Where am I? How did I get here? What was that place?
Arson slowly opened his eyes to find himself on the concrete. He slowly raised his head, all the old aches and pains of his body disappeared. He was outside, in an alleyway. He felt hot breath against his face and looked up to see a pair of brown eyes staring down at him. A dog. Arson allowed himself to chuckle quietly to himself. He had been scared of a dog. What had he been expecting it to be? A demon? His thoughts cleared and his smile vanished. It very well could have been a demon. After all, his world seemed to be invaded by the supernatural recently.
He slowly stood up and staggered. His hand reached out and touched against a wall, steadying himself. The last thing he remembered was that he had been in bed, with a fever. Rayne and Dawn had left him alone to recover, after Rayne had tried to knock him out. What a pity he had failed. He had only managed to stun him, but he had not lost consciousness. When they had left and shut the door, Arson had got out of bed. He wondered why. He looked up at the sky, and suddenly remembered. He had wanted to see the sky. He had sensed that something that he needed to see was there. But he had been wrong.
Instead he had somehow managed to find himself in that weird dreamscape, where he had met up with that clone of himself. He thought back to that mysterious voice that had sounded in his head and wondered. He suddenly felt more at peace with himself. Sure, he was a demon. But he was part angel as well. Maybe that was the way it was meant to be. It was no mistake. Arson had always believed that everyone had a purpose, be it one for being made an example of, or one to do good for others.
He slowly made his way out of the alleyway, still feeling slightly dizzy, but strong at the same time. He needed to find Dawn and Rayne. Dawn…she was probably throwing a fit and throwing stuff at Rayne. Poor guy. He had sensed that Dawn had an extremely volatile personality. At times, she was calm but at others, when she took command, she was about as fierce as a rhino on the rampage. But maybe that was what Arson liked about her.
He suddenly stopped, his senses going haywire. There was something around here, and it felt anything but normal. He shuddered but then stopped. He would be fine. Just as long as he accepted himself and believed in himself. He would be all right. He padded out quietly, his feeling of giddiness gone. He had no idea where he was going, but he sensed that he would find his way by himself. He paused again. That feeling was closer now…and it was neither demon nor angel. He frowned and allowed himself to be pulled in its direction.
A light blue portal greeted his sight, taking his breath away. He had no doubt it was a portal, he could even see faintly where he would be led to. And from its depths, he could sense both Trish and Dante. He looked around uncertainly. Dawn and Rayne hadn't gone in there yet. He couldn't sense them. Or maybe they had but had already failed? He swallowed hard and wondered what to do. But how long would he keep waiting for others to help him? Sometime or another, he would have to depend entirely on himself. He felt his weapons in his pocket and drew them out thoughtfully. They were twin metal bars, no bigger then a pen but a lot thicker and heavier. He concentrated slightly, and a red flash came from the bars, forming into swords. The red light vanished leaving behind two red blades, which fire surrounded and whirled around. He smiled slightly. It was hard to believe that his Grandfather, Dante had made these swords especially for him when he was fifteen. Not only that, but the fact that Force Edge had evolved into his twin blades as also something remarkable in itself. Phoenix and Dragon returned to their former shapes.
Arson looked into the portal again, trying to decide on the best course of action. At length, he closed his eyes and murmured words to himself.
'Dear God. If you're up there then listen to me. I know I'm not exactly one of the best people to pray, considering what one half of me is, but I am praying anyway.' Arson opened his eyes and thought. 'Please get me through this. I don't want anything else but to help my family. I know I'm not strong, and I know that I'm a demon…but I do have faith. And my intentions are good, right? Please please please help me through this. Amen.' Not bad for one who had never prayed before in his life, he thought gloomily.
'Here goes nothing,' he whispered. And in he went.
Dawn opened her eyes quickly and looked around. She quickly got out of bed, dressed only in a white slip and peered around the corner of her doorway.
'Arson?' she whispered. There was no reply. She screamed with panic as she saw something speed past her. 'Arson!' she cried. She flinched as she felt someone's hand clamp down on her shoulder.
'You feel him too? Same here. He's alive, that's for sure.' Dawn spun around and looked at Rayne, who was bare-chested. She found herself unthinkingly admiring him and then looked away.
'He's gone now. But…' her voice petered out as another new scent made itself known to her. 'He's gone through the gateway of the Underworld!' Her eyes became huge and then dark with tears.
'Now what?' Rayne looked at her urgently. 'Is that a bad thing? That's what he's been wanting right? That's what we were going to do, right?' No answer. 'Right?' Dawn slowly nodded.
'But he's not strong enough yet.'
'Then you obviously don't know him very well.' Dawn looked up at him again.
'What d'you mean by that?'
'Arson's been hiding something from us all this time. I don't know what…but he is.' Dawn looked at him witheringly.
'That's why he nearly died from that attack.'
'A minor slip up on his part. Arson's no fool.' Dawn felt Rayne's grip on her shoulder tighten slightly. She looked up into his red rimmed eyes.
'Are you sure?' Rayne smiled and walked off. Dawn's eyes lingered on him. 'Of course you're sure…' she whispered. 'Because you're hiding something too, aren't you?' Rayne hadn't heard but had closed the door softly to the room he was staying in. Dawn slowly changed, her thoughts on Rayne and Arson. They seemed to know so much about each other, but yet so little. So many secrets...
Arson felt himself being hurled onto the ground yet again. He dusted himself off and picked himself up from the ground. He froze as he heard a voice behind him.
'Who are you? What are you doing here? Do you know what this place is?' Arson calmly turned around to face the woman that stood before him.
'Who I am doesn't matter. I'm doing something that doesn't concern you. And yes, I know what this place is.'
'Then you are foolish, for all who know this place, fear it.'
'You don't.' Arson turned his back on her and started to walk off. The woman suddenly giggled.
'You're here for Dante, aren't you?' Arson shrugged.
'Who knows?' He felt his guard rising, telling him that this woman was full of malice and danger, and that he should not allow himself to be lulled into a false sense of security. Never.
'Then maybe you're here for the other one. Trish…' Arson stopped momentarily but then carried on. He was not going to be drawn in by this woman's lies. 'I can help you find them both, if you follow me.' Arson kept his eyes firmly on the ground. He suddenly felt the woman's breath on the back of his neck.
'Who are you?' he growled.
'My name is…well why don't you tell me yours first?' Arson turned and looked into her eyes steadily.
'I told you. I know this place. And I know the sort of people who dwell here. I'm not about to give away anything.'
'Oh but you already have. Orissa sees how you hesitate. Orissa sees similarities.' The woman giggled again and then came towards him. Arson froze, unsure of himself. The woman gently touched his face and smiled as she touched against his right temple. Arson's eyes hardened.
'I'm guessing your name is Orissa.'
'And I know that you've been named after a crime. Why? Because your mother was tainted by bad blood. The blood of your father's. She considered that a crime and you and your sister were the products.' Arson's eyes glared at her but he did not pull away. Orissa pressed her body against him.
'I know that type of pain, Arson. I know it only too well. Being hated for what you are. I know what you were put through. I know everything now.' Arson suddenly shook her hand away from his head.
'Stop getting into my head!'
'She's not dead, Arson. She never was. She's right here. With me.' Arson's stomach clenched with a sudden hot fear as he heard a familiar laugh echo throughout the large hall he was in. Orissa laughed with delight as Arson bolted. A Pharmakos ran to Orissa's side.
'Follow him. Do not release fear's grip on him. Make him see her. Make him believe. Go, my pet!'
Arson felt his breath rising raggedly in his chest as he ran. He could hear the laughing coming closer and closer. He suddenly tripped and fell but rolled over onto his feet and continued running. He felt his skin crawl as he heard a familiar but dreadful voice behind him, calling his name in a hissing sing-song tone.
'Leave me alone!' he screamed, fear lending speed to his feet, carrying him along, making him fly. 'You're dead, damn it! Dead! I killed you! I know! I saw you die! You're dead!' He stopped as he hit a dead end. He whirled around, his eyes wide with panic and his breath coming in short gasps. 'Oh God no!'
A figure framed in white started coming towards him. Fear blinded him. He sensed hands coming out to grab him. He suddenly whipped out his blades and slashed at the figure, closing his eyes tight as he felt sudden warm blood gush out over his hand. He opened his eyes as the fear suddenly left him, releasing him. In front of him lay a pitiful creature. He curled his lip in disgust but then snarled as he realized that he had been tricked.
'Bitch!' he snarled. Orissa heard him coming and whistled for another Parmakos. But it had no effect. Arson recoiled slightly but then sliced the demon in half with his red blades. Orissa began to run for safety but then felt someone pin her down. She writhed and squirmed and bit and snarled but she could not get free. She looked up into Arson's mad angry eyes, which were rapidly turning from brown, to red and then to black.
Arson gave vent to a crazed laugh as he felt power surge through his body, lifting him off his feet. He felt wings explode from his back and unfurl quickly, flapping rapidly as he bore her up into the air with him. Orissa screamed in pain as she felt hot waves of pain blast through her body like a cannon. Arson watched with evil fascination as Orissa slowly roasted to death. He cast her down like a discarded toy and then walked slowly out of the room.
Orissa writhed and screamed on the floor as the flames continued to eat at her body. She tried to get to her feet and managed, the flames still burning through her clothes. She was now a human torch. She pointed a finger towards Arson, who had stopped and was watching her over his shoulder.
'You…have…made…a…mistake…' she gasped. She started shaking, despite the hot sweeping sensation that was folding over her skin. 'You…are a foolish…boy. Nothing but a mere…puppy when compared to the likes of…Mundus! You will…never defeat us! Never!' She suddenly gave her last gasp as the flames began to rise and burn against her face. Arson allowed a thin grim smile to pass over his face before leaving Orissa to burn in Hell.
Chasm:- Thanks for the support you have shown me throughout the writing of this fanfiction. Lol, most of the time it seems like you've been my only fan! Well thanks anyway for reviewing my work. Hopefully you won't stop.
Vampy Sparda-I read your fanfic and it's great! Thanks for the review! ^_^
Virgil Sparda- What? Anyways if you're getting mad about me letting you guys down by making it seem as though Dante's getting free, you don't have to worry about it anymore, there's not going to be much more messing about. Just one more thing to make interesting reading. What would it be like if he switched sides? Would he become like Nelo Angelo? Or worse? Besides, it's just a fanfiction, yah?
Anyways, Read and Review please? Thanks! ^_^
Oh and there's about two chapters left before the end of this fanfiction! Thanks a lot for the support so far guys!