Dante stood in front of Arson, his pale blue eyes no more. Instead a red sheen had replaced the cold frosty glare. Arson only had to take one look at him before he knew that his grandfather had changed. His face fell and he looked at him in disbelief.
'Grandfather?' he said, almost pleadingly. There was no response that even indicated that Dante had heard him. 'Please, Gran'pa! It's me, Arson!' he cried. Dante's knees bent slightly, and the sword began pointing down, its tip towards Arson's chest. Dante suddenly launched himself at him. Arson dodged to one side. He would not hit him. He would not! At that precise moment, he caught a glancing blow to the side of his head, sending him sliding several feet across the floor. Arson got back up to his feet slowly and raised his hands placatingly.
'I'm not going to fight you, Gran'pa!' he said, his voice suddenly small. He felt terribly intimidated by the silver haired hunter that stood in front of him, his face impassive, his eyes glaring at him. He began to tremble out of pure terror. How could he be expected to do this? He didn't want to fight his only elder that was known to be alive. And even if he had no choice, he didn't stand a chance. Dante suddenly smiled, and Arson's hopes lifted slightly.
He screamed in pain as Dante's sword found its mark through his chest. Arson's eyes widened with shock, pain, fear and sadness. He fell backwards, the sword still stuck in his chest. His eyes closed momentarily as the back of his head thudded against the ground. His eyes snapped open again to see Dante hovering by his side.
'Get up, kid,' he heard him growl. 'You're not going to die yet.' Dante grabbed the sword and twisted it painfully. Arson screamed in agony as Dante whipped it out of his body. His whole body seemed to seize with pain. Arson stared up blankly at the ceiling, his vision turning hazy. He tried to breathe in, but his chest ached in protest. Blood gushed out of his wound. Startled tears sprang unbidden to his eyes. This was not his grandfather…this was someone else. Someone else…
'Mundus…' he whispered weakly. He tried to raise his head but he fell back again. Dante smiled widely as he saw his eyes clouding over rapidly. Arson gave vent to hacking coughs, causing blood to ooze out of his mouth. He fell back and allowed his head to sink back down. Dante chose this precise moment to drag him up to his feet. Somehow, Arson was able to obey. He could feel his strength returning to his body again as he started healing again.
'So you've been learning…' said Dante huskily. He didn't seem disappointed by this. In fact he had seemed almost overjoyed, as though he was happy that the fight would continue. Arson growled and pulled himself away from him. Dante's face seemed to soften as he smiled, but the red eyes betrayed him.
'You're a failure Arson. But now that I see that you might actually have some balls, Master would be more then willing to let you join us.' Arson's eyes widened. Master? Now he knew for certain. At first he had thought that Dante was trying to test him, to see whether he had learnt anything, but now he knew that this was Mundus' doing. Dante never called anyone master. Dante never bowed down to anyone. It was something that he would rather die than do.
Arson felt a shudder run through his body. He gasped slightly at this strange new sensation. He wasn't triggering. That no longer made him feel as though he was being ripped apart. But this…a feeling of peace and well being began to pervade his senses. He smiled then, taking Dante by surprise. Dante suddenly snarled and rushed at him, sword poised. This time, Arson was ready. He span to one side, watching as Dante sailed past him. Dante used the same method again, rushing him, but this time when Arson dodged, he dodged with him and then hurled himself bodily at him, pinning him down with his own weight.
Arson struggled and twisted as Dante's hands closed around his throat. He at last managed to keep his whirling senses under control and concentrated on his swords. His eyes narrowed as they jerked spasmodically. He closed them and focused his entire being onto the two inanimate objects. At last, they were floating in mid-air. Dante seemed to sense what was happening and grinned. He raised one hand, and they automatically fell to the ground again, before they had a chance to impale him. But it was all Arson needed.
With one hand off his neck, Arson renewed his frantic struggling and lurched and bucked desperately. Dante was thrown off him, more by surprise then by his strength. Arson picked himself up and dashed for his blades, quickly gathering them up to him before turning to face Dante, who was smiling thinly. Arson began to feel his legs shaking again with fear. He swallowed hard, trying to fight back the panic that was welling up in his heart.
Dante suddenly drew back his sword and flung it away from him. Arson, guided more by his instincts rather then his eyes rolled under the blade as it flew past, spinning over and over again like a boomerang. Arson began slashing at his grandfather, choking on his tears as he did so. How could he bring himself to do this? Dante took a few steps back, wincing as Arson's blades found their marks on his shoulder and chest. Almost immediately, they healed. Dante swept up his sword by the hilt and readied it once more.
The fierce red tinge in his eyes grew more pronounced. Arson backed away as blue electricity crackled and flew out at him as Dante released his demonic powers, his skin hardening into a dark shell like armour. Dante's hair became slicked back and spiked up, his red coat seeming more cape-like as it swirled about his knees. Arson felt his back hit against the wall. He looked to the left and then to the right but he as completely surrounded by electricity. He was trapped. He looked back towards Dante, his mouth falling open as his eyes raised into the air.
Dante was glowing with a faint blue light, as his wings flapped leisurely on either side of his body. The crackle of electricity became louder and louder. Arson could somehow sense that Dante was smiling and was filled with a terrible sense of fear. He had nowhere to go. Dante was blocking his way. Small orbs of blue energy suddenly appeared in Dante's hand, forming into blue lightning bolts. Arson screamed as one hit him through the leg, the energy running through his own body. He fell to the ground, trembling as shockwaves ran through him in never ending waves.
Xyphos limped through the corridors, searching for the woman that obviously seemed to have a strong bond with Arson. She felt a sudden tinge of resentment deep in her stomach. Whoever this Trish was, she obviously had him tied around her thumb. Arson was prepared to risk his own life for some bitch who couldn't protect herself. At least, this was what she had thought before she had actually met her.
She had stumbled upon her cell quite by accident. Searching and running around in circles had made her frustration grow and had also made her thirsty. While looking for a drink, she had found a secret passage while resting against a wall. She had rolled backwards and had ended up lying on her back with her eyes looking into a pair of sapphire ones.
Xyphos had almost immediately started screaming, thinking it to be one of Mundus' soldiers. Trish had simply grabbed her roughly and had clamped her hand over her mouth.
'Who are you?'
'M-m-my…my name?' stuttered Xyphos. Trish narrowed her eyes slightly.
'It's not that hard a question is it?'
'No…My name's Xyphos.' Trish had tensed up, her muscles bunching together, ready to spring forwards to attack. 'Who are you?'
'You don't have to know. It's not going to help you in anyway.'
'Hey! No fair!' Trish growled in exasperation.
'Trish,' she had said, trying to make her voice as gruff as possible. Xyphos looked relieved.
'Oh goodie! Arson sent me to find you!'
'Arson?' All the fight had been knocked out of her at the mention of the name.
'Y-yeah! He's got brown eyes, brown hair and he's half angel and half demon!' Xyphos had promptly blurted. Trish looked dazed.
'Arson? He's come? To the Underworld?' Xyphos nodded.
'He's fighting Dante!'
'Dante???' More nodding. Trish looked confused. 'Arson's fighting Dante?'
'Yes! Now come on! He's in trouble!' Trish laughed.
'I'm sure he isn't. Dante and Arson are relatives. They argue but they wouldn't fight each other at all. And Arson isn't much of a fighter. He prefers reasoning.' Xyphos started shivering slightly.
'Well…Dante stabbed him in the shoulder…and if that's just arguing then I'd hate to see what they're like when they fight!' Trish looked pale and serious. That was not her Dante. Her Dante? Pah! That was a good one. She had never been his. Never.