A Marvelous Devil.
Chapter 19: A Fated Meeting.
Dante Andromalius.
New York, 2007.
I didn't know how long it had been since I lost consciousness.
And there was only silence. I couldn't see. I couldn't hear. I couldn't move.
And I didn't like it. It wasn't the empty kind that reminded me of the Void the asshole Mephisto threw me back then, and it wasn't the kind I felt from the man I took my new power from.
But even without those similarities, I realized now I didn't mesh well with the absence of control.
Maybe my death as Seere gave me PTSD. Maybe being reborn as a mortal changed how I reacted. I wasn't sure of that; maybe we're not so different from mortals after all. No... I was a mortal now.
But I was getting too existential. What mattered was… I was bound.
And I knew who was responsible.
"Really, Yao? Not even a first date yet, and you tie me up?" I sighed. "Second date, maybe. I do like the kinkiness, though."
My body also felt wrong, noticeably different from before.
Not pain, I could feel that much. No, it was more like everything that mattered had been unplugged, and then I was remade by someone who probably knew better than me.
Changing for new power wasn't new to me. I knew my ABCs better than most, except maybe Odin. So, it was weird I felt this way.
I changed my soul, linking it to a well of pure Cosmic power stored in a separate, imagined dimension. This meant that even if my body was destroyed or my soul warped, the well would remain connected to me, beyond reach of physical or spiritual harm. It was the only reason I could still use it after Red's fuck up.
I missed that brat. She was fun. Maybe I should look for her. I remember she was from the future, but I sent her back in time to hide from Galactus. Gali should still be on Earth, living as a normal mortal if nothing had gone wrong.
Ah. I gave this unknown dimension my heart to form a connection. Mostly because I didn't want my body to change outwardly. I saw what it did to Tyrone, and I didn't want my body to change like his. No point in marring perfection, after all.
Not my brightest idea. But not a bad one, either.
Checking with my senses, I 'saw' a black hole where my heart should have been.
It was something I learned from my brief time in Red's universe. It turned out that mortals gave some parts of their bodies to turn them into dragon parts. It was the same in my case, just... grander.
I didn't think I'd use it soon, but I can be impulsive.
But I couldn't house it in my soul, since that was linked to Cosmic power.
The parameters were opposites: Dark Force consumed life, Cosmic Power was life. I didn't even want to see what would happen if they were together.
So… I gave it a link to my physical body.
A mistake? Maybe. But I didn't sense anything wrong with my body.
I opened my eyes to an old wooden ceiling. Something moved from my face. A blanket?
The bindings also disappeared.
How curious. Now that I could see it, my eyes almost hurt from how bright it was shining with an absurd amount of power.
Some strong being was into BDSM. Heh, and Yao put it over my face; she must be waiting for my teasing, but I would save it for later.
"You're finally conscious, Dante," The driest tone in the world came out of Yao's thin lips.
There was some amusement hidden deeply inside her eyes, but most of all, I sensed irritation.
"Miss me?" I groaned, trying and failing to stand.
Barely managing to right myself, I propped myself against the wall.
"How long was I gone?"
Damn. Even speaking felt different now that I focused.
She smiled faintly, "Two whole days, Dante. What you did was completely irresponsible and could have gone wrong at any moment."
Then she frowned, "What in the world were you thinking…" and smacked me behind the head.
Rude.
"I was doing what was needed to become stronger," I replied plainly. "There are things you don't know about me."
"You don't say," she mumbled under her breath, then stood up.
"Your body was draining itself, Dante. You're lucky you survived. If not for your physiology and Cosmic Power, you would have died. It's a miracle you're still here."
All calculated risk.
"I had to seal your heart more times than the dangerous Mystic artifacts in the sanctorum," she said, rolling her eyes. "Even now, I'm not sure if you're still Dante, or if the Dark Force is using your body as a puppet."
"We'll get back to that. How pissed is Wong? Pretty sure I heard him recommending you kill me."
She was telling the truth. There were... hundreds of tiny seals around my new heart.
Then I sighed, "Thank you for stopping him."
"You are my student," she smiled faintly, "Even if sometimes I regret accepting our deal."
"Even with all my charm?" I pouted.
"Even then," she nodded instantly.
I chuckled, standing up slowly. Yao, the sweetheart, even helped me.
The Dark Force tried to come out of my body, wisps of black fog coming out of my pores before I blocked it.
I smiled apologetically at her.
"So, what did you find out about me?" I pressed.
"I think I'll keep that to myself," her lips twitched, "Until you irritate me enough that I don't care about the consequences."
This woman… Many mortals would think that the longer you lived, the more mature you would be. They hadn't met anyone like that.
We were all petty assholes inside. And we messed up with everyone at every opportunity.
"And what about your future sight?" I asked once more.
"That's even worse." A smile formed on her face. Not the usual kind one, but… softer.
Like she still couldn't believe what she saw.
Irritating. Maybe I was too curious for my own good. But I wanted to know what caused the usually calm and proper Yao to act that way just by mentioning it.
"So, ready for the juicy bits?" I asked, heading for the sofa.
She nodded, sitting in front of me.
"I can see my body settled to the changes," I murmured thoughtfully, closing my eyes as the Dark Force appeared on my hand. The dark fog enveloping my body and not harming me in the slightest.
I needed practice. This was going to be my best weapon going forward.
The fog moved, my mind directing it like I had done it my whole life. Then my hand appeared in the distance. This was genuinely impressive teleportation.
The fog dispersed as quickly as it had formed, retreating into me as if it always belonged there.
I opened my eyes and rolled my wrist again; nothing was wrong. The Dark Force offered no resistance to my will, and I felt no new... needs. At least for now.
I should be worrying about that. I knew I'd handle it better than some no-name mortal, but this force was dangerous.
Yao watched me quietly for a few seconds.
"You're thinking about consequences," she said.
"It was a good idea at the time," I replied honestly. "But I know I should've been more careful."
She sighed and folded her hands behind her back, pacing slowly across the room.
"D'Spayre moved the moment you took Tyrone's power," she said. "He didn't even bother to be subtle."
I raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect anything different, that's why I asked if you would help."
"He attempted to anchor himself to the city through emotional bleed left by the killings," she continued. "There was a lot of fear and despair accumulated. He almost succeeded, too."
I smirked faintly. "I take it he didn't enjoy being cut out of the deal."
"No," she agreed dryly. "He did not. But I did as promised."
She stopped in front of one of the old walls and placed her palm against it. Hundreds of holy magical circles flared there, all on a completely different level than what Wong could use.
This showed why the Vishanti weren't moving against me. They realized darkness didn't mean evil. They let Yao use their magic even though she connected with Dormammu.
I wasn't interested in trying… yet, but maybe I could make a deal with them to use their magic without being smitten. I didn't think they could be pettier than Yahweh.
Having access to holy magic as a devil would be... super useful, especially in the Underworld. I wasn't going to forget my problems there anytime soon.
"I sealed him within the Sanctum," she said. "Not destroyed, he's too crafty for his own good. But I doubt he's enjoying his prison."
I blinked, not expecting that. "I know you are scarily powerful, Yao, but I thought you would just vanish him from this dimension. Even if he isn't that powerful in the grand scheme of things, he is still a demon."
"I know." She smirked.
"…You're going to pretend that's normal, aren't you?"
"It will hold," she replied calmly, ignoring my question. "For a long time. Enough time so that when the time comes, you will pay me by consuming him. Just as our deal stated."
I leaned back into the sofa, a smile growing on my face. "I knew there was something I liked about you. You have my word, my dear."
"I am being pragmatic," she rolled her eyes. "He is dangerous, but if you consume him, his very essence will stay under your control. I believe he also has his own dimension you could take for yourself. If you wanted."
Why did she help me so much? I hated not knowing what she knew about me.
Could it be that she knew I was Seere? No, that was preposterous; nothing I had done by now should show that. Or was it too strange for a young demon/devil to see Seere as an example? Nah, it couldn't be.
I didn't know what I would do if it turned out to be that. Probably destroy all demons because what the actual fuck. I was awesome and deserved my fans around the cosmos.
She turned to look at me again, her expression serious now.
"You should grow stronger during this time, Dante," she said. "Because when he escapes, he will not make the same mistake twice."
I inclined my head slightly. "Noted."
"There's something else," I said after a moment. "Tyrone said something before the end. About searching for his light."
Her lips twitched.
"I didn't expect you to remember that," she said.
"Hard to forget. He sounded oddly sure of himself."
She studied me for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Yes," she admitted. "I know what he meant."
I straightened slightly. "Care to share?"
"No."
Of course.
Should I put more care into this? I had cosmic power; I could keep the Dark Force fed, even if it wasn't the most efficient path.
Hmm… decisions, decisions. I supposed I could wait and see.
She smiled then, that infuriating, knowing smile.
"It shouldn't take you long to understand," she said. "I hope you enjoy the surprise."
I clicked my tongue. "Is it funny to act all-knowing? Or is it just against me? Do you have a repressed need to bully your best student?"
Her eyes tightened.
"Do I call you mommy now?" I burst out laughing.
She smacked my head from a distance, hard enough to press the tip of my nose against the holy wall, barely burning it.
Worth it.
I sighed. "One day, I'm going to force answers out of you."
She raised an eyebrow. "I look forward to seeing you try."
I changed the subject before it turned into an argument.
"Was Tyrone supposed to be important?" I asked. "His soul was… bright. Brighter than it had any right to be."
It felt even brighter than that Gwen girl, and she was the brightest mortal soul I felt since I came to earth. It was… hard to let him go. I had to admit that I had been tempted to consume him, but it wouldn't have been fair.
Her expression softened.
"Yes," she said quietly. "He should have been."
She turned away, gazing out toward the courtyard beyond the paper windows.
"In another timeline," she continued, "he becomes one of the strongest heroes this world ever produced."
I sat once more, "That's… not that surprising. I can see many ways to use the Dark Force even now, and I'm not even close to him when it comes to matching it. He was literally the perfect host."
She nodded with a neutral expression. "But fate decided the opposite. D'Spayre wasn't supposed to be here now. But he lost against Blackheart, who finally took control of the Ashen Courts. I believed he intended to use Tyrone as a weapon against Mephisto's son."
I stared at the ceiling for a second, then laughed.
I laughed hard.
"Oh, that's rich," I said between breaths. "Did he do it by himself, or did he ask his daddy for help?"
She turned back to me, not responding. Then I recognized what she was trying to say, and I laughed even harder.
"You think I could become the Hero Tyrone could have been?" I grinned at the absurdity of the thought.
"You now have the opportunity to take his place," she said evenly.
That only made it worse.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Have you met me?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "Which is why I mentioned it."
I wiped at my eyes, grinning despite myself. I didn't want to hurt Yao's feelings, but this was beyond a simple joke. "You think I'm hero material."
"I think," she said, smiling faintly, "that you have already surprised me more times than I care to admit."
She stepped closer.
"Who knows what the future holds for you, Dante?"
I scoffed. "I do. Vengeance"
Her smile widened just a little.
"Exactly."
I stood slowly, stretching once more, satisfied that normal returned to my body.
"Well," I said, opening a portal with a flick of my wrist, the familiar scent of coffee drifting through the darkness. "If I'm going to grow stronger, I might as well start by pissing off Wong."
She shook her head, amused.
"Try to keep him alive, Dante. He has the potential to take my place one day," she said.
"That's what makes it fun," I grinned, "Even if you are better looking than him. Mommy."
The portal closed behind me, blocking a spell from a sputtering Yao.
The last thing I heard was Yao muttering that I was still me, not the Dark Force, making my grin widen.
And somewhere beneath it, something sealed and furious waited.
Two weeks later.
Tandy Bowen.
I sat in the lecture hall, and it felt too bright and too cold at the same time. I hated this.
My leg wouldn't stop bouncing. My hands shook just enough that I kept smudging my notes. I didn't know why I bothered writing it if I wouldn't read it later.
The professor's voice faded inside my mind. Words losing their meaning halfway through his class. Even the important things didn't stay in my mind. Due dates, the midterms. Warnings about his own class.
I should have picked another major. This was beyond me.
No. No. I could do this. I absolutely could.
I was no longer the same person I had been before.
My stomach twisted. I felt like vomiting.
Cold sweat gathered at the base of my neck, and I pressed my arm against my ribs like that might be enough to keep my stomach from rumbling.
I had not eaten well in… a while.
My bag sat at my feet.
I knew exactly what was inside. I longed to get it… But I couldn't. I shouldn't.
I would absolutely get kicked out if I used it inside the classroom.
I counted minutes instead. Five more until class ended. If I could just make it to the end of the lecture, then I could breathe. Then I would go to the bath to get just a tiny bit. Just a pinch.
Around me, people laughed quietly. Were they laughing about me? It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last.
I wasn't exactly the most popular, nor did I want that. I didn't… exactly remember what happened after I came here to New York. Waking up in a hospital wasn't exactly fun; forgetting everything was even worse.
Having no knowledge of almost six months of your life was… worrying.
And the worst part was that no doctor found out what happened to me. And the police dropped the case due to a lack of evidence.
At least I knew that I had escaped home as I wanted to, even if I didn't remember what exactly I did or how I even managed to do it.
I should be happy… but it felt as if something was missing. Like something had been torn out of my life.
My phone buzzed.
I didn't look at it. I already knew.
Another bank texting about my delayed payments.
I swallowed and kept writing, even though my handwriting was barely legible.
I told myself I was fine. Even when I wasn't. Maybe lying to myself would make this better.
The lecture finally ended. Thank God it did, I couldn't help with the shakes already.
I didn't say goodbye to anyone. I didn't even know their names.
The moment I stepped outside, the city's lights crashed against my mind like a train at full speed. Ever since I got out of the hospital, I noticed it more than normal.
The doctors even thought that perhaps I hit my head or something, making me more sensitive to light. They also couldn't explain why, since supposedly, my eyes were fine.
But there was something different. I wasn't crazy.
I didn't know where I was walking. I wasn't paying attention to anything in my path.
Just what I did when I felt particularly overwhelmed.
I didn't know what to do anymore. I was tired. Tired of everything.
I could… I could take a pinch right now.
I hated myself for thinking about it. Opening my purse, I saw a tiny packet of white powder in it. No one paid attention to me as I pulled it out, hiding it behind my phone.
Just one pinch. Just enough to make the shaking stop. To make the lights dim. To make everything... easier.
My hands moved on autopilot, bringing it closer.
But just as I was about to use it...
Across the street, at the edge of the crowd, I saw something that stopped me.
A man I hadn't seen before. Or maybe I did, but I didn't remember.
Tall, but hunching, making him look shorter than he should have. There was something about him that I found cute.
He looked at me from a distance, too. I felt it the moment we locked eyes.
A whole shiver went through my body. And not the bad kind. But as cute as he was, I noticed something else even more.
He looked like someone who had had a heavy burden taken off his shoulders, someone who would never feel that at all in their lives.
I wished to feel something like that, but every day reminded me that things weren't as easy as that.
And I was alone.
My chest tightened.
It wasn't memory. It felt deeper than that, like a pull I didn't understand.
He then smiled sadly. It felt like a goodbye that I somehow felt more important than it should have, considering I just met him.
And he got onto the bus. One headed away from NY.
I didn't know why I felt as if I should have gone there. But I wasn't planning on running anymore. I couldn't.
I could succeed here. I… I didn't want to run away again. I couldn't go through that once more.
I didn't even have enough to buy a damn ticket outside of the city. And I felt bad about pickpocketing… even if sometimes there was no other option.
It was horrible to do it, but the thought didn't leave my mind as much as I wanted to avoid it. I always felt bad, but… There was no other way for me to survive here.
I hated that it had become a contingency. A quiet little plan B that lived in the back of my mind, waiting for moments like this. I told myself I only did it when I had no other option. That it wasn't really stealing if I needed it.
I didn't fully believe that anymore. Not after this long. Not after making other people pass through what I did just to get some pocket money that I ended up wasting on drugs.
"Did you hear about that new café in Hell's Kitchen?"
The voice cut through my thoughts before they could spiral any further. I slowed my steps without realizing it.
"It's called The Ninth Circle."
That name alone made me glance sideways. Wasn't that from The Divine Comedy? I remember that I was supposed to read it last semester.
I failed that exam. The only one in class that failed. I was...
No. I shook my head. I wasn't a failure. I just messed up.
Three girls walked past me, chatting excitedly like I used to do before I ran away from home. One of them was gesturing wildly, like she knew something the rest didn't.
"I swear, it's so weird. Like… in a good way. Apparently, some model opened it. Which is insane. Like, why would a model open a café in Hell's Kitchen of all places?"
"I know," the other replied. "But the coffee is amazing. And the books? Oh my god. I didn't even know New York had anything like that. Occult stuff, magic, all that. It's probably fake, obviously, but it's super interesting."
I frowned slightly. Everyone knew that magic wasn't real. Superpowers were, but they all turned out to be science.
"Also," the first girl added, lowering her voice dramatically, "the owner is a total hottie."
That earned a laugh.
"Vicky," One smacked the arm of the one who said that, "what would Bryan think if he heard you?"
"He'd probably agree," Vicky grinned lewdly.
These girls...
"But seriously," the second continued, "there's something off about that place. Not bad. Just… different. Like you feel weirdly safe there. Which is saying something for Hell's Kitchen."
"Yeah, I read somewhere that no one's been mugged near it. Like, ever. Doesn't matter the hour."
That made me stop walking altogether. That… that didn't make sense. I lived close, and it was horribly dangerous thanks to the crime lord settling there. A single moment could ruin your life, and it wasn't any better when the heroes got involved.
"What really freaked me out," the first girl said, "is that people say the owner makes deals."
That stopped me cold. It was absurd. Why was I paying so much attention to some obvious gossip?
"Deals?" the other repeated.
"Yeah. Like, actual deals. He can make things happen. And the crazy part? They say they all turn out true."
"That's bullshit."
"I thought so too. But he doesn't even ask for much. Like, nothing crazy. People say he just… listens."
They laughed it off as they walked away, their voices fading into the city noise.
I stood there, staring at nothing.
The cocaine bag dropped onto the floor.
I didn't know what I was feeling. But I needed to find out if it was true.
Because at this point... I was ready to make a deal with the devil.
Later.
The Ninth Circle was… warmer than I expected.
Just… warm. It brought back memories of better times.
I hesitated at the counter, brushing my fingers with the crumpled five-dollar bill in my pocket. My last one. I hated myself for wasting it on something like this.
Ordering coffee, I winced when my stomach rumbled.
I wanted food. God, I wanted food. But I couldn't pay for everything, and I wasn't going to beg. I didn't need more pity. Or being kicked out.
I looked around the place curiously before taking a seat in the farthest corner.
Looking at all those books, the girls from the street weren't joking, if anything, they were understating it.
Wooden shelves lined the walls, packed full of them. Some titles I recognized. Most of them, I didn't. A few of them looked… strange.
Almost like they were glowing.
I shook my head. I was just tired. That was all. Everyone knew books didn't glow.
Still, my feet moved before I told them to. And I grabbed one.
One book, in particular, pulled at me.
The art of life force.
My chest tightened as I flipped it open, a strange warmth spreading all over my body. Maybe the lack of drugs was making me delirious.
It was as if the lights in the store dimmed just a tad as soon as I opened the book.
My stomach rumbled loudly, making me hunch in embarrassment.
A worker approached my table holding my cup of coffee, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else but here.
I knew his kind; I was like that, too, most of the time.
I was about to thank him even from a distance, but before he could get closer, someone approached him and grabbed the cup. A confident smirk on his face as he whispered something to the original server.
The Asian man grunted, looking at me, then at the other man. Then he sighed and turned around. I didn't fail to see how he rolled his eyes at the second one.
And… The other one walked towards me.
Around my age, less than twenty if I had to guess, but not by much. Blond hair, much more vibrant than mine. Blue eyes that were just like mine.
He was beautiful. It wasn't a surprise that he was a model, as the girls claimed.
He looked better than most models I had seen my whole life. Did he get some plastic surgery?
He smiled as he set the cup down properly.
"Enjoy," he said simply.
Then he turned to leave, but our hands brushed.
A spark shot through me, racing through my entire body. I gasped softly, my fingers curling around the cup instinctively.
He stopped too. I wasn't sure whether the lights dimmed further or what happened. Our eyes locked, and I couldn't look away.
For a brief second, neither of us moved.
Why… why didn't I want him to leave?
Then he smiled again. Gentler this time.
And walked away.
I tried to focus on the book again. Tried being the keyword. The words blurred together as my heart refused to calm down.
A couple of minutes passed. Or maybe more. I couldn't say.
Then, someone touched my shoulder.
He was back.
"Interesting choice you got there," he said, nodding toward the book.
He sat down across from me, with a plate of food in his hands.
His eyes flicked to the book. Something shifted in his expression… maybe recognition? Did he read this book? It made sense, it was his place after all.
Or amusement? It was gone before I could be sure.
My stomach betrayed me again. Oh God, this was so embarrassing.
He laughed softly and pushed the plate toward me.
"I was curious about something," he said lightly. "Do you mind if I sit down?"
I smiled, nodding despite my shame. He was already seated before I finished my nod.
Why did I like that confidence?
His eyes crinkled as I looked at him, I sipped on my coffee to hide my shame at being found out. Also, the glares from other girls from all over the store.
He was really popular.
"So… Life Force, then?" He smiled as he sat, his eyes never leaving my face. "What a nice coincidence."
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