Chapter 33

After a bath Dante came back into the kitchen to find Adalynn and Asia working side-by-side making dinner that seemed to almost be done. Deciding not to disturb them he went to go check on Aurora.

Once upstairs he found Aurora doing the finishing touches on Asia's room by making the bed and using magic to make her some auto-fitting clothes. Giving the room a once-over Dante nodded his head in approval. The walls were a light shade of green. The floor was carpet instead of wood, a green fold out dresser with a mirror inside, a nice walk-in closet decorated with various shirts and dresses, the bed was a double-size one with an emerald-green blanket and white pillow. After giving a final check Aurora also gave a nod and turned around only to be surprised to see Dante as she didn't hear him come inside.

Aurora: "I hope the room is up to your standards master. I figured that I would follow a theme based on her eyes and personal selection of clothing that I noticed she had a fondness for when she worked under me."

Dante: "Yes, you did very well Aurora. I assume Akeno's room is also finished?"

Aurora: "Yes master. Did you need something of me master?"

Dante: "No, I just came to check on your progress, seeing as you are all done mind joining me for a walk?"

Aurora: "I would gladly accompany you master, please give me one minute to change into so outing clothes." She said ecstatically.

Dante gave a nod and went and changed into a black shirt with a red jacket and black pants and boots, after doing so sent a text to Adalynn letting her know he and Aurora would be a bit late to dinner and to not wait for him.

After about 5 minutes Aurora walked out in a black t-shirt and bicker jacket with some black jeans and shoes. Dante gave her a once over with an appraising smile.

Dante: "Very nice, I guess we'll take Cavalire first then walk."

Aurora was happy that Dante praised her and followed him outside to where he summoned Cavalire and handing her a helmet as he put on some red sunglasses as he hopped on with Aurora following soon after.

As they were driving Aurora held on to Dante's waist and gently laid her head on his back. She wasn't sure why she felt so close to him, at first, they obeyed out of fear of dying, then they fell to pleasure but after Dante came back from his duel with Riser, he seemed distant from the maids something not missed by the duo. Aurora eventually built up the nerve to disobey Dante and went into his workshop.

{Flashback}

One day while Dante was at work Aurora and Adalynn were casually talking since neither Azazel nor Dante were home.

Aurora: "Adalynn, do think there is something different about the master recently?"

Adalynn: "Yes, after his duel he seems more distant, and when he looks at us, I see guilt hidden in his eyes. He also stopped asking us to accompany him to bed in the evenings. It is rather odd, but I am concerned about what he would do if I asked him directly."

Aurora: "Sigh* I wish we could help him. I know! There is someone else in the house we could ask."

Adalynn: "Who? There is only the two of us… wait, you don't mean her, do you? You know what the master said, no one is to enter his workshop unless ordered to or is escorted by himself!"

Aurora: "I know, I know, but how else can we find out?"

Adalynn: "NO! If you are going to break master's rule, then you do so on your own. I will not be a part of it."

Aurora: "Understood. I'll let you know what I find."

Adalynn: "…"

After leaving Adalynn Aurora walked into the forbidden room.

[Well, well, well, I didn't think you would have the nerve to disobey Dante little Aurora.]

Looking around Aurora looked for the source of the voice.

[If you are looking for a source of my voice you are wasting your time as I have abandoned my original form as a safety measure, but if you need something to look at then…]

As the voice drifted off Aurora looked to see a woman forming out of digital-like pixels forming a woman with silver-white hair like Dante wearing a black form-fitting dress with red rose petal designs.

??: "Hello Aurora, my name is Veronica. I would like to know why you intruded in here."

Aurora: "Gulp* I…I want to know what happened to my master. Why did he suddenly change?"

Veronica's calm face formed a sad expression,

Veronica: "The reason he changed was because he regained control of himself."

Aurora: "What do mean 'regained control'?"

Veronica: "As Dante grew up, he fought many battles against beings many tiers higher than himself. You already know about his demonic blood and his sacred gears, but what you don't know is the price to sustain some of his weapons."

Aurora: "What price?"

Veronica: "To wield powers beyond his capabilities Dante sacrificed many things, memories, emotions, even parts of his own body and soul, but the worst was when he was 13 years old and was hired to assassinate a vampire lord. During the fight he was bitten, but because of his bloodline he wasn't turned, but that bite led to a large power drain almost getting him killed. So, to turn the tide he made a deal with his inner demon, access to his first devil trigger, but he must pay an eighth of his sanity. Due to the circumstances he had no choice but to accept and he persevered and survived. The problem came when as time went on, he got into many more fights and saw many horrible things to the point of what he did in the church could be compared to being in a meadow picking flowers compared to some of the things he did and saw. That bit of sanity he lost during that deal started to slip even further which led to his drinking as you have seen he does quite frequently. And as time went by his sanity managed to stabilize but the damage had been done, and in that gap his demonic heritage started to slip in to alter his judgment, slowly corrupting his thoughts and reactions. In the church he originally would have only killed the cultist/exorcist and captured you fallen angels and left it to Azazel to decide your fate, but instead he slaughtered all but you and Adalynn to become his maids/slaves for his own pleasure, a trait only seen in demons. I finally caught on whenever he got back from his duel and managed to integrate myself into his consciousness and scanned him. We managed to use his angelic weapon to suppress it until he can control it but when his thought became clear once again he felt horrible about what he did to the two of you and had no way of apologizing as he has never said and honest sorry to anyone but his mother. The reason he avoids you is due to his guilt that he doesn't understand. So, after knowing the truth what will you do? If you walked up to Dante right now and said you wish to retain your former names and leave to be free, he would not object as he hates himself for ripping your freedom from you only for his own sexual relief. Nevan already knows as I have already talked to her but what will you do?"

Aurora was quiet for a long time as she didn't know how to cope with this information overload, her master forced himself on her, but he did so under the influence of his bloodline. She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the treatment Dante gave her, whether it was is attitude around the house or his treatment of her in bed, besides the first night he would go as fast or slow as she asked because he truly wanted her to feel good as well and not just himself.

After a while Aurora organized her thoughts and put on a determined face before looking Veronica in the eyes,

Aurora: "I will continue to serve my Master Dante Grood, not out of loyalty from fear, but out of love and respect."

Veronica: "Nod* And your decision Adalynn?"

Aurora turned around to see Adalynn peaking through the door only to give a sigh from being caught before walking in.

Adalynn: "I am the same as Aurora, I will continue to serve our master out of love and respect, not fear."

Veronica: "Very well, now I suggest you get out of here because Dante will be waking into the house in less than 20 seconds." She said before turning into pixels.

Giving a slight yelp of surprise both women ran out of the workshop and gently shut the door before bolting to receive Dante at the entrance.

{End Flashback}