Week Fourteen Story: Furies and Heretics

Dante's Divine Comedy translated by Tony Kline

We had entered Cante 9. I heard my master saying something from behind me but I could not place it. I was distracted by a tall tower that reached far above me. I squinted trying to see better. Then, three furies flew down. They were stained with blood and holding a woman. But, she was not normal. She had green snakes coming from her scalp. They were tearing at her breast. She screamed mercilessly and attempted to swat them away. Suddenly their attention shifted towards me. They attempted to use Medusa in their attack towards me. My master told me to hide my eyes and turn my back. No matter what persuaded me otherwise. As she came towards us, there was a loud crash that shook both the banks. My master told me to focus on the mist. Only the mist. More than a thousand spirits scattered from the water. Amongst them was a Stygain ferry with dry feet. He waved the mist away with annoyance. I knew he was a messenger from Heaven. He walked towards the gate, so full of confidence, and opened it without force. He turned towards us and said:

"O, outcasts from Heaven, why does this insolence still live in you? Why are you recalcitrant to that will whose aims can never be frustrated and that has often increased your torment? What use is it to butt your heads against the Fates? If you remember, your Cerberus still shows a throat and chin scarred from doing so". 

With that, he returned to the pool and disappeared without another word. Using this as our distraction, we ran through the gate into the next city. The City of Dis.

This city was full of torment. The souls cried out into the world with no one to save them. I was concerned. "

Why were these people here? Who are they?" I said to my master.

"These are the arch-heretics, the religious leaders and their cult following. There are many more souls in each room than you think. They are left to sit in the flames forever. Each a different degree" my master responded with no sadness in his voice. With that, we went up the ramp to continue our journey. Never looking back to the eternal, burning souls.

This is a depiction of Medusa and Furies by Dave Lafferty

Author's Note: I did not change any part of the story. I kept it pretty much the same. I left out the names of the furies because they were more confusing than helpful to me, but they are "Megaera on the left; the one that weeps, on the right, is Alecto; Tisiphone is in the middle".