Modern Men: Dayton, Son of Hannibal ( Chapter Five) the final chapter, a short story by McKenzie. Date added: 2012-07-19. Times viewed: 522.
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- Intro: Dayton succeeds ( Please comment!!) I want to know if this story is worth pursuing.
On a foggy night, Dayton and Rome armies met on Argentine Hill. Each side had over 800,000 wolves. That battle was one of the most memorable battles in Trician history. The night was a full moon, both sides transformed into wolves and fought. The battle of Argentine Hill lasted 1000 days and night. They fought endlessly without any breaks, without any food and water. This continued until the battling wolves began to collapse from exhaustion. By the 900th day of the battle, the field was covered with comatose bodies of exhausted Wolves including Atalanta and Jason.
Dayton and Rome agreed to have their soldiers aided by rescue workers who transported the bodies to local hospitals to help the Wolves recovered. They however remained on Argentine Hill for the last remaining 100 days. During the battle, the world watched closely, giving reports of the battle highlights every night. During the nights of the full moon, the hill echoed the sounds of snarling howling beast throughout the night. It sounded like demons fighting outside the gates of hell.
Now that it was so close to the end of the battle, the world watched every day through their television screen or reading it faithfully on the news. On the 20th day, Rome spoke to Dayton for the very first time in his life. “What you do is of greed," She said. Dayton said, "Greed is not irrational. Greed is one the driving forces of survival. It is the cousin of ambition." On the 40th day, Rome spoke once more. "Your greed has cost the lives of seven of your own flesh and blood. Tell me, Son of Hannibal, why aren’t your pursuits not irrational?"
But, Dayton said, "The emotions that you expressed is unwise. It will attract distraction to your mind, and you will die at my hands. True reason does not build these boxes of limits."
On the 50th day, Rome asked, "What freedom does your reason provide?" Dayton said, "Reason allows me to see the world in its clearest state. Simply being born into a position or something is not spectacular. Being born as the brother of Hannibal Dayton should not give you automatic protection or make you great. A person's birth is not important. If anything, a person death is the true indicator of how valuable and worthy a person life is. A man can be born and waste his life away, his death, forgotten. His life was useless, a waste of the world's resources. A man who does extraordinary things in life is not forgotten even after death. His life is like a treasure that people can read and think about for many years to come. Simply being alive should not be enough to cause celebration. Only after death can you see how sacred a life once was. True reason allows us wolves to see this."
On the 70th day at high noon, Rome opened her mouth and said, “You know nothing of life, you barely lived it. Your reason may be true and powerful; but you have grossly ignored the things of true value and worth. You are naive, little brother." Offended by Rome's insult, Dayton said, "I am not naive. Simply having the ability to eat, shit, breathe and talk is not worth celebrating. It is what you do with your life, which is of value. I want to be the next Wolf Emperor. My brothers and sisters stood in my way. If they fail to defeat me that is their own fault. Who is the authority to tell me how scared a life is? Who is the authority of what is right and what is wrong, who determines this? Who is the authority to tell us how equal we are. These are basic concepts of simple men. Usually believed by those who are not in a position to save or help themselves. Reason allows us to see this. It gives us the power to do the things that need to be done. Not all birth is worth celebration. Simply being alive is not scared. It its time we abandon these archaic principles and see the world in its true light." Dayton stared at his sister, and she stared at him back. The look in her eyes made him angry and made him experience shame for the first time in his life. He did not know the name of that look at the time. Rome had looked at him with pity.
The last thirty days, Dayton fought with renewed energy, a sort of revenge that she dared look at him with those eyes. Nevertheless, Rome had grown too tired, and she missed her family sorely. One the 100th day, Dayton struck her through her soft belly; Rome retaliated and struck her brother in the back. Both collapsed on the ground. The entire world watched closely to see who would get to the feet. As Rome's flesh burned, she gasped and said, "Little brother, I will tell you the authority on who decides what is right and wrong. It is our humanity. Our ability to decide what is right and wrong. Should we abandon this, we are no different from the animals whose sole purpose is to survive. Do you understand Dayton? We are animals without our humanity. Only animals." Dayton did not say a word. He could understand the analogy, but he still believed she was wrong.
Rome rolled on her back and said with grief, "I promised my husband that I would return to him. My twin boys will die, and I have failed to protect them. I have failed as a mother." Rome said this because Dayton has also wiped out the families of the siblings he had killed. Dayton chest had turned to stone, and he was gasping for air. Jason well again, came to his aid and reversed the spell. Dayton crawled to Rome's side and said to her as her life drained from her eyes, "I will spare your children. You have been a worthy opponent and the only one I have respected. Your children I will spare."
All over the world, it was announced that Queen Rome of Lattice was dead. Dayton picked up her body, and with his wolves following, they all walked back to Tricia to the palace footsteps. On the balcony of the palace, Emperor Andrew stood and watched Dayton. Dayton gently placed Rome's body on the ground. Father and son looked at each other but did not say a word. Dayton left Tricia and went to find Constance.
Rome's body was returned to her husband. Her husband was inconsolable, and he solemnly carried her body to the palace and cried over her body for two days. When he finally could get to his feet, he had a clear crystal coffin made for his wife. They were married for 90 years and have two twin boys. At the time of Rome's death, they were ten years old. One boy was a magic child, Remus and another was a wolf. Romulus. Rome was 103 when she died.
Dayton and his armies set up camp. Once they settle, Dayton fell asleep, and he did not wake up until a month later. Before he rested, he ordered Atalanta and Jason to find the whereabouts of Constance so that they may kill her and finally take the throne. Only three people knew the where Constance was, the Emperor, Rome and his last remaining council, Yuri Adonis. Atalanta and Jason kidnapped and held hostage Council Adonis family. The Councilman did not ague, and he did not fight, he told them where Constance was. Atalanta and Jason left the Yuri family unharmed.
They return to Dayton who had just woken up and eating a lunch meal. They informed him of Constance location. The trio left that same night. Councilman Adonis returned to the Emperor that night and he confessed that he revealed Constance location.
"So you have betrayed me." The Emperor said.
"Andrew you have betrayed your country and you dead children. You sacrificed everything else to protect a disobedient daughter who chose her own selfish needs over her country and father. Rome was a better daughter, and she had two beautiful boys, but she died trying to defend this country and her children. In fact, all of your other children were better then Constance. What you have done was wildly irresponsible and cowardice. I hope Dayton kills Constance, and he comes for your head." Adonis ripped the Emperor badge off his robe and threw it on the ground. The Emperor no longer had any supporters. He was alone.
The next day, Constance and her husband return from their merchant shop. In their living room, they discover their nanny on the floor, writing in pain, and her eyes black and fearful. On her neck, was a large wolf bite, Atalanta had bitten her. She along with Dayton and Jason sat in the living room watching television. Anthony, her son was sitting on his uncle lap. Constance husband lounged at Dayton, but Jason caught his arm and twisted it so hard that bone cracked and struck out of his flesh. He fell to his knees crying out in pain.
"Dayton please do not do this. Spare my family. I do not wish for the throne. Look at my life; I am of no threat to you." Constance begged. Dayton stood up with his nephew in front of him. He placed one hand on the top of the boy’s head and another below his chin. He was going to break the boy’s neck.
"How do I know you’re not a threat?" asked Dayton.
"Look Dayton! Look at the child! He is a normal human boy! What does he know of war and wolves? Can he honestly take over a wolf empire? I do not want the throne. He will not know of his family."
Dayton looked at Atalanta and Jason.
Jason spoke, "Perhaps this is one these situations where we should not irritate the things that aren’t our business."
Dayton let go of his nephew. "Go run to your mother boy. I will leave your family, but I will keep an eye on you. Should we ever remotely believe that you changed your mind, the wrath of hell will descend upon your family."
Constance agreed. She gave up her right to the throne, and she never told her son of his wolf heritage. When she never aged, she told people that she had a fairy grandmother. It was a believable lie, and the town people accepted it. Despite the fact that her son was a perfect, his wolf blood made him stand out, he grew slowly and like his mother, he never physically aged old past the age of 27 unlike the wolves who did not age past the age of 23. He also could run very quickly like his Aunt, Queen Rome. He lived to be 120 before he died. Much shorter compared to a wolf life span but longer than the average man. Perhaps the most suspicious thing was during the full moon, Anthony would suffer severe fevers and his green eyes would change to a golden yellow. His mother hid this and when he got married, told his bride that their fairy grandmother was a night fairy to explain his fevers. Anthony lived a happy and full life. He died believing that his grandmother was a fairy, and he never learned that the Emperor of Tricia was his uncle. In fact, his entire bloodline, never learn of their wolf heritage.
Dayton and his council left Constance home, Atalanta asked, "Why don’t we blow up the house? Is it really a good idea to leave the Princess alive?"
"No we will tell the people that Constance is dead. However, we will let her live. Rome battled us for three years, not sleeping once, endlessly night and day. Even you and Jason blacked out before she did. That was because she was determined to keep her children alive but Rome never forsaken her country. Constance forsakes her entire empire for an ugly perfect child. Only the heavens know what hell she would bring upon us is we ruin her horrid family," Dayton said.
"What a shameful woman." Jason said.
"A shameful woman indeed. Obnoxious too." Dayton agreed.
Therefore, the Empire and the world believed that Dayton killed Constance and her family. Constance agreed to this to spare her family and to live the way she wanted.
The following day, a messenger went to the Emperor's throne room. Emperor Andrew was sitting on his throne; next to him was a stand with an iron box on top. The messenger fell to his knees and said, “Emperor! Dayton has killed Constance and her child. You have no other children left!" Another messenger came and told the Emperor, "Dayton is on his way to Tricia with his wolves! He is coming for your throne!" A third messenger followed and said, "No! Dayton is at the gate! Hannibal is at the gates! He is coming for your throne!"
The Emperor told the messengers to leave him. Alone, the Emperor looked out his balcony and from a distance; he can see Dayton, his council and his wolves in the capital. No one was challenging him, and the wolves of the capital let him walk peacefully to the palace. The Emperor left the balcony and walked next to the iron box next to the throne. He opened the box and inside was his beating heart. His chest cracked opened, and his ribs broke apart so he could place his heart back into its rightful place.
At that moment, Dayton and his council walked into the throne room. They stared at the Emperor horrified. They knew what this meant. As his chest closed, the Emperor turned and looked at his son. "Andrew." Dayton said.
"Have you lost so much respect for me that you cannot call me father?" the Emperor asked.
"I have come for your throne." Dayton replied.
Emperor picked up his sword that he rested against his throne.
"One day Dayton, you will understand what I have gone through. You will fall for a woman whose soul is so bright, so feisty with a passion unparalleled to this world. You will see, Dayton." The Emperor raised his sword, and Dayton immediately lounged at his father, but he stop in his tracks. The Emperor instead struck the sword through his belly. He struck it so far in his body that it pierced through his back. He collapsed on the ground and pulled the sword out of his body. He died within seconds.
The Emperor had killed himself. If he killed Dayton, he would have lost all his children. He believed that Constance was dead. He did not see a reason to keep fighting anymore and he did not want to die at the hands of his only living child. "He took his own life." Jason said disbelief. "What did you expect? He let Dayton kill his children and only attempted to save one child, the worst one of the bunch. He let his feelings get in the way. We should not be surprised." Atalanta said. Dayton grabbed his father corpse and through it over the balcony edge. It fell below, hitting the hard earth in front of the crowd of people.
Dayton hopped off the balcony as well and faced the nation of Tricia. He picked up his father's crown and placed it on his own head. Jason and Atalanta followed as well. “Emperor Andrew has taken his own life." Dayton said. “From this moment on, I am your new Emperor." The crowd cheered and said, "All hail the new Emperor! Emperor Hannibal Dayton!"
And so it came to pass that Dayton was successful in his conquest. He became Emperor when he was 18 years old. He took the empire in six short years. He made Atalanta and Jason his council. In Tricia, an Emperor council was made up of up to three other wolves. He had wiped out not only his brothers and sisters but also any families that they created. Dayton was good to his people but an absolute curse to the world. He became motivated to make the Wolf Empire, the greatest empire in the world and so he waged gruesome war and conquest.
But Dayton still owed a debt to the goddess, Neisse of Discord. For that he would pay dearly.
May reason reign supreme, Amen.
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