The Demon's Curse

It was nearing twilight when Wake's ship arrived at Oyster Cove and they had managed to beat out the storm by approximately twenty minutes. The rain was just starting to pour down as they made their way into the inn for it had taken some time to secure Wake‘s ship and take all the luggage off of it. Valerin strayed from the other travelers a bit to allow his hair to get wet and opened his mouth to allow raindrops to fall inside. Fresh rain water always tasted good. Dante pulled on his hand and Valerin reluctantly followed him into the inn. It wasn’t fair. It had been so long since he had been well enough to properly appreciate a rainstorm and now that he was able to, Dante was forcing him inside. Dante was, after all, not fond of rain. He knew that Dante's current view of the weather tied into his heritage but Valerin wished that he could be a little more tolerent of his own desires. 

Valerin sighed again as he signed for a room then took Dante went downstairs to a small bar where they located a corner table and sat down to some drinks. Hopefully there would be another storm soon and he would lounge in it as much as he wanted to. Valerin took Dante's hand and comfortingly squeezed it and Dante looked at him.

"I don't want you to worry about the north. You're not going to make the trip alone," he said and Dante looked away.

"What if Wake is right? What if I have a terrible power inside of me?" Dante asked as he picked up his stein.

"Doesn't it matter at all how I feel about you?"

"It matters. Why do you think I'm so worried about my other side?"

Valerin watched Dante gulp his drink down and sighed. The candlelight that dimly illuminated their faces flickered slightly and Dante leaned forward. Valerin gazed deep into Dante's eyes and Dante flinched. Valerin smiled slightly as he picked up his mug.

"I need a refill," Dante said and stood up.

"Drinking like this isn't going to solve anything," Valerin said. "Besides, if you become drunk, then you won't be sleeping with me."

"That's not fair."

"But it's an effective way to get you to rationalize the situation."

Dante sighed as he sat back down in his chair. He placed his head in his hands and sighed again. The candle in the holder between them died out and Valerin stood up. He walked over to where Dante sat and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, let's go to our room. It's getting late. Besides, you need your sleep. Once we get some current news of the state of the surrounding lands, we'll continue on home," Valerin said softly and Dante slowly stood up.

"Aren't you the least bit worried about what we might come across?"

"I am, but I have no control over what we may encounter. All I can do is take things as I come across them. Now cheer up. You're not going up there alone you know."

He kissed Dante and ran his fingers through Dante's hair. Dante pulled away but Valerin placed a hand on Dante's neck and pushed him forward. Dante winced slightly as Valerin placed his mouth over Dante's again. Dante relented and placed his arms around Valerin's waist. There was no use trying to fight it any more.

"Forgive me, my lord but I was wondering at what time were you planning to leave. Actually, Wake was wondering that. I just told him that I would relay the message to you," Senra said and bowed low. Valerin drew away from Dante and stood still for a moment, listening to the storm outside.

"It all depends on how long the storm lasts. By the sound of it, it doesn't appear to be letting up any time soon. Why don't we plan for ten? That's still early enough to make good time before the atmosphere gets too warm," Valerin said and Senra nodded his head.

"Very good, my lord. Again, I apologize for interrupting you."

"It's all right, Senra. Besides, we need to retire for the night. Come on, Dante."

"Sleep well, my lord. I hope you have a pleasant night."

"There's something strange about the other one," the bartender commented, once Valerin and Dante had left and Senra looked at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he walked over to the bar.

"I don't exactly know how to explain it but I was watching them talk and it seemed that there was this unsteady aura around him. It felt as if the skies and the earth were being pulled apart by something. I'd stay away from him if I were you."

"Do you have any idea who that was?"

"I know who it was and I've never liked the relationship. Demons should have nothing to do with elves. It's because of that sort of relationship that we're having the problem we have now."

"I cannot believe that. I cannot believe that my lord is the cause of all this. Besides, the destruction became worse after Dante disappeared into the other world."

"Look, I'm just telling you what I see. There's something odd about him and you should be wary about it," the bartender said then went back to drying glasses.

Senra sighed as he walked up the stairs to the lobby. The storm continued on outside and Senra walked over to a window. He placed a hand on the pane and gazed out at the damp street. The sky flashed brightly with lightning and Senra turned away. Was it possible that the storm was a warning of imminent danger from the gods?

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"Dante wait," Valerin gasped as Dante raised his leg. He felt Dante's nails dig into his skin then closed his eyes as he realized what had happened. Dante had slipped back to his demon form. He winced in pain as Dante dragged his claws across Valerin’s leg. Was he still in full control of his senses?

"Dante, you still know what you're doing, right?" Valerin inquired.

"I should know what I'm doing. I've been doing it for quite awhile now," Dante replied as he pressed his body closer to Valerin's.

"No. That's...not what I mean. Dante...can you tell me what happened...when you fell?"

Dante grunted and Valerin felt a sharp pain run up his spine. He cried out as he felt a warm liquid run down his backside. He signed in satisfaction then frowned when the signals of pain shot through his nervous system again. Why was he still hurting? He felt liquid dripping down his calf and ran a hand over it. Hadn't Dante already released his cream? Valerin wondered as his senses reeled in pain for a third time. The liquid on his leg...It didn't feel like the love juice that he was so fond of. He brought a hand to his face and stared at it. It was stained with crimson. Blood. He cried out in pain when he felt claws tear through his flesh. What was going on?

"Dante why...?" Valerin gasped as he felt his body slowly grow numb. This couldn't possibly be real....

Valerin sat up in shock and placed a hand over his heart. It was still beating. He threw back the blankets and felt the sheet. It was dry. He then ran a hand over his leg and stared at it. There was nothing there. Had he been dreaming? But it had seemed so real...

"What's the matter?" Dante asked and Valerin stared at him. Was it really him? He seemed normal enough...

"Valerin, what happened?" Dante repeated then leaned forward to take his hand. Valerin drew swiftly away and Dante grabbed his other hand.

"Let go of me!" Valerin demanded and Dante drew him close. Dante placed his other arm on Valerin's leg then kissed him. He gently forced Valerin to recline then drew away.

"Now tell me," Dante said as he sat on Valerin's chest. "What was all that about?"

Valerin shook his head and Dante looked confused. Why would Valerin refuse to tell him something? He stoked Valerin's neck and Valerin glanced away. He couldn't tell Dante about his dream. It was entirely too terrible to relate. Also, Dante was already ashamed of his mixed blood. If Valerin told him that in his dream, Dante was trying to kill him...

"I don't want to hurt you," Valerin said and Dante looked at him seriously.

"By not telling me, you already are hurting me," he replied. "What am I supposed to think when all of a sudden you're acting like you've seen a ghost? Now you saw something that deeply disturbed you. What was it?"

"Please don't get upset by it."

"I don't even know what it is."

"I was dreaming about you making love to me. You changed to your demon form and continued to excite my senses. I felt you let go inside of me and I was in pain. I felt liquid dripping down my leg and I was wondering how you missed so I put my hand on my leg and drew it away..."

"What happened? What was it?"

"Blood. I don't know why but you were..."

Valerin paused as he quickly blinked his eyes. Dante ran a hand over Valerin's right ear and Valerin sighed. He did not want to tell Dante the next part.

"What was I doing?" Dante asked and Valerin's eyes filled with tears.

"You were attacking me!" Valerin cried and Dante stared at him.

"Why would I do something like that?"

"I don't know but you were literally tearing me apart."

"It was only a dream after all," Dante said then leaned forward and kissed Valerin. Valerin opened his mouth and allowed Dante to explore its depths with his tongue. Valerin closed his eyes and sighed as he placed his arms around Dante's neck. He should have known that Dante would never do anything to harm him but the dream had seemed so real that he had to make sure.

"Do you want to do it?" Dante whispered, once their lips had parted.

"I don't think I'm up to it. Can you just hold me for awhile?" Valerin asked and Dante nodded his head.

"All right. You've had a bad shock so you deserve it."

"Thank you. I hope that dream wasn't a premonition of things to come. You do, after all, have a great power inside you." 

“Shh. Thinking like that isn’t going to help you go back to sleep.”

“I’m sorry, Dante.”

“Just take a deep breath and close your eyes. Everything will be fine.”

Valerin lowered his head and Dante watched him, pain clearly showing in his deep orange eyes. Even the one he cared about was afraid of his other side. He had thought that Valerin was different. He had thought that Valerin was tolerant of his demonic nature but now, in the disturbing light of Valerin’s nightmare, Dante was not so sure. Perhaps he should complete his journey on his own. Perhaps he should free Valerin from the suffering his presence brought. He watched Valerin’s body relax then removed his arms from Valerin’s waist. He yawned widely then stared at his hands. He would make his decision in the morning. Valerin did not need to be tormented any more that night.