Chapter 58
Fifty-Eight
Dante’s heart raced as Luz helped him walk through the yard. He limped with one hand nursing his injured stomach, the other wrapped over her shoulder. He clung to her for dear life. Every pore on his body broke out in a cold sweat.
The foreign vessel sat in the distance. He struggled to identify its origin through the buildings and debris. He stopped in his tracks as he passed Valdez’s corpse. It lay rotting against the wall. Good riddance , he spit on the ground. The universes would be better off without her. She’d caused too much destruction.
As he went to climb the divider with Luz, several blasters cocked, emitting a high-pitched frequency. He turned around scarcely able to catch his breath. He crouched hunched over with his hand on his stomach. Pain radiated through his torso.
“Emperor Dante, is that you?” a familiar slobbery voice asked. Oh no, please not him, he begged the gods above. Anyone but him. He couldn’t bear the humiliation.
He tilted his head up slightly and Luz stood behind him, cowering.
“Emperor Brumha, I presume.” His legs gave out and he rested his head back against the wall. His body broke out in a cold nauseous sweat.
Emperor Brumha approached him, arms folded. The Zambarian soldiers remained in formation. His eyes gravitated between him and Valdez’s deceased form. Drool dribbled down his pronounced chin.
Dante made a face against his will.
“We received an SOS signal from outer space, and I decided to investigate. Is this your handiwork, Martyne?” He pointed to the city smoking in the background. Screams and cries echoed through the rubble.
He shook his head. “Not this time.”
The emperor examined him. “You’re bleeding.”
“You’re an observant one, aren’t you?” Embarrassment rattled through him as he pressed his hand against his stomach. Wetness stained his red glove. He was indeed bleeding again.
“You’ve been a nuisance for many years around the universes. Stealing worlds and enslaving entire civilizations to meet your ends. I know you have your orders, but it’s still despicable.”
He glanced to the side. Sometimes the truth was hard to swallow. “Tell me something I don’t already know. You’re boring me.” He yawned, then winced.
“And you’re still defiant even while knocking on death’s door.” A drop of saliva rolled down his chin. Dante couldn’t handle any more of this. How disgusting. Was this the last sight he would ever hope to see?
“If you’ve come to kill me, just get it over with already. What are you waiting for? I’m tired of this conversation—but please let her go.” He gestured to Luz who shuddered so hard her teeth chattered. He pitied her.
“I could waste you here and now, put an end to your reign of terror. You have zero respect for others. You come into Universe 18 demanding my fleet and threatening to invade if I don’t comply. What gives you the right?” He cocked a brow.
Dante glowered with what little strength he had left. “I think you’re a pushover.”
“I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of your bride.”
He stared at him in silence.
The emperor continued, “You didn’t even bother to invite me to your wedding. I guess my invitation was lost in transmission. And you dissolved our royal alliance over a hybrid. My brother is still upset?—”
“My sister’s happiness is more important than your brother’s feelings. He’ll get over it.”
Brumha went quiet. His mouth fell into a tight flat line.
Dante closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall. He focused on the sound of his breath and visualized Autumn. Her rosy cheeks, her smiling face, the warmth of her embrace and the light in her eyes. How he loved her his heart ached.
He wondered what she was doing, and if she was thinking of him. He hoped she hadn’t opened the scroll yet. She was the one good thing to ever happen to him. At that moment, he died inside. He’d never see her again.
“If you’re looking to hear me beg for my life, I won’t give you the satisfaction, neither will I issue an apology.”
When he opened his eyes again, Emperor Brumha stood right over him. He supposed he wanted to make his death up close and personal. After all, the bragging rights would be his forever. Everyone would want to know how he killed him. His death would be legendary.
The emperor crouched down, staring him in the eyes. His silver skin sparkled in the firelight. Stars glittered through the smoke churning in the sky.
“What if I choose to believe you? That you didn’t create this mess and it was all Valdez’s fault.” His eyes drifted to her sunken form.
Dante stuttered. “I?—”
“Regardless of what you’ve done and the endless sins you’ve committed, you’re an impressive warrior, and it would be a shame to lose you. I’ve always admired you, even now staring death in the eyes. I know there’s only one logical reason you’d be out here. I heard all about the unfortunate series of events.”
Dante didn’t know what to say. His vision faded black in the corners. His entire body trembled before he succumbed to the darkness again. All he could see this time were stars swirling from space and Autumn’s gray eyes staring back at him.