The Test

Things were clear and simple as you awoke that morning, you had a sound sleep and there was business to be done.

You were still shaken, things had occurred that You still couldn't understand, but you had to push forward, and contemplate this strange heat that was building inside.

You left Daisy to sleep, and pulled free Nox's Diary from her purse, you somehow knew that it was time to read again, and thus the book splayed open like a flower in bloom, it's pages sparking free and turning to face you.

Leaning forward, you read carefully.

"Dear Chip, I know that by this point a storm is coming. This is the hard part kiddo, but I did warn you to not trust red heads.

Listen to me, I know what you're thinking, but putting the pieces together in this scenario is the path to destruction, if it returns... then the City will fall.

If I could give you a tip right now, it would be that... Anger is good, it is what drives us, fuels us, and with it's redemption You will be reborn.

Oh and of course, do you remember those old days in church, Diana told me about them, about how you and your family used to all go together and it made you feel... stronger? well maybe you should explore that, just a tip.

We are almost there, I wrote this journal to answer 1000 scenarios a piece and let me tell you, this is a good path so far.

Trust me, Chip, do what needs to be done, but prepare for a storm.

Your trusted friend.
Nox"

You absorbed that letter and sighed, steadying your shaken hands, you felt sick and your hangover seemed eager to conceal the many memories of last night, You needed to train.

So after leaving a note for Daisy, you grabbed some spare gym clothes and walked to Starbucks to get a mango fruit frappachino, although you did not take one sip of it on the way there nor did you hesitate to throw it in the trash as soon as you arrived at Remhilde's Basment Apartment.

You knocked -- One ~ Two -- and then let yourself in, slipping into the darkness where your eyes adjusted.

Hilde and Diana were sat before the Tarrow cards, meditating, praying, or something, but you approached, a nervous look on your face.

Hilde opened her eyes which flashed gold as she observed you "Bear Arms, Hunter." She whispered.

You frowned, nut cut your palm with a claw and called forth your blade _"Mhalia." _The fluid slid free relatively painlessly, the blade materalising smoothly into your hand, it felt good... it matched your warmth.

Kneeling before your Cheif, Your Sister opened her eyes and stared "What news have you brought from last night? I felt something.... off."

You chuckled "I barely remember, why you interested for?" You asked mischievously.

"I am just worried about you." She growled.

"I came here to test my strength not spill my life..." You paused, a memory from last night, oh fuck. "I do... remember something, Chief."

Remhilde smiled, her interest was already peeked, the gloves of Artemis sharpening her fingertip that drummed on Hermes' bladded shins "Speak." She commanded.

"There was a woman-"

"There is always a woman, when do I get to the _The Woman" _Didi complained.

"Enough, spit it out, Charlie." Hilde Demanded.

"There was a Woman who came to me at the party... I think she was a descendant." Oh they heard that, both peering eagerly, though Hilde had this look in her eye. "There was this thing, a connection, I think it's because we are both undead descendants."

"She was Undead?" Hilde Growled.

You nodded "Around 6ft 2, medium length curly red hair, Northern Irish by the sound of her... called herself, Seorsia Quinn."

Hilde's bones itched, she looked like she might burst into flames for a moment, before simmering down and playing with her locket "Lady Morrigan.... I have not met her on the battlefield yet, although Diana has."

Diana shrank under her Aunt's gaze "She's a Superior, Hilde, there was nothing we could do"

You hadn't forgotten that name that she said "Valerica." The name echoed in your mind, who was that?

"Did she announce herself as she tried to attack?" Hilde asked.

You raised your eyebrows "why, what would it mean?"

Hilde folded her fingers, looking grim "It would mean, War were declared."

You grimaced, "She did do those things."

Diana frowned as Hilde grumbled "War were declared."

"War with the Decendant House of Quinn, I thought they were all dead?" Diana asked.

Your aunt's chuckle filled the room "What is dead may never die."

"So what do we know about them, we have no intel at all, how are we supposed to know what they are going to do?" You asked in panic.

Hilde paused thoughtfully "We must speed up proceedings, get you both back on the horse, remind you that your warriors. Come, we will duel first."

The air was ripe with the taste of battle, you got into your loose Japanese style training gear, one that belonged formerly to your father, as she got into her Dawn get up, sleek and dangerous.

She twirled Ymir, the runes obeying her will, while you drew Lugh shakily, the blades flames weak and subtle.

"Before this sacred battle, we will speak on the 7 commandments of our Creed, the Iron Code:

The First comandment: Never break the charade that Humans are the Apex predator of this planet, it is our purpose to maintain the balance between man and monster,

That leads to the second Comandment: Never fratanise with the Monsters, our bloodline must remain pure, and tainting the line is extremely taboo.

The Third Comandment: The Word of the Chief is absolute, unless challenged or passed on, all orders by the Chief must be obeyed.

The Fouth Comandment: If Humanity is attacked in mass, we will respond with ****, if Monster kind is attacked in mass, we will respond with ****, all efforts to shatter the Charade will be hunted with **** predudice.

Comandment Number Five: We work in the shadows to protect the light, the Drake must never fall, his two wings and his head, Judge, Jury and Executioner must be maintained in shadow.

Comandment Six: Never engage with a Monster beyond category 5, this includes, Arch-Wiccans, Alpha Fenrir or Superior Vampires, a wild hunt must be initiated to delcare war on a Catagory six Monster.

The Final Seventh Comandment: Never allow the Great house to fall, keep it strong, continue to grow and we will survive as we always have, rising above all other, The Great House of Drake!" Hilde cried, the two of you bowing respectfully.

She stepped forward "Today we test to see if our Initiate is worthy of earning the full title of Executioner. Our Jury has already proved herself in battle and I trust her to conduct today's evaluation."

Diana bowed "Thank you Mentor."

This was crazy, you actually had to fight Diana "I can't hit a girl?" You said sheepishly.

Hilde's lips arched into a creepy smile "Oh really, when that girl can hit you."

The Pain was fast and dizzying, as Diana's fist cracked across your face, making your drop your sword and shield yourself "STOP STOP STOP!"

"Enough, Dawn. Recover." Hilde ordered.

You clutched your cheek, picking up the sword and getting back into position "Next time, I'm hitting you with the hammer." Diana threatened.

"Y-You're out of your mind." You squeeked.

"Attack Executioner, Now!" Hilde ordered

Crying out uncertainly, you stepped forward and swung your sword weakly, hoping not to hurt your sister, only the metal clanged as she parried, pulling your close and booting your guts and tossing you to the ground "Weak, again." Hilde commanded.

You got up, going at your sister with smouldering blade in hand, and yet, she swung around you, bashing your leg which rang with pain and smashed you into the ground, cracking your face.

You spat blood as your airways blocked, your chest thumping and your skin glowing red with heat "Pathetic, Again, look at the way she moves."

The next volley was a little better, your growing anger helped in the exchange of blade and hammer, though eventually she crunched your nose with the butt of her hammer and clicked back the mechanism, you bracing in terror as the barrel of the shotgun pointed right at you.

You only felt the pain and the ringing in your ears, getting filled with lead didn't feel good, red oozed from the many holes in your chest.

Hilde swept in, staring like a demon "Feel how close you are, right on ****'s edge, but you are of Shadow, and Shadows never die."

You burned as the panic grew further and further, steam lifting off of your skin as you stood up, grunting as the shotgun rounds pushed out of your chest, the wounds healing slowly and your heat slowly dying down.

Diana waited, Hilde watched, nodding to herself "Very good, perfect recovery. But your fighting prowess is no existant, Pathetic show, Again." She commanded.

"Are you fucking serious?" She did not answer, she only looked you in the eyes, god the resolve in that gaze... is this what it took to become a true warrior?

"I am willing to suffer, to get strong."

Both Diana and Hilde smiled "Drake's don't compromise. Quickly, Again!"

For just about 3 hours, Diana mashed you like a fucking potato, she broke your arm, tore the ligaments in your ankle, she easily broke ribs, shattered bones, but each time, you would pause and **** Overdrive to dissipate the damage, a very difficult and unnatural technique.

By the end, you were bloody, exhausted, broken. Your right eye was blackened, your lip split, body awash with sweat. Hilde looked disgusted, walking up to you and strightening you out "She is only the Jury, you should overwhelm her power and skill, it is your responsibility to protect us, but all your fire is gone. Come we will go above."

"Above?" You asked

Diana chuckled, wiping her forehead and tying up her shoes "You're gonna love this."

You too the emergency exit up the building towards the root tops, Hilde had wrapped her arms and legs, her sleek tight sports attire hugging her dark form "We will be traversing the rooftops, the Monster super highway. Come, if you are to face a beast, you must match a beast."

You chuckled "You're out of your mind."

"We are dead serious, Chippy, look If you can't pass as Executioner I'll have to do it and I'm not the Heir so..." She explained.

You frowned "Yeah... fine, I'll try but.... I'm scared."

It was awfully high up here, 5 stories up "The Key to Overdrive is concentration and restrictions, never use it at it's full strength, see it not as a weapon but a conduit of yourself, call on only a thimbleful of it."

You felt the energy rise through your body, heat erupted from your skin.

The run began, Diana galloped through the roof-scape and Hilde darted like an arrow, you ran and jumped, skipping over building with your 1% Overdrive power, barely powered up at all, you lagged behind, then came to an especially tricky junction, an electricity box jump, you made it though you bashed your shoulder doing so reeling in pain as you ran on.

Chargeing forward, you saw a long long jump, over a casmn falling down to a car park, on 5th avenue, not wanting to splatter and fall you sprinted like a beast, darting forward and in a crying leap you shot into the air, coursing your the air momentarily, the air still like time had slowed down before you suddenly, thumped directly into the corner, hanging on by your arms.

You yelped, breathless, and in panic, slipping to what would surely be certain ****, you clawed, breaking nails trying to pull yourself up, blood boiling, body tensing, it was overcoming you, you were going to die.

Diana shot down and with her aura of flashing red sparks, hoisted you up to safety, looking down as you shivered, Hilde stepped into your eyeline.

"I-I can not do this." You said certainly "It's Impossible."

Remhilde Glowered, marching over and dragging you up to your feet, getting in your face "Do you think the enemy will wait while you writhe in the dirt like a worm. We are Warriors boy, Hunters in the dark, and shadows do not scream. We kill. am I understood?"

"...." You frowned, silent.

Hilde huffed "You have lost your fire, you have one day to revive it, or this is over."

One day... it was night time so that just left Monday to try and accomplish the task. you were restless as Daisy babbled on for hours, eventually falling asleep.

You only looked out of the window, observing the stars, it was then that you took a note book and began to draw and doodle the circles, observing with the details the textures the meanings, You thought of Skyfall, the things beyond, what abyssal blackness it called... you wondered if these Vampiric Rune had a hideous catch, and knew what it was right away.

deep down you knew the truth, but at the same time, you knew that tomorrow, would be a Monsterous day.