Eva frowned discouragingly, being happy was not proving to be as easy s she had expected it to be

Next chapter! Pretty sure it's longer than usual so dig in!

D: don't own DMC yada dada

DD: I am not original writer of fic! LADYDANTESGIRL HAS GIVEN ME PERMISSON TO CONTINUE IT!!

--

Eva frowned discouragingly, being happy was not proving to be as easy as she had expected it to be. Gradually, her cheerless smiles had turned into frustrated frowns, and it was beginning to slow down business around "The hotel". Aunt pearl would not be fooled by it much longer, and she was beginning to depress herself as well. As for her father, he was too busy to notice. Usual dad she thought.

"Miss...Lionheart?" A voice inquired.

"Huh?" Eva asked, darting her head up. The man addressing him wore a long beige trench coat, with a hat cloaking his face. He appeared to be old, as he had grey hair protruding from the back of the hat.

Eva realized she was staring and swiftly searched her mind for a question to break the silence. "Would you like to book a stay...sir?"

"No," He nonchalantly stated replacing his hat on top of his skull.

"Then why would you-"Eva etched closer looking intently at the mystery man's closer features, such as his strong jaw line and suddenly developed a lump in her throat.

"J..J...SPARDA!?"

"Shhh!"

"But you-"

"Not in public! Please, Miss Lionheart. May we talk in private?"

Eva growled lividly confirming Sparda's suspicions that she still despised him.

"But what have I really done wrong? I protected you from Cerberus did I not?"

"But you lied to me...About the worst thing possible. And its devils, like you that killed my-"

"Mother. I know, but you and I both know I am not responsible for her demise"

"The last thing I want is you close to me, not even my family talk about my mother unless necessary and you certainly don't have the right to."

Sparda's strong posture wilted as he began to walk desolately away back towards the door, not daring to meet Eva's not so sky blue eyes. She wasn't sure why, but she experienced an unexpected change of heart and began to soften her tense joints and began to demonstrate pity for the demon. In honesty, all he had done was try to impress her, and she had labelled him a creature and sent him away. It was correct that he was not the culprit for the ending of her mother's short lived life, but he only saved every last human on the planet. She couldn't loathe him for that could she?

"Sjason!" She called out, almost forgetting his identity needed to be hushed. Sparda turned, simply staring at her, waiting for her response. He never intended to be cold towards her, but he still had a difficult time empathizing with her in her current position.

"Yes?"

Her face of trouble evolved into a soft smile, as she approached the defeated man staring at his ridiculous smile as she travelled along the reception.

"You have my attention, be it a blessing."

"Thank you, milady."

An all too familiar satisfied grin spread across Eva's face as she heard the nickname she had come to adore, being reused after the detour between each other's conversation.

"So Sparda…I understand you've taken a shine to me…is that true?"

"Yes milady, from the moment I saw your profile I was interested in your very essence."

"…Don't you start using last century's old chat up lines on me!" She beamed up at Sparda.

He chuckled, "I shall try to update my 'little black book' "

"Um…don't mean to jump the gun or anything but, tell me more about your demon-self."

"Well, as you know, I can shift shape into virtually anything."

"Would I ever get to see your demon-self? Or is it like in Greek myths when if a human saw their true self they would explode into a million pieces?"

"This is far from a human myth milady, you would not explode. I could show you whenever, even now if you wish…in a safer environment." Eva scanned her surroundings. They had walked just about a mile away, and the scary thing was, Eva hadn't even noticed. She had been so absorbed in listening to the devil to even pay attention to her surroundings.

"Where are we?" She asked Sparda.

"Well, we-"Sparda came to a halt, realizing they weren't outside the hotel.

"Do you know?"

"I believe we're a short walk away from my manor…"

"You live in a manor!!" She screeched nearly deafening Sparda in the process.

"Yes. Why are you so astonished by this?" He inquired zooming in on Eva and grasping his chin in his hand.

"Um, well I thought that you'd live in a low-key building or area, and not a giant mansion, I mean, I figured you were wealthy and all, but...Someone's bound to knock!!"

"Ah, but I'm one step ahead of you. You see, if everyone expected me to live in smaller circumstances then they would not search here would they?"

Eva contemplated Sparda's theory. If that was the case then he was near enough untouchable! She began to laugh, and soon after Sparda wanted to know why.

"Because now I don't have to worry about being attacked by the underworld every time I'm with you."

"Every time?" Sparda's eyes brightened after hearing that Eva may like to stay in contact with him. Eva didn't apprehend the motive of Sparda's delight until at least ten steps onward.

"I don't know Sparda. I do enjoy spending time with you."

Silence followed. The ambiance of the quiet was partly awkward, but not completely, as nothing else really needed to be said, at least, until Eva had another question.

"Do you live with anyone else?" She stared Sparda out, intentionally putting him in the hot seat so he told the truth. She was not a woman to be lied to.

"I live with a handful of servants, yes." He coughed uncomfortably, making Eva grin slyly.

"Who, is you're favourite one? And what's his or her job?"

"She's a maid, and her name is Maggie."

"Does she know you're a demon?"

"Certainly, I saved her from a group of the seven sins, and she has gratefully worked for me ever since."

Eva smiled thoughtfully, allowing Sparda to proceed.

"She sounds like a great woman…"

"Loyalty is its own reward milady."

They carried on about five meters ahead before Eva was put to a halt by a Sparda now standing directly in front of her. Even though almost everything Eva had learnt about Sparda pleased her, her newly found knowledge of his heritage frightened her slightly, since she had let her guard down and came unequipped.

"Sparda?"

"Milady?"

"What are you doing?" She treaded back, hearing a stick break in the process.

Sparda became conscious of Eva's fear and again, felt slight pity for her.

"I won't hurt you milady, I just don't want you to see my manor until we get there, there's a long soil path."

"Okay and why can't you just call it a mansion?"

"For the reason that I prefer manor, milady." He laughed blinding Eva with his gloved hands.

He began to walk backward, still alert of every nook and cranny right up to the door of the house. On the way, Eva had tripped twice but in each of those times Sparda had caught her, and as quick as she was in danger she was out of it. Sparda stopped a second time, and Eva was almost tempted to peek, but she did enjoy surprises, so she kept to her word by restraining herself.

"Now I'm going to let go milady, and remember this moment."

"You make it sound as if I'm a 3 year old that's never seen a, 'manor' before now." Eva stated, making Sparda blush.

As Sparda lifted his hands, the gentle sunlight of the fading day welcomed Eva, making the darkness behind her eyelids warmer and brighter, as an indication she could open her eyes. A smile also tugged at her lips as she opened her eyes and witnessed one of the greatest sights she had ever seen. Never in person had she seen a manor but she wasn't about to admit it to Sparda, and it enchanted her. Just like a fairy castle, the building tall, and wide, and Eva fell in love with it from the moment she saw it.

"Damn! It's huge! Wow Sparda!"

"So you like it?"

"Yeah! How many rooms are there?"

"I believe there are one hundred and fifty five rooms, but I'm currently not using thirty six of them."

Eva gawked at Sparda closing her jaw as Sparda released a smirk making her apprehend his bluff, before slapping him on the shoulder.

"How many is there really?"

"sixty six"

"Shit!"

"Remember the maid we talked about earlier?"

"You mean Maggie."

"You'll get to meet her"

"I hope she's not one of those granny maids that hate trespassers." Eva shivered. She didn't want to go down that road again.

Sparda express amusement with another laugh that Eva was beginning to be keen on listening to. "By no means! She often helps me when I'm in need of assistance, and reassures me with other problems."

Eva smiled, "Oh yeah? Give me a topic?"

The only topic he could think of was Eva; NO WAY was he telling her that he asked his maid for support with relationship issues. "I'm-I'm sure that isn't necessary!"

Eva snorted, "You've asked her about me haven't you!"

"You read me like a book milady…" Sparda stated in shame.

Again Eva chuckled, seeing Sparda flush like a beet; she decided to drop the conversation.

"Well, aren't you going to invite me in?"
Sparda had just cooled down and was heading to the door when from the inside it opened. Low and behold, Maggie stood there in her uniform with a cup of tea that read no. 1 devil on the side.

"I was going to use the china, which makes it warmer for longer when-"When Maggie looked up, surprise clouded her face, and then a cheeky grin merged from her expression.

"Who's this pretty lady?"

"Thank you…Miss?"

"Bah, don't call me miss, call me Maggie!"

"You're Maggie!?"

"I see he's told you about me, why does that surprise you so much darling?"

"Because, you look a lot younger than I pictured you, not that your name is old but that's just the way maids seem to me and-"

"Eva. It's okay." Sparda interrupted, taking her hand.

"OOH! This is The Eva? Well don't just stand outside! Come in! I'll get you whatever you want! And you can tell me a bit about yourself and I'll give you a tour of the 'Manor' why can't he just call it a mansion? Anyways I'll show you what I know because everything else is off limits-"

"Maggie, please let us in." Sparda sighed allowing Eva to go first.

"I apologise for Maggie, she can get a little bit excitable at times." He whispered when Maggie walked ahead.

"I don't mind. She is nice."

"The lounge," Maggie presented ushering Eva inside. When she was gone she gave Sparda a sly wink. Her advice had worked.

--

Well, again it took me a long time to update! But I've updated a chapter from another fic today too, because I always work on a little bit of all my fics at a time, and it was this fic's turn to be finished! Feel free to review, wish me a happy birthday... (It's my birthday later this month. And reviews count as presents... unless you're Ladydantesgirl! XD