Canto 9 Throw Wide The Gates

For saving Cas’s life, Monarch Angelus Augustus II invited them to dinner as thanks. The dining hall was a grand gold hall with a gold table in the middle of the large room. The walls held Dolent’s castle winged-sword insignia, and the room was filled with guards and decorative foreign colored plants. The guests sat in gold bar stools and different assortments of food, from fresh fruits to meat sat upon gold trays.

Keisha stared at a dish on the table that looked similar to a pig but had a torso shaped like a bird. She tilted her head to the side and squinted her nose, trying to figure out what the animal was until Monarch Angelus called her name.

“Lady Keisha, was it?”

Verona sat beside her, and Celra on the other side elbowed her in the gut.

“Huh? Oh, uh, sorry, your majesty…I mean, Monarch Angelus Augustus.”

The Monarch smiled. His dark hair fell into his silver eyes, nothing at all like his son. “Please, Monarch Angelus will do. We are all but allies, thanks to you. Tell me, my son— Castelbeitro; you have given him a…What did you say it was called?” The Monarch turned his head to his right, where Cas sat beside his papà.

“A nickname, pater, it’s a shorter version of a person’s full name. Keisha came up with it,” he said, beaming in her direction.

“Ah, yes…nickname. It is a peculiar thing. Where did you say that you were from? I do not recall a swearing-in of another Legacy. Who is your parent line again?”

From Keisha’s peripheral, she looked in Verona’s direction then back at the Monarch.

“Erm, forgive me, Monarch Augustus, I am a Legacy by blood because I am the Daughter of Dante Alighieri.”

Gasps and mumbled whispered filled the room as the words that Keisha could pick up were ‘traitor’ and ‘Shikari’ until Monarch Angelus raised his hand to silence the hall.

“I see…and what is the Daughter of Dante Alighieri doing in the Illicit?”

Verona surveyed the room, looking for an exit if they needed to escape and summon her Stanza. Celra’s ears bent backward as she too surveyed the room.

Keisha swallowed the lump, and the pounding in her head traveled to her ears. “I’m looking for my mamma, Beatrice Alighieri. She was taken through the Veil by the Black Hand. I’m going to get her back with Verona as my guide and Celra as my protector.”

The Monarch folded his hands together and leaned his elbows on the table, watching Keisha. Cas frowned, looking between the two.

“Pater, if I may, Keisha is a good person and wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a reason. The Black Hand have been a notorious group and have done shady things in the past. Even the Thirteen Monarchs have no whereabouts where they could be.”

Keisha’s heart sunk in her chest, and her shoulders sagged.

“You don’t know where the Black Hand is?” she asked out loud. Her thoughts of asking him were snuffed out.

“I am afraid not. The Black Hand have been elusive and always been several leagues ahead of us.”

Keisha bowed her head in defeat.

“If I may, Monarch Augustus,” Verona spoke. Keisha lifted her head. “That is why we need to pass through the Gates. We’re going to find Keisha’s mother and track the Black Hand at any cost if you permit us passage.”

Monarch Augustus rubbed his chin. “Yes, my son said that was all you wanted, and if it’s to subdue the Black Hand, I shall grant you three passage through the Gates.”

Keisha’s eyes beamed. “You mean it, sire? Sir?”

“Thank you, Pater,” Cas said to the Monarch.

“Of course, I will send word to the Monarch in the City of Dis, privately. We don’t want chaos to ensue with word of who you are searching for.”

The three girls nodded and thanked the Monarch for access through the Gates.

“And you may attend to the rooms to rest before you continue your journey.”

“Can I ask for something, Monarch Augustus?” Keisha asked. She itched her neck where Verona’s seal was placed.

Monarch Augustus’ sipped from his goblet before answering, “If it is in my power, by all means, ask away.”

Keisha looked at Verona—who narrowed her eyes and shrugged—then looked back at Monarch Angelus and turned to lift her hair and showed the mark to him.

“I know traveling without a seal is against the law, but for me to survive, we had to make a temporary one.” Keisha put down her hair and turned to face the Monarch with her head down. “I’m sorry. But do you think you could make a permeant one for me?”

She expected him to get angry or throw her in the dungeons. From the corner of her eye, she saw Verona’s hands grip the cup she was holding, and Celra’s ears stood on end.

Monarch Angelus folded his hands together and hummed. Keisha didn’t expect him to say next:

“I understand.”

All three girls looked at him with dropped jaws and eyes wide.

“I can overlook the situation in terms of one’s health. Had something happened to you then, my son would have been harmed and captured.”

Keisha’s heart fluttered, and she lifted in her seat, with a huge grin on her face.

“So you’ll do it?”

“I would but…,” The grin on Keisha’s face dropped. “Without the other twelve Monarchs, the power that is embedded into the brand will not work. I am sorry I couldn’t help.”

Keisha slumped in her seat. “No, I get it. Thank you, though.”

“At the very least, I can give you rooms to rest before you continue your journey.”

The three continued eating, and after a casual few hours of conversation, the dining area was cleared out as the group took refuge in their beds for the night.

***

CAS WALKED WITH THE three to the Gate. The wide gates opened, and the black shores of Acheron were in the distance.

“Forgive my Pater for not escorting you here,” Cas said. He had a cloak over his head to hide his features from the crowd. “He is usually busy in the mornings.”

“Your escort was enough; we appreciate it, Cas,” Verona said and headed for the Gates's open doors.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Cas? You know…no running away again?” Keisha asked. Cas never told her why his Pater was raising a Demi—she didn’t push the subject.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

His boyish grin returned to his pale features. “I think I will stay. I hope we will meet again, Keisha Alighieri.”

The two hugged one another. Cas pulled Keisha into his arms, she melted into him, and her cheeks burned as her arms encircled around his waist. They parted soon after, and the girls waved to him as the doors closed behind them.

Verona grunted. “You’re looking red in the face.”

Keisha jumped. Her bug-eyes looked everywhere but Verona. “Uh, what? It was hot, that’s all. I can’t wait to take this cloak off of me.”

“Mmhmm.” Verona hummed, pursing her lips and taking the lead.

Celra laughed beside her and hooked her arm through Keisha’s. “At least we had a Pardon from a Monarch. I thought we would have a problem if he knew who you were.”

“But not every Monarch will be kind as Monarch Augustus,” Verona told them.

“He seems nice, though,” Keisha said. The three walked down the sloped hill toward the shore, with the woods on either side of them. “He’s raising a Demi in secret, Cas wouldn’t tell me, but maybe he left to protect his papà?”

Celra grunted. “I could probably get whoever is harassing him.” Verona snapped her head around to glare at Celra. “I said I could have. I’m not going to do it.”

“What I want to know is how you scared off those two Demi’s?” Verona asked, her attention focused on Keisha. “You didn’t tell me much.”

Keisha told her she used her Stanza to transform and decided that she would not be a ‘typical Legacy’ and capture a Demi for her gain.

Verona was silent. Then, she shook her head and, looking away, mumbling, “You aren’t like most Legacies.”

Before Keisha could ask her what she meant, the whiff of seawater pulled Keisha’s attention. They were getting closer to the Acheron River.

A cloaked man with stringy white hair and a long beard touched the boat's floor. He beckoned them forward with his long gray finger.

Keisha stared at the hawk-like gaze, into the burning fire of the Ferryman's eyes.

“We would like to cross, Charon,” Verona greeted him at the base of the boat.

“Yes, the Daughter of Dante Alighieri and Daughter of Virgil Maro, accompanied with them is the newly changed She-Wolf Celra Lucca, welcome.”

Verona went in her pocket and took out a different pay for their journey—a gold coin—and tossed it to him. The three climbed into the boat. Keisha stared in awe at Charon’s knowledge. They took their seats across from the Ferryman, and his oar dipped into the dark waters to push the boat away from the shore.

“You make a daring and dangerous journey to find your mother, Bea, Keisha Alighieri.”

Keisha gaped at Charon. “H-how did you know that?”

Charon’s thin and cracked lips revealed an eerie smile. It was Verona who spoke instead. “You’ll come to find that Charon has access to many things besides the rivers of Illicit, except the obvious answers, am I right?” Her comment directed at him and her brows pinched together.

Keisha wondered if she might ask Charon what happened to her papà but assumed that she would not get the answers she needed.

“The seas will be treacherous,” Charon said in response.

Verona rolled her eyes, looking over the side of the boat. “They always are.”

Keisha, too, stared off to the side until the heavy pressure of being watched turned her attention to Charon who’s cracked-lipped smiled remained, sending a shiver to her spine.

***

THE WINDS BLEW HARD, rustling the sea, and fog settled in the air. The storm was approaching.

The sky was encased with cracks of lightning as thunder roared. The heavy rain pelted the angry sea and jostled the boat in chaotic motions threatening to toss the passengers into the dark waters. Charon stood still as he navigated the boat in the raging sea, managing a steady pattern despite the aggressive destruction.

Keisha gripped the side of the boat. Her hands slipped every so often because her body was soaked from head to toe. Celra, too, dug into the side of the boat with her claws.

Keisha’s attention was pulled to something that passed her line of sight in the dark waters. She blinked a few times and craned her neck to speculate, but the rough and dark waters made it impossible to see.

“V-Verona!” she called out over the roar of the wind. “I think I saw something underneath us.”

“It’s a possibility.” Verona sat across from her, holding one hand on the side of the boat. Keisha’s eyes grew wide. “We’ve crossed into the first intersection of the Illicit’s level. You might have seen the Sea Guardian, Calico that lives at the bottom of the ocean.”

“What?” Keisha exclaims. Her eyes grew big and frantic. “Can’t we use a Verse or something to calm the storm?”

“You cannot use one on the Inferno itself,” Charon responded over the roar of the waves, his voice undisturbed by the sounds of the storm's rage.

The waves continued to crash and racket the side of the boat. Charon maneuvered the chaotic waves as everyone held onto the boat. In the distance, a long thick neck of a scaly green creature appeared from the dark waters.

The Calico Sea Guardian.

“Everyone brace yourself; we have company!” Verona shouted.

The next impact from the waves rammed into the side of the boat. Keisha’s hand slipped from the edge, and her body was thrown in the air. She screamed and plummeted into the freezing waters.

Someone shouted Keisha’s name as the Sea Guardian came upon their boat. Verona had no choice but to fight it and try and sway its attention away from them.

***

UNDERNEATH THE DARK AND chilling waters, Keisha opened her eyes but was engulfed in pure darkness. Her heart hammered in her throat, and her hands flailed about, not knowing what end to swim to the surface. The cold water made her lungs burn, and Keisha kicked her legs into motion, hoping that the direction was the way out.

Something whizzed past her, hitting her side. Keisha jerked, unaware in the darkened waters of what had attacked her.

Again, another attack from behind. Keisha gasped. A rush of water collected in her lungs. She grabbed her throat and squeezed her mouth shut, struggling to get to the surface.

Whatever was in the water whizzed by her legs, and a light invaded her space, revealing the sea creature that had attacked her. Its eyes were pure black, and the creature; looked like an angler fish, but far larger. It opened its mouth, revealing a dangling yellow light in the back of its throat and a thousand razor-sharp teeth.

Keisha let out an unintentional scream, sending a rush of water into her body.

She was losing consciousness, and she hoped she could compel her Malia to bring forth her Stanza without speaking.

The creature charged for her once more with its jaws wide and raced for her. It smacked into her and a rush of water entered her lungs. Even in the dark, Keisha could sense that the creature was circling to strike her again. I only have one chance. It charged again, but this time Keisha was ready. A beam of light illuminated the dark water, the ring of light captured it.

The creature under her control.

Keisha’s flinched. She was fading, and the cold waters were making it hard to concentrate. She grabbed the creatures’ rough skin and commanded it with her thoughts to bring her to the surface.

Keisha let out a gasp of air as her head breached the surface. She sputtered coughs as she held onto the fish’s fin, where she heard Verona and Celra, with no Sea Guardian insight.

Verona and Celra helped Keisha out of the water and into the boat. She continued to cough fiercely. Her throat was on fire, and the cold water chilled her body as the winds caused her to shiver violently.

Someone patted her back, looking up and seeing Verona by her side. Her brows pinched together, and her lips pursed in a frown.

“W-where…the Guardian…” She gasped, trying to speak.

“We drove it away. Are you okay?” Verona asked, her hand soothing her back.

Celra clung to Keisha’s arm, whimpering beside her and rubbing against trying to warm up the shaking Keisha.

Keisha nodded, not wanting to try speaking again.

“The worst is over. We’ve crossed the Acheron,” Charon said, turning the group’s attention to where there was land a few feet away.

Celra wrapped her arms around Keisha, whose continuous shivers did not stop despite Celra’s increased body heat.

“Hurry,” Verona gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowed with seriousness.

Once Charon made it on land, the three clambered out of the boat to make camp to warm Keisha from the cold, but she stopped.

“Keisha, we need to go before you get sick.”

Keisha shook her head. “Wait…I promised.” She turned back to the water with her arm around Celra’s neck, where the Sea Creature had followed Keisha to the shore.

“Just keep it if you captured it,” Verona instructed.

Keisha shook her head and spoke, “I release you.”

The sea creature flipped around from where it had been in a trance-like state before swimming back into the sea.

“Interesting, indeed,” Charon said before pushing off his boat from the shore. “We shall meet again, Daughters of Shikari.”

The three walked the trail searching for somewhere to rest for camp until they could make it to the next city.

“Why would you do that?” Verona questioned Keisha, placing Keisha’s other arm around her neck so she and Celra could drag her. “You’re going to need a variety of Demi to survive; fight if you need to.”

“I don’t…I don’t want to trap anyone. I made…,” Keisha mumbled. Her eyes drifted closed, but every so often, Celra would shake her awake. “I’m sorry, but I made that promise to…those Demi.They deserve freedom too…shouldn’t be…shouldn’t be confined to me. I’ll be…I’ll be a Legacy without it…My power alone.”

Verona didn’t say anything and mumbled something she couldn’t hear.

***

CONVERSATIONS WERE MADE TO keep Keisha awake, but soon they found a dry area to make camp away from the shore.

Verona started a fire as Celra removed Keisha’s clothes before the two of them did the same and let them hang on a tree branch as they settled around the blazing fire. Verona sat across from Keisha and watched her chest rise and fall. Celra shifted and cuddled close to her to keep her warm as the She-wolf fell soundly asleep.

Verona sighed, shaking her head. A bubbling sensation settled in the pit of her stomach that made a smile spread to her face. And knowing that Keisha was safe was good enough for her.