The Demon's Curse

Valerin sat underneath his tree with his eyes closed. He felt a warm wind blow across his face and sighed. At this time of day, even the air felt hot. He had no idea how the two girls could stand it. A couple of hours had passed since they had last visited the beach and they were quite anxious to see what the object way off in the distance was. It was now much closer but it was still hard to see detail. Valerin tried to stay focused on the horizon but it was entirely too hot for him. He closed his eyes and prayed for a cool breeze. He was certain that he could not withstand the heat for much longer.

"My lord!" Rem cried and Valerin glanced up. What was she going on about now?

"What is it, Rem?" he asked and she pointed to the sea.

"It's a ship!"

Valerin squinted as he stood up. It was still too far for him to tell whose ship it was. He stretched his arms and Rem looked expectantly at him. 

"Do you think Senra is on it?" Rem asked and Valerin shrugged his shoulders.

"I certainly hope so. I don't know how long it's been since I've heard from him last. The ship's traveling at a good pace so we'll be able to see who's on board before too long."

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"Dante!" Senra cried as he knocked on Dante's door. Dante opened the door and gazed out at Senra.

"If it's about the prisoner, I know already," Dante said and Senra shook his head. 

"No. We're nearing land."

"Land? Where Valerin is?"

"Yes."

Dante ran out of his room and onto the deck with Senra close behind him. Senra then watched in shock as Dante jumped off the edge of the ship and began swimming towards the shore.

"Is he insane?!" Seiya exclaimed as he watched Dante. "He'll never make it."

"I'd go after him but I am not an expert swimmer," Senra said. 

"None of us are. Wake probably is but we can't have Wake going after him. Someone needs to steer the ship.”

"I hope Lord Valerin sees him. It would be devastating to have something happen to him when we are so close to returning to my master."

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"Someone jumped off the boat," Rem said and Valerin shaded his eyes with his hand.

"I'd recognize that style anywhere. What was he thinking? He'll drown before he makes the shore," Valerin said and began taking his robes off.

"What are you doing my lord?!" Shalira asked in shock.

"Relax. I'm wearing pants underneath this. I don't have time to explain, though."

"But it's too warm for..."

Valerin ignored her as he ran down the beach and into the water. He began swimming when the water was deep enough and prayed that he could reach Dante in time.

At the same time, Dante realized that he had made a stupid decision. He could not reach the shore. It was already becoming difficult for him to move his arms. He gagged as he swallowed some seawater. There was no way he could make it to the shore. He would most likely drown before he met Valerin again.

"You are such an idiot," Valerin said gently and Dante opened his eyes. Was he dreaming? He opened his mouth to say something then coughed as he felt salt water in his mouth again.

"Put your hands around my neck," Valerin said as Dante stopped swimming. He began to sink slowly into the sea and Valerin grabbed his shirt. Valerin placed his arm around Dante's chest and slowly began towing Dante to shore. When the water became shallow, he picked Dante up and carried him to the shore. 

"Is he all right, my lord?" Senra asked as he ran up to Valerin with Chelet close behind him. Valerin pushed Dante's hair away from his face and gently laid him on the sand. 

"He will be. I don't know what he was thinking, though. He'd never have made it. You know you had me quite worried, Senra. It seemed to be quite awhile between messages," Valerin said and Senra's face grew pale.

"That's because I realized that if I had sent you a message, we would have arrived before the message did. I apologize for worrying you, Lord Valerin."

"Boy you look a lot better," Chelet said as Valerin sat beside Dante.

"I have your cousin to thank for that," Valerin said and glanced up at where Seiya was awkwardly approaching Rem. "Who is that?"

"My lord please put your robes back on. It's entirely too warm for you to be exposed like this," Senra said and Shalira folded his arms.

"So that's why you never complained about my methods," she said and Valerin looked at her as he put on his robe.

"What do you mean?" he inquired.

"You've been conditioned for it. Senra acts like I do."

"You know, I never realized it but you're right. You two do act alike."

"Valerin," Chelet said and Senra glared at her.

"Show some respect, Chelet," Senra said and Valerin waved a hand in his direction.

"It's all right, Senra," he said then looked at Chelet. "What were you trying to say?"

"Well if Dante is part fire elf then why is his hair blue? Aren't fire elves' hair usually the color of fire?" Chelet asked and Valerin nodded his head.

"That's generally true but fire isn't always red and orange. It all depends on what elements are in the air surrounding the fire. But that still doesn't account for Dante's hair. That is probably attributed to his demon blood. Now who's the elf that's talking to Rem?"

"Oh I forgot about him!" Senra cried and quickly lowered his head in apology. "That is Seiya. I hired him on as a bodyguard. He is expecting some sort of reward for his services."

"It seems that he's taken quite an interest to Rem. Perhaps she's not the lost cause that your family had feared. It's nice to see you again, Wake. How are things back home?" Valerin asked and Wake looked at him seriously.

"I'm sure you'll be seeing for yourself before too long, my lord," Wake replied and Valerin sighed as he laid a hand on Dante's forehead.

"So it's that bad. Tell me, is Rhys still standing?"

"When I saw it last, it was."

"You know, Chelet, my family has always had a close relationship with the wood elves to the north of my land. Rhys is a symbol of the alliance between the two groups."

"Shalira, you won't believe all the things Seiya has done in the mountains," Rem said as she and Seiya walked up to the group.

"I thank you for accompanying Senra on his journey. I'm sure that your skills were quite useful since Senra is not exactly a man trained in combat," Valerin said as Dante began coughing. "Well it seems as though someone extremely foolish is coming to."

"You know, what may have weighed him down was that sword we found," Seiya said and Senra shook his head.

"He was not wearing a sword when he jumped off the boat," Senra said as Dante gasped for air. He opened his eyes as Valerin gently helped him to sit up.

"I know, that was a stupid thing to do," Dante said as Valerin placed his hand underneath his chin.

"Well I'm glad you finally made it. We've got a lot of catching up to do."

"You don't look as bad as Senra said you were," Dante said and Valerin smiled.

"Well I have two extremely beautiful women to attribute my health to," Valerin said and leaned forward to kiss Dante's cheek.

"Okay forgive me for putting a damper on your reunion but how do all of these things come together?" Seiya asked and Senra looked at him.

"You can wait a little longer. It has been an extremely long time since they have seen each other last. I believe they would like some time to be alone," Senra said.

"Let's get you out of those wet clothes, Dante. I need to get out of the sun before the heat gets too much for me. Wake needs to get out of the sun as well. Rem could I trouble you to perhaps make something for our guests?" Valerin asked and Rem nodded her head.

"Of course. Do you want to help me, Chelet? I need to get some extra ingredients. It's been awhile since I've had to cook for so many people," Rem said and Chelet nodded her head.

"Sure I'll help," Chelet said and Seiya awkwardly coughed.

"Do you need any extra help?" he asked and Chelet giggled. "What's so funny?!"

"You like her, don't you?"

"You know how to pick fruit?" Rem asked and Seiya folded his arms so that Rem could see how muscular his arms were.

"I'm from the mountains, after all. We tend to do things for ourselves. Plus my family ships our crops to numerous restaurants in the south as well as a few in the west."

"Well then I guess we could use your help."

"So tell me," Valerin said as he and Dante began walking in the direction of the cottage. "How did you regain your memory?" 

"That's a pretty interesting account of events. So what exactly has been going on here?" Dante inquired as Valerin stroked his hand.

"Do you really want to know that now or do you want to stir up an old flame?" 

"I guess an account of events can wait."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Valerin said as he looked over Dante. "You look thinner."

"I wasn't exactly living the good life in the other world," Dante replied and Valerin looked interested.

"What was the other world like?"

"I thought you wanted to do something else besides talk."

"I do. I've missed you so much."

Dante placed his arm around Valerin's waist and blinked his eyes. He had never noticed it before but at a profile, Valerin looked a little feminine. Could there be some truth in that ancient myth? No, he decided. Because if it were true then that would mean that he would have a fascination with women and he found absolutely nothing on a woman that he could get excited about. Rem was an exception, however. He found her personality attractive but that was it.

"Is something wrong?" Valerin inquired and Dante glanced at him.

"What? Oh, I was just thinking," Dante replied as they stopped at the cottage.

"About what?"

"About the legend."

"Oh. You don't think there's any truth to that, do you?"

"About you being the goddess? No. Besides, there might be someone else out there that has markings similar to yours."

"That's a possibility I've never even considered. Thank you, Dante."

"Now would you like me to show you that you're all man?" Dante asked as Valerin opened the door to the cottage.

"I'll gladly accept your offer. Follow me to my room where we can discuss things more intimately," Valerin said as he drew away from Dante.

"I'm looking forward to it. Even when I couldn't remember you, I thought about you. Well I could remember you to an extent. The mark wouldn't allow me to remember you completely."

"But you're free of the mark and you don't have to remember me because I'm here. I am touched that you never forgot me, though. I was slightly worried that you might not want me any more."

"Not want you?" Dante inquired as he closed the door behind him. "Why would I not want someone as beautiful as you?"

Valerin blushed as Dante walked up to him. He placed his hands on Valerin's waist then dropped a hand to Valerin's rump. Valerin placed his mouth over Dante's and kissed him. Dante stroked Valerin's behind and Valerin closed his eyes. Valerin placed his hands on Dante's hips then moved them inward. Dante's eyes grew wide as he realized Valerin's intent. He quickly smacked Valerin's rump and Valerin drew away.

"Did you have something else in mind?" Valerin inquired and Dante nodded his head.

"Let's take this to the bed. That's what it's there for, isn't it?" Dante asked and Valerin smiled.

"I thought you might want to play around for a bit before we got intense but apparently not. It has been awhile since we've shared a bed, hasn't it?" 

"I've missed your juice. It's so good," Dante said.

"I was thinking the same thing about yours," Valerin said as Dante sat down on the bed. He gazed fondly at Valerin as he leaned back slightly.

"Then let's do some tasting."