Impostor

Lilith planted her feet into the sand underwater and quickly stood up. She gasped as she took her first breath in over half an hour. She brushed her hair back and looked through the waist deep water for her two companions. Her father resurfaced on her immediate left. He wiped water from his eyes as he stood. A quick snort expelled water from his lungs.

"That wasn't so bad," he said and shook his head.

"Maybe for you," Lilith mumbled. "We lost the babies."

"Babies?"

Lilith leaned towards him. "Your father's swords."

"We didn't lose them. They're on the beach. I transmigrated them."

Lilith nodded as if she understood. "Righty-o." She reached into the water on her right when she heard rustling. She grabbed the pilot by his collar and pulled him to his feet.

Dante fought the urge to laugh. "Eryc? You look like shit."

Eryc grimaced as if he were cold. His skin was just beginning to lose its blue-green hue. His hair was still covered in amphibian slime. Blood ran down his sides and chest where his gills had sealed themselves. Eryc took a shallow breath and, with several internal heaves, pushed his lungs to their full volume. He nearly collapsed with relief when he was able to breathe air again. He continued grimacing and began the trek towards the shore.

Lilith saw Dante still struggling with laughter. "You can at least show some compassion," she said. "His transformations are very painful, and he loses a pint of blood every time he switches to air breathing."

"I know. Ow!" Dante shoved Lilith away after she punched him in the chest. Rather than retaliate, Lilith followed Eryc to the shore. Dante let her get about two meters ahead before going himself.

One by one, they arrived on the beach. Each one stopped and stared in utter confusion. Five men were waiting on the beach. They had various wardrobes, but they were all decked with stylized swords and guns. The one in the center, by his flashy colorful clothes(including a short red robe), was obviously the most important one in the group. Dante and Lilith paid attention to none of these things. The only thing that mattered to them was that in his left hand he carried the Yamato. Sparda was in his right.

"What are you doing with those?" Lilith demanded before Dante could make a legitimate diplomatic move.

The man in the center raised his head as if she'd insulted him. "I could ask you the same thing."

Lilith habitually moved to take a step forward. Dante pulled her back, nearly lifted her off the ground in the process, and stepped forward instead. "Those belong to us. You are obligated to return them."

To their surprise, the man laughed. "My name is Kaliel, and these swords belong to me."

"On what grounds?"

"They belonged to my father."

Lilith nearly choked on her breath. "Like hell they did!"

Dante held his arm out to stop her. "It's all right," he said. "Just give him enough rope." He gave Lilith a second to calm herself before speaking to Kaliel. "Who is your father?"

Kaliel glared as if trying to discern Dante's intentions. As usual, Dante kept a perfectly stoic expression. "My father," Kaliel finally volunteered, "was the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda."

Dante quickly spun on his heel as Lilith charged forward. He forced her back a few steps. "It's all right," he repeated. "Keep the rope coming."

"Why?" she insisted. "He's a liar."

"I know, but I want to see where this goes. We obviously ended up here for a reason. Just be patient."

Lilith closed her eyes and nodded. "Fine. This one time."

"Thank you." Dante turned back to Kaliel. "You want something?"

"You must have the gift of second sight." He motioned the other four forward. "You should meet the Pythia. Either way, you have to come with us."

(X)

Kyra crumbled the bay leaves over glowing charcoal. She sat in an elevated chair over a crevice in the earth. With only the glowing charcoal for light, she sat in the back of a small cave. She began to feel lightheaded as she inhaled the vapors rising from the crevice. She closed her eyes, though it was unnecessary.

A faint image flashed through her mind. Kyra calmly waited for something else. There was a sense of the color red before the next image came. She saw a man's face that she instantly recognized, but it shocked her so much, she dropped the bowl of bay leaves and nearly fell out the chair.

"It is him," she said as she stood. She stared blankly ahead. "He has come. The true blood of Sparda. At last, it's over."

Kyra whistled into the darkness. "Maki!" she called. She felt a small hand land on top of hers. "Take me out of here. Kaliel is expecting me."

Maki tugged on Kyra's hand and led her into the sunlight. The little girl blinked in the brightness. Kyra's cloudy eyes, however, continued staring blankly ahead. She heard whispers and jumbled voices around her as people made room for her to pass. Some of them threw flower petals onto her path. Each time her foot landed on top of one, she deliberately ground it into the earth. Light perfumes were released from each one. The crowd followed her and Maki back into the city until they reached a massive water fountain in the center. Maki placed Kyra's hand into the water before leaving her alone by the fountain. Kyra waited silently as everyone else eventually disappeared.

Kyra lifted her dress to sit on the edge of the fountain. Before she could sit, she felt someone else touch her hand. She straightened as the person held up her hand. "Sorry I'm late," Kaliel said. "I was delayed by strangers."

"The invaders?" Kyra suggested.

Kaliel helped her stand. "You don't need to ask. You're the one who said someone would come." He began to lead her away from the fountain.

"You're taking me to them," Kyra suggested.

Kaliel was silent before saying, "Are you asking?"

"Of course not. I know everything you do. And more."

"Whom are they?"

Kyra took too long to answer. "I don't know."

"You're lying."

Kyra's blank stared straight ahead. "Take me to them."

"I had no intention of doing otherwise."

Kyra felt her feet step onto cold grass. "How many are there?"

"Three. Two males and a female. One of the males claims the female is his daughter." Kaliel noticed Kyra jerk in an obvious sign of deception. "Should we give the female special treatment?"

"If we don't," Kyra assured him, "then she will take it from us. No man among us will be able to do otherwise."

Kaliel scoffed. "She is an obscenity. A woman who cannot be overcome by a man." He squeezed her hand. "If they are the ones you claim they are, do you think they know the truth about me? About what I'm doing?"

"You are completely unaware of what has come upon our shores," Kyra said defiantly. "Physical strength is not the only strength."

"You mean mental strength?"

"And all three have plenty of both."

(X)

The first thing Kyra felt was a rush of cold air, followed by cold marble against her feet. Kaliel took her a few steps forward before releasing her hand. "Here you are," he said, "like you asked." She thought he had shoved her before closing the door. She held her hand out as if looking for something.

She showed no surprise when someone took it. "Kyra," a familiar voice said.

"Dante. There's a voice I haven't heard in twenty years."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dante led her to a chair, but she didn't sit yet.

"I should be asking you that question. How did you find this place?"

"We didn't. We were attacked by creatures over the sea. I don't think it was an accident, considering Kaliel seemed to have been expecting us. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

"The creatures thought they were protecting us. Other than me, no one else has been here in over 1500 years. Not to mention, I told them you were coming." Kyra placed a hand over Dante's face. "You haven't changed much."

She felt a minute brush of air, as if Dante were waving his hand at someone. "Is she here?" Kyra asked.

"What?" Dante responded.

"Your daughter. Is she here?"

"How did you . . ." she heard a soft feminine voice ask a short distance away. Kyra felt his eyes move towards that voice.

"She's here," he said to Kyra. "But she doesn't know you."

"I expected as much, considering how we parted ways."

"What is she talking about?" the young woman asked.

Dante lowered Kyra's hand. "Not now, Lilith."

"Lilith?" Kyra asked. "Such a pretty name. How appropriate." Kyra turned so that she would obviously be speaking to Lilith. "I'll give you some important advice, and you'd better heed it. Our culture is different from what you are used to. Just follow your father's lead, and you'll be safe. I hope."

She turned back towards Dante. "Kaliel wants to see the three of you later sometime. He might be insane enough to invite you to dinner."

Dante huffed. "Why am I uncomfortable with that idea?"

Kyra smirked as she raised her hand towards the door. "Because you're smart."

(X)

Kaliel gripped the jagged dagger in his right hand. He struggled against the urge to vomit as the smell of death filled his nostrils. His left hand steadied the hanging corpse as he carved a large chunk of flesh from its leg. He didn't turn around when the door opened behind him, but he knew who was paying him a visit.

"What did they say, Kyra?" he asked as a large chunk of flesh fell to the floor. A black furry canine leapt to Kaliel's feet and snatched up the meat.

"They don't trust you," Kyra answered, "and the young one is suspicious of all of us."

"And?"

"And what? There is nothing more to tell you. You have their cooperation. For now."

Kaliel chuckled. "I hope you're not thinking of letting them fulfill that ridiculous prophecy of yours. You know what will happen if anything were to happen to me, don't you?"

"Quite honestly, I have reached the point where I just don't give a damn anymore. All I care about are those people I'm protecting from you."

Kaliel stopped carving the corpse. The dog at his feet growled as if it were aware of what was going on. "You? Protecting them from me?"

Kaliel turned and threw the dagger. Kyra stepped back as if to dodge, but she had no idea where to go. She quickly turned to her right when she heard the dagger slam into the wall.

"Be very careful," Kaliel threatened. "You are not as important to them as you think. Nor to me."