Author's Note: Hello everybody, welcome to chapter eight of "The Girl in the Tower"! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. :) Here's a quick recap before we begin the next leg of our story: we've finally been introduced to Comstock, which I have made unrelated to Booker in this AU for obvious reasons, but I will further explain all that by the end of this chapter! And I know you've all been anticipating the arrival of Booker DeWitt, but don't worry any longer, he will be introduced very soon! Now sit back and enjoy the next chapter of our story! And don't forget to review, follow, and favorite! Many thanks! :)

Chapter Eight: The Truth

"...You're... You're him..." I watched the man I knew was Comstock bleed to death right in front of me. If Songbird had a voice of His own, He would say He was just protecting me from the worse of people, but this man didn't appear to be that. He was the Prophet for Columbia's sake!

"E-Elizabeth... E... liza... b-beth..." Comstock moaned, sputtering out a mouthful of blood. He twitched his hand towards me as his sunken, blue eyes met mine. There was fire in those eyes, the fire of his soul burning into me. I could see it, and feel it.

I said nothing to him at first, but I wanted to know if he had done something to Aunt Rose and Uncle Robert. He knew... He had to have known... I could see it in his eyes too, "What did you do with... them...?" I choked on my words, trying so hard not to cry.

He spoke with a gruff, strained voice, his throat sounding like it was clogged with his own blood, "W-who...?" I grimaced as he let out another mouthful. I felt my cheeks flare at his answer. He knew! He KNEW!

"Who?" I snapped, "You know who! You're lying!"

"Oh, child... i-if only you knew what was b-best for you..." He gurgled, wincing as he tried to extend his hand out to me again.

I quickly grabbed a book from a table near-by and aimed it at him. He was testing my patience, "Don't you dare! Why are you here? What do you want from me? What did you do with them?! My Aunt and Uncle, you bastard!" I screamed.

He let out a low, breathy chuckle, "Your Aunt and Uncle? Oh, dear, ch-child... How mistaken you are, h-how misguided you are..."

I was ready to throw the book at him, "What are you talking about?!" I demanded.

His wrinkled, bony, blood-covered hand then reached out for my ankle. I kicked him. "E-Elizabeth, p-please!"

I kicked him again, "Tell me! Tell me now! What did you do with them?!"

He groaned each time I threw my foot into his chest, but then a weak, sinister smile spread across his bloody lips, "...What do you w-want me to tell you, child? What is th-there to say?"

My eyes filled with warm, stinging tears, ready to burst, "Please, please... Just tell me, dammit!"

He curled his fingers into his palm, balling his hand into a tight fist, "...I can only t-tell you... the... truth..." He pounded the floor and held back a pained cry.

Songbird, who stood over Comstock, recoiled His massive wings and retracted the claws from His gloves, His eyes turning red once again. He then hovered over him, as if He was ready to attack.

The pain that cut through Comstock's face pulled at me instantly, breaking my ability to feel more angry with him. But why? I wondered. Why should I feel any sympathy for the man that possibly took my Aunt and Uncle? They could be hurt for all I knew! He was the one that should feel remorse!

But then again... I didn't know much about this man, other than what I've read about him in books.

I took a deep and steady breath, letting the muscles of my body relax and the blood in my veins cool. I slowly dropped the book to the ground, taking a step towards him.

Songbird reacted.

"E-Elizabeth! NO!" Comstock screamed. Songbird pushed me back as forcefully as He could, wailing and making the entire room shake with great intensity. The mammoth bird then drew back His arm, His claws exposed.

He was going to kill him.

"No! Please! Don't hurt him!" I cried and stood in between them, my hands outstretched protectively, "Stop it! Please!" He tired to push me away again, but I punched the knuckles of His glove, resisting His strength.

He shrieked and I yelled louder, "STOP IT! NOW! He's not hurting you! He's not hurting me!" Then He finally stopped, pulling back from me, in shame.

I felt a tugging at my skirt, pulling me down. I turned around and saw Comstock reaching out for me, "E-Elizabeth... Please, f-forgive me..." I took his hand.

A tear then ran down from my eye. I moved my hand to his cheek and rested my palm against his face, feeling the wetness and stickiness of his blood on my skin. I could feel the slowing of his pulse. He was dying.

There were many questions that I wanted to ask him at that moment, but there was only one that stood out from the sea of inquiry.

I gently stroked his face, whispering softly, "Who are you... Comstock...?"

He then smiled sadly, struggling to speak, "I-I... I've... always... c-cared... cared for y-you... Elizabeth..."

I fell silent, searching for a lie in his eyes, but there was none.

Was he... Could he be...

"W-what...?" I stammered, feeling my throat become dry and tight.

"E-Elizabeth... oh, my dearest, ch-child..." He brought a bloody hand to my chin, tilting it towards him.

I shook my head, the truth beginning to rear its ugly head, "No..."

His eyes then fluttered shut, his breathing becoming shallow and his heart beat slowing. I pressed his fingers into my skin, keeping him there for as long as possible. I knew who I was now, and I knew who he was. I now held my dying father in my arms, and I never let go until the very end.

I then felt him shiver in my grasp, "Y-yes, Elizabeth..." he murmured, "It is... finished..."

He drew his last breath.

Author's Note: This concludes chapter eight of "The Girl in the Tower." SPOILER ALERT: Yes, Elizabeth is revealed to be Comstock's daughter. I am aware that Comstock is Elizabeth's father in-game, since he is Booker from an alternative reality. However, for the sake of my readers, as well as for my own, I have made Comstock unrelated to Booker. In other words, they are not the same person, but rather two different people. This is to ensure that a relationship will indeed occur between Elizabeth and Booker later in the story. I hope that clears everything up! Thanks for reading! Please review, follow, and favorite! I appreciate your support! :)