"You fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye"
― Margaret Atwood
"Oh... interesting!"
The coin landed in Dante's open palm. Wind swept through the group, a break in the sudden silence.
"So, can we go, or..."
Dante's mouth opened like a hinge, a wail of agony spilled into the sky with explosive force. Driven through the air, Ven extended his aura and caught his Master's broken form. They floated together, eyes locked on the devastated man.
A layer of fine, black runes flowed over Dante’s skin. The script burnt itself onto his flesh and marched on. Relentless ants that hurried down his throat and into his eyes. His hand gripped the coin like a vice, sealed around the disc. His body jerked and twitched, eyes locked on Ven.
"Wha... what... did... you..."
"Don't look at me," Ven backed away. "You wanted it, I would have left it to rot in my bag!"
Dante tried to pry his hand open, but it was locked. The runic script grew denser, his form lost to the words. The skeletal figure stumbled back, a roar beyond humanity shaken from its lips.
"What is that coin..." Blood dripped from Cain's mouth. "It's like a vortex of darkness, I can see it with my soul..."
"Indeed," The Dragon God drew back. "Where did you find such a thing?"
"Next to my birthplace..." Ven joined in the retreat. "I thought it was best kept safe, so I've never touched it."
"I AM FINALLY FREE!"
Dante's body swelled like a bloated sack, then pressed into a different form. A giant, formed of countless holes in space, loomed above them. The strange, impish appearance tickled at Ven's memories, a familiar construction.
"TRILLIONS OF YEARS," The giant bellowed, hands pressed to its head. "LOCKED UP IN A SILENT VOID!"
"Well, you're not silent now," Ven muttered, hands on his ears. "Think about the neighbors, will you?"
"HMMMM..." The giant leaned down, twisted face pressed almost to Ven's nose. "YOU SMELL FAMILIAR, ARE YOU SOME BRANCH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY?"
"NO, I'M..." Ven coughed. "I'm Ven, I found your coin and this guy tried to pick it up..."
"OH... WELL YOU SMELL LIKE A TITAN," The giant plunged a finger into its shadowed ear. "BUT I'M AFRAID... oh sorry, I'm afraid that this fellow is as good as dead!"
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"You're a titan?" Ven ignored Dante's fate. "Everyone's been calling me your child, but I've got no idea who you are!"
"Well... I'm me!" The Titan flexed. "Reborn with the strongest system and betrayed by the universe itself!"
"Reborn... with a system." Ven blinked at the giant figure. "Are you also from Earth?"
"Oh MAN," The Titan squatted down, hands on his knees. "I haven't thought about Earth in FOREVER... did the Mouse House ever release a Galaxy Wars?"
"The what..." Cain blinked his half-healed eyes."What are you talking about?"
"They did, but..." Ven gave a sympathetic shrug. "Nothing ever lives up to expectations, I'll always loved the books the most."
"Me too..." The Titan paused. "This guy's body won't last much longer, if you want a real chat, find me a stronger vessel..."
Cracks spread over the giant's frame, blood like acid on the ground. He turned to the skies, a smile on his face.
"It was nice to see the stars again..."
Dante's body turned to ash on the wind. A clink drew their gazes, the coin on fire-kissed stone. Ven walked forward, toe in the pile of dust.
"Can anyone see the gate?"
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"See you later, Your Highness," Lyra waved at the Queen. "I'll see you and the little ones tomorrow, and hopefully Speaker will show some results!"
"I think we should consult with Mara..." Speaker scuttled after the rogue wolf-kin. "And please, be more formal with the Queen..."
"But we're good friends," Lyra blinked. "Why would I need to be formal?"
"She is the center of us all..." Speaker's antenna curled. "At least stop petting her!"
"If she asks me to, I'll stop," Lyra nodded. "Now let's go into town, I'm starving!"
"But..."
"It's useless to argue," Fenrir yawned. "This is why I sleep most of the time, nothing but chaos..."
"I cannot sleep," Speaker tilted his head. "If I could, would Lyra's behavior make more sense?"
"No, but you’d miss a lot of nonsense," Fen chuckled.
"Ok, ok," Lyra rapped her own forehead. "Keep it down you two, I'm trying to order!"
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"I can't see it anywhere," The Dragon God frowned, hands covered in ash. "Are you sure he had it on him?"
"You all saw it too," Ven shrugged. "Maybe the coin vaporized it?"
"Impossible," Cain limped back and forth, swollen eyes locked on the ground. "The labyrinth gates are indestructible, not even the Titan's mental projection can harm them."
"Then, where is it?" Ven slumped to the ground. "We've been at it for hours..."
"I think we've been deceived," The Dragon God glanced around. "That coin may have destroyed Dante's body, but he's not such a simple thing..."
"Quite right!" Dante's voice bubbled from the air. "The body has died, but the... soul... remains!"
"How long would you have waited, if I hadn't guessed?" The goddess arched an eyebrow. "We've been desecrating your old body for some time..."
"Oh, I'd have just waited," Dante laughed. "One of them would have figured it out."
The gateway appeared, small at first, then grew to full size. The purple light around it vanished and Dante spoke once more.
"I honor my deals, travel through and ours is done," A snicker floated from invisible lips. "We'll meet again, brother of Earth. Keep that coin safe, I'll collect it when I've got the mind too!"
"Finally!" Cain stumbled toward the gate. "A few days rest, then it's back to drawing!"
Ven halted his steps, face twisted in a frown. He was not about to spend endless days with his crazed master.
"Let's make a deal, Cain," Ven waved his hand to retrieve the fallen coin. "You give me a month off, or I'll shove this coin so far up your..."
"Fine!" Cain snorted. "Now let's go, something powerful has been watching us, ever since Dante's possession."
Ven sensed nothing, but he trusted his Master's instinct. He lept through the portal, hot on the heels of the Dragon God. Cain limped through last, eyes locked on the horizon.
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The portal vanished. Without its light, the world faded to its natural state. Inky black, interrupted only by heat.
"That coin is dangerous, Wanderer," A heavy voice grated against the air. "Are you sure that you want it?"
"I traded it, so it's mine," Dante snarled. "keep your sulfur-stained hands off my stuff!"
"We'll see..." A hint of laughter filled the voice. "You're still just a man, Dante. That coin was meant for greater beings than mortals."
"Like you?" Dante snorted. "You're only the left hand of one of the many gods, what makes you think you could control it?"
A man, sculpted from the purest white marble, appeared over Dante's ashes. He wore a loose toga, darker than a raven's wings. It matched his eyes, but not his smile.
"Come on, old man," He waved a hand, the sunlight of his grin a balm for the weary. "Gather yourself up and I'll help piece you together."