Prompt: [RWBY]
Vampiric Jaundice
As requested by FanFiction user Spaceyboyo.
Jaune's family is slaughtered by vampires and he vows to wipe them off of Remnant. Another girl is suffering as well and they both have to survive the cruel reality of life together or die in vain.
The moonlight streamed down through the curtains of fog that hung heavy across the land, enveloping the mortal world in a thick white cloud that threatened the sense of sight itself.
The wheels of a carriage creaked and cracked as the horses driving the compartment ever forward into the night passed over gnarled roots and fresh puddles of mud. The distant sound of a baying pack of wolves brought a chill to the air that the cold couldn't.
Inside the cart, Jaune felt a sense of unease. For how long he had been doing this, unease was a feeling that he had become intimate with long ago. Even with Ruby at his side, he felt the icy blade of fear stab at his spine, twisting painfully to make his legs useless.
His joints cracked, despite his age. The pallid color of his countenance spoke of a gravedigger's profession, always under the gentle light of night, never under the warmth of the sun.
"Your suitcase is quite unique," spoke a gentleman in the seat across from him, smiling awkwardly as if he were trying to make small talk if only for the sake of making the journey less tense for all of them. "I've never seen that insignia before, are you from out of country?"
Jaune stared at the man before feigning a smile, clearing his throat before responding. "Indeed, though not so far as you would expect. Certainly, your accent is not new to me, and the only real difference I can tell is in government."
"And in cuisine," spoke Ruby beside him, a smile gracing her own fair lips. "Our last meal was a rather tasteless bit of meat, with only a bit of garlic to add any flavor. It was nearly too tough to cut through, as well."
Jaune's eyes sparkled humorously, but he hid it behind stoicism quite effectively. "Indeed," he said, "wherever we go, food is not like it is back home."
The gentleman toyed with the top button of his vest, looking out the small window beside him. The breeze filtered in and blew some of his finely styled hair up, giving him the appearance of elegance.
He appeared to be a man of considerable wealth, if his expensive outfit was anything to go by. And his handsome features tied the suit together flawlessly, along with a golden pocket watch in his suit pocket. The chain glittered briefly as the moonlight poked its way through to the inside of the cabin.
"Well, I can attest to that. I myself am not originally from here, I've been here for quite a few years, however," the man responded, fixing his collar, and finally looking to Ruby, his facial features pained as he gazed upon the cross hanging from her neck. "A-are you two on business here from the church? Such a beautiful cross... made of... silver, you must be held in high regards by those in power."
"The church recognizes us, but we are not officials," Ruby said, still smiling. Her tone was of the sweetest honey, it was almost unnerving to the man.
"When you're in our line of work, you tend to be in the favor of a higher power," Jaune said, his own smile still gracing the cabin.
The man shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the hard wood creaking underneath him. A smell finally made itself known to him, foul and horrifyingly intense. And it was coming from the damned briefcase. He was going to be sick.
"What's the matter? Why, you look deathly ill," Jaune said, still smiling, though now ever wider.
"It's nothing, just a little bit of motion sickness, that's all..." the man said, waving everything off.
"That's funny, I have motion sickness. And what you seem to be going through," there was a small click, and the sound of a wooden contraption being released of tension as a crossbow bolt flew from under Jaune's coat straight to the heart of the man, "is not it."
The man gave a hiss, his entire body going stiff in his seat as he clutched at the bolt with an almost thankful expression. In almost an instant the cabin was filled with the stench of decay and death as his fresh cadaver rotted straight to the bone, a cloud of flies and a cloud of purple flying out the window.
"If only he hadn't been so obvious," Ruby said, almost sorrowfully. She relaxed, her smile turning to a straightened grimace. "He smelled of dried blood, I don't think I've ever seen one so inept at hiding their curse."
Jaune sunk back into his seat, bringing his crossbow up to eye-level. The bolt had struck true, as it always did. They averted another catastrophe, though narrowly. He didn't want to strike, but they were kind of forcing his hand. It was either them or him, and if Jaune had it his way it would never be Ruby. Even if he himself had to fall.
Outside of the cabin, at the front of the carriage, the driver held onto his cross tightly, muttering a psalm to himself as the horses fretted amongst themselves softly, carrying on through the mist.
While not exactly what was requested, I believed that this was suitable. That being said, I would like to point out that I did not write this myself, and it goes to the co-writer I have for Summer Rose. Which is why this prompt came out when it had. They felt inspired by the prompt and requested to handle it on their own as well as try and make a series off of it that I will be co-writing with them. There is already more written for this prompt, but this was the prompted section given to me. More information will be given in time.