Love & Betrayal

A/N: this is set around 4AD

Since there are two languages in here, the latin is in "*...*" and the demonic language is normal "..." becasue of course English is not something which they would have known (yes i was bored enough to think up things like that...well i wrote the whole fic, that should tell you something about my boredness hehe)

anyway, i have kept all fight scenes as brief as i can because i am really bad at fight scenes and i know it.*shrug*

~*~*~

Sparda reached the human world once more and saw devils were pouring from the tower; he had to close it to end the overflow. He went to a smaller transportation portal back to Rome; there was something decidedly darker about the city, he looked to one of the guards, “*What has happened here?*” he asked in the native Latin.

“*The Emperor has been announced that his heir Gaius Caesar died from a battle wound, Tiberius Claudius Nero has been officially named Tiberius Caesar Augustus and has been adopted as the new heir,*” the guard told him, “T*he news has been sent to all posts throughout the empire.*”

Sparda nodded and walked on sighing, he had never liked Tiberius, or his mother, Livia, he was certain that Livia at least was responsible for the deaths of Augustus’ named heirs in some way, but since he did not live among humans, their affairs did not concern him directly and so he had kept his opinions to himself; if things started getting too out of hand, then he would step in. He shook his thoughts and went back to the task at hand and saw his destination.

A young woman stared at him as she saw him walk to the door of Vesta’s sacred temple, “*sir, you cannot enter here, it is forbidden,*” she told him.

Sparda nodded, “*I know, but this is a matter of some importance,*” he told her, “*the portal to the demonic realm, Temen-ni-gru needs to be sealed away, I need the blood of another, as well as my own to make sure it stays sealed.*”

At this request, the girl looked at him horrified and backed away before retreating to the safety of the temple.

Sparda sighed, he knew this would be difficult, but he also knew it was better to have the pure blood of a virgin to seal the portal with, and who better to ask for help in this matter of guarding the home realm of humans, other than a priestess of the goddess of the home. It made sense to him. he was about to walk away when the High Priestess walked out to him.

“*I have been told of your request Sparda,*” she said looking to him, “*you know human sacrifice does not sit well in our world…*”

“*But it is to save your world, Julia,*” he stated, remembering that he had run into this woman before, at least she seemed to remember him as well, that would be a good start, “*no one has to die, I do not think it will need such a large amount of blood.*”

Julia considered this a moment and nodded with a sigh, “*your point is conceded,*” she looked to him, “*I shall go with you to complete this task, Octavia is more than ready to take my place as High Priestess of Vesta.*”

Sparda gave her a small smile and nodded, “*thank you, the gracious Vesta will reward you for your efforts to save the home of all people.*” He smiled softly to her, knowing that everyone took comfort in the gods. ‘Even if they do not exist’, he thought, but if it was helping him to get what he needed, then he should not complain.

They walked in silence for a long time and he pulled her close as they travelled through the portal, so they would not separate and she end up elsewhere. “*stay close,*” he instructed and walked through the gate to the tower to see Cerberus guarding the entrance.

“What mortals dare to enter this tower,” Cerberus growled.

Sparda sighed, “It is I Cerberus,” he said, “This portal is being closed for good, I am leaving you here, to make sure nothing else gets through it.”

Cerberus’ heads lowered in acknowledgement, “Of course Master Sparda.”

Sparda nodded and walked through, the priestess following behind him, staying close. Next he came to the twins of fire and air, Angi and Rudra, Haures had lost his temper with them long ago and decapitated them, their heads shrunk to fit on the hilt of their swords, the priestess gasped and hid behind him, seeing the two large headless bodies.

“The Beautiful woman is hiding behind Master Sparda in fear.” Rudra said.

“What is fear?” Angi looked to the blue devil.

“It is what you two are going to experience if you do not stop babbling like imbeciles.” Sparda growled, they quickly fell silent; he handed them several objects, “This portal is being closed, should anyone get this far, from either side, destroy them.” he instructed.

“Yes Master Sparda,” they both said in unison and stayed silent as the two carried on through.

The two walked in silence for a long while until they passed under the waterfalls and entered a dark room, full of only bats.

“come out Nevan,” Sparda called, “I know you are here.”

“Coming sugar,” Nevan replied in a sultry tone, “My my, who is this pretty thing?” she nodded to the priestess.

Sparda shook his head a little, “She is here to help close the portal,” he told her, “I suggest you hide the main artefacts that are needed to reach this point, and stop anyone who tries to get through.”

Nevan looked to him and nodded, “Of course sugar,” she said pressing against him, “What happened to Mundus? Weren’t you going to find him and bring him back?”

Sparda growled at her, “He is lost, far beyond my reach.” He answered tightly then continued walking.

“Such a charmer,” Nevan sighed shaking her head a little as they walked away.

They travelled a little longer, then Beowulf crashed into the room.

Sparda moved in front of the priestess, shielding her and he attacked the devil, using his natural talents for moving faster than even a normal devil could and started beating him back with ease.

Beowulf on the other hand was not going to be beaten so easily, he charged toward the female cowering in the corner of the room. Sparda saw this and threw his sword at the devil, slicing his right eye, effectively blinding him. Beowulf roared out and decided to retreat for now, until he could fight when Sparda was at a disadvantage.

The two reached the top of the tower, where it was a perfect circle, with an indent in the middle, he handed the priestess the dagger, “*cut your hand,*” he instructed, “*let it bleed over the indent here.*” He told her and then started chanting in an ancient demonic language. He cut his own palm and let it join her blood and went to put his sword into it as well, to complete the ritual, when the priestess stumbled forward, her whole white gown covered in blood.

Mundus stood smirking darkly, “didn’t think I would allow you to make it so easy, did you?”

“Alastor is dead?” Sparda guessed, it was the only Mundus would have been able to get into this realm if Alastor was stopping him.

Mundus nodded, “he allowed himself the indignity of becoming a sword,” he said casually. “so, are we going to fight?”

“I never intended on fighting you,” Sparda told him.

Mundus laughed, “Please, then what is all this for then?”

“To stop you having the chance of harming the humans.”

“Always the noble one,” Mundus shook his head.

The tower shook, Sparda knew he had little time; he continued chanting as Mundus slashed at him, he dodged and slammed his sword into the indent, the red jewel in the middle of the crimson blade falling out and he spun as the sword changed and knocked Mundus back with it, he could already feel the majority of his power leaving as he threw Mundus through the portal and followed after him.

“Traitor,” Mundus hissed as he regained his balance.

Sparda shook his head, “I have betrayed no one, I am doing what I can to defend my realm.”

“You betrayed me,” Mundus snarled, “You nearly died, you let me go back with him. I will hate you eternally for that.”

Sparda shook his head, “Think of it as you will, I did nothing but love you, I regretted that he was able to take you back every day. You are the one that left with him. Too weak to fight him off yourself. You just gave up. if anyone has betrayed anyone, it is you. After all Alastor, Ifrit and I did for you, this is how you repaid us,” he shook his head, “You are as pathetic as your father,” he hissed.

Mundus snarled and charged for him but Sparda saw the attack coming and dodged, he tripped Mundus, who collided to the floor with a thud. Before he could get up; Sparda kicked Mundus in the head several times until he was lying barely aware of what was going on, he moved to deliver the killing blow, but found he could not, Mundus regained some strength and pulled Sparda’s legs from under him, as the older devil hit the floor, his sword left his hand and embedded in the rock, he growled and kicked Mundus through the vortex back to hell before looking to the closing portal, he glanced to his blade, it was too late, that would have to stay behind; he jumped through the portal just before it shut and grabbed the jewel from his sword and picked it up then jumped off the tower as it started going down fast.

Now exhausted, Sparda watched as the dust settled from the tower hiding deep within the earth, he sighed and turned from the tower, not knowing that it would rise again 2000 years later, in the name of revenge.

~*~*~

The sequel In the Name of Revenge has been started, anyone want to see it?