Dante's Immortality - Chapter 77

Melisandre brushed his hair to the side until it seemed satisfactory. “There, now you’re ready.” Her hand flashed, and a key appeared in it and was held out for him.

“What is that?”

Melisandre had a playful smile on her face, and from past experience, that wasn’t a good sign. “It’s the key to your room for the night.”

Realization struck, and he glanced back at the inn in mortification. “You can’t be serious.”

Melisandre’s hand shot out, stealthily placing the key into his pocket. Then she began to push him into the inn. “Did you think I spent all this effort on you without reason? It’s time to get results.”

Dante dug his feet into the ground and tried to stop Melisandre from shoving him forward, but it was to no avail. “I can’t do that, Liza wouldn’t even want to.”

Melisandre’s playful smile turned into a playful smirk. “What makes you think that she wouldn’t want to?”

“We hardly know each other. The only reason I asked her on a date was because you told me to. How am I supposed to go from a dinner date to… that?” They reached the small steps that led to the door of the inn, and Melisandre didn’t stop pressing him forward.

She rolled her eyes. “Who said anything about a dinner date? The Golden Goose doesn’t even serve food. It’s a place that people go exclusively for sex.”

That made him speechless. “The only reason I asked her to go to the Golden Goose was because you told me to. I didn’t even know her name until this morning.”

Melisandre smirked, again. “Whether or not you know her isn’t important. Victoria is coming back tomorrow, and I feel like if someone doesn’t help you, you’re going to die a virgin.”

Melisandre’s words made him feel indignant, and he could feel his cheeks heat up. “Victoria is coming back tomorrow?”

His momentary pause was cut off by an abrupt push to the back, throwing him at the open doorway. Both of his feet and one of his hands stretched out to brace against the doorway and stop himself from being pushed inside. “Apparently, she found a perfect opportunity to train you and can’t delay any longer. I just got her letter yesterday.”

“It hasn’t even been a month.”

“Precisely our problem.” Melisandre snatched the large book he was holding in his free hand and nonchalantly tossed it to the side.

Dante watched the large encyclopedia fall to the dirtied floor in horror. “That was expensive.”

“I’m the one who paid for it.” Her tone was mirthful, and it was obvious she was enjoying herself. “Besides, you won’t need it tonight. I’ll drop it off in your room at our inn.”

It seemed his opportunity to ask Liza about the hybrid creatures in the encyclopedia just went out the window. His now free hand flew out and braced against the doorway. All four of his limbs were keeping him from being pushed inside. The pressure on his back increased, and he could hear the cracking that indicated that the wood of the doorway was going to give.

The pressure on his back lessened, and Melisandre became far more serious. “Dante, be honest. Do you want this? I know you’re nervous, but if you really don’t want to, I wouldn’t force you.”

Dante hesitantly looked back at Melisandre, she seemed to be awaiting his answer. It wasn’t a hard question to answer, of course he did. Who didn’t? And spending so much time with Melisandre and Olivia had only increased his curiosity regarding the subject.

Instead of answering Melisandre with words, Dante nodded, albeit reluctantly.

Melisandre’s face lit up with an enchanting smile. “Then don’t worry so much. Besides, if it doesn’t go well, I have a backup plan.” Without waiting for a response, both his hands and feet were shoved off of the doorway, and he was pushed into the inn.

The sudden acceleration took him by surprise, and he began to fall to the floor face first. Reacting on instinct, Dante tucked his head and rolled on his shoulder, finishing the full rotation by landing gracefully on his feet.

As soon as he got back to his feet, Dante glared through the open doorway, only to see a smiling Melisandre giving him a thumbs up. He didn’t know how, but he would get back at her for that.

Putting Melisandre out of his mind, Dante took stock of his new surroundings. It definitely wasn’t a regular inn. Other than the scattered couples who were partaking in different drinks, there were around half a dozen finely dressed and alluring women standing by the bar eyeing him. Two were laughing with each other as they watched him, likely because of his dramatic entrance.

Judging by the looks he was receiving, he had discovered Melisandre’s backup plan.

In the far corner of the room, sitting so that she was facing a wall, was Liza. He could tell it was Liza because she looked almost as uncomfortable as he was, even from behind.

Filling himself with false confidence, and that stupid grin that Melisandre had taught him, Dante walked across the room to her, completely ignoring the inviting looks that the women at the bar were giving him. With every step he took, the key in his pocket seemed to increase in weight, like it was an overwhelming burden that he had been saddled with.

Dante sat across from her. “Hello Liza. You look lovely tonight.” Liza had clearly made a large effort. Her spectacles were gone, her usual ponytail was undone in favor of the light curls that seemed to be in fashion, and for the first time since he had met her she was wearing makeup - even though it was only lightly applied. She was wearing an emerald colored dress, which emphasized her bright red face, and his words made her a shade redder. Seeing how embarrassed she was to be there, he had a desire to go back in time and beat himself up before he could ask her to go with him to the Golden Goose.

“Hey Dante!” She seemed excited, but then caught herself and averted her gaze slightly. “You, uh, also look great.”

Dante adjusted his posture, squaring his shoulders so they were in line with what Melisandre had taught him. “I know I invited you out on short notice, so if you just want to grab a drink here and then go do something else, that would be fine too.” He did his best to gauge her reaction, trying to give her a way out if she was too uncomfortable.

“No!” Even she seemed surprised by her sudden outburst. “I mean, um, I usually don’t drink. Actually, I had a long day at the shop because of the new shipment, why don’t we, uh, go see the room?”

Dante stared at Liza in shock, and could feel his face heat up. How in the hell was he supposed to keep his composure in this situation? It was really happening, and Melisandre had only given him a few minutes notice.

“Dante?”

Hearing Liza’s voice, he stopped silently cursing Melisandre. She was looking at him as if she had accidentally done something wrong. He checked himself, and brought back the grin that had somehow slipped previously. “I’m sorry. Admittedly, you make me a bit nervous.”

Seeing how happy the comment had made her, Dante released a silent sigh. Saved.

Dante stood and offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

Liza had a beaming smile on her face as she stood and grabbed onto his arm. He was surprised, she seemed to be far less nervous now than she was previously, it should have been the opposite.

Dante led Liza up the stairwell. It was a different experience than walking with Olivia, or even Kayla. They would press themselves up against him, as though they were molding themselves to his body. In contrast, Liza was almost the opposite. She was reserved, keeping a slight gap between them.

Upon making it up the stairwell, Dante pulled the key out of his pocket. It was etched with the number twelve. Silently, he pulled Liza to the twelfth room, stopping outside of it and turning to her, full of hesitation. Liza seemed to have none of his hesitation, she seemed almost… excited?

“Liza, I should be honest with you. I’m going to be leaving Desas soo-”

His words were broken off by Liza’s sudden movement. She reached forward, lacing her hands behind his neck and drew herself closer, pressing her supple lips against his own.

Dante’s eyes widened in surprise, but Liza didn’t relent. Her lips moved expertly, and it was evident that she had plenty of experience. He shut his eyes, losing himself in the sensation.

Despite being taken off-guard, he quickly adapted to the kiss, paying close attention to Liza’s movements and replicating them. It was wonderful, and his confidence was building as their kiss continued.

Just as he began to lose himself in the moment, he felt Liza’s tongue lightly caress his bottom lip, his eyes shot open in surprise. Liza’s eyes fluttered open, and he could feel her lips curl into a slight smile as she grabbed onto the hand that was holding the key to the room.

“Shall we?”

Giving a quick, almost jerkish nod, Dante pressed the key into the lock and turned it.

Melisandre

As the moans - and groans - that leaked through the wall increased in both volume and quantity, Olivia was visibly struggling to hold back her delighted laughter.

Melisandre gave her an admonishing look. “I think he can handle it from here, let us return to our room.”

Olivia gave her a pleading glance. “But they just started.”

“We have already completed our objective. He has no need of our help.” Melisandre smirked. “Although, I must say, that girls reputation is definitely deserved. I wouldn’t have thought she had such a side to her if you hadn’t mentioned it.”

In reply, Olivia just smiled as she leaned closer to the wall.

Melisandre walked to the door. “Let’s go. What he does tonight is no longer our concern.”

Olivia gave another pleading glance, but seeing that Melisandre’s expression didn’t change, she too moved to the door with a sigh. “Yes, master.”

Just as they reached the door, they heard a loud groan that overshadowed the others, then there was silence.

Olivia bursted out into laughter, and Melisandre couldn’t hold back her own smile. “That was certainly… quick.”

Only a few seconds later, the sound of moans and groans picked up again, and Melisandre and Olivia looked at each other with eyebrows raised.