Sacrifice
Kerlak sang as Raynok continued to kowtow. "You know," she finally said, "you're really starting to look stupid over there. Give it a rest. There's nothing we can do until Deanna returns."
Raynok sat against his haunches. "When will that be? She's been gone for days."
"Longer than that." Kerlak sat beside him. "I think she's starting to forget why she's here."
"Then I suggest we remind her."
"That won't be necessary." Kerlak touched the medallion around her neck. "She has returned." Kerlak lifted her hand and made a vertical line in the air as if cutting it with her nail. A black line appeared where she traced it. It lengthened until it was nearly six feet tall. Deanna poked her head through and pulled the rest of her body into the room. By habit, she dropped to the floor next to Kerlak.
"How did things go?" Kerlak asked.
"I believe I've gained his trust."
"How do you know?"
Deanna lifted her head from the floor. "I know him. He trusts me."
"What about Lilith?" Raynok asked. "Will she be a threat once we get what we want?"
"Possibly, but I can handle her if she is unaware of my involvement."
"Which is the problem," Raynok said, "because you can't bed her. That's just disgusting."
Kerlak patted Raynok's arm. "You're so cute." She placed the collar around Deanna's neck and reattached the chain. "When's a good time to get in?"
"As soon as you can."
"Good." Kerlak yanked the chain to pull Deanna to her face. "Don't even consider warning them. Do you understand?" Deanna nodded. "Good girl. Raynok, rally the troops. We're making a house call."
"Wait!" Deanna yelled.
Raynok and Kerlak glared at her. "What was that?" Kerlak challenged.
"Let me do it," Deanna whispered.
"Say what?"
"Let me do it. There's no need to storm the place. It will be better if he comes willingly, rather than by force."
"I see," Raynok said. "Let her go, Kerlak. I have another idea."
"Which is?" Kerlak inquired.
"Get some paper and a pen. We're going to write Dante a letter."
*
Lilith held the letter against the lampshade and read it for the hundredth time. By now she had it memorized, but she still questioned its athenticity. "I know she wrote this, but there's something wrong with it. Why would anyone want to kidnap her?" She almost dropped it when she heard the door open and close.
"Dad!" she yelled without turning around.
He didn't yell back. She heard him speak behind her head. "What is wrong with you?"
"It's not me. It's Deanna."
"What do you mean?"
Lilith held the letter over her shoulder. She let it slip through her fingers. Dante grabbed it from the air. She sidestepped out of the way to prepare for a reaction that never came. "Are you all right?"
"Peachy." He crumbled the paper and tossed it.
"You're going, aren't you?"
"What did you expect?"
"That you would be more sensible." Dante gave her the usual stoic look, but this time she ignored it. "She's not really in danger. She's setting you up. How could she write a letter and send it here if she's really being held captive? "
"She didn't write the letter. That's not her penmanship."
"That means nothing."
Dante tugged on the tip of his glove. "Even if she is setting us up, there's another story behind it."
"Like what?"
"She's being forced to do it."
Lilith folded her arms. "Who cares if that's true? Isn't it obvious you're being baited?"
"Sure it is. Don't insult my intelligence."
"Then why are you going?" Dante's only response was to leave the room. Lilith stomped after him. "Why are you going!"
Dante stopped and raised his hand to her. "You can do one of two things. Either go with me to find out what's going on, or stay out of my way."
"You know something I don't," Lilith dared, "or else you wouldn't be so reckless."
Dante dropped his hand. "You're right. She's been in trouble from the beginning."
"What kind of trouble?"
"She's being held in spiritual slavery again, but this time, it's all of her."
"How do you even know it's really her?"
"Trust me for once. Get over your childhood issues and trust me on this." Lilith slumped slowly to the side. "I shouldn't have said that."
"Don't worry about it," Lilith assured him weakly, "but I refuse to stay out of your way. Give me five minutes."
*
Lilith raised her palm to catch a raindrop before entering the temple. "Why can I see my breath? It's warm here."
"This is an irreverent place." Dante stared at a stained window. "This temple is similar to the one you blew up earlier. Maybe they're connected."
"Then the real culprit must be a relative or old lover of that guy I popped back there. Why else would we be going through this?"
"Whatever." Dante signaled to her and pointed at the bloody altar. Behind it was a large carving of a man in a sitting position with his arms folded. Symbols and runes were carved over it. "Does any of this look familiar?"
"I don't think so. Then again, I didn't pay attention when I fell through the ceiling. I was too busy working." She took a closer look at the carvings. "Some of those are Theban."
"What?"
"Theban. An arcane alphabet."
"Yeah."
"I'm glad you made it." Dante and Lilith turned simultaneously towards the voice. Deanna walked around the altar. She wore the collar without the chain. "I was afraid you wouldn't come."
Lilith aimed Tiamat for Deanna's forehead. "We wouldn't have, but my father decided to act against his better judgment."
Deanna raised her hand as if to placate Lilith. "It's not what you think. I didn't want you to come either, but I had no choice."
Lilith let Tiamat angle downward. "Why should we believe you?"
"They're here with you," Dante said, "aren't they?"
"They?" Lilith asked. "Who's they?"
"Leave," Deanna said. "I know I've gone through all this trouble, and my existance will be forfeit, but you have to leave."
"Why the change of heart? Assuming that's applicable."
"Lilith, leave," Dante ordered.
Lilith dropped her arm to her side and stared at her father with wide eyes. "Why?"
"That won't be necessary," a fourth voice added. Behind Deanna, Kerlak appeared. In a single motion, she hooked the chain to Deanna's collar and yanked it until Deanna fell to her knees. Kerlak placed her hand onto Deanna's head while carrying the other end of the chain over her shoulder. "She's a good pet."
"It's been you all along, hasn't it?" Dante accused. Kerlak nodded. "What do you want?"
"My request is simple. I want to go home."
"Why would you bother us and go through all this just to go home?"
"I am weak. My only way out of here is by reviving a certain demon so my power may be restored."
"Innocent enough. What do I have to do with it? Why did it warrant bringing Deanna here?"
Kerlak pressed lightly against Deanna's head. "She was bait. Your daughter figured that out. As for you, I need you to do me a favor, or else the demon can't awaken to restore me."
"Which is?"
"Offer yourself as a sacrifice."
"Oh, hell no!" Lilith took one step forward. Dante snatched her trenchcoat collar and pulled her back.
"What if I say no?" Dante asked.
"Then Deanna will go in your place. If she does, then opening the portal to restore my power and send me home will have an unfortunate consequence."
"Being."
"Both of our worlds will merge, and my world isn't a pretty one to call your own. Not humans, anyway. It's your job to save them from things like that, isn't it?"
Dante still held on to Lilith's collar. "Something like that. Why me specifically?"
"Because your father was the one who imprisoned the demon and trapped us here on Earth."
"So?"
"So, during the battle that resulted in his imprisonment, he accidentally got a mouthful of your father's blood. As an unfortunate side effect, he must taste that blood again, or something like it, to properly awaken."
"Oh, great. As if I didn't know, this means?"
"You have to sacrifice yourself, or the Earth fuses with Hell. Quite an interesting consequence, and I have every intention of using it."
"What about Deanna and Lilith?"
"I'll let them go, without a scratch."
"I don't believe you, but I'll play along anyway. I'm not worried."
"What!" Lilith cried out. Dante responded by pushing her aside and giving her a quick wink. "What are you doing?"
Dante ignored her. "Let Deanna go, and I'll go right now. Willingly."
"Go first, then I'll let her go."
"Fine." Dante spoke to Lilith without looking at her. "If she backs out on her word, kill her."
"You can't go," Lilith said.
Dante turned to her. "Why not?"
"Because you're not coming back. This could be my vision coming true."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll bet your life on it. What if this will lead to my vision coming true? You could die at any moment. You don't even know what this entails."
"Have you already forgotten what I told you?"
"What do you mean?"
"About what I would expect of you if your vision did come true. You're a slave of my father's legacy, like me." Without hesitation, Dante turned to leave.
Lilith seized his hand. "If you go, you'll die! I know it!"
Dante squeezed her hand. "Don't forget what I taught you. You have to go on alone some time. It may have been sooner than we thought." He yanked his hand free.
"Why would you risk dying for that!" Lilith's eyes glowed red as she pointed at Deanna. Dante smacked her hand down and slapped her across her face. Lilith dropped to her knees. "We will all regret this."
Dante stood over her. "Stand up." Lilith shook her head. The tips of her platinum white locks brushed across his boots. He saw blood dripping over them. "I said stand up."
"What good will it do?"
"Stand. Up. Now." Lilith sighed and slowly stood. "Stop crying. It looks bad." Liith wiped a trail of blood from her face. "Be careful when you shed those tears," Dante said. "Spill them wisely."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see." Dante winked at her again. "I have faith in you." He turned his back to her again and approached Kerlak. "As par our agreement?"
"Of course." Kerlak pulled the chain to make Deanna stand. "Today's your lucky day. Don't waste it."
"I have no intention of doing so."
"We'll see." Kerlak pulled the collar from around Deanna's neck. "You're free to go." In her peripheral vision, she saw Lilith aim Marduk towards her. Dante and Deanna made eye contact as she walked past him. He then forced his own eyes away. Deanna continued on. Kerlak motioned to Dante. "Come here." He stayed perfectly motionless as Kerlak fastened the collar around his neck. "Is there anything you'd like to say to your daughter before you go?"
"That won't be necessary."
"We'll see." Kerlak held the chain taut and gazed at the statue. "He has come! Take him and be nourished!"
Lilith lowered Marduk. "Nourished?"
The statue opened its eyes. Those eyes glanced down at Dante and Kerlak. The head remained still. "Take him," Kerlak repeated. As she said this, another figure, a man, appeared from the other side of the statue. "Get ready, Raynok," she said to him.
A deep moan escaped from the statue. The vibrations shook everyone and everything. A black mass oozed from the letters carved into the stone. Dante crossed his hands and held them up. The black mass gathered in the statue's lap. A large tentacle reached out to touch him. In an instant, it engulfed his body. Raynok placed his hand on Kerlak's shoulder. Kerlak held her hand out. She and Raynok were engulfed as well. The moan grew louder as the oozed retracted itself into a ball on the statue's lap. Dante, Kerlak, and Raynok were gone.
Lilith stared in disgust and disbelief as the black mass reattached itself to the carvings in the statue. The moan finally died when the black mass disappeared. "I can't believe it."
Deanna tapped Lilith on the arm. "We have to go home."
Lilith pistol whipped Deanna across the face. Deanna fell to the floor and covered her bleeding mouth. "I'm going home," Lilith said, "but your home is not with me."
*
"How long has it been?" Kerlak stood on the edge of the river of lava and dipped her finger within it. When she realized it didn't hurt her, she drove her entire hand into the lava. "It feels like warm milk."
"Then it's true," Raynok said. "We are home." The terrain was exactly as he remembered it. Blood red clouds covered the dusk red sky. The ground smelled lightly of burning sulphur. Steam emerged from holes in the ground, but the ground was deceptively cool. Raynok took one step forward, only to be thrown back by a geyser of lava. He landed on his back and laughed. A leathery creature flew above him. "Indeed, we are home."
Kerlak pulled her hand from the lava river. "I wonder what happened to Dante."
"Take a look." Raynok and Kerlak stood and turned towards the perceived west. A stone monolith covered in blood stood in the distance. "Let's take a walk."
*
Lilith stared up at the ceiling. Rain splattered against the window. She rolled to her side and grabbed her father's pillow. She gently stuffed it under her head. "It smells like his shampoo." She inhaled deeply into the pillow to catch the scent. "Herbal Essense? Are you serious?"
Lightning flashed as someone knocked on the bedroom door. "Go away!" Deanna opened the door, stepped into the room, and slammed the door shut. She folded her arms, but Lilith wasn't impressed. "What the hell do you want?"
"I am trying to help you!"
"Help me with what? I don't want you here. What I need, you can't give me."
"What would that be?" Lilith didn't answer. "Look," Deanna said calmly, "I know you hate me and all that, but this is not about us. At least, it shouldn't be. This is about your father. I want to save Dante as much as you do."
"There's nothing to save."
"Excuse me?"
Lilith sat up. "I said there is nothing to save. Dante is dead."
Deanna rubbed the bruise and blood clot on her face. "How can you be so sure?"
"His father showed me."
Deanna tilted her head forward. "Sparda? He talks to you?"
"All the freaking time."
"And he told you Dante is dead?"
"Not exactly." Lilith fell back against the bed. "Grandpa Sparda doesn't like getting to the point. He prefers to pussyfoot."
There was silence as Deanna considered her next move. Then she sat on the bed next to Lilith. "I'm not asking for your sympathy. Honestly, I don't give a damn anymore, but I do want your understanding."
"Whatever."
"Well, at least you didn't try to set me on fire."
"I refuse to respond to anything you say."
"Good. Then you won't mind if I kill you with anecdotes."
"Please don't."
"If I knew twenty years ago what I know right now, I never would have given Dante that damn cup of tea."
Lilith resisted the urge to sit up. "What do you mean?" She covered her face with the pillow. "I can't believe I just asked that."
"Dante and I met when I served him a cup of tea. He thought I was a servant."
"I'll probably regret this, but why?"
"The royal family of Shangri-La had a tradition. Every member of the family had a decoy to act in his or her place while the real royal family was disguised as servants. He didn't know whom I really was until after the first time we slept together."
"Eww!" Lilith sat up and stood to leave. Deanna grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the bed. "I've heard enough! TMI! Too much information!"
Deanna released her arm. "I'm sorry. It seemed funny before I said it."
"Are you going somewhere with this?"
Deanna turned away from her. "When I met your father, I was as I am now. Complete. I don't know when I lost half of my soul. "
"I do."
"What?"
"Sparda showed it to me. You were sleeping."
"Oh. It must have been right after your conception."
"Oh gawd!" Lilith fell against the bed again and covered her head with the pillow. "Do I have to listen to this?"
"No, you don't, but you do have to find your father."
"Why?"
"Because he's not dead. Not if Dante is whom I think he is. Premature demise is not his way."
"What do you know of premature demise?" Lilith tossed the pillow at Deanna and stood. "How would you know this wasn't meant to be?"
"People decide their own fate."
"Then why am I a slave of some damn legacy? I didn't choose that, but someone has to do it."
"Amazing. Just a few hours ago your attitude was completely opposite."
"Bitch. Aren't you supposed to be feeding some worms, or something?" Lilith left the room rather than wait for an answer. She headed for the stairs but was distracted by a familiar yellow glow from her room. "Now what?" She opened the door and saw the statue from Mallet Island. "What can you tell me that I haven't already heard?"
Those who desire to acquire the ancient ways of war shall offer the blood of monsters in exchange.
Lilith stood in silence. She wasn't sure if she'd actually heard the voice or if she'd imagined it. She blinked to soothe the stinging in her eyes. Blood dripped down her face. Be careful when you shed those tears. Spill them wisely.
"Blood of monsters? Will you settle for the blood of the greatest demon who ever lived?" She wiped a stream of blood away with her finger as she entered the room. "Sparda shall sorrow no more." She pressed her bloody finger against the statue's forehead.
"You rang?" someone said behind her. Lilith knew whom it was before she turned to face him. Sparda was sitting in the middle of her room. Unlike most of their encounters, he was real rather than in her head, and he was in his demonic form. His wings were wrapped tightly around his body. "Why do you deny me?"
As a sign of respect, Lilith sat before him in the lotus position. Sparda loosened his wings and wrapped them around her. "What do you mean?" Lilith asked. "I have never denied you."
"You are a coward."
"I'm all alone. I've never had to depend on myself completely. I always had someone else, just in case." Though his wings obscured them both in darkness, Lilith knew he was staring at her.
"Your father was alone for many years. He never truly got to know me, and he lost his mother and brother. Still, he persevered."
"That's sweet, but I'm not him."
"Then you'll become him if you intend to survive. You have a responsibility, and I refuse to let you go to waste. I've put a lot of effort into you, especially within the past two years."
"What about my father's efforts?"
"Dante had double duty saving the world and raising you."
"Had? Then he is dead?"
"I didn't say that. I never said anything of the sort. He just can't do anything right now."
"What about the vision you showed me?"
Sparda snorted. "I showed you the future as you requested. I never said Dante was dead. You assumed it."
"I knew you were going to say that." Lilith hung her head as she contemplated his words. "Then he could still be alive. I have to save him, don't I?"
"What would Dante say?"
"I don't know."
"Then you truly don't know your father. You're not as close as you think."
"That's not fair."
"No, but it's true, or else I wouldn't be here. Your father has made many sacrifices in his life, many that could have killed him or left him in a place of no return. Maybe this time, he's met his match."
"No!" Sparda's wings tightened around her. "I won't leave him down there!"
"Then you've made your choice?"
"I'll get him. Even if he's dead, I'll bring his body back for burial."
Sparda was silent for a moment. "So be it," he finally said. "Prove you are worthy of my name, Lilith Divinity Sparda."
"That I shall." Lilith pushed his wings aside. "By the way, don't sound so dramatic. It's a little archaic."
Sparda tilted his head. "You have completely killed the mood. Thanks for nothing."
"You're welcome. So, how do we get into Hell long enough to rescue my father?"
"Easy. The same way they got into Shangri-La to resurrect Deanna. We cut through space."
Kerlak sang as Raynok continued to kowtow. "You know," she finally said, "you're really starting to look stupid over there. Give it a rest. There's nothing we can do until Deanna returns."
Raynok sat against his haunches. "When will that be? She's been gone for days."
"Longer than that." Kerlak sat beside him. "I think she's starting to forget why she's here."
"Then I suggest we remind her."
"That won't be necessary." Kerlak touched the medallion around her neck. "She has returned." Kerlak lifted her hand and made a vertical line in the air as if cutting it with her nail. A black line appeared where she traced it. It lengthened until it was nearly six feet tall. Deanna poked her head through and pulled the rest of her body into the room. By habit, she dropped to the floor next to Kerlak.
"How did things go?" Kerlak asked.
"I believe I've gained his trust."
"How do you know?"
Deanna lifted her head from the floor. "I know him. He trusts me."
"What about Lilith?" Raynok asked. "Will she be a threat once we get what we want?"
"Possibly, but I can handle her if she is unaware of my involvement."
"Which is the problem," Raynok said, "because you can't bed her. That's just disgusting."
Kerlak patted Raynok's arm. "You're so cute." She placed the collar around Deanna's neck and reattached the chain. "When's a good time to get in?"
"As soon as you can."
"Good." Kerlak yanked the chain to pull Deanna to her face. "Don't even consider warning them. Do you understand?" Deanna nodded. "Good girl. Raynok, rally the troops. We're making a house call."
"Wait!" Deanna yelled.
Raynok and Kerlak glared at her. "What was that?" Kerlak challenged.
"Let me do it," Deanna whispered.
"Say what?"
"Let me do it. There's no need to storm the place. It will be better if he comes willingly, rather than by force."
"I see," Raynok said. "Let her go, Kerlak. I have another idea."
"Which is?" Kerlak inquired.
"Get some paper and a pen. We're going to write Dante a letter."
*
Lilith held the letter against the lampshade and read it for the hundredth time. By now she had it memorized, but she still questioned its athenticity. "I know she wrote this, but there's something wrong with it. Why would anyone want to kidnap her?" She almost dropped it when she heard the door open and close.
"Dad!" she yelled without turning around.
He didn't yell back. She heard him speak behind her head. "What is wrong with you?"
"It's not me. It's Deanna."
"What do you mean?"
Lilith held the letter over her shoulder. She let it slip through her fingers. Dante grabbed it from the air. She sidestepped out of the way to prepare for a reaction that never came. "Are you all right?"
"Peachy." He crumbled the paper and tossed it.
"You're going, aren't you?"
"What did you expect?"
"That you would be more sensible." Dante gave her the usual stoic look, but this time she ignored it. "She's not really in danger. She's setting you up. How could she write a letter and send it here if she's really being held captive? "
"She didn't write the letter. That's not her penmanship."
"That means nothing."
Dante tugged on the tip of his glove. "Even if she is setting us up, there's another story behind it."
"Like what?"
"She's being forced to do it."
Lilith folded her arms. "Who cares if that's true? Isn't it obvious you're being baited?"
"Sure it is. Don't insult my intelligence."
"Then why are you going?" Dante's only response was to leave the room. Lilith stomped after him. "Why are you going!"
Dante stopped and raised his hand to her. "You can do one of two things. Either go with me to find out what's going on, or stay out of my way."
"You know something I don't," Lilith dared, "or else you wouldn't be so reckless."
Dante dropped his hand. "You're right. She's been in trouble from the beginning."
"What kind of trouble?"
"She's being held in spiritual slavery again, but this time, it's all of her."
"How do you even know it's really her?"
"Trust me for once. Get over your childhood issues and trust me on this." Lilith slumped slowly to the side. "I shouldn't have said that."
"Don't worry about it," Lilith assured him weakly, "but I refuse to stay out of your way. Give me five minutes."
*
Lilith raised her palm to catch a raindrop before entering the temple. "Why can I see my breath? It's warm here."
"This is an irreverent place." Dante stared at a stained window. "This temple is similar to the one you blew up earlier. Maybe they're connected."
"Then the real culprit must be a relative or old lover of that guy I popped back there. Why else would we be going through this?"
"Whatever." Dante signaled to her and pointed at the bloody altar. Behind it was a large carving of a man in a sitting position with his arms folded. Symbols and runes were carved over it. "Does any of this look familiar?"
"I don't think so. Then again, I didn't pay attention when I fell through the ceiling. I was too busy working." She took a closer look at the carvings. "Some of those are Theban."
"What?"
"Theban. An arcane alphabet."
"Yeah."
"I'm glad you made it." Dante and Lilith turned simultaneously towards the voice. Deanna walked around the altar. She wore the collar without the chain. "I was afraid you wouldn't come."
Lilith aimed Tiamat for Deanna's forehead. "We wouldn't have, but my father decided to act against his better judgment."
Deanna raised her hand as if to placate Lilith. "It's not what you think. I didn't want you to come either, but I had no choice."
Lilith let Tiamat angle downward. "Why should we believe you?"
"They're here with you," Dante said, "aren't they?"
"They?" Lilith asked. "Who's they?"
"Leave," Deanna said. "I know I've gone through all this trouble, and my existance will be forfeit, but you have to leave."
"Why the change of heart? Assuming that's applicable."
"Lilith, leave," Dante ordered.
Lilith dropped her arm to her side and stared at her father with wide eyes. "Why?"
"That won't be necessary," a fourth voice added. Behind Deanna, Kerlak appeared. In a single motion, she hooked the chain to Deanna's collar and yanked it until Deanna fell to her knees. Kerlak placed her hand onto Deanna's head while carrying the other end of the chain over her shoulder. "She's a good pet."
"It's been you all along, hasn't it?" Dante accused. Kerlak nodded. "What do you want?"
"My request is simple. I want to go home."
"Why would you bother us and go through all this just to go home?"
"I am weak. My only way out of here is by reviving a certain demon so my power may be restored."
"Innocent enough. What do I have to do with it? Why did it warrant bringing Deanna here?"
Kerlak pressed lightly against Deanna's head. "She was bait. Your daughter figured that out. As for you, I need you to do me a favor, or else the demon can't awaken to restore me."
"Which is?"
"Offer yourself as a sacrifice."
"Oh, hell no!" Lilith took one step forward. Dante snatched her trenchcoat collar and pulled her back.
"What if I say no?" Dante asked.
"Then Deanna will go in your place. If she does, then opening the portal to restore my power and send me home will have an unfortunate consequence."
"Being."
"Both of our worlds will merge, and my world isn't a pretty one to call your own. Not humans, anyway. It's your job to save them from things like that, isn't it?"
Dante still held on to Lilith's collar. "Something like that. Why me specifically?"
"Because your father was the one who imprisoned the demon and trapped us here on Earth."
"So?"
"So, during the battle that resulted in his imprisonment, he accidentally got a mouthful of your father's blood. As an unfortunate side effect, he must taste that blood again, or something like it, to properly awaken."
"Oh, great. As if I didn't know, this means?"
"You have to sacrifice yourself, or the Earth fuses with Hell. Quite an interesting consequence, and I have every intention of using it."
"What about Deanna and Lilith?"
"I'll let them go, without a scratch."
"I don't believe you, but I'll play along anyway. I'm not worried."
"What!" Lilith cried out. Dante responded by pushing her aside and giving her a quick wink. "What are you doing?"
Dante ignored her. "Let Deanna go, and I'll go right now. Willingly."
"Go first, then I'll let her go."
"Fine." Dante spoke to Lilith without looking at her. "If she backs out on her word, kill her."
"You can't go," Lilith said.
Dante turned to her. "Why not?"
"Because you're not coming back. This could be my vision coming true."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll bet your life on it. What if this will lead to my vision coming true? You could die at any moment. You don't even know what this entails."
"Have you already forgotten what I told you?"
"What do you mean?"
"About what I would expect of you if your vision did come true. You're a slave of my father's legacy, like me." Without hesitation, Dante turned to leave.
Lilith seized his hand. "If you go, you'll die! I know it!"
Dante squeezed her hand. "Don't forget what I taught you. You have to go on alone some time. It may have been sooner than we thought." He yanked his hand free.
"Why would you risk dying for that!" Lilith's eyes glowed red as she pointed at Deanna. Dante smacked her hand down and slapped her across her face. Lilith dropped to her knees. "We will all regret this."
Dante stood over her. "Stand up." Lilith shook her head. The tips of her platinum white locks brushed across his boots. He saw blood dripping over them. "I said stand up."
"What good will it do?"
"Stand. Up. Now." Lilith sighed and slowly stood. "Stop crying. It looks bad." Liith wiped a trail of blood from her face. "Be careful when you shed those tears," Dante said. "Spill them wisely."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see." Dante winked at her again. "I have faith in you." He turned his back to her again and approached Kerlak. "As par our agreement?"
"Of course." Kerlak pulled the chain to make Deanna stand. "Today's your lucky day. Don't waste it."
"I have no intention of doing so."
"We'll see." Kerlak pulled the collar from around Deanna's neck. "You're free to go." In her peripheral vision, she saw Lilith aim Marduk towards her. Dante and Deanna made eye contact as she walked past him. He then forced his own eyes away. Deanna continued on. Kerlak motioned to Dante. "Come here." He stayed perfectly motionless as Kerlak fastened the collar around his neck. "Is there anything you'd like to say to your daughter before you go?"
"That won't be necessary."
"We'll see." Kerlak held the chain taut and gazed at the statue. "He has come! Take him and be nourished!"
Lilith lowered Marduk. "Nourished?"
The statue opened its eyes. Those eyes glanced down at Dante and Kerlak. The head remained still. "Take him," Kerlak repeated. As she said this, another figure, a man, appeared from the other side of the statue. "Get ready, Raynok," she said to him.
A deep moan escaped from the statue. The vibrations shook everyone and everything. A black mass oozed from the letters carved into the stone. Dante crossed his hands and held them up. The black mass gathered in the statue's lap. A large tentacle reached out to touch him. In an instant, it engulfed his body. Raynok placed his hand on Kerlak's shoulder. Kerlak held her hand out. She and Raynok were engulfed as well. The moan grew louder as the oozed retracted itself into a ball on the statue's lap. Dante, Kerlak, and Raynok were gone.
Lilith stared in disgust and disbelief as the black mass reattached itself to the carvings in the statue. The moan finally died when the black mass disappeared. "I can't believe it."
Deanna tapped Lilith on the arm. "We have to go home."
Lilith pistol whipped Deanna across the face. Deanna fell to the floor and covered her bleeding mouth. "I'm going home," Lilith said, "but your home is not with me."
*
"How long has it been?" Kerlak stood on the edge of the river of lava and dipped her finger within it. When she realized it didn't hurt her, she drove her entire hand into the lava. "It feels like warm milk."
"Then it's true," Raynok said. "We are home." The terrain was exactly as he remembered it. Blood red clouds covered the dusk red sky. The ground smelled lightly of burning sulphur. Steam emerged from holes in the ground, but the ground was deceptively cool. Raynok took one step forward, only to be thrown back by a geyser of lava. He landed on his back and laughed. A leathery creature flew above him. "Indeed, we are home."
Kerlak pulled her hand from the lava river. "I wonder what happened to Dante."
"Take a look." Raynok and Kerlak stood and turned towards the perceived west. A stone monolith covered in blood stood in the distance. "Let's take a walk."
*
Lilith stared up at the ceiling. Rain splattered against the window. She rolled to her side and grabbed her father's pillow. She gently stuffed it under her head. "It smells like his shampoo." She inhaled deeply into the pillow to catch the scent. "Herbal Essense? Are you serious?"
Lightning flashed as someone knocked on the bedroom door. "Go away!" Deanna opened the door, stepped into the room, and slammed the door shut. She folded her arms, but Lilith wasn't impressed. "What the hell do you want?"
"I am trying to help you!"
"Help me with what? I don't want you here. What I need, you can't give me."
"What would that be?" Lilith didn't answer. "Look," Deanna said calmly, "I know you hate me and all that, but this is not about us. At least, it shouldn't be. This is about your father. I want to save Dante as much as you do."
"There's nothing to save."
"Excuse me?"
Lilith sat up. "I said there is nothing to save. Dante is dead."
Deanna rubbed the bruise and blood clot on her face. "How can you be so sure?"
"His father showed me."
Deanna tilted her head forward. "Sparda? He talks to you?"
"All the freaking time."
"And he told you Dante is dead?"
"Not exactly." Lilith fell back against the bed. "Grandpa Sparda doesn't like getting to the point. He prefers to pussyfoot."
There was silence as Deanna considered her next move. Then she sat on the bed next to Lilith. "I'm not asking for your sympathy. Honestly, I don't give a damn anymore, but I do want your understanding."
"Whatever."
"Well, at least you didn't try to set me on fire."
"I refuse to respond to anything you say."
"Good. Then you won't mind if I kill you with anecdotes."
"Please don't."
"If I knew twenty years ago what I know right now, I never would have given Dante that damn cup of tea."
Lilith resisted the urge to sit up. "What do you mean?" She covered her face with the pillow. "I can't believe I just asked that."
"Dante and I met when I served him a cup of tea. He thought I was a servant."
"I'll probably regret this, but why?"
"The royal family of Shangri-La had a tradition. Every member of the family had a decoy to act in his or her place while the real royal family was disguised as servants. He didn't know whom I really was until after the first time we slept together."
"Eww!" Lilith sat up and stood to leave. Deanna grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the bed. "I've heard enough! TMI! Too much information!"
Deanna released her arm. "I'm sorry. It seemed funny before I said it."
"Are you going somewhere with this?"
Deanna turned away from her. "When I met your father, I was as I am now. Complete. I don't know when I lost half of my soul. "
"I do."
"What?"
"Sparda showed it to me. You were sleeping."
"Oh. It must have been right after your conception."
"Oh gawd!" Lilith fell against the bed again and covered her head with the pillow. "Do I have to listen to this?"
"No, you don't, but you do have to find your father."
"Why?"
"Because he's not dead. Not if Dante is whom I think he is. Premature demise is not his way."
"What do you know of premature demise?" Lilith tossed the pillow at Deanna and stood. "How would you know this wasn't meant to be?"
"People decide their own fate."
"Then why am I a slave of some damn legacy? I didn't choose that, but someone has to do it."
"Amazing. Just a few hours ago your attitude was completely opposite."
"Bitch. Aren't you supposed to be feeding some worms, or something?" Lilith left the room rather than wait for an answer. She headed for the stairs but was distracted by a familiar yellow glow from her room. "Now what?" She opened the door and saw the statue from Mallet Island. "What can you tell me that I haven't already heard?"
Those who desire to acquire the ancient ways of war shall offer the blood of monsters in exchange.
Lilith stood in silence. She wasn't sure if she'd actually heard the voice or if she'd imagined it. She blinked to soothe the stinging in her eyes. Blood dripped down her face. Be careful when you shed those tears. Spill them wisely.
"Blood of monsters? Will you settle for the blood of the greatest demon who ever lived?" She wiped a stream of blood away with her finger as she entered the room. "Sparda shall sorrow no more." She pressed her bloody finger against the statue's forehead.
"You rang?" someone said behind her. Lilith knew whom it was before she turned to face him. Sparda was sitting in the middle of her room. Unlike most of their encounters, he was real rather than in her head, and he was in his demonic form. His wings were wrapped tightly around his body. "Why do you deny me?"
As a sign of respect, Lilith sat before him in the lotus position. Sparda loosened his wings and wrapped them around her. "What do you mean?" Lilith asked. "I have never denied you."
"You are a coward."
"I'm all alone. I've never had to depend on myself completely. I always had someone else, just in case." Though his wings obscured them both in darkness, Lilith knew he was staring at her.
"Your father was alone for many years. He never truly got to know me, and he lost his mother and brother. Still, he persevered."
"That's sweet, but I'm not him."
"Then you'll become him if you intend to survive. You have a responsibility, and I refuse to let you go to waste. I've put a lot of effort into you, especially within the past two years."
"What about my father's efforts?"
"Dante had double duty saving the world and raising you."
"Had? Then he is dead?"
"I didn't say that. I never said anything of the sort. He just can't do anything right now."
"What about the vision you showed me?"
Sparda snorted. "I showed you the future as you requested. I never said Dante was dead. You assumed it."
"I knew you were going to say that." Lilith hung her head as she contemplated his words. "Then he could still be alive. I have to save him, don't I?"
"What would Dante say?"
"I don't know."
"Then you truly don't know your father. You're not as close as you think."
"That's not fair."
"No, but it's true, or else I wouldn't be here. Your father has made many sacrifices in his life, many that could have killed him or left him in a place of no return. Maybe this time, he's met his match."
"No!" Sparda's wings tightened around her. "I won't leave him down there!"
"Then you've made your choice?"
"I'll get him. Even if he's dead, I'll bring his body back for burial."
Sparda was silent for a moment. "So be it," he finally said. "Prove you are worthy of my name, Lilith Divinity Sparda."
"That I shall." Lilith pushed his wings aside. "By the way, don't sound so dramatic. It's a little archaic."
Sparda tilted his head. "You have completely killed the mood. Thanks for nothing."
"You're welcome. So, how do we get into Hell long enough to rescue my father?"
"Easy. The same way they got into Shangri-La to resurrect Deanna. We cut through space."
