Family

Everybody sat at the couch around the rectangular coffee table in the candlelit basement apartment.

Diana sat awkwardly on one side, and Rose on the other, her deep blue eyes never breaking away from Remhilde as You fussed over her "Are you comfortable?" You asked, "Here have my cushion."

Rose gestured you off "I am okay, You don't need to be so worried." She smiled briefly, though that smile melted away as she watched Your aunt sweep up Diana's brains into a waste paper basket, before moving over to a large black duffle bag and brandishing a very old, dark glass bottle.

Grabbing a couple of clean cups, Hilde moved over, still in her ritual robes with her Paint of the Judge, patterned on her beautiful but sinister face.

Pulling up a chair, Your Aunt sat on the other side of the coffee table, bearing the bottle with deep respect. "Your Grandfather gave me this." She whispered "On my 12th birthday, when I was inducted into our Tribe. Your Grandmother wore black so well, even though she was not of our Blood, she's the one who poured for Us." Remhilde rarely reminisced, You couldn't recall her being focused for long enough to think back. push forward towards the future, that is the woman Hilde was, but in her golden eyes then was a short, noticeable melancholy.

Pouring the dark liquid into the four glasses, sliding them forward, first to you, then to Diana, then to Rose.

The Redhead fixed her with an inquisitive eye "I will not drink."

Hilde's lips curled as she stared at Rose "Oh, Knocked up notions, eh? I didn't think your kind was... responsible."

Rose matched Hilde's glare, the two seemed to recognize darkness in one another, one that was utterly incompatible.

"She's pregnant, Hilde, Leave her be." You said lightly. But Your Aunt hushed you with a gesture, speaking to you without actually looking away from Rose.

"Did she tell you what she is?" She asked.

"I think I can figure it out, just-"

"We don't figure things out, Chippy. I love You, You're smart, but You can't fathom what this little mouse trap is outside of being nutted in." Hilde's eyes were like a serrated blade, Rose's a slicing cleaver, the two refusing to give until one cut the other.

Frowning, You whispered, "Do not ever talk to her like that."

"But why not? Is she not the blood of our enemy? You read the name strigga more than once, Charlie, I know you're smart enough to put together the pieces. This one may be human now, but the blood of a million innocents has been rubbed into those aching hips, sucked down between those pretty lips...." Hilde whispered almost like she was in a trance.

"Shut up." You growled.

She did not. "...Ancestor, tell me, what was it like, all of those millennia ago, to give in to the will of a devil, and become its whore?" Hilde grew closer, her eyes wide as her body subtly crept over the table.

"Stop talking, Remhilde." Your heart was starting to thunder again, heat flushing into your face, blood rushing through your veins as she refused to stop.

"...Did you stand by as the Vampire King has pushed aside, just a bystander, just a tool, and object, nothing more? and the moment you tasted of Nox's love, you pounced on it like a fly to a pile of shit..." Her hand slowly reached over, closing the space as a snail's pace.

Your eyes darted, chest hurting with the thumping, mind buzzing and ears ringing. "R-Rem... A-Aunt... Stop it."

Yes...

"And now, here you are, mortal, weak, ****, with nothing but morality to protect you from the real monsters... like me." Like a hungry beast, she moved toward Rose.

"Stop it!" You growled, shaking, sweating, terrified.

YES...

"That's right, I'll kill you, I don't care that You have your inhuman spawn growing in your decrepit womb, I'll tear them free and crush them before your very... eyes." Her fingers were moments from Your lover's blue eyes, threatening to gouge them out with her smooth fingernails.

But they stopped, and Your ears popped with the pressure, a small but satisfying pop that made you feel pleasant inside, only... It wasn't your ears that popped, in fact, it wasn't a pop at all, it was crack, a fierce crack, the crack of bone, Remhilde's bone.

Your hand was gripped on her forearm, each finger crushing down with unwavering ****. Hilde's arm was bending unnaturally, the cracking and popping of her bones echoing through the room "Don't ever touch her, she is mine. Never insult her, She is mine. Do not threaten her, because she is mine. and if You ever do any of those things again, I will snap your neck and not your arm." The Voice that left your lips, didn't feel like Your own, these didn't feel like words you'd say.

"Charlie?" Diana whispered.

Her voice, like a tender snowflake, resolved unto your mind, and You blinked. Remhilde's arm was crushed under your grip, Rose looked on at You with a light smile, Your sister steeped in worry.

But your Aunt was smiling widely at you, her face unacknowledging of the pain that she should have been in, and whispered "Reactionary then. You were right, Inquisitor, His aversion to you being harmed did the trick."

Letting, her go, You immediately swivelled around the table walking off and clutching your chest, limbs shaking, body weak, mind panicked, Your breaths grew thin as you heart thundered, throat closing "What is? Why? I c-can't breathe.... I can't breath." You gasped, **** on air, as You fell to your knees.

Over... drive...

Hilde appeared beside you, along with Diana, the two gently ushering you on your back, allowing your airway to open slightly, Remhilde clutching her broken arm closely as she smiled "Shhhh, Shhhhh, just relax. I'm a tough old bird, I'll be fine." Hilde reasured stroking your hair.

Diana held the back of your neck, gently massaging the muscles in the nape "I know, it hurts like hell and it's terrifying, but just relax, think of something that settles you, like you did before, remember? in the Motel room?"

Your eyes looked at her "How does she know?"

Nodding, you closed your eyes, and tried to think of Daisy, of Rose, of Didi her beside you, their images granting a brief clarity from the chaos of your mind and body, allowing for the fierce thunder of your heart to draw into a gentle rhythm.

ANCHOR

Hilde grinned even wider, shaking her head in what looked like disbelief "I don't believe it. You weren't kidding huh kiddo?"

Diana shook her head "He goes into Anchor without even consciously meaning to. I'm pretty sure He never turned it off, not even when we were kids."

"I can only imagine... that would be why no-one could get into his head, and why He needs these." Hilde tapped the rim of your glasses, it made you realise how much your eyes were hurting.

"T-These... Anxiety Attacks... You have them too?" You asked breathlessly to your sister. Hilde sturred, leaning down to observe you.

"That, My Executioner, was not an Anxiety attack. You ever had an Anxiety attack that intense Dee?"

Your sister scoffed "The First time was like 5000 Anxiety attacks being airdropped into my brain, I thought My heart was going to explode!" Diana grimaced.

"If... it's not... an Anxiety Attack, then what is it?" You asked, weakly sitting up and wiping your forehead with sweat.

Pushing back her black hair, and flashing you a dark grin, Hilde whispered in wonder "Overdrive."

"Am I... supposed to know what that is?"

Remhilde grasped your arm and pulled you to your feet, suddenly, Her hand tracing the four talismans hung around her neck. The First touched the Talisman with the open eye on its face "Forevermore: The Power of foresight. to see beyond the present and perceived the very future." then the second with the eye with no iris or pupil, pure and blank "Nevermore: the Power of Hindsight. To recollect with perfection, to enhance the Mind and memory beyond human imagination." the Third was next, a closed eye "Anchor: the Power of Insight. to enforce, protect and control your own mind," but as Her finger touched the last Talisman, she spoke in a lower, darker tone "Overdrive: the Power of Oversight. To push the body to unfathomable lengths, to control the muscles, the eyes, the limbs, the blood, the heart, every aspect of your physicality, engorged and unleashed."

Sitting back at the table, Hilde happily drank as You rubbed your eyes "So let me get this straight. These Four Threads, we have them, because we are related to this Mummer's Dragon guy, who has powers over time and ****?"

Rose cuddled your arm as Diana gulped down her full glass of Age-old Brandy like it was kool-aid. But Hilde, having reset, splinted and cast her own arm like it was nothing.

Hilde seemed to be the opposite of Diana, in the fact that she got more and more charming and relaxed as she necked her drinks, one after the other, Sweeping back her wavy black hair as she spoke through her pillowy red lips "Naahh. it's more of a side effect if anything. this guy was punished by the Big guy in the sky, cursed to be lost through the threads of time, but! it has learned to manipulate those threads... and thus, as His long-long-long down the line relatives so can we... kinda." She chuckled. it wasn't a pretty chuckle, a snorting piggy chuckle that You hadn't heard before.

"Okay, so, Time bending superpowers, but this ain't like a comic right? captain America stuff?"

Diana chuckled next, wispy compared to your aunt, her head falling on your shoulder as she slurred at you "Back in the alley, with the Parish peoples... did I look like Captain America, more like... Captain... amer-shit...ea?"

"You looked like you were haemorrhaging from the inside. That was Overdrive?" You asked, trying to ignore how unabashedly piss-drunk your sister was.

Diana pointed at you dizzily "That was only... sorta Overdrive *Hiccup* I was all used up after five minutes, like a used condom, AND I WAS TERRIBLE AT IT HAHA!" Diana laughed on you, laying her dark head on your lap as You raised an eyebrow. "Hilde is like, a giant Beyblade! she moves faster than the eye can track! it's super dope broooo!"

Patting her blackhead, you sighed "Okay. Diana.exe has stopped working." You muttered as she reached up, laughing for no reason as she felt at your cheeks. You looked at both Rose, who had been eerily quiet up until now, she leant against the other side of your shoulder, seemingly lost in thought "I need to know that You aren't going to threaten Rose again." You spoke to Hilde.

Rose broke from her thoughts, looking between your serious gaze and Hilde's dozy one

Seemingly taken aback, Hilde grinned "Oh, so You're giving me orders now-"

"I'm not kidding, Auntie. I... I care about Rose, and I meant what I said. I will not tolerate you even speaking badly to her, am I clear?" When it came to Rose... You refused to allow her to come to harm, it was as simple as that.

But Hilde huffed, looking to Rose with lighthearted eyes "You tell him." She said, tipping another mouthful of brandy down her throat.

You looked to Rose, whose lips pouted slightly "You and Nox... you were sworn to one another, bound brothers, and since I am carrying his children..." For a moment, you suddenly felt upset, not because of the fact that You and Nox were sworn brothers, but because she said 'His Children' for a moment, you really wished that she said 'Your children' but You digressed "...I am Kin of your Clan, because of our affiliations. I cannot be harmed."

Hilde pointed, glass in hand "See, You're little leech is safe, Chippy,"

But Rose lent forward now, her eyes becoming cold and dark "Do not think that just because I am Mortal, that your Insults will be taken lightly, Rabbit."

"Okay, okay! Jesus, let's just try and stay civil for five minutes? andanswermyquestions." You blurted out unsubtly.

Hilde shrugged "Ask away."

The first question that came flying out was "Who do I know that is a Vampire!?"

To which Remhilde smiled a little coyly, rubbing her chin "Well, I'd love to answer that, but how can I know who you know? and of course, there is the point that I do not wish to answer because it is your responsibility as Executioner to know that answer on your own." She lent in "I know that isn't what you want to hear, but The Human mind is not equipped to perceive the Dark ones on its own merit, once you see a monster directly, have the truth shoved in your face, You'll never be able to unsee. Take Ginger-pubes over here for example." She pointed at Rose, who looked utterly unamused.

You looked at Rose, she was picture perfect as always, and she smiled at you. "What about her?"

"What do you see?" She tested.

"I don't know, an extremely beautiful, intelligent, attractive-"

"Look closer." Hilde directed, looking like she was about to gag.

Sighing, and narrowing your eyes, looking quizzically at Rose, who blinked her ocean blue eyes as You surveyed her face like it had ant-sized calligraphy on it... you felt... something odd, something mysterious, and then something.... very very dangerous.

Goosebumps flushed across your neck as You lent back, trying to contain the deep sense of dread you felt after staring deep into Rose's eyes "Jesus..." You whispered, gulping and rubbing your abdomen to try and resettle the primal fear in your stomach.

Hilde smiled "There it is. that abyss inside of them, You stare at it, and it stares back at you."

Your Aunt seemed to gain some satisfaction from the reaction, one that You wouldn't allow to last for long. Leaning in you captured Rose's lips, the Redhead taken by surprise, tentatively touched your hair, smiling sweetly as You part from her "I don't care what she is... or used to be... You're staying right here by my side." You whispered.

"Always," Rose muttered.

Before Hilde had a chance to look sour, You came at her with another Question "Alright, so is there anything else we can do, Descendants I mean?"

"Yeah, there are a few things other than the threads." Hilde started, scratching her small nose "We are specimens of greatness, Charlie. We aren't just Human, we are more than that, strong as Bull, Quick as lightning, reactions are double, When I was only 10 I could catch a raindrop in the palm of my hand before it could kiss the blades of grass below. The Children of shadow, especially the House of Drake has always boasted an ethereal beauty... I mean, all you have to do is look to tell, I mean, you two little rugrats are find but me? pft." She waved her head, making her hair bellow.

You and Diana shared a little laugh, Hilde was always funny when she wanted to be.

Your Aunt's eye traced you, however "Although there is a gene passed down only by the men of our Blood. it is why Romie was so successful with women, even though he was a sarcastic, miserable bastard." Hilde prodded you in the chest "Pops always called it, _The Allure _Due to our genetic superiority, the opposite sex, specifically women are adversely affected by our Males, it is the natural Hormonal response of attraction to strength, amplified, it can affect the way they think, suddenly you are simply too good match to let go, sometimes, the affected sometimes even become, willing to share... Have you perhaps, had any strange responses from women? maybe one that despised you before, doesn't any longer?"

Holy shit..... HOLY SHIT!? is that... why girls were starting to like you!? is that why... Vicky was starting to like you? why Isabella's hatred was wavering, why Camile actually spoke to you? THAT'S AWESOME!!

"I'll take your astounded visage of revelation as a solid yes." Hilde chuckled.

"Wait... hold on a minute, if we are genetically superior, then why was I born so frail, and continued to be so? ... and why did that change?"

There was an intense silence. Diana stopped fiddling with your chin, and Rose sat up, her Blue eyes watchful. But Your Aunt, now her reaction was interesting, it was one of pure unadulterated worry, not one You saw often. You pressed her with a stare, You had to know, things were so strange now, everything had changed, and damn if You weren't going to find out why.

"Are You sure, You want to know?" Hilde asked "Because this truth... it may not be one You are ready to hear."

Looking down at Diana who also looked deeply afraid, You grimaced "A-Am I... a Homunculus too?"

"No." Hilde spoke. "You were born. Your Mother birthed You. And she loved You, she loved you more than anything, I want you to know that.... She was a good woman, a better mother... and she was..." Her golden eyes closed as she spoke softly "...The only Undead that I ever respected."

...

Silence.

"Un...dead." You muttered, shocked, awed. "Mom was a-"

"Upir." Diana spoke, cleanly and Sobberly "Like Rose."

You looked at Rose, astonished and ****.

"Not quite a Vampire, more alive, and 100 times more powerful, but Undead. Your Father was Hunting her, on Pop's orders, chased her around 43 states, ended up tracking her back here, back home. A dear friend of ours found her, just lounging, reading books she always loved to read... Your Father came as soon as the phone rang, and when the time came to carry out his orders... He Failed, He couldn't. Liz was a lot of things, she could be cruel, she could be hurtful, but she always good at heart, and curious like he was. I think that's why they fell in Love because they were both to curious not to."

Diana eyes flooded, and she sat up, looking sorrowful, she rushed off, agilely weaving into the bathroom and slamming the door behind her.

Hilde rubbed her knuckles as You hugged yourself, feeling oddly part happy, and part sad.

"It's hard for her." Rose spoke "Ever since we started spending more time together, learning about her powers, the fact that she is motherless has been crushing her. She can't grasp that She was created to be loved."

"Amen." Your aunt said, sucking down more liquor.

"I... understand." Your voice was low, and confused "Not being what You thought You are."

Sweeping out her chair from behind her, Hilde's graceful form blurred around the table, where she placed herself beside you, anger on her face "Let me tell you this, right now, kid. You are Charles Romulus Drake, son of the Black-Star, one of the greatest Hunters to ever draw breath on American soil, one hundred generations of Greatness, runs..." She grasped your wrist tightly "...In these veins. You are the Heir to this Tribe, You are smart and kind, and powerful beyond your knowledge, I don't care if You are the son of undeath, or if Diana's birth was unconventional, You are my Blood, and I Love You both, don't ever forget that."

Nodding, and trying not to cry, You smile "I love you too, Aunt Hilde-"

"Don't cry." She said bluntly, poking your chest.

"I'm not-"

"Shh. No Crying, we are badass Monster Hunters not cry, babies." She prodded again.

"Okay okay, I won't, jeez." You chuckled.

She pointed at You, narrowing her eyes threateningly, before smiling and nodding. Though she yelped as You wrapped your arms around her, hugging her tightly as she chuckled. "Hey, Easy there, watch the arm, dumbass."

After you lovely little hug session, You continued to ask questions and Hilde answered not only with clarity, but with a degree of joy.

You were a Hybrid of Vampire and Human, Your birth was complicated and wrought with problems, the way Hilde subtly put it, if not for certain sacrifices, You wouldn't have survived. even after you were born there were issues with your biology, it was like Your opposing genes: dead and alive were combating each other, stunting your growth, tightening your metabolism, causing the multiple health problems you had up until you teens.

But the Coma changed You. The Comatose state you went into after the attack triggered something in you, just like it did Diana when she was struck by lightning...

*Gasp* Liar liar pants on fire. look at clever little Hilde using the truth to mould her deceit, Tell us what we WANT to hear indeed... Hehe, if you only knew buddy, if you only knew.

...You grew to your fullest potential, became the you, that You were born to be. It explained the Claws, and the teeth... more and more was becoming clear with every word she said, almost a little too perfectly, but You simply didn't want to consider any alternative.

By the time you'd run out of questions... or more accurately You were getting far too drunk to remember any more Question, Rose was sleeping silently on your shoulder as You and Hilde sat quietly, contemplating the drunken truth.

"What was she like?" You found one more, just more question, one that You'd wanted answered your entire life

"Hmm?" Hilde looked up with dozey eyes.

"Mom, What was she like?"

Sighing, Hilde lent back, looking off into her mind to fetch the memories "Uhh, she was quiet, not in a shy way, she just preferred to talk with actions. She was obsessed with Reading like I said, read every book she could find in the Library, and all of our ancient Tomes, she treated them like they were her own, with care, with love. She planned everything out, to the letter, you were one step ahead? psh she was 100 steps ahead of that... and heh how could I forget she had this smile, this beautiful smile that she'd flash whenever one of her schemes came to its apex."

You grinned and Hilde nudged you "There it is." She chuckled "Once, after a particularly bad battle, she cared for us, and she sang us a song... god, she had a voice like an angel, Roman looked like his heart was about to explode every time she even let out a note."

This was, so strange, You expected a lot of things from your mother...

Hilde smiled "You look like Roman, You have his eyes, his hair, his wit, his honesty. But everything else in You is her. even her faults, I mean she was fucking weirdo, honestly one of the strangest people I've ever known."

"Wow wee, thanks so much." You said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Family was her dream, it was the most important thing to her. just like it is to you." Your aunt's golden eyes glanced momentarily at the bathroom door, before looking back at You expectantly.

Your ears had been picking it up the whole time... the senses of a Vampire... Slow, gentle sobbing from the bathroom.

"I don't know how to comfort her? she's always been so strong, and sure, like dad... I wouldn't know what to say?" You admitted shamefully.

Hilde's finger pressed on your forehead "I don't care about what's up there right now." It slipped down, poking at his chest "I care about what in here. Go, I'll put the Leech in my bed, we will get to the real training after you're done."

"Training? we've been drinking!?" You moaned.

Hilde grimaced, looking at the empty bottle of age-old brandy and lowering her eyebrows "You call this drinking? don't be a pussy, go. that's an Order, Executioner."