The Inferno
Canto III
Title: The Inferno, Canto III
Author: YaoiBoyDemonLover
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to JKR. The title does not belong to me. The book that this fanfiction is based on was written by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). I have used quotes from his book as an introduction and to show some of his description.
Author’s Note: These chapters are short. But if you read t he Inferno by Dante his cantos are short! This is all based on his book. With my own sick twists thrown in. This is Canto III. There are 34 Cantos in the Inferno. I would like to know if you are interested in reading more.
Warning: SLASH!!!! MEN WITH MEN!!!! This is based on a book that describes hell. This is Dante’s version of hell and the only version I can agree with, if I believed in hell.
The travelers came to a tall iron gate. Remus stopped, looking above the thick metal at an inscription. He squinted, attempting to read the fine print above the entrance. Severus laughed quietly as he watched.
* * *
‘Through me you go into the city of weeping;
Through me you go into eternal pain;
Through me you go among the lost people.
Justice is what moved my exalted Maker;
I was the invention of the power of God,
Of his wisdom, and of his primal love.
Before me there was nothing that was created
Except eternal things; I am eternal:
No room for hope, when you enter this place.’
* * *
Remus turned to Severus. ‘ What does it mean?’ He asked. Severus laughed coldly and Remus turned away in shame.
‘ This is a place without hope. The souls here are doomed to suffer the punishment enforced by God until judgment day.’ Severus took Remus’ hand, pulling him to the gate. ‘ I will guide you.’
They entered through the gate to the screams and painful howls of tortured souls. Remus covered his ears, the sound much too loud for him. They had walked in from silence. It would take time to get used to the sounds. Remus noticed that Severus was not affected by the noise. It was almost as if the man welcomed it.
There was a lake in the distance but the shore was filled with spirits, groaning and screaming. Remus cautiously followed Severus through the crowd, ignoring the hands that reached out to grab onto him.
‘ Who are these people?’ Remus asked as he grabbed onto Severus’ shoulder, stopping him. Severus turned quickly and pulled Remus out of reach of the tormented souls.
‘ Let us not talk about them. Just look and go on.’ Severus dragged Remus roughly to the shore. In the distance was a small boat. An old man rowed slowly toward the travelers. His cloak was draped over his shoulders, black as the water beneath the boat.
‘ Woe to you, perverse spirits!’ The man shouted across the quickly shrinking distance. As the boat stopped the man turned to Remus and frowned. ‘ You are a living soul. Keep away from those who are dead.’
‘ Charon, let us aboard.’ Severus hissed at the spirit. The man stepped aside, hitting the tormented souls with his oar, forcing them into the water. As each group of souls disappeared another took its place.
The travelers climbed aboard.
* * *
And I fell, as a man who falls asleep.
* * *