Punished Enough

Power fluctuated in the air, sparking from its source; your grandfather. It was like standing in a storm the whole room felt it, this rising heat that burned all of that cold tension away, and as the old man reeled with this ungodly energy that made his skin flush crimson, his eyes burn gold as his grip on your sister's arm tightened.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!?" Naomi cried as the energy nearly blew her and all the others away, You'd be on the other side of the room if you hadn't buried Lugh's blade into the floor, the flames blowing as the air pressure seeped the Orange flame in blue.

Diana's body began to coat itself in the red bolts that collected in the air, her skin matching his as their eyes dilated.

Artorias snatched her other arm, and standing face to face, gazing upon the look on her shocked face, what felt like minutes... was in truth, only a few seconds, and at the end of those seconds, words were uttered, words that were branded into reality.

"The body of One, the soul of Twelve. Into the darkness; I will delve. we are beasts, averted by heaven, Feel our communion, and make twelve; Eleven."

Power lept from the old man, it shook the mansion, bathed everything in light so bright that it blinded everyone, cries of panic, of confusion, rang through the room, DIANA WAS IN THERE!

You grunted, pushing forward, stabbing the blade into the ground, moving forward bit by bit, closer to the crimson light that trapped your pops and sister inside, glowing like a scarlet womb that pulsated with energy. Whatever the hell this was it felt fundamentally unnatural.

The closer you pushed, the more unnatural it all felt, this unbelievable siphon of energy and you were just an arms reach away, and so that's what you did, you reached towards this ball of nuclear fission, ready to pull Diana free.

As cleanly and as quietly as an autumn breeze, it stopped, the light went away, Diana stood there, looking around, panicked, but unharmed... Rose peered around from your father's chair curious and without fear, everybody else picking themselves up and looking at the scene in front of them.

"Sweet Christmas..." Naomi whispered.

A hand wrapped around your forearm, gently, but firmly. You looked into his eyes, Bright, golden, youthful eyes. His medium-length hair was splayed across his face, the colour of freshly fallen snow. He grinned at you, with your father's face, though it was sharper, younger. He was tall, the same height as you, his suit jacket was smoking, torn and burned, it barely held in his frame, which mirrored yours, lean with muscle. "I had strings but now I'm free..." He whispered, pulling your shocked form closer "There are no strings on me." that voice...

"W-What did you do? I feel... Weird." Diana asked.

You just stared, confused and shocked.

"Who the Hell is that guy!?" Huginn cried, the Noxium seemed ready to fight.

But the tall, handsome, figure, merely swept off his ruined jacket and gave you a wink as He walked past Hilde, who was damn near literally frozen in place, her face tightened in pure shock.

"Ladies and Gentleman, Lovely to finally meet you properly, I apologise that I have been rather anti-social during this gathering, but I was blind, and now I see." He spoke sharply but happily, the tone of a patient old man given youth once again. He stood before the Noxium and gave them a polite bow "My name is Artorias Thadeus Drake III, now nobody panic, but if you don't recognize the name, as I can see some of you recognize my face now, then I will introduce myself as if you were my enemies.

This is what I am called: I am the Hungry-Hound, the Butcher and Breaker, I am the Bone-grinder, the plague of the Dead, Shadowpaw and Beowulf, I am Shuck, sometimes Black Shuck, Cerberus, the Ashen Judge, Leech-maw... but... You can call me, Mad-Dog."

P-Pops... how did he... You looked back at Diana, she looked fine if not a little confused and shaken up.

You thought people's reactions to Hilde were bad, when they saw that face, when they heard those names, the 40 or so gathered Vampires all backed against the wall, terror in their eyes.

"B-Black shuck..." Cleo muttered

"THAT'S HIM, THAT'S THE ASHEN JUDGE, YOUR GRANDFATHER IS THE ASHEN JUDGE!?" Daisy cried, horror in her violet eyes.

"There is no need to fear, I mean you no ill will. I am aware my daughter frightens you because she is predictable, angry and foolish, I can assure you that I am none of those things."

"A-Are you threatening us?" Moonie asked shakily... who was this guy, Your Granpa?

"No, My dear, I don't threaten ladies, I just kill them very quickly and quietly before I even get to feel bad, Now, remember what my Grandson said, commit it to heart, and we will welcome you into this family as if you were our own." He spoke so warmly, it was eery. "Now then, may I speak with my relatives alone?"

None of them spoke. But looked to you. You... gave them a nod and all the Vampires began to siphon out "Bori, keep an eye on the door for us would ya? Rosaria, if you could please remain, you too miss Watson, and you madam." He said, smiling at Charlotte who seemed creeped out by this, sudden metamorphosis.

Belle frowned, folding her arms "If my sister is staying, so am I."

Artorias smiled, bowing his head "You are welcome to."

The Noxium were steadfast in leaving, it was Jane, Cherry, Hilde, a very disoriented Diana, Rose still sat in your dad's chair... and off course... Pops.

Hilde looked, starstruck, lost, but wonderous as she approached Her father, who looked no older than 20. "Papa... Wha... How."

But the Kind man that spoke to the Noxium, was gone. "Remus." He snarled.

"Mentor... How are you young? The Soul transfer, i-it messed up your head?" You'd never seen Hilde so caught off guard before.

He glowered at his daughter "I will deal with you in due course. You will remain here. Am I clear?"

She bowed her head "Yes, Mentor."

You were checking over Diana over with the other girls as He came over, and smiled so brightly that you thought he might blind the room again "Chippy... Didi." There were tears in his eyes, You chuckled, shaking your head at the sight of him as He rushed in hugging you both "Ah... can finally see you. Look at you, you're the most beautiful young woman I've ever seen."

Diana smiled, running her fingers under her eyes.

"And you! God look at you kid, You're built like a brick shit house!" He laughed, thumping your chest.

"Pops. what did you do?" You asked, seeing his vigour and vitality.

He smiled "Come, sit down, we all need to talk."

Artorias was courteous and kind to Jane and Charlotte, He made sure that they were comfortable. He steered clear of Rose though and Belle too, as you crouched by her feet as she sat in the chair "Are you okay?" You asked softly.

Rose nodded "Yes."

"Are you going to talk to me?"

Rose folded her arms, she refused to meet eyes with you "We are talking now..."

You took her hand, and she frowned, shaking her head "I'm not leaving your side until we fix whatever's broken here."

"Fine, sit here, this chair is very uncomfortable."

After Everybody was seated, Rose sat on your lap, looking a little flushed as everybody was gathered around, save for Hilde who remained completely still over in the middle of the room.

You worried for her, why was he so angry with her? "Hilde... Come-"

"-No, Charles." Artorias cut in. Hilde did not move.

"If she's done something wrong then I deserve to know what it is?" You insisted.

Rose was still gripping your hand tightly, she seemed to be studying your grandfather who gave you a soft look of understanding. "I admire how eager you are, but you need to trust me. One thing at a time eh?" He asked.

You sighed but nodded.

"W-What are you, Mr Drake? What are all of you?" Jane asked, looking at your family, beautiful, powerful and golden-eyed.

"That is an excellent question, Ms Watson, but I am afraid I must answer a question with a question: What do you think we are?" Pops inquired.

Cherry put up her hand excitedly, and everybody looked at her weird. She became a little insecure and chuckled "Sorry... Umm, is it because you're all vampires?" She asked.

"Hold on, who is this?" Diana asked in confusion.

"This is my kid sister, Didi. Charlotte Alexandrov-" Belle was cut off as Charlotte stood and offered your sister a hand.

"Charlotte Harlow, N-Nice to meet you... gee are all you Drakes so good lookin'?" She asked.

Diana took her hand in a very professional manner "Only me, and thank you. I'm Diana" Diana chuckled, Charlotte smiled... oh god, those two together, it would be Sass paired with Skill, world-ending potential for annoyance.

"No, Miss Harlow, we are not Vampires," Artorias explained patiently. A couple of eyes darted towards you "At least most of us. I ask because unfortunately, our family are required to follow the tenants of our creed, or code if you prefer."

"A code, you have like family rules then, what are they?" Jane was always too curious for her own good.

"We can tell you both, but as humans, there is something that we have to do first." You explained you were getting where this was going and the Drake family Creed was clear in its many rules.

"You're gonna have to make a covenant with us." Diana said.

"Wait... Decedents have blood covenants?" Belle cut in "I thought that was a Vampire thing."

Your Pops drummed his fingers on the chair he'd pulled up, Didi sat in his "No, Miss Harlow, Blood Covenants are a creation of our ancestors, and in this case, if we are to disclose any of our family secrets and the truth to the Dark society that is now peeking into you line of sight, then I must insist that you draw some blood and swear your allegiances to us."

"Ew, I hate blood." Cherry squirmed.

"I'll do it!" Jane jumped at first, though she thought on it more in the seconds after "What's the catch?"

"You cannot betray them under any circumstances, you'll essentially become a part of our..." Rose paused "...Their, family."

Artorias' eyes darkened "The punishment for which is ****."

Jane frowned "So, what if we make the covenant?" Cherry also seemed curious.

"Then... we have to kill you." You admitted weakly.

"KILL US!?" Cherry grimaced, though Jane merely folded her arms.

"What do you think happens to humans who know about Monsters? live happily ever after in a princess castle? The more you know about Monsters the easy it is to notice them and if they suspect that you notice them then they will go out of their way to hunt you, that's just the way it is. but if you take this covenant, then we can protect you, teach you how to defend yourselves.... Please, I couldn't bear you being hurt because of me." You spoke truthfully.

Jane's eyes became soft as you looked at her "That's why you were keeping me in the dark... to protect me?"

You nodded "Most likely, I still don't remember anything before the coma."

"In that case, then I'll do it."

"What!? are you out of your mind?" Cherry cried "We are just Highschool girls, we can't handle all of this stuff!"

"Speak for yourself. All my life I've devoted myself to learning, but if there is a whole world hidden beneath ours, then why would I pass up the chance to learn about it?" Jane was quick to remind Cherry about reality "Plus if Ms Harlow is your sister then you're already in immediate danger."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Belle growled.

"I'm just saying... better safe than sorry," Jane said apologetically.

Cherry sighed, squirming in her chair before sighed "Ugh, fine, but this better not hurt-OW!"

Artorias had given you the nod at the start of the conversation, you'd been waiting to sneak up on them and slice small cuts into their thumbs while they were distracted.

Jane frowned "That hurt."

"You think that's bad, I have to do that every god damn day" You groaned, clicking your teeth together so that your fangs burst free, the two flinched.

"I thought you weren't vampires?" Jane inquired.

"Most of us." Artorias repeated.

You bit into the skin of your thumb, the scarlet blood flowing forth as you took their wounds and pressed them against one another.

Artorias grinned "Repeat after me. but bare in mind, once you walk down this path, there is not return."

The Girls nodded resolutely and repeated after Artorias, taking an oath of kinship.

Immediately after you gasped, clutching your head as the link was established, zapping between you, Diana, Artorias and Hilde off in the corner, the four of you grunting at the strange binding sensation.

"That was, weird," Cherry said rubbing her eyes.

"Always is." Diana groaned.

"Right then, down to business. Communion, do we know what that means?" Pops asked like a teacher addressing a class. Hilde shifted, peering at him with curious eyes.

"Like, coming together?" Cherry answered, betraying her pupil status.

"Excellent ten points to Gryffindor." You said sarcastically, grunting as Rose nudged you hard in the ribs "Ow!"

"Thank you, Rosaria. Coming together exactly right..." Pops proceeded to explain many things in a clear and concise way that was informative, but respectful of the girl's intelligence, He explained about the House of Drake, the descendants, their role in Monster's society, the Judge, the Jury and the Executioner, He even explained Diana's condition as a homunculus, all of which Jane seemed eager to learn, though Charlotte was a little confused here and there, but she caught on after a while.

"So... you're descended from a god?" Jane asked excitedly

"The Vampire god, yeah." Diana agreed.

"And you weren't actually born, you were made? Far out." Cherry muttered "But then how did you... become young, you were an old man a minute ago?"

You all lent forward, listening keenly. Artorias smiled at the audience "Well, that is where communion comes in. You see, we descendants have certain abilities, revolving around time and ****, an after effect of essentially being related to the god of those things; **** and time.

I was there was Diana was born, I knew the cost of what it took to keep her alive, which I will keep to myself for her sake." Your sister looked grateful for this, telling these girls that she was made out of a dozen dead babies wasn't exactly a good way to break the ice. "But what I will say is that while my Grandaughter is of one body, she, in fact, has multiple souls."

"WAIT WAT?" Diana cried, you reach overtaking her hand... you didn't want her to be stressed out, not now.

"Yes, in the process of her creation, she was born with multiple souls, the source of her constant vitality. I knew this fleetingly in my senile state, I could not retain information for more than maybe half an hour, and so every time I'd reset, it was like waking up from a slumber, a never-ending void of nothing, an endless abyss of lost memories where I could not fully grasp reality, but, In the glimpses I got, I started to notice... things. the First time Diana and Charlie came to visit me, I thought she was Hilde, Diana looks a lot like my daughter at her age, but an old friend inside me felt something inside of her," He tapped his chest, where that mountainous Black beast resides within him "It powerful and foreign, and so I managed to ascertain that if Diana had this power inside then Charlie must have also. I just managed to draw my blood for him before my lucidity went away again."

You grinned "So... you knew she was a Homunculus?"

Artorias nodded, tapping the bridge of his nose "Nothing get's past this gentleman. I could smell something powerful and I think that inside some part of me knew what I had to do, it's why I broke out of Spring falls, it's why I asked you to bring her here."

Diana's eyes widened in revelation "You stole a part of my soul, didn't you old man!?"

Pops gave her a wink "Feel our communion, and make twelve; Eleven. I used Anchor mixed with Nevermore, that is what communion is, it allows one to sync with another descendant, which in turn allowed me to access a portion of your soul. Don't worry, if my theory is correct then you will regenerate this part yourself in time, but otherwise, it should have no negative effect on you, your soul is already ."

"I don't know if your crazy or genius." You chuckled.

"They don't call me Mad-dog for nothing kid." He retorted.

"So must be what, twenty? thirty? you look young, that's one hell of a way to cheat ****." Jane said in wonder.

But Artorias did not smile at that, his eyes became slightly forlorn as He turned to Remhilde "Remus, front and centre." He ordered.

Your aunt marched over with a soldiers gate and immediately knelt at Pop's feet.

Something about the way he spoke to her, his body language, overtly hostile when in her presence, it didn't feel right "Pops... I don't like the way you're talking to her-"

"Shut up, Chip." Hilde cut in. You raised an eyebrow.

Artorias stood from his chair, over his daughter "Rise." Hilde stood and face her father who looked more like her brother now. "You are aware of what you have done? yes?" He asked.

"Yes, Mentor, I have broken my Banishment." She said lowly, her golden eyes cornering to look at you and Diana. Hilde... was Banished? why?

"Why were you banished, Remus?" He asked.

Hilde shifted uncomfortably, she refused to meet her father's eyes "I..." shame pulled away her grace and beauty "I... tried to kill your father."

The Fire came back roaring like a beast.

She tried to kill our father?

"Why did you try and kill Romulus?" He pushed.

Remhilde face was dark, there was so much pain behind her eyes "I can't... papa, please." tears began to well in her eyes, hurt ruled her senses.

He seemed to soften a little, but took a deep breath and held strong "Tell them."

Hilde bowed and turned to you and Diana, she looked so worried, so hurt, She moved over to you both and with shaking hands place them on Diana's, she pleaded with her welling eyes "She would have loved you, she would have loved you both so much. Y-You, look so much like her."

Oh... no...

Your aunt reached around her neck, unclipping her silver locket and handing it to you "When I was executioner, We all left for Norway, hunting a Superior who was killing children in a local, village. We got there fast but, the superior was already dead, someone had beaten us to it."

Who else could kill a superior except another superior, or an Upir maybe? perhaps even...

Diana nodded, seeing her aunt's pain, her clearly coming to the same conclusion as you "Another Descendant house?"

"House Tyrn the Frozen." Artorias seemed forlorn now as well.

"Your dad met Eldria Tyrn, and I met... The Houses Heir, Russel." the name clearly haunted her "...Pops tried to pair Eldria and Roman up but he wasn't interested, but... I fell for my Russ the moment I saw him, he was funny and strong and kind, He didn't see me as a weapon or a killer, just a woman. We were married that same year..."

You contemplated the locket in your hands once again, smooth and silver, however when you cracked it open, your face fell. The Picture of a smiling man, with curly brown hair and a red beard, smiled on one side... and a beautiful young girl, no older than maybe 3 or 4, was giggling in her picture on the other side. "No... Hilde..." You muttered.

Tears streamed down her face "Talia so beautiful, Diana looked a lot like she did at her age, she would have been about the same age too, she... she would have loved you both, she was funny and silly, used to make me laugh every day."

Rose's eyes looked at Hilde, there was a deep sense of understanding in those eyes "What happened to her?" She asked.

Hilde's face fell in a deep scowl "There was an invasion, one of the Great clans tried to take over the city since it's a source of magical power, whoever control Wallace controls the Monster's influence in America. And the Gaelic Moores Clan from Ireland... with their leader..."

"Lady Morrigan of the fallen house of Quinn, our mortal enemies," Artorias whispered. Hilde shook her head, holding her eyes as Diana's eyes welled, pulling her aunt close.

"I'm so sorry... We-We didn't know." She muttered.

"Morrigan tried to gain a foothold in this city by befriending the other Monsters here, the Werewolves, the other Vampires... and the Witches."

"I thought they helped her... I thought they assisted her in what they did." Hilde was hyperventilating, it was unlike any way that you had ever seen her before.

"What did she do?" You asked darkly, feeling the heat rising in your chest. Morrigan... You kept her face in your mind.

Artorias shook his head "Tyrn did his best to protect his daughter, but Morrigan isn't normal, she's a corrupted descendant, extremely rare and wickedly powerful... Russel survived but... there was nothing of Talia to bury. Remus flew into a rage, she blamed the Witches they were the only one's who knew where the safe house was, she attacked a lot of them, nearly killed them and anybody else who tried to stop her."

"Dad." You nodded grimly.

Hilde looked at you with puffy eyes "It's the only time he ever actually managed to beat me, and I know why. it's because he was right, he was always right, not all monsters are evil, they deserve a chance as much as Humans do..." Hilde looked at the swell in Rose's belly "But my Russ, he was lobotomized, a vegetable, He couldn't see me, couldn't hear me... he was gone, and my Talia..."

"That's enough." You whispered, giving her a slight smile as you blinked away the water in your eyes "You don't have to say anymore." taking your Aunt's hand, and placed the locket in her hands.

Ushering Rose into the chair, you stood and face your Pops "You banished her for that?" You growled.

He matched your glare "The Creed of the Drakes is absolute, we tried to reason with her, warn her, but she would not listen, she claimed many innocent lives, went against my orders, I didn't have a choice."

"You always have a choice, old man. And I've made mine."

"Oh?" He said folding his arms.

"Revoke the banishment." You insisted.

"And why would I do that, how can I trust that she will not do what she's done before?" you stood as opposites then, the logical and cold, vs the burning and passionate.

"Because if she does then I'll kill her myself."

"Charlie!" Diana cried. but you held a silencing hand to her.

"You're not gonna last long like that, are you Pops?" You asked.

He frowned, sighing.

"I can feel it, that soul doesn't belong to you, it's unnatural, this is only temporary, isn't it?"

Artorias nodded "I have 7 months, maybe 8."

"P-Pops?" Diana said softly.

"Revoke the banishment, I don't care how wrapped up in 'the creed' this family is. A woman loses her husband and her daughter, and she's excommunicated. I don't care how many flesh-eating creatures are out in the darkness, that is evil. Now if Hilde is the judge or your the judge I don't care, what I do care about is my family and as the Heir, I insist that you revoke this fallacy." Your conviction was unstoppable.

Pops looked at you and smiled "You really are your father's son. Remus, front and centre."

Hilde peered at her father, wiping her eyes as she stood straight and strong before him "Yes, Mentor."

He was silent for a moment, shaking his head to himself "For the 18 years that my mind has been in the void, I thought about you... I remember seeing you when you returned, I only saw my daughter... not the Killer that I and your mother created. I need you to be that Daughter again, that wife, that mother that you were..." He took Hilde's mask and ran his fingers along its wooden edge "...We made this mask together when you were a girl, you remember?"

Hilde smiled "Of course I do."

"I failed you, Remus. I'm sorry, Roman always knew his own path, I did not have to show him right from wrong... and my neglect of your humanity... but it is not only mine and Charlie's call, Diana?"

Didi frowned "Of course I want you to revoke it, she's a part of this family, Hilde has been punished enough."

Artorias nodded "then I revoke the Banishment." He whispered. "In the name of our Heir, Charles. and our Jury, Diana. As judge of this family, I welcome you home."

Your aunt bowed, "Thank you, Mentor" Hilde jolted as Artorias pulled her into a tight hug.

"Your mother would be so proud of you, you are truly the strongest of us. I was a fool, I'm sorry, Hilde." He said.

And as Jane, Cherry and Belle dabbed their eyes and Rose smiled a little, You and your sister, embraced your aunt, surrounded by her family, just as she deserved.