'Explain yourself!'
As Nero turned to face him, Giorgio tried to control his breathing and focus his mind. Nero wore a blank face, as if unfazed by the circumstances, in contrast to Giorgio, whose expression was in shock, pale and sick, unlike his usual pigment. His mind was racing with answers to try and justify what it was he had walked in on, but failed to conclude to something logical. It was clear what had happened.
'I wished you'd been here earlier, you always were better with negotiations; alas, here we are.'
'And what exactly is the reason for all this? Have you lost your mind!'
'Calm yourself, Giorgio: there is good news here.'
Nero rotated the large parchment in his hands and faced its body to Giorgio. Pasted onto its yellowing hue was a drawing of two mountains on either side of what looked to be a castle. Although a basic sketch, it was clear that the castle was the focal point, highlighted by its name, 'Paramount Manor', which was written just above the illustration.
Giorgio was wholly confused. From a superficial view, this 'map', if one could even call it so, alluded to nothing in particular and lacked any context.
'You haven't guessed it yet? This is it, Giorgio: my dream.'
His face sank to its lowest depths. He now realised what had brought Nero here. He realised why he faced murder with nonchalance. And he was revolted.
'No… you don't mean-'
'Yes, the Apostles' Cabinet.'
'I thought you put this stupid dream away forever; you know it's insane! And these people… you killed them mercilessly.'
' I had been following the location of the map for months, and finally I heard that it was here. They were travellers. I didn't come here with the intention of killing them, but they left me no choice: they refused to give me the map.'
'There isn't even a sign of opposition from any of them.'
'One must do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams.'
Nero studied Giorgio's disillusioned face: he looked as though he was actively trying to leave his body behind in this terrible scenario, and only listened hesitantly. Nero slowly approached his sickened company, stopping at only an arm's length away. Giorgio saw Nero consume his view, but did not shift his focus; he stared blankly at the pile of bodies, which were planted to the floor by the sword.
'You can join me, Giorgio: we can reach immortality together. Then, we would not need to worry about these… ants who are below us. We can be Gods among men.'
At this, Giorgio slowly moved his eyes to meet Nero's. His expression gained life, now portraying an angel of sorrow and anger. For the first time since he entered the room, he shifted his focus to his spirit only and was ready for anything.
'If you don't put that map down… I'll kill you.'
A vile, twisted smile curled in the corners of Nero's mouth: he could predict Giorgio's chivalry before he even opened his mouth. He inhaled deeply; his pupils dilated till their presence was made invisible, his eyes as dark as the night's sky.
'I figured as much.'
Suddenly, Nero's pupils returned with full force; however, they took the shape of piercing red stars which fought for total control over his eyes. Giorgio's skin turned completely clear with a shiny, glistening coating as he raised them in a defensive motion to guard the upper half of his body. This was done in response to the sudden appearance, from seemingly nowhere, of a woman wielding an enormous, double-headed axe with a flame between the curvatures of the blades. She swung it with immediate speed, impossible to be seen with the ordinary eye. But it wasn't just fantastic speed that she swung with, but tremendous power also, for it sent Giorgio straight through the brick wall of the apartment and into the opposite complex.
He flew straight across the road and crashed through the wall of the apartments. The bricks of this apartment were more modern and, therefore, sturdier, absorbing Giorgio's impact and slowing down his speed. Yet, his collision was still devastating, causing the floor above to fight for stability and not completely collapse on top of him. The cushion of bricks Giorigo was lying on was scattered all across the floor, whilst dust quickly polluted the atmosphere.
This is where the first of Dante's dreams ended. They resumed with Giorgio arising from the debris, unscaved, but emotionally pierced through his heart. He looked across the street and saw a final glimpse of Nero's face; he could not tell what it entailed: did he seem broken? Or was he totally encapsulated by determination, so that he felt nothing for his actions? They exchanged looks for only a moment, however, as the woman came crashing down onto Giorgio. She leapt from building to building with great ease, achieving exceptional height as she did so. Giorgio dashed backwards to evade her axe, countering it with a swift blow to her jaw.
Her face was unlike that which is worn by living beings: her greenish-black skin was threaded over a cracked, rocky texture, and her eyes glowed a striking white. She was no living person. However, it was clear that she was once a very elegant and beautiful person, for her facial features were in perfect ratio, and her hair shone like silk.
After landing the blow, the woman swatted Giorgio away like a fly, causing him to slam into the wall, leaving behind a crack and a dent. She was relentless in her attacks as she raised the axe once more and brought it down to a fallen Giorgio, who desperately rolled out of the way with little time left. He continued to create space between them, all the while discreetly surveying his surroundings. He found little useful: the ceiling where he now stood was still barely in place, and the door to exit stood beside the woman - too risky to try and reach. A final look showed him the large, open street just beyond the wall behind him. That was it, that was his ticket to victory.
Getting as close as he could to the window and as far as possible to the woman, he could see her eyes begin to glow brighter and brighter. Unlike most who oppose her, Giorgio had an advantage over his opponent, for he knew her abilities as well as one knows the structure of their own face. His plan was working: she was charging up 'sunrise'.
Quicker than he had time to prepare, Giorgio was struck with two lightning-fast beams projected from her eyes. They burned to the same degree as the sun's surface, surely killing anyone in an instant, or at least scorching the flesh from bone before the brain can even register pain. However, it had no effect on Giorgio's silky-smooth skin, which resembled the shininess of one who is bathing with body wash. He landed on the street without a mark.
The woman, once again, jumped in the same direction as her target, but landed at a greater distance. She had realised Giorgio's knowledge of her techniques, and decided it would be more strategic to keep a distance for now until she could understand his limitations better.
Giorgio closed his eyes and focused on his heartbeat until it reached a steady pace. He respired in a calming pattern and channelled his mind to his soul and spirit.
'I never wished to fight you, Eos, but we are left with little choice; you will be quite the opponent, I'm sure. Therefore, I see no reason to hold back…let's make it a real battle.'
Giorgio opened his eyes; he, too, had stars painted over his pupils, but blue in contrast.
'Projection type: Squeaky Clean!'