Tower to the Sun

Diana Had finished her little meal and was sitting next to You, the two of You had been reading more of Roman's Journal, there was a section on You, but it was brief, ominous "Charles was always frail," You read "This is most likely because of the strange mixture of Mine and Liz's blood, we did not even know that it was possible to create a life with her condition, lord knows we tried, but it appears that with My lineage, producing a Child with an Undead of her level is possible, just very difficult." You raised an eyebrow "So.. I was Born, but if Mom was a Vampire, then how did dad get her pregnant, Undead can't sire children?"

"He mentions his lineage a lot, but He doesn't say what it is..." You cut her off "Here, listen!" She scuttled closer, she still hadn't gotten any clothes yet, Belle had not answered Your text and Rose was also yet to return, You didn't even think that She knew how to use a phone "Charles' body seems to lack certain qualities, though they are vastly different I took in consideration that He was missing components after being born and it seems that My hunch was correct, Liz's Undead Blood, mixed with My Descendant blood Has clashed in his system, He possesses the two weaker halves of our genome, I... I know his fate, it is a hard enough pill to swallow, but I may have to contact C, if he will even answer my summons after all this time, Maybe He could shed some light on the subject, otherwise, I will just have to refer to Artorias for his opinion, as much as I hate the man, I must ensure that My son meets his Fate." There were so many buzzwords in that, You and Diana merely sat in confusion "He wanted to ask Grandpa About me?" Artorias Drake... well he wasn't much help to anyone, not even himself "And what is this Descendant blood he talks about, could it be some kind of sickness or something?" You shook Your head "Dad was never sick a day in his life, If I had to guess, Dad was special in some way... and He passed that on to us?"

Diana nodded in agreement "But there was someone else, C, he called them, I wonder who that is?" You shrugged, thinking grimly for a moment "Do you think..." She saw You hesitation, "Maybe we could go to Granpa, maybe He'll-" Diana frowned "What's the point in that, there's nothing He could, Chip." You shook Your head "Maybe I could... taste his blood, then I could see into some of his memories?" Diana clearly didn't like the thought "I'm not sure that's a good idea." You stood, "Look I just need... some answers, Dad documented Your creation, but for me its all ominous Bullshit, no straight answers, if there is a reason that I was so weak as a Human, I deserve to know why." Diana huffed, but stood with You, holding Your hand "Fine, b-but I don't want to be there long... It's hard." You nodded grimly "Okay, First things first we need to get You some clothes."

"Didn't You ask Belle?" You nodded "Yeah, but she isn't answering My text... weird, I guess I could ask Boris, I'm sure he wouldn't mind." Diana shrugged, picking up her glass of wine and sipping modestly, You grinned, "You know I kinda like You in just a Towel" She grunted, "I bet You do, perv." Still, she came to kiss You on the cheek, it was kinda nice to have her still be her bitchy self, it made the little loving quirks that she had all the sweeter.

After about an hour of just sitting and watching TV peacefully with Your sister, snuggling up to You on the couch while nursing her sore pussy with an icepack, Boris arrived, a small rucksack slung over his shoulder and a smile on his face, "Mr. Drake?" Diana shot up, walking over to Boris and quickly snatching the bag from his hands, she scrambled off to the shower area to change, confused Boris looked at You "P-Privet Myska... was that Diana?" You nodded, He scratched his head "What happened to Hair, is very long and..." He sniffed at the air with his thick nostrils "She smells like Burning?" You patted his shoulder "I'll explain later, See Rose on Your way here?" He grunted, "I don't think I could if I tried."

Diana came out a couple of minutes later, dressed in a turtleneck and jeans, her long hair tied up into a very large bun, You frowned childishly "I liked it better when she was nearly naked, eh Beast?"

....

"Beast?"

Strange, he was there, He just wasn't answering "Weird." Diana walked up to You, a slightly uncomfortable look on her face "Do You want to go now?" You hid Your own discomfort, nodding "Boris, could You do me a favor?" The Large man bowed his head "Of course Myska." You smiled "I need You to wait here for when Rose gets back, Let Her know that we've gone to Spring falls." He raised an eyebrow, before frowning deeply, He knew exactly where You were going.

Spring Falls was a dreary place, especially in the night, a very High-end Care home with few residents, none as cared for as Your Grandfather; Artorias Drake, You and Diana were quiet on the walk up to the reception, it gave You time to reflect... Pops was a Good man, He always held a smile, that was how You remembered him anyhow, that's not to say that He didn't boast the family ice, He too was a ruthless man when needed, but unlike his son; Your father, Artorias was teacher, a trainer, He taught You enough to blast through the early stages of school, had Diana take her MMA lessons "A woman who chooses not to fight is unworthy of our name, Just take a few You'll do well, I just know it!" You practically hear that warm tone of his, remember how it could flash from Happy to cold fury in seconds, You missed Your grandfather, Didi, and Roman had always been close, the same was true with You and Artorias, but everyone has to get old at some point.

You both entered the reception, a very bored looking young lady sat behind the desk, earphones blaring into her ears as she tapped away on her computer, the two of You paused in front of the desk, watching her head bop to the beat, her mahogany black hair as Diana tapped on the desk, making the young woman jump and look up at the two of You "Woah lady You scared the bejeezus outta me-"

She seemed to freeze and so did You, You knew her... it took a moment to recognize her but You knew her "M-Mr. Drake," she said in her cute voice, her plump red lips curling slightly "You... You're the Cat Receptionist lady." Diana raised an eyebrow "The Cat what?"

"She's a Vampire." Diana immediately put herself on guard, but the Cat Receptionist raised her hands and buried her head away "Wait, wait don't hurt me, I don't want to fight You!" Your eyes thinned "What was Name again, Naomi, Namira?"

"Namina!" She squeaked, a scared look on her face as she peeked up at You "Look, I'm just working to afford an apartment, I don't associate with the Gerix anymore..." You glared down at her adorable little face "If You're not with the Gerix, who is feeding You?" She shifted nervously "I-I am not all that good at hunting... but Mr. Hendricks on floor 2... He lets me take a sip every so often, in return for some favors?" You grimaced "You whored Yourself out for Blood?" She gasped "I am not a whore... a kitty does what she has to survive!" You rolled Your eyes, but Diana Glared "Our Grandfather stays here If You-" Namina waved her hands nervously "No, no, no Mr. Drake is completely safe, People know better than to mess with the family of the Legendary Black-Star..."

"Didn't stop Your Master from manipulating me?" Namina frowned sadly "M-Most of us didn't want anything to do with that, Corvus was a fool, I'm glad he's dead." You shifted quietly and Namina chuckled nervously "Did You come to see Mr. Drake Senior, He's awake at the moment, He nearly never sleeps, he's a lovely soul!" Diana nodded "Yes, we'd like to see him right away." Namina nodded, Quickly pulling out two very shiny visitors passes "Here, none of the staff will bother You, come and go as You please, it's the least I can do... Scary, handsome Superior Man..." She fluttered her eyes at You, "She is adorable, right beast?"

....

"Hey, are You sleeping or something?"

...

"HEEELLLOOOO"

......

"Fine, sleep away, but You better come when I call You."

.........

You thanked Namina, walking along the hallway to the elevator "Call me if You need anything Mr. Drake!" You gestured thanks to her as You and Your sister stepped into the elevator, pressing the bottom for the 6th-floor suite "Kitty, cat woman, who was that?" You huffed "She's this Vampire I kinda met, She can turn... into a cat." Diana raised eyebrow "What, like a lion, or a tiger or..." You shook Your head "Nope, the infinitely more dangerous domesticated cat, a real small one too, more like a kitten really." Diana chuckled with You for a moment, but as You ascended, things got a little grimmer.

The Elevator dinged as You reached the top floor, a nice almost apartment-like complex that was well decorated in soft browns and gentle mauves, everything was mostly empty, covered and censored so that nobody could hurt themselves, but You smiled as You heard the sound of a piano's notes, echoing in another room.

Slow and a little uncertainly, the two of You walked through to the lounge, to see a frail man in an old fashion button-up, grey trousers, and slippers, an Iron grey soft robe draped over his shoulders, His Hair, Ivory white and thin, was a little longer than the last time that You saw him, the waves combed back carefully, His beard was a little shaggy, jumping as He worded to himself, his fingers elegantly playing the Grand Piano beautifully, a skill that You were sure that He would never lose...

"Pops-"

"Sit." He said in a rumbling but soft tone, shifting aside, His finger pointed to a shiny black acoustic guitar that sat in the corner "You know the Cords girl, Sit and Play." Diana's lips pressed together, but she did as he said, taking the guitar into her hands and beginning to tune it carefully "It's been a while."

"No excuses, You know how to tune a guitar, Girl." she nodded, finishing tuning and strumming a serene tone, He grunted with a light smile "Good, Boy, Here, beside me so I can hear You." You frowned, Your head falling as You walked up beside him, His eyes were a faded gold, like an old bale of hay, lacking the drive that they used to possess, still, he Tapped a bony finger on the top of his Piano to Get Your attention "No Daydreaming Boy, You know the words." You nodded, watching as He tapped in a rhythm "3. 2. 1. and..." Artorias began to flicker his fingers across the notes, starting off the somber tune, familiar and graceful "Ready Girl... 3. 2. 1. and..." Diana began to strum her tune in accord with his, the two twirling together perfectly, You Grandfather looked at You, his eyes flashing gently with a purpose "Boy, 3. 2. 1. and..." You cleared Your throat it had been a while.

"Once I built a railroad, made it run, made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, now it's done, Brother can You spare a dime?" Your voice was lower than before, Your vocals cords humming slightly as the words left You lips, Artorias nodded in approval "Once I built a tower, to the sun, brick and rivet and lime... Once I built a tower, now it's done, Brother can You Spare a Dime?" The tune picked up a little, becoming slightly brighter as He and Diana played in a union, You picked up with them "Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee doo-doodly-dum..." Diana chuckled as she heard that bit, just as she always did, making You smile "...Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell, And I was the kid with the drum," Building in confidence with Your voice and pushed by nostalgia, You sang, Your eyes welling up a little as You saw Artorias' eyes spark with life "Say don't You remember, they called me Al, it was Al all the time, say don't You remember, I'm Your Pal, brother can You spare a dime..." You quieted down, Diana slowly playing to a careful stop as Artorias finished off the song with a masterful flourish.

Artorias Smiled, and his hand falling on Diana's hand as she shed furtive tears, He looked at You, his smile fading "You have not visited in a long time... Boy." He said, seeming to have lost Your name in his mind "The Girl was here only yesterday it seems?" He whispered, "that was a couple of weeks ago Granpa." He shook his head "Don't be silly, You were here only minutes ago it seems." You crouched beside him "It's Your memory Grandpa." He nodded grimly "Oh right, I suppose I... forgot." He took a breath standing from his chair at the Piano and straightening himself, "Has My Son also come to visit." You and Diana both frowned "No Pops... Dad is... Dead." Artorias' eyes began soft and doughy, "Yes... yes I suppose, I must have forgotten again... You told only a minute ago didn't You girl?" Diana excused herself, leaving the room quickly as tears fell down her cheek, "Pops, I need Your help, I'm... so lost, I feel." Artorias looked into Your eyes, He seemed sad "You are... Different boy." He nodded to himself "I forget the word... You are... Unalive, is that it?" Your eyes widened "Undead?" He nodded "Ah yes, Undead, My son said such a thing might happen, I don't suppose that He is taking it well." Sniffing back tears, You shook Your head "I... wouldn't know,"

Artorias huffed, turning to You and taking You by the shoulders, He was smiling so softly "Drakes do not Shed tears, Boy, lord look at You, You look so much better, such a frail boy You were, You Grandmother would be ecstatic... I..." He creased his forehead as if trying to recollect something "I am supposed to give You something, I just can't recall... hmmm, ah yes, Here." Artorias reached into his robe's pocket and brandished as a Silver vial, a subtle red liquid filled the inside "I am afraid it is none too fresh, I don't remember why that's a not particularly good but... Well, I don't know why I have it, I think it may be blood?" You looked with amazement, "You saved Your blood, for me?"

"Did I, well that's very strange to do, doubtless it was for a reason, here." He handed it to You, watching absently as You slipped it into Your pocket, Diana re-entered, seeming to have composed herself a little more, "Well Hello there, aren't You a pretty Young lady, How You've grown, both of You..." You nodded to Diana, indicating that You had what You came for, she rushed forward, hugging Artorias as He chuckled "You were never much of a Hugger Girl, must be a special occasion." He said smiling at You, You also stepped forward, joining Your sister in hugging Your grandfather, who hummed happily "I love You Pops..." You said sadly, He grinned "I love You too Charlie and You Diana." You both smiled, it had been a while since He had called You by Your names, "Go on now, scoot, I have to practice, keeps the mind sharp." You both nodded with smiles on Your faces "You're Father must so proud of You... I certainly am." You left with slightly heavy hearts, it was always hard to see him like this, such a titan of knowledge and strength, reduced to a forgetful musician.

"Did You get what we needed?" You nodded, brandishing the Vial "He... had it waiting for me." She tilted her head "Then He knew?" You nodded "He knew that I was undead, knowing Vampires, the alchemy, Dad being a known entity in the Monster world, just what is our family?" She shrugged "Drink that and hopefully we can find out." Uncorking the Vial, You nodded, praying that this would give some cast Iron answers on Your Bloodline and Heritage.