142: Transcending through lives

Transcending through lives

A heads up for the future of this book, the next story (Volume 2) that follows after Dante and Anastasia is Princess Emily's story.  2

[Music Recommendation: Sugar Storm- Trent Reznor]

—

Anastasia and Dante departed from the place where the dead souls were being tortured, moving away from the anguish and screams until they faded into a distant background. As they approached one of the tall and expansive structures, she heard him say, 

"This is where I reside."

Dante's place in the underworld, Anastasia thought to herself, her brown eyes taking in the dark walls and the distinct architecture that differed significantly from the surroundings of Versailles. She asked him, 

"Alone?" 

Dante turned to look at Anastasia and replied with a smile, "Not anymore." He then said, "The archdemons possess their individual towers, bestowed upon them by Viktor. Allow me to show you the inside." They entered the tower that belonged solely to him, and he didn't let go of her hand even once. 

Anastasia couldn't help but look up at the ceiling, where the chandeliers hung high like stars against the expanse of the dark overhead. She murmured, "It looks beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here." This allowed them to learn more about each other. 

One of Dante's underling demons materialised in front of them, offering them a bow before informing, "Master Dante, the bath has been prepared and awaits your presence."

Anastasia turned slightly perplexed, and she met Dante's eyes. "Anastasia, my demon form is in need of a special bath to regain its lost strength. It shouldn't take long. As you have been touched by the smoke, Ozga will lead you to a bath that is more suitable for you. I assure you, you will enjoy it," he explained, perceiving the troubled expression on her face. Leaning forward, he planted a kiss on her forehead and added, "Don't be disappointed that it is separate."

Her cheeks filled with colour in response to his words before she followed the lowly demoness. 

Fifteen minutes later, in a bathing room adorned with dark walls and an array of flickering candles, the bath remained still, attended by servants waiting for the archdemon to emerge. Rather than water, the bath contained blood infused with elements capable of rejuvenating a demon. 

Dante emerged from beneath, breaking the surface, his form drenched and painted in blood as scarlet droplets cascaded back into the bath. The skeletal protrusions that extended from his back in his demon form began to elongate, angling sideways until their tips dipped into the viscous blood. 

"Is it to your liking, Master? The blood is fresh," a servant informed from the corner. 

Dante's fingertips grazed the liquid's surface before he regarded it with a content expression. He replied, "Impeccable. The skeletal structure on my back seems to have mended itself." When he turned to look over his shoulder, the bones slowly retracted before disappearing from his back, and his form shifted back into his earthling appearance. 

"Master, do you intend to leave for the realm of the living to complete the devastation and bring back Master Raylen and Master Magnus?" the servant inquired.

The blood droplets on Dante's head traced a path to his jawline, finally dropping into the bath as his gaze remained fixed on the wall adjacent to the room in which Anastasia was bathing. He responded, 

"There has been a change in the plan. I have other things that require my attention and effort." 

In the past, when Raylen left the underworld to reside in the living world, Viktor had not taken it well. Dante, who possessed the ability to sow destruction with his uncontrollable rage and hatred towards the world, had been dispatched for the purpose of annihilation, only to be ensnared by a curse cast by one of the earthlings. 

However, in light of the new information and developments that had taken place, his interest in decimating the place had waned. With the exception of some necessary adjustments, the previous mission didn't entice him anymore. 

The servant's already large eyes widened even further, and it inquired with a hint of surprise, "W—What about the Devil?" After all, that was the primary reason why his master had returned to the living realm in the first place. "As expected of you, Master Dante! Your courage knows no bounds!" 

Dante didn't pay heed to his servant and continued to soak himself in the blood, while his thoughts drifted back to the past. He relieved those memories until he cleansed his body and eventually exited the bath. 

Meanwhile, Anastasia was wiped clean with the assistance of the lowly demoness. Though she was not initially keen on the bath, she now felt significantly better, free from the clinging sensation of the smoke and haze. Right now, she stood before a closed door, taking a few seconds before she pushed it open. 

Considering they hadn't returned to Versailles and were in Dante's quarters, Anastasia could only imagine the possibilities of how they could spend their time. 

Upon entering the room, Anastasia caught sight of Dante draped in a black robe, with water droplets dripping from the ends of his hair. Their eyes quickly locked with one another, and she observed him finish the drink in his hand before he subtly licked his lips. 

"How was your bath? Hopefully everything was to your satisfaction."

"It was pleasant… How was yours?" Anastasia asked. She saw Dante languidly walk to where she stood, his movements confident. And as he drew closer, her eyes momentarily became captivated by the sight of his neck and the expanse of his chest, revealed by the V-shaped neckline of his robe. 

"I thought it was magnificent, but I believe I like the present time better," Dante hummed, his fingers gently reaching for the tips of her hair, as if inspecting its dryness. 

Anastasia felt her heart skip a beat, even though his touch wasn't direct. She heard him say, 

"Seems like there's something on your mind. What is it?"

As her eyes met his crimson ones, she recognised the familiar predatory gleam within them. She softly uttered, "It isn't anything important."

Dante leaned towards her, brushing his lips against her cheek before he said, "You should know by now that nothing is unimportant when it concerns you."

As Dante pulled his lips away from her, Anastasia's eyes met Dante's gaze once more, her attention involuntarily tracing his movements, and it brought a faint smile to his lips. This, in turn, prompted her to smile in return as she lowered her eyes before saying, 

"While I was in the bath, I couldn't help but ponder…About the memory of the past that we saw back there. Why is it that I have no recollection of it?" 

"Souls that remain innocent and untarnished do not retain the memory of the pain they went through in their past lives. Such memories are wiped clean upon their entry into Heaven, or, in rare cases, when they are reborn. Unlike demons who harbour grudges and resentment," Dante explained to her, his gaze fixed upon her as she looked up at him. 

"But I didn't go to Heaven, and you were turned into a demon…" Anastasia pointed out that his words didn't quite apply to their circumstances. 

"I think that, at some point in the past, demon blood found its way into my family line," Dante responded, piquing Anastasia's interest even higher. "It isn't uncommon, because some demons escape into the living world and engage with earthlings intimately." 

"That leaves quite a range of possibilities," Anastasia murmured to herself, and then felt Dante gently take both her hands in his. 

Dante looked serious as he gently squeezed her fingers. He confessed his thoughts to her, saying,

"You exist for me, just as I exist for you, through many lifetimes. You are here because I needed you. Still need you. It is perfectly alright if you don't remember your past lives, because what matters most is the present, and if you need to know, you always made my lonely and aimless days bearable. Both now and in the past."

Anastasia's heart warmed in response to his words, and she turned her hands around so that she was the one holding his. Looking straight at him, she said, 

"If it were in my power to fix it, I would have told you the moment I met you that it was me who had been waiting for you, to spare you years of solitude and heartache. My heart has longed only for you, and there has been no one else. And I hope I can make up for the years we lost, and I promise not to keep any secrets from you, not that I think I can."

Though Anastasia's memory remained elusive, she felt heartache and heartbreak. Taking a step forward, she rose onto her tiptoes. Dante wound his arm around her waist and pulled her close until her back gently arched. 

When Dante's fingers traced the mark he had imprinted on her neck, a shiver coursed through her. The sensation continued as his touch travelled to the valley of her chest, and he spoke, 

"Allow me to corrupt you, Anastasia. Let me steal your heart, soul, and body."

pqdm.com