Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) [Chapter II]

[Silver Eyes]

Strangely enough, with all the events that have taken place, Amoura wasn't having night-terrors or unpleasant dreams. It was rare, but she was having a trip down "memory lane" as it was so often dubbed. Other didn't interfere this time, having chosen to "plead the fifth" after what transpired.

The way things were before the Council, before Veran; back when it was her, Dante, and Ranka kicking ass, taking names and enjoying what life had to offer were the "good days". Amoura's knowledge of entertainment or "simple pleasures" was so scarce during that time frame and everything those two showed her--aside from porn and sex shops; damn you, Dante--made her gain more appreciation. Her favorite was going to the movie theater and having a large tub of popcorn with a soda.

The simple pleasure was star gazing. Dante never was partial to that but Ranka often joined her, telling her the different constellations and some of the stories behind them. It was all so fascinating! The poor vampire had to put up with her dragging him out all over the place in Domino City and beyond. One of the more amusing memories she had was the incident at the photo booth. When he realized there were pictures being taken, she got a good rap on the head and he walked out just as they were finished being taken. The patience he had with her during that time baffled her. Amoura was like a child just learning about the fun things that life had to offer.

Dante, well, he had his rare, good moments in finding something fun to do when there was no job. The many nights spend at the bar did prove to be entertaining, especially breaking up fights or causing them. Hey, it was the only time she was able to really throw a punch at him! But the memories entailing him pushing her out of "his chair" always infuriated her. What was with his possession over "the chair"? It was just furniture! Let's not get into how much he made fun of her for indulging in the cheesy romance novels and skipping the sex scenes. Every time he caught her, he'd read those moments out loud, she'd cover her ears and start shouting "LALALALALALALA!" at the top of her lungs. Ranka saved her sometimes. Sometimes.

Sometimes...

[Ayen]

An interesting trio you three made.

The images playing in Amoura’s head would return to the star gazing between her and Ranka but there would be one very notable difference. The addition of “The Seductress” Maricul. She circled him, admired him before looking over to The Night Angel.

Can’t knock your taste in men either.

Maricul moved to behind Ranka and smiled slyly as she leaned up against him, wrapping her arms around to his front and slowly slipping a hand up and underneath his shirt, feeling up his bare chest all in an attempt to play with the feelings of The Night Angel.

He’s perfect!

[Silver Eyes]

"I know he is."

This was a dream so such things shouldn't bother her. Had this been real, Ranka would actually be here for one and Maricul would be missing both arms faster than she could have said "He is perfect". Twenty-five years of life without him may have helped in keeping composure against this annoyance but some irritation did linger within. Some.

Amoura had assumed her original form: grey hair, red eyes. Her fingers were weaved together, her elbows propped on her knees and her mouth pressed against her hands ever so slightly. Quite frankly, it seemed she just didn't give two shits about her attempt.

"You never had him and neither did I. Spare me and get over it."

The Night Angel wasn't in the mood for this, well never was, but all she wanted was to continue remembering all the good times without interruptions. The past few days had been stressful and sleep-deprived and this was the one relaxing thing that's happened to her since.

[Ayen]

We actually never met.

The Seductress removed her hands from the frozen image of Ranka within The Night Angel’s memories and carried on unaffected by Amoura’s words or the lack of response she had received for touching the vampire that cheated all their natural born weaknesses.

But I know him and what he’s capable of. What you’re capable of. A daughter of Mundus with endless potential. It’s a shame you’re only a scared little child underneath all that armor you wear.

Maricul spoke more darkly, very unlike the Maricul Amoura would remember either while she was evil or reformed. If “The Seductress” would remind her of anybody it would be The Spokesman or to Amoura’s memory, “The No Life King.”

The relationship between master and fledgeling is normally a strong one. Normally not “that” strong however….

[Silver Eyes]

"I don't care about what you think. If I'm a scared child under the armor I wear, then that's your opinion."

Amoura turned her head enough to look at the frozen image of Ranka gazing at the stars. Why Maricul dared to tell her all of this was beyond her understanding. This wasn't the vampiress she was familiar with from her world, that much was for certain. So why? Dream or not, she had to do this: her hands separated and she rested the hand closest to Ranka on his taloned digits.

The relationship between master and fledgeling is normally a strong one. Normally not that “strong” however…

Her fingers slipped away from his and she relinked her hands atop her lap.


"I'm not even sure if you could understand. Why are you here? To taunt me?"

[Ayen]

I haven’t even begun to taunt you.

The Seductress walked over to the Amoura of the past looking up to the stars unaware of the horrors she was about to face after these pleasant moments would become only memories. If only she knew perhaps she would have savored and appreciated them more in the moment. Maricul was actually starting to feel pity for this woman. Pity at the life she has led all these years with one giant nigh unbeatable obstacle after the next.

Nor have I come to taunt you. On the contrary I’ve come to warn you. My sister has taken the blood from your sister Zira Firestone and used it to unlock a demon your father sealed away centuries ago. Z-Rah – master of souls. His power and army is now at the command of Ranko and he comes to exact revenge on you for the sins of your dead father.

[Silver Eyes]

So now another threat is looming on her horizon. It should have been expected--there's rarely a long period of peace in her life before something else comes around to try to eradicate her. At this, Amoura heaved sigh and laid back on the roof to see more of the stars. There had to be another reason for her to warn her but she chose to not go there.

"Thanks for the warning."

She won't dismiss this of course but she wanted to savor this sweet dream. Amoura had almost forgotten all of this during her time at Mortis with Zira--whom she was glad to know was well--and it was comforting but tormenting all the same.

Was he looking at the same stars right now or was he gone from this life? Amoura had to find out but with the upcoming events, her personal desires had to be set aside. Again, she found herself looking at him.

Get a hold of yourself, Amoura. Fortunately that was her own thoughts and not Other, who was still choosing silence. The gods be praised.

[Ayen]

Yes do get a hold of yourself.

Maricul now stood over the head of Amoura blocking her view of the stars up above. Brown eyes looking down at her almost judgmentally while the rest of her facial expression was rather unreadable for the most part.

A being like you allowing your other incarnation to take control and attack Miracle is an embarrassment to both teacher and student.

Maricul gave another glance over to Ranka before walking away towards the ledge of the ceiling.

[Silver Eyes]

"You're one to talk." Amoura sat up, stood, crossed her arms and continued talking. Maricul had no right to be here in the first place and certainly wasn't in the position to give that speech.

"Defying a divine being, keeping rifts open to prove a point that wasn't necessary and you ended up ensuring the slaughter of millions of lives. I think that also included numerous worlds too." The Night Angel spun around to glare knives at Maricul. This was not needed. Not when she was having to put up with enough shit as it is and Maricul joining the pile was not going to happen.

"What happened to me was beyond my control but what you did was entirely your choice."

Amoura's fists tightened, "And I'll have you know I made Ranka proud with how far I've come. Get the fuck out of my dream and stay away from me."

[Ayen]

Better to make your own mistakes and learn from them than allow weakness to take over your body and have another dictate your actions.

Replied Maricul coldly to the hybrid. It would now be her time to be unresponsive to the other woman as she turned around and simply stared back at her visible rage with a blank expression. How quick she was to defend herself and make excuses. It was enough to make the vampiress sick.

That said I hardly call what happened on Aircano a mistake. I laughed in the face of infinite power and continue to exist in this world as one Maricul; the Maricul who’s become one with all her worldly incarnations possessing their memories and experiences, making me stronger. You can’t even control one of your many incarnations. Pathetic.

Maricul walked towards Amoura until they were only five feet apart from one another.

From the ashes of worlds rise Utopia.

[Silver Eyes]

"Beyond my control. You weren't there. Don't care. Get out of my dream."

Amoura sat back down next to Ranka, hugged her knees to her chest and the memory that had been paused resumed. The best way to ignore a nuisance is to just continue with the task you were doing prior.

"Ranka, what's that one?" Amoura pointed to Orion's belt, "Looks like there's a disfigured smile in the sky."

"Orion. He was a great hunter in Greek Mythology," he gestured towards two other star patterns near it. To really see it, Amoura had to look up his arm and follow his forefinger's tracing. "That's Canis Major and Canis Minor--they were his loyal companions who hunted with him for celestial creatures. See them?"

"Yeah." Amoura moved back and looked at him, quirking her brow, "How do you know all of this?"

Ranka lowered his arm now that she could see the location of Orion's dogs, "You're not the only one who enjoys stargazing."

This really got her attention. The hybrid clasped her hands together and flashed a smile at him, "What else is there about Orion? Is there more of a story to the guy?"

Ranka nodded, "He was in love with one of the seven sisters who formed Pleiade but she didn't return it. He died when he stepped on Scorpius but the gods took pity on him--they put him in the sky with his two friends."

"That's... tragic but I suppose that's a good way to be remembered." Amoura frowned at this and started searching for more constellations. Did all of them have stories behind them?

[Ayen]

There she was making excuses for herself again. Refusing to take any responsibility for her own weakness. Maricul only had one thing to say and it came from The Night Angel’s very mind. She would more than likely remember it because how could she forget the night her loved one betrayed her? This dream was about to become, a nightmare

You need to wake up from that dream you call reality.

Maricul snapped her fingers and everything around Amoura began to crack, as if made of glass, and finally shattered until The Night Angel found herself standing in the main streets of Dominion City. What was left of it anyway. A familiar bright light covered the horizon as the supernova by The Arashi came crashing through the realm devouring everything in its path; the buildings, the cities, the people. Screams of agony flooded the entire realm and poured into Amoura’s ears as they all perished alongside the remnants of the Abyss and whatever remained of the Council of Legion. Maricul had only bothered to save the ashes of The Sisterhood and the clone of Sparda. Three ashes which she would later revive and a clone were the only things she found worthy to save from that realm. That was how much she thought of the world and its people.

Thanks to the power of The Arashi, the will of Yahweh; you, Sparda, Shiro, Adam, Clash, Dante, Daikus, Sazan, Michael – you all don’t have a world to go back to anymore.

In the aftermath of the explosion the only thing that surrounded the two now was darkness. Pure darkness.

And all because you were weak.

[Silver Eyes]

It was indeed a horrible scene to witness. The world she had considered home was destroyed by the Arashi but shifting blame around won't resolve what had come to pass. Again, this was a dream, and witnessing chaos was an everyday thing in here. Veran was to thank for that.

"You have no power in my dreams."

Amoura looked up and the darkness began to luminate. They were standing in the heavens and very close to the stars. The hybrid's fascination with them hadn't faded since she left hell and it was always soothing that one thing would never change.

"You were too weak to stop him too. We all were. I ask that you please leave. I rarely have peaceful dreams. I want to savor this before I wake."

Amoura turned from Maricul and walked away while staring at Orion. She could care less if she thought she had to "wake up"--she was content with what she had right now.

[Ayen]

Not the fight.

Maricul appeared in front of Amoura again, just floating there like a ghost clad in blue. The woman wasn’t getting off that easily and it looked like she still didn’t understand what “The Seductress” was getting at.

I wasn’t referring to the fight.

Maricul suddenly vanished in a cloak of darkness as black wispy tendrils surrounded the hybrid. In the place where Maricul once was were the blue glowing eyes of The Arashi before they went white, his corporal form now before Amoura as they were standing in the very same temple, within the cave she discovered the beast in preceding the events that happened in Aircano. The Night Angel would then feel Maricul’s arms wrap around her from behind, holding onto her tightly as “The Seductress” brought her lips up to Amoura’s ear and nibbled on it lightly before whispering into it.

I meant what happened before it.

[Silver Eyes]

"If you are trying to make me feel guilt, you are wasting your time."

Amoura hated that sudden feeling that washed over her when Maricul nibbled on her ear and promptly moved away to avoid any other intimate acts. The Arashi was frozen, again another memory, with her standing in front of him in shock. He had his blade drawn and pointed at her throat.

"I've encountered his kind before--both quoted the same prophecies."

The memory played with sound only in Aper's voice:

‘Wrapped in the guise of man shall they walk amongst the innocent and terror shall consume they that dwell upon the world. The skies shall rain fire, and the seas will become as blood. The righteous shall fall before the wicked, and all of creation shall tremble before the burning standards of hell…’’

"For years I saw visions of the apocalypse, death in life and other horrors that I hoped I'd never encounter again." The memory grew silent and Amoura paced around Aper, "Had I known that coming here would awaken a divine being and begin the chain reaction, I would have put up with the visions. If it meant losing the last threads of sanity I have, I would have gladly given it up to ensure that so many would not have died."

Amoura stepped away from Aper so she could make eye contact with The Seductress, "If I didn't know any better I'd say the previous Arashi meant for me to wake him. Why? I was probably unlucky. If I could have seen the future, this would not have happened."