Sempiternal (Devil may Cry Book 3)

Jesse's Special Meeting

"Please.... please just let me go...."

I looked down at Sunshine, who was crumpled on the ground at Vergil's feet. She was sobbing into the ground, rubbing her eyes with tied hands, "I never asked for this. I just wanna go home."

Jesse, who had been leaning against the nearest tree, stood her up gently, "Shhh... there there darling. We won't hurt you.... If your father gives us what we want. You'll be home free. Promise."

Sunshine tried to wretch free from his grasp, fixing him with her cold glare, "What you want?! You're gonna kill him!"

Jesse cocked his head, "And do you know why?"

"Because you guys are psychopathic murderers!"

"No. Because he is a monster. He has killed only to further his own end. We're going to put an end to him."

Sunshine reeled back, "You're calling him a monster?! You're the same thing he is! And you've done the same thing he has!"

A dark expression crossed Jesse's face. With a snap of his wrist, he shoved her to the ground. She landed with a oof as the air was knocked from her lungs.

"He better get here soon. I'm hungry."

Vergil slid up next to me, lowering his voice as he whispered in my ear, "After this is all over, I think we would benefit from killing Jesse once and for all."

I nodded in agreement.

We sat there for a while longer, the only sounds being the rustling of the leaves in the wind and Sunshine's quiet sobbing. Jesse sauntered over to me, leaning closer to my ear, "It's about time we go looking for him."

I gave him a stern stare, "We're meeting here. And that's that."

Jesse shot me an annoyed look and searched himself for a retort. I braced for an onslaught of nasty words, but a distant motor sound saved me the misery.

We looked up to see a parade of vehicles making their way down towards us; four black Buicks with a long black Limo in the middle of them. As the convoy halted nearly a hundred yards from us, I felt my heart beat speed up. Out of each Buick stepped four men, all dressed in black suits and armed to the teeth. From the Limo stepped six of those black suited, heavily armed men. Behind them came Reggie, who was in a black trench coat and a grey vest. He gripped his cane in his hand, but he needed it no longer.

One of the Black Suits stepped forward, fixing each of us with a black shaded stern gaze, "Master Reggie has given up much of his precious time to collaborate with you. Do not waste it. And if any of you try to lay a finger on him, we will open fire. Is that clear?"

Without waiting for a response from us, he turned to the crew and motioned them forward. Reggie walked with an important air with his soldiers surrounding him. As he approached, Sunshine struggled in Jesse's grasp.

"Jesse," Reggie spoke nonchalantly as he approached, "I believe you have something that belongs to me."

Jesse sneered and leaned down to nuzzle Sunshine's neck, "I must say. Your daughter is quite divine. I could just drink her right up."

Reggie remained unfazed, "What do you want, boy?"

Jesse tapped his chin in mock thoughtfulness, "Hmmmmm... what do I want?" He snapped his fingers, "Oh! I want you to step down from your position as High Ruler or whatever you call yourself."

Reggie narrowed his eyes, "Why? So a lout like you can take the position? "

"Oh no. So a lout like you isn't in the position."

Reggie was quiet for a long moment, and I could have sworn I heard a growl come from him.

He held out his hand, "Give me my daughter, and I'll discuss it with you."

Jesse reached down and sliced through her duct tape bonds with a claw. He made as if he were going to let her go, before dragging her back against him.

"Ah, no. I can't trust you."

Reggie snarled, "Then I guess I'll have to take her from you."

In a flash, the Black Suits had us surrounded, weapons trained at us. Jesse snarled as they pulled Sunshine from him.

"I thought I told you to come alone, old man. And I was gonna let it slide."

"Please. Did you really think I was that stupid? "

Sunshine raced to her father, wrapping her arms around him, "O.M.G. I thought I was a goner! Thanks daddy!"

Reggie smiled down at her and pinned her to him. With a swift movement, he buried his fangs deep into her neck. I watched in horror as her pained expression turned blank, wiped as death took its place. Her lifeless corpse barely made a sound as it hit the ground.

I stared at Reggie, "You... you killed her!"

Reggie sneered, "Good for nothing moocher. Alright boys, time to go. You know what to do."

In a flash, the Black Suits attacked. A stake protruded from my chest. Fire hot pain spread from my heart, and my legs crumpled. I was left to stare at my crimson life liquid as it poured from my body.

I heard a gunshot, things moving slowly now, and saw Vergil fall as he clutched his chest.

A flash of a blade and Jesse's head fell from his lifeless body and hit the ground, staring at me with a blank expression.

As the carnage came to an end, I collapsed in a heap, just conscious enough to see Reggie and his convoy driving away. The rest was black.