Chapter 5

When Trish woke up, she was surprised to see that Dante was right by her side, fast asleep. Trish smiled at him tenderly. It was obvious that he had had a late night. Her smile vanished as she noted the troubled look on his face. During the last few weeks, Dante had withdrawn into his own world, avoiding her at times. Trish had a feeling she knew why. But she would wait. There was no sense in rushing anything. She rested her head back down onto the pillows and closed her eyes. Another thought occurred to her, striking her forcibly. She rolled over onto her side and stroked Dante's hair gently.

'Dante?'

'Mmmmm?'

'What are you doing in my room? Why aren't you in your room?' Dante half opened his pale blue eyes and looked at Trish sleepily before yawning, turning onto his stomach and falling asleep once again. Trish suddenly became aware of a strange presence in the building. She frowned and cautiously stepped out of her bedroom to be met by a girl with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Trish gaped at her, stunned.

'You're Trish, right?' Trish nodded dumbly. The girl smiled at her brightly. 'Where's the bathroom?'

'First door on the left.' Trish watched her go. She frowned. Who the hell was she? And why did she feel so uneasy about her? She shivered involuntarily and went downstairs to watch some television. Without putting on the lights, she switched on the small colour television and put the volume down. She sighed. She didn't understand how people could just sit watching TV wasting away the hours of the day. But it was something to do when there was nothing exciting happening. It occurred to her that in her kind of life style, this was a rare occasion, and that she should make the best of it. With this thought in mind, she sat down on the sofa only to hear someone's muffled groan. Arson opened his eyes and looked at her in surprise. Trish gawped at him.

'You? I thought you left!' Arson yawned and slowly sat up, nodding wearily. 'That girl…did she come with you?'

'She's my sister. Her name is Valkyrie. Val for short.' Trish sat down next to him as he stretched himself languorously before settling down again. Trish noted that he was absolutely exhausted. His eyes were turned towards the television, watching the flickering picture lazily. 'This is a really old film…isn't it?'

'About two years old.' Arson continued to watch the screen.

'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is now a classic,' he said at last before closing his eyes. Trish frowned.

'Is that supposed to help me in any way?'

'Not really.' Trish was able to sit still for about ten minutes before she changed the channel. She shifted restlessly before she switched the television off and went back upstairs. Arson had fallen asleep. He needs it thought Trish to herself. Val came storming down the stairs, like a hurricane, almost knocking Trish off balance.

'Watch it!' she yelled after her.

'Sorry!' Val beamed at Trish, sending shivers down her spine. There was something that she felt slightly uneasy about. There was no evil inside Val, she was sure of that but that weird feeling that surrounded the whole building was always the strongest when Val was close by. She turned to look at her again and gasped when her eyes suddenly caught the familiar red flash. Her eyes flitted towards Arson. It was hard to see it, because it was hidden underneath his red top but she could just make out a long heavy chain that he wore around his neck. Trish suddenly felt very sick and cold. Val looked at her curiously.

'Trish? You don't look very well. Are you okay?' Arson opened his eyes just then and looked at Val, his eyes focusing on the red amulet that hung around her neck. Val looked down to see what it was he was looking at. Her eyes widened and she struggled unsuccessfully to hide it underneath her clothing. But it was already too late. Trish had seen. She walked towards them both. Val looked from her to Arson and then back, her brown eyes showing only too plainly her fear. Arson had sat up, every muscle in his body tense and ready to spring into action if need be.

'Those amulets. Only people with the blood of Sparda can inherit them. That means that you are somehow related to Dante, am I correct?' Arson said nothing. He remained motionless, his face impassive. Val trembled slightly and moved closer to him, seeking comfort from his presence. Trish continued to advance, her eyes hardening. 'It's so obvious. I had thought that you and Dante looked similar but I never said anything.' A sob escaped from Val's throat. Arson glared at her warningly and then stood up, his eyes stern but yet without malice. He moved so then Val was behind him and then unthinkingly moved to his warrior's stance, acting on impulse.

Trish couldn't help but be amused by this. They were both so absolutely terrified, though Arson had shielded his fear. Val could do nothing but stare at Trish helplessly.

'Y-you aren't going to throw us out are you?' Trish smiled. They were his relatives. Arson frowned.

'She won't. She's not like that. And besides, she can't. Not if she wants to live.' Trish laughed scornfully.

'Is that a challenge?' Arson shook his head.

'Not from us, no. Razzia. Remember what I told you.' Arson was beginning to relax slightly. Even Val was beginning to look calmer. 'If Razzia gets you, then Dante will go berserk and end up causing his own downfall. We can't let you die.' He paused. 'And you can't tell Dante this either. You can't tell him about us.'

'Why not?' Val stepped out from behind Arson, her eyes, grave.

'Small things can sometimes decide huge events in your life. Whether it's a single word you speak or how you react to a situation, it decides the outcome of your future. Because of this theory, we knew that we had to come back here to help you, and to see whether we would be able to finish Razzia once and for all.

'I don't think Dante really likes us that much. Or he's still suspicious of us. In either way, I can sense that he does not fully welcome us yet. We haven't won his trust properly. If Dante ever found out about us now, then we would most probably never be born in the future. He might just want to withdraw into himself and never find himself in a relationship because he would know what the outcome would be.' Trish looked from Val to Arson.

'You're his children?' Arson shook his head.

'No…' he smiled somewhat embarrassedly. 'We're his uh…grandchildren.' Val couldn't help but smile uneasily as Trish looked at her.

'But how come she's-'

'Got angel blood? For the same reason as I. We can't go into explanations right now. If we start talking then one thing will lead to another and I can't…I'm not ready for it.' Arson's eyes suddenly shone with an untold sorrow. The thought that Arson was part angel hadn't ever occurred to Trish. But now that she thought of it, the more it made sense. It explained why he had seemed so pure and naïve when he had first entered Devil May Cry. Val looked towards Arson knowingly and shook her head with pity.

'Don't think about it,' she whispered. Arson simply turned his back on them both and stared vacantly out of the window, without saying a word. His depression was only too obvious. Trish looked at Val questioningly. Val shook her head, showing that she wasn't about to disclose anything. Siren came down the stairs and smiled as soon as she saw Arson. She drifted over to him, smiling at Val almost smugly as she did so. Val said nothing but Trish noticed how her eyes had suddenly grown cold and angry.

Siren gently placed her hands on Arson's shoulders from behind. Everything seemed to happen at high speed. Arson flinched and whirled around, crying out at the top of his voice.

'Don't touch me!' Siren's violet eyes widened and she stepped back, shocked and scared. Val said nothing but shook her head in pity. Trish frowned but remained silent. Arson looked taken aback by his own outburst. He looked as though he wanted to say something to Siren but couldn't find the words. He lowered his eyes and turned again to the window. Siren quivered with first fear and then anger. She caught Val's satisfied smirk and then stepped away from Arson, scowling.

'I don't know what the hell is wrong with you. One minute you're all calm and laid back and the next you're angry and sullen. You know, I could be doing a lot better. You can be so pathetic.' Arson's eyes hardened but he said nothing. Siren glided over to the back door, slamming the door shut.

'Bitch,' muttered Val under her breath.

'She isn't,' said Arson gloomily. 'How can she understand when I haven't told her?'

'You don't have to explain yourself to her or to anyone for that matter.'

'I don't understand,' said Trish suddenly. Two pairs of eyes turned to look at her. 'All she did was touch you.'

'It's a long story. I have the time…but I don't want to talk about it,' said Arson at last. He fell silent as a new presence entered the room. Dante's calm pale blue eyes surveyed all. He smiled lazily as they settled on Arson.

'Are you ready to train yet?'

'Yes sir.'

'Come on then.' Arson looked at Trish meaningfully before he followed Dante out of the room. Val's usually cheerful voice sounded flat.

'I know that you probably have a lot of questions on your mind. All will be revealed in time.'