Arson struggled to his feet, joy lending him strength. The phoenix looked up into the boy's face but made no other move. At length, it closed its eyes and nuzzled against him. Arson looked down at it and beamed. He was not being rejected for once. It filled him with an odd sense of happiness. He called out again.
'Dad?' There was no answer. Arson took a faltering step towards the light, trying to step out of the darkness. He stifled a scream of terror as he felt someone's hands clamp down on his narrow shoulders from in front of him. His eyes adjusted to the new light. He peered upwards to see Dante looking down at him. Arson's eyes widened and he tried to step back. He lowered his eyes and gently placed the phoenix on the ground.
Dante watched in bewilderment as Arson shut his eyes and stood, his arms akimbo. His voice sounded, and Dante felt someone shocked to hear that it was low, sounding unlike a child's voice.
'I knew your name was Dante, but that was not all I knew. I know what you do for a living. My mother always told me about you, and that you'd find me and kill me if I was a bad boy. I guess I crossed the line when I nearly burnt your house down…' There was an uncomfortable silence. 'You may as well kill me now. I don't care. It doesn't matter anymore anyway. Nothing does.' Arson opened his eyes, turned his back on Dante and waited. Dante walked towards him slowly and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Arson flinched slightly but stood his ground.
'I'm not going to kill you.'
'It's your job. Just do it.' Arson's voice had a bite of anger in it. Dante said nothing but let go. Arson closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. Minutes passed and there was still no pain. He was still alive. He slowly opened his eyes again and looked around. Dante suddenly grabbed him and bundled him into the car, locking the door before he turned back to grab the phoenix. He stared down at it impassively for a few seconds, trying to assess the situation. If he tried to grab it just like that, he would probably end up with a few nasty bites.
At length, he crouched down slightly and extended his hand out towards the bird. When he realized that he was not going to be attacked, he stroked the head feathers gently and then rose with the phoenix safely tucked under his arm. Arson flinched as Dante got into the car beside him. He trembled and tried to flatten himself against the car door. Dante put Inferno in his lap and drove off, tires screaming, as was his trait.
Arson watched the lights fly by, his eyes wet from terrified tears. He jumped as he heard Dante's voice.
'Devil's never cry.' The two were silent. Arson mulled over Dante's words, uncertainty showing in his eyes. He looked carefully at this strange man with silver hair, the one who killed demons for the fun of it but yet had spared his life. The only sound to be heard was the rain pattering onto the windscreen, and the wipers as they rid the glass of the water. Dante handed him his red amulet. Arson looked at him questioningly but said nothing. Dante felt suddenly irritated by his silence. Why won't he talk? He thought to himself. Why doesn't he just find it in himself to ask?
'Your father gave it to you to keep. It's not mine anymore.' Arson nodded and wordlessly slipped it around his neck. 'Only Spardas wear that amulet though…' Arson looked up at him sharply at that point before he sank back into the car seat, his face pale.
'So that's why you didn't kill me…because we're related?' Dante shook his head.
'It's not just that. You didn't do anything wrong.'
'But my mother said that you kill for the fun of it, and that it doesn't matter if you're a kid or not. No matter what happens, she said you'll kill them all the same and that you'd kill me too if I was a bad boy.'
Dante scowled as he heard his words. Arson saw the anger in his eyes and grew quiet. He pressed himself against the car door, trying to stay as far away from him as possible. Dante said nothing else for the rest of the journey. When he next looked in the child's direction, Arson was fast asleep, with Inferno resting in his lap.
Fifteen minutes later, Dante gently picked him up. Inferno, with a huge effort, managed to flap heavily to Dante's shoulder, where he perched precariously. Trish saw Dante pull up and opened the door.
'Is he okay?'
'He's exhausted. So's Inferno. Give him some water. He needs it.' Dante sat down with Arson in his lap and sighed, shaking his head. 'If that bitch was still alive, I'd kill her myself.' Trish held a glass of water to Inferno, who drank greedily and thankfully from it. She looked quickly at Dante.
'What happened?'
'Arson told me that his mother said that I killed demons just for the hell of it. She threatened the kid using my name.'
'You like to have people quaking in fear when they hear your name.'
'This is different.' Dante shifted his position slightly. Arson's head sank against his chest as he slept on, oblivious to what Dante had said. Dante moved again, wanting only to get to his bed and nurse his aching head. He felt as though he'd had enough action for one day. Besides, he hadn't got much sleep all night. A troubled look passed over Arson's face. Dante sighed in resignation and stayed still.
'He's a light sleeper. I guess I'll just have to sleep on the couch with him.' Trish giggled. 'What?'
'I never thought I'd hear you say that.' Dante scowled at her witheringly but said nothing. Trish's eyes met those of Inferno's. She smiled again. 'You look like a pirate with Inferno perched on your shoulder like that.' Dante shrugged.
'So what? I ain't got a problem with pirates.' He yawned sleepily and closed his eyes. Trish freed Inferno's talons from Dante's coat and took him with her as she went upstairs. Five minutes later, Dante and Arson were both sound asleep.
---
It was late in the morning when they were both rudely awakened from the shrill cry of the telephone. Dante leaned over and reached for the phone. He slowly held the receiver up to his ear, yawning as he did so.
'Devil May Cry?'
'There's been another attack. Same marks as last time. Half healed. Have you found anything?' Dante blinked, clearing his mind.
'Who the hell is this anyway?'
'Does it matter? Check this body out. And take the boy with you.' Dante looked towards Arson at that point. Arson smiled at him, safe in the knowledge that he would not be harmed. Dante was about to give a caustic reply when the phone went dead. He slammed down the phone and looked towards Arson curiously.
'Get cleaned up, kid. We've got to go.'