December 15th, 2019
Mansion: Tessa's P.O.V.

I woke up the next morning, and looked at Dante who was still fast asleep. He looked so peaceful, and I loved having him so close to me. He means everything to me, and I love him very much. I pecked his cheek, and he woke up. Dante looked at me and smiled.

"Good morning." I said sweetly.

"Good morning to you, Tess." Dante replied.

I hugged him tightly and brought him close to me. Dante wrapped his arms around me and returned the feeling.

"You are the best friend a girl could ask for." I said.

"Feeling's mutual. Friends like you are difficult to come by these days. And I wasn't kidding when I said that I was planning on going to the Smokies." Dante replied.

I smiled.

"I know. And I was wanting to know if I could come with you." I said sweetly.

Dante laughed.

"Of course you can come with me. I was planning on inviting you anyway." He said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes. Camping is nice and all. But I would rather share the joy with my best friend. No one means more to me than you." Dante answered.

"Awww, that's really sweet of you. I do love a sweet man. And you are the sweetest man I have ever met." I replied.

"And you're the sweetest lady I have ever had the pleasure of meeting." Dante said.

We both got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. Dante made pancakes, bacon and eggs. His cooking is amazing.

"These are the best pancakes I have ever eaten. Your parents have taught you well." I said.

"Sometimes I think they taught me a little too well." Dante replied.

We both laughed.

"I bet. They must be proud of their son being rich. You must've come a long way to be this successful." I said.

"That I did. And I'm happy that I got this far." Dante replied.

After breakfast, Dante and I got dressed and packed up for a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.

"I rented Walnut Bottom for a week." Dante said.

"Where is that?" I asked.

"That's the name of campsite 37 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a short walk away from the Big Creek, and a beautiful swimming area called the Midnight Hole." He answered.

"A campsite by a river? I like that, especially with waterfalls. They are so peaceful." I said.

"Indeed, they are. And what could compare to sleeping under the stars?" Dante asked.

"I don't know." I answered.

Dante laughed.

"Me neither" He said.

Within a couple of hours, Dante and I were ready for our trip. I had never been to the Smokies, but I hear that it's a beautiful place. We loaded our stuff into his Lincoln Navigator Ultimate and headed for the Great Smoky Mountains.

"Ya know something? I've been to the Rocky Mountains before, but I have never gone to the Smokies." I said.

"Well I have. And I've always wanted to go to the Rockies of Colorado. Although, I don't know if that would be safe." Dante replied.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Because I have been hearing reports of some strange murders happening there on the news. But the victims weren't just killed. They were found with some mysterious wounds and appeared to have been torn to pieces. They had claw marks that almost resembled those of a bear, but the claws appeared to be a bit smaller. Some others had bite marks that looked exactly like that of a wolf, only bigger." Dante explained.

"Oh my gosh. Who or what could've done that?" I asked.

"No one knows for certain yet. But some eyewitnesses report seeing the victims being attacked and sometimes devoured by a menacing beast with dark hair that walks on its hind legs and stands over 7 feet tall. The creature is said to kill using deadly fangs and razor sharp claws. It has the strength to subdue animals as large as 1200 pounds, and it emits blood-curdling howls. The locals of Colorado refer to the monster as, The Werewolf." Dante answered, as he showed me a photograph of the monster.

The werewolf was the most terrifying creature that I've ever heard of.

"Whoa. That werewolf really is a menacing monster. I hope we don't come across it." I said.

"Well, I hate to say it, but there is a possibility that we might encounter it. I've been hearing reports of the werewolf traveling to other states where it claims more victims. And a recent report from the papers said that its next destination is the Smokies. I do not know if it's there yet, but don't worry. I can handle it. I've done research and I know how to kill a werewolf. You have to use a silver weapon. It can be a silver bullet, or even a sword made of silver. And speaking of which, I have a silver katana packed in the backseat." Dante replied, pointing at a silver sword.

I looked at the sword, and I realized that Dante must've packed it in case the werewolf did come to the Smokies.

"Don't werewolves normally come out when the moon's full?" I asked.

"Yes, but this one doesn't. It roams around regardless of the moon phase. Nobody knows for certain, but since it doesn't transform back into a human by sunrise, some people believe that this werewolf might be a rare breed that is capable of remaining in its monstrous form regardless of the time of day. And the moon phase does not matter either. In fact, this particular werewolf and others like it are even more aggressive during the event of a New Moon since the extra darkness allows them to blend in because of their hair being either black, brown, or grey. During that time, the only thing that gives them away are their piercing red eyes. And don't even think about trying to run away from it. Because that sucker can run even faster than you on all fours. But the worse part of it is that these monsters are known to live and hunt in packs." Dante answered.

Upon hearing this, I felt my blood run cold.

"Oh, that's not good." I said.

"No, it isn't. But there's no need to be afraid. I can handle it. Before becoming a racecar driver, I used to wrestle bears, and silverback gorillas." Dante replied.

"You wrestled bears and gorillas? No wonder you're so strong." I said.

"Yes. That's why the weights that I lift at home are much heavier than those you would normally find at a gym. It's because all those years of wrestling bears and gorillas turned me into a walking hunk of muscle. By combining that with the weights I lift at home and martial arts training, I eventually gained the superhuman traits of the Greek hero known as Hercules. So, even a stab wound to the chest would be a minor injury to me." Dante replied.

I smiled.

"Well, with that kind of strength, nobody would wanna mess with your girlfriend. Because if they did, you would punch them with enough force to send them flying into orbit. In fact, I think any girl would be lucky to have you as a soulmate in their lives." I said.

"You got that right. I happen to be highly protective of those I love, and I am not afraid to risk my own life to defend them." Dante replied.

"That's one of the reasons why I like you. You'd fight to your last breath to protect your family." I said.

"Thanks Tess. Let's crank up some music in here." Dante replied, as he plugged in his LG Leon cellphone and played music on it through the radio.

I liked the music so much, that I decided to sing along with him.

(Cue On My Way by Phil Collins)

🎶Tell everybody, I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
With blue skies ahead, yes
I'm on my way
And there's nowhere else that I'd rather be

Tell everybody, I'm on my way
And I'm loving every step I take
With the sun beating down, yes
I'm on my way
And I can't keep this smile off my face

'Cause there's nothing like seeing each other again
No matter what the distance between
And the stories that we tell will make you smile
Oh, it really lifts my heart

So tell 'em all I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
And to sleep under the stars
Who could ask for more
With the moon keeping watch over me

Not the snow, not the rain
Can change my mind
The sun will come out, wait and see
And the feeling of the wind in your face
Can lift your heart
Oh, there's nowhere I would rather be

'Cause I'm on my way now
Well and truly
I'm on my way now

Tell everybody, I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be there
With blue skies ahead yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to share

So tell everybody, I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be home
With the sun beating down, yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to show
I'm on my way
Yes, I'm on my way🎶

Timeskip: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Dante's P.O.V.

It wasn't long before we arrived at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We drove to campsite 37, where Tess and I unpacked the Navigator and set up camp. The last thing we set up was the tent.

"This sure is a nice place for a camping trip." Tess said.

"Indeed, it is. I'll go ahead and whip up some burgers. After that, we can have ourselves some S'mores." I replied.

Tess put her arm around me and rested her head on left shoulder.

"Actually, I would rather pay the Midnight Hole a visit." She said seductively.

I looked at her and smirked.

"I have to give you credit, Tess. You are a bold one. I reckon a nice relaxing swim is in order." I replied.

"You read my mind." Tess said.

We both went inside the tent and changed into out swimsuits. I wore a pair of solid black swim trunks while Tess was sporting a blue bikini.

"I gotta say, that look suits you." I said.

"Thanks, Dante. And you are as handsome as ever." Tess replied.

Tess and I hiked for one and half miles until we reached the Midnight Hole.

Tess was in awe when she saw the sight before us. She seemed to be in a trance.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I asked.

"Yes. This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen." Tess answered.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" I asked.

"Let's jump in." Tess replied.

We climbed onto a rock and Tess did a Cannonball as she jumped into the water. When she came up to the surface, I smirked.

"Pretty impressive. But wait till you see this." I said.

I turned my hips to the right with my arms outstretched. My left arm rested on my chest, but then I bent over and dipped low to the ground as I pushed off with my left leg. As I jumped off the rock, I turned and went into a Butterfly Twist.

I corkscrewed through the air before landing in the water with a big splash. Tess laughed as I came up and broke the surface.

"You're pretty good. That was the most graceful move I have ever seen." She said.

"Thank you Tess. That was a Butterfly Twist. It's an acrobatic move that is used in Shaolin Wushu. It is usually used as a dodge, but it can also be utilized as an attack." I replied.

"Impressive. Perhaps you should train me in the art of Toso Kune Do." Tess said.

"Yes. I can do that when we return home. My dojo has the perfect technology for your training. Soon, nobody will want to mess with either of us." I replied.

Tess and I swam for a while, enjoying each other's company. It was peaceful out here, and hardly anything could ruin this perfect day.

Timeskip: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Campsite 37
Tessa's P.O.V.

After an hour of swimming, Dante and I returned to camp. Dante began frying burgers on a portable grill that he brought along. In a matter of minutes, dinner was served.

"These burgers are amazing." I said sweetly.

"Thanks Tess. Best be saving some room though. Because we're gonna be having S'mores for dessert." Dante replied.

I felt my heart skip a beat. I loved S'mores.

"How did you know I liked S'mores in the first place?" I asked.

"I guess I must've read your mind again." Dante answered.

"Yeah, I guess you did." I replied, laughing.

"I like 'em too. However, I don't use Hershey's Chocolate. I use Reese's Peanut Butter Cups." Dante said.

"That sounds great. I'd actually love to try that." I replied.

"Oh, you'll love it, Tess. S'mores are way better when ya use Reese's Peanut Butter Cups." Dante said.

A few minutes later, Dante and I finished our burgers and began roasting marshmallows. I was letting mine roast to a nice brown. Dante would sometimes stick his into the flames and let them burn, but this didn't seem to bother him.

"Burnt marshmallows don't bother you?" I asked in confusion.

"Nope. I eat marshmallows plain, roasted, or burnt. Makes no difference to me." He answered.

We put our marshmallows on the Graham crackers and added a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup before topping it off with another graham cracker. I took a bite and it was amazing.

"Wow, this is delicious. I didn't even know you could use Reese's to make S'mores until now." I said.

"I told ya you'd love 'em. The first time I tried that was a few years ago when I had a cookout with my mom and dad. When I tried using Reese's on S'mores for the first time, I loved it so much that I never used Hershey's again. Dante replied.

I laughed.

"It was that good, huh?" I asked.

"Yeah. I always loved chocolate mixed with peanut butter. It's great." He answered.

"Well garçon, let's make more." I said, laughing.

We had ourselves a lovely evening making S'mores, and enjoying each other's company. Soon, it was time to turn in for the night so Dante and I headed inside the tent and prepared for a good night sleep. I changed into fuzzy, blue pajamas, while Dante once again wore a pair of solid black pajama pants while remaining shirtless. I will never grow tired of admiring those muscles. But then I noticed something. Hanging around Dante's neck, was a strange necklace. It seemed to be a black stone with a white dragon etched into it.

He climbed on to the air mattress and curled up next to me. As we covered ourselves up under a quilt that Dante brought along, we smiled and embraced each other. I pressed my lips firmly against his own and we made out passionately for a few minutes.

"This is the best trip, ever." I said.

"I agree with ya. And it's even more fun to have company." Dante replied.

"Yes it is." I said.

I stared at Dante's necklace. I couldn't help wondering why he had it around his neck.

"I hope you don't mind me asking. But, what is that around your neck?" I asked.

"What?" Dante asked, as he looked down.

"Oh. That's my amulet. It has been passed through generations by my ancestors. It's all I have left of my family. Even with my powers, I couldn't save them from being killed." He said.

"You have powers?" I asked.

"Yes." Dante answered.

After he turned off the lantern, an orb of purple fire was formed in the palm of his right hand while an orb of purple colored lightning was conjured in the palm of his left hand.

"These purple flames are from a type of Pyrokinetic fire known as Soul Fire. As the name would suggest, it's hot enough to burn your soul, and it cannot be extinguished with water. While the lightning is a form of Electrokinetic energy called Dark Thunder. This lightning is powerful enough to split the Heavens, and anything that gets hit with it is reduced to a pile of ash. These elements are formed from darkness." Dante explained.

"If those elements are created from darkness, they must be evil." I said.

"They are indeed demonic. But they work in harmony with their holy counterparts: Holy Fire and Angelic Thunder. Those other two elements are created from the light of good." Dante replied, as he changed the color of the fire and lightning to white.

"So, if you have those powers, you must be a some kind of shaman." I said.

"No. My father was a demon while my mother on the other hand was an angel. Which makes me a hybrid breed called a Nephilim." Dante replied.

"Interesting." I said.

"My father wielded the Dragon Sword before me. When he died, he passed it along to me." Dante replied.

"That's sad. But, why do you have those powers, and the Dragon Sword?" I asked.

"Because I am the only one who can slay a demon king. And it is my job to protect the world from the notorious demon king known as Thanatos. He was imprisoned in the underworld thousands of years ago by my ancestors. But if he were to escape, he would drown the world in blood and darkness. And I am the only one who can stop him." Dante replied.

"Don't worry, Dante. No matter what happens, I'll help you protect the world. Maybe with your help, I can unlock powers that I could use to fight by your side, and we can destroy Thanatos together." I said.

"Thank you Tess. You're right. Perhaps if you were to unlock powers like mine, the Earth would have a better chance of survival. So, I will train you in the Way of the Fighting Fist, and we can unlock powers within you along the way." Dante replied, as the fire and lightning in his hands vanished into thin air.

"Yes. I love the Earth. And I cannot bear the thought of standing idley by while you risk life and limb to destroy a demonic dragon. I've heard legends about Thanatos, and there's a prophecy where there are only two warriors that can destroy him. You're one of them. But I have been feeling strange power surging through me while I was growing up. So I have a feeling that I am the only one with the power to fight by your side." I explained.

"Indeed. The spirits of my ancestors have been guiding me through life, and they told me about you. They said that you possess very similar powers to my own, but you need help unlocking them. And I'm the only one who can do it. Not only that, but the prophecy also says that Thanatos is supposed to break free from the chains that bind him next month and he will escape from the underworld. There's a portal somewhere in New York, and that's where Thanatos will come into our world. However, he won't be alone. Thanatos has an entire army of demons at his command. Luckily, those demons are linked to the evil god. So once Thanatos is destroyed, his army will die with him." Dante replied.

"Then we'd better hurry. Starting tomorrow, I must be trained in order to prepare for the battle against Thanatos and his army." I said.

"Yes. But no matter what happens, I will always love you, Tess. And if we work together, we can overcome anything." Dante replied.

We both drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day. Dante and I had to prepare for what could be described as a war between humanity and the demon world.