Rebirth

[dante]

Dante stood before the path that led to her mansion, her eyes resting on the expansive forest in front of her. For decades she had lived in these woods, enjoying the peace and tranquility that they offered, but now it was time to leave them behind and move on. Thinking about it saddened the old woman, but she took solace in the fact that her youth would soon be restored.

She glanced over her shoulder at her young guardian. "Come along, Wrath. Time is of the essence."

She began walking up the path, moving slowly to avoid putting any further strain on her failing body. Her wounds had been cleaned and bandaged before they departed for Dublith, but that did not change the fact that they would inevitably claim her life if she did not transfer soon. Not only that, but the weakened state of her body had accelerated the rotting process. Her time was short.

Seeing her mansion in the distance, she frowned when she noticed the light shining through the windows. Things would go a lot smoother if Lyra were asleep for the transferal. Still, it wasn't a problem. If the girl put up any struggle, Wrath would easily subdue her. At least the little brat was good for something.

[silverviper2134]

Wrath followed close behind. "Master, are you sure Pride won't hurt the chimera? He seemed pretty eager before we left" he asked timidly. He was afraid to ask, in case Dante did something to him.

[dante]

"Pride will keep himself under control. Unlike you, he is not governed by his emotions. Besides, he knows better than to disobey me," she answered.

Dante continued down the forested path, her eyes fixed on her mansion. After a few moments she broke the silence: "When we locate Lyra, you are to restrain her so I can begin the transfer. But you must make sure not to harm her. Have I made myself clear?"

[silverviper2134]

"Yes Master" Wrath said smiling slightly. "Though, if she becomes bruised because she struggles too hard, it won't be my fault, okay?"

[dante]

"Just keep yourself under control," she answered icily.

Dante stopped at the front door and reached into her purse, pulling out her house key. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, skimming over the foyer for any sign of her student. "Lyra?"

Lyra came in from the kitchen a moment later, a wide smile spread across her youthful face. "Welcome home, Madam Dante," she greeted her, bowing respectfully. "Were you able to find the books you needed?"

Dante nodded. "It took me several trips around the city, but I was able to find them. I trust you've been keeping the house clean?"

"Clean as a whistle! And who's your little friend?" Lyra asked, giving Wrath a friendly smile.

[silverviper2134]

"I'm Wrath" the young boy answered, smiling wickedly. In short, he looked like a kid you wouldn't wanna see on Halloween. Actually, you wouldn't want to see him at all. Unless you had a deathwish. Suddenly he created a rope from his arm and wrapped it around Lyra's body. "Ready, Master?"

[dante]

Lyra gasped when the rope wrapped around her. She struggled to free herself, but to no avail. "W-What are you..."?" she stared at him, terrified.

"Wrath is a homunculus, one of the seven that serve me," Dante answered with a chilling smile, stepping forward. "But that isn't important. Lyra, the time has come for you to fulfill your purpose."

"My purpose...?" Lyra stared at her old teacher in confusion.

"To become my new vessel, of course," Dante said as she removed her brooch.

Lyra remained silent, paralyzed in fear. Her master was going to use her as her new body? But how? This had to be some kind of horrible nightmare!

[silverviper2134]

Wrath smiled slightly at Lyra. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure it won't hurt for long" he said, laughing slightly. He just loved scaring humans. If only Ed were here, then he could take him arm and leg. That would make this day wonderful.

[dante]

Dante slowly approached her victim, the fragment of stone glowing in her hands. Reaching forward, she grabbed onto her shoulders and clutched them tightly, a bright red light shining through her right hand.

"Let me go!" Lyra shrieked, swinging her arms and legs about in a desperate attempt to throw her teacher back.

Soon, the entire room was consumed by the light and a powerful current formed around the two women. The panicked shrieks of the younger were drowned out by the sound of surging electricity.

Dante could feel herself being pulled out of her body. Visions of The Gate passed before her eyes as an inexplicable pain seared through her very being. She experienced this agony every time she jumped, but it was impossible to get used to. Perhaps it was The Gate's way of punishing her for defying the natural order.

She was then forced into Lyra's body. The poor girl put up a valiant struggle against the parasitic spirit, but it was no use. After her soul was beat into submission, it was jettisoned from her body and cast into The Gate.

When the light faded, Dante was lying on her side, breathing heavily. Her old body lay across from her, lifeless and hollow. The transfer was complete.

[silverviper2134]

Wrath lowered Dante/Lyra to the ground. "Master?" he asked timidly. "Are you alright? Are you....you?"

[dante]

Dante slowly opened her eyes, looking up at him. Her vision was blurry and she could barely move, which was perfectly fine, as she was still getting accustomed to her new body. "Y-Yes, it's me..."

[silverviper2134]

Wrath sighed in relief. "So....what are we going to do now?" he asked, staring at Dante's previous body. To tell the truth, he hated the way it smelled. It was like burnt flesh or something equally disgusting.

[dante]

"Go to my study and start cleaning out the bookcases," Dante commanded him, slowing pulling herself up. She still felt a little strange, but she was starting to get used to her new body.

[silverviper2134]

"Yes Master" Wrath said, running to the study. When he reached the bookself, he paused. Not sure what Dante wanted gone, he shrugged. He quickly grabbed as many books as he could grab, put them into a basket that he had made out of his arm and the materials that he'd used to keep Lyra subdued.

[dante]

Dante watched him run up the stairs, then looked down at her last body, her frown deepening. It would be improper to leave a rotting cadaver in the foyer, but finding it would undoubtedly satisfy the curiosity of any villagers that might come looking for her, so she decided to let it be.

Stepping over the husk, she walked over to the wall and examined herself in the mirror. "Such exquisite features..." she mumbled to herself, running a hand down her cheek. "Lyra might have been a fool, but she was certainly beautiful. Mmhmhm..."

[silverviper2134]

Soon Wrath gathered up a majority of the books. In a moment of inspiration, he threw some of the less important books- books that looked like Dante had never touched them in centuries- to the ground. He wanted to make it look like someone had come and ransacked the place. That way,if someone came in, they'd think the person who robbed the place had killed "Dante". So, they wouldn't have to worry about being caught. With that done, he ran back to Dante. "Now where do we go?"

[dante]

"We're staying here until morning," Dante told him as she admired herself in the mirror, running a hand through her ebony hair. "If you finished packing my books, you may relax for the rest of the night."

[silverviper2134]

Wrath squirmed slightly. He felt that something was wrong. Maybe he just didn't trust Pride so much, but he felt that the Fuhrer shouldn't be left alone with that chimera. He just creeped him out too much. "Master.....what's a miscarriage?" he asked Dante suddenly. He had heard that twice at least, but he had no idea what that meant.

[dante]

"A miscarriage is when a fetus is spontaneously aborted," Dante explained, mussing her hair in the mirror.

[silverviper2134]

"..............What?" Wrath asked. He may have been a homunculus, but he was still a child. And that meant that he had no idea what Dante had just said.