Arson's Destiny

Prologue

Outside it was light but it was cold. England was in the middle of a snowstorm and the white flakes danced as they came to settle on the ground. Winter was here. The sky was clear but yet grey with the snow. Birds sang no longer as they fled to seek refuge where the weather was warmer. The trees were bare of leaves and now only bore the weight of the snow as it continued to fall. No doubt children would be rushing outside to play once the fall stopped. No doubt they would squeal and shriek with delight as they pelted each other with snowballs or made snowmen until their anxious mothers called them inside. Today would be a day of happiness and contentment for most. Not for him though.

            He pulled himself away from the window and returned back to his books. To his right, the fireplace was blazing and on his desk books were spread out. Dante had no time for such frivolous activities, though the kid inside of him often begged to be let loose. He would have been quite happy being able to hit Trish and use her for target practising. Now there was an idea. He stood up quickly, looking at the books in distaste. Researching on demons had never been his strong point. He had simply preferred to fight with them and learn the hard way.

            'Trish?' he called. 'How about a little training, Trish?' He looked out of the window eagerly. The snowfall had finally stopped. His heart started to beat faster with childish excitement. Again he forced his eyes away from the white wonderland that lay outside. 'Come on, Trish!'

            'Yeah yeah, I'm coming already!' Dante smiled gleefully as Trish came downstairs, dressed in a warm jumper and jeans. She was holding a mug of coffee in her hands. 'What is it?' Dante sighed.

            'Come on! Let's train!' Trish looked at him and then smiled.

            'No.' Dante looked at her in surprise.

            'No?'

 'No,' she repeated firmly. 'Besides I want to go and meet someone. It's Christmas.' Dante groaned softly to himself.

            'Arson?' Trish nodded and smiled.

            'We should all be together at this time.'

            'Trish! We don't even celebrate Christmas!'

            'You seem to forget that you're half human. You are entitled to celebrate it.'

            'I don't want to.'

            'Well I do.' Trish marched out of the house and wondered whether she should walk to his apartment or drive. She looked at the roads. No, it would be safer to walk. Just then she felt a solid weight thump into the back of her neck and then the unmistakeable trickle of snow sliding down her back underneath her clothes. She whirled around and glared at Dante, who was smiling mischievously.

            'Dante!' she yelled. Dante smirked. 'You'd think someone your age would know how to behave!' Another smirk.

            'Nope.' Trish narrowed her eyes and threw one at Dante, hitting him full in the face. Dante rubbed snow off his features and then hurled another one at her. Trish dodged, laughing at the same time.

'Is your aim off or what?' she giggled. Just then she was hit again from the opposite direction. She spun on her heel to see a young girl standing there.

            'Xyphos! How could you?' she wailed in mock misery. Xyphos giggled and joined in the fun. It was two against one. Dante suddenly chuckled throatily.

            'Jeez! Girls can't throw to save their lives!' Xyphos and Trish glared at him. 'What?' Dante ended up on the ground completely covered in snow. Xyphos laughed.

            'Look it's a Danteman!' Trish smiled.

            'Where's Arson?' The look on Xyphos' face suddenly dimmed and turned serious. Dante got up and brushed snow from his clothes.

'Yeah where is he?' Xyphos lowered her eyes.

            'He's not doing too well.'

            'What d'you mean?'

            'He's ill.'

            'Well…considering he does hate the cold he's bound to have the flu or a cold or something.' Xyphos shook her head.

            'It's more than that. I think it's much more serious. Come on.'

            Arson lay pale-faced in bed, sweating and shivering at the same time. His eyes were closed and he was asleep, but despite this, he carried on trembling. His eyes fluttered open as he heard the door slam and he opened his mouth to call out but no sound came. He could hear the footsteps coming closer into his room.

            'Arson? Your grandfather's here to see you. Trish is here too,' said a familiar voice. Arson tried to sit up and control his shivering, trying to look a lot better then he felt. However, he collapsed to one side, shaking all the harder. Dante's face looked grave.

            'You look awful,' he said, in his normal tactless way. Arson gave a wry smile but said nothing. Trish looked at him sympathetically.

            'I got you a present,' she said, trying to inject cheerfulness into her voice. Arson again smiled. His eyes were becoming dimmer and his face seemed as though his youth was being stolen from him. Xyphos smiled too and took the parcel from Trish and put it on Arson's bedside. 

            'He'll open it later when he's feeling better,' she said quietly. Trish was about to say something else but then grew quiet as she saw that Arson was asleep. Dante looked grimfaced.

            'I think you were right,' he said quietly to Xyphos. 'It's not just the cold that's doing it. It's something else. But I'm not sure what…' Trish suddenly frowned.

            'His signal's becoming fainter.' Seeing the distress on Xyphos' face she quickly carried on. 'Not as if he's dying or anything. It's like he's being pulled somewhere else.' Dante suddenly looked knowing.

            'I see…' Trish looked at him curiously.

            'What is it? Do you know something?'

            'Yeah. I became like this once. It was the day before Force Edge was handed down to me.' Trish frowned.

            'What do you mean?'

            'And why's he like this?'

            'It's all a part of a test. I can't explain it right now. It's difficult. Anyway, don't be surprised if you can't find him tomorrow.'

            'What? What d'you mean?' Dante smiled thinly.

            'Don't worry. It's all a part of the beginning. The beginning of his legacy.'

Disclaimer: Trish and Dante do not belong to me. Xyphos doesn't either. Arson however does. This is the sequel to Darkness Falling and it features a lot more of Arson. So those who hate OCs, don't bother flaming me as this is the point of my story. To show that the legacy of the Sparda's won't end.