Ch b16: Whiplash.

Dante sat meditating dressed in full stygian armor his blade Necromancer rested on his lap sheathed in ancient wood scabbard that had a dark lust to it. The sheath had a black braid from one end to the other that would fit easily slung over Dante's shoulder. The boy had a ebony Spartan helmet lying next to him. The only sound in his massive cave loft was a steady trickle from the bar faucet.

Dante was in perfect trance that rivaled death the children of Hades and Pluto had for centuries tried to find this perfect harmony but only Dante son of Thanatos the Greek god of death had mastered it. In this trance the child of death wasn't forced to his body but open to wander ether his endless mind or world events. Much like other demigods have dreams of events miles away happening at that moment Dante was far south where his battle had taken place.

Only it was in the battle he was watching himself strain not to kill with a simple strike holding the will of the dead back. He was fighting with restraint yet his opponents held nothing back one lashed out her blade brushing against his chin. Reflex kicked in in a blink of an eye the girl had a Stygian blade through her soul. It was odd the ebony blade was dead center in her gut yet no blood no pain in her eyes-only peace.

The others backed off making a circle around him and the dead Roman.

"Please leave..." Dante's voice rang out wishing no more death. "I have no business with you."

One readied a spear and with a tear all dropped dead souls granted to a good judgement in the underworld. Dante said a prayer to his father cursing the endless pain that had followed him.

Dante opened his eyes to reality a single tear running down his cheek. It was time to ready himself for war.

Demi'se sat looking at the Oracle through the bars of the cell. The girl stared right back with her green eyes. Demi'se tilted his head seeing his reflection in her eyes.

"When?" Demi'se asked for the hundredth time.

"I told you I can't control it..." The Oracle sighed. "it just happens."

"Fine then measures will be taken." Demi'se clapped his hands as two Dracaena' slithered in holding candles and burning twigs that reeked of jasmine. "I have done my research Oracle and this may... Persuade you to give me what I need."

"Wh... What are you talking about?" The Oracle asked backing up in her cell. "You're joking right?"

"Of course not." Demi'se said pulling a pad of paper and pen from beneath his chair. He turned to the monsters. "Place them next to her cell and leave us."

"As you wish my leis." one of the Dracaena hissed slithering from the room with the other.

"Now Oracle breath in the aroma..." Demi'se said pointing at a torch which dwindled down to embers. The room was cast into an eery darkness as the Oracle's eyes rolled into the back of her head. "That's right go back to your roots feel the time slip back to the Oracles prime. These methods were used across Greece to hear what Delphi had to say."

"Ahhhh a prophecy you want..." a ancient voice scathed from the girls body green smoke coming from her mouth and eyes her body becoming ridged. "The Four betrayed and allies from Enemies a traitor shall rise shall destroy it all failed to stop the fallen will rise."

Demi'se wrote down the cryptic message. To date this was his first Prophecy and it failed to disappoint. "Good now begone spirit of Delphi!"

"No one but Apollo can cast me aside..." the spirit hissed. "Be warned all is not what it seems you shall fall the gods shall prevail!"

"Now that sounds less like a prophecy and more like wishful thinking Oracle." Demi'se chuckled snapping his fingers as two Dracaena entered holding a ancient wood stick. "Break it the sound should put the mortal to sleep."

"Yes my leis." the dragon lady hissed as Demi'se left the prison. On his way out a fatal sound somewhat like a snapping spine echoed out followed by a body hitting the ground. The stick never failed Demi'se smiled as a new task formed in his head.