Dante watched over Arson during the night, bathing his forehead with a damp but warm cloth. The boy had been running a fever during the night, and his dreams were those of delirium. Dante had started feeling oddly paternal towards him. Maybe it had been because once during the night, Arson had opened his eyes and had stared at Dante, half seeing, and half imagining and had called him, "Dad".
Maybe it was just because of guilt that Dante had started feeling warm towards him. Or maybe it was because of his size. He was small for his age, but that was due to ill treatment and lack of food. Speaking of which…
Dante hesitantly left Arson's side and went into the kitchen to get himself something to eat. He wondered when the boy had last eaten and then grabbed a couple of chocolate bars, thinking that it would put something in his stomach, as well as give the boy the energy he needed.
Arson was awake when Dante returned. He smiled at him weakly and then closed his eyes.
'Are you hungry?' Dante asked gently. Arson opened his eyes and looked at the demon hunter in shock. No one had ever asked him a question in such a tone before. He had no idea what he was expected to do or say. Dante repeated his question again, still keeping is tone of voice soft. 'Are you hungry? D'you want something to eat?' Arson took a deep breath, opened his mouth to say something but then stopped. Instead he shook his head.
'It's a trick isn't it?'
'What d'you mean?'
'You're gonna do what she always does. If I say yes, you're just going to say, "Tough you can't have it!" Well I'm not hungry! I'm never going to be again!' Arson shuddered slightly, taken aback by his own anger. Dante sighed and then placed a chocolate bar close to the boy's side. Arson looked at it with distrust and then at him, trying to work out whether this guy really was for real. There was only one way to find out. He hesitantly reached out for it, and then opened it up slowly. Dante made no move but sat there watching him, with a sad expression in his eyes. Arson blinked and took in his appearance.
This man was stronger than most people, but then again he was a demon so that was to be expected. But he didn't seem all that bad. He seemed as though he knew how to be gentle. At least, he had proved that to him when Dante had treated him with as much kindness as possible. Arson volunteered another smile and felt slightly encouraged when Dante smiled back.
'You remind me of my Dad…'he said without thinking. Arson lowered his eyes and blushed. 'Sorry…'
'For what?'
'I didn't mean to say that.' Dante frowned. Arson saw the look on his face and flinched, his body automatically tensing up as he prepared himself for any attack that may come his way. Dante noticed only then how red his hands were. While kids had been watching Saturday Morning cartoons, Arson had probably been doing household chores no kid his age should do.
'It's okay.' Arson looked up at Dante again, with those huge eyes of his.
'You mean it?' Dante nodded, his face serious. Arson's eyes welled up with tears. He sat up. Dante grinned. This was a good sign, it showed that he could finally move for himself, and that his body had regained all feeling. But now Arson's cheeks were glistening with tears as they ran down his face. Dante did something he had never done before. He hugged the boy close and felt tears sting his own eyes as he felt the boy's bones underneath his clothing. He furiously blinked them back.
'Hey…it's okay…you don't have to cry…you're safe now…you're free…' Arson looked up.
'I'm…free?' Arson face lighted up as he beamed. Dante grinned back at him. Arson's face suddenly fell. 'But, Sir! I do terrible things…'
'Like what?'
'…'
'Kid?'
'I…set things on fire…I don't know how I do it…but it happens…I never mean to but I always hurt someone…'
'Don't worry about it. Trish, that woman, she does some pretty strange things too. I'll deal with it. Don't worry.' Dante tucked Arson back into bed, when he saw how his eyelids were drooping. Arson yawned sleepily.
'Goodnight,' he said softly. Arson made no reply. Dante turned to go out of the bedroom when Arson spoke again.
'Sir?'
'Yeah?'
'Thank you…' Dante smiled to himself and switched off the lights. Trish met him outside Arson's room.
'You know you've got to teach him how to control his powers.'
'I know. You should be asleep.'
'I was asleep…but…'
'You were worried?' Trish nodded her head slowly. Dante said nothing for a while but then looked towards the bedroom again. 'You can go in and check on him if you want. Stay with him. He might need something in the middle of the night.' Trish nodded again, accepting this idea. She entered the bedroom and pulled up a chair, watching as Arson's narrow chest rose and fell as he breathed.
---
Trish woke up to hear screaming. Arson tossed and turned frantically in his bed.
'No! Leave me alone! LEAVE ME ALONE!' he shrieked. Trish breathed in deeply but then began coughing. Her senses screamed at her to leave the room; smoke was everywhere and she could hear the crackle of flames. She shook Arson roughly, trying to wake him from his nightmare. Arson jerked into wakefulness and stared around wildly.
'Oh no! I did it again!' he whimpered. He ducked under Trish and ran as fast as his legs would allow him to. Trish heard the front door slam shut above the wild hissing of the fire. She saw a tall, dark silhouette outside the door.
'Dante!' she cried. 'Arson's gone! Follow him! I'll take care of it!' Dante nodded and left wordlessly.
---
Arson ran blindly, not knowing where he was going, and not caring. His instincts would guide him, and carry him until his eyes adjusted to the new darkness that threatened to engulf him. He panted raggedly, sucking in air as his feet pounded against the concrete. He needed to get away from them. He needed to stay away from everyone, or else they'd be cursed. He crashed into someone but then dodged away before he could be caught. He could hear the footsteps thudding after him. Fear drove him on and he began to run faster. At length, he tripped and was sent rolling into a narrow alleyway. He shook his head to rid himself of the grogginess and looked around. He was not being followed by anyone. Had he just imagined it all then?
Arson tried to get up but then collapsed in pain. His stomach ached from where he had been stabbed, and his legs and arms trembled as he crawled to cover. He froze as he heard a high peeping sound.
'Hello?' he panted. The sound stopped and then started again, louder this time. Arson crawled towards it, his curiosity getting the better of him.
A bird lay trapped between two boxes filled with heavy junk. Arson stared at it for a while, noting the golden colour of the feathers. It was strange, at one point its feathers seemed to glow red, but then it would turn back to gold. The bird looked up at him through its fierce golden pupils but made no sound. Arson stared at it in open awe.
'A-are you a phoenix?' No answer, no indication of whether the bird had understood him. Arson used the rest of his failing strength to move the boxes apart. The phoenix hopped out as Arson fell down in a crumpled heap. It trilled its weird music to the sky again and then sat down next to him, preening itself. Arson had closed his eyes, concentrating on regulating his breathing. At length, he opened them again and raised his head.
'You know…you should get out while you still can…' the bird made no move but pressed itself towards him. 'For a phoenix you're pretty thick. Don't you know what I am? I'm a demon! You can't stay here near me. You've got to go!' The phoenix ignored Arson completely and nuzzled up against him. Arson smiled despite himself and ran his hand gently through the feathers. He froze as he heard footsteps. They were coming closer and closer, echoing off the walls that surrounded him on either side. He wondered, panicked, whether it was his mother. It might even be Dante…His soul lifted with hope. Maybe…just maybe it was…
'Little man? You here?'
'Dad?'