The Demon's Curse

"So you're the last one left alive," Dante growled as he grabbed the lone dark elf by the collar. The three had reposessed Wake's ship with ease. Dead bodies of dark elves littered the deck of the ship and the lone dark elf's eyes grew wide in fear. There was something odd about this elf's eyes... "Tell me who put you up to this."

"I don't know anything!" the elf protested then gasped as Dante tightened his grip.

"Then why are you so far from home?"

"I wanted to go on vacation."

"I'm not a fool," Dante said then gazed into the elf's eyes. "Don't make me mad. You wouldn't like it."

The elf fainted and Dante glanced at Wake. Wake took a nervous step back and Dante curiously raised an eyebrow. What was with him? Why did he seem afraid?

"We're going to have to take him with us, I guess. Seiya, why don't the two of you tie him up while I get Senra and Chelet?" Dante suggested.

"What about the bodies?" Seiya asked.

"Take their robes off. Their bodies should disintegrate in sunlight."

"That's right. Dark elves are susceptible to light," Wake said.

"How much does this put us behind schedule?" Dante asked and Wake gazed at the position of the sun.

"About an hour I guess. The bodies are staring to smoke. You know I was wondering why they needed those heavy robes."

"I'm glad I'm not a dark elf," Seiya said as Dante walked off the ship. He waved Senra over and he and Chelet ran up to where he was standing.

"Is it all over with?" Senra inquired and Dante nodded his head.

"We captured one but he's not talking," Dante replied. "Come on, we've lost an hour of travel time according to Wake. I want to get there as soon as possible."

"That desire is very understandable. Come on, Chelet. Let's board the ship so we can see Lord Valerin and Rem again."

"Do you think Seiya will like Rem?" Chelet asked as they walked up the gangplank.

"Well he was certainly taking an interest in her when we were speaking of her earlier," Senra replied as he looked around at the various articles of weapons and clothing that Seiya was picking up. "what's all this?"

"The spoils of war," Seiya replied. "Help me, will you? We can sell some of this stuff in town before we shove off. Hey Dante, there's a pretty nice sword over there. Take a look at it. You could probably use it until you get your own."

Dante walked in the direction Seiya specified and gazed at the sword that lay on the deck. It was a broadsword with an ornate hilt. The hilt was shaped like a cross with flourishing elven designs engraved into a cross. There even seemed to be specks of gold infused with the iron. Dante picked the sword up and swung it. This was obviously the work of a weapons master and not something a dark elf would just find lying about.

"I thought you might like it," Seiya said and Dante nodded his head.

"It's very nice. I wonder what happened to the guy who owned it," Dante said and Seiya shrugged his shoulders.

"I have no clue. We'll be back as soon as we can. I want to make sure we get a good price on this stuff."

"Since we're going to be here for awhile, I'm going back into my cabin where there isn't as much sunlight," Wake said and Dante gazed at their prisoner tied to the mast. He was still unconscious and Dante was sure that the heat was not helping the situation but he was not about to let his prisoner go. He would wait until his prisoner regained consciousness. He could withstand the heat for a lot longer than most elves.