a spell and send the doors remains slamming into the creature. Recieving nothing but a head tilt and a cackle in return.

Foolish child, your trickery does not work on me, even the Dark Knight traitor could not defeat me! The voice reverberates through my entire body, making me shiver in uncontrollable fear. I control myself as best I can and stand as though unphased.

"Perhaps, but each generation improves, surpasses their predecessors and grows more powerful. Sparda faced you alone. But he had three sons, and he has a grandson. Then there's me, and two of the deadliest female hunters in the world. Do you really think you can stand against us all?" My voice is firm and steady, more so than I thought I could manage given my current state.

The demon turns slowly, it's blank, formless shape shifting like a cloud of smoke, you? Formed and formless, feared and fearless, loved by those who care for you, you are not threat to me. I have been trapped within your pathetic family for generations, I know your weaknesses...ahhhh, speaking of, the creature tilts its head behind me as V places a hand on my right hip, Nero on my left. Neither of them seemed to know what to do or say.

"Boys, meet Shirai. Or it's full name -"

"NO! DON'T SAY IT" I jump at the noice, head pounding as they yell down my ears.

"Names are power to demons Mel and this one will strike fear in any who say it. The effect would drive you hatter mad Mel." I nod as Dante and Vergil begin to stir on the floor, I need to keep it distracted, but I don't know how.

I look to the guys for help, their return glances say the same as my head.

I got nothin.