The cold wind howled through the shattered remains of the ancient forest, sweeping ash and blood across the clearing where Dante and Selena stood. The embers from Lorenzo's disappearance still smoldered in the air, leaving behind a darkness that clung to their skin like soot. Selena felt it burrow deep into her chest—a whisper of dread, a premonition that the worst was yet to come.
Dante had barely spoken since their encounter with Lorenzo. His jaw was set, eyes hollow, hands trembling not from fear—but fury. He stalked ahead of her now, slicing through the overgrown path like a man possessed.
"Where are we going?" Selena asked, struggling to keep up.
"To the tomb," he growled.
She stopped. "Tomb?"
Dante turned slowly, his eyes glinting in the dark. "The place where my curse was born. If Lorenzo survived the flames, then the source of this power is still active. I need to end it."
Selena stepped forward. "You're not doing this alone."
He hesitated for a breath, then nodded.
The tomb lay hidden in the bowels of the forest—an underground crypt carved from obsidian and bone. They descended a spiral staircase that moaned with every step, torches igniting along the walls without a touch, reacting to Dante's presence.
At the bottom was a massive door, engraved with runes that shimmered with cursed light.
"This is it," Dante said, pressing a hand to the cold surface.
The door groaned open.
The room beyond pulsed with ancient energy. Symbols glowed on the walls, and in the center stood an altar with a single object upon it: a heart encased in black flame, floating above a bed of ashes.
Selena felt her breath catch. "Is that... yours?"
Dante nodded. "My mortal heart. Torn from me during the ritual that bound me to fire. It's the tether."
Selena approached it cautiously. The flames didn't burn her—but they seemed to recognize her. They danced higher.
"It reacts to you," Dante said.
She reached out. The flame curled around her fingers.
Suddenly, the room exploded with dark fire. Lorenzo appeared, stepping from the shadows.
"Touch it, and you kill him," he said.
Dante roared, summoning his flames. "Stay away from her."
Lorenzo laughed. "You still think you're strong enough to beat me? You gave me life, brother. Every ounce of darkness in you made me."
Selena stepped between them. "Then we'll end both your darkness—and his."
Lorenzo sneered. "Brave. Stupid. Let's see how long your courage lasts."
He launched a wave of black fire. Selena countered instinctively, raising her hands—and golden flames erupted. The force knocked Lorenzo back.
Dante's eyes widened. "You're awakening."
"I don't know how," she whispered.
"Because you carry a shard of my heart," Dante said. "When I saved you... I gave you part of me."
Lorenzo growled, regaining his footing. "Then I'll tear it out of her."
They fought.
Flame against flame.
Brother against brother.
Selena stood in the center of it, not just a witness—but a weapon. Her power grew with every strike. She began to see patterns in the chaos, feeling the rhythm of the cursed fire—and bending it.
She channeled Dante's fire, her own light, and struck Lorenzo with a beam of golden heat.
He screamed. Not in pain—but rage. "You don't understand what you've done. You've awakened the Flame Court."
The ground shook.
A crack split the tomb floor. Red light blazed from beneath.
Dante pulled Selena back. "We have to go—now."
They ran.
The tomb collapsed behind them as ancient forces stirred, awakened by the battle.
Back in the forest, Dante collapsed to his knees, panting. Selena dropped beside him.
"We didn't kill him," she said.
"No," Dante replied. "But we weakened him."
She looked at her hands. "What am I becoming?"
He met her gaze. "My equal."
The wind howled again—but this time, it didn't sound like a warning.
It sounded like a promise.
Together, they rose.
Their fight was just beginning.