August 13th
Government Offices Of The Atlesian Council
Department Of News Media Broadcasting
National Atlesian Broadcasting Service
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
11:47 PM
Even without Morell under her thumb, and as important as the woman's intellect was to her but inaccessible because she had taken refuge in the council, Cinder had managed to plant the virus into the Atlesian Council's system from her scroll. Her Red Queen virus disarmed the security system almost immediately, to her relief, but she screamed shrilly as a bright light shined in her face while she walked into the Department Of News Media Broadcasting. As soon as the dark spots were fading from her vision, she felt a pair of metal handcuffs wrap around her wrists followed by a leather cuff on one of wrists though she felt so ill in the moment that she couldn't tell which one. When she was able to see who was there, she let out a sigh of irritation upon seeing Emmett Schnee - her 'brother' - with his arm tightly around General Ciel. The woman who had blown her eyes was Kiara Davis who was standing next to General Ironwood and Leanne Tanner, whose arms were crossed. And just behind the group was the slight figure of Elizabeth Morell who was given a look of gratitude and sympathy by Davis while Tanner had her assistant, who had cuffed Cinder in the first place, be the one to ensure that the former Schnee wouldn't be able to flee.
"You were right," Ciel said as she turned to look at Elizabeth Morell who was quaking in the sight of Cinder. "I suppose that means a thanks is in order."
"I don't think so…" Morell mumbled, looking at her open-toed heels. "I was involved."
Emmett raised an eyebrow at that before sighing. "You provided the council with information that damn her, not to mention the personal abuses you described -"
"Schnee," Davis stated sharply. "Not here."
Cinder glared at everyone but Emmett in particular. "You really don't value family, do you?"
Emmett instinctively pulled Emmeline close, startling her. "Says the woman who had plans to kill her own brother and his wife - hell maybe you wanted or even want to kill my children." Shaking his head as he drew Ciel close, Emmett sighed. "You turned yourself into a monster for the sake of power."
"And you wouldn't?" Cinder asked with a smirk. "You wouldn't kill for power? Honestly, you're just like our mother? Tell me, have you been beating Cas so that she will be -"
"I would never do that!" Emmett cried in anguish as Emmeline squeezed his hand. "How...how dare you?"
"I know what she looks like," Cinder reminded him and smiled as she noticed him shaking. "Oh...and Emmeline Ciel. You're what is it...fifty two now, aren't you? Fifty three on December ninth, isn't that right? You know, I was shocked when I heard about the pregnancy -"
As he met Cinder's gaze, Emmett found himself growing highly protective of his wife while looking at the former Schnee in anger. "Don't you even -"
"Emmett Schnee!" Davis snapped as his voice rose and she raised her own to match his. "For Oum's sake, this quote un quote family reunion can be handled at a later date. For now, someone take her to maximum security."
Trying to use a glyph to break out of the handcuffs, Cinder found that she couldn't. "Why the fuck is my semblance not working?"
Smirking, Tanner moved towards her. "Try and remove the other cuff on your left."
Trying with all of her strength, Cinder found herself unable. "What the fuck is going -"
"And that," James informed her. "Will prevent you from trying to make any...escapes. You won't be able to use your semblance or your aura but go ahead and try if you're that desperate."
Cinder laughed maniacally though she was screaming on the inside in fear that she would never escape and of the things that Salem would do to her. "Oh yes, aren't you a general now James? I should mention that I give my condolences on your eldest's suicide."
The entire room burst into chaos as they all rebuked that with Emmett, Emmeline, and James angrier than most of the others had ever seen them. Cinder smirked though she was growing annoyed that the young officer who had cuffed her still hadn't let go of her. Looking to Elizabeth Morell as she shrunk back upon meeting Cinder's harrowing gaze, Cinder found herself ready to kill. That bitch had double crossed her and was going to have to pay for it eventually even if that time wasn't going to be able to be soon. It pissed her off that Elizabeth had been the one to provide the Atlesian council with information and, considering Emmett's comment about it, it must have been a plea deal to the Department Of Justice of all things. Likely, Cinder could imagine, Morell had acted almost exclusively out of fear but, then again, she had always been incredibly dedicated to activism and the justice system in Atlas. With yet another look to Elizabeth, Cinder retained her glare as Tanner, and her assistant, escorted her out of there. As soon as she was gone, Emmett looked to Davis who pursed her lips before casting a glance at her scroll.
"Schnee, I understand that she's your sister - biologically, anyways - but she's incredibly dangerous.," Kiara sighed heavily. "Are you sure that you want to confront her?"
Meeting his wife's concerned gaze, Emmett sighed. "Emmy -"
"Do you want to confront her?" Emmeline asked as he wrapped his arms tighter around her, while her gaze grew more concerned. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I don't want you to feel the need to play the part of the fairytale hero."
Emmett bit his lip. "She wanted to, and probably still does want to, kill you -"
"I know -" Emmeline said tiredly.
"Emmy -" Emmett said, cupping her cheek.
Leaning up to kiss him, Emmeline tried to reassure him. "Emmett, not now. Let's make sure that Cas knows that we're alright and that," Taking his hands in hers and placing them on her protruding abdomen, Emmeline Ciel sighed. "Hope is still going to be born alright."
Emmett nodded and kissed her gently. "Okay...but I've got to confront her soon."
August 20th
Government Offices Of The Atlesian Council
Department Of Local And National Law Enforcement
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Security Level: High
Necessary Security Clearance: High
2:14 PM
"As awful as forcing her to relieve and explicitly describe everything she went through…" Kiara Davis commented as she looked over the transcript of Morell's testimony in regards to the information that pertained to Cinder Fall. "Elizabeth Morell has been invaluable to us in this particular situation."
"I would tend to agree with that," James admitted though with some reluctance. "But at the same time she is guilty of conspiracy, not to mention the fact that she admitted to being involved with Cinder for the last seven years which in and of itself requires more investigation."
"But, honestly," Leanne said with a sigh. "I have a feeling that Morell won't end up spending some time in prison after her trail wraps. And, personally, I think that's acceptable and especially in the circumstances. She was the victim here, just as much as the rest of you were, and she came completely clean with no resistance. Cinder, on the other hand, will be sentenced with -"
"A life sentence?" Kiara asked and Leanne shrugged as she looked to both James and Emmeline, neither of whom were quite sure what to do about Cinder. "Would that be taking it too far?"
"I don't think so," Emmeline said as she set down her scroll. "Personally, I think that it would be necessary."
"She is a crazed killer, a true psychopath and head case to boot. It isn't entirely her fault, truly I believe her mother claims some culpability." Davis said. "There is proof of her crazed mind and it certainly explains those disappearances and then sudden deaths of council members. I believe she confessed to that? Not to mention the fact that she's charged with your attempted murder, your father's murder, the abuse and rape of Elizabeth -"
"Yes," Emmeline confirmed, sickened by the way that Cinder had been when she had interrogated her after she refused to tell James anything more than a few snippets of information about her plan that had fallen through. "She was...rather pleased with herself."
"That's horrific, it truly is," Davis shook her head as she reviewed Cinder's file. "I'm sorry you and your husband have to deal with it. I'm sorry anyone has to deal with this, including Elizabeth. Like I said, though, it isn't particularly surprising that she is somewhat crazed when the abusive home that she had come from is taken into account but it still remains a horror story."
"Is Emmett still afraid of anything happening to you at her hand?" Leanne asked her gently and, to her surprise, the General nodded. "Does he think that she won't get sentenced? Does he think that she'll escape?"
Emmeline sighed heavily. "It's more complicated than that and in part that is because Jacques doesn't want her to be sent to -"
"What?" Davis exclaimed in shock. "I know that he's an asshole, but Jacques Schnee seriously doesn't want her to be sentenced and sent to jail? Others have gotten life sentences for less than what she done - I believe she was involved in planning that genocide in Vacuo with the help of Rebecca Neale's mercenaries."
Emmeline buried her head in her hands before forcing herself to look to the others. "Rebecca Neale has received a life sentence in prison for her crimes and, though Cinder is reasonably culpable, Jacques wants her to be put under house arrest with constant supervision. He claims that he and Willow are sufficiently capable of -"
"Has he lost his damn mind?" Kiara shook in anger as she stood up. "Jacques Schnee shouldn't even have custody over his own children, let alone a mentally unstable -"
Leanne Tanner cut her off in annoyance from the sheer number of times she had heard this lecture from her colleague in the last few years. "Kiara Davis, we are all very well aware of your viewpoint -"
Ignoring Tanner's outburst, Kiara looked to Emmeline. "General Ciel, you signed the papers for custody rights over Weiss and Whitley alongside your husband and General Ironwood -"
"I am very much aware of that -" She began sharply.
"How in the hell have you not received -" Kiara all but snapped.
"Kiara, have you read any of the news reports on the subject -" Emmeline snapped.
"We've disbanded the judges that bent to Schnee's will," Kiara said sharply. "We've prosecuted the most culpable members of his Press Release force, and we've even given the few military officials who also bent a knee to him dishonourable -"
"For Oum's sake, I know that -" Emmeline exclaimed in exasperation.
"And I know that if you wanted to force the cards into your hand -" Kiara began.
"Kiara!" Emmeline exclaimed in anger as she looked to the woman in shock. "That would be completely unethical, not to mention illegal -"
"Is it unethical if you are protecting -" Kiara argued.
"Yes, it is." James told her firmly. "Ciel is correct that she cannot and should not do such a thing -"
"But General Ironwood -" Kiara protested.
"That's enough, both of you." James said, giving them both a sharp look.
Emmeline gave him a look of relief before sighing and looking to both Tanner and Davis. "I assume both of you are familiar with the Doppelganger Treaty?"
Both women nodded though it was Leanne Tanner who responded. "Is there any particular reason that you wanted to know that? It's fairly standard to read - it reestablished the constitution of Mantle without royalty and created the Atlesian council. I believe that students in the kingdom read and analyze it during their year eight studies during which they stop learning about history temporarily and study civics as they continue to advance their secondary school studies."
Ciel raised an eyebrow instinctively before looking at her seriously. "Now, as a council member, care to explain some of the outlines of the treaty?"
Sighing and forcing herself to meet the General's gaze, Leanne nodded. "It states that, after the oppression our people experienced under the rule of Mantle coupled with heavy human and faunus rights violations - heavy taxes, the refusal of the right to free speech and expression, enslavement, etc - the people of the kingdom of Atlas have the right to free speech, weaponry, freedom of expression, as well as the ending of the slavery of the faunus, and the official unification of the provinces. In short, it creates the kingdom of Atlas with the system of government and rights that we experience today alongside the ever so fragile state of peace. The kingdom continued its pursuit of science and dust and companies such as the Schnee Dust Company were established. It also established Atlas as the only kingdom with a standing military which, admittedly, can make those outside of the kingdom uncomfortable."
"And the people within it vain, myself included…" Ciel murmured to the shock of the group. "I'm afraid that is a flaw we all struggle greatly with."
September 1st
Government Offices Of The Atlesian Council
Department Of Foreign Affairs And Military Action
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Security Level: Maximum
Necessary Security Clearance: Maximum
5:46 PM
"General Ciel," Winchester began cautiously though he had a feeling that he was going to end up pissing her off regardless. "You've been through quite a lot of stress lately and you are pregnant. Are you sure that you should be here?"
As he expected, she glared at him deeply and venom came into her voice. "I'm sorry, but what part of being pregnant makes me unable to work? It is not as if I am going out on active duty missions or the like. So, you tell me, should I be here?"
Winchester sighed. "General Ciel, you've been through a terrible ordeal and, as I understand it, excessive stress can harm your -"
"I am not excessively stressed, thank you very much, though you are pushing me in that direction." Ciel crossed her arms and restrained herself from adjusting her rifle. "I should think that being pregnant doesn't eliminate my ability to do my work on the council or at Atlas Academy. It is simply missions that are more or less on the front lines of war that I am incapable of performing at this time because that would be causing unnecessary, excessive stress regardless of my aura. Also, I believe that this meeting pertained to discussing the maintenance of the secrecy around the...the advances that our kingdom has made when it comes to aura."
"I still believe it is unethical and unnatural...however useful some of the information and technologies that have been developed have proven to be." James said, looking to three head scientists who were involved in the project. "For one thing, I really do not think that it's necessary to work on creating an android with the capability to project aura."
"Of course it is necessary," Anemone Jansen, the head scientist on the team and the daughter of the former General Jansen. "It's all about innovation, about the creation of new forms of life."
"I know this is going to sound incredibly blunt," Ciel warned her. "But you sound more like you are trying to convince yourself of that than you are the council. Need I remind you that the Department Of Scientific Advancement And Ethical Oversight only barely, and I mean by one vote, gave you and your team the permissions to be able to perform such experiments in the first place?"
Anemone glared. "Says the woman who was only given her position, her rank as a general, after my mother was wrongly stripped of her rank by the council after failure to act when it came to Mountain Glenn though it was ultimately -"
"Miss Jansen," Emmeline said sharply. "I am not in the mood to deal with you and your insinuations that I am an incompetent leader that -"
"Well you are incompetent because you refuse to endorse these experiments..." Jansen sent a cursory glance towards James. "The same thing applies to General Ironwood but -"
"Miss Jansen," Ciel began with a warning note to her voice and her authority seeping through. "I do not think you understand how -"
"No," Anemone said. "You're the one who doesn't understand -"
"There is a reason this project is ridiculously classified and why only a few departments are aware of it. Obviously, the DFAMA is aware and so is the Department Of Local And National Law Enforcement, the Department Of Scientific Advancement And Ethical Oversight, the Department Of Health And Human Resources, and, of course, the Department Of Justice -"
"General Ciel," Reva Watson-Winchester said with a half smile. "I really don't think that this is that bad."
"That is something that I have to disagree with you on," Winchester informed her. "Reva, you may be my daughter in law but you are assisting one of the most ethically grey projects in -"
"Rebecca Neale -" Reva started.
"Is a terrible example," Winchester told her. "Or did you miss the part where she was involved in the organization and carrying out of a genocide in Vacuo alongside Cinder Fall?"
"She was coerced -" Reva argued.
"Actually, she wasn't'. She simply received aid from Cinder Fall." Ciel cut across her and pulled up the relevant information in the case file. "There were twelve mercenaries from our kingdom that she hired who were all armed with machine guns and she claims that her reasons for doing so was to, and I quote, 'Push forward my political agenda.' She went on to say that she also wanted to spite Prime Minister Rosalinde Varna of Vacuo for personal reasons. So no, that is not coercion. That is completely by free will and she even admitted to it."
"I still -" Reva protested.
"Miss Winchester, do you or do you not understand the gravity of the situation?" Emmeline snapped. "Rebecca Neale is responsible the deaths of nearly two hundred thousand people, almost all of whom were civilians and some of whom were in primary or secondary -"
"And yet you are not angry with Prime Minister Varna for executing -" Reva fired back.
"You really don't understand the politics of Vacuo -" Emmeline said sharply.
"President Gregory said that Varna should have cleared it with the council of -" Reva pointed out.
"Which was a fair criticism," Ciel conceded. "But at the same time, it wasn't as if she had decided to execute the twelve mercenaries. The council of Vacuo decided to execute those mercenaries but needed Prime Minister Varna to -"
"So," Reva said, glaring. "The blood is still on her hands -"
"Miss Winchester!" Ciel snapped. "I do not need to nor want to hear this. I am fully aware of the issues involving this situation but, in my opinion, Rosalinde Varna is the lesser of two evils when it comes to this. Now why don't you simply accept the fact that you are only here because we are supposed to reviewing your 'project'. I really do suppose we get back to that."
"You have no business being on the council or in your position!" Anemone Jansen said, moving over to Ciel whom was, despite her heels, several inches shorter than her. "You took my mother's position from her and…" Trailing off in frustration as Ciel clenched her fists, Anemone decided to hit a dangerous nerve. "I know you think you're all special because you're former President Ciel's daughter but you aren't."
"That is completely irrelevant," Emmeline informed her. "And a part of me feels I could almost say the exact same thing to you only about your mother."
"My mother," Anemone growled. "Unlike you, deserved her -"
"Sit down, Miss Jansen." Emmeline ordered.
"What -" She exclaimed in indignance.
"Now." Emmeline said with a sharp look to the woman who grudgingly did what she said. "And that ought to bring us back around to the aura experiments which are the purpose of this meeting."
September 12th
City Of Mantle
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Uptown
9:14 PM
Upon seeing the look on his wife's face, Emmett couldn't help but cringe at what he would imagine she had to deal with again. "Emmy, please don't tell me that they're still -"
"They are," Emmeline sighed heavily as she sat down. "They're still talking about my pregnancy and Winchester even brought my pregnancy with Cas into it -"
"Again?" Emmett shook his head and drew her close. "He's so full of it. At the very least, Neale is no longer on the council, though in my opinion. she shouldn't be on the council to begin with," Emmett told her as she sighed again. "I mean, Rose is being scrutinized for her decision, but Neale forced her into that position. In the period of three weeks, over two hundred thousand people died and the majority of those were civilians."
"Which is exactly why Neale was given a life sentence and why I am appalled that your sister is likely going to be declared not guilty by plea of insanity. Jacques really has fucked up the justice system and, as soon as I get the chance, I am going to pull him into court to be tried for obstruction of justice." Another sigh escaped her lips as she looked to him. "Emmett, does Willow honestly believe that her twin is innocent?"
"No," Emmett admitted. "But Jacques has broken her down. She a good person but I cannot condone the fact that she is refusing to take action against this."
"I know she's afraid of him, but this seems to imply that he's even more abusive than we realized. It's horrible, it really is…" Emmeline leaned into him as he rubbed her back while Cas came into the room and looked at her parents in confusion.
"Mommy, daddy, is everything alright?" Cas asked hesitantly, rubbing her arm. "I mean, it's just -"
"Jacques is being a complete and utter ass, per usual." Emmett told her, and she nodded in understanding. "He still is pushing for Cinder to be given the lowest sentence possible and to be given custody over her."
Cas gasped in shock as she shook her head. "But he hurts -"
"I know," Emmett said in resignation. "And we're trying as best as we can to gain the custody rights to Weiss and Whitley though Jacques has manipulated the court -"
"Emmett," Emmeline told him with a warning note to her voice. "She's only thirteen years old and -"
"But I'll be fourteen on the thirtieth!" Cas reminded them. "That's plenty old enough to hear this. At fifteen, daddy -"
"You told her about the -" Emmeline started at him horror.
"No, it's not his fault." Cas said to her parents surprise with a smirk. "I was online and the first thing that popped up when I searched Emmett Schnee was a news report from about twenty years ago in which -"
"Damn it Cas!" Emmeline exclaimed. "What else did you find?"
"Well…" She said awkwardly. "There one from a little over fourteen years ago that was a news report that talked about you and daddy being together as well as your pregnancy with me -"
Emmett laughed as Emmeline gave him a sharp look that softened when she saw the look in his eyes. "Cas, did you see the one about -"
"The council getting pissed about your marriage?" She finished, and he rolled his eyes. "Yeah -"
"Ugh…" Emmeline moaned as she leaned into Emmett. "This fucking sucks -"
"I think Cas has every right to know our family history," Emmett told her gently as her soft fingers curled around his wavy white locks. "It concerns her as well."
"I know that," Emmeline muttered. "But seriously Emmett -"
"Hey," Emmett said as Cas put on her headphones and sat down on the couch. "Emmy, this doesn't have anything to do with being nervous about Hope does it?"
Emmeline sighed heavily. "How is it that you just always know?"
Kissing her forehead, Emmett looked at her seriously. "Emmy, I know that my sister is still out there -"
"Technically," Emmeline said slowly in an attempt to calm herself. "She's awaiting trial in maximum security -"
"Are you scared?" Emmett asked her, and she nodded. Pulling her close, Emmett rubbed her back affectionately. "Emmeline…"
Dragging him off into their room, Emmeline closed the door and collapsed against it as she drew her knees towards her chest as best as she could. "Emmett, I'm still terrified that she's going to escape and...and kill me regardless. I'm fucking paranoid and I hate it because I feel almost as if I'm treading the line of being beyond functionality."
Coming over to her and leaning her into him, Emmett was silent for several moments. "Emmeline you aren't dysfunctional."
Burying her face in his chest as she began to cry, Emmeline tried to speak. "Emmett...I am a terrible mother, a terrible leader, and probably a terrible wife -"
"Shh...shh...shh…" Emmett said, his voice soft, as he lifted her into his arms so that she would be more comfortable as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Emmy, you are not a terrible mother. Cas adores you and I'm sure Hope will too. As for your leadership abilities, Emmy you are in a terrible position right now and you are doing the very best that you can with the council. It is hardly your fault and you've made the decisions that you personally have thought to be right. And as for you thinking that you're a terrible wife...Emmy I don't know where that's coming from, but I don't see that. Emmy, I think you're an incredible woman and I love you so much."
"Emmett -" She said, tears biting at the corners of her eyes.
"Please listen to me…" Emmett said as gently as possible. "Emmy, I love you, I have loved you for years, and I will always love you. I don't give a damn how many times I have to tell you that because it's true." Kissing her lightly, Emmett wiped the tears away from her eyes. "I've got you."
Looking at him with her eyes slightly wide, Emmeline nodded weakly. "I love you…"
"I'm never going to leave you." Emmett promised her, carrying her over to their bed and laying her down with her in his arms. "Emmeline Cecilia Ciel, do you honestly doubt that I care about you...do you honestly doubt that I love you? Because I swear that no matter what happens, I will always love you."
September 26th
City Of Mantle
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Uptown
2:15 PM
"How's my fifteen year old?" Glynda said as she brushed her fingers over her eldest daughter's forehead while the girl slowly woke up. "Are you feeling alright?"
Caitlin sighed as she reached for her glasses. "Yeah...I guess. It's Saturday, isn't it?"
With a half smile, Glynda nodded. "Yeah. Ivy was hoping you'd wake up soon. She said you haven't been feeling too well this week."
"Mommy?" Allen said, poking his head into the room. "I think we might have a problem."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Glynda asked him and he hesitated which caused her to be more suspicious. "Alender -"
"Okay," He said, putting his hands up. "So maybe Ivy kind of sort of shifted into a…"
"A what?" Glynda crossed her arms. "What -"
"Damn it Cas!" Ivy shrieked. "Don't look at me!"
Running down the hall with Caitlin and Allen, Glynda opened her daughter's door while she tried to hide her face. Sighing heavily and running her fingers through her hair which was down, Glynda moved over towards her daughter. "Ivy, take the covers off."
"No," Ivy whimpered almost inaudibly. "I just need to wait for my aura to regain so I can shift back."
"Ivory Glynda Ironwood-Goodwitch," Glynda said sharply. "Take the damned -"
"Fine!" Ivy half-screamed as she pulled the covers off. "Happy?"
Even though her twin was clearly pissed off, Caitlin couldn't help but laugh. "So, this is what you would have looked like if you had been a boy."
Ivy glared and disdainfully looked down at her flat chest. "It doesn't even make sense for me to wear a fucking bra right now. I don't care that I have small boobs - right now I don't have any!"
Slightly amused, Glynda shook her head. "Ivy, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Okay, so to be fair, I dared her to shift into a boy version of herself," Allen said with a smirk that Ivy returned with an even deeper glare than the one she had given Caitlin for laughing. "No, but seriously, you don't look half bad."
Getting up, Ivy punched him in the face. "I have a motherfucking dick!"
Even Glynda couldn't stop herself from laughing even though she was annoyed that Ivy had punched her brother. "Ivy, you'll shift back."
"And what do I do until then?" Ivy demanded. "I can't go anywhere looking like this -"
Cas snickered. "You could always find out the differences between having a dick and having a -"
"I don't even want to think about this!" Ivy declared as she dramatically fell back. "I look terrible -"
"Cas...woah…" Emmett trailed off as he came into the room. "Damn, what happened to Ivy?"
"Allen dared me to shift into a guy and now I have to wait for my aura to rebalance so I can shift back to myself because it is incredibly depleting to shift into the opposite sex." Ivy buried her head in her chest. "At least I don't have a beard."
"I should have had her do that," Allen muttered. "That would have been hilarious."
"Well you can't hide in here forever," Glynda told her. "You'll have to come out eventually and I don't know how long it's going to take for you to shift back."
"It better not be long, or I am going to kill Allen." Ivy said as her brother took a step back. "And I'll make sure to make it nice and slow."
"You aren't killing anyone." Glynda said with finality. "And I mean that. Don't even try."
"He -" Ivy protested.
"Allen," Glynda turned to her son who was shifting a little. "That was stupid, and you know it. Don't tell your sister to do stupid things that you know she won't be able to resist trying. And Ivy…" Looking back to her second eldest who half looking up. "Don't do stupid things for the sake of doing stupid things."
"Honestly, this is kind of hilarious. How do you think James is going to react when he gets back from the council meeting if your 'daughter' is still a 'boy'?" Emmett smirked and Cas couldn't help but laugh. "I mean, I know that Emmy would be pissed if Cas did something like this."
Cas stuck out her tongue. "My semblance is glyphs...you know because the Schnee family semblance is hereditary. Hope's semblance will be the same."
"I know," Emmett said, messing up her hair. "But let's say you dyed your hair hot pink without giving either of us any warning."
"That would be almost impossible!" Cas exclaimed as Ivy looked up a little more in curiosity while Allen snickered as he imagined that. "Considering how dark my hair is anyways."
"You know Ives," Allen said as he sat down next to his sister. "Maybe Whitley will think you're even more attractive as a man than as a woman."
Ivy turned the colour that they were all imagining Cas's hair as being. "By the gods Allen, you're horrible!"
"And don't tease your sister Allen," Glynda told him. "Unless you want to her to remind you of -"
"The time you shot tampons off the balcony like rockets when you were five," Ivy crossed her arms and smirked. "Obviously you didn't know what tampons were."
"Look on the bright side," Allen said as he restrained himself from laughing at her appearance as she finally shifted back, much to his dismay. "At least you can't have a period when you have a dick."
"That's it!" Ivy screamed as she tackled her brother and attempted to punch him in the face though a flick from Glynda's crop pushed them to other sides of the room.
"Alright, all three of you listen to me!" She told them, and Caitlin gave her a confused look before deciding to keep her mouth shut. "All three of you are ridiculously powerful and when you three fight, which thank god isn't that often, it gets nasty very fast."
"He started it…" Ivy mumbled though she stopped when she realized how immature that sounded. "I mean, it's true."
Glynda sighed. "Caitlin, your semblance lets you physically disappear. Ivy, yours lets you shift into any human form and Allen, yours lets you influence the outward emotions of those around you - including yourself."
Emmett laughed a little. "Honestly though, I can't say I'm terribly surprised about Ivy having the least subtle semblance in the family. Caitlin, you may be a diva but Ivy -"
"I learned to runway strut when I was eight years old!" Caitlin reminded them, crossing her arms in irritation. "Seriously, I -"
"I know, that was around the time I learnt that too." Emmett told her with a smirk that she returned, and that Cas laughed to. "Hey, you know how to do it too."
"Fair enough," Cas said as she looked to Allen. "Don't even try your happy aura on me. It won't work."
"Right…" Allen muttered. "I forgot that it doesn't work on the psychically gifted."
September 30th
City Of Mantle
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Uptown
6:51 PM
"We're still...moving?" Cas asked with a raised eyebrow. "But Cinder's in prison, it's not as if -"
"She could still be a threat, especially if she gets the sentence that she wants. Cas, you know that full well." Emmeline told her with a sigh. "It's just a precaution."
"So we're going back to the City Of Atlas?" Cas shook her head when her mother nodded. "But -"
"It's not going to be forever," Emmett said. "Or at least we hope it won't be. Besides, it might be safer for Hope if she in the capital because there's better security."
Though she wasn't thrilled, Cas nodded. "So…have you talked to her recently?"
Tightly wrapping an arm around Emmeline, Emmett nodded. "Well, sort of. I'm going to try and confront her again on the third. The last time she tried to strangle me so they've put her on sedatives...though I'm not quite sure how effective they are."
"According to the council, they've inhibited her motion but not anything else." Emmeline said as she let him pull her closer. "That's alright though, because at least she can't kill anyone with her bare hands."
Emmett laughed dryly. "Well, that may have more to do with the fact that they also handcuffed her again so she won't even have the ability to get her hands around anyone."
"Emmett -" Emmeline said tiredly.
"Emmy, it's true." Emmett said as he kissed her. "You know it is."
"Which reminds me, how does Weiss feel about the idea of her 'aunt' moving in with them? I can imagine that Winter has explained Cinder's questionable...psyche to her." Emmeline said and Emmett sighed.
"Weiss isn't thrilled about it and to be honest even Whitley is nervous," Emmett shook his head. "The both of them have heard more than they probably need to about her."
Nodding, though she knew that wasn't directed to her, Cas left the room to leave her parents be. Emmeline leaned into him more heavily while Emmett rubbed her back and tried to not think about what his sister was capable of. She was a power-hungry, psychotic, abused, angry, bitch but he didn't want to believe that she was unable to change quite yet though it made him uncomfortable the way she had spoken to Emmeline when she had interrogated her or the way that she had legitimately tried to kill him. It hurt every time that he remembered the way Ashlynn had used to try and be a decent person and it made her seem less and less like family every time that he heard her say that she wants to kill Emmeline and that she doesn't care if she has to step over him and Cas to do so. Unable to stop tears from falling down and fogging up his glasses, Emmett felt Emmeline wrapping her fingers around his thick white waves that were currently slightly longer than usual.
"Emmett," She said slowly. "Are you worried about your sister still?"
"What if she hurts you or Cas or Hope?" He asked her quietly to which she sighed. "What if she tears our family apart?"
"Emmett, I'm doing everything that I can to get her the sentence she deserves but if Jacques wins out then I am going to bring him into court so that Ashlynn can be institutionalized, and he can see how he likes jail time for the obstruction of justice in more than one instance." Emmeline lifted her head off of his chest while pushing his glasses back up and looking at him sympathetically. "I mean it when I say that the last thing I want is for our family to be torn apart at her hand. She needs mental help more than anything else although I doubt that rehabilitation will do much for her."
"If she really is working for Salem like we've all suspected for a while now…" Emmett shook his head as he. "Well I don't think I want to know what Salem may have done to her."
"My guess is any host of forms of brutal torture," Emmeline responded bluntly even though neither of them wanted to dwell on that idea. "Salem is arguably the most dangerous person in the world and -"
"You're probably right. Is that reversible?" Emmett asked her and the look he got in response told him everything he needed to know. "Damnation…"
"Emmett," Emmeline began hesitantly, trying to as gentle as possible. "Why are you so concerned about your sister hurting us if she can't get to us right now?"
Taking her hands in his, Emmett fought back tears. "Because she seems determined to hurt us."
"She can't -" Emmeline reminded him.
"You don't know that," He said, his voice shaking. "I don't know that and I….I can't and don't want to lose you."
"And you won't," She swore, kissing him softly. "I've promised you that for years and it's been alright."
"We got lucky…" Emmett said, his voice weak as she irritably shifted her hair. "If Cinder had killed Elizabeth -"
Slightly annoyed, Emmeline responded. "No, it would have come out either way."
"What do you mean that it would have come out eventually?" Emmett exclaimed as she leaned heavily against the counter.
"What I mean is that in someone's trial it would have come out in the form of a testimony or catching someone in a lie." Emmeline snapped. "Honestly, you never listen to me or my logic -"
"Emmy -" Emmett said gently.
"And now you're doing it again!" Emmeline sighed irritably as she pulled herself up onto the counter and glared at him. "I don't fucking understand -"
"Emmy, let's -" He tried again.
"Shut up!" Emmeline screamed. "Just shut up and listen to me!"
Although he was hesitant, Emmett moved over towards her but took a step back when he saw the look in her eyes. "Okay. I'm sorry."
"Emmett, I love you, but you need to fucking stop this! You're fucking paranoid about me getting hurt, but I can take care of myself!" Emmeline continued to scream as tears fall out of her eyes against her will. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Of course I am." Emmett told her as he began to cry, worried sick for her. "Emmy, I -"
"The why the fuck are you so paranoid?" Emmeline demanded. "Why the fuck?"
"Emmy, I love you and I can't stand the idea of you getting hurt." Emmett broke down into sobs and she realised what she had done as he tried to speak. "Emmy, I…"
Unable to think of anything else to do, Emmeline Ciel ran off into the bathroom and closed the door and locked it before sliding down it and curling into it as she began to cry heavily. She lost track of how much time she spent like this and it wasn't until she found that she couldn't cry anymore that she forced herself up and looked at herself in the mirror. She hated what she saw. All she saw was her flaws and it brought her back to tears. An agonized cry escaped her as she realized that Cas must have overheard her, and Emmett's fight and she barely noticed the glyph unlocking the door and its hesitant opening until Emmett was pulling her into him gently.
Emmett looked at her sadly. "Emmy, I'm sorry...is there anything you want me to do?"
Emmeline shook her head. "I don't know..."
"Emmy -" He said, kissing her forehead and rubbing her back.
"Just promise that you'll stay." She whispered.
"Of course I'll stay," Emmett promised her. "Emmy, I've never wanted to leave and never will. I love you."
Fighting back fresh tears, Emmeline buried her face in his chest. "I love you too."
October 3rd
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Maximum Security Ward
3:45 PM
"Let me see her," Emmett told the guard outside of the cell where his sister was being held. "I want to talk to her."
The guard sighed. "Will General Ciel be angry about this?"
Emmett felt taken aback about fifteen years, before his wife was his wife, before they had even gotten involved, before they had Cas. "What? No, of course not."
"Fine," The guard said, unlocking the door. "But if something happens, you'll have to leave because she is still incredibly dangerous."
"I think I'm pretty well aware of that." Emmett commented dryly as he began to head in. "But thank you for the concern."
Cautiously entering the room, Emmett folded his arms tightly across his chest with his sword at his side. Looking up at him as the door closed, Cinder smirked and moved over to him though she was cuffed. Her ashy black hair was a mess, her light skin lacking some colour, and her amber eyes lackluster. A glare from her confirmed to him that she was still angry at him for being involved in her arrest. She sat down on her cot and crossed one leg over the other at the knee - something she hadn't been allowed to do when they were growing up because it had been viewed as improper. She glanced about for a brief minute but then sighed and decided to try a different endeavour.
Attempting to use her semblance but failing miserably, Cinder muttered a few curses under her breath before looking to Emmett.
"Come here to gloat in my fall?" She asked, looking at her chipped and dirty nails. "Or do you have some sort of message to relay from Emmeline?"
Emmett sighed. "I want to know what happened to you."
"Are you serious?" Cinder laughed before looking at him with a smirk. "Oh, see I want to know why you were so convinced for so long that I was going to kill your wife -"
"Well I've had visions of you doing so for years -" Emmett said as he adjusted his glasses.
"Ha." Cinder said irritably. "You really are just like our mother."
Emmett scowled. "I didn't even -"
"Seriously Emmett," Cinder said, leaning back against the wall. "Do you beat your daughter so that she won't become the most dangerous sorceress that -"
"I have never and will never abuse or touch my wife or daughters in anger!" Emmett said, fighting back tears. "Do you have any idea how much they mean to me?"
Cinder scoffed. "That was our mother's justification for -"
"I'm not going to condone what she did to you," Emmett said tersely. "But you're letting it dominate you -"
"Life isn't a fairytale, Emmett." Cinder told him. "I know - I wasn't able to get around to ending your wife...quite yet anyways. I might do your bratty daughter in too, but that will depend on what I feel like doing."
Emmett stared at her in horror. "You're a monster -"
"Am I?" Cinder questioned. "Am I really the monster here when you are my own brother and yet you would have me killed given half a chance."
Emmett shook his head. "I don't want to kill you -"
"No," She said with a pointed look. "But I can imagine that your daughter will try and -"
"Cas would never -" Emmett said, staring at her.
"Emmett, you overestimate the character of most people and especially those you care about." Cinder smirked as she got up. "Your wife is a tyrannical dictator -"
"What the hell, Ashlynn!" Emmett exclaimed. "That's bullshit and you know it!"
"Okay, so maybe that is a bit unfair." Cinder admitted with a shake of her head. "But it is provocative, so I might use that later if I ever have to talk about her and/or James...as for Willow, well she's an alcoholic who will bend to the will of her abusive husband...although I must say that I am pleased that Jacques is probably going to get me out of this dump. Like I said, I hold the same views about James as I do your wife and then Glynda is...well she's Glynda so I don't think she's ever quite right. And then there's Cas: your own daughter who is also a powerful psychic, but I have a feeling that she will be bloodthirsty." Shaking her head again, Cinder looked at him sharply. "I really do want to hurt your wife and child."
"Ash," Emmett said slowly. "You will never touch my wife or my daughters -"
"Daughters?" Cinder inquired before remembering that Emmeline was about six months pregnant. "Oh, right. I guess there's another brat I'll have to deal with."
Emmett stared at her. "What the hell is wrong with you -"
Cinder laughed and gave him an insincere look of pity. "No, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Me?" Shock passed over him for a moment before he shook his head. "Well, there are a lot of things wrong with me, but at least I don't go around with the intention of causing innocent people harm! This isn't you -"
"Yes, it is." She insisted. "And even if it isn't who I 'truly' am, it's who I choose to be. I'm family, Emmett, and you can't claim to care so much about that if you can't even accept your own sister. Do you remember when -"
"You don't even know what -" Emmett protested.
"I know exactly what family means -" Cinder countered.
"Then why are you -" Emmett demanded.
"This is about me gaining power," She snapped. "And part of family is making sacrifices -"
"You turned yourself into a monster for power," Emmett snapped, matching her tone perfectly, and his sister only smiled as she leaned back.
"Oh Emmett, if this damned cuff wasn't preventing me from using my semblance then you would see just how powerful I've become," She laughed. "Believe me when I say that this peace that everyone has grown so...accustomed to...well it's coming to an end."
Turning on his heel to leave and unable to force himself to hear any more, Emmett sent her a glare before sighing. "I don't care what you think you are, but it doesn't justify any of this. I don't care what I have to do to protect my wife and daughters, but you will not touch them. Ever."
Cinder smirked. "Oh Emmett, you really do underestimate my abilities don't you?"
"No, I don't. I know you're dangerous. That's why I don't want you anywhere near Emmy, Cas, or Hope."
"Good luck with that," Cinder told him as he left. "Because I will do everything in my power to kill Emmeline - even if it involves hurting you or your daughters."