Beauty and the Beast | Vergil Sparda x reader

Chapter 2 - a 'lovely' conversation

Originally written 6/21/19

Rewritten: 6/13/21

-

Three loud knocks sound on the door, you groan and don't want to open your eyes. What an awful nightmare. Your eyes flutter open, slowly taking in and discovering, it was not a nightmare at all. You felt sick- no, this is wrong. You shouldn't be here, or at least be alive. Either this was a nightmare, or last night's events happened and you are dead.

But here you are.

You push back the blankets and see the dress, the tulle skirt it shredded. Most likely from that things claws. You look around and into a large vanity mirror, your hair is stuck to your face with sweat, but it's been pulled up, just the back of your head bandaged. Splotches of blood visible on the cloth, having seeped through. So that's why your head felt tight last night.

The door opens abruptly. An awful deep voice, that sounded the way bile tastes in the back of your throat, sounds through the room. "Madam." The man in the doorway was unsettling, sickly gray skin and a scarred face. You've seen people with facial scarring, and there's normally nothing unsettling about them, but him- His hair was extremely thin and falling out in chunks, skin with a thin sheen of sweat. He looked as though he was chronically uncomfortable, like his skin didn't fit right.

He looked bad, but he was probably doing and looking better than you at this point.

"There are servants here?" You say in a breathy whisper, not wanting to move, honestly, you didn't want to go near him either. "AA few, there were more but-" he clears his throat, and you know instantly what that meant. "I was ordered to bring you to the dining room for breakfast."

The feeling of fear in your gut builds until it feels like pure lead. "Will I be eating with..." when you trail off he gives a single nod. Without any cue, you get off of the bed, and he turns himself. And you follow him out into the halls, that just last night, felt like a labyrinth. It isn't long before you reach the stairs, and you feel yourself become embarrassed. They hadn't been that far at all.

You both begin the descent, down and down. It is then you realize exactly why he was covered in sweat. All of the servants have to do this daily? You can imagine that beast being able to, he'd probably only need to use every third step.

You follow him down much wider halls, brighter too. There's no curtains on the windows down here. Despite the increase in light, it feels lifeless. There is no life here.

You are led up to the large blue doors, decorated with silver embellishments, and when the man pushes the door open for you... you suddenly feel alone, and heavy. As you walk to the table the door slams shut behind you, him having stayed behind it. You sit at the nearest end of the table and wait. He isn't here yet, thank all holy powers for that.

A maid walks in, and despite her situation, she is rather soft. Her face was grim with empathy as she sat the plate of food in front of you. "His highness will be joining you shortly, he doesn't want you eating until he arrives." Her voice is soft. When you look at the plate, you don't feel anything.

In any normal circumstance you would've been ready to dig in, and you could feel your barren stomach wretch with hunger, but your will to eat was nonexistent. The woman lowers herself, a strand of her pinned back hair falls in her face. Hand resting on yours, looping her fingers under yours in an act of comfort.

It was the first emotional warmth you've felt in a while. "I'm so sorry, you should not be here. You do not deserve this." She squeezes gently and you feel yourself hiccup with a dry sob.

The doors open and she lets go, bringing another tray of food to the other side of the table. A wave of incorrect energy wafts through the room as it walks through it and past you. She scrambles off to a smaller side door, from the noise it's probably the kitchen. It sits opposite you, taking it's time with eyes boring into your skin. You continue to stare at the plate in front of you, eventually being able to zone out.

You hear its voice again, which causes you to look up and make a noise in confusion. "I asked for your name, Pet, now tell me." Your throat feels as dry as overworked soil as you speak, spitting out your name. Gaze quickly returns to the plate in front of you. "Eat." "I'm not very-" he cuts you off with a sharp and impatient yell. "Now."

You snatch the for up into your clammy and shaking hand, unable to actually pick up any of the food. Even the smell makes your stomach turn. There's a scoff from in front of you, like he cannot believe your actions. "Pathetic, you're so terrified. Your hands shake and you sweat profusely. Disgusting."

The ever present knot of fear in your gut snaps, and your blood rushes through your veins faster than ever. Heart pounding as you stand up, the legs of the chair making an ugly screech against the tile floor.

"How dare you! I was just taken from my home and brought here to be some... sacrifice! Now I stand in front of a monster, who judges me for fearing him. If anything, it's you who's disgusting, your servant told me how you've murdered all of the others. You have innocent blood on your hands, you are disgusting. And despite all the stories I have been told, you were never once a man."

Rushing to his feet, he pushes the entire long table on his way, coming to push against your body. He starts his way over to you. "You little brat! I'll-" And when he reaches you, you don't let him finish. "You'll what? Prove that everything I said was correct?" His hand rises and internally brace for the impact. But it never comes, his limb drops and he storms off, leaving you alone once again in the dining hall.