Missio stepped away from the Baldachin. Dante glanced at him. He glanced at the Baldachin once more before following his brother. Missio veered towards the left into the quieter part of the Basilica. He passed by many murals on the walls and roofs of the Basilica. After a few minutes, Dante stopped at the left transept area. He pulled Missio back as well. Missio grunted, looking at his big brother.
"What?" He asked.
"That." Dante stepped forward.
Missio trailed behind him. Both entered the left transept area. Missio and Dante stopped before an altar. Missio raised his head, looking at a towering, mosaic painting which was split into two halves. The bottom half depicted distraught men surrounding a boy seemingly possessed by a demon but the top half was bathed in blinding, serene light showing a man transcending the mortal plane entirely. Missio stared at the figure flying high above the distraught men.
He clicked his tongue, staring at the difference between the two halves.
Missio glanced at his brother who gazed at the painting in awe. He turned back to the transfiguration. He peered into it for a few moments. Then, he spun around. Dante didn't follow him this time. Missio exited the room. Dante backed off, looking at the recreation of the transfiguration. Eventually, he sighed and spun around, trailing his brother.
***
The siblings left St. Peter's Basilica. Dante halted at the base of the stairs leading upto St. Peter's square. He rotated to the left. Missio raised a brow, trailing his brother.
"Where are we going?"
Dante didn't miss a beat. "The Papal Palace."
Missio blinked – stopping in his tracks. Dante halted as well, turning around.
"What?" He inquired.
"Isn't that the Pope's residence?" Missio inquired.
"It is."
"How are we gonna get in?" Missio inquired, nearing Dante.
"Bitch, I'm the King. I can arrange that shit" Dante chuckled, pointing at himself.
"Your status as King baffles me sometimes…" Missio scowled.
"Me too…" Dante tucked his hands into his pockets.
They headed to the far right of St. Peter's square. Beside St. Peter's Basilica stood a giant door forged from bronze. Above the door was a mural that depicted the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus while Saint Peter and Saint Paul stood beside her. The mural itself was flanked by two ornamental marble pillars with angelic figures standing at their peak. In front of it stood two guards plated in tightly fitted gold alloy armor, wielding spears.
Dante approached the door casually. One of the guards stopped him before the door.
"You cannot enter this area, sir. It is the residence of the Pope."
Dante pulled out his wallet. "Well… you see…"
He handed the guard his official government ID. The guard took it from his hand. His eyes instantly widened as he read the card.
"I'm here to meet the Pope." Dante stated.
The guard crossed his open arm over his chest and bowed slightly.
"Sir Dante. My apologies for my earlier rudeness. What business do you have with the Pope?"
"It involves the terrorist attack that happened at Rush city." Dante replied.
"I see…" The guard handed the King's ID back. "Let me lead you to him."
Dante tucked it into his wallet. He turned his head slightly and waved at Missio.
"Come on."
Missio raised his brows and followed behind. They stepped through the bronze door. Their feet pressed against the marble floor of the hall. They travelled through the papal palace, following the guard. They ascended higher until they reached the third floor. The guard led them to a certain door. Two guards like the ones stationed at the bronze door protected it. The guard that led them here halted ahead of them.
"The King of Rome has come to meet with the Pope." He informed his fellows.
The two guards glanced at Dante and Missio who stood behind the guard. One of the guards protecting the door, turned around. He knocked on the Pope's door, calling out to him.
"Your holiness. The King has arrived."
At that exact moment, an elderly voice rang out.
"Let him pass."
The guard nodded, stepping aside. Dante and Missio stepped forward. Dante gripped the door handle, twisting it. He pushed it open and peeked into the Pope's room.
"Come in." An elderly man urged.
Dante entered. Missio followed right behind. The guards closed the door behind them. Dante lifted his head, gazing at the Bishop of Rome. Before him sat a man with a gentle, wrinkled face and brown eyes. He wore a white cassock with a white sash wrapped around his waist, a buttoned red cape with a collar that hung over his shoulders, a long, decorative band of fabric with crosses at its ends which hung on his neck, and a small round skull cap which rested on his head.
Additionally, he also wore a gold pectoral cross on his neck, white trousers underneath the cassock and a pair of brown loafers.
He was the Bishop of Vatican City, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Rome, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Vatican Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City – Pope Francis XII.
"Dante, how have you been?" Francis spread his arms.
"I've been fine, your holiness." Dante replied. "This is my little brother, Missio."
Francis adjusted his glasses, gazing at Missio. Missio shifted nervously, lowering his head in respect.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, your holiness."
"It is my pleasure too, child." Francis smiled.
He turned his attention back to Dante.
"So… what have you come here for? You called me before but didn't say the reason you wanted to visit."
"Three reasons." Dante raised three fingers. "One for the terrorist attack on Rush city that happened on February 17th, Missio and a request."
Missio furrowed his brows, looking at his brother in confusion. Pope Francis raised his brows. He stepped aside and waved his hand.
"Please, have a seat. Let's discuss this formally."
Dante nodded. He sat down alongside the Pope. Missio quickly sat beside his big brother. He watched the Pope conflicted on how to treat such a kind old man. His inner self wanted to reject anything related to God yet how could he treat such an innocent old man so wrongly? He inhaled deeply, calming himself down. Just then, Dante spoke up.
"Before starting, I have to say. If not for the nature of the situation we have at hand, I would've done this myself but this requires the attention and help of all the leaders of the world, including you."
"Then, what is it? What do you need of me?" Francis inquired.
Dante inhaled deeply and met Francis's eyes. "A demon walks amongst us…"