Chapter 13

Bats suddenly dive towards the trio. Victor uses his clouds to create a wall to shield off the bats, protecting them as well as the civilians behind them that the police rescued.

"Alex, you're up." Victor said. Alex nodded and pulled on a pair of gloves, which he removed from his back pockets, which glowed blue when he pressed the strap around his wrist. He then took out the pole from behind his back, and made it extend into a two meter long staff. Alex then walked through the cloud, Dante waiting on the other side.

"Ahh, the loyal servant." Dante said upon seeing Alex. Dante sent a swarm of bats Alex's way and Alex punches the air, his gloves sending out a high pitched soundwave which disorientates the bats, "So, he knows how to play." Dante commented. Alex smirked.

Dante appears in front of Alex and attacks with a punch which Alex blocks with his staff by hitting Dante's fist away. Dante smirks and the two men circle each other slowly, Alex twirling his staff. Alex attacks first, twirling around to hit Dante in the side with his staff but Dante uses his forearm to block the blow. Upon impact Alex pressed a button on the staff which created an electric shock where the staff made contact with Dante, shocking him. Dante growled, "He plays dirty too." Alex smiles and brings his staff back towards him, twirling to the left, before striking again, this time, as Alex twirls he crouches and lands a blow to Dante's leg. Dante kicks the staff and jumps toward Alex, luckily Alex was fast enough to bring the staff toward his chest, using it to catch Dante and throw Dante over him while he does a backward roll landing in a crouch. Another shock against Dante's chest upon impact. Alex quicky twirled around on his knees and hits Dante again in the chest with his electric staff.

"Your stick is starting to annoy me." Dante growled before grabbing the staff and pulling it past his body so he could grab Alex by the neck. Alex grabs Dante's forearms with a grunt. Dante breathes through his nose, taking in Alex' scent, "Mmm, you do smell good." Dante leaned closer and was about to have a taste when another scent overpowered his sense. The scent of blood. Dante turned around and saw Nicole standing there, blood dripping from a cut she made in her hand. Alex takes this opportunity to punch Dante in the fold of his elbow to break free from his grib and jumps backwards. Before Dante can react, Alex smacks his hands together making a high enough frequency to disorientate Dante. Dante covers his ringing ears and turned to look at Alex. Before Dante could attack, he was engulfed in black clouds. Dante tried to escape using his bats but the black cloud acted as though it had a mind of its own and forced him back in.

"Dante, calm down." Victor calls, his arms outstreched as he manipulated the black cloud, "This is not who you are."

"Then who am !" Dante's strained voice yells back.

"You are Dante Cabrera, "Nicole begins, The most kind and compassionate person I have met. You are a person who believes in the good that comes with the bad. You are loyal, humble and the man that I love, " Nicole's voce breaks, "You say you are the darkness? Well, you are my light. Please come back to me Dante. I love you."

Dante suddenly screamed from inside the black cloud leaving everyone looking worried as to what was happening behind the black barrier. When the distorted scream died down, Victor made his cloud dissipate slowly. Dante was lying on the floor, unconscious. Alex was the first to run over to Dante. Alex kneels down next to Dante and shakes him lightly.

"Dante?" He says. When he doesn't get a reply, he shakes Dante harder and yells, "Dante!"

"My ears are still ringing so quiet down, will you?" Dante mutters. Alex bows his head before resting it on Dante's chest. Dante lifts his hand and pets Alex's head. Alex lifts his head, tears in his eyes, to see that Dante's dark brown eye colour has returned, "Thanks kiddo." Dante breaths and closes his eyes again, taking a deep breath.

***

Dante leans against the bonnet of Brian's car with Nicole in front of him. Ambulances surrounded them that were taking the injured people to the hospital. The sun had begun to set casting an orange glow in the sky.

"Considering how this will be hard to explain on paper, I will have to make up some ridiculous story about hallucinants in the air or crazy bat attacks." Brian says with his hands on his hips, "another day in the office I guess." Brian smirks then walks away, leaving Dante and Nicole alone.

"What was it that you said earlier?" Dante began with his arms crossed, staring at the woman before him.

"What? When?" Nicole inquired.

"You said you love me." Dante reminded her.

Nicole scratched the back of her head, "I think you're ears were ringing pretty badly huh? I didn't say anything like that." Nicole replied slyly.

"That's okay boss." Alex spoke as he neared them, "I still love you." Dante chuckled and Victor came and wrapped his arm around Alex's neck,

"Come on kid, let the adults talk." Victor said dragging Alex away.

"What? But--isn't my love enough? Dante!?" a dragged Alex called backwards. Dante and Nicole chuckled.

"I love you." Nicole said taking Dante by surprise. Dante opened his mouth to answer but it seemed as though there was something blocking him from replying. Nicole giggled, "Ears still ringing?" She asked but kissed Dante before he could reply.

Dante was taken aback at first but then leaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms behind Nicole and pulled her closer, "Me too." He said against her lips before kissing her again.