Cardin Winchester was dead.

I mean, it wasn't as though Weiss was particularly put out by the information, but still. He was dead. Someone had died. One minute he was there, alive enough to torture Blake for kicks, and the next, he's just a collection of flesh and bones.

I wished he would die. Blake had confessed to Weiss one night, waking up from a painful nightmare. Everyday, I prayed he would just drop dead. Blake snuggled further into Weiss arms. Does that make me a bad person?

Weiss wondered what this information would do to Blake. Maybe it would be the last remnant of the past Blake needed to kick her demons once and for all. Maybe, Weiss should tell her before Blake finds out from someone else.

But Cardin wasn't just dead, he had been murdered.

Rather brutally too, it seemed. He had bruises circling his wrists and scrapes on his knees which suggested he had be restrained and forced to kneel. After that, he was beaten mercilessly. Cardin's eyes were swollen shut and his lips were cut three times over. The boy had broken ribs battered feet. There were clean cuts too — the kind that were deliberate and slow. The murderer had held him down to slowly drag the blade into his skin, prolonging the sting, highlighting the pain.

The most disturbing part though were the three lacerations over his torso. Cardin had been positioned in a kneeling position against the wall of the living room of his own home. The other wounds had been brutal but passionate. They were made in the fury of the moment. The cuts that ran the entire length of his chest, however, were practiced and planned. The triple slash marks were cut that way precisely to resemble bloody claw marks. The report suggested that Cardin had been left like that to bleed to his death.

The claw marks were a message — a warning, or perhaps more accurately…

A threat.

Weiss closed her eyes trying to drown out the image.

Even if she didn't like Cardin, Weiss wouldn't wish this fate upon anyone.

Here, Neptune had said, passing a wrinkled and bloodied piece of paper to Weiss. This was found at the scene.

Weiss had taken the note tentatively. Unfurling its edges slowly.

We thank you for your courteous invitation to the next council meeting; we would love to discuss a harmonious future in which Faunus and humankind can stand together against darker forces. Weiss thought that sounded rather menacing, to say the least.

Oh joy.

A message from the White Fang, Neptune continued. That's what they are calling themselves.

Weiss then reread the entire message again in her mind, committing the words to memory. With a sigh, she folded the page. I suppose the rest of the council has already heard about this?

Yes, there's an emergency meeting tonight.

What impeccable timing, Weiss had muttered. Where's this meeting taking place exactly? Weiss had asked aloud.

Here, apparently. Neptune shrugged nervously.

Not happening, Weiss dismissed immediately.

Weiss, we can't exactly tell them no. It's an emergency meeting! Our meeting room's the only one beside's Lord Winchester's that's large enough. And you can't possibly believe that Lord Winchester's going to let us in his home with what happened to his son…

Neptune, are you kidding me? Weiss snapped at him. If we put a bunch of bigots who are in panic mode near Blake, a Faunus, I won't be able to protect her.

It's fine, we'll just hide Blake away for a bit. She'll understand. Neptune reasoned.

It's not going to be 'for a bit'. It's going to be for hours, days even! This is a freaking emergency meeting! Even in regular meetings we never get anything done! I am not locking Blake in a room by herself for an indefinite amount of time, ever. Weiss shot back.

This isn't the time to be playing princess Weiss, you know Blake will understand.

Not happening. Weiss dismissed again. Go tell the Lords that we're meeting outside or something. Maybe Pyrrha's house is big enough.

Weiss, be reasonable. Would you? Neptune tried again. Look, we can just ask Yang to keep her company! She's back and has nothing to do after all.

Weiss' heart sped up at the idea of Yang and Blake alone in a room for an extended period of time. Heck, they were already alone in the dining room; Weiss needed to get back there, immediately. Yang was probably already well on her way of charming Blake into her bed. No, not happening. Weiss declared stubbornly.

Weiss, Neptune sighed, putting his hands up in a sign of defeat. I'm going to stop arguing with you now.

Good.

Because, Neptune continued, I know you are a reasonable person. You always think with your head and perform the most logical action. I know you won't let personal issues cloud your judgement on this matter.

At that, Neptune went off on his way, presumedly to make phone calls or another.

That left Weiss standing in front of the door to the dinning hall, debating over exactly what she was going to tell Blake.

Weiss slowly opened the door and stepped into the room.

The sound of laughter being abruptly cut off found its way to Weiss' ears as two pairs of eyes turned to look at Weiss expectantly, the remnant of a shared smile left behind on their lips.

God, this was why Weiss really didn't want to do this.

Blake got up from her chair and padded over to Weiss. "Weiss?" she asked with anticipation.

Weiss shot a look at Yang, then put her arm behind Blake's neck to pull the Faunus, her girlfriend, down for a kiss. When she pulled back, Blake had a glassy look in her eyes.

"I'm going to be a bit busy the next few days," Weiss explained quietly.

"Okay?" Blake responded, her fingers finding Weiss and intertwining naturally.

"And I, well, I kinda want you to stay out of sight for a bit," as soon as Weiss said the words, she knew she had said them wrong. Blake's face fell and her ears dropped.

"Oh."

"It's just that, well, just," Weiss stuttered. Finally, she just decided to say it. "Cardin is dead."

Blake's eyes widened and Weiss could feel the girl shaking, but otherwise, there were no other indicators that Blake was anything but ordinary. "Okay?"

"It's nothing really to worry about, just the council is going a bit mental, so I need to spend the next few days calming them down."

"Okay."

"And, it seems, that the council has rudely invited themselves over here. You know that a lot of the council members aren't exactly partial to Faunus."

"Okay."

"So I thought that it might be better if you just stocked up on books and stayed somewhere quiet for a bit, until this all dies down?" Weiss asked, her fingers fondling Blake's and her eyes the definition of apology.

"Okay."

"Really? You're okay with this?"

Blake nodded.

Weiss had a feeling Blake wasn't being entirely honest, but before she could confront the Faunus, Yang spoke up.

"Don't you worry about her, Weiss-y," Yang piped in, feeling slightly sickly at the sight of those two. "I'll keep her entertained."

Weiss shot Yang a glare. "You are so lucky that I don't have time to deal with you right now," Weiss snapped, leaving Blake for a moment to march up to Yang. "If you so much as look at her for too long, I will skin you alive." Weiss threatened under her breath, her hands at Yang's throat.

"Calm down sis, I've got your back," Yang winked, "When have I ever done you wrong?"

Weiss let her go. "There are too many times to name."

"When do I need to get out of your way?" Blake asked, her ears still folded over.

Weiss glanced at her watch just as the doorbell sounded through the mansion. Weiss sighed.

"Right now, it seems."