The Demon's Curse

The light was fading just as Valerin awoke from a most awful dream. He had dreamt that he was being kissed by a woman. He slowly got to his knees and glanced beside him.  His eyes grew wide when he saw Dante lying still beside him and put a hand over his heart. He couldn't be dead. Valerin refused to live out his life without Dante. He placed a hand on Dante's forehead and sighed. His skin still had some warmth to it. That was a good sign. He glanced around the remains of the castle courtyard and stared momentarily at the corpse of the demon lying not more than twenty feet from them. He was still unclear as to what happened. He could have sworn that he had felt the sensation of death while Dante was battling and he wasn't quite certain how Dante had landed the final blow on Evorith.

Valerin stretched his legs slightly then glanced beside him when he heard the sound of an object falling over. He leaned forward to pick it up and stared at it. It was a container of some sort. He slowly unscrewed the lid and took a quick whiff of the contents. It smelled like medicine but where had it come from? He shrugged his shoulders as he gently placed Dante's head on his lap. He would take the medicine as good fortune and hoped that it would help Dante swiftly recover. He gently forced Dante's mouth open and poured a small amount of the medicine in. Dante involuntarily swallowed and Valerin stroked Dante's hair. He hoped the medicine would take effect soon as he gazed up at the sky. The clouds had disappeared and the sky was littered with bright stars. Valerin sighed as he gazed upon the shimmering tapestry above him. The stars looked brighter than ever, Valerin noted and wondered if Myst had ever been reunited with her father.

Dante began coughing and Valerin glanced at him. He gently ran a hand over Dante's forehead and sighed. Dante moved slightly and Valerin moved his hand.

"How are you doing?" Valerin inquired and Dante gazed up at him.

"I'm awake but what happened? I thought Evorith killed you," Dante said and Valerin handed him the container of medicine.

"I don't really remember you killing the demon. I must have passed out somehow but I don't look dead, do I? Drink this. I don't know where it came from but it's medicine."

Dante took the container and winced as he sat up. He felt Valerin gently assisting him and glanced at Valerin. Why did it feel like something else had transpired and he wasn't aware of it?

"Do you remember anything that happened?" Dante inquired and Valerin looked at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I don't know," Dante said as he took a sip of the medicine. "This is the same stuff Phaesur gave me in Molten Cavern. Where did it come from?"

"I found it when I awoke. I had the most awful dream, though. I dreamt that I was kissed by a woman. I have no idea why and it terrified me," Valerin said and Dante sighed.

"I could have sworn that I saw you killed. I feel like there's some information missing and I don't know why."

"It doesn't matter why. The important thing is that you've saved this world from destruction. Also, the entire world can see that they were wrong in the assumption that I am the goddess. The demon is gone and my body hasn't changed at all. I knew there was absolutely no truth to that legend."

"You certainly seem pretty flat up there," Dante commented as he took another sip of the medicine.

"Do you want proof?" Valerin inquired as he stood up.

"Not here. There's too much death here. Besides, I'm sure the scavangers of the wild will be coming here soon. Death carries far over the wind."

"I hope Asynia is starting to get back to normal. I'm looking forward to going home."

"I hope our horses are still out there otherwise we have a long way to travel on foot," Dante said as he rubbed his shoulder. "It's extremely painful but at least it's not broken."

"Drink some more. It's been steadily healing your wounds," Valerin said as he inspected his torn robe. "I wonder how these rips came about."

"I have no idea. Come on, let's get out of here."

"Are you well enough to travel?"

"I will be after I finish this." 

Dante sighed as he stood up. He wondered what really happened after the battle as he gazed up at the sky. He glanced down when he felt Valerin's hands on his waist and smiled. He finished the healing drink then placed his hands over Valerin's.

"Let's go home," Dante said and Valerin kissed his neck.

"I was waiting for you to say that," Valerin sait then drew away from Dante. "I'm glad I came with you."

"I'm glad you insisted to come. Having you along will make the trip back bearable. Now come on, I want to get out of this place."

****************************************************

Valerin gazed out at the ocean from his balcony and sighed. He was finally home again. A new season had started during the time he and Dante had traveled up to Seosur but he didn't mind. Even though the forests had become littered with red, tan and orange leaved, Asynia went through few changes in autumn. The innkeepers changed their menus to keep in time with the season and the fishermen went after different game. Things would be tight for awhile as nature tried to replenish the stock of fish and other wild game destroyed by the demons but his home would definitly regain its glory in due time.

They had arrived late the previous night on a large white stallion. Where the horse had come from and where their mounts had gone was something that Valerin would never know. Valerin turned and sighed when he heard a gentle tapping at the bedroom door. He already knew who it was. Valerin glanced at the bed where Dante still lay sleeping and smiled. He looked so content...

"Good morning, my lord," Senra said once Valerin had opened the door. Valerin smiled and Senra looked questioningly at him.

"I had a feeling it was you," Valerin said as he allowed Senra to enter the room.

"Does the room look all right? I tried to have it decorated according to your tastes. Once I finished helping Father, I came back here and helped remodel your room. I knew that you would be tired when you came home. How was the bed? Was the mattress at the correct hardness?"

"Is that Senra?" Dante groaned and Valerin smiled.

"Why yes it is. How did you know?" Valerin inquired as Dante reluctantly sat up and yawned.

"I don't know. It was a lucky guess."

"You've become much more muscular since the last time I saw you," Senra commented then turned his attention back to Valerin. "Did you find everything all right last night? I'm afraid I was sound asleep and didn't realize you had come until one of the guards informed me of your arrival early this morning."

"Well last night we were only concerned with sleeping and I think we accomplished that just fine," Valerin replied. "I also located my clothing quite easily so I think you did a fine job on this room. I chose not to wear a shirt because I've missed the spray of the sea on my chest."

"I'm sure you two are quite hungry. Would you like anything particular to eat this morning?"

"I'd really like some freshly cooked fish. I haven't had any in quite awhile. What do you want, Dante?"

"I want to go back to sleep," Dante said and Valerin grinned.

"Aside from that. Do you want some fish as well?" Valerin inquired.

"I'm not a big fish eater. You know that."

"That's right. You're more of a red meat person because of your background. How about steak?"

"That sounds good. Do you think the cooks can spare an egg to go along with it?"

"I think they can allow you to have one. Hurry up and get dressed then meet me in the dining room, Dante."

Dante watched Valerin walkout of the bedroom and yawned. He wished that he could sleep a little longer but he knew that he couldn't. He stood up and stretched his arms then ran his hands over his waist. He then placed a hand on his rump and stroked it for a moment then sighed. He supposed he should get dressed. Steak sounded really good. He hoped that Senra remembered that he liked his meat extremely rare. He was part demon after all. At least he was home, Dante reminded himself as he glanced at his reflection. He was back where he belonged and he was with the one he loved. The threat to Valerin and his people was gone and he was glad that he was living in his own world and not the one that he had been transported to. Dante picked up Valerin's brush and ran it through his hair a few times then walked out of the room.

"Good morning, Dante. You look much better," Celcian said and Dante smiled.

"I got a lot of exercise on the journey. How have things been here?" Dante inquired as he pushed back his hair.

"Busy. The elves that survived have been putting their lives back together. It's been hard but we've all managed to pull through."

"These stairs are cold," Dante commented and Celcian giggled.

"Perhaps you should have put shoes on," she said.

"Yeah, I guess that would make sense. I didn't want to get up this morning but Senra had other ideas."

"He's glad that you're both back. He was beginning to get unbearable."

"You mean more than normal?"

She smiled again as she followed him down the hall that led to the dining room. Dante laid a hand on the dining room door then drew away when the door opened.

"Lord Valerin has been waiting for you," Senra said and Dante folded his arms.

"I can make him wait. I don't have to treat him like a superior," Dante said as he sat at the table across from Valerin.

"So you decided to go topless as well," Valerin commented then glanced at Celcian. "How have you been doing, Celcian?"

"I've been quite well, my lord," Celcian replied and bowed slightly. "I am quite anxious to hear how your journey went."

"Allow me to eat something then Senra will get the records keeper so that the entire tale is written down. It will make for a good story to tell on the open sea. Tell me, Senra, what happened to Rem? Did she leave with Seiya?"

"She left shortly after you departed. My uncle has been quite worried about her but I think she's fine. Seiya would not needlessly endanger her," Senra said as the cook appeared and set a plate of fish in front of Valerin. Valerin gazed at the fish in appreciation then glanced at Dante who had cut a piece of meat and was now inspecting it. Valerin watched blood drip down onto the plate then glanced away.

"I don't know how you can eat it like that," Valerin said as he slowly cut off a piece of fish and placed it in his mouth.

"It ties into my heritage. I can't help it," Dante replied. "It's also one of the reasons why so many elves believe demons are evil."

"Well they are," Celcian said then lowered her head. "Mostly they are. I hope I didn't offend you, Dante."

"I'm all right. This is where I'm staying so I guess I've got to accept certain comments," Dante said and sighed. "I just wish I knew why I feel like there's something missing. I think something else happened with Evorith but for the life of me, I can't remember it."

"Don't concern yourself too much with it. The important things have been done. We have each other and isn't that all that matters?" Valerin inquired and Dante nodded his head.

"You're right. I guess I'm no match for that elven logic of yours."

"We'd better finish eating. When people find out we're back, there'll be no stopping the questions."

"Guess we'll never get any peace until we tell our story, right?"

"Right so hurry up and eat, Dante. Then we'll talk about spending the evening on my beach."

"I like where this conversation is going." 

"Good, then finish eating."

"It's so nice to have you back, my lord," Senra said and Valerin grinned.

"It's good to be back."