Epilogue

This is not the end of me yet. Let’s not be rid of my long-drawn narration so quickly, shall we?

What kind of a storyteller would I be if I didn’t update you on what happened next to me and my darling lover? I’m not going to leave our story like that. Nobody likes a cliffhanger, and I definitely don’t want to be charged for murder if I leave anyone hanging anywhere.

Anyways, after ‘unwrapping my present’, Vergil followed me home, where I introduced him to my perfect family. I begged and begged, and my parents finally relented, allowing him to stay in the spare room. They refused to believe that he was a video game character, but at least they treated him like a human, so we’ve got something going on for us.

Marielle obviously went crazy at the sight of my love.

I stopped going to the therapist.

Afterwards, I found out that in the three months that I spent back in the Human World without Vergil, he had been searching desperately for a way to come to me from Limbo. He worked himself sick, and had everyone worried as hell about him. But, as he slept in recovery, Eva visited him and questioned if coming to me was what he really wanted.

Of course my lover said yes. Eva told him to pack and get ready to leave, and my lover didn’t question his mother in his eagerness to see me. He bade goodbye to his world, ready to come to mine. And so Eva brought him here, and led me to him on the pretext that he was my present.

It was the best present a mother like Eva could ever give to me.

Moving on, in the days after we got back together, Vergil used the fake papers that his (our) mother provided for him to get himself a place in my University, in the same course as me. We ended up in the same classes, and even though I now had a jealous boyfriend shadow following me around, glowering at every boy who wolf-whistled at my passing by, I wasn’t disturbed. Vergil himself got many girls falling head over heels, but nothing was better than knowing that this hot man, this genius with the hot body and fiery temper, and a heart only I could tame, was mine.

In the Human World, no demonic or angelic phenomena exists for long, and so went Vergil’s heightened ability and demonic powers. Still, I must say his physical self is on top form, as I watch him run rounds around the school track without stopping at top speeds, without showing much difficulty. Vergil slowly became an athlete and a school genius, while I did my best to keep myself from swooning over him while I watched him train.

We often shared the bed together –much to the dismay of my parents. But my adoptive parents are understandable and accepting –and I love them for it. They understood that I was convinced that Vergil was my one and only, and past the initial stage of displeasure, Vergil got on well with them.

In times of privacy, Vergil and I often discussed about Limbo, and the happenings there.

It has been a number of years already, and still there is no contact from either Limbo or our mother. There hasn’t been a second sighting of angels since that day, and it slowly became clear that our lives were settled. I am not disgruntled, but I miss my life in Limbo.

I’m sure Vergil does too. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I hear him moaning Dante’s name. He misses his twin brother; I’m sure. Life is cruel, and in those nights that I stay up, feeling bad, I wonder if I should have dropped in in his life. Vergil keeps a strong front, but it is obvious that he misses his family.

I would too.

We often talk about Sparda too; coming up with speculations on what could have happened, and where he could be locked up. After sending Mundus locked to Hell, Vergil told me that there were less demons on the realm of Limbo. Refalnivial (or whom I knew as Reece), the demon that was close friends with Sparda, came to them and begged forgiveness. Of course, he received the forgiveness he asked for, and the latest news from Vergil was that he eventually settled down somewhere quiet. Of course, that was before Vergil came into my world and was stuck here (so we can't exactly consider it breaking news).

The more we talked about Sparda, the more Vergil seemed to miss his father. Even though I don’t remember any memories with Sparda –since I never had any (well, never in my childhood years, at least) –I feel like I miss him too. As the years dragged on, and Vergil and I neared graduation, the feeling became stronger and stronger.

The need to talk to Sparda again grew, and Vergil and I both felt it. We confided in Marielle, who was understandable of everything, and she concluded, too, that we needed to see Sparda again. The question was how.

And then I discovered the pill bottle Eva gave me again.

Thinking back, there is no questioning her words to me. She wanted me to be sure, wanted my faith to be unshakeable.

Here I stand before Vergil and Marielle, in my room. We’ve prepared, so that if Vergil and I don’t return for long, Marielle is emotionally ready to move on, and the world will think that we've just gone eloping. We don’t know if we can ever come back again. We have pills for a one-way ticket out of the Human World, but we don’t know if we can get back.

But we have to try. For Sparda and for Eva.

I hold hands with Vergil, each pill in one hand. I look worriedly at him, as he does to me.

But he’s the man, and he squeezes my hand gently, as if encouraging me. He gives me the strength to push on.

“This is it.” He says, staring at the pill in his palm as if doubting it capabilities to bring us flying through the worlds.

“This is it.” I repeat, staring at the same pill. After what I experienced in the Heavens, getting back here, I will never underestimate the pill ever again.

“Back to Limbo.” He says, taking a deep breath as if trying to convince himself.

“Back to Limbo.” I agree. Marielle’s eyes are filled with worry and regret. We’ve been done with our teary farewell, and it’s time to leave.

“Let’s do this.” Vergil’s voice is strong, as he takes my eye contact. I nod seriously. We are finally doing something. We will save Sparda. Somehow.

“3…2…1”

I pop the pill back the same time Vergil does too.

Then I hold on tight.

Off to Limbo we go.

Back Home.

____________________________________________________________________________________

She stands by the screen, watching as her son and daughter collapse on the floor. She can see their souls leaving, flying towards Heaven where they will find another angel, waiting to return them to Limbo.

Her proud children have finally gotten their courage up. Together, their strength can move mountains and shake the earth.

She hopes it is enough for her lover.

“You see them now, Eva. They are strong and proud; thanks to you.” Her companion says, and she detects a hint of pride in that voice too.

“Thanks to you too. If it had never been you, our story would never unfold the way it did.” She said, turning her back on the screen, to her companion. In her room of blue and green walls, his black wings stood out.

“I was simply Leah’s guardian angel. I did what I was supposed to, and you did your job.” Azazel replies honestly, but he is smiling. Leah has gotten through to more than Vergil’s heart, Eva realized. Her daughter had pierced through Azazel too. Oh, what a miracle worker Leah was.

“Nonetheless, I am grateful for all that you’ve done for us. I can never repay you enough.” Eva put a hand over her heart to show her gratitude, but Azazel waves it all away.

“You can repay me by continuing to love Sparda. That’s what matters.” He says, taking a seat comfortably in her armchair.

Again with his strange request.

She stands beside him, burning with curiosity. Ever since she was made an angel, Azazel had always told her to continue loving Sparda without ever giving him up. Even though it was not Azazel’s place to bother, the angel of Death had always been concerned about her love for Sparda.

“What does it matter to you, Azazel? You keep telling me to love him. I do, but I am curious. Why do you always ask? Why did you have me give Vergil and Leah the pills?”

Azazel flexed his black wings, and a moment of lethargy flitted past his face. In the span of a millisecond, Eva suddenly saw the old and tired man that Azazel was on the inside.

“Perhaps it is time for me to say this now, for Vergil’s and Leah’s next mission has begun.” Azazel looked up into Eva’s eyes. “It is time for your love to show and shine through. Let it guide your lover and husband away from Hell.”

“B-But he is locked there forcibly, is he not?” Eva spluttered, but Azazel only smiles.

“Your children will save him, but you must guide him out of his internal prison cell. I promise you this, Eva. If your children succeed again, you will be able to love Sparda again, and have him love you back.” Azazel promised, and with that, stood up leave.

Speechless, Eva could only follow Azazel’s imminent departure from the room with her eyes. To be able to love Sparda again? She would never have hoped to wish that that would come true.

“Wait.” She stopped the black-winged angel right before his hand descends on the doorknob. “How do you know this?”

He stops and looks back. Perhaps it is really time.

“When you were made angel, you were given Leah’s soul to protect. When I was Forgiven, I was given another soul to protect.” Azazel started, closing his hand around the doorknob as he meets Eva’s eyes.

Realization floods her eyes, and the tears sprang forth.

“Eva, I am Sparda's guardian angel.”

-The End-