Page 49 of The Stars

She glanced around. “Do you think we’ll freak them out?”

He shrugged. “They already think we’re gods.”

She nodded and then frowned. “I guess we should have practiced how I would carry you when flying.”

He stepped towards her and wrapped his arms around her body. “Let’s try this. If you drop me, I’ll only get wet,” he pointed out just before they lifted off the ground.

Sure enough, only a few of the townspeople gasped or cried out at the sight of them flying away.

It took a few moments for them to adjust their hold on one another, making the flight more comfortable. Amy didn’t fly like in the old Superman movies, horizontally. Instead, she darted through the air upright, which, thankfully, made it easier for Dante to hold onto her. The wind whipped through his hair as they soared over the waves, the distant shoreline growing smaller behind them.

“There,” Amy said, pointing at a small form surrounded by the water below them.

When they got closer, Dante squinted and realized it was a small figure trapped in what appeared to be a giant air bubble, floating atop the dark sea.

“Theo!” Amy gasped, her grip tightening on Dante’s arm as she almost lost focus. Her body faltered midair for a split second, but she quickly steadied herself.

Dante leaned forward to get a better look, his heart pounding in his chest. Below them, the small boy was curled up in the bubble, crying. His shoulders shook with silent sobs until Amy screamed his name. He looked up, and his tear-streaked face lit up with a smile as he saw them hovering over him.

“I knew you’d come,” Theo said, standing shakily within his bubble prison as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “He said you wouldn’t.”

“Who?” Amy asked, flying closer.

A dark, rumbling voice broke through the air before Theo could answer. “Finally…” it said, the sound seeming to come from the depths of the ocean itself. “I’ve found you.”

“Moros?” Amy whispered, fear rippling through her words. A figure rose from the water, dark as shadow and as cold as death. “Thanatos,” she breathed in horror.

Every muscle in Dante’s body tensed as his instincts flared to life. The light from his body surged, his power roaring in response to the god’s presence. Amy’s own light flared alongside his. Together, their energies combined in a burst of radiance that shot directly at Thanatos.

The god of death smiled darkly, barely flinching as he raised one hand and flicked Amy’s attack away like a mere fly. “I see that it’s true,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “You have woken, Pandora.”

Dante growled, and before he thought about it, he pushed forward in midair as if preparing to strike, unaware that he was now flying. His power surged even brighter, and for a moment, Thanatos hesitated, his dark eyes narrowing as he studied Dante more closely.

“And Epimetheus,” Thanatos murmured, his voice low with recognition. “This is a surprise. It seems most of your powers have returned as well.” He smirked. “Haven’t quite mastered how to fly on your own yet?”

Without warning, Thanatos launched forward with terrifying speed, his dark form cutting through the air towards Amy. Dante’s reaction was immediate—he stepped in front of her, his arms raised in defense, bracing for impact. The power that burned within him reacted instinctively, a shield of blinding light forming around him. Thanatos’s blow slammed into it, sending shockwaves through the air, but the shield held firm.

“Not today,” Dante growled, pushing back against the god’s strength.

Thanatos snarled in frustration, his dark energy swirling around him like a storm. He attempted to strike again, but Dante’s shield flared brighter, repelling each blow with increasing intensity.

Amy, her body trembling with the effort to stay in control, shouted, “Theo! Hold on!”

While he fought off Thanatos, she flew downward in a blur, her hands reaching out towards the boy’s bubble. With a burst of her power, the bubble shattered, releasing Theo from his prison. He fell directly into her arms, gasping with relief.

Thanatos stopped mid-assault, his dark eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. A slow, eerie smile curled across his lips.

“Once again,” he said, turning back to Dante, who hovered effortlessly over the dark waters, his power radiating, “together, you are far stronger than we anticipated. But next time we meet, you will fall—together, as always.”

With that, he vanished into the mist, leaving behind nothing but an ominous echo of his laughter. Dante’s body still buzzed with adrenaline as he turned to Amy, who was now cradling Theo in her arms.

“Are you okay?” Dante asked, his voice rough with the aftermath of the battle.

Amy nodded, her breathing heavy but steady. “He’s safe now.” She motioned towards him. “I guess you can fly too.”

He glanced down at himself and smiled. “Yeah, guess so.” Then he looked at her. “Do I look as cool as you do?”

“Even better.” She laughed.