Chapter 19 - A Family Affair (Part 1)
Is family the one you are born into...
Weiss lowered her sword with a frown.
"Do I really need to keep going? You have taken so many of hits already," after a week of brutal trial and error the heiress was tired of trying to hide the worry in her voice. Yang had spent nearly all of her time trying to figure out Raven's new technique with Weiss, and it had hardly been going well. To be truthful she was afraid that the Yang was pushing herself well past her current limits.
Yang answered back with a slight hint of pain in her words, "Taking hits first is kind of the point of this move. If I can't activate my semblance then I won't have enough strength to channel and condense my aura."
Knowing that the blond was hurt, and that she was partly to blame, made Weiss's jaw clench. If learning this technique wasn't so frustratingly important to the dragon she would have tried to stop it before they ever started.
With a long breath the stubborn blond straightened her posture and readied her stance. "But I think that's enough to get me fired up. Get ready princess, I'm ready to try again," Yang called out before throwing her arms back.
When she did golden flames tipped with scarlet erupted around her. Weiss watched on mesmerized as the blond seemed to embody the awe inspiring power of her name. It didn't seem to matter how many times the heiress saw it, the raw force of the blond's semblance always gave her chills.
A second later the dragon opened her eyes and the heiress saw great focus in her crimson stare.
"Attack me from a distance, just like last time," the brawler called out.
Weiss took a deep frustrated breath, but swung Myrtenaster towards her girlfriend. As the point of her sword came to fall in the direction of the dragon she closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. Though the gesture was only momentary; she couldn't help but peek from beneath her lids as four blue streams of dust shot out in an twisting and arcing path towards their target.
Yang tuned to the side to let the leading projectile land to her left, and an instant later her flames and glow were gone. The blond raised her right arm to block the second stream of dust, and it was then that Weiss's eyes shot open wide with panic.
She doesn't see the other one trailing behind it!
The smaller woman was forced to watch on in dilated time as Yang managed to ward off the second stream of dust, but then almost immediately took a hit to her left shoulder by the third projectile. The dragon staggered, her stance and focus shattered. Before she could recover, or Weiss could reach her, Yang took the final trailing attack to her stomach.
The last hit caused a deep groan of pain to leave the blond's lips, and she instantly sunk to her knees and started to fall forward. Thankfully Weiss was already moving and able to catch the injured dragon.
The heiress gently held the woman upright in her arms and felt her chest tighten with fear as Yang limply rested against her.
"Ow," the blond finally proclaimed as she pulled her left shoulder away from the smaller woman.
Weiss quickly peeled back the blond's jacket to look at her shoulder, and cringed at the sight. Yang's shoulder had a massive red welt on it and broken, spidered capillaries were already starting to darken the area. The heiress clenched her jaw with regret; had she put anymore power into the attack it would have broken her girlfriend's shoulder.
"Hurry up and redisperse your aura you miserable dragon," Weiss said a little too loudly.
Yang squinted in pain, "I can't yet. I lost control of my aura while I had it concentrated in my arm, so now I only have virtually nothing left." There was a pause as the blond tried to stabilize herself, "Yet another downside to this technique, besides, you know," the blond winced as she tried to stand, "taking direct hits with absolutely no aura defense if I misread the attack."
With a frown the smaller woman got under Yang's arm and helped her get to her feet. She silently walked the hurt dragon to the couch in one of the side rooms as she thought of what, if anything, she could do to alleviate the injures her girlfriend had just incurred.
After easing her down Weiss crouched and pulled up Yang's shirt to check the other place she had been hit.
Yang grinned through her pain to make a joke, "I mean, usually someone has to buy me dinner to get my shirt off, but for you princess... I think I can make an exception."
Weiss flatly ignored the tasteless comment and instead focused on inspecting the reddened area on the blond's abdomen. She was thankful she hadn't used explosive dust like Yang had so foolishly suggested, but the wound looked considerably worse than the last few times they had tried this. As gently as she could the heiress touched her girlfriend's stomach to judge its severity. Yang instantly sucked in a deep breath between her teeth and clamped shut her eyes.
The reaction confirmed exactly what the heiress had feared. Weiss looked up into unfocused lavender eyes, unable to hide her worry, "Why are you hurt so much more than before?"
After a second the blond answered with a nervous and strained smile, "Well, Raven told me that the reason that I was probably failing was because I wasn't fully committing to the technique. So this time I channeled all of my aura into a defensive point."
The heiress threw down the blond's shirt in anger, then immediately felt bad as she saw the dragon's eyes bulge in pain.
The heiress stood and pinched the bridge of her nose, "The last time you were able to keep most of your aura in tact. But now your injuries are worse and because you lost control of the technique you have virtually no aura left to heal them. Explain to me again why any of this is a good idea?"
Yang readjusted her shirt and sank further into the couch with a sullen frown.
The silence that followed spoke even louder than the scowl that the blond wore. Weiss knew that look, it was the same one that she would always see when the dragon had failed at one of her physical therapy exercises and was thinking about giving up.
With a heavy sigh the smaller woman left the room, "I'll be right back, so don't try to go anywhere you dolt."
As quickly as she could the heiress grabbed the med kit out of the weapon's room and returned. With Yang around she had wisely insisted that Bunchworth upgraded the gym with a larger than normal first aid supply.
Upon returning, Weiss dropped the small duffle bag down near the blond's feet and started to rummage through it. She found an instant cold pack and shook it after braking the interior bag. When she placed it on the blond's shoulder Yang first winced from the cold then sagged in relief.
The heiress grabbed an elastic bandage and then with some grumbling and wincing from her patient secured the pack enough that it would hold. After successfully pinning the bandage around Yang shoulder Weiss set about to do the same to the already yellowing bruise on her girlfriend's torso.
With only a minor argument she managed to get the obstinate blond to swallow some painkillers that would also help with inflammation. After that Weiss felt marginally less stressed. She looked down at the still brooding dragon, let out a sigh, and rolled her eyes.
The heiress lifted Yang's right arm and gently eased in next to the woman's uninjured side. She waited a moment before letting out a dramatic sigh, "I suppose this just means I will have to soak up my time with you this way while you heal." Weiss looked up at the dragon with a resigned smirk of encouragement, "Though I don't expect that I will be able to for that long. I know you are far too stubborn to not figure out this absurd skill eventually, despite my numerous reservations."
Yang hugged Weiss closer and rested her cheek against the heiress's head. She let out a quiet laugh, "Seems like I can always count on my princess to know when to cheer me up."
The smaller woman took in a deep breath and held it as she tried to let her agitation at the pet name escape her for the umptinth time.
Unfortunately the movement didn't go unnoticed, and Yang lifted her head to inquire, "What's the matter?"
At least five different things ran through Weiss's head as she tried to figure out how to respond. The strongest of which was to simply make up an excuse to get out of the conversation, but then the smaller woman realized just how long she had let Yang use the irritating nickname without telling her the truth. And though it was silly, the fact that Yang had called her 'my princess' instead of just 'princess,' made Weiss feel more confident that she could truthfully answer without negative consequence.
The heiress let the tension in her shoulders go as she worked up the courage to answer, "I know you use it as a term of affection, but I really hate that name."
Pulling back a little Yang looked down at Weiss and asked with genuine confusion, "Why?"
"Well," the smaller woman answered with a frown as she separated from the blond further, "people always use it as a way to delegitimize me or put me down. My whole life the name 'princess' has been utilized as a way to refer to me as impetuous or weak." The heiress paused and looked up at Yang, "and honestly you are the absolute last person I want to see me that way."
Her words were met with a surprised look from the blond, "Wow, that is not at all what I think when I use it." A small grin reached Yang's lips, "I mean sure, I used to say it sometimes because I knew it got under your skin, but that's totally the opposite of why I call you princess now."
The smaller woman looked up at Yang with a silent and suspicious gaze.
Yang rolled her eyes before she continued, "The reason I call you princess... is because I see you as leader. I've always thought of a princess as someone who is strong, wise, and tries to appear noble and perfect so that she can inspire all those around to follow her." The dragon smiled down at her, "I think that fits you perfectly."
Weiss just stared at her girlfriend, completely at a lose for to how to respond. She couldn't believe that Yang really saw or even thought of her that way.
The blond grimaced as she readjusted the ice pack on her torso, "I know other people might use that name as an insult, but it's because they are being misogynistic idiots. As ridiculous as it is some people are simply incapable of seeing a female as anything but weak," the dragon scowled. "But people who think that also cling to pointless gender norms too." The injured woman let out a scoffing laugh, "Do you know how many guys have asked me where my boyfriend bought his bike or tried to educate me on what type of ammo to buy for Ember Celica?"
The brawler shrugged, but her eyes quickly widened as she felt the consequences of the gesture. Speaking through her pain she continued, "There will never be a shortage of jerks who try to mark you as less because of how you look or who they think you are, but that doesn't mean you should ever believe them. Don't let someone else define what that word, or anything else, means to you. Instead, make it stand for what you want." Yang looked into her eyes with a smile, "But if you don't want me to call you princess any more I won't."
A mischievous look quickly tinted the dragon's lilac eyes as she continued, "I can easily come up with another pet name. What about Snow Queen, or Your Royal Weissness, or…" the blond drew out the last word.
Weiss sighed with a smile and shook her head, "I like what you said, so let's just stick with princess."
"Good," Yang looked deep into her eyes, "because I meant what I said. Which is why I'll be just be the first person that decides to follow you."
The heiress felt her breath catch at the blond's words. Every time Weiss thought she couldn't fall more in love with her, Yang somehow managed to find a way. Heart pounding the smaller woman leaned her head up as she gently pulled the Yang down to towards her.
Their lips met for a long second.
And then Weiss's scroll went off. Ruefully, the heiress pulled away. That particular ring tone was specifically designated to Glenn, and he knew her schedule better than she did. He wouldn't interrupt her during training unless it was unquestionably urgent.
As she pulled out her device and she gave Yang an apologetic look.
The dragon simply smiled, "Go take care of business, princess."
Weiss let a small smirk touch her lips before she stood. She took a moment to straighten herself and took in a frustrated breath as she answered the call, "I take it this is rather important?"
Glenn responded, "Quite." He paused for a moment, but then continued in a serious tone, "The target is finally lucid and the estate is clear."
The pit of Weiss's stomach fell out, but she managed to reply, "Understood."
With that she shut her scroll and nervously looked back at Yang.
The blond raised a worried eyebrow, "What's going on?"
The heiress struggled to pull herself back together and responded, "It's time… I have to go speak with my mother."
No matter how many times she entered the family mansion it always made Weiss feel the same way.
The pristine marble lined walls and icy blue accents always reminded her of how cold and perfect she was expected to be, the statues of grimm warned her that this was not a place to let one's guard down, and the long empty stretching corridors and rooms mirrored the loneliness that she had always known.
Traversing the lengthy hallways that led to the garden left the heiress with ample time to reflect on how much she had grown to avoided coming back every night. After living at Beacon and reconnecting with Yang the estate felt like anything but a place to call home. If it wouldn't have cast obvious suspicion Weiss would have prefered to resided at her personal facility. Despite how spartan the gym was it was substantially more welcoming than their mansion.
Guilt weighed on the heiress for having such thoughts. Those types of feelings always made her think about how terrible a person she must be to hold so little love for her family. Though she could recall times that were happy, such memories were far outnumbered and overshadowed by the harsh and lonely countenances that filled her mind and heart. It shamed her that it had been so easy and freeing to leave the estate and her family behind, because what kind of person could so easily abandon those that are supposed to be important to them. A deep frown marred her face to matched the weariness in her heart.
"Ah Miss Schnee," Klein warmly called out from behind her, "how nice to see you!"
His greeting quickly broke the trance she had been in and she turned to look at their butler and take in her surroundings. Klein smiled warmly at her as he held a tray with a single rocks glass upon it. Weiss eyed the large spherical cube of ice and clear liquid that surrounded it. She then looked the short distance that remained to study the ornate doors that lead to the estate's garden.
"How many has she had this morning," Weiss asked in a low quiet tone.
The family caretaker's expression tightened, "It has been a slow morning for her, this will only be her third of the day, Miss."
The heiress let out a deep sigh as she thought of the threshold she would soon have to pass through. She refocused as she address the man that had raised her, "Would you be so kind as to bring us coffee instead?" She paused before adding with emphasis, "I need to speak to mother alone."
Klein's brow raised, but then his eyes changed to red and he nodded, "Understood miss, I will make sure that the rest of the staff is kept… out of the way."
With that he turned and strode back down the long hall, and Weiss was left to approach the garden alone. Upon reaching the entryway her hand froze as she reached for the handle, and she actively had to forced herself to proceed.
Bright light and warm air washed over her as she moved the heavy door that sealed the mansion's only enclosed garden. When her eyes adjusted she took in the well managed greenery that filled the enormous greenhouse and lined its winding paths. A good distance down one of those walkways was a pavilion that overlooked a small pond, and within sat what should have been the matriarch of her family.
Weiss watched her mother with sad, regretful understanding. The woman blankly gazed at the water and was facing such that she didn't see her daughter enter, not that Weiss thought that would have made much of a difference.
The heiress closed her eyes and took a deep breath, so much rode on what she could manage next. Weiss quite literally could not afford to fail.
Just as she had been taught all her life Weiss put on the visage of a Schnee and walked confidently towards her mother, hoping against all odds that this wouldn't go as badly as all the times she had scripted the conversation in her head.
Even as Weiss approached the heiress's presence did not disturb the clouded stare that the her mother wore. Though it was still far more lucid than she remembered the woman being the day her father had brought her back from Beacon.
As the younger Schnee stepped onto the pavilion she waited before speaking, "Good morning mother. If it doesn't trouble you, I was wondering if I might sit with you?"
All the heiress received in response was a slight narrowing of her mother's eyes. Whether that was acknowledgment or not Weiss took it as such and sat at the seat across from the distant woman.
Painfully awkward silence passed as the younger woman tried to study her mother and ascertain the best way to broach conversation.
"The garden seems to be doing quite well this year," Weiss stated. The heiress waited for a response, but her mother did not look in her direction or even acknowledge that she heard her daughter's words.
Weiss let out a soundless breath and racked her brain as to what to she might try next; it wasn't like Weiss had ever been good at talking to her. In fact, the few memories she had of her mother being happy had all been before her grandfather passed. Which similarly, were some of the only pleasant times the heiress could recall for herself.
The thought of her grandfather had given her an idea though. "I know we have not spoken in a while," Weiss started again, "but I have been heading up the research and development branch of the company in recent months. One of the scientist has proposed some exciting dust combinations that have proven stable in laboratory settings." Weiss paused as she observed her mother, "I think grandfather would have loved talking with her about her findings."
At his mention the heiress saw the smallest light ignite behind her mother's eyes.
Betting on that spark she continued, "When I read her reports it often reminds me of when grandfather would come home from an expedition and teach Winter and me about dust."
The heiress waited hopefully for her mother to respond, but clenched her jaw when the comment failed to grab her mother's attention. Instead the the woman turned her head further away from Weiss and continued to gaze out at the water.
But the heiress wasn't ready to give up of the line of conversation quite yet, "Though, if my memory serves me Winter was always far more interested in seeing his latest summon or glyph technique."
She watched as her mother slowly turned and their eyes met. The older Schnee woman, even in her current state, had keenly piercing eyes. Weiss knew better than to flinch or foretell her intention on her face, instead she capitalized on her momentum.
"He was so excited the first time he saw her activate a glyph," the heiress let the smallest smile touch her lips. "I am just sorry that he couldn't also see me grow to master the family semblance." Weiss straightened her visage, "I had always hoped to see that same pride in his eyes one day," the heiress paused, "but it seems that now the only way I can honor him is through the company."
Just as was expected her mother's expression stayed in its normal pensive frown, but Weiss could detect dread from her mother as it wrinkle the woman's brow. Mentioning taking a hand in the company had troubled her mother, and fear was not the feeling Weiss wanted to invoke. She needed to bring pride and courage back to the woman, not remind her of the the placid and complicit state her husband constantly tried to force upon her.
Before she could decide on how to navigate their 'exchange' further Klein quietly walked up the path to their position with a tray full of coffee and little things to eat.
As their butler set up the cups and started to pour Weiss caught her mother eying him suspiciously as she silently tapped her finger on her lap.
"I thought that we might have coffee like we used to," the heiress tried to aleigh the woman's concerns, "You know, Winter and I still occasionally make time to do so now that I am back in Atlas."
The mention of her sister's name lit a complicated mix of emotions in her mother's eyes, and gave Weiss confidence that she had happened upon the way forward. Her mother crossed her legs and looked away as Klein finished setting out the rest of the assorted accompaniments, and the heiress took that opportunity to make a final request of him.
Before he could turn and leave Weiss pulled on the cuff of his jacket and leaned in to utter in a barely audible whisper, "I need you to please bring me the document that is in my room. It is within the fourth book from the left on the bottom of my favorite bookshelf."
Klein looked at her for a moment, but then after checking that the elder Schnee was still paying them no mind winked at Weiss.
Absolute silence passed between them as Weiss patiently waited for the sound of the garden door closing, as soon as it did the heiress turned her attention back to their strained discussion. Weiss evaluated the ignored cup of coffee in front of her mother and used it as a conversation starter, "Please don't be cross with Klein for not bringing you what you told him to, I asked him to serve us coffee instead."
Her mother regretfully did not respond.
Taking a deep rueful breath Weiss prepared herself for the uncouth words she was about to let loose to finally get the woman's attention, "My apologies, I didn't realize that stopping you from sinking your emotions in the bottom of glass, due to the sorry state of our family and what has become of grandfather's company, would leave you in such an unsociable mood."
Scandalized blue eyes whipped around to finally meet Weiss.
"So you are lucid enough to understand me," the heiress continued to prod. "Well then, let me be direct. I know you hate what father has turned the company into. I want to start to fix it."
Pity shone in her mother's eyes and the woman shook her head, "I learned long ago that going against your father is always a mistake that carries consequences." Her tone dropped she looked away her fists clenched, "You would do well to learn that lesson quickly."
Weiss felt a little disheartened at her mother's words, but then quickly realized something of importance.
"I might almost be tempted to do so, but the fact that father still occasionally summons you to his office to rebuke you seems to indicate that you have not, in fact, taken your own advice," the heiress countered.
She knew that deep down the icy resolve and honor of a Schnee still laid within her mother's heart.
"When I was brought back to Atlas I was not in a very positive place, but one day while we were having coffee Winter told me something that changed that." Looking into her mother's eyes she continued, "She relayed to me what grandfather had told her after she first learned to summon. He said that it is was not a semblance or money that made our family, instead it was strength of character and a willingness to fight for the future that made one a Schnee. Since the day she recounted his words I have worked tirelessly to find a way to honor what our family once stood for, just as Winter once did."
A great sadness mixed with fear swept across her mother's face, and Weiss reached out to grab the woman's hand. The gesture was against social etiquette, but frankly the heiress didn't care, "I know that you are afraid that if I go against father you will lose another daughter, but I won't make the same mistakes."
Her mother looked away with sorrowful tear laden eyes, and Weiss squeezed the woman's hand.
"I know that I can succeed, because I'm not doing this on my own like she tried to. I am smart enough to know that confronting father directly and without access to all the resources that could be at my disposal is foolish." Weiss let go of her mother's hand and turned to see that Kline silently waited near the entrance of the garden. She nodded and he started to approach them.
"Father has always used his influence, intimidation, and his hold on the family fortune over our heads, but…" Weiss took the offered document from Klein and unfolded it, "but unbeknownst to him the latter is the only tool he still hold against me. And you have the power to change that." Taking a breath the heiress continued, "He does not hold sole power over our fortune, because you as a true Schnee still hold signatory power all matters involving the family estate."
Weiss looked down at the bank document that would give her full control of her inheritance now instead of when she was to marry or turn thirty, and hardened her heart to continue, "I know that grandfather was not perfect, and that a grave mistake was made by entrusting the company and our family to father. But that doesn't mean that we have to live forever with those mistakes or that we can only fight in futilely against him." The heiress pointed to the document, "This is how you can do something that will have a real impact. Help me, just like Winter helps me now, to restore honor back to our name."
Her mother looked Weiss in the eye with a fiercely appraising gaze, and the heiress knew if she were to show any weakness or hesitation at that moment then she would fail her mother's test. She put all the confidence and power that she had worked to gain into her visage as she met her mother's hard blue stare.
With a heavy sigh the matriarch of their family broke their eye contact and picked up the pen that Klein had left on the table for her. Despite the relief that she should have felt at ascertaining such a victory, Weiss felt guilt slightly surpass her happiness. She knew just as her mother must, that Jacques would find out eventually that her mother had went against him.
But when the woman looked up from signing and initialling the document she wore a proud but almost sad visage, "You always did have 'his' eyes."
Weiss went to pick up the document and her mother laid a hand over top of her own, "Be careful Weiss, I do not wish to lose another daughter."
A plethora of emotions swept over the heiress as she left her mother and the garden behind. She held tight to the document in her hand, it was a key piece that she had desperately needed to move forward. But the toll to gain it had cost her. Weiss clenched her jaw, she feared what both success and failure would mean, and worried that her mother might not be able to survive or forgive her for either.
A part of her felt as if she had just told her mother that her love needed to be bought, and it shamed her. It was was only compounded by the regretted she could not keep at bay for what she would, and most worryingly, might be forced to do to move the family name forward. But sitting by and doing nothing was no longer an option and would have far worse an impact.
Weiss pulled out her scroll and started to message her driver as she carefully descended the staircase of the main foyer. She wanted to leave as soon as possible, but had instructed Fredric to wait away from the mansion's entrance, in an attempt to not draw attention to her presence. The moment she hit send a smarmy voice broke her out of her thoughts.
"Could that be my dear elusive sister?" Whitley called out from the large double doors that lead outside.
Irritation immediately pulled at Weiss's face upon hearing her brother's voice. "Don't worry yourself Whitley, I was just leaving," she answered curtly.
As her foot hit the last stair she couldn't help but notice how her brother eyed the folded document in her hand. Weiss calmed her nerves like she had been trained; she knew that there was no way for him to ascertain its contents. So as long as she stayed cool and collected he would know nothing of the nature of her visit.
"How unusual to see you during the day," he attempted to goad her, "I was starting to think that you had become a figment of my imagination or a creature of the night."
The heiress kept her face composed and proceeded to walk past him, which made his visage quickly turn to undisciplined annoyance at being ignored.
"How very like the other women of this family you are," he chided, "so uncaring and abandoning."
The comment caused Weiss to stop in her tracks. He had finally managed to hit her in the one place that she was the weakest. Taking a moment to push down her guilt and most of her anger she turned to face him with narrowed eyes, "If you are feeling so neglected then perhaps you shouldn't have left father's side. Just think of what father will have to endure without you there to tag along and smile at his jokes." Her tone dropped as she felt the envious venom pass her lips, "However will the company survive? Your contributions and hard work are an inspiration."
Whitley's face flushed with anger, but before he spoke he grounded himself, "It seems that 'whatever' has been keeping you from home has also loosened your tongue." His eyes narrowed as he looked for her to respond to his probing suspicion.
If it wouldn't have sent the wrong signal she would have laughed at his juvenile attempts to read her. With a blank face she replied, "Coming home late is simply the result of fulfilling my responsibilities to the company. I know such a thing is foreign to you, but businesses are not run on conversation alone." Weiss raised a condescending brow, "One must occasionally work to get things done."
Her brother openly frowned, "I would have taken that excuse just a couple of weeks ago, but now that you've rid yourself of that incompetent fool and had Ironwood install a compliant lackey you should have plenty of time on your hands."
Weiss quickly calculated an appropriate counter that would deprive him of information and force his hand further, "I'm afraid you will have to be more specific; running an entire department," she emphasized, "means that I must deal with that sort of situation nearly daily."
The youngest Schnee rolled his eyes, "Don't play coy dear sister, it hardly suits you." Whitley straightened and folded his arms behind his back with a small smirk. Weiss knew that tell, he thought he finally had something that would make her talk, "I know that you somehow managed to force Reeves out, and we both know why he was there."
Instead of giving him what he wanted Weiss responded with a modicum of the truth, "If I had anything to do with the Sergeant's sudden and unexplained resignation then why would I hide it?" She looked at him with an icy glare, "Especially since you seem to be implying that father wanted him at the department specifically to depose me." Weiss paused to let her brother process what she had just said, "If both were truly the case, then wouldn't I want father to see my competence in removing an obstacle? I would think that it would further emphasise my experience and ability to run the company."
Whitley glared at her, "You and I both know that you had a hand in it, even if father didn't believe me when I told him you were behind Reeves's dismissal. He claimed that even if you were capable of taking out someone so well connected, that you would have done so quickly instead of suffering his presence for so long." Her brother seethed at her, "Whether father believes it or not, I know you are up to something just like our traitorous sister was. But you will fail just like she did, and then I will get what is rightly owed to me."
His words burned her in a way that he never would have guessed, and they wiped the anger from her mind.
Weiss looked at her brother with pity and sadness in her eyes, "I'm sorry that I left you here alone, and that I wasn't strong enough to stop you from becoming like this. Despite your jealousy or anger towards me, I do hope that one day you can find your own path instead of the one that was written for you."
With that she turned and walked for the exit. As her hand pulled the heavy door open she heard her brother whisper to himself, "If you won't concede to fall like you should, then maybe you need a push."
Weiss paused and for an instant thought about reacting, but guilt and experience made her think better of it. A reaction was what Whitley wanted; it was his only recourse. He had no real power or influence of his own and he didn't have the gall to try and physically intimidate her like father.
As she walked down the front steps, to her car and the driver that waited for her, she felt a heaviness in her heart. She had assuredly failed him as an older sister, even still his petty cruelty and immaturity disappointed her. He was so different from a true Schnee.
The heiress looked back and up at the cold and pristine architecture of their family 'home,' and let out a long sigh before finally entering the vehicle.
Perhaps it is vain to think that there was anything I could have done to prevent his true nature from shining through.
Authors Notes:
This was the hardest chapter I have ever had to get through. Scene two gave me the worst case of writers block/ writing fatigue, because writing a character that you have virtually no background on is a nightmare! But I do hope that you enjoyed a more detailed look into the Schnee family dynamics and my take on it. Fingers crossed next chapter should be out in the normal two week time period, shorter if I can keep motivated. Especially since I definitely have plans for the next part : J
Sorry for the long wait two chapters in a row, I promise to do my best to not make this into a pattern.