The soft rumble of the jet engines filled the cabin as I leaned back into my seat, gazing out the small circular window into the fading skyline of New York. The private jet, modified felt both luxurious and still foreign. Like I can relax but I won't be able to sleep soundly.
Across from me sat Logan Belmont and Laura Morris, the two modern-day Belmont descendants. The two sat seated side by side like unwilling siblings forced to tolerate each other on a long road trip.
Logan, with his rugged, unshaven jawline and storm-gray eyes, leaned back calmly, legs crossed, arms folded across his chest. His signature Belmont whip, disguised as his belt, glinted in the cabin light. His black leather gloves were enchanted to protect his hands.
Laura, in contrast. Her long brown hair was tied up into a high, pony tail. She tapped her boot knife against her thigh rhythmically, her fitted crop top leather jacket unzipped just enough to show the arcane runes tattooed along her collarbone. Her expression was one part annoyed, two parts curious.
"You have to stop flirting with every girl we meet," Laura snapped, arms folded, glaring sideways at Logan.
"I don't flirt with anyone," Logan said coolly, his accent pure British steel. "I exist. That's enough that these ladies don't leave me alone."
Laura had a sour look on her face. "That doesn't stop you from entertaining these sluts, or sleeping with them." She said.
Logan just smirked. "When we first met didn't you try flirting with me? If Alucard didn't tell you who I was wouldn't you also been a slut that slept with me?"
That made Laura blush with embarrassment and frustration. "Don't remind me, Good thing we know now. We don't have to worry about that incest crap happening."
Then Alucard chimed in. "Technically it would not be incest because both sides of your family split apart. Around 6 or 7 generations ago. If anything you both having children would probably be good for the Belmont line. Just saying of course, it's both of your choices."
"No thanks." Both said in sync.
I smirked. God, they really did seem like siblings.
Logan reminded me of Trevor and Richter Belmont, mixed with Logan from the X-Men. Stoic, deadly with a whip. He is a well trained hunter and fighter. Built with a strong and durable body, that can dish out damage and take it.
Laura, on the other hand, reminded me of a cross between a Shanoa and Sypha from Castlevania. And X-23 from the comics. She's versatile, sharp, and unpredictable. Laura was more attuned to magic, but she could still crack a whip on a close level to Logan. In close combat, though, her knives did the real talking.
I let their bickering fade into background noise and glanced to my right. Alucard sat calmly near the back, legs crossed, nose deep in a paperback book. The title on the cover caught my eye.
I Am Legend. Ironic I thought. A vampire reading about a man hunting vampires. Who then loses to those vampires.
I smiled. "That's a good book."
Alucard didn't look up. "I hope so. And if you spoil this one too…" he turned a page with deliberate flair, "I'll tell Jessica about the girl at the jewelry store."
I scoffed, looking away with a chuckle. "Why would I be afraid of you telling her that?"
"You would be a fool not to see how she looks at you."
"What do you mean?" I said. Don't tell Jessica to? I don't need a harem or multiple lover's. Now I really need to see how this pheromone thing affects the woman around me.
Laura leaned forward. "Wait, what happened at the bar and?"
Logan raised a brow. "Yeah, and what does Alucard mean the girl at the Jewelry store?"
"It was nothing," I said quickly. "Let's just focus on something more important, like your two's training."
Laura groaned. "I was hoping we'd get a break. We been training with the slayers and hunting monsters on the side for months. And before that Alucard was training us and making us hunt vampires around the world. It would be nice to see a beach."
"You can see the beach, when the world isn't about to end," Logan said.
Just then, the flight stewardess entered the cabin.
"Excuse me sir," she said, glancing at me. "You have a phone call."
My brow furrowed. "Who's calling?"
"She didn't leave a name. Just said it's lady and you'd know what she's talking about.'"
That was all I needed to hear.
I rose, brushing past Logan and Laura, and took the old-fashioned rotary phone from the side room, some privacy was better than none.
"Hello… Mary."
There was a pause. Then a sharp sigh.
"Stop calling me that," she said. "It's Lady."
"Right. Sorry," I said, smirking. "Is there any movement?"
"Yeah a lot of damn movement," she said, voice tense. "Arkham showed up at the shop Dante set up. Then the tower was just summoned. City's already wrecked. We need you ASAP."
I felt my blood go cold. "Temen-ni-gru are you sure?"
She confirmed with a soft, bitter "Yeah. Dante and Saiya are already heading there. They been carving through a path of devil's"
My grip tightened on the receiver. "Any sign of Vergil?"
"No," she replied. "He might be in the tower waiting for Dante and me. From what you were saying about our blood, it being the key's to opening the gate to the demon world."
I cursed under my breath. "I'll be there soon as I can."
She hesitated. "That's the thing. The tower's tearing the city apart. We're trying to hold things down, but honestly, we need the slayer's yesterday."
I turned toward the cockpit, waving the stewardess out. I opened the secure channel on the comms and summoned the captain.
"How fast can we make it to Europe?" I gave him the name of the city.
The voice crackled over the intercom. "Refueling and clearance dependent, anywhere between 13 to 24 hours, sir. Depends where in Europe we're headed."
I muttered another curse. "Too long."
Mary's voice returned. "Don't worry. We'll hold until you arrive. But Jasen…"
"Yeah?"
"If I find Vergil and," she said softly, "I'll tell him your offer. But I won't try to convince him. If Dante can't pull the trigger I will. Too many people are dying. And I'm not making promises about letting him live."
I exhaled slowly. "Fine. Do what you must. But if he listens…"
"I'll try."
The line went quiet. Then the faint sound of a motorcycle engine roaring to life filled the background. Lady was on the move again, heading toward the inner ruined city, toward the demonic tower rising from its heart.
I hung up the phone and returned to the main cabin. Alucard looked up, eyes narrowing slightly. Logan and Laura were quiet now, sensing something had shifted.
"Trouble?" Logan asked.
I nodded. "The worst kind."
"Temen-ni-gru?" Alucard said quietly.
I nodded again.
"Well," Laura said, cracking her knuckles, "guess our vacation's canceled."
I sat down heavily, pulling the seatbelt across my lap.
"Everyone get some rest," I said. "We'll need it."