Death Whispers
"Are you out of your mind?" Dante pushed a cup across the table. "He actually wants us to have dinner with him?"
Kyra sighed. "After you walked away like that, you should know that he would want to talk to you."
"Did you see what he did? Of course not. Sorry."
Kyra laughed. "I saw it in my mind."
"He executed all those people yesterday, and he didn't even remember why."
"That sounds about right."
Dante pushed his chair closer to Kyra. "He said they were not innocent. Why? What did they do?"
Kyra rubbed the back of her neck. "That is something you should get from Kaliel. Not to mention the location of your daughter."
Kyra felt Dante's stare bore through her skin. "Right," he finally said.
(X)
"I was wondering when you'd get here." Kaliel flashed an insincere smile as he sat down at the metallic dinner table. Every chair in the room was made of large polished bone. Giant reptilian skulls hung over the back like macabre canopies. The table was round and large enough for just four people. Dante mumbled something as he took the seat on Kaliel's immediate left.
"What was that?" Kaliel asked.
"Oh, fuck off, Kaliel!" Dante demanded in an unexpected outburst. "Give me a fucking moment!"
Kaliel leaned against his elbow and tugged on his ear as if he were offended. Eryc led Kyra to the seat on Kaliel's right before taking the fourth for himself. Kaliel softly laughed.
"I suppose this will be less of a meal and more of an accusation game."
Dante leaned his head against the back of the chair. "You supposed correctly. Now tell me what I want to know."
"In a moment." He tilted his head back as if summoning someone from the other side of the room. Two servants entered the room, placed several plates and filled glasses onto the table, and left as quickly as they had appeared. Kaliel returned his attention to Dante. "You were saying?"
Dante leaned towards him. "I know you have Lilith. Just tell me where she is."
Kaliel imitated Dante's position by leaning towards him. "And if I do? You'll just leave me in peace?"
"Not a chance."
Kaliel straightened. "Then I don't know."
In a mixture of amusement and frustration, Dante leaned over the table with his elbow on the edge. He placed his forehead against his fingers, which caused his face to be aimed directly at his dinner plate. His breath caught in his throat. "Oh shit."
Eryc considered saying something. As if sensing his thoughts, Kyra touched his arm and shook her head. "Leave this between the two of them. You and I will only get in the way."
With his eyes on Kyra, Eryc stabbed a hunk of meat on his plate. He bit into it, chewed, then spat it back onto his plate with an expression of disgust.
"What's wrong?" Kaliel asked as if he did not know.
Eryc continued spitting. "What is this? It's the worst thing I've ever had."
Dante was still staring down at his plate. On the largest hunk of meat was a conspicuous red marking. It bore an unsettling resemblance to the tatoo on the last man executed the day before. Everyone flinched and backed away when Dante sat up. He stifled a scream as the plate slid across the table and smashed itself into the wall. Before anyone could question what happened, Dante seized Kaliel's collar and lifted him from his seat. In the same motion, Dante slammed Kaliel onto the table. Kyra and Eryc jumped to their feet and backed away.
Dante pressed his palm against Kaliel's forehead and slammed Kaliel's head against the table. Kyra stepped forward, but Eryc grabbed her around the waist. Dante seized Kaliel's neck in an iron chokehold.
"Wait!" Kyra screamed. "Don't hurt him. You mustn't kill him!"
"Why not!" Dante demanded.
"Because you'll be killing everyone on this island if you do!"
Eryc released his grip on Kyra. Dante did not do the same for Kaliel. "Why is that?" he asked without looking up.
"Let him tell you. Please."
Kaliel was already turning blue. The blood vessels in his face were beginning to protrude. Dante reluctantly released Kaliel. Kaliel slid to the floor and gasped for air. Dante picked him up by the collar and pushed him towards his chair. Kaliel sat and took a moment to catch his breath.
Dante smacked Kaliel on his head to get his attention. "Tell me where she is."
Kaliel defiantly stood. "No, but I'll do you one better."
"I doubt that."
"Then let me help you sleep tonight." Kaliel unbuttoned his shirt and exposed his torso. There was an ugly scar of concave flesh just above his navel. "The people out there are helpless, but they are not innocent. What I told you was true. They gave me this scar. They should be grateful that I let them live at all."
Kaliel sat down again. Dante waited patiently for Kaliel to continue. "Several years ago, when I was less than ten years, those people out there attempted a coup against my family and the throne. They dragged us out of our beds at night. My mother, my father, my sister, both of my brothers, and I were all impaled, one by one, and left out to rot under the sky. If it were not for Kyra rescuing me, I would have died out there with my family, and taken this whole island with me. Those people out there are nothing but murderers. This is their restitution. If they sacrifice themselves to keep me alive, then I will keep them alive."
Dante closed his eyes as the epiphany swept over him. "Cannibalism. The Blood Feast. Those mutilated bodies. You're stealing their lives to extend your own."
Kaliel nodded. "Bingo."
Dante opened his eyes. "That doesn't explain how killing you endangers them." Kaliel did not answer. Dante turned his malicious attention to Kyra. "You know. What is he not telling me?"
Kyra shrugged. "I don't know."
"Don't lie." Dante's voice betrayed an emotional weariness. "You're as clear as glass. I can see right through you."
Kyra backed away as if to hide behind Eryc. "Don't do anything you'll regret."
"At this moment, I don't believe that's possible."
Kaliel leaned his head back and moaned. Something outside the building screeched loudly enough to send vibrations through his body. "That's it," Kaliel said as if no one else were listening. "The next feast has just begun."
Dante casually pushed Eryc and Kyra aside as he rushed out of the dining room. All Kaliel saw was a flash of black light before Dante disappeared.
"She was right," Kaliel said. "He has not disappointed me."
(X)
Dante leapt straight into cold black chaos. Indiscrete forms invaded the city. He watched several of them fly away with screaming people in their claws. He ignored them momentarily to focus on the ones still trying to raze the city. People abandoned the streets in panic in a seemingly futile attempt to reach their havens.
Dante effortlessly slid past each person as he followed the flying horde towards the city square. As he approached the scene of the previous night's funeral, a flying black blob dove towards him. Dante quickly backed out of reach. The claws of a second creature grabbed his shoulders from behind and yanked him from the ground. The talons penetrated deeply enough to spirt blood. The abductor hadn't completed its next flap before Dante transformed. The energy released tore through the creature's claws, and a well timed flap of Dante's metal lined wing sliced open its torso.
Black blood flew over Dante's head as he let himself fall to the ground. He landed a short distance from the square. When he stood, he was greeted by the sight of several people being ripped to shreds by more of the inky gargoyles before their dismembered parts were carried away. Dante noticed a large hulking mass behind the gargoyles and flying blood. As the marauding horde flew in separate directions in a disorganized flight, a bulky man, or what appeared to be a man, was crouched on the ground.
Dante's head slowly fell back as he watched the ogre stand. "Wow," was all he managed to say, though he wasn't sure if it were in admiration or condescension. He stepped away as the ogre swung a long chain and slammed it against the ground. Chunks of stone pavement flew aside.
Dante laughed as he continued to back away. The ogre stared at him as if to make sure he was really there. Then a dark hatred covered its face, as if it recognized him. It lunged forward before swinging the chain. Dante ducked and launched himself between the ogre's feet. He flared his wings as he passed the ankles. Both of the ogre's Achilles tendons were sliced cleanly through by the metal edges. Dante slid to a stop and stood as the ogre fell. It attempted to stand again, but its legs would no longer support its weight.
While it was still down, Dante took a quick flight over its body. He casually snatched the chain from the ogre's hand. The ogre lifted itself and brought its hand down to smash him into the pavement. In a flash of black light, Dante dashed to a safe distance. He jerked the chain out of the ogre's reach. The ogre dragged itself towards him; each time either of its hands came down was an attempt to either seize the chain or flatten Dante. Dante continued to calmly step back as the ogre advanced.
Finally out of patience, the ogre pushed itself to its knees. Thinking quickly, Dante swung the chain over his own head before aiming it for the ogre. The momentum wrapped the chain once around the ogre's neck. Dante raised his end of the chain to his face and pulled it taut. Then he launched a powerful burst of lightning through the it. The ogre released an unearthly howl as its body convulsed, but it did not fall over.
When Dante finally ceased the electrocution, the ogre painstakingly raised itself to its feet. It successfully stood but could not walk because of the severed tendons. Dante waited a moment to see what it would do. When it remained standing perfectly still, Dante raised his wings. He lifted himself from the ground and slammed into the ogre's chest. As the ogre fell backwards, Dante grabbed the other end of the chain. He planted a foot firmly against the ogre's chin as it hit the ground on its back. Pulling on both ends of the chain as hard as he could, Dante sent another barrage of lightning through the metal. The ogre's screams were overshadowed by cracking thunder and straining metal. Random creatures flying above were fried by rogue lightning.
Dante would not allow himself to stop until the chain snapped in half. The sudden silence was unsettling. Dante was genuinely surprised to discover the ogre was still breathing. He tossed both ends of the chain aside and kneeled over the ogre's face. Tresses of Dante's long white devil hair raised up like vipers preparing to strike. They formed into sharp tips and plunged themselves into the ogre's face. Several of them pierced its eyes in their attempt to bore into its brain.
The ogre gave no resistance. Dante stared into what was left of its eyes as he mentally worked his way into the ogre's memories. The first thing he saw was the cathedral a short distance from the arena. The next image was of Lilith standing in the middle of the cathedral's main room. He didn't notice Eryc and Kyra trip and tumble through the chaos to reach him.
Kyra pulled free of Eryc's hand and gambled on taking a step forward. "Dante?" she called.
He acted as if he had not heard her. His hair slowly retracted from the ogre's head like prowling venomous snakes. "Dante?" Kyra called again. He glanced at her long enough for her to realize he was irate. Though she couldn't see it, she could feel it as if it were radiating from his body. Then she heard the metallic whistle as he flew away.
Kyra held her hand out towards Eryc. "Lead me to the cathedral," she said. "He's about to find something unpleasant."
(X)
Kyra clutched to Eryc's arm as he dragged her towards the cathedral. Thunder rolled as Eryc came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs at the entrance. Dante was standing in human form at the top of the stairs with his back to them.
Kyra tugged on Eryc's sleeve. "What is he doing?"
"Nothing. He's just standing there."
A bolt of lightning illuminated the sky. Dante walked into the cathedral as if preparing for a fight. "Take me in there," Kyra said. "We have to follow him." Eryc carefully led her up the stairs. The rain began to fall as they entered the worship area. Kyra pulled from Eryc and took a few steps forward.
"She's in here," Dante said.
Kyra tensed as if stung. "What do you mean?"
Dante did not turn to face her. He stared up at the caryatid. "Lilith is in here. I sense it."
"I don't understand."
"I bet you don't." Dante remained silent for an indeterminate time. Just as Kyra began to relax, Dante spun towards her and slapped her as hard as he possibly could. Kyra shrieked as she dropped to the floor. Eryc was too shocked to move to help her.
Kyra sat up on her knees and wiped blood from her mouth. "Why?" was all she could say.
"Three days!" Dante's breaths abruptly grew shorter as his rage increased exponentially. "She's been in here for three days, and you said nothing!"
"I didn't know."
"You lie! You knew all along and left her in here to die, you bitch! Your own flesh and blood!"
Eryc felt his mouth fall open. "Oh shit. Kyra, is this true?"
"Of course it's true!" Dante screamed. He turned back towards the caryatid to compose himself. "Damn you, Kyra." He took a few steps with his eyes closed. "This floor. It's hiding something."
"A cemetery," Kyra explained. "There are graves under the floor. People buried to feed Kaliel's life."
Eryc shook his head. "She can't possibly be alive. Not if mercy exists in this world."
"She is alive," Dante insisted. "Mercy is one thing we're not accustomed to."
His eyes still closed, he held his hands out as if looking for energy signatures under the floor. He took a few more steps towards the caryatid before stopping over a particular spot. He looked down. "These stones are irregular."
Dante stared as if thinking of something complex. In a daze, he lifted his right foot and stomped it against the center of a stone tile. Cracks spread out from under his boot. He stepped back and held his hand over the area.
"What happened?" Eryc asked.
"She responded to the stomp. I felt it. She's right under this spot."
Eryc shook his head. "Dante, after three days, what do you expect to find down there?"
"It doesn't matter. Either way I'm getting her out of there." With an exaggerated swing of his arm, he mentally willed the stones to flip themselves to the right. A second swing to his left caused more stones to flip violently off the grave. Bare ground was exposed. Dante kneeled and took a handful of it.
"This dirt is still loose."
Eryc resisted the urge to rush to Dante's aid. He and Kyra remained where they were as dirt and rocks flew in every direction at Dante's mental command. In a matter of seconds, the floor was covered with dirt. Dante glanced down into the empty hole where his daughter's casket lay.
