Chapter 26 – A Festival and a Conversation from Brother to Sister
They then went to the festival. The night air was warm and full of lights. Arriving there, Dante saw Bella sitting alone on a wooden bench and sat beside her.
Well, he said, I really didn't have a good idea when I called you to come to the festival.
He said that while watching Erik accomplish the feat of breaking a boat engine."
Bella looked at her brother and said:
Well, it's nothing. It's just knowing a lot of things in such a short time.
Dante looked at her and said:
Well, you know the reason we told you those secrets. It's because we didn't want you to find out on your own and then end up thinking that we didn't tell you because we didn't see you as part of the family.
He looked at her and smiled while saying:
Everyone in this family loves you. Nobody here wanted you to be sad.
Bella smiled hearing this and said:
"Well, it's good to know that everyone really cares about me."
Dante said:
You're my sister. It's impossible for me not to care about you.
Bella then said:
And what do you and Sera intend to do about that subject?
Dante lay back on the bench, sighing in frustration, and said:
She said she's going to contact my idiot grandfather.
Bella said:
Why do you talk like that about your grandfather?
Dante sighed and said:
mother she told me about Camp Half-Blood where she and the others stayed. Just from that, you can already tell the gods of Greek mythology are as arrogant as always.
Bella looked at Dante and asked curiously:
Why?
Dante looked at her and answered:
Bella, a god cannot have contact with their child. Meaning, even if you have a child, you can't go near them or help them. The most you can do is give some distant help. And you know what's funny? Every demigod has a unique smell that attracts monsters. Meaning, it's like a lighthouse day and night calling monsters to the place, putting the father or mother who is taking care of them in danger. And even though the gods know all the danger that having a child with a human will bring to the person and the child, they don't care and keep doing it.
Bella stayed silent. She thought about the despair of mothers and fathers who have to worry that a monster could jump out of nowhere and kill them and their child.
Dante said:
That's not even the worst part. You know, when my mom talked about Camp Half-Blood, she also said she was friends with a demigod son of Athena. I was surprised at the time.
Bella looked at him confused, and Dante said:
You know Athena is known as one of the three virgin goddesses of the Greek gods. So the question is: how did she have children? And when I asked my mom out of curiosity, I saw right there the disrespect the gods have for mortals.
Bella asked:
"What was it?"
Dante said:
She finds men who have a level of wisdom she approves of and uses her power to create a child. But here's the funny part: she doesn't warn or ask if that man wants a child. She just sends him a child. Meaning, screw your future plans, dreams and safety. 'Here's my divine child that you received without even shaking my hand, and who will put your life in danger constantly by attracting monsters.' In other words, what Athena does is the same as your boss giving you the most dangerous job in the company and not paying you any salary.
Bella stayed silent hearing that and said:
"How can she do that?"
Dante smiled sarcastically and said:
To the gods, humans are nothing but ants. At most, an interesting little toy. In Athena's view, the man she chose to be the father of her child should be grateful for this divine kindness.
Dante looked at Bella and said:
If the gods were good people, Prometheus wouldn't be tortured for eternity for giving fire to humanity.
Bella remained quiet hearing that.
Dante said, looking at the sky and smiling:
That's why I'm grateful for this power I have. With this, I can protect whoever I want from these arrogant bastards. I just hope that when they see my power, they understand it's not easy to mess with me and don't force me to follow the same path as my idol Kratos.
Bella looked at Dante and thought: So my little brother carries so much responsibility to keep everyone he loves safe.
Dante said:
"Oh, I almost forgot. Your little boyfriend is also part of this world. He's a bat.
Bella looked at Dante in shock and asked:
What?"
Dante repeated:
I said your emo boyfriend is a bat. Meaning, a vampire. Those you see in movies saying things like 'I will drink your blood,' those things.
Bella said, tired:
That's not something you say out of nowhere.
Dante said:
My sister, you've already had contact with things about gods. What is a mere bat?
Bella smiled a little and said:
Well, true. Compared to everything I discovered on this trip, knowing Edward is a vampire is the most harmless thing of all.
Dante then got serious and said:
Sister, there's only one thing I need to tell you: dating a supernatural being while being a normal person is extremely dangerous.
Bella heard that and stood up to argue, but Dante guessed what she was going to say and said:
You must be about to mention Jasmine and Amber, who are also normal people, right?
Bella nodded.
Dante said:
There's a huge difference between my situation and your emo vampire's. I have power to go head-to-head with a god. And if I'm crazy enough, I could decide that since I don't want to play, nobody will play and end the game for everyone. But your vampire is part of an organization of vampires who cannot reveal their identity to normal people. If you tell someone, either he transforms you and lets you join the family, or he kills the person. And besides that, because they're vampires, most see humans as food. Meaning, for a normal human to date a vampire is the same as having a pet tiger. One day it goes wrong.
Bella said:
You're a dragon. You don't know.
She said, slightly embarrassed.
Dante completed:
Eat people? My sister, you know how dirty people are, how much disease they have? Not to mention you never know where they've been. Not even if I needed to would I do that. I eat the meat of other animals. Usually when I'm very hungry, I kill a whale and eat it.
Bella stayed quiet after hearing everything Dante said.
Dante said:
I don't want to stop you from seeing him. I'm just warning you of the dangers of following that path so you're fully prepared for the difficulties you'll face. And even if you decide to go through with it, if you ever get in danger, just call me and I'll come running.
He said while placing his hand on her head.
Dante said:
Well, enough of this depressing conversation. Let's eat something and enjoy the festival.
Then Dante remembered and shouted:
Oh no, shit! I came to get a snack for the girls and ended up staying all this time talking!
He then ran to buy the girls' snacks.
Bella saw that, smiled and thought: Thank you, brother. I'll call you if I need your help.
Dante finally returned. He sat beside the girls with popcorn and soda and asked:
So, did I miss anything important?
Amber took some popcorn and said:
Nothing too important. Just our dad who decided to accept a basketball match against the guys.
Dante said:
Don't tell me my old man agreed too.
Jasmine drank her soda while pointing and said:
See for yourself.
Dante looked where she pointed and was shocked at the horrifying scene: a bunch of old, fat guys wearing little basketball shorts. A picture straight from hell.
At that moment, Dante thought about following Fujitora's example.
Amber looked at Dante in shock and said:
dear, relax. When we get home, me and my sister are going to show you two beautiful images that will make you forget that scene quickly.
Dante kissed her and said:
You girls really know what to say.
They then turned their attention back to the game that had started.
Dante watched them playing while the crowd cheered. Suddenly, he saw his mother stand up and walk into the forest in a trance.
Dante whispered:
Damn grandfather… you can't simply show up and have a good conversation with your daughter? Even in this shitty moment you don't want to appear and keep sending her these mental hints?
Dante then kissed Amber and Jasmine, who were cheering, and said:
Girls, I need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back.
He left without waiting for their answers and entered the forest after his mother.