Memento

ages Here.      The butler gently set a delicate coffee cup and saucer down on the table in front of him, taking care to center it precisely before setting down a small silver tray with cream and sugar bowl.  Dante stared down at it.  A corner of his mouth turned down.

    "Would you like something else instead?"

    Dante glanced up at his host and shook his head.

    "I suppose I should introduce myself," the man said as he stirred sugar into his cup.  "My name is Marius.  I own the museum with that artifact that you seemed so entranced by."

    Dante said nothing and waited with thinly veiled impatience as Marius carefully added dashes of cream into coffee as he continued to stir.

    "Why that sword?" Marius said as he took a tentative sip and nodded to himself before he took another drink from the cup.  "There were hundreds of swords in that museum.  Why were you particularly mesmerized by that one?"

    "I think you already have a theory, since you insisted having me here."

    Marius dabbed at his mouth with the linen napkin.

    "I have many theories, but I think what you can tell me would be more interesting than what I have to say."

    "I don't have time for this -- " Dante said and pushed back his chair.

    "It was calling out to you wasn't it?"

    Dante paused, frozen in mid-motion.  The smile on Marius' face spread at the silent confirmation written in Dante's expression.

    "The sword, it was calling out your name in your mind.  You have seen the sword before but you have no memory of it.  You stood in front of the glass case, staring at it as it called out your name."

    Marius took another sip from the cup and placed it back on the saucer.

    "Very interesting day for both of us," Marius said.  "You found Force Edge and I found you.  You really should be more careful, dear boy.  Halflings are hunted by both demons and humans.  You are maybe...16? You might have some powers but most of your potential's not under your control yet. "

    "Who are you?"

    "A curious human, that's all," Marius smiled.  "For generations, my family had always been fascinated by the likes of the things with demonic blood.  A particular demon named Sparda had caught the attention of my ancestors since the day he ascended into this world.  He and all of the families he had created with human women through two thousand years were watched...I suppose in the way that he was like a living heirloom for our family.  I was quite devastated that within the week Sparda died, his family was murdered."

    Marius took another drink of the coffee that drained the cup.  He sighed and tapped at the buzzard on the table.  The butler returned to the garden where they sat with a silver carafe and refilled Marius' cup.  After a disapproving glance at Dante's untouched cup, the butler excused himself and left them alone again.

    "From the family archive, I read Sparda's children were always twin boys.  It was interesting when I learned that 16 years ago, Sparda's recent human wife only gave him a single child.  I have always had my doubts when Eva and the child were murdered.  Then now I see you, I've come to comprehend everything."

    Marius spooned sugar into the coffee and stirred it.  

    "There has always been twins.  Sparda and Eva kept the children from the public eye and convinced those around them that there has only been one boy born to them.  No one had ever seen the boys together.  Sparda knew he was dying and could not protect his children.  Protect his last children from the demons that wait the moment of his death to put an end to the Sparda bloodline.  Through their manipulation, at least one child may be spared from being hunted if the demons did come.  They would only know to look for one child in the house."

    "And you think I am this spared child."

    Marius laughed softly.

    "You don't have to admit anything to me, dear boy.  I think it might be dangerous if you did.  Sparda had a striking human profile and distinctiveness that only he and his children bore.  The silver hair and the blue eyes--" Marius said and took a sip from the cup.  "The children Sparda bore had never taken any likeness from the mother."

    Dante shifted in his seat, a discomfort crawling up his spine.  The human knew more about him than he did himself.  In spite of his soft spoken words and manicured appearance, there was a predatory air about him that made Dante tense.

    "Force Edge was Sparda's sword," Marius said finally and pushed himself away from the table.  "That was why it called to you.  It was calling out to the Sparda blood."

    Marius circled the stone table until he was standing behind Dante's chair.

    "How much do you want for it?"

    "Dear boy," Marius said and made Dante flinch when he threaded his fingers through the silk-like hair.  "I don't want money.  I don't need money."

    Dante pushed Marius' hand from him and stood up, the sudden angry movement made the coffee cup tip and spill out. 

    "Don't touch me and don't make assumptions about me."

    Marius took a step back and raised his hands in a mock surrender.

    "I made no assumptions about you.  I merely proposed a price for your father's sword."

    A low growl came from the bottom of Dante's throat.  He clenched and unclenched his fists at his side, uncertain if he should stay or leave.

    "I only want something my ancestors who had faithfully watched and admired Sparda for thousands of years, could never get. A taste of something that will no longer exist, after the last Sparda ceased to be.  A curse of the halfling blood, they could not father any children."

    "If you held Sparda in the regard you claimed to have, then you would never ask for such a thing."

    "When you are immersed in power -- be it in any form, that it will corrupt even the purest feelings or intentions.  The day Sparda died, everything he had left behind -- his swords or his children, becomes nothing but memento for me to seek out and collect.  Something personal that could bring me pleasure."

    "What if I refuse?"

    "Would you?" Marius said and ran the back of his hand along Dante's cheek.  "Would you abandon the last relic that would bind you to your bloodline and make you whole? Or would you come and kill me for it someday, when your powers heighten...if you can find me or survive the hunters until then."

    "You don't think I could kill you now?"

    Marius laughed, his hand moved down to Dante's neck.

    "You probably could but you would never find Force Edge again.  I made prior arrangements before our meeting just in case my instincts were correct."

    Marius' hand close around Dante's slim throat, squeezing it until he could feel the muscles there flex instinctively.  Dante remained expressionless and unmoved, even when he could no longer breathe.

    "I don't want to kill you, boy," Marius whispered.  "It would be quite a waste.  I only want to play with you for a few days."

    Marius loosened his grip and Dante brushed his hand to the side.  Reddened marks made by Marius finger were bright against the alabaster skin.

    "I might not have honorable intentions but I do keep my word once I give it," Marius said.  A finger traced a line from Dante's neck down to his chest.  "You will have Force Edge and I will never come back to your life again."

    Marius' finger paused at the belt line.  He smiled, feeling a shudder that ran through Dante's body then.

    "A few days," Marius whispered and moved his hand back up toward the chest. "That's not too much to ask, is it?"

    "You want more than just fuck, don't you?"

    Marius chuckled. His fingers deftly unbuttoned the dress shirt Dante wore.  Dante tensed and drew in a breath but he said nothing and did nothing to dissuade Marius. 

    "Not the kind of eloquent language I would expect out of a Sparda.  You must have had an interesting raising," Marius said and pushed back the undone shirt until they hung from the crooks of Dante's elbows.  "Yes, I want more than just casual fucking."

    Marius leaned in and kissed Dante's shoulder, savoring the soft scent from the skin.  Carefully, he circled his arms around Dante's waist and pulled him into an embrace.   Dante struggled for a moment, out of instinct.  He reminded himself to breathe and not to give into the apprehension that had been growing deep inside him, threatening to swallow him whole.

    "I want to cover your body with welts.  Cut open this smooth skin with lines of gashes with blood trickling out to color the white skin."

    Pads of Marius' thumb and forefinger caught a nipple and pinched it until a wince was wrung out of Dante.

    "The thinnest whip made from fresh, young bamboo -- soaked overnight in salt can bring out the most exquisite pain without leaving behind hideous marks.  The pain raise to a different level when it's applied to the most sensitive parts of the body..." 

    Marius bent down and ran his tongue over the nipples until they became hard little nabs.  Dante breathed in unsteadily, fighting the urge to push Marius away and flee.  

    "These pretty nipples and your little virgin hole would be whipped until they bled...after that, I'll fuck you."

    "You sick fucking bastard..."

    Marius' smile broaden.

    "Just indulging in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  I used to have to purchase throw-away humans from foreign countries to do this.  They don't last very long.  Most of them loses their vigor and resiliency after a couple of thorough whippings.  You are quite different.  No matter how much I hurt you, you will be healed and ready for me again next morning.  Knowing you are half Sparda made it so much more exciting for me."

    Dante pushed himself away from Marius and shrugged on his shirt.

    "You won't be able to release the rest of your powers until you have the Force Edge, boy.  It would only be a matter of a few years...or perhaps sooner, before the demons or the hunters find you.  Without your Sparda blood unlocked, you are too weak to defend yourself.  If you are fortunate, the hunters might just rape you then give you a quick death.  If the demons finds you...even suicide would be out of your reach.  I assume you would like to have enough strength to avenge your mother and brother? Wouldn't giving away a few days of your life worth this chance? I am a reasonable man.  I'll let you think about my offer.  My butler will give you my card.  Come to me tomorrow night if you accept my terms.  Call me and I'll send a car for you."

    Marius bowed, turned and sauntered through the doorway.  Dante stared after him.  The appalling sensation that had been simmering in the pit of his belly had finally uncoiled.  He sank back down on the chair, realizing his legs had become strengthless suddenly.  He did not even notice the butler who had come in and set down a small silver tray with a gold card in front of him.

    Long after he had been left alone, Dante stared at the card.  When he finally worked up enough nerve, he picked up the card by its corner and read the name and address from it.  

    Shit...  

 

    The estate was impressive.  The instant feel Dante gathered from it was the sense of being lost in Versailles.  He almost expected the servant who had opened the door to wear a white powdered wig and silk outfit.  Instead, a fragile young boy with visible bruises on one of his cheeks answered the door.  The boy was probably his age but his thin frame and doe-like eyes made him look considerably younger.  The boy said nothing as he led Dante through a labyrinth of hallways.  It was a trying effort not to be distracted by the rich paintings and sculptures spread along the halls.

    "How long have you been here?" Dante said to the boy.  The boy slowed down and glanced over his shoulder at Dante and shook his head.  

    "I asked a simple question."

    The boy stopped and turned to face him.  The boy opened his mouth and pointed at it.

    "Sonuvabitch..." Dante whispered.

    The boy's tongue had been cut out .  The boy closed his mouth and lowered his eyes, then gestured for Dante to follow him again.

    "He did that to you?" Dante said.  It was a statement although he had intoned a question into the sentence.  The boy looked at him again and gave him a weak smile.

    "He bought you, didn't he?"

    The boy nodded.  They had come to a closed double doors.  The boy carefully knocked three times before pushing one of the doors open.  He gestured for Dante to go in and when Dante walked through, the boy shut the door behind him and left.  Dante found himself looking at Marius dining at the far end of the dining room table nursing a glass of wine.  Two men in black three-piece suits stood on the side quietly, their eyes fixed forward.

    "Would you like a drink? " 

    "I didn't come to socialize," Dante cut in sharply.  "First, I want to see the sword."

    "Did you think I would cheat you?"

    When Dante didn't answer, Marius let out a deep sigh and spoke an instruction to the men in French.  One of them bowed and marched off.

    "Sit down," Marius said and gestured at the empty chair to the right of him.

    Dante remained as he was. 

    "Sooner or later, we will be quite intimate with each other.  You might as well start on my good side and do as I say."

    Dante hesitated for a moment longer before he took steps toward the seat.  Marius watched Dante as he came to him, studying the precise movements of the legs -- taking each step in utter confidence, even when Dante's eyes betrayed his true thoughts.  Marius would have liked to marvel out loud but thought it was inappropriate then and said nothing.  The game had not started and already he had struck un-named fear in Dante.  It made him smile instead.  Dante's frown became more pronounced when he saw the grin.

    "Before you sit down," Marius said as Dante slid out the chair to sit down.  "Take off your clothes.  I'd like to see you."

    Slight dusts of red colored Dante's cheeks.

    "Since we are doing a bit of preview -- I'd like to see what I'm getting, and when Alfred comes back with the Force Edge, you can have a closer look at what you are getting," Marius said and leaned back, lacing one leg over the other as he did so.  "If you can't stand a little nudity now, then the next few days will be quite difficult for you."

    Dante's anger was obvious as he shrugged off his leather jacket and let it crumple to the floor.  He undid his shirt and pants in quick, furious motions.  He discarded his clothes into an unkempt pile on top of his jacket.  

    "You don't have a 16-year old's body.  Boys at that age tend to be awkward and not very proportioned," Marius said and raised his glass to give Dante a toast before he took a sip of the wine.  "Very beautiful."

    Marius uncrossed his legs and sat up.

    "Come closer."

    Dante took a few steps forward but stopped an arm's reach away.  

    "I am asking for five days," Marius said and drew Dante to him.  "You will physically survive it, but I can't be certain if your mind could."

    Dante shuddered when Marius kissed Dante's belly, then licked a short trail upwards.

    "But in those five days -- you are to follow my instructions completely.  I like a little fight from you but push me back too far and the deal's dissolved.  I'll turn you loose on the streets and take my pleasure watching you raped and killed."

    Dante restrained a gasp that nearly escaped him when Marius' hands cupped the cheeks of his ass and gave them a squeeze.

    "Are you a virgin?"

    When Dante didn't answer, one of Marius hand slapped the fleshy cheek.  The pain was not sever but it did startle him. 

    "No..." Dante blurted out.

    "I didn't take you to be the romantic kind," Marius said and laughed.

    "I am not."

    "I didn't take you to be the whorish kind either."

    "I am not."

    An eyebrow raised.

    "Meaning?"

    Dante was spared from answering by the Alfred's entrance.  In his arm, he cradled the long sword loosely wrapped in red satin.  From the gleam of the blade tip that had been uncovered, Dante knew it was his father's sword.  Alfred stood at a distance, nearly across the room before he unraveled the rest of the satin from Force Edge.

    "I do apologize for the precaution.  Although I know your powers are not fully matured, I understand it is, nonetheless, superhuman.  I am also not certain what will happen if you were to touch the sword."

    Dante stared  at the bright silver sword, its polished sheen glowed brightly in the dark red it was set in.  A soft whisper echoed in his head again.  He was not certain what the voice said but the tone of it was comforting.  It was beckoning to him -- somewhere in the words that had no meaning, Dante heard his name.

    "Get on the table."

    Marius' voice shattered the soothing presence in his mind and dissipated it.  He was sudden returned to the horrid reality of the present.  

    "Unless you would like the boys to help you."

    Dante grimaced as his bared bottom made contact with the cold table.  He scooted backwards until his the crook of his knees made contact with the edge of the table.

    "Lie down and open your legs.  I'd like to have a better look at you."

    Dante did as he was told, although he felt absurd doing so.  He winced when two wet fingers was thrust into him.  The pain didn't come until the fingers gradually spread apart, opening him.  Instinctively, Dante moved to close his legs.  

    "Keep them open or I will have them tied open."

    His legs quivered as he fought the need to close and get away from the hurt.  His breath were in short and ragged as the fingers twisted cruelly inside.

    "You are very tight," Marius said and withdrew his fingers.  He dipped his fingers into his wine glass, re-wetting them and pushed them back in.  "Although I am a little sad I would not be your first.  Who took you?"

    "I...don't know..."

    "You don't know?"

    A third finger was pushed in and the new fullness made Dante cry out.

    "I don't...know...him."

    The fingers were shoved up to the knuckles and curled inside the tightness.  Dante rose to his elbows and tried to crawl backwards away.  Instead, he was pushed back down on the table hard by the suited men by his arms.

    "You are telling me you've been raped?" Marius chuckled and pulled out his wet fingers.  "I think you are lying to me, Dante."

    Marius thrust his fingers up to Dante's mouth.

    "Your lovely ass was milking my fingers.  I think you were wishing it was a cock, right?"

    Dante shook his head and turned away when Marius pressed his fingers against his lower lip.

    "I know you spread your legs willingly for your first man," Marius whispered and ran his fingers down the slim throat and onto the chest.  "Just as easily as you are spreading your legs for me now."

    Dante gasped, his chest rose as fingernails racked across his nipples, circling them until they became hard little nabs.

    "I'll bet I can make you cum just by playing with these delicate little things," Marius smiled, rubbing the swollen tips with the pads of his fingers.  "It's quite amazing what kind of sensation a body can feel from such small bits of flesh." 

    Dante shook his head, even as Marius bent forward and lashed at the nipples with the tip of his tongue.  Pleasure in heady waves bolted through his body.  He pulled at his arms, wanting to push Marius away from him.   He didn't want this kind of sensation although it was intoxicating him like some powerful drug.  In a distant awareness, Dante felt his hands untrapped and moved to grip the still-clothed erection in the men's pants.  He tried to pull his hand away but his hands were kept there by strong hands that held his wrists.

    In midst of the pleasure, a burn cut through it all and made Dante scream even before he realized what had happened.  Marius' mouth was still licking at his chest as he pushed his cock against his unprepared hole that was pulled open by two fingers hooked at its rim.  

    "No, don't -- "

    "Shhh---" Marius whispered and pushed in harder until the thick head slid inside.  "It will hurt only for a little while."

    Tears poured out from Dante's eyes as he thrashed on the table.  Little by little, the cock was pressed in slowly until the entire length was buried inside.  Exhausted from the struggle, Dante stopped moving and panted, his body glossy with a thin coat of sweat.

    "When I start to fuck you" Marius said and moved his hand down to pin down Dante's hips.  "I want you to jerk my boys off."

    Dante blinked at the tears that was still in his eyes until his vision cleared.  He stared fixedly at the chandelier set high in the vaulted ceiling.  He refused to look away, even as his hands were pressed onto the engorged cocks.  The scent of the men's arousal, coupled with the feel of the slightly sticky skin over hard flesh made Dante quiver with disgust.

    "If you can't make them cum before I finish with you, then they'll get to use your lovely ass too."

    Before he could voice his protest, Marius began to thrust in and out in quick, hard motions.  He screamed, the scent of blood had already filled the air, mingling with the acrid smell of sex.  Marius had torn him open. 

    "Move your hands or those two cocks will go into this hole at the same time."

    It took him a few moments longer for Dante to will his mind to work.  His squeezed the thickness in the hollow of his hand, then stroked them in uneven motions that matched Marius' changing pace.  

    "You look especially beautiful now," Marius said and shifted to hook Dante's legs over his shoulders before beginning another barrage of hard thrusts that sank in deeper.  "You are a natural whore."

    Dante shook his head and let out another cry as he felt one of the cocks in his hand convulse.  A strong hand seized him by his jaw and forced it open in time for several thick splashes of cum to shoot into his opened mouth.

    "Swallow."

    His mouth was clamped shut and a hand sealed over it.  He swallowed the saltiness just so the taste would not be strong on his tongue.

    "Open his mouth, I'm about to cum."

    Dante's mouth was pried open again.  Strings of the viscous fluid filled his mouth and wet his cheek.  Dante swallowed as quickly as he could but the cum felt lodged in his throat.  The wet soft cocks were pushed against his lips after the hand sealed over his mouth lifted.

    "Clean them up."

    With his tongue, Dante lapped at the shafts until the men were satisfied enough to pull back and tuck themselves in.

    "I've not had this nice of a fuck in a long time," Marius said, drops of perspiration trickled from his damp hair.  "I expect our time together to be even better by day."

    Marius pulled out, the sudden emptiness made Dante wince.  Roughly, he was turned over on his stomach and Marius pushed back in again.

    "Almost, darling..." 

    Dante's eyes caught the sight of Force Edge leaning against the wall in the far end of the room.  He squeezed his eyes shut and said his apologies to his father in his mind.  Dante opened his eyes again and stared fixedly at the sword, ignoring the pain that came with each hard stroke that continued to rip him more and more open.  Dante focused on the details of the sword -- letting himself be mesmerized by it instead of being taken by the humiliating pains again.  

    "You've stopped screaming," Marius said as he seized a handful of his hair and pulled his head backwards so hard that Dante felt his neck would snap into two.  "You are not going unconscious on me, are you? I don't like fucking a lifeless body."

    The hand in his hair was released.  Marius stopped his movements, his cock speared deep inside up to its roots.  Dante shivered as he registered the sound of the belt being slipped out of its loops.  He opened his mouth, wanting but reluctant to ask Marius not to hit him.  A whistle of the leather sang through the air followed by a slash of pain across both cheeks of his ass.  Dante did scream, his fingers clawed at the smooth surface of the table on impulse as more blows followed, one harder than the next.  Marius clung onto Dante's hips as he howled.  Hot cum flooded him, stinging his torn insides.  Blood and cum trickled down his spread thighs, its rivulets grew wider as the softened cock was unplugged from his abused hole.

    "Don't move," Marius said and stepped back.  He tossed the folded belt to the side and sank into his chair.  "I want to watch the blood and cum leak out of you...."

    Marius refilled his wine glass from the crystal decanter and took a long drink that nearly drained the glass.

    "Is that sword worth this?"

    It took Dante a few seconds to make his voice work.  

    "So I can kill you later, yes."

    Marius laughed and refilled his glass.

    "I am counting on it, Dante," Marius said softly.  "I would not expect anything less from you."

 

End Part 1