Contemplating Life Choices

It was your choice. Live, die... your memory may have vanished, your spirit; wounded, but even with the temptation of rest, release, compromise, you refused to leave the joy of life and love behind. Drakes do not compromise.

Now is not your time, my angel.... you will never be swallowed among the devoring waves of gore and blood. It cannot have you, not while I protect you...

"Who are you? Why do I know your voice?"

Hush now, my baby, be still love, don't cry. Sleep as your rocked by the stream.
Sleep and remember my last, lullaby... so I'll be with you when you dream.

There was no jolt into life, no sudden gasp, you simply filled your lungs with a gentle breath, and opened your eyes.

You were on your father's couch, staring up at the ceiling, peacefully, calmly... until it wasn't.

"CHARLIE!! HE'S AWAKE!" Arms wrapped around you, golden hair splaying across your face "You're okay... thank god you're okay..." Daisy whispered, worried; but joyful, you were glad that she had not fallen into sadness again.

Smiling, you wrapped your arms around her. "You're crushing me." You wheezed.

Flying back, Daisy's beautiful face was painted with happiness, pressing under her eyes to contain the tears of joy. "Sorry... Sorry... She said that you'd be fine when you started breathing again, b-but I was just so worried!"

You sat up, rubbing your chest which was a little sore, did your heart stop? Holy shit.

"She?" You muttered a little groggily.

"I thought she was going to explode, she was so afraid...." You turned, seeing her standing there in her long navy blue sweater, her heavy red mane of curls kissing her shoulders, as her eyes the colour of the Mediterranian sea looking on warmly.

You took in those rosy cheeks, the little dimples on each corner of her red lips as she smiled, a woman so beautiful that she looked like a painted masterpiece. Getting to your feet with Daisy fussing over you, wordlessly, your steps echoed in the room; the sound of one approaching perfection, stopping just before her to admire her beauty.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rose asked, softly.

You wrapped your arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug, which she slowly returned. The deepest, most powerful relief filled your chest, they'd have to chisel off your grin to get rid of it right now. "I don't know... I'm just, I'm really happy you're here."

Rose raised an eyebrow to herself, but eventually sighed, relaxing in and leaning her head on your shoulder, "I am too." She whispered.

"*Ahem*"

You turned around, smiling... you were in probably one of the best moods that you'd been in, even as you saw Daisy with her hands on her hips. "Umm, where's my hug?--ah!"

Daisy let out her signature, squeak as you grabbed her, spinning around with her in your arms as she laughed, cheesing as you put her down "You, big beautiful blonde you, are amazing."

Her face was branded with guilt, "but I-"

"I'm here, I'm alive, and I have you two with me, the two who are like my right and left hands. That is all that matters."

Conflict fought within those violet eyes, and you wondered what thoughts battled between them "I can't... we... can't even tit-fuck... I nearly killed you, Charlie, you were having heart palpitations. We can't--"

"We'll find a way." You reasured. Your conviction was cast iron.

Her lips creased, head swinging dismissively, "but--"

"We. Will find. A way. I'll do anything to fix what your sister has done to you, anything... But I have responsibilities, I will make my way with them, then with you, I promise, my Daisy... I swear we will fix this together." Your whisper was gentle and sincere; she touched your hand as it cupped her face.

She considered you gently, letting your certainty wash over her. "Okay, but only if it's together." She nodded.

The moment was however ruined as Rose seemingly appeared next to you both, her smaller form peering at the blonde titan inquisitively. The ocean blue clashed with the amethyst as Rose pursued Daisy, the former stepping back unnervingly, Rose backing her into a wall as she sniffed, watched and evaluated.

Daisy stood backed against the wall, clearly the weaker willed of the two as Rose rubbed her chin passively. "So...." Rose said, stepping back and frowning ,"...I was wondering why you smelt so off."

The Blonde Titaness grimaced "I-I just took a bath? Wha-"

"Even for a Dhampir, I knew there was something else, you're a little to warm, a little too bright..." Rose's eyes became cold, critical as she spoke candidly, but it was nothing compared to her voice, a revelling whisper. "You are one with the Fires of the Sun, aren't you?"

You shifted, "that's the red-fire thing you did earlier, right Daisy?"

The blonde lost her smile, "yes." She answered, turning back to Rose and folding her arms. "I don't see why it's any of your business?"

Rose smiled a strange kind of smile, and much to your confusion she started speaking in a low, ominous accent, smooth and sharp like a blade. "I am the anointed of the Grand Inquisitor, High Inquisitor Rosaria; the red strigga, undead with divine powers are my business."

Red Strigga?... Wait a minute?

SLOTH!!!

"Divine powers? What are you two talking about? What do her powers have to do with divinity?" You asked.

Rose turned to you, seemingly remembering herself, explaining clearly and patiently. "The Fires of the Sun are a manifestation of the 'Holy God.'" She quoted with her fingers and glared at the mention of it with her dangerous eyes, "...the one many human religions tend to worship, although unintentionally. It is extremely rare, grants the power to blur the line between life and **** itself, extremely volatile to undead... hence why it is so strange for her, to possess these powers." Her taloned finger pointed at Daisy who seemed very uncomfortable.

Rose kept daisy in her line of sight, as a hawk does it's prey before it swoops in for the kill.

Although seeing her discomfort, the redhead actually softened a little. "Apologies, I am having trouble controlling my candour... Sit here, and we will discuss." Rose sounded odd like this cold frost had come over her all of a sudden, but Daisy seemed to appreciate her apology enough, the both of your following her over to the couch where the three of you sat and spoke.

"Y-You've met somebody with these flames before?" Daisy asked, curiosity burning in her tone.

Rose's eyes flickered momentarily to you, before she nodded "Yes. My Grandfather."

You felt... weird...

Oh no...

They were both looking at you, rubbing your eyes as they spoke to each other. "Oh... I see, well, I haven't ever met anybody who knew what it was, other than my mama."

Rose nodded, as if in understanding, you continued to message your temples, your head was vibrating, what was this? All she did was mention her grandfather, who was her grandfather?

SLOTH... no more of that... we've never gotten this far yet... put it outta your mind kid.

Sighing you relaxed, leaning down and laying your head on Rose's lap. She started stroking your hair as you continue to half-listen to their conversation.

"You channel it through your witch craft then?" Rose asked.

"Voodoo" Daisy corrected, "and yeah I guess... I tried to use it without it but it just-"

"Burns shit to the ground, yes, I know. My Grandfer also was **** to use it through his night powers, the flames in their raw forms are simply too powerful to use without some kind of catalyst. Though I must say, using it for necromancy, as you did with the Snake, It must take a high degree of skill. I commend you." Rose complimented freely and it made Daisy smile... for a moment at least. Rose's eyes constricted, her demeanour tightening, "but I don't trust you."

"Rose." You growled warningly, although the redhead's cold ferocity did not fade

"You are too warm, too bright, you claimed to Diana that you were a pacifist and yet, you have an air of hostility, unlike anybody I've ever seen," Rose spoke candidly again, which somehow translated to cold and harsh.

Daisy's eyebrows creased, licking her lips to get rid of the sour taste in her mouth. Oh fuck...

"How rude? You think that just because you're important that you can insult me? So you clearly don't like me, b-but I don't like you either!" Daisy cried passionately, Rose's face remained frozen. "You're cold, calculating one minute, then you act all soft, I mean how do I know that I can trust you!? Inquisitors are an omen of **** among vampires, you know that? You're no better then a firing squad or a guillotine, you're just a weapon with morals..." Daisy took a sharp breath, whatever she was about to say, it wasn't going to be even remotely good "...The fact that you're knocked up makes me worried for your-EEP!!"

You and Daisy both froze, and Rose drew what could only be described as, the biggest, reddest, meanest desert eagle ever created, the painted red steel gleaming in the light, it's barrel painted with jagged thorns and roses in bloom. Its muzzle was pressed into the soft skin of Daisy's cheek, the blonde's face painted in horror as she raised her arms in surrender and fear.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!? WHERE THE HELL DID YOU EVEN GET THAT FROM!?" You roared.

Rose stared Daisy down, her eyes burning with frost, "insult me all you like, question my reason being here to you're heart's content..." Her jaw tensed, becoming hard and shallow. "...But if you ever question or even lightly pertain to insulting my children again, then I will paint gold red with the splattered remains of your hippocampus as it is violently **** from the scrambled abyss that was once the back of your head."

Jesus Christ! ROSE WAS TERRIFYING!?

But Daisy stayed true. "If you value their lives, then you'll keep every bullet in the chamber and far away from me." She warned, "It's either we talk this out with words, or we work with **** and **** never works with me."

Rose reached up and cocked back the huge gun with ease. "My **** is particularly well practiced-"

Rose jolted as you snatched the gun away, evacuating its clip and sliding back the mechanism so that the redied bullet clinked on the ground, tossing the weapon aside as you lowered between them "Listen to me very carefully." You said, both of them looking at you; starstruck. "There will be no more insulting and there will be no ****. Am I clear?"

Daisy blinked at your serious tone "I didn't even-"

"No insulting." You growled at her, before turning your eyes to Rose who studied your expression. "No. ****. Not in my house."

Rose raised an eyebrow, "You're house? You don't even live here... why should I take orders from you? I am..." She sealed her lips as she subtly glared.

"I'm not anybody special, but I care for you, Rose... and I care for Daisy too, so if you have any respect for me, then you'll listen to me." You spoke softly, but Rose folded her arms.

Daisy, sensing the energy here spoke cheerily, "I don't want to stress out a pregnant woman. H-How about... I tell you about myself a little? Would that put you at ease?" Daisy asked Rose who remained silent as Daisy spoke out. "I'm a Dhampir as you know, I uh... I don't drink blood, I just eat meat as raw as possible, that seems to quell it, even though I used to be a vegetarian... I can't stand hurting cute little animals you know?" Rose remained still, unmoving, unemotional, "I am from New Orleans born and raised, I don't burn in sunlight, I can touch silver, sometimes I even eat garlic!! hehe." The blonde tried to laugh off the awkward silence, but Rose was far too stubborn. Daisy sighed, "okay, how about the really secret stuff. Nothing can ever harm me, because I sold a portion of my soul off to Baron Samedi, if you had shot me, you'd just have killed yourself and I would have been fine."

Rose's eyes flickered at that. "Nothing can harm you?"

Daisy nodded, but then shrugged ,"well... no, not unless I break my vow of pacifism, I can't ever kill, but the flames help with that if I'm ever in trouble..." Daisy and you smiled at Rose's gentle signs of intrigue though it quickly faded as the blonde excitedly shifted forward, touching Rose's hands. "What about you? Anything you want to share?"

Oh god... just when it was going so well.

Rose snatched her hands away and stood, picking up her gun and her clip, grunting as she held her back, you rushed to help, slipping both into her purse. Rose sighed as you helped her up, leaning up and pecking your lips. "I have things that I have to do. We will speak again later."

You frowned, going to catch her, "Rose..." but she wrenched away, taking a deep breath as she pointed at you.

"Just... leave me alone. I am aching all over, I haven't slept in days..." She grumbled weakly.

"Rose, what are you doing, don't push me away-"

She firmed up, "stay away from me. Please." She asked before storming off.

There was silence, what the hell was that? You were in shock... until you weren't. Sighing you sat down with Daisy, and laid back contemplating. Daisy however seemed deeply distressed, "I-I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to-"

"-It's not your fault." You smiled softly. "She doesn't deal very well with this kind of stress. She's... just a little odd sometimes."

The blonde became serious "A little odd? Really, Chip? You really can't... you have to... realise that there is something very wrong with her."

"I said, no insulting."

She moved closer, laying upon you desperately. "You have to remember? W-Who she is.... w-what she's done, I-"

"What she's done?" What was she talking about? "What do you mean, what Rose has done-UGH!" Your head began to shimmer again, the violent pain shooting across your forehead and back again, followed by a deep sense of dread.

Daisy was speaking as your ears rang ,"she's an Inquisitor Charlie, she's the Daughter of the Vampire king you have to know that... you can't keep blocking it out!? I don't know what they are all afraid of but... keeping you in the dark is a bad idea... you told me yourself, you needed to be careful but this is going to far! You are not some two-bit angsty kid, you're... you are Lord-"

"Shit, I forgot. I really don't want to go to this party later." The ringing had stopped and whatever nonsense she said just slipped by.

Daisy smiled weakly, but touched your face as she sighed. "What have I gotten myself into? You mean the party that Charlotte kept texting me about?"

"SO YOU DO KNOW HOW TO TEXT!?" You cried. "Welp. I'm not going."

"We are going. That Girl maybe spoilt but I don't think she ever relaxes. Now, I'm going to pick out some clothes while you sit there and look pretty." Daisy bopped you on the nose as you stammered.

"I-I said I'm not going-"

"Quietly. Sit there and look pretty." She winked as she dashed over to the walk-in closet, leaving you to contemplate your life choices.