Canto 14 The City Of Dis

They reached the foot of the Gates that reached high above the skies. The reinforced thick gray walls were an impenetrable force that extended around the summit of the City of Dis. The group looked at the great fortress seeing no way to get inside.

Keisha’s face paled at the monstrous gate. Seeing her frightened friend freeze, Celra comforted her with a gentle pat on the back.

“So, has anyone been here? Like, how are we supposed to get inside?”

Keisha looked between the two, but her gaze lingered on Verona the longest for an answer.

Verona looked away from the corner of her eye. “Uh, once to visit a…friend.”

Keisha tilted her head with narrowed eyes. She couldn’t be sure what it was, but Verona acted strange.

“So is anyone going to let us pass, you think?” Celra questioned. “Because if Pluto is an advisor, that must mean he whispers in the Monarch’s ears. If he’s working for the Black Hand, he’ll lie about us and turn us into his leader.”

Verona shook her head. “That won’t happen, I can assure you of it.”

“How do you know?” Before Keisha could get her answer, three humanoid-winged figures came down the wall. They had fur patches, each one with different colors on their body.

“tch, furies, of course.” Verona shook her head, rolling her eyes.

“The Gates of Dis are closed,” One fury with short brunette hair said.

“—and they are not open to anyone,” Another fury with curly black hair said after.

Verona stepped forward. “Elra won’t be pleased you aren’t allowing me access.”

The three furies chuckled in melody. Then, it was the copper blonde pixie-haired fury that spoke, “Oh, we know all about you, Verona, Daughter of Virgil. It was made clear. You especially weren’t allowed inside.”

Keisha wondered who ‘Elra’ was and what bad thing had Verona done that stopped her from entering the city.

Verona hunched her shoulder. “I have important information that can save her and this kingdom. I’m sure she wouldn’t want to risk all the lives of her people over a few misgivings with me?”

“What did she do?” Celra hissed in Keisha’s ear. Keisha shrugged, watching the back of Verona’s head. She was brewing with confidence as she spoke to the furies. The furies looked at them, then turned away to speak among each other.

“Verona, what’s going on?” Keisha tapped on her shoulder. Verona slapped her hand away when the furies turned back to face them.

“Fine,” the brunette fury said. “You may enter.”

“But the Demi and Earthborne stay here.”

“No.” Verona held up her hand, standing in front of Keisha. “They both go or no deal. This Earthborne is an important part of the information anyway.”

There was silence, at first, and the furies flew in the air; a powerful gust of dirt wind was left in their wake. It wasn’t until afterward the earth rumbled.

The wall revealed a secret entrance.

“And that’s how we get in, come on, you two,” Verona said, leading the way. Both Keisha and Celra gave one another nervous looks, then followed Verona into the dark cavern.

***

THE THREE WALKED THE long and dark stone hallway. Torches hung on the walls guiding their way and cast looming shadows. There were twists and turns, but Verona knew exactly where to go despite the maze.

“How do you know where to go?” Keisha asked. She and Celra walked behind as Verona led the way.

Verona was silent for a moment before replying, “I’ve had to come here before. You know, as a Legacy, we get requests to deal with all matters of things. There was a Shade that had gone berserk, and I dealt with it.”

Keisha furrowed her brows. She turned to look at Celra, whose nose was pinched with uncertainty.

“And that’s how you know who this Elra person is?” Celra questioned. “She seems pretty important that you know her personally.”

Verona turned her head back some and narrowed her eyes at Celra. “Why does it sound like you’re putting me on trial?”

Smirking, Celra shrugged. “Just finding it curious, that’s all. We need to know what we’re walking into.”

“I wouldn’t put Keisha’s life in danger,” Verona grumbled. “You know that, right?” the question was directed at Keisha.

Keisha jumped. She looked at Verona’s half gaze. She was sure that was true, Verona wouldn’t risk her life, but lying was another thing.

Hesitantly, Keisha nodded.

There were lights at the other end of the tunnel that glowed from the other side. The City of Dis came into view once they exited through the doorway. The scaling buildings of towns and cities glistened red like scorching fire, and the road was paved with onyx. A mellow and rich smell filled the air.

They walked along the streets of Dis. The townsfolk were not scattered about, but walked in single-filed lines. They talked and bartered with inside voices, unlike many other cities and towns.

“This…feels different than what we had witnessed when Menoos controlled those people,” Keisha said, surveying the town. The eyes of the townsfolk did not look like they were under anyone’s control.

“There’s so much order. They all follow a strict code or something.” Celra nodded in agreement.

“Dis is one parliament that follows strict law and order,” Verona replied to them both.

They continued to pass the aligned houses and shops through the city streets to a garden path that led to the crimson, golden palace of Dis.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

They passed the burning roses of the Discourse garden that were home to Nightflyers that kept them lit. The palace gates dropped, and a Fury came from the sky to escort them. The inside palace was made of red marble and black tiles, with white mosaic walls that shined. They walked the red carpet steps passing columns that led them up a set of stairs; the Monarch’s throne room ahead behind two giant-sized doors.

The knights that guarded the doors revealed at the end of the throne room’s hall was the Monarch sitting on her stone throne. Her long and curly brown hair draped over her tawny brown shoulders. Her red silk dress like fire, regal and beautiful, and equally as powerful.

She cast her fiery gaze at the three travelers that approached. They stopped once she raised her hand. She shooed away the fury and the doors closed.

“Verona Maro.” There was no smile on her face, yet, her tone was not threatening, leaving Keisha and Celra confused by their relationship. “I could have sworn I told you not to show up again.”

“Forgive me, Elra,”

She stiffened at the name and corrected Verona in a stern tone, “Have you forgotten yourself? That is Monarch Elravera”.

Keisha and Celra’s eyes grew wide as this was the ‘Elra’ Verona had referred to.

Verona flinched, then bowed. “We’ve come on Legacy business—the Black Hand has kidnapped her mother, and we are after them.”

Verona’s finger pointed to Keisha, and the Monarch’s fiery gaze found its way to her.

Keisha bowed and Celra did the same.

“Who are you, Earthborne? And do not lie to me, your eyes say one thing, but your power level rages.”

Keisha licked her lips. Her heart pounded. She stared at the carpet floor as she responded, “I am Keisha, a Legacy, and the Daughter of Dante Alighieri.”

Silence suspended across the room.

A shiver ran down Keisha’s spine. Then Monarch Elravera stood from her throne and, with a wave of her hand, fire emitted from her fingertips, trapping the three in a fire prison. Celra and Keisha stared at the prison that bound them.

Verona jumped to her feet, gritting her teeth. “What are you doing? We aren’t—”

“You dare bring an Earthborne into our realm, let alone the Daughter of a Traitor? You as well as anyone know the penalties for such Verona.”

“Let me explain. Despite Keisha being half Legacy, she has done good in the Illicit and has saved Natura Borne not once, but twice—ask Monarch Angelus and Monarch Palino.”

The Monarch cast her gaze on Verona and back to Keisha. The prison of fire disappeared with a swift hand, but they were replaced by fire cuffs that did not burn.

“Guards take the Earthborne and She-Wolf to the chambers while I speak with Verona privately.”

Monarch Elravera’s guards took the two by the arms. They dragged them away.

***

KEISHA PACED IN THE guest chamber that the guards had locked them in. The chamber was massive that stretched into three rooms. Each section had peach blossom walls and decorative baby-blue silk curtains. The room smelled like fresh fruit. The furniture in the room looked expensive, with different pillows of varying shapes and sizes. The king-size canopy bed looked big enough to be a swimming pool with its pink satin sheets and giant pillows.

Celra stood by the giant ivory bookshelf as she watched Keisha dart from one side of the room to the other. A thick, leather-red book was in her hands as she distracted herself to pass the time, but she was worried about Keisha.

“I’m sure it’ll be okay, Keisha. You know Verona can handle herself. She won’t let anything happen to us.”

Keisha stopped pacing. She sighed. “I know, but that’s not what’s bothering me, I don’t think.”

Celra raised her brow. “What do you mean?”

“Did you notice something off with them? Like the way they greeted one another?” She tapped her fingers together, looking sheepish as her face turned red.

Celra craned her neck to look at the off-white ceiling and tapped her chin. “I mean, they seemed close…there also was that thing when Verona wanted to get here as soon as possible. Why do you ask?” she looked at Keisha this time.

The doors creaked to signal someone’s arrival. Keisha turned to see Verona step through the doors. Both she and Celra came forward to see a sullen expression on her face.

“W-what happened?” Keisha nervously asked.

Verona sighed. “I told Elra everything, what we were doing, and our journey so far…How I gave you a temporary brand.” The room grew silent. “We’re marked for treason, but because I told her the threat of the Black Hand might be amid her court, she’s willing to make a compromise.”

“And what is that?” Celra urged her to continue.

Verona looked Keisha in the eye sadly. “You… You have to let the Monarch give you a Slavey Brand if you wish not to be made a traitor of the Inferno.”

Celra’s ears bent, and she growled at the name.

Keisha frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that….”

Verona’s pressed her lips together and taking a thick gulp of air before speaking, “The Slavey Brand is a special mark that a Monarch gives to people of their choosing, to track them, control them, or end their life if they end up going dark.”

Keisha’s heart dropped, finally understanding the severity of the situation. “What? That doesn’t sound like the Seal Legacies get. That would mean I would be—”

“—Yes.” Verona’s voice was quiet not wanting to say it. “It’s either take the chance or be imprisoned. I’m sorry Keisha, I don’t want this either, but… it was the only way.”

Tears sprang to Keisha’s eyes at the decision before her. “Tell me there’s another way Verona? She despises me that much she’d imprison me?”

Verona clenched her eyes tightly. She shook her head. “I tried to get her to see reason, but, she forced my hand and threatened you.”

Keisha’s heart pounded in her chest. She gripped onto her shirt hoping that the aching pain would stop.

Keisha backed up. The color drained from her face.

“Keisha?” Celra’s soft voice called out to her.

Verona’s eyes were wet with tears. “I-I’m sorry Keisha.”

I’m at the mercy of the Monarch, but if I’m imprisoned, I’ll never find my mamma. The decision that fell onto Keisha’s shoulders weighed on her considerably and her heart felt heavy.

The thought of being forced and branded, left a sour taste on her tongue. It was the very reason she didn’t want to entrap Demi’s the same way. This was wrong. So, so, wrong.

Was this really the only way?

***

KEISHA ENTERED THE THRONE room once again. Verona and Celra trailed behind her as witnesses. If they intervened, grave consequences would fall upon them.

There was a sudden wave of intense emotion seeing Monarch Elravera standing on the dais by her throne just as beautiful and powerful—a combination of overpowering anxiety, anger, and confusion. She didn’t know where the range of emotions came from, but the thought of her and Verona made her stomach sick. In the Monarch’s hand, she held a golden quill that would place the Slavey Brand on the back of Keisha’s neck using a small dose of Maleficio.

Keisha stopped before the Monarch and waited for further instruction.

“You may turn around, and kneel, Alighieri.” The Monarch gestured to the floor.

Keisha hesitated for a moment, deciding to make a run for it now and face the consequences later. Monarch Elravera’s eyes, however, burned intensely into her as if threatening Keisha to run, so she would have a reason to arrest her.

Keisha turned her back to the Monarch. She faced her friends, who nodded in encouragement, their eyes filled with sadness, and she knelt to the carpet. It wasn’t long after Keisha felt someone’s warm hand graze the back of her neck to move her hair aside.

“You understand what this brand is?” she asked. Keisha stiffly nodded, she almost didn’t hear her. “And you understand that I have full control over you. You will be hunted if this seal breaks. Do you understand everything that I am saying?”

Keisha gulped. She’d be considered a traitor and hunted for the rest of her life or dead if the Monarch chose it. She knew the consequences and the power the Monarch would have over her, but she needed to save her mamma. She would do anything to save her.

“I understand.”

“I shall begin the incision. Do not move or touch it.”

Keisha gritted her teeth as the pointed steel quill pricked her skin. A burning itch traveled along the nape of her skin, where the Monarch used Maleficio to decorate her neck.

Keisha closed her eyes, gripping her knee. She tried her best not to move as the itching and burning intensified.

“It is done.”

Once the pressure lifted, Keisha gasped. She opened her eyes to see Verona and Celra rush to her. They helped her stand, and Keisha touched the back of her neck where the brand was etched into her skin. It was warm to touch but did not leave a scar, yet, Keisha could easily trace her finger around the star-shape on the nape of her neck.

Monarch Elravera sat on her throne once again. She handed the quill to an advisor in a black trench.

“You may continue your journey to Centaur’s Pass in Shen-la-Ra. I will let the Centaur’s know of your arrival. However, you will rest here so that I may monitor you for now.”

“Thank you, Monarch Elravara.” Keisha bowed. “You will not regret your decision.”

The Monarch gazed down at Keisha. “We shall see if Traitor runs in your blood.”

With that, the three left the throne room to rest for the night.