128 Heart-to-heart

"Bring me another bottle," Dante ordered Marius as he placed the empty liquor bottle on the table. 

"Your Majesty, that's your fifth bottle. I think -"

"I don't care what you think, get it for me this instant," Dante snapped. 

As reluctant as he was, Marius did as he asked. He picked out a bottle from the cabinet and brought it to Dante. But instead of handing it to his King, Marius sat down next to him and poured himself a glass too. 

Dante looked over to Marius in disbelief. When did he become so bold? 

"Did I say you can have some?" 

Marius grinned, "No, you did not. You can punish me later, my King."

Drinking alone was boring anyway, Dante welcomed the company. It had been a while since he had drunk this much. Margaret's visit had brought back memories of the past. Some, he cherished. Others, he wished to forget. 

The alcohol helped to dull his senses. It helped to make some of the memories a little less painful.