DreadRedQueen

The world shifts a sensation Dante is well used to, the physical realm transforming into the great expanse of the fade, the sky an array of colours, the stone archway comes into view, and Spite stoops to pass through, slowly so as not to startle Manuelle.

"Maker, what is that?" Manuelle squeaks, hiding behind Dante.

"It's ok, I won't hurt you, it's me, Spite," Spite says softly, though his voice is still quite loud and bassy in his true form.

"Determination." Devotion says excitedly, their golden form floating over to embrace him.

"Hello." He greets them, curling a wing around them.

Dante chuckles, seeing the two spirits greeting each other. It was nice to see Devotion being happy. They look back at their sister.

"Manu?" They smile.

"Is that really Spite?" Manuelle asks, clinging to them.

"Look, my origin." Devotion sings, pointing to Spite. They drift over to Manuelle and spin on the spot, their golden light soft and warm.

"Oh, Devotion, you're so pretty." Manuelle smiles, giving them a kiss. They press their foreheads together in greeting.

"It's really Spite. You have nothing to worry about." Dante could feel the warmth of Devotion light. "You two are adorable, you know that?" They chuckle.

Spite trills and calls for his wisps. It sounds like whale song.

"Greetings," Hope sings, appearing first and floating next to him.

"Hello." Love joins the song, following Hope.

"Welcome." Empathy appears last, and dances around Spite's head in greeting.

"Devotion, join us," Spite says softly, as he sits down, crossed-legged, his wings spreading.

"Family." Devotion sings, floating over to join him.

"Ready to train?" Spite asks Dante with a grin once everyone is settled.

Dante pays attention for a moment to the song of the spirits, feeling both soothed and energised by it. They nod and then look at their sister and grin.

"I'm ready." They grin. "Are you ready, sis?" They ask.

"What, um, do I need to do?" Manuelle asks nervously.

"Speak with Devotion, bond." Spite smiles softly, his 6 eyes blinking independently.

"Dante, teach you to call spirits." He grins. "Safe way." He adds.

"Oh, really? Nice." Dante was excited to learn, taking a deep breath to calm down, and concentrating on Spite, listening to his instructions.

"Yes, must concentrate, never call them without Spite, Cant protect you otherwise," Spite growled.

"Feels like home but not home." Devotion muses, playing with Spite's feathers, making him twitch occasionally, sometimes playfully swatting her with his wing.

"So you were one being before?" Manuelle asks Devotion.

"Yes, vast, the infinite, but cut away, taken." She sighs. Spite's wing curled around them comfortingly

"Safe now, a family again." Spite smiles before returning his attention to Dante.

"Spirit calling is like soothing, must look for right emotion. focus, whisper their names." He smiles, glancing at hope, love and empathy, and nodding his head, the three wisps disappear.

"Concentrate, call them back, one by one." He grins.

Dante closed their eyes, feeling the flow of magic around them, breathing it in slow rhythmic breaths.

They concentrate on love first, feeling the warmth of a memory filled with the feeling of home, of family, of love. They call out the spirit's name, their whisper barely audible on the wind but shimmering like a bell, their own feeling of love bright and loud.

Spite watches them for a moment before looking around, making sure it is safe.

Devotion had grown tired of playing and was resting against Spite's side, smiling as if basking in the magic that seemed to shift around him.

"Home." She sighed happily.

Snippet:

He smiles at her as they approach the counter. It's quiet, and there is no queue.

"What would you like?" He asks, pulling out his wallet.

She studies the menu for a moment.

"Just hot chocolate, please." She smiles.

He orders a hot chocolate for her and a black coffee for himself. He pays for both, and the barista tells him they will bring the drinks over when they are ready.

He nods before guiding her to a corner table at the back of the café, and she sits across from him with a smile.

"Isn’t it kinda funny the last time we were here, we barely knew each other?" She giggles.

"And now we know each other....." He pauses for the right word. "Intimately." He purrs, a smirk on his lips as he takes her hand and kisses the back of it.

"Very… intimately," she laughs.

"Yes." He smiles, releasing her hand as their drinks are served. "Gracias." He thanks the server before his gaze returns to Lily's.

She takes a sip and hums happily.

He smiles and sips his coffee, his eyes closing as he savours the flavour of the coffee.

She watches him enjoy his coffee with a smile of my own.

"I should learn how to make a good cup of coffee," she chuckles.

"I could show you if you like, just keep the sugar away from my Coffee." He chuckles.

"No sugar," She nods before shuddering playfully. "I can do that." She grins.

"And no milk or cream either, Black is the only way Coffee should be served." He smirks playfully.

"You’re crazy," She laughs.

"Crazy about you." He purrs.

"And I am crazy about you," She smiles, blowing him a kiss.

He catches it and chuckles.

A group of teenagers enter the café and snickers, whispering amongst themselves and pointing at Lily.

Lucanis glances over and frowns at them, but says nothing.

The leader of the group saunters over, placing a hand on the back of Lily's chair and leaning in. Lucanis tenses and narrows his eyes.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doing with a loser like this?" The boy says.

"I suggest you leave," Lucanis says coolly.

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it, old man?" The boy smirks.

Lucanis stands slowly and stares the boy down without a word.

The Boy reaches for something in his pocket.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Lucanis growls, moving his jacket slightly to show the butt of his gun.

The boy pales, apologises and scurries off, his friends laugh at him as they collect their drinks and leave.

"Kids today." Lucanis tuts, taking a seat. "Are you alright?" He asks Lily, looking concerned.

Snippet:

"It's very relaxing, taking care of the plants. Maybe we can look and see if the vegetable patch needs some tending to? I wouldn't approach the rest of the flowers too close, they are poisonous, but we can definitely go pick some fruits." Dante babbles, leading them toward the trees.

"We probably shouldn't interfere with the plants without Lucanis or Altara here, but they probably won't mind if we pick some apples, oranges an lemons," Toya says, picking an apple and biting into it. "They're really sweet," she says in surprise.

Manuelle reaches up and picks an apple, and takes a little bite to

"Oh shes, right, these are lovely, and the flesh is pink too, see." She shows Dante with a smile.

"Maybe we can ask for an apple pie?"Dante grins as they pick an apple of their own and take a bite. "Oh! They're so good!" They gasp.

"Oh, that's a great idea, Lucanis is a great cook." Toya smiles.

"I suppose he did make a nice dinner on the ship." Manuelle muses, with a blush. Lucanis was so handsome, Altara and Spite were so lucky.

Dante notices the blush and grins.

"Does someone have a bit of a crush?" They tease.

"What, me, oh, um, no, of course not...I." Manuelle blushes furiously.

"I mean, we wouldn't blame you if you did, Lucanis is hot." Toya grins, making Manuelle blush even more.

"I shouldn't, he's married," Manuelle says shyly.

"There is nothing wrong with appreciating a handsome Antivan." Toya grins.

"Definitely not blaming you, I swear we've all been there!" Dante chuckles. "Like, I swear it's a prerequisite that all Crows have to be hot." They Laugh.

"You should have seen him and Spite spar." Toya laughs, fanning herself.

"They took their shirts off." She giggles.

"She was fanning herself. It was that hot. I should feel a teeny bit jealous at that." Dante laughs.

"Like you weren't checking them out too." Toya grins.

"Yeah, but I totally checked you out too, you know! When you two were sparring! " Dante grinned.

"I still cant believe Lucanis is training me." Toya grins wider. "The Demon of Vyrantium." she laughs, no crow could boast that.

"whats he like?" Manuelle asks excitedly.

"Strict but fair, and nice to look at too, as long as I dont get distracted." She laughs, she was only half joking. "He's the kindest man I know, well Pike is to of course, and Spite." She smiles.