Devils

I don't know how long I've been standing here, alone in the dark, alone in the woods. I can feel his presence; he would soon do what I am dreading. But I am too terrified to move, I feel his red eyes burning into the back of my neck. Suddenly a breath. I spin round feeling my neck where the hot breath had been released.

A crunch of leaves makes me turn. A squirrel freezes as I point my sword at its alarmed face, it scurries quickly away, something I wish I could do.
I look up at the sky-scraping trees, each one twirling within the next, but this is no time to admire the giants of the forest.

I can hear joyful shouting in the distance, shouting what? I don't know. The shouting stops and a scream echoes. It’s him. But he is agile; he will be back here in a matter of seconds.

Pain and anger course through my veins. He is close again. Very close now.
Today will be that day...

* * *

He knows what he’s doing. He knows I'm not scared, but terrified. If I run he will know, kill me like a bullet. He’s building suspense just to tear me down. I can almost hear him counting down inside his evil mind.

Eventually it all gets too much and I let out a shout. Maybe he won't need to kill me, the suspense is powerful enough.
"What’s with all the noise?" A sharp voice hisses behind me. I look into the eyes of him... of it.
I just stand there, unable to move or speak. He glides round me, almost inspecting me.
Finally the lump from my throat goes.
"Why haven't you killed me?" I swallow. "You said it would be quick and painless." I don't look him in the eye, but tears fall down mine.
"Oh, Dante." He sighs. "You always were simple minded. I thought you would be old enough by now to see..." I don't understand what he means. See what?
"See what?" I'm getting a bit more confident now, I think he sees this, for he has stopped moving around me and has sat down on a fallen tree, but he’s still eyeing my suspiciously.
"Yourself." He answers simply, although its not simple, what does he mean? I don't take my blue eyes off his red ones.
He’s enjoying this, getting me confused and annoyed. He smiles viciously and c***s his head to the left. Then he continues:
"You always thought you were a petty little human. Just waiting to die. You arranged this meeting so you could "hurt no one more" I believe you said. Now, Dante, how did you hurt them?" This burns my heart.
"I already had to live through them once! Don't make me think about them again!" I yell at him. He feels no threat and looks amused at my outburst. I sink to my knees, shaking, this is all too much.

"I see that you want me to end it now: your life. Well, I will... In a minute. There is something I need to tell you." His voice has changed, before it was as cold and sharp as ice, now it is a smooth, comforting tone. Suddenly, he’s in front of me and I look up into his eyes, no longer are they red as the blood that will soon be spilled, but a calming blue.

* * *

"NO!" I yell. This can't be true. He can't be... I can't believe it, I WON'T believe it.

I collapse on the forest floor, rustling the leaves with my shakes. I hang my head; tears slowly make their way down my face.

"Yes, Dante. It's true. I am your father."

* * *

"Why? How?" I stutter. He just looks at me and shakes his head pitying me. He walks towards me slowly and reaches out to me; I stand and walk backwards quickly.

"Dante?" He pleads. I've never seen him like this before.

I run.

I run and run and run. He is probably just waiting until I stop. I don't care though. I keep running. I cast off my brown leather and toss it aside with my sword, I can run faster now.

* * *

I don't know how long I've been running. Quite a few minutes I would've thought, but I'm getting tired now. I stop for a breath. Panting, I look up. He's there. Of course he is.
He's always there.

"You're not going to kill me, are you?" I know he won't kill me for sure now I know this.
He shakes his head sadly.

"There is another thing too. As you are my son... You are of my species. You are the king of our species.”