The Hound

You were not completely sure exactly, how much your real Granpa was in this shambling, very peaceful looking man holding unto your arm... but as you moved towards the kitchen, having to walk slowly on account of the ancient being depending on you here, You took the opportunity to test something out.

What are you doing, little Dragon?

"Just shut up and fucking check, thing."

The Black thing inside, small as a child, stared with its spiralling red eyes, haunting you with its monsterous gaze.

Listen to me well, Chip. My name is Vlad. we may only be an Echo, a Beast, but we are One, and if you ever disrespect us again, then I will finally find out how much damage I can do from in here.

"A-Alright... can you check... please."

The Black form narrowed its eyes.

Say, my name.

".........Vlad?"

You're are god damn right.

You felt goosebumps flush against your skin as you halted in place. Something was very wrong as Your Beast... Vlad (Weird fucking Name) sent out his feelers, delving into the spirit of your grandfather.

Some say that when you peer into the Abyss, it peers back... well... the Thing that peered back at Vlad and by extension you, unsettled you so much to the very core, that in real-time, you froze, staring wide-eyed as you began to shiver.

The Thing inside this old man... peered from the shadows above. There was no light here, no see, only darkness, and by the two huge blazing eyes of Crimson, not gold, this thing must have been the size of a mountain... you felt it, watching you, not angrily, or even friendly, this huge, four-legged titanous beast merely observed, and the reality kicked in.

"Hey, Boy, snap out of it!"

You caught the old man's hand as it went to slap some sense into you, Your golden eyes staring at the small, old man, Inquisitively "He's not lost any of it... None of his power has deteriorated."

It's waiting for him, patiently, loyalty... all this time?

Artorias raised an eyebrow, carefully taking his arm from your hands "You alright, Boy? You look a little Fuzzed over there."

"I'm... fine, Pops." What kind of dedication does it take to grow a beast that big? Hilde's was no bigger than she was... you're was no bigger than a child... H-How old was the Old man anyway... definitely not 89 as dad said...

The Air grew thicker as you escorted your grandfather into the Kitchen to make him an Americano, black as night and sweet as sin, just like he liked.

But You knew that the sensation building in your chest now was unlike anything you'd ever felt before. Turning through the dining room and into the Kitchen's huge space.

The Kitchen wasn't completely different... the Black marble countertop that stretched around the room, with an island Counter in its center. The Oven was in the corner, next to the even bigger oven... Miss Inez, one of the maids love nothing more than to cook up a pizza on the stone for you and Diana, you'd watch movies and eat... You missed them, the old Manor staff where just as much Family as Diana or Artorias was, but this space here, this Kitchen, your mother redesigned this Kitchen, Your father never let anybody change anything, but here in this space so closely associated with your mother, was the source of the instability in the air.

On the countertop, held on a Black mahogany stand, was... "A Katana? Pops, how did you even get a Katana?"

He held up his hands "Whatever that is... it has bad bad juju, Kiddo. I didn't put it there."

You sighed "Yeah, fine alright, Pops." Moving towards the sword he grabbed you, looking a lot older all of a sudden, mixed with concern.

"Bad Juju, Kid." He warned.

You nodded, giving him a reassuring smile "Don't worry about it, It's probably just another family heirloom that slipped your mind." You approached the long, curved blade sat in its sheath and studied it closely as Your Pops looked confused at his own concern.

You beheld the blade and could describe it only as... Beautiful.

The Blade was long, slightly longer than any Katana you'd seen, it was sleek and white, engraved with Black and Red symbols that flowed from the end-cap of the Ivory Scabbard up the wide, pure gold Guard, which circled around the Handle, veined like Butterfly wings.

The Handle itself was wrapped in a cross-hatched ivory silk. The flowing etchings were etched between the diamond-shaped wrap, flowing with the image of snarling red demons as it flowed to the Silver rounded ornament at the bottom, which boasted a single golden ring.

There was something about this thing, how it made the air shimmer, calling to you, as your hands crept closer, fingertips just about to brush the surface, before you swept it up, breaching as you expected something to happen.

"You really have a flair for the Anti-climax, Kid," Pops grumbled.

"You really didn't leave this, Katana here?" You asked, holding its divine body with care.

"Tachi." He corrected "The Blade is longer, with more of a curve. and No, I may be a little forgetful, but I'd remember bringing something like that here." You weren't entirely sure about that. Still, you held the Katan enamoured by this Beautiful blade, your fingers tempted to wrap around the handle and draw it free. "Wait"

You jolted as Your Pops appeared beside you, holding the scabbard so that the Blade could not be drawn "Something about this is very wrong. Hmmm, I don't recall ever seeing anything like it before."

"You don't recall much these days, Pops." Your sarcasm was cut off by the seriousness in his eyes.

"Leave this with me. I will put it somewhere safe." He said softly.

"What? but we don't know who sent it?"

"Just trust me, Kiddo. Let me handle it." He insisted.

You felt disinclined to do so... Grandpa wasn't exactly in the right state of mind to be handling weapons, but... there was something very wrong with this Blade. And... maybe keeping a random weapon that kept whispering to you wasn't the best idea either.

"Pops, you're not well, I can't-Ow!" He took the Blade swiftly, flicking you in the Eye and making you reel back as He examined it closely "FUCKING HELL, POPS, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO BLIND ME!?"

"I'll do worse than that if you don't shut up. Now do me a favour, and go and get your sister, I need her for something."

You frowned "Pop's she's at work."

"I do not care. be back in 2 hours, this is important. Now go, and tell Remus that if the two of you are late then again, your mother might stop turning in her grave." this voice was fierce and direct... even after everything, it seemed a little of that Warrior remained after all.

You smiled sadly "Alright, alright. I'll go get, her, but you have to wait until I can call someone to watch you."

He shrugged, gripping the blade tight as He went back to the living room, doing his grump old man grumbles as He slipped off, back to the Lounge.

"Look just, please I need you down there." you pleaded over the phone.

"B-But... It will be awkward." Jane said, rubbing her tired eyes as you sat next to her "I uh... The last time I meant a member of your family, she completely ignored me when I was trying to find you, and the time before that..."

You frowned.

"No... I'm sorry, I didn't mean... God, I'm such a Bitch." She said sadly.

Moving closer, you took her hand, making her smile a little guiltily "Artorias Drake, is one of the Kindest, patient, intelligent people I know, He lost it when I was only a kid but... He's slippery, I need your help with this. Please, Jane, He'll love you, trust me, You're an easy person to Love."

Jane folded her arms, scowling "Fine. But we need to talk later.... about... whatever this is. Whatever you are." She whispered.

You smiled "Come on, He's probably reading."

Jane seemed fidget, taking your hand tightly as You descended the stairs "Do I look alright?"

"The Man's 89 years old, he can barely see his morning scrabble in the Newspaper. Just relax, alright."

"Relax for what?"

Both you and Jane slinked back as you reached the bottom of the stairs. Seeing the old man standing there, with no blade you noted. "Blind am I?" He asked unamusedly.

You chuckled "Uh... sorry... Pops."

He grunted, his Pale Eyes turning to Jane, his smile widening with a gentlemanly air as He held out a hand "And who is this, lovely young lady?"

Jane flushed "O-Oh... Hello, I'm Jane."

Pops shook her hand gently and then rubbed his chin "You wouldn't happen to be the same Jane Watson My son always used to talk about?"

You raised an eyebrow as Jane smiled "Mr Drake talked about me?"

Artorias bowed his head "Roman spoke highly of how fortunate this moron was to have such a beautiful woman by his side."

"O-Oh... thank you so much!" She said modestly.

You stared at your Pops "He remembered? what the fuck?"

"How about, I make us both some, coffee and we can talk about the nice things, My Son said. Since my Idiot of a Grandson forgot to?" He asked.

You folded your arms, sticking your tongue out at the Old man.

Her nerves replaced with a sweet smiled, she happily took Pop's arm and Gave you a smile, you returned it "Just do me a favour and stay put old man." You urged.

He gave you a wink, mouthing "2 hours." as He led Jane away.