Endure

by M. R. Merrick

  “Maybe you should be more concerned with what lies at the other end of my patience.” My voice was calm and even, my eyes focused.

  “Your power does not impress me, hunter.” Dante showed confidence but the women behind him appeared conflicted. The circle of fire grew higher, snapping at their shoulders. Caterina and Alessia moved together, inching closer to Dante and pushing him forward toward the flames. He balanced himself and a low grumble vibrated in his throat—a warning. The girls corrected themselves and focused their efforts back toward us.

  Alessia had seemed so strong when I first met her. She had saved us from Arian and moved with a powerful grace. Her magic had infiltrated the minds of dozens of turned vampires all at once and confidence dripped from her aura. She had stood with a poised arrogance in front of me and I feared her power. In Dante’s presence she remained silent, doing only what she was directed. When she opened her mouth to speak, his eyes alone silenced her.

  Out of nowhere, Dante’s power slammed against my mind, forcing my body to jerk backward. The force felt physical, digging through my skull, but I had come prepared. My shields were up, surrounding my mind like an invisible wall solidified with brick and mortar. I was too strong for him now.

  His power amplified, making a second attempt to break me, but again, it failed to dent the defense I’d mounted. Frustration gleamed in his eyes and his low growl returned. Dante reached back and gripped both the women’s arms and then in a blur, the trio jumped into the air. Shadows pulled themselves from the corners of the room and they vanished.

  The sounds of blades being drawn reverberated in the vastness of the room. Tiki pulled two short swords out of a sheath that crisscrossed over his back. I wasn’t sure why he used weapons when inside him lie a beast to be reckoned with, but now wasn’t the time to ask. Rayna’s whip uncoiled and made a tink as the silver claws hit the floor. A chill shivered down my spine as Vincent unleashed his demon. Darkness filled his eyes and leaked onto his skin. Black lines split and crackled over his face, disappearing down his neck like a thousand baby serpents coiled beneath his skin. Long claws slid from his fingertips and his pale skin vanished, replaced by a transparent counterpart. Surprise overshadowed my focus, however, when the holes where his fangs should’ve come down remained empty. I was certain they would’ve grown back as he healed—they didn’t.

  Dante’s laughter came from all directions before settling above us. The golden eyes of Vincent’s father sparkled from the second floor and with them, were dozens of eyes of all colors, glowing in the shadows behind him. The skin on his hands was perfectly clear, showing all the working muscles inside it as he gripped the railing. And as though he’d snuck through my shields and plucked the thought from my mind, he spoke.

  “And his demon comes out, but alas, he has no fangs. What kind of vampire doesn’t have fangs?” He smirked.

  “What did you do to him?” I asked.

  “It’s a matter of precision really. You start by tearing both the teeth out, ensuring you get the root. Then, before the bleeding stops, you inject a substance into their gums in a very specific manner. With the right mixture of silver nitrate to liquid cement, there is very little you cannot do to a vampire. You see, a vampire that betrays his own kind deserves to be marked as such—an outcast of the Sovereign.”

  “That’s horrible!” Rayna shouted.

  Dante shrugged. “There is a small chance they’ll return, in time, but if he is alive to see that day, he’ll be chained within the confinements of the Sovereign where the procedure can be completed again and again.

  “There is no moment too soon for me to tear out you throat, Father.” Vincent scowled. His voice was not his own, it was darker with a demonic vibration that made me shudder.

  Dante had a smile plastered on his face. They stared at one another for a long moment before he turned to me. “You know, Chase, when I was a boy, there were stories told about the Protector. Those stories faded away centuries ago, but I never lost hope that one day I’d get to meet—and destroy—the so-called chosen one. All that power inside a human? The gods should be cursed for such an act.”

  “Then what’s stopping you now?”

  Dante sighed. “This world is too fast for me. Once upon a time, everything in life was savored: the last breath of a child, the slowing heart of a well-pursued victim, and each moment leading up to the destruction of something beautiful was treasured. In this age, everyone wants to get it over with. They have no appreciation for the climactic build a death can manifest.”

  “If you’re so unhappy with what the world has become, come down here and I’ll help you with your problem.”

  “They said the Protector was built to destroy the demons no other could face. He would travel to worlds others feared. The Protector would be an unstoppable force in the Underworld—one with the souls of a thousand gods all in a single man, destined to protect what the gods could not. Is that what you are, Chase? Are you a man filled with gods?”

  My neck hurt from staring up at the man who exuded arrogance in waves. He’d spent lifetimes being the most powerful creature he’d ever known, but now he was about to face me.

  I broke into a run and channeled the air element around me. I had yet to test each of my powers but with the souls roaming around my soul, I had a taste of what I could do. There was no doubt, or fear inside me, only determination.

  I planted both feet on the ground and pushed hard off the concrete. Air magic swirled around my body in wisps of white, throwing me into the air. Dante stepped back, guiding Alessia and Caterina behind him. The magic faded as I passed the railing to the second floor and my feet hit the ground. Fire magic pulsed over my skin. Swirls of red spiraled over my arms like a cyclone of heat. Dante tried to mask his surprise, but I’d already seen it and he knew that. He had tried his mind games and came up short, now it was time he felt what I could do. I stepped forward and his eyes turned black.

  “I didn’t take you for a man to cower from his enemies,” I said, and although he had stopped moving backward, he didn’t respond. “Am I a man filled with gods? That’s the question you want an answer to, right?”

  I stepped forward again and Dante didn’t restrain his demon any longer. All of his skin became clear and as odd muscles in his face flexed, fangs dropped from his gums. The talons that shot from his fingertips put Vincent’s to shame in both size and ferocity, but even as his demon came out, he didn’t move forward.

  Our eyes were locked but neither of us moved. We were in a silent battle and Dante slammed his power against my mind over and over again. This time he started to make progress and I felt a crack form in the shields. His power seeped through, slowly reaching for the edges of my mind. I put more effort into resisting his attack and as I channeled more power, his efforts became wasted.

  “Interesting…” he said, his words slurred through the long fangs. He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. Alessia and Caterina stood behind him, darkness filling their eyes and strings of saliva clinging between their fangs.

  My shields suddenly felt weak and a shiver moved through my body. He’s going to kill him! A voice shouted in my head, and it sounded like a gun that went off next to me. I winced and covered my ear but it did nothing. Shut up! You don’t want to distract him. The next voice was as loud as a whistle, popping my eardrum and I keeled forward as though it could lessen the pain. I tried to stand up straight with the confidence I’d had, but more voices rang in my head, making it impossible not to cringe.

  “We don’t have to do this,” I said, feigning my self-assurance. “Just give me the scroll, let Vincent’s people go, and go back to your home. Nobody else has to die.”

  You never negotiate with your enemy! A dark and angry voice shouted at me. Just kill him.

  I couldn’t focus long enough to summon my magic. I wanted to cover my ears and scream at the voices to shut up, but I knew they wouldn’t listen. More and more souls shook my mind and all their words became mixed together, merging
into a single high-pitched squeal.

  Dante laughed. “Something tells me whatever is inside you isn’t completely yours.”

  The poise he’d lost had returned with vengeance and his power pressed against my mind. Fear that wasn’t my own began to fill me and Dante suddenly seemed like something from a nightmare.

  Intimidation grew inside me as his overbearing eyes moved closer, but as I stumbled back, cold metal pressed against me. The railing stopped me from having anywhere to go. All of the souls roamed around inside of me, bouncing against my body and mind, trying to fight for control. They wanted me to become their vessel and my efforts were spent trying to keep them back. Pain pierced my skull, which forced my shields to drop even further, and Dante’s power rushed into my mind.

  Images of my mother and Willy being slaughtered poured in and Dante grinned. Next came Rayna being torn to pieces by a gang of vampires. Her body laid torn open on the warehouse floor, showered in moonlight and bathed in blood. Then the images faded and Dante looked down on me. He appeared as a foul beast from the depths of an unknown hell. Fangs and claws jutted from skin that dripped black ooze. His eyes glowed with fire and his size magnified with each passing second, creating a monstrosity of a vampire to tower over me.

  All the anger and determination I had sucked back into my soul as his power infiltrated my mind, taking control and warping my thoughts. Dante’s laughter filled my ears and before I could prepare for it, his claws tore across my stomach.

  Liquid rolled over my skin and the wound stung as air slipped through the tears in my clothes. His hand grabbed my throat and the slimy coating from his clear skin ran down my neck. He lifted me with ease, his grip tight and his claws lingering along the sides of my face. The sharp-edged bone pressed into my cheek and a stinging sensation followed. He stared into my eyes and he seemed to be his normal size, but I couldn’t be certain. His power drove through my skull, causing painful shocks to explode through my brain. The fear he’d implanted amplified with every moment his hand touched me. Between fear-infused trembles, I realized I could no longer breathe.

  A scream and a distant roar shattered the moment. I couldn’t tell if it was Rayna or the voices in my head, but the air never returned to my lungs. Dante growled and hung me over the railing, his words a demonic rumble. “I cower to no man.”

  His grip vanished and air rushed past me. Dante’s laughter filled my mind, or was that the souls inside me laughing? When I hit the floor, a flash of bright light blinded me. The pain was sharp and I thought I might vomit, but I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat.

  I didn’t hesitate to bring the water forward. Waves crashed into me and enveloped my wounds, pulling them shut in an angry rapid of power. What should have taken minutes took seconds, but Dante was just as quick. Standing before me, his empty gaze swallowed me and I squirmed back across the floor. My magic was back and holding his power at bay. The overbearing fear and terror he had forced into my mind faded, but my confidence didn’t return. I still felt terrified of his presence.

  Alessia and Caterina stalked forward on either side of him, their fangs bared and archaic roars shaking their throats. Vincent’s own roar came to life. It was loud, ear curdling, and fierce, sending shivers of power along my skin. Vincent lunged over my body, and tackled his sister to the ground.

  Before I could get to my feet, Rayna’s whip cracked in an unsuccessful blow. Dante’s arm reached up and let the whip coil around his forearm. The silver claws embedded in his suit jacket but he stood unfazed. With a quick tug, Rayna was off her feet and flying toward him. Alessia stepped forward and caught Rayna by the throat. She roared as she threw Rayna back across the room.

  Caterina and Vincent rolled across the floor. With Caterina on top, Vincent used her momentum against her and kicked her over his head where Tiki waited for his moment. His sword cut down through the air, but in mid-flail Caterina kicked his arms away and landed on her feet. Her claws tore over his chest and blood splattered the ground. Tiki grunted but didn’t stop pressing forward. The vampire struck out with movements I couldn’t follow, cutting Tiki twice more and forcing him to drop his blades. With her next attack, Tiki grabbed both her wrists and pulled her arms apart, smashing his forehead into her face.

  Dante paid no attention to his surroundings. His eyes were all for me, but there was no time for him to attack. Vincent’s claws tore across his back, lighting Dante’s eyes up in a golden flare, and then he was gone in a blur. Vincent was ready, and as Dante appeared behind him, he swung back toward his father. His claws swiped left and then right, but he was no match for Dante’s speed or power. In a few hazy movements, Vincent’s blood sprayed across the floor and he lay limply on the other side of the room.

  I now stood face to face with the oldest vampires in the world lurking over me. Their eyes were full of rage and with each step they took toward me, my stomach twisted.

  Air magic burst from my body and the trio flew back into a wall. To my surprise, they fought against the white magic. Dante grinned and his fangs sparkled.

  “This is your best? This is the power that is to stop Ithreal and protect the gods from his wrath?”

  I flung the element against them again but no matter how much magic I channeled, it only seemed to slow them down. They leaned forward as though moving a wall and stalked closer, gaining an inch at a time. I pushed the magic like a corporal weapon and my words came out through gritted teeth. “I’m not here to protect the gods. I’m here to protect the dimensions and everything in them. The gods can fend for themselves.”

  Dante laughed. “Is that what they told you? That you’re some kind of hero?”

  I looked to my left and right, hoping for the reassurance of a friend, but they weren’t there. Each of them was held hostage by a different vampire and more flooded into the room from the stairwell. Demonic stares glowed from the shadows of the second floor and dozens more stood behind the railing.

  “You were not built to save anyone except those selfish bastards in the Otherworld. They sit on their marble thrones, watching us…always watching. Bound by their oath to never return and leave the worlds to suffer their own fate. They’ve invested their lives…their hopes, in you. It’s a disgusting act of faith; one that I will happily destroy.”

  I shook my head and stepped backward. “What would you know about it?”

  “Hmmm, I don’t know…perhaps because my parents birthed the Sovereign—direct descendants from the vampires of the true Underworlds.” Dante laughed. “It was reckless of you to come here, and since you’ve the intelligence of an insect, I’ll do the math for you. That makes me a second-generation vampire. After slaughtering my own parents for their archaic rule, I am the oldest and purest creature left to exist in this world. And that makes you an ant against me!” The last words were screamed with such rage and power my knees nearly buckled.

  Vincent rose from the ground, covered in blood and hardly standing. He couldn’t even acknowledge me. His chest rose and fell but he was motionless on his feet, using all his energy to stay partially hunched.

  “Let me guess,” Dante said. “Vincent didn’t tell you what you were really up against? Surprise, surprise.” He motioned to the other vampires. “Bring them to me.”

  The demons thrust my friends forward, shoving them to their knees. Tiki and Rayna tried to fight back, but these were born vampires and they were too strong. They dragged Vincent in front of Dante, holding him up while his head fell back to stare at his father.

  Dante stared at his son and then ignored him completely. “You ended their lives by coming here, hunter, and that’s a pity. This one is quite pretty.” Dante ran a finger along Rayna’s cheek and I lunged forward, but clawed hands pulled me back. Dante grinned and paced in front of us.

  Alessia and Caterina had remained quiet and any time they tried to speak, Dante’s hand silenced them. After Alessia’s second attempt, Dante cast a glare that could shatter stone. “Silence!” His voice was monstrous. “You with y
our pity, you’re as weak as one of those animals we call food. Offering this terrible excuse for a vampire a plea? Offering him immunity? Your fate will be thrown before the Sovereign itself.”

  “Yes, Dante,” she whispered, lowering her gaze.

  Dante’s shoes tapped along the floor until he came to stand in front of me, the smell of death spilling from his mouth. “Not exactly the ending you’d envisioned, was it? You thought you’d fight to the very end and come back with a miraculous win against your father, saving the worlds.” Dante laughed. “He was trying to become a god, Chase; and you, the chosen one, have failed at every turn to stop him. Yet here I am, holding the Protector, his summoner, and their band of misfits captive and about to end it all. All that power inside you should be mine. I’m about to save the world and all I get is the pleasure of killing the one stupid enough to oppose me.”

  I looked up at the second floor and courage began to seep back into my body. The fear that had swelled in my stomach evaporated and a smile tugged at my lips. Dante tensed with anger and his hand hammered against my face. Black dots swarmed my vision, but I shook them away, not letting the pain diffuse my grin.

  “You’ve lost, boy! What the hell are you smiling about?” He pushed his nose against mine and the scent of copper filled my nostrils.

  I didn’t pull away or let his attempt at intimidation faze me. I looked into his eyes, let him feel my magic rising, and whispered. “I’m not as stupid as you think.”

  A quiet rumble began in Dante’s throat, but it was hushed as a body hit the ground beside us. Pale skin cracked, bright red and orange embers breaking out across its body before it exploded in an eruption of ash. A roar came from above as vampires were torn from the railing. Panthers, tigers, lions, and all of Chief’s pride tore into the vampires on the second level. All the doors on the main floor burst open, and werewolves flooded the room in an angry pack.