This is a two part chapter, done because I thought it had more dramatic effect to separate them. Enjoy, please, and this is where things begin to pick up in case you were wondering.
"Can we have a lesson today?"
Ruby blinked sleepily, sitting up in bed. The princess was standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, looking a mix of awkward and desperate and hopeful all at the same time.
"Isn't your dad coming?" Ruby asked, yawning. "I thought you were gonna see him."
Weiss looked pained, a frown flickering across her brow. "Yes... But..."
Ruby sighed, and swiveled her legs off the bed. "Fine. But you owe me big for this..." She grumbled, heading for her dresser to get on some real clothes.
Weiss blushed furiously as Ruby rummaged around in her dresser. Her teacher... had slept in her underwear, which didn't exactly cover... anything. Well, some things, but not near enough for Weiss's liking. She couldn't just strut around like that! It wasn't decent!
Though Ruby had really great legs...
Focus, Weiss. Focus.
Ruby slipped on a simple shirt and loose drawstring pants, her usual cloak secured on her shoulders. She stretched and asked "So, where to?"
"I don't care just... please not here."
"Fair enough."
An hour later, they were wandering the castle forests, pretending to be reviewing poisonous organisms inhabiting Vale. Really, they both knew Weiss was hiding from her father, but Ruby politely didn't mention it and Weiss certainly wasn't about to.
By an hour and a half, Ruby started feeling a bit uncomfortable. Her employer was waiting for his daughter and she was aiding and abetting the princess's daddy issues, not something she wanted to be doing.
"Hey Weiss?" Ruby asked, shifting a little nervously as she walked.
"Deadly nightshade... Poison ivy... Hyacinth..." Weiss went on listing, pretending not to hear.
"Weiss!" Ruby repeated.
"What! What is so important!" Weiss snapped, turning angrily on the forest floor.
"We really should head back. It's been a while, and I think I've given you enough time."
"I..." Weiss looked down at her thick soled white hiking boots, holding one arm behind her back. She didn't make any indication she was going to continue talking. She knew Ruby had good reason to want to head back... but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"Look, Weiss, I know you don't wanna talk to him, but you really just need to get it over with. You'll have to sooner or later, and it just makes it worse if you wait. Okay?"
"I suppose. We can head back now." And with that, Weiss turned on her heel and started stalking back for the castle, scowling down at her shoes.
Ruby sighed, and with a faint smile followed the princess.
They reached the castle, and Ruby started feeling more and more uncomfortable. It was... quiet. The normally active castle, bustling with easily a thousand staff, was just empty.
And silent as the grave.
"Weiss, this isn't right." Ruby said, upping the pace as they went through the courtyard.
"My father always wishes to make an announcement when he arrives. This is no different. Now calm down." Weiss snapped, irritated. She pushed open a door inside and strode along the marble passage to the throne room, Ruby trailing behind her.
Ruby kept her concern to herself as they hurried along the passage. But, as they went, a smell hit Ruby's nose. It was coppery, sickly sweet, and powerful. Like a butcher's shop...
Like blood. Lots and lots of blood.
It hit Weiss at the same time, and the two shared one, panicked expression before breaking into a run, hitting a side door into the grand hall at a dead sprint. Ruby fumbled with the handle, something sticking to her shoes, but she couldn't worry about that she had to get in because something was wrong -
The silence was finally shattered as Ruby swung open the door, the squeal of hinges echoing like a scream.
The room was filled with bodies. Bodies and blood. The floor was sticky with it, wet and slippery and the smell was so horribly strong, and the room so littered with corpses.
Atop his throne, surrounded by his personal guard, King Schnee sat in the middle of the corpses of everyone in the castle. His guard's form fitting white uniforms were spattered with red, though the king's crisp white suit still remained free of stains.
"Hello, daughter. I've been wondering where you gallivanted off to." He said, a cruel smile playing about his hard, sharp features. "All the pieces are in place..."
All of a sudden he stood, and turned, beginning to stride for the royal chambers. Almost distractedly, he raised one hand, signalling his men to fire, the gesture like he was brushing away an insect.
A hundred guns burst into echoing life, a hail of bullets flying for Weiss and Ruby, both frozen in one of the hall's great doors.
There's a meteor shower tonight. Hopefully the second chapter will be up after that.
Note - If you can't leave a review, it may be because you already left one for a previous version, PM me if you really need to leave a comment, or just tell me what you thought of chapter 5 when it's out. Thanks!
