28 A Bond

Arius went upstairs to go find Dante, he was outside the room on the second floor. He saw him standing guard

"Dante~" Arius hummed while Dante turned to look at him. "Do know why Asrael changed so suddenly?"

"I do, and it's not good." Dante informed.

"How so?" Arius took Dantes words as confirmation that Asrael did this a lot.

"Asrael... Whenever he finds something remotely similar to mother, he latches on." Dante looked at the door. "He's always looking for something to remind himself of her."

"Why is it different this time?" Arius confirmed a couple things. One, Asrael does this a lot. Two, this has to do with his mom.

"A lot of things are different, usually he'd kidnap the person but he didn't." Well that shocked Arius.

"Maybe he's less interested this time?" Arius hoped at least.

"I know my brother, and this time he hasn't simply found a toy. He's looking to play mind games." Dante hardened his gaze, he didn't look like a seven year old in that moment.

"That's why he's in a good mood? Because he's found a new game to play?" Arius slightly narrowed his gaze, this was either going to be interesting or a pain in the ass to deal with. "Should I put a padlock on his window so he can't escape?"

Dante nodded, he liked the idea.

"I have some tools in the basement..." Arius struggled inside his heart for a moment. He wouldn't let anyone see the painting, so he'd have to go down there alone.

He of course had to catch Dante by his tiny shoulder as he motioned to start running down the stairs. The boy looked at him confused for a moment. Arius found that the child had a habit of doing things without being asked, probably because of Asrael's insolence.

"I'll go get it." He let go of his shoulder and went down the stairs, leaving Dante with his thoughts.

He took a glance at Zuna who was in the kitchen, she looked like she was waiting. He smiled at her as he made his way towards the hallway.

He took the keys from his bunny onesies pocket and unlocked the door.

When he was down into he basement, he stared at the boxes. Racking his brain for a memory of where he had put his tools.

As he was moving things, his mind wandered towards what Dante had said. 'Mind games', did that mean Asrael was smarter than he looked?

Perhaps he underestimated Arsael, or maybe he was influenced into believing he wasn't someone to be wary of. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that Asrael only put up a front, and that he was secretly vulnerable.

Though, how much did Asrael have to love his mom to be so obsessed? To the point of seeking her in other people, and holding on so desperately to her memory?

Everything had happened so fast. Finding Durante, Hazuna, Eirik, and then Asrael. He'd be lying if he said he didn't like how eventful it's been. It was odd though, feeling a sort of bond with someone as soon as he met them.

He didn't realize it until now, that he had felt a bond with Dante even before he had met him. He was always spontaneous, but he felt that there must have been another reason that he was so inclined to take him in. He wondered if the rest had felt that almost magnetic pull as well.

He found the drill, and also the padlock. The nails should also be in this box too, and there they are. He had everything he needed. Standing up, he held the drill in one hand, and a box of nails with the padlock in the other.

His hands were full, so he couldn't lock the basement until he had set the tools down somewhere. He closed the basement door with his foot.

Putting the tools on the coffee table in living area, he pulled out the keys to the basement and went back to lock it. Zuna walked over, she was curious as to what he was going to put a padlock on.

He came back to see her staring at the tools, he smiled.

"What are these things for?" She asked him.

"We're making sure that there is no possible way Asrael will be able to sneak out of the house of course." He said as she nodded.