Verona stood protectively in front of Keisha, eyeing the two creatures as they circled them, though they didn’t attack; instead, they eyeballed them with red slits.

“And what do we have here,” the leopard said, a hiss escaped its throat. The leopard’s tongue was like a snake.

“A Legacy and…well that’s intriguing, do you sense that?” the lion said to his friend, jutting its mane at Keisha’s expression.

The leopard’s eyes and tongue flickered. “Oh, yes, yes, that power is strong and familiar.”

The lion growled. “Yes…familiar. Ah, wait, the girl’s eyes. Could it be?”

“Dante Alighieri. The betrayer Shikari. Oh, how interesting this news is.” The leopard tilted its head back and let out a cackle that Keisha assumed was a laugh. “Surely, we can get something for turning her in.”

“You’re not getting anything from this,” Verona said. “I advise the both of you to move away and let us pass, or else.”

Both of the Demi’s backed away as they barred their fangs.

“We don’t wish to pick a fight with the Daughter of Virgil,” the leopard said. “You know as well as we—”

Verona sucked her teeth. “You mustn’t have heard me. Let. Us. Through.”

In a glimmer of bright white light, Verona called forth her Stanza.

The lion took a chance and pounced in Verona’s direction. She shouted, “Onda fi Fuoco,” and a blast of flames came from her Stanza in the lion’s direction, burning its fur.

The Demi’s left the scene, growling behind them as they jumped from the treetops to evade any more devastating blows.

Verona returned to normal and sighed.

“Well, that’s that—are you okay?”

Keisha stood frozen as she stared in shock at what had happened. Verona’s hardened expression softened when she touched Keisha’s shoulder.

“Hey, we’re safe. We can keep moving. You don’t need to be afraid.”

She wasn’t sure if that was the case because it was also mixed with excitement.

Verona touched Keisha’s forehead with her hands and whispered the Verse, “Senza Paura.” Without fear. She recognized the words. And the tightness in her stomach and the racing of her heart disappeared.

Keisha took another deep breath and grabbed her chest.

Verona shook her head. “That was a little too easy. We need to stay vigilant. That Demi was right, Legacies with no proper training or ordainment by the Monarchs are considered treason.”

Keisha tilted her head. “Monarchs? Who are they?”

“Each town or city is run by one of the Thirteen Monarchs in the Inferno. They make up the rules, and the Natura Borne respect their power,” Verona told her as they continued their journey. 

“Natura Borne?” Keisha asked.

“People that are born in the Inferno.”

“Do you think the Monarchs could know what happened to my mamma?” Keisha asked.

“I have no way of knowing,” Verona said as they neared Aspara Village.