Hey, my noddles!

I'm sorry that it took me so long to put up another chapter. I' m going through midterms right now so I been busying trying to stay alive lol, but I will try to work more on this story, so don't give up on me. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 3

New York is a loud bright place which seem even brighter at night. The city had a distinct difference from the quiet suburbs of New Jersey. My father and I didn't talk much except for when my father like to give up facts of his mother and the place he grown up in. The hurt of what my mother did to him still laid heavy on his shoulders and heart, and I didn't blame him when he seem to be too quiet to be normal. The voices have been quiet as well, but I could feel their emotions. They were bursting with excitement and anxiety. An odd combination, but I couldn't question the voices on their feelings as the truck came to stop at a building. It was one of those buildings that house many families, and it was a little run down but not by much to be worry about very unlike the mansion like house we just left from. My father cut off the engine with a sigh before turning his head to face me with a grin that was fill with nostalgic and wariness.

"Home sweet home. Come, grab your things." He said as he jump out of the truck.

I follow suit grabbing my suitcases from the back and following him up to the building where he stopped to put his things down. He push a buzzer down on the number 27B before speaking.

"Mom it's us. Open up." He ordered before letting go.

After a moment I heard a loud buzzer go off, and watch as my father pull the door open before ushering me into the building. I took my things making my way to the elevator and pushing the up button. My father waited next to me before sighing in relief as the elevator open up, I look up at him in confusion. He grin at me before getting into the elevator I followed him in more sedative pace.

"Never know with this old thing. I thought it will be busted again, and then we have to walk up all those flights to get home." He explain his voice a little more chipper than earlier. He winked at me. "No need to be scared."

I nodded at him keeping in the urge to tell him that I never felt frighten before so I wouldn't think an old elevator will do the trick. I thought it was an unnecessary fact to point out. We soon made it off the elevator and down the hall to the apartment 27B. My father waited a front of the door for a moment feelings of apprehension and anxiety going off him in waves before I saw the steel of determination go through his eyes. I waited patiently as he finally knocked on the door. We waited for a while for my grandmother to answer the door, and it seem that my father was getting impatient and was itching to pound on the door when the door suddenly open to find an beautifully aged women behind it. My grandmother had that timeless beauty that many women will killed to have. She have brown hair with streak of gray that was from old age. Her skin was pale but not overly so that one will think she was sick but from lack of going out in the sun, and she had a few wrinkles on her face but not enough to take the beauty away. Unlike my father and me she had big brown eyes that were framed with equally dark eyelashes. She wasn't that tall just a few inches taller than my five feet five inches. She wore clothes that I normally will expect one of those modern witches I seen on TV, or those wiccans will wear. She was a weird as one of the people in my town will think or a freak as my mother will say, and I knew at that moment that I was going to like this women. My grandmother looked at my father with emotionless mask over her features but her eyes shine with an emotion I couldn't name.

"Hey mom." My father whisper looking more like a little kid by the second as his mother stare him down.

"Welcome home dear." She finally said to him as she open the door wider.

She pulled him into a quick but tight hug before stepping back a step to pat his cheek with a loving smile that my father return which was a little less bright but a smile nevertheless. I moved closer to my father's back grabbing his attention when I gripped the back of his shirt with my right hand. He turn to me with a fond smile before he put his arm around me to show me off to his mother. She looked at me stunned for a moment before giving me a bright smile. A smile I never really receive from anyone else but my father.

"Daenerys Marie Black, haven't you grown beautifully." She breathe before she push my father away from me and pulled me in a crushing hug.

I grunted at the strength of the hug, and awkwardly hug her back. I look at my father who was gazing at us with a small smile which grow bigger at my obvious discomfort.

"Daenerys meet your grandmother Lilian." He introduce cheekily before he gave into my glare with a chuckled. "Okay mom you're suffocating her."

Grandmother let go of me with a wet sniff before she gave me a quick kiss on my cheek. I tilted my head at her not really use to any hugs and kisses that wasn't given to me by my father.

"Oh, call me Grandma Lily dear. Now come in, come in. I show you around Daenerys." She urged us with a smile.

Her apartment wasn't something I expected, it was bigger than it seem from the outside. The living room had a Victorian feel to it the room itself was a little dark since there was little light in the room except for the occasional candle around the room, and the four lights that was hung in the middle of the room as an antique chandler. There was two crinkly, old leather chairs that look like antiques as well as well used furniture. Across from those chairs were an equally antique sofa. Behind the sofa was a huge window which was cover by velvet in earthen colors, and were also lined with embroidered sheer panels. Of the right of the window was a small old piano which seem well used going by the sheets of music on the handle, and above the piano where framed botanical prints. There was also a huge book case that was over flowing with books in the far left corner of the room. I look at the walls more closely they were in a cream earthy color, and I also discover that the walls were also decorated with a tangle of hand printed vines and doves on the walls. My father brought the suitcases inside the house as I expected the living room.

"Well, dear this is the living room, and straight head is the kitchen." Grandmother explain as she led me into the kitchen by hand.

I followed her quietly my hand limp in her surprisingly hard grip on my hand, she didn't seem to mind on my awkward attempt in holding her hand. When we arrive at the kitchen I took my hand back somewhat harshly but Grandmother still didn't mind on my behavior. The kitchen was a fairly big, one that I wouldn't expect to be in a complex apartment. Unlike the living room it wasn't as dark but light and airy. Also unlike the living room the kitchen didn't have a Victorian feel to it, but a seventeenth century in the English country kind of feel to it. The room was full of cream colors—from the titles which was punctuated by dark floors and a trussed high ceiling. In the middle of the room was wooden table which carried a single vase of rosemary and lavender flowers. There was farm house sink to my right, and above it was a charming plate rack. To the left of me was a British aga-gas stove that I only saw in old fashion movies. The cabinets I find have glass doors that are rippled like the hand blown glass that was made a hundred years ago. There was also an opening by the sink and cabinets which lead to a break feast area. The walls were bead board and the trim was painted a tan color. There was more rosemary flowers on the breakfast table which was a cream color, but was cover in a white kitchen blanket. The only lights came from the big window that was behind the breakfast table which was decorated with some more flowers but lilies this time. The other lights where the three chandlers; one in the breakfast area above the break feast table and the other two are in the kitchen in the middle of the room.

"Mom! A little help here!" I heard my father call from the living room.

My grandmother huff a little mumbling to herself words that I cannot hear before answering him with a simple acceptance to his request. She turn to me after she was done answering my father.

"You have to look around without me for a minute while I help Cyrus." She order before gesturing to a Dutch cream color door that was across the kitchen. "That door leads out to the hallway, and at the end of the hall is your room across from it is your father's and the first door to your right is mines."

I nodded at her before taking my leave feeling quite curious about what the other rooms look like. The hallway was bland compare to the other two rooms I just saw; brown wooden floors and the same cream color walls. The only thing that was odd was the staircase at the end of the hall that had a series of circles before it lead to a door. I pass the bathroom and my grandmother room to look into the left door right before my father's room. The door was wide open unlike the other doors that will lead to mine and my family's bedrooms. The room seem to be a pantry of some kind. Just like the other rooms there was a lone wooden table that was fill with jars and bottles of different tonics and herbs. The walls on the right and the left of the room were full shelves that was usually used to hold home-canned foods but for my grandmother the shelves were used to store bottles, jars, bowls, mortars & pestles that were in a variety of different colors. I took a closer look at the jars on the table picking one up carefully. It seem more like a potion then anything. The only people who will used potions or anything that involve this kind of work will have to be a being from the other world which will be a witch, or one of those fake Wiccans that come from the mortal world. I wonder which one is my grandmother? I asked the voices of their opinion since they been fairly quite ever since I arrive in New York. Daenerys the answers you seek will be discovered by your doing in- I cut the voices off a little irritated that they wouldn't answer my question with a straight answer before the feeling of irritation left me just as quickly as it came. I sigh to myself before moving on and down the hall heading to my room. I open the door to my room expecting it to be a little grand but roomy, but to my surprise my new room was more subdued but inviting. The walls were cream color which seem to be common throughout the apartment but this room like the living room was bordered with hand painted vines that interlock in a slightly medieval pattern. The bed was a twin bed with cream and brown color sheets and the bed frame seem to painted a cream color as well contrasting this there are pieces of dark wood furniture such as a writing desk that was in the far right corner of my bed, an open empty chest that was at the end of my bed, the only table that was to the left of my bed. By the table in the far left corner was a walk in closet as well as another door that was firmly shut. The only window wasn't as huge as the other windows I seen and was covered cream color drapes. There was also an old comfy chair that was affront of an old fire place that seem to been in use not too long ago going by the left over ashes. Over the fire place were a few antique paintings of an old white Victorian garden as well as some books and a generous amount of use and unused candles completed my room. It was so unlike my own room back in the New Jersey which was big and plain almost empty in a way. My gaze seem to go back to the odd door in my bedroom and before I knew it I was opening door with a curiosity that I never had overcome me before. Behind that door took by breath away and for just a moment I was in awe. After I regain my composure I walk down the three short steps into the room that I realize is a conservatory or a greenhouse. There was flower petals scattered across the floor and in the middle of the room was a lone gray wooden table that was fill with bell like jars, funnels, scales, beakers. There was also shelves on the right side of the room fill with different kind of potted plants as well as hanging baskets filled with roots and bulbs. There was also to the left of me were cabinets lines against the wall that I found out by the voices herbs and miscellaneous supplies. There was also a plotting bench and shelf, and I look more into the room to find balcony which was left open. The balcony was full of more plotted flowers as well as another old comfy chair.

"Do you like it?" I heard a voice ask.

I turn to see my grandmother walking up to me lazily with a smile on her face, and a suspicious glint in her eyes that I couldn't describe. I nodded at her but remain silent she didn't seem to mind my nonverbal answers as she went further into the Conservatory picking up a beaker off the wooden table.

"Me too, it's one of my favorite rooms in the apartment." She said carefully putting down the beaker on the table before turning to looking around the room with a sense of pride in her eyes. "You know, this conservatory have been around since your father was a little boy. I decided to create one when I got tire of buying the stuff I need from others of our kind. I tell you-"

"Others of our kind?" I cut her off the curiosity too much for me to let her go on in her story.

She pause for a moment looking as if she said too much, but I knew better. She knew she said the right thing to get me to ask the right questions the voices told me so.

"Yes, other of our kind." She stated simply before looking at her herbs.

I knew she was using a form of manipulation to get me curious. I seen and used enough of manipulation to know when it is being used on me. Her reason in doing so I didn't know since the voices has gone silent once again, but for the life of me I didn't much care that she was manipulating me. I was getting answers.

"Grandmother." I called to her to gain her attention just to look to find myself already having her attention.

"Yes, dear? Oh, please call me Grandma Lilly, or just Grandma." She said off handling.

I nodded at her at the request she given me, but knew I wasn't going to fulfill it so soon. I do not know of her character to be so familiar of her just yet.

"You said others of our kind. What kind do you speak of?" I asked her bluntly.

She sigh to herself before giving me a small smile, the smallest smile I seen her wear since I arrived

"Deanerys us Blacks are different… it's in our blood, it runs in our veins. We could never be normal…" she trialed off as she moved a little closer to me.

"And why can't we?" I asked the curious despite myself.

The voices were silent even when I insist on asking them for answers on what my family is hiding from me when I saw my grandmother hesitate on answering me for a moment. It was so…odd to ask questions for knowledge. I usually already know of things before anyone else when the voices deem it necessary for me to know. I knew they will become quiet as I venture further into the other world, but I didn't think it will be so woven in my own family who up until today were normal while I was not. It's disorientating not knowing things. I look at my grandmother as she broke me out of my thoughts with the sound of her voice saying my name. I tilted my head at her to show I was listening.

"Because we are-"My grandmother started to answer, but was cut off by the sharp sound of her name.

I look to find my father at the doorway glaring at my grandmother. I stay silent as I watch my father and my grandmother glare one another down neither one willing to silently back down.

"Mom, we talked about this." He hiss disregarding my presence for a minute and I decided to take advantage of this.

"Cyrus, don't take that tone with me." My grandmother surprisingly hiss back at him, "We can't keep this from her-"

"Yes, I can and I expect you to do so as well."

"Cyrus-"

"She is my daughter, Mother!"

My grandmother kept her mouth shut after my Father's shout her eyes wide for a brief moment fill with surprise before becoming ice cold. I was surprise my father met those cold eyes evenly his jaw set and his eyes ablaze with anger and determination.

"Fine." My grandmother said stiffly before leaving the room silently as she came.

My father didn't turn or said anything until we heard the soft thud of my bedroom door closing.

"Dad-"I started but was quickly cut off.

"Daenerys…please." He pleaded sounding tire as he turn to me.

I held in all my questions seeing as it was hopeless to get anything out of him. I nodded to him stiffly almost a mimic of the movements of my grandmother did just moments ago. He sigh at that, but didn't say nothing more before leading me out of the Conservatory and into my bedroom with a gentle hand on my shoulder. I saw that my suitcases was a front of the old truck I now have, but didn't give it much thought except that I will have to get start in unpacking soon.

"Go to sleep, Daenerys. I see you in the morning." My father's voice said and I turn toward him to give into one more chance of asking questions but the weary grin on his face stopped me.

I nodded at him trying to smile back at him it was small but worth the effort since it made my father's smile seem not so weary anymore.

"Goodnight." I said quietly the voices coming back full force since we venture off the talk of the other world.

Luckily the voices were easily ignore so I can concentrate on my father sad and tire face, and I suddenly remember that this day I suppose was a difficult day for my father. Since he lost his wife, moved into his childhood home with an estranged mother he haven't seen or talked in ages, and keeping a seemingly big secret from me that his mother doesn't think is the right choice he made. Yes, it been a long day for my father and because of that I thought it will be best to back off. For now.

"Goodnight." My father sigh before he kiss my forehead in his usual goodnight kiss. "Love you, Daenerys."

I flush with his sudden affection. We don't say I love you a lot out loud it really wasn't needed as we show our affection in more subtle way without actually saying it. It is hard for me to actually show emotion, and also inept when it comes in actually understanding other's emotions. I knew this aspect of myself is another difference that separate me from normal people, and I also knew this saddens my father. But he wasn't much of a talk—about—feelings type of person to begun with, so he shows his affection in his smiles and his affectionate kisses that I had to get use to at a very young age when I wasn't comfortable at being touch at the time. He haven't told me he love me in a while and it still after all these years left me a little uncomfortable, but a warm feeling of affectionate overcome those feeling for me to reply in kind. I didn't say the affectionate words back as I didn't know the affection I have for my father is love as I never really know what those word felt. I lower my eyes and awkwardly tugged the edge of his shirt lightly. I look up at him and couldn't help but see the sorrow flash through his eyes when I didn't say the words back, but he cover it with a smile and a pat on my head.

"Okay kiddo, see you in the morning." He said before leaving me in my room when I nodded at him as a final goodnight.

I never realize I had such a cold-heart as I did in that moment. I sigh to myself listening in to the voices as I got ready for bed. Apparently the women next door was having some love affair with a boy that was underage, and thinks she is in love with the boy. What a fool. I quickly turn off the lights noticing the room going black except for the lights of New York coming from my window and the open balcony from the Conservatory. I laid in my bed and could not help wondering what is the big secret my father is so keen in keeping from me that will make him go so far to yell at his mother in such a way. And with that I feel asleep with the voices whispering their knowledge and secrets they found as I slept.