Prologue

2000 years ago

The demon fell to the ground as his left leg gave way from under him. He wrapped his hand around his throat to staunch the blood, but it spurted through his fingers and spilled onto the ground.

"Damn you, Sparda!" More blood squirted through his wound as he cursed his enemy. He fell to the ground and rolled onto his back. A dark figure stood over him. The demon glanced at the large red sword in the dark figures hand. The dark figure slowly raised the sword over its head. "Don't do it, Sparda."

"Why not?" Sparda asked.

"If you do, you will lose everything you hold dear."

Sparda and the demon stared at each other for several seconds before Sparda plunged the sword into the demon's chest. The demon screamed. The force of his voice caused the ground to shake beneath them. Sparda twisted the sword. The demon struck at him. The demon's claw left four gashes across Sparda's arm. Blood splashed onto the demon's face. He rubbed his tongue over it and swallowed.

"By this blood," the demon mumbled, "I curse you."

"As my blood imprisons you, may it alone set you free."

"By that promise, I hold you."

"We shall see." Sparda pulled the blade free and sliced the demon's throat.

present day

Norrak crashed through the stained glass and hit the floor. He glanced around the ancient temple in search of a hiding place. He crawled behind a seat and covered his mouth to muffle his breathing. Several seconds of silence made him brave enough to peek over his hiding place.

As soon as she saw his head, she leapt through the skylight. Both of her guns were aimed for his head. She squeezed both triggers. He saw the lightning and sparkles right before the bullets burst his eyes. He screamed and fell backwards. The woman landed with one foot on other side of him. Her guns were still aimed at his head.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," she said. Then she rolled her eyes. "Who am I kidding?" Lightning flashed through the broken skylight. A wooden statue on the altar was set ablaze. The light from the growing flame illuminated the names engraved on the side of each gun. On the chrome one was carved Tiamat; on the black one was carved Marduk.

Norrak felt the flames as they spread across the altar. He opened his mouth as if to speak. The woman didn't let him. Another barrage of bullets ripped his face in half. When she saw he was still alive, she took one step back and holstered the guns. He tried to sit up and reach for her. She seized the large sword from her back and severed his head in one clean sweep. Then she propped the sword against her shoulder and casually walked towards the entrance. The fire behind her quickly spread over the altar and began to engulf the entire building.

The woman kicked the door open and stepped outside. She saw a man climbing the hill she stood on. She set the sword in its place on her back and trekked down the hill to meet him halfway.

"You're late, Dad," she said as she walked past him.

He stayed one step behind her as he followed her down the hill. "I knew you'd be all right. Besides, I was busy myself."

"I know. The family business is never done."

"Is that a curse or a blessing?"

"Depends. Personally, I'll never die saying my life was boring."

"Ditto." The temple behind them exploded in a ball of flame. The man stopped and turned his head sideways. He saw an image of flame in his peripheral vision. "Lilith!" he called to his daughter.

She stopped and turned to face him. "Yo! What!"

"Don't you think you overdid it? The locals will be pissed."

"It wasn't me. It was the lightning." Another bolt flashed across the sky and split the steeple in half. "Happy now?"

Dante shrugged. "I'm convinced. What's for dinner?"

Lilith sighed and tilted her head. "Are you serious?" Dante walked past her without answering. She followed him. "Fine. What about stroganoff? I've never done it before, but that never stopped me."

"We don't have any garlic."

"You put garlic in your stroganoff?"

"My mother did."

"Do I look like your mother?" Dante opened his mouth to say something, but Lilith spoke first. "Don't answer that!"