Something Fun

You tracked up the stairs from your father's basement "Goodbye, Charlie." S.O.L spoke as you made tracks to leave, you only gave the lights an awkward wave along with the loving one you gave Jane, as she sat down with one of your father's old books.

Striding from the dark stairway up to the lounge with a spring in your step, you came in, whistling like a bird in the early morning only to stop in your tracks.

The sight before you was not one that you thought would make you smile... but it did.

Diana clipped the ammo belt across her shoulders, made sense, Black baby reloaded via chamber, not a magazine, she could access her munitions faster that way.

Hilde however slid magazines into the notches on her belt, though she quickly grabbed some tape from the table, binding two magazines together and slotting them into what had to be one of the biggest guns you'd ever seen.

"Ummm, I didn't realise that we were swatting twitch streamers tonight?" You said, laughing as Hilde peered up at you.

"This is an M14 7.62MM Battle Rifle." She spoke holding up the beastly thing that looked like it could cut a man in half like a birthday cake. "Armour piercing rounds."

"Non-Automatic fire rates with normal bullets aren't enough, you've got to rip the flesh apart with automatic rounds to do real damage," Diana said.

"coming from the girl with a six-shot handgun?" You inquired sarcastically, though Diana only smiled... she was in her Dawn outfit now, sleek cut and sexy, but dangerous, with her single black and white braid flowing on her shoulder.

"I have been cooking up something." She admitted proudly.

Hilde tossed you one of the large bullets in her magazine which you caught promptly. The round was thick and shiny, extremely shiny, gleaming an innocent silver. You grinned "Silver rounds?"

Hilde paused as Diana walked up to you holding something behind her back. Carefully she revealed it to you; a long black box, with a pretty little bow on top "I know your birthday is still a few weeks off but..."

"We thought you might appreciate these a little early." Hilde finished.

You took the box, it was heavy, and with a curious eye, watched as you pulled away its lid.

The lids parted to eyes of shock, good shock, you were amazed by what you saw they were beautiful. Two Handguns, shiny and new, pitch-black with golden engravings that spiralled beautifully. The handles were white, however, carved ivory with the symbol of a winged beast at both of their hearts.

Your fingers mingled along them as your Aunt and Sister smiled "These, are for me?"

"I have half a mind to keep them, their even better than the specifications I gave." Diana chuckled as you picked one up, feeling the power in your hand.

"M1911 pistols, breast-holsters good for concealment with a coat or jacket. Rapid-fire modification, extended clips, hair-trigger, one of Didi's excellent bullets... bang, and the dirt is gone." Hilde spoke softly.

You were more than speechless; wordless beyond belief, holding these weapons that seemed almost shaped to the palm of your hand. But you looked down at your Didi, the corner of her lips betraying a small smile... such a beautiful smile "I love you, Diana. I... uh... I really do." It's all you could think to say.

She moved closer, touching your face "I know."

"I could kiss you right now." You said giddily.

"You could do more than that." She whispered, biting her lip.

"That's enough of that Lovebird's, don't you know?" The Voice that came boomed through the room, nearly as fierce as the sight that follows... nearly as fierce.

Artorias Drake stood in that doorway, wearing a suit and tie, black as night with crosshatching about the coat only... you realised it wasn't patterning, those diamond-shaped things that covered Artorias like chainmail, was in fact plates of obsidian fibreglass, weaved together masterfully into a full three-piece suit.

He wore a grey suit coat on his shoulders, the sleeves hung free and in-between the cloak-like a jacket, you saw... a strange metal collar-like structure around his neck. It was octagonal, with what looked like shifting rickets on each edge... the things that fit like it was shaped for your hand.

Artorias noticed you looking, he walked up, his feet soundless as they stepped towards you. He paused in front of you and handed it to you, you actually held it in your hands, this huge, dangerous feeling thing that carried with it, doubtless, the deaths of many undead in its sharp jaws.

This helmet was a large one, octagonal in shape like its matching collar that you saw it would click into perfectly, there were no eye holes, no nose holes, just a smooth faceplate starting from the top, connected by a hinge by the ears that were sharp on each end, leading to the Jaw.

Now it was the Jaw that struck you, these Jaws pointed out in a snout maybe six, no seven inches long, seven inches of perfectly rowed teeth that could be opened and closed with the motions of the neck and nape, the top visor connected with the sharp silver teeth at its bottom, with a long row of seven teeth, razor-sharp on the top and bottom jaws.

"...Tonight, Black Shuck joins the hunt."

You smiled "You fight like this?"

"I kill, like this." He corrected, lowering his head "Do the honours, the mechanism locks into the collar, go ahead." He urged, lowering his head promptly.

Carefully, you raised the heavy helmet and gently place it over his head, just as he said, it clicked into the collar and with a twist, it locked in place.

Artorias arose... no, The Mad dog; Black shuck, rose and without sight, He gazed at the family all of who beheld him with grandeur in their eyes.

"I never thought I'd see you in that thing again, Old man," Hilde said with a smile.

"Russel would be cracking his jokes right about now," Artorias spoke, his voice clear with the toothy visor up to expose his face.

Hilde nodded heartily "How do you see out of that thing old man" She grumbled, the two sharing a familial laugh. You were glad that Hilde had relaxed a little, she was a little too intense before, bearing a hidden truth on her shoulders.

"How do you see in that thing old man?" Diana asked in a mocking grumbling tone, Hilde stuck out her tongue which Didi returned.

The Old tapped his nose "I don't, at least not with my eyes." As mysterious and badass as He was trying to be here, you couldn't help but be genuinely impressed. It was all in his posture, you could see it, His head slightly tipped down, stance wide, neck craned ready to activate the mechanism in the blink of an eye.

"I hope you don't need Artemis back, I've gotten a little too dependant on them now," Hilde explained, gesturing with her bladed silver arms.

"No need, come, Pre-hunt brief." Grandad always enjoyed his briefs, even as a madman, but his seriousness as you all huddled together was more than palpable.

"I want a nice clean hunt, no targets just a little fun. Chip is executioner, Diana as the jury is beside him, I am active judge and Remus will be my Blade. If we encounter active adversaries then we will split and attack from all side, no mercy, understood?" Artorias explained clearly and calmly.

"Oooooh, what kind of fun?" Diana asked, she always did sound ridiculous when she was nervous.

Hilde gazed through her rabbit mask furiously "Do not joke, Girl. Take the hunt seriously, Our instruction is law, if you disobey, then there will be consequences." Remhilde hissed, gushing her niece swiftly.

Artorias gazed over your masklessness, He seemed displeased "Your father's mask?" He inquired.

You shook your head adamantly "It isn't mine."

Pop's considered you curiously, and sighed "Put on a coat, something with a hood, and wrap something around your face, make haste."

You gave him your greatest courtesy, a low bow "Yes, Mentor."

After grabbing your trench coat, slipping your gauntlets through it, its sharp collar giving you a Dracula vibe, buttoning on the hood and wrapping a black and white striped scarf around your face.

Making tracks towards the main doors, you reaching out with a powerful hand and casting open the doors to what had become a stormy night.

Raindrops shot towards the earth, black clouds overcast the shadowing sky, only the pale moon pierced through this monsoon, rumbling as the thunder roared with a fury above.

Smoke arose from the Rabbit, her strong form lent against one of the light posts with Dawn and Shuck.

"No smoking, Rabbit." You spoke as she smirked, her mask half pulled up to expose her lips to the rain.

"This is one joint, you're gonna want on hand." She tossed you the glowing cigarette, only just being able to catch it at the stem. With a quick observation, you saw that it was a dark green, leaf-like substance, almost like a homemade cigar wrapped in tobacco leaf.

"Wolf's bane, calms the nerves, good painkiller." The God spoke, his voice a deadly growl in his helm.

"So, do I get a cool name now? Like God-hammer, Bone-crusher, The Unbreakable Phantom!" You cried childishly.

They exchanged complementing looks, "You're not the one who creates the name, the enemy does." Shuck growled deeply. "Come, move swiftly, the rain will conceal our presence as we ascend to the rooftops."

They began their march, four Hunters, Four Children of the shadow, The Black house of Drake.

"I think I'll just call you Chip!"

"This is a good idea."

"I concur, Mentor."

"YOU ARE NOT CALLING ME CHIP IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF BLOODTHIRSTY MONSTERS!"