AN: Yup, I'm actually alive. I have been so sick of DMC...that is until I saw TGS '06's trailer and am now very pissed off about how they're making Dante look like a bad guy in it. -;;

Disclaimer: DMCCapcom

Chapter 2

And thus, he only made her night even more horrible than it already was.

She…He…what the hell? Lady wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, scratching her head in confusion as a very familiar silver-haired man slouched around the ballroom. Was it…no, it couldn't be. The way he moved, the way he spoke; it was all different; his hair was also flat, messy, and without gel. Hell, all she had to do was look at his eyes. He also looked…er…slightly on the drunk side. She shook her head. No, it couldn't be the same man; there was no grace around this slob. It was made painfully obvious when he finally spoke to her.

"Hey baby…wanna dance?" drawled the man as he stumbled in front of her, tripping over his own feet but saving himself from collapsing to the floor at the last second. Lady's nose wrinkled up in disgust as his alcohol ridden breath spread under her sense of smell. She hated people who got drunk. Honestly, it was unethical and just plain gross to look at. Though, she had to admit, it was sometimes quite humorous to watch a person dance around like a clown. The woman gave a sigh at the lopsided grin hooked on his face. He didn't even seem drunk anymore…

"Er…no thanks. I don't dance," Lady said as honestly as she could; she may have temper problems, but she wouldn't be directly mean unless the situation called for it. She didn't expect the man to sober up that quickly after she had answered his question though…

"Ah, but you were dancing earlier. Saw you, babe. So what's the matter? I'm too sexy for you?" he winked at her and leaned forward slightly as to reveal his naked chest beneath the coat. Seriously, who the hell comes to a ball in a long, red coat, completely undone without a shirt underneath, tight brown pants, and boots? Disgusting! Lady's eye twitched under stress and the man noticed, giving a laugh that sang in her ears. "I knew it."

"Excuse me," she growled between her tightly clenched teeth and stormed past the obnoxious, silver haired man who snickered in reply. Shoving past all the other guests, Lady trounced through the balcony doors, leaning over the railing, panting in rage. "How the hell did he get me that angry! I feel like a child," she admitted painfully, eyebrows furrowed together in her usual deep thought. And thus, came her rain of feelings over the night. The first man was serene, polite, and calm. He was everything a girl could hope for, the kind you would only read in fantasy novels and likes like that. The second one was…ooh! It made her tremble in anger at his rudeness and…and…his strange attraction that seemed to pull her in deeper and deeper. She let out a heartfelt groan. Lady hated how her mind reacted sometimes…

The stars shone brightly above her head. To the left, she saw her father mingling with his guests in the expensive, large window. To the right, she saw her own self staring back, her own ugly tomboy outlook. You wouldn't think it, but sometimes, she'd wish she were prettier, like all of those other girls in school. Lady held her hand up to her eyes, staring at the broken fingernails in distaste. Maybe that was why the only guy who had hit on her, ever, was a drunken slob with bad hair and a foul mouth who was probably drinking his own piss at that moment. Yeah, she always did get attention from other men, but still…she had never even had a boyfriend who wanted her more than for her looks.

Lady gave a sigh and shot another look back at her father. Strangely enough…he had vanished. Raising an eyebrow in question, Lady dashed back inside, holding up her dress long enough so she could stagger through the doorway.

"Mary, could you follow me?" her father's voice snaked from her right, making her jump slightly in a shock that was purely reflexive. Guess she didn't have to go looking after all. He seemed to find her all the time anyway. Lady craned her head to meet her father's, sending him her own questioning look at his mysterious façade. He only nodded at her issue which proved to further her frustration.

"Why, father?" Mary asked stubbornly and put on the most innocent expression she could muster without making her vomit. Her father, of course, saw right through her little act and put his hand on her shoulder, a sign she knew all too well. It simply meant: 'If you don't follow me right this instant, you're going to be in a shit load of trouble later.' Lady gave a slight sigh of defeat, which caused her lovely little father to smile that creepy smile he did when he got his way. He was like a child sometimes…

When he started up the staircase, she quietly followed. She did a once over of the room from her shoulder before she exited the room, however, and caught the stares of both of them. Looking like they had just been in a small tat, Lady locked eyes with them both. There was a moment of silence between the three, a moment of silence that the young woman interpreted from their stares as a warning. That's what they were telling her.

Don't go with him.

But of course she didn't listen. After all, she was too stubborn to believe two freaky haired guys like them. So, submissively, she snubbed them, nose turned up, and followed her father obediently out of the room.

"Father, where exactly are we going?" Lady asked Arkham quietly, not wanting her voice to echo against the walls of the dark staircase. Her father said nothing, merely holding out the candlestick further to illuminate the darkness of the stairwell. Lady's temper flared. "Father!"

"I just wish to show you something, Mary. Why are you acting so frightened?"

"I-I'm not. I've just never been down here before…" she shakily whispered as she thought she saw the flicker of a strange shadow draw across her father's bald head. There was definitely something not right about this. Where were they headed? The basement? She'd heard strange sounds coming from down there; so needless to say, she was not very keen on entering that floor. Another shadow, another jump. Her father gave her a strange look over his shadowed shoulder. His eyes were covered by the darkness; she did not see the psychotic glint shining beneath the bi orbs.

It was silence before they reached the large set of iron doors at the bottom of the staircase. Lady's breath hitched in her throat as more strangled moans came from within. A quick look at her father told her that he was not in the least bit surprised, nor worried about whatever laid within. Her fingers trembled as he set the candle on floor and shoved open the doors with little struggle. The creaking of the iron made her shake even more. This was not good. She should not be here.

"Mary? Are you alright?" She jumped; she couldn't help it. She nodded her head furiously, following her father, shaking still, into the brightly lit room. Lady squinted as her eyes adjusted, and when they finally did, let out a huge gasp of astonishment.

A science lab, was it? The room was huge; the ceiling was like it rose to the very heavens itself. Tanks and cages lay set up around the room, some hiding shadows of lust and greed. That was the only way she could portray what she saw. And to the right stood many of the guests, surrounding what could only be described as one of those weird time machines you saw on TV. But this one…this one set off an eerie red glow and held screams and moans of pain within that made Mary take a few steps away from the monstrous device.

Her father noticed. He grabbed her arm sharply and attempted to drag her to the machine. Mary screamed and struggled, having a horrible feeling that she had something to do with it. Her father…when did he get so strong? It was like he wasn't even human! The other guests didn't even help. They just kept staring at her like she was fresh meat, again and again and again! Eyes glowing golden, fangs protruding, tails unwinding, claws shooting out. Who the hell were these people!

"Stop it father, what are you doing!" Lady screamed at her psychotic father, who did not even take the time to answer his frantic daughter. Instead, he grabbed a small test tube out of the pocket of his coat, showing it to all the inhuman guests whose fierce eyes lit up in pure ecstasy and holding her still one naught but one arm.

"Sparda has departed for the night, no need to worry. As have his sons," Mary stalled for a split second; foolish man, did he not notice the two boys hiding in the shadows? And was the obnoxious one truly his other son? And Sparda? The legendary demon her father had told her story tales about? Was this all true? Her mind was buzzing as her father continued to rant, "I have his DNA in this single strand, and I have the woman needed to unlock the seal. All is good." Lady heard this and started to struggle even more.

"You fucking psycho!"

"Silence!" Her father yelled at her sharply, eyes flashing, and threw her to the ground with the power of a beast from hell. Mary's skull cracked onto the stone floor, but somehow, she managed to not lose consciousness. Maybe it was her willpower that allowed her to get to her knees, her head spinning the lab around in circles. Her father continued to drone on and on about some legend and gate and shit. Her vision cleared. She saw the door.

Mary dove for it.

However, as soon as her feet shifted, she was held between two of the guests, whose claws dug into her flesh painfully. Lady gave a shriek of despondence, falling to her knees, sobbing. Never at that time did she want her mother more. There was nothing she could do as she was dragged to the machine by those inhuman creatures, as her father slipped the one strand of hair into a side pocket on the device, as she was thrown into the vivid colors of what she could only know as hell.

It was then that all hell broke loose.