Chapter 48
Forty-Eight
There was no rest after being crowned Emperor of Nine Hundred and Eighty Skies, and Dante knew this better than anyone else. As he sauntered down the hallway, his crimson cape fluttering over his shoulders, his mind remained on Autumn. She’d gotten so much stronger since last he saw her, taking him by surprise.
His cheeks melted every time his thoughts drifted to her. Her dark coiled hair, large moonlit eyes, and soft pink lips—he could still taste traces of her sweetness on his mouth. Shivers trailed down the length of his spine. He could barely focus on the task at hand, but under the circumstances, he didn’t have a choice.
Business needed to be handled.
When he entered the conference room, all his high-level advisors rose to their feet and fell into bows. He made his way to the front of the room through the cool darkness. The 3D map of the 24 Universes twinkled along the center table. Everyone watched and waited as they sat in the shadows.
His eyes roved among the attendees. Armienti and Ronan’s absence was apparent. Oh, Armienti , he shook his head. What was he thinking? One advisor rose to his feet and cleared his throat. Dante’s eyes rested on his dark silhouette.
“Permission to speak, sire.”
“Permission granted,” he gestured with his black-gloved hand.
“There are unsettling reports of the Grand Supreme repossessing some of our more prominent crystal mines, particularly the one on Varz, threatening a crystal liquid fuel shortage. How do you plan to address this matter?”
A single drop of sweat rolled down his back, between his shoulder blades, disappearing into the spandex of his uniform. He puffed his chest, so as not to display any sort of weakness. He refused to look weak, being placed in such an inconvenient position, yet again.
Ultimately it didn’t matter what the Grand Supreme did with the crystal mines for what Dante had in his possession was priceless. He’d gotten to the object before his master could catch a whiff. Its existence had been whispered about throughout the Universes for the last four hundred years. He had discovered the secret worth killing for was not just an ancient legend.
“Unfortunately, we have little control over what he chooses to repossess. I propose we set up a bigger mine, a better one right here in Universe 13,” he suggested. “Planet Current is rumored to have unfathomable wealth and is ripe for the picking. It’s one of the few planets in this universe I don’t have in my collection.”
“But there’s a treaty in place protecting it,” another advisor offered. “We’re supposed to honor the treaty.”
Dante’s mouth curled. “Treaties are made to be broken, my lord.”
He pointed to the bright green sphere on the glowing map, stars twinkled through the surrounding area.
The first advisor nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer. The second advisor shook his head but didn’t dare challenge him on the matter. He knew better. It was impossible to please everyone.
“For good measure, we could set up a mine on planet Burd as well. It’s located on the edge of Universe 14.”
As he went to point to the glowing yellow sphere, a violent frequency pierced through the air. Everyone groaned, throwing their fingers in their ears to block out the noise. The sound was so loud, his teeth stung and vibrated in his mouth. He could taste the pain.
As he glanced down, a red button flashed. One lone call awaited. His heart stopped in his chest.
“Answer it, Your Imperial Majesty,” advisors shrieked through the room, pleading with him. There was no way around it. He was cornered.
He inhaled a breath, allowing the call to go through. The pain instantly subsided. Everyone exhaled a sigh of relief.
Neon green and blue lights swirled through the room, lighting up the shadows for a brief moment until the Grand Supreme appeared. His thin black slit-eyes, oil-slicked scaly complexion, and a twisted crown of horns, pierced through the jagged skin of his head. He stood the size of a child or smaller in his stupid little black uniform with a red and gold crest of a decapitated man with his head in the crook of his arm. The bastard.
His expression was serious and his long, pointed tail thrashed back and forth, whipping against the ground. He held a silver goblet in his hand and, taking a lingering sip, his long talons scraped against the metal. His mouth was tinted with the shade of blood.
Everyone in the room fell to one knee, lowering their eyes. Dante ground his teeth in his mouth, fists quivering at his sides before following suit. He refused to break eye contact with his master and refused to be intimidated.
He rose to a stand, head held high, smoothing his crimson cape beneath his black-gloved hands.
“You’re a hard man to get in contact with,” the Grand Supreme lisped, cracked lips curling. “I’ve been reaching out to you for quite some time, and I have a sneaking suspicion you’ve been ignoring me. Am I correct?”
Dante watched him, his jaw tightening. He had to choose his next words wisely.
He raised his head. “Sire, I?—”
“Don’t you dare interrupt me,” the Grand Supreme snapped. Everyone in the room stared at him, wide-eyed and cowering. “After all I’ve done for you, this is how you choose to repay me? You were like a son to me. I took you under my wing and welcomed you into my home.”
More like a slave forced to fulfill his every whim. Dante lived to serve him—to conquer at his will.
The Grand Supreme stretched his neck, searching the room. The holographic image crackled. “Where’s your human? I wish to speak with her as well.”
His mouth dropped open, and a wave of dizziness overcame him. What did he need Autumn for? It was his worst nightmare realized. He hoped to never have to subject her to his master in this lifetime.
“She’s—”
“Fetch her at once,” the Grand Supreme snapped his taloned fingers. “I shan’t ask you again.” He took another long sip from his goblet.
Fury seethed through his body as he was forced to obey him without question. A fireball raged in his palm behind his back, growing then retracting over and over again. How he wanted to smash the flame in Emperor Izzo’s face and teach him a lesson he’d never forget.
He ordered an advisor to go and fetch Autumn like he had been commanded.