The sun dipped low into the horizon. Dante watched the last tendrils of daylight slip behind the mountains. He let out a breath— disbelief, relief, vengeance served... demon-hunting always filled him with self-gratification, but this time it was different. Killing Remus... left him elated and hollow in equal measures. In any case... it was done. The abyss goat king, the last ruler of the goatling clan, dead.

Dante left the body there— the golden eyes wide, staring sightlessly up into the fading light. If it had been anyone else, he would have had the courtesy to close the eyes... but somehow he couldn't bring himself to touch Remus. He turned his back as the blood stopped seeping and began to form a crusted pool in the dirt. He lifted his face into the night wind and breathed freely, for the first time in years.

He let his gaze drift down to the sword in his hands. The blade was stained dark with Remus' black blood, thick rivulets inhabiting the blood channel and congealing at the hilt. Dante slid one thumb along the edge of the blade and watched his own bright scarlet mingle with the drying black liquid. A thin smile played over his lips as he lifted his hand and licked the pad of his finger, feeling the flesh mend flawlessly under his tongue. He had nothing to clean the blade with but his own leathers, and he'd be goddamned if he would stain them with any more of Remus' gore. Shrugging, he hefted the sword to his shoulder and paused.

It took a concerted effort to turn once more and cast a final gaze upon the dead form on the ground. He knew Remus' body would turn to ash and be swallowed up by the fires of hell as soon as he left. He felt a slight twinge of remorse in knowing he wouldn't witness it, but the thought had a soothing effect as well.

The cool breeze wisped strands of pale, silken hair across his eyes. The night was unusually balmy, and he finally bent over Remus' body. His hand shook only a little as he reached down and closed the dead amber eyes.

“Goodnight, then,” Dante whispered, half to Remus, half to himself.