The chamber they came into was filled with nothing but smoke and fire. It was a circular room, with pillars of fire surrounding the walls. Red hard baked ground formed the basis for the floor. In one corner, stood Siren, her violet eyes shining. Next to her stood a table, and on it was a frail white figure. Arson rushed towards her.
'Val!'
She lay pale faced upon the metal table, her white clothes flowing off the edge of it. Dante was startled again by her beauty. He found himself thinking of Maya. Tears came to his eyes but he blinked them back. Maya was wrong. It was all wrong. But what if…that night…Dante glared at Arson with loathing as he picked up his sister. Val's head sank against his chest. She was very weak and had been starved almost to the point of emaciation. Siren suddenly laughed.
'You think it will be that easy…don't you?' Arson shook his head.
'Not at all. We need to find the source.'
'I know where it is.' Arson looked at her in bewilderment.
'You do?'
'Yes. It's right here…' Siren pointed at her heart. Arson frowned and looked puzzled. Dante came up from behind.
'I always knew there was something I didn't like about you.' Arson looked up at him and blinked before turning back to Siren.
'W-w-what're you talking about, Si?' Trish joined Dante's side, her eyes hard.
'Get Val out of here. We'll take care of the rest.' Val slowly opened her eyes and began to weep as she saw her brother's face above her own.
'Arson,' she whispered. Siren closed her eyes, a teasing smile playing on her face. Val was suddenly silenced. She struggled out of Arson's arms and stood steadily and faced him. The two watched each other, Arson with a look of joy on his face, Val expressionlessly. Val suddenly launched forward and landed a blow on his jaw. Arson cried out more with shock than with pain. He looked towards Dante and Trish questioningly. Val suddenly fell to her knees clutching her head and screaming.
'I can't do this! I don't want to! He's my brother! This is wrong!' Arson looked up and at Siren, eyes blazing.
'Let her go, Bitch!' he yelled. Val suddenly rushed at him again, pushing him through a curtain of fire and into a second, separate chamber. Dante looked towards the temptress, who only smiled gently at him, her eyes loving and calm. Dante lowered his sword.
'Go ahead and kill me, Dante. What's holding you back?' She laughed softly. Trish saw what was happening and tried to pull Dante back. Dante's eyes had taken on a vacant expression. The muscles in his face turned slack as he found himself falling under Siren's hypnotic spell. Siren held her arms out to him and embraced him, holding him close, leering at Trish the whole time.
Dante closed his eyes, wanting only to smell her perfume, to feel her against him, wanting to taste her. He hugged her tighter to his body and gently pressed his lips to her neck. Trish was livid with rage. She suddenly pushed Dante out of the way and took on Siren unarmed. Siren shrieked with pain and retaliated by grabbing Trish's hair and yanking it hard. Trish forced herself free and kicked her in the stomach, bringing her to the ground.
---
Arson dodged through every single blow that Val aimed at him. He would not fight his sister. He would not. Never. But he knew he could not keep this up for long. He warped out of one spot, coming to land behind her.
'Val! Val! It's me your brother! Arse-wipe! Remember Arse-wipe? It's me! It's him!' It was no use. Val snarled bitterly and twisted out of his grip, trying to punch him again. Arson seemed to vanish like smoke on the wind before he reappeared to one side of her.
'Please Val! Don't listen to her! She's making you do this! Val!' Val stumbled forwards, screaming. Arson kept her from falling to the ground as she nursed her head and wept. Her eyes cleared as she looked upon his face.
'Please…please help me! I don't want to fight you!' she cried. Arson dodged backwards as Val lunged at him again, like a wild beast.
'Fight it off, Val!' he yelled. A hot anger began to rise in his eyes but he fought it back down. He could not afford to let himself get angry. He knew the consequences if he did. Val suddenly stopped and closed her eyes, as she began to chant strange words that Arson did not understand.
'Lo inhaé, Stalf sufaé.' Val kept repeating herself over and over again, her voice turning dull and toneless. A blue aura began to surround her. Arson frowned, unsure as to what was happening. The ground below him gave a sudden rumble as it began to move underfoot. Val stepped back as the floor began to split in half, revealing a deep pit of water. She kept on walking back, towards the very edge of the wall. Arson knew he should have done the same. But the sight of the water froze him with sudden understanding and fear. He had time for one last cry before he fell straight in, his amulet falling from his pocket and landing next to Val.
---
Dante slowly shook his head clear of the spell. His vision slowly focused to see Siren struggling to meet the power of Trish. Dante looked down at this sword and frowned. His eyes hardened as he began to remember what had happened. Of all people, he had never thought that he would have fallen under Siren's influence. He slowly got to his feet and readied his blade, aiming at her, his eyes narrowed.
'Damn it…keep still!' he hissed. Trish suddenly staggered, dropping her sword. Siren snatched it up, and stood over her, a triumphant smile playing on her features.
'So…you gave a good fight. You know as well as I do that you were a lot stronger than me. But brute force does not always win, Trish. This shall be your last lesson.' Siren brought the blade above her head, intending to bring it crashing down. A look of anguish came across her face instead as Sparda sped past her, tearing her body open. She turned to look at Dante, her rage showing only to clearly. But Dante could see the misted look that had entered her eyes.
'You!' she gagged. She staggered forwards towards him, but then fell for the last time. Siren had spoken her last.
---
Val felt the sudden strange weight that had been bearing down on her head leave her. She looked around for Arson but he was nowhere to be seen. She suddenly became aware of the churning of water. She carefully edged nearer to the pit and frowned as she looked in. She screamed as Arson's hand suddenly broke the surface and grabbed the ledge.
Arson struggled to pull himself up, but the water was robbing him of all strength rapidly. Val grabbed his hand and tried to help, but she was too weak from ill treatment. Arson's head emerged out of the water. He looked at Val tiredly.
'Go ahead…you may as well finish it off now. At least make your brother's death a quick one.' Val frowned and finally managed to pull him up, noticing the angry sores that had appeared on his skin. He crawled to the wall before collapsing, his eyes staring blankly at the water that had almost taken his life. He looked up and blinked as he heard someone screaming. This time it was not the souls.
'Razzia…both of them…Dante, Trish…both in trouble.' Val tried to dry him.
'What of Siren?' Arson shook his head.
'Bitch…' He staggered to his feet and tottered towards the door that lay hidden behind the flames. 'Are you coming or not?' Val stood up but then sank to her knees, shaking her head.
'I can't…' Arson turned, tears in his eyes. He gently picked her up, like a child.
'I'm sorry, Val. I shouldn't have let this happen to you. I failed as your guardian and brother. I'm sorry.' Val shook her head, her brown eyes falling into her hair.
'You haven't. Believe me…you haven't…' Arson passed through the doorway and took in the scene quickly. Dante had already killed the weaker one of the two, but was kneeling on the ground, in a pool of his own blood. Trish was completely knocked out. Arson gently laid Val down and then walked into the centre of the room, his face grim. Razzia's eyes met with his before he broke into a grin.
'Well well…if it isn't my former General?' Razzia turned to address Dante and Val. 'You'd better be wary of this one. He stabs you in the back when you're not looking.' Arson looked at Dante and then lowered his eyes before focusing his attention on Razzia, who was lazily playing with a sharpened dagger. His eyes slid across to look at the fallen body of Siren before his eyes narrowed.
'Why her? And why did you take Val?' Razzia looked at him as though in surprise.
'You're staring death in the face and you still want answers? Very well. Siren was the only one you could trust outside your immediate family. She wasn't exactly pleased with the way your relationship was going; you were too focused for her and you were beginning to fight off her spells. She came to me and asked me to give her power.' Arson looked confused and angry.
'And what was in it for you?'
'She made a deal with me. If I gave her the power she wanted, she would try to stop you from succeeding in your quest.'
'So what did she have to gain by even helping us get into the underworld in the first place?'
'Well, let me just say that I told her to bring you here. To help you figure out the clue. She said she'd bring Dante to me so I could kill him instead of having to search him out and waste my time. If I eradicate him here, then my future will be stable. Siren promised me that if she had the source of power, nothing would happen because you trusted her too much to ever suspect it. Unfortunately, she became too confident and was killed because of it. As for Val…' Razzia allowed a slow smile to pass over his face. 'I needed to be entertained.' Arson's eyes widened. He turned to look at Val, who was looking thoroughly confused at what was being said. 'Oh don't worry, I didn't do anything indecent. But it was fun to watch her beg and scream in pain.' Tears stung Arson's eyes. Razzia's golden eyes bored into him almost scornfully. 'How touching…the warrior cries.' He laughed and then turned to Dante, who was still unable to move properly. Dante gritted his teeth and closed his eyes against the blow that would surely end him.
A red aura surrounded Razzia as he gathered energy for his attack. Arson shook his head.
'I won't let you do this! I won't let you kill him!' Val shielded her head as a shield of yellow light surrounded Arson. As the light died down, she chanced to take a look. She gasped as she saw Arson's transformation.
Not a devil, but an angel stood in front of her. Arson's black clothes had now turned to a pure white. Two huge feathery wings protruded from either side of his body. Razzia laughed maniacally as energy continued to collect into the palm of his hand. Dante heard the energy being released but never felt what hit him.
Dante looked up as he felt someone stand in front of him. Arson. Feathers flew everywhere as Arson took the full impact of the attack. Soon, it had all ended. Razzia stared at Arson in shock before grinning.
'Fool! You've wasted your life away! I was actually thinking of giving you a second chance after I had taken care of the rest of these pests. But if you don't want it, then fine.' Razzia waved his farewell as Arson fell backwards, into Dante's arms. Val screamed and ran towards them both.
'Arson…' whispered Dante. Arson slowly opened his eyes, and Dante could see that they were clouding over. Arson smiled crookedly.
'Hey …The Curse is dead…' He coughed painfully, causing blood to trickle out of the side of his mouth. His now blackened and damaged wings flapped weakly but then grew still. Dante felt pure rage well up inside as he remembered what he had said. He regretted it, but it was too late now. Arson shuddered in his arms, his breath catching in his throat as he struggled to breathe. He coughed wetly, causing more blood to ooze out from his mouth, as blood entered his lungs. He swallowed hard before his eyes switched onto Val.
'Do one last favour for your bro, Val…I don't like it down here…' Val nodded, understanding what he meant. Her eyes remained clear of tears.
'Don't talk like that Arson…you're going to be all right…' There was no reply. Arson gave one last shudder before turning limp in Dante's arms. His eyes stared open, glazed over in death.
Dante slowly rose to his feet, and staggered forward. His eyes turned into a violent shade of red.
'Laugh your last, Razzia!' he snarled. 'You're losing power, and fast. I can feel it, as well as you.' Razzia smiled again, almost mildly.
'Why don't you try and see?' He laughed arrogantly and tossed his dagger at Dante. It fell miserably short. Razzia's eyes narrowed. Dante kicked the knife up into the air and caught it.
'You want this? Catch it, then!' Dante hurled it back at him, his rage lending his arm strength. As the dagger left his hand, Dante triggered off the demonic blood inside of him, and charged forwards. Razzia groaned in pain as the dagger went through his heart. He was quickly silenced as Dante ran him through with his sword. But even that was not enough to kill the tyrant. He began to heal quickly, his eyes burning with hate and anger.
'It will take more than that, boy!' Dante grabbed him firmly by the shoulders and took off, his wings unfurling and flapping wildly as he became airborne. Val's eyes followed them up. She shrieked as he tore through the earth, sending hard, crumbling mud falling down below.
Trish slowly opened her eyes to see Val glowing with a faint white light. She had placed both of her hands onto either side of Arson's head and had closed her eyes. Her amulet was glowing with a bright red light, brighter than its original colour. Val suddenly fell back, panting from the strain she had put upon herself. Trish felt Arson's hand and found that there was a very weak pulse.
'He's still alive! Find Inferno! Quickly!' Val shook her head, indicating she did not know where he was. Trish noted again her amulet.
'Where's Arson's amulet?' Val slowly drew it out of her pocket, having picked it up before. Trish snatched Val's away from her and brought the two together, finding that they fit in perfectly. Trish placed it on Arson's chest quickly and waited. Val looked at her questioningly.
'Dante once gave me his amulet…when I was close to death. It did something to me…and it gave me back my life.' Arson stirred and opened his eyes, shivering. He had returned to his original state. He quickly sat up, still shivering.
'Wha-' He was quickly silenced as Val hugged him, weeping. Trish patted her back soothingly.
'It's okay.' Arson looked up, confused as he could hear the sounds of battling. There was one last shriek of pain and then silence. Val flinched as something came hurtling down, coming to land beside Siren. Arson began to shudder wildly as the dead eyes of Razzia's stared into his own. Dante came hovering down and stared at the three silently as his devil state wore away. At last he smiled and sheathed his sword.
'It's all over.' Arson smiled and hugged Val, for the first time looking cheerful.
'Those are the best words I've ever heard!'
---
'Hey Kid. I owe you an apology.' Trish, Arson, Val and Dante were standing outside the gateway to the underworld. It was dark outside but it no longer dampened their spirits. Arson kept his eyes lowered as Dante continued to talk. 'I was wrong for saying what I said. You're no curse. In fact…I'm proud to be related to you, however I am.' Arson slowly raised his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. Dante gave him a quick smile and then turned to Trish.
'Let's go.' Arson smiled at Val, and she nodded.
'I think we had better be doing the same too,' she whispered. Arson looked around the dark forest, his brown eyes shining slightly. He smiled mildly at Dante and then his eyes widened.
'What about Inferno?' Val smiled as she heard a sudden piping melody from behind her. Inferno finished his song before alighting on Arson's shoulder. Arson nodded formally to Dante and Trish. Trish shook her head, as though bemused and walked forwards, pulling him into a hug.
'I expect we'll be seeing you again,' she said, looking at him meaningfully. Arson looked at her puzzled but then smiled as he understood. He turned back to Val and took hold of her hand, giving one last silent nod towards Dante and Trish. Dante did not flinch as the white flash returned. Instead he smiled.
'I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him,' he murmured. Trish nodded her head in agreement and smiled.
'I expect it will be different next time,' she whispered. She suddenly shivered with the cold and Dante put his arm across her shoulders, smiling at her tenderly.
'Let's go home.'
The End