Chapter 70
Seventy
When Autumn reentered the throne room, everyone was standing around watching and waiting for her. Leyla and the former empress, Isidora, approached her with slow, steady steps. Her hand shot into her pocket and a deep wave of relief flooded through her veins as her fingertips slid against the metal sphere. It was right where she left it.
Thank goodness.
“Where were you?” Leyla’s deep brown eyes widened with concern. “Who were you talking to before?”
Isidora watched her, offering her a hopeful smile. Her graceful hands slid against the delicate tulle of her burgundy dress.
“You can tell her,” Autumn said. Clearly Isidora was sifting through her thoughts whether she gave her permission to or not. She was careful not to think too much about the situation to keep them both calm, keeping hidden that the Grand Supreme had been the first one to call her.
“Dante.”
Leyla gasped. “I knew it,” tears welled along her lashes. “How is he? I know he’s up there kicking Izzo’s ass. Am I right?”
Autumn took a seat on the throne, staring at her hands. She wished it were true and he was coming home to her, but he wasn't. She fell into a regretful daze for a moment before saying, “I hope so.” She lied through her teeth so as not to upset either of them.
“What’s the matter? I thought you’d be happier than this to hear he’s safe. Are you worried about your father? Did something happen to him?”
Panic ripped through her body. She should’ve asked Dante about her dad when she had the chance. It was too late. For all she knew— no, she couldn’t think that way . There had to be a way out of this messy situation. There just had to be .
Isidora placed her hand on hers, squeezing them tight. “Dante is going to take care of everything. There’s no need to worry. He always finds a way.”
Autumn wasn’t so sure. This time, everything was different. They were surrounded by an enemy force, protected by a mere invisible barrier.
Leyla turned toward her. “Are you still planning to go and see the Grand Supreme? He doesn’t sound like he’ll take no for answer?—”
As she spoke, an advisor came sprinting over to them. He struggled to catch his breath, dry heaving. Sweat trickled down his blue temples and onto the collar of his black uniform. He fell into a deep bow.
“Your Imperial Majesty, there’s something you have to see.”
She sensed the seriousness of the situation and came to an abrupt stand. Leyla and Isidora followed her lead. He ushered them to the conference room, around the corner.
When they walked through the door, the room was pitch black.
The map of the 24 Universes was dark. All she could hear was the sound of her bated breath.
“What is it?” Autumn stared around the room. “What’s wrong?” And where were the other advisors?
Leyla and Isidora glanced around as well. No answer came.
The projector flickered on, casting a pale glow throughout the room. 3D images swirled before focusing. She threw a hand over her mouth, her vision swirling.
Her dad sat in a clear confinement, trembling, surrounded by severed limbs and splintered bones, brown filthy rags draped over his bony shoulders. Breath passed through his mouth in white puffs. The hairs of his beard were coarse and stringy. She fell against the table as the image shifted to Dante who wandered through the halls of a ship. The deep-red walls pulsated around him. He was searching for something, or so it appeared. Her knees knocked together. She struggled to catch her breath.
She turned toward the advisor who melded with the shadows. His bloodshot slit-eyes glowed, wet black scales glittering in the passing streams of light.
She gasped, throwing a hand over her mouth. Goosebumps prickled along her skin.
“Lord Izzo is expecting you. Go to him, or they die along with the rest of your planet.”
“I—”
“This is your final warning.”
She blinked and he disappeared into thin air. The putrid smell of blood remained. Leyla caught her as her legs buckled. She helped her back to an unsteady stand.
“Autumn, what does he want with you?” Leyla’s brown eyes widened. Isidora shook her head. Worry lines creased her delicate brow.
She remained quiet, too shocked to answer. She wished she could tell them.
Dante sauntered through the hallway of Emperor Izzo’s slow-moving pleasure cruiser. Thick black smoke trailed him.
His master’s soldiers were utterly pathetic once they were removed from the comfort of their destroyers. It was painfully obvious they were no match for him.
Weaklings.
An arrogant smile crashed across his lips for a moment, which he managed to suppress. He couldn’t allow himself to be swept up in the moment, although it was tempting to gloat.
He had to stay focused and hold Izzo off long enough for Autumn and his loved ones to escape to the 25th Universe he’d read about in ancient texts. He’d never ventured there himself, but sometimes believing was seeing.
Apparently, his father had known about its existence as well, judging by the markings on the scroll and the notes he’d left. His father had planned to claim the territory for himself and escape from this situation until he met his untimely end.
On Varz, Dante had come to find his father had mined for more than crystals. The portal he’d discovered was his most valuable asset.
His wife’s safety depended on his success.
When he turned the corner, a pang of anxiety coursed through him. Bad memories seeped into his subconscious. The misery and abuse he suffered here during his formative years. His family wasn’t permitted to be present. The world was expected of him early on.
He’d seen too much too soon and had Izzo to thank for his distress.
Dante paused and closed his eyes, taking deep controlled breaths. He couldn’t believe the time had finally come. He’d fantasized about fighting Izzo for years.
Smashing his fist into his ugly beady face was his deepest darkest desire. He’d do anything to keep Autumn safe, even risk his own life.
His world stilled as he came upon Izzo’s private quarters. Dante hesitated for a moment, so many emotions crippling his senses; fear included. His boots grew heavy, freezing in place. His hands perspired within the confines of his navy gloves, which Emperor Brumha had been kind enough to allow him to wear.
The Grand Supreme stood before him in complete silence. His back was turned as he stared out of a large circular window at the ensuing chaos. Ships exploded into fine space dust; others lit on fire from the inside. Streaks of destruction decorated the otherwise eerie dark landscape. Limbs and debris floated in the abyss. Everyone sacrificed their lives for this cause.
This was all because of him.
He swirled a goblet in his hand, long taloned fingers sliding against the metal before taking a lingering sip. The sound pierced his ears.
“Dante, I’ve been expecting you.”