"Your scroll is tapped?" Cristal scowled at Qrow who put his hands up in mock surrender. "How could you let that happen? How delirious, stupid, ignorant, and absolutely -"

"I'm not in the mood, Cristal," He snapped. "You think I ain't pissed about this? 'Cause I am, and -"

"Oh, you are?" She scoffed. "In that case, why did you let something like this happen in the first place?"

"I didn't let this happen," Qrow said, crossing his arms. "It just did. Okay? Have you got that, or do I need to -"

"Qrow," Ozpin said sharply. "Even you have to admit that this situation is bad for everyone involved."

He sent him a dark look. "That's not helpful, Oz."

"You are known for being irresponsible," Tai conceded and Qrow looked as if he were ready to punch him. "It has happened before, that you've been manipulated by a fling."

"You think I got tapped because of a fling?" Qrow finally started yelling. "Oh, come on, that's not fair -"

"It has happened before," Cristal said acidly. "Or do you not remember what happened back in '35?"

Qrow stared at her in outrage. "Oh, no, you have got to be kidding me -"

"That is a fair point," Ozpin said tiredly, rubbing his temples in resignation. "The...incident with that woman in the upper -"

"Don't remind me!" Qrow groaned and irritably pulled out his flask. "Alright, so shit happens! Are we going to handle this, or are we going to tell me how shitty my luck is?"

"Qrow, please don't," Tai sent his brother-in-law a pointed look. "We're still trying to figure out who this tap is reporting to, let alone -"

"I know," He said, taking a sip from his flask. "What did you get so far? The Shadow Emperor, or something?"

"Shadow Empire," Tai corrected. "It seems to be an organization, but I'm not sure what it's for. At the moment, it could be anything."

"Or anyone," Cristal reminded him dryly. "Well, that narrows the possibilities considerably. What would we do without you?"

He sighed. "I know it's not much, but, for now -"

"For now, Qrow's scroll is compromised," She cut across. "And that's not even considering that it could have been done by your...adopted daughter -"

"That's your niece you're talking about, Schnee," Qrow warned her. "Don't you even dare."

"Sorry," She said tartly. "I completely agree. We should trust a girl that the rest of us just learned about because she's the biological child of my brother."

"You hate her for no reason," Qrow spit. "Only because she doesn't fit into your perfect little Schnee niche."

Cristal took in a sharp breath and Ozpin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"If you think that has anything to do with my judgement of her, then you're wrong," She hissed. "She has given us no reason to trust her, no matter what you think of it."

Ozpin hesitantly looked to Qrow. "She's right," He finally said. "We don't know what to do, or who to trust. It is better if we are cautious."

"Your wife is paranoid," He looked to Cristal disdainfully. "You always have been, haven't you?"

"That's high talk coming from someone like you," She replied. "You and your semblance. Bad luck, isn't it?"

Qrow tensed. "That's too far."

"No, I don't think it is," Cristal said, slowly stepping towards him although she was considerably smaller. "I would say it's something you need to hear, considering that you have spent your entire life acting as if every set back, every -"

"You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about -" He growled.

"Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about," Cristal shook her head and adjusted her glasses as she spoke. "And, of course, I haven't even mentioned your insistence that a certain rose of the summer is dead because of you. Didn't that rose...simply wander off and wither because of it?"

Qrow slapped her on impulse and the room fell silent. Regret immediately fell over him and he felt worse when he saw the horrified and angered look Ozpin was giving him. He said nothing when the man pulled her into his arms to try and soothe her and he could not stop his head from spinning.

"Go home, Qrow," Ozpin finally told him. "You're not able to help us right now."

"Oz -" He started.

"Go," He repeated sharply. "Just go."

"All I am going to say is that I know," Ronnie Ciel was careful to keep his voice low whilst he spoke with his brother and his sister-in-law. "I know this is hard for you two, but, maybe, he'll be better off if he -"

"No," Karissa said with finality. "I don't care what we have to do. If it will help Percy and keep him in remission, then I don't give a damn what it costs."

"I understand that," Ronnie shook his head. "I meant: why are you two keeping him at home? Isn't he safer in the hospital until it is certain he won't relapse? You have Natalie and Matt who, at best, are wild children and, of course, Luna who, while adorable, is a little kid. Not to mention that you're pregnant, Karissa. With everything he could be exposed to -"

"We're extraordinarily careful," She tersely reminded him, her hand tightening around Spencer's. "Percy's a little boy. He needs to be able to be at home and live his life. Both of his doctors approved it and, for now, it's best that he lives with his parents and siblings in a home where he knows he's loved and cared for."

"Madeline and I might be better suited for taking care of him, though," Ronnie argued. "We have much more money than the two of you ever will, and it would just be the -"

"You're not taking my kid from me!" Spencer stared at his brother in abject horror. "How can you even suggest that?"

Ronnie hesitated. "Spencer, listen -"

"We have the resources to handle this, if that's your concern," He bit his lip. "And if this is about me -"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call you stable," Ronnie admitted. "As a father or as a husband."

"That's enough," Karissa shot him a warning look. "Spence and I are doing the very best we can in a difficult situation and I am sick of you insinuating that we are incapable of managing our own lives when you have spent yours manipulating people to get you what you want."

"That isn't true," Ronnie glowered. "I'm a politician, not a sociopath. We have to lie, sometimes, because that's how we get things through."

"Or become president," Karissa muttered.

"At least dad isn't lying," Ronnie said, crossing his arms. "And, don't worry. I'm not going to try and take his place. I am more than happy as a senator."

"Also, your wife barely got out of being prosecuted for breaking the law with regard to torture," Spencer added. "Probably because you pulled the strings."

"Oh, Spencer, don't be naive," Ronnie laughed. "There is nothing wrong with pulling the strings when it's keeping things intact."

"It's keeping you in power," Spencer replied. "Something you seem to care more about than the law."

"I'm not a lawyer," Ronnie paused in consideration. "Nor am I involved in security."

Karissa sighed. "How many times have you refused to answer for things you have done that, at best, could be considered of questionable morality?"

"It doesn't matter," Ronnie said, standing up and casually brushing himself off. "I'm still in power and doing the people good, now aren't I?"

Spencer scowled at his brother and neither him nor Karissa spoke until after the door had slammed shut behind him.

"That was productive," Karissa swore under her breath.

Spencer looked to her worriedly. "It isn't just him, is it?"

"When is it, anymore?" She tiredly pressed her hand against her head. "I'm sorry, Spence, if I've been short with you but -"

"It's okay," Spencer gently pulled her into him and began to stroke her hair. "I'm just glad things are okay right now. I don't know how much more I can take."

"We'll figure it out," She said softly. "We always have."

Spencer nodded weakly. "Let's just hope they don't start a war somewhere."

"That's an understatement," She said under her breath. "Some of the people on the DFAMA's security council are...well…"

Spencer sighed. "I just hope this isn't the end of the beginning…"

"Let me be clear," Elizabeth said, turning around to face James and Glynda. "I am by no means thrilled by Sassler's aims to preserve her legacy but she's not wrong about the threat we face. You both know that as well as I do."

"But the allegation against you is more concerning than anything you may do with Sassler," James sent her a pointed look. "You didn't really ask Pierto to kill his wife, did you?"

Elizabeth scoffed. "James, you and I both know that I would never do such a thing."

"It's still a concern," Glynda shook her head. "Eliza, I really hope you're telling the truth because this is horrible. Just the notion of killing a woman for the sake of -"

"Well, I never suggested it," Elizabeth said, looking rather affronted. "I never would suggest such a thing and I never have."

James and Glynda shared a concerned look but then nodded shortly.

"Alright," He finally said. "Sorry, Eliza, but there's reason for concern."

"I completely understand that," She replied snippily. "Procedure is procedure and I know how difficult this can be on everyone, particularly so soon after a national tragedy."

"And you're still recovering yourself," Glynda added. "Speaking of which, are you doing alright?"

Elizabeth shakily sat down and fidgeted with one of the rings on her fingers.

"I'm okay," She finally said. "If a bit concerned for the country, all things considered. And, good Lord, going into a new year with a presidential election…"

"Edward Ciel is likely to win," Glynda said shortly. "In large part because he's well known and has Sassler's support even though her term is up at the end of the year."

Elizabeth looked down at her hands, feeling terribly sick. "We don't even know who his opponent will be. He's a well-known member of the conservative party, but the progressives may very well put up someone less…"

"Less selfish?" James suggested and she nodded.

"Edward has never hid the fact that he puts himself before others," Elizabeth hesitated. "That isn't to say he hasn't done good as a senator, but he isn't...as aware, shall we say, of some of the day to day concerns. Particularly in Mantle."

"Mantle has a lot of unrest, I agree," James glanced to Glynda who met his gaze. "Not to mention the increase of domestic terrorism there."

Elizabeth snorted. "No doubt helped by the White Fang and their damn -"

"Eliza, please don't get started again," Glynda said, sounding positively exhausted. "Your feelings towards the White Fang have been made more than clear before."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "Sometimes, frankly, I'm not so sure."

"You are the chair of the Atlesian National Security Council," She reminded her. "You are not a senator or representative that needs to get popular support by over emphasizing their points. Focus on doing your job, Eliza, rather than simply having it."

"You think I don't know that?" She snapped. "You really think that I am more concerned with being in my position than I am with doing my job?"

James sighed. "That isn't what she meant -"

"That is exactly what she meant!" Elizabeth scowled at him. "I will have you both know that I have work my ass off to get where I am and I am by no means -"

"Calm down," He said gently. "You're going to hurt yourself if you're not careful."

Though she looked no less annoyed, she did fall silent.

"What do you two suggest we do?" She finally said. "Given everything that's happened."

Glynda and James exchanged knowing looks.

"I suggest we find our guardian," She said, crossing her arms. "Because, if we don't, I can't imagine where we may end up…even in just a few years. Our time of peace seems to be slipping away, and I am no longer convinced we can maintain it much longer."

The clock was nearly to midnight. It would be only another half an hour before the year was over and the new one began. For the man behind the Shadow Empire, that was a blessing. He, after all, had been granted such power by virtue of circumstance and it was more than he had dared to hope. The chips were falling into place, and his subordinates were, for the most part, in line. There were some that caused trouble, of course, but they were of far less concern. After all, the majority of them were at the bottom tier of what he viewed to be civilized society. He could control them with the promise of better life, with the meager bit of money they all received at the end of every day.

Life was glamorous for those in the upper echelons of the organization, of course. The man sitting and sipping whisky was the leader, he was the one behind it all. His closest associates were all like-minded. They sought power as he did, just as they sought wealth. Oh how they yearned to remain firmly planted above everyone else. In their minds, they were the best of them all and they had no true competition. If they carefully remained out of politics, then they would be able to remain atop. The Councils would crumble eventually, as all governments did because they were made of and by men. Men were fallible. They did not deny their own discretions, but they did their best to eliminate them. The best way to stay in their position was to carefully plan everything. No error could be tolerated for long.

They knew they had killed people whether intentionally or not. Several of the lower level people to whom they paid little mind died every day. Accidents were merely a part of the job, and the resource they cared the most about was dangerous in any form. Raw. Crystal. Purified. Each day saw another lawsuit, and each day saw either another bribe to dismiss it or an explanation that washed it away. When someone died, it was of little note until it posed a threat. That threat - however it needed to be handled - was dealt with. It was treading the line, they all knew, but it was worth it. They may have started in a small cushion of wealth, but now they were swimming in it. It was glorious, to say the very least.

These were men that , despite popular belief, did what they had to in order to remain in favor of the law. These men knew full well that the rule of law was absolute, especially in kingdoms like Atlas and Vale, but that did not mean certain groups were not favored over others. That did not mean that there were not loopholes. That did not exclude them from bending the law, and it certainly didn't control their day to day lives. Yes, the Councils were often a pain in the ass to deal with. It was true that many top members of the Shadow Empire were behind bars for the deals they had struck or the money they had laundered or the people they had let die. However, it was also true that many of them were able to maintain their lifestyles - the lifestyle of the rich and the famous - without ever having to pay the price for it.

Their president was one of the many people in the organization that was unscathed. He had a reputation for apathy towards the people he allowed be subjugated, and he was well known for being more than a little spiteful of the Atlesian Council and its processes. He cared little for the law but remained cautious. His taxes were always paid in full and often early. His estate was well-manicured and the staff had nothing about which to complain. His family maintained an appearance of calm beauty for the public and that facade was seldom questioned. Their appearance was something he cared a great deal about, knowing it could influence the power of the Shadow Empire. It was odd to be called the president of something they often referred to as an empire, but he had other titles.

If they continued to play their cards right, things would remain in their favor. They feared the White Fang and its aggression, but they feared them no more than anybody else did. That organization, after all, seemed to consist more and more of terrorists that, they claimed, had killed far more people than they ever had. If one went merely by what the evidence showed, that would be correct. If there had been further investigation, however, what would be unearthed would have ramifications throughout the world. It was a disturbing truth, to say the very least. Yet, while things were slowly calming down and returning to their routines, something felt off. There was a lingering fear among them that they would be unmasked for the atrocities they were aware they had been responsible for and none of them were prepared to yield their power. Their leader wanted the world to know his work, to know his name. He wanted to be judged as one of the greatest leaders by history and not one with any position in government. No, he was beyond that. He was beyond their control.

For the time being, however, he had to keep it all a secret. No one was to know there was even a name for the expansion of his empire. No was to even know the slightest bit about who he truly was.

No one could know his identity.

"You played Vacuoian Roulette?" Emmett grimaced when his sister-in-law nodded. "Thank God no one died!"

Alice snorted. "No one was going to die."

"I beg to differ," Dr. Caitlin Schnee said, pulling one of the magnifying lenses over the left side of her glasses aside. Then, she passed her wife's necklace back to her. "And that's definitely real emerald although I really don't want to know where your father found it. You said it was in one of the steamer trunks left in the attic of the house you grew up in?"

Alice nodded. "The very same. Thankfully, the people living there now were nice enough to let me take a look around. I didn't let them know about the secret room in the attic, and, honestly, they're probably going to sleep better at night without that knowledge."

Cate and Emmeline shuddered at the thought.

"Okay, now I'm curious," Emmett pushed a one lien note across the table. "I'll give you that to get to the point."

"Make it a hundred," Alice told him. "And we'll see where we land."

Emmett rolled his eyes but took the note back and replaced it with a hundred lien note from his coat.

"Better," Alice said, smirking and pocketing the cash. "Now, let's see...okay, so, when we were living there, my dad kept things he didn't want the police to ever find up there. Guns, bullets, knives, nooses, dust, and, of course, stolen goods. I'd be willing to bet my trust fund that this is one of those stolen goods, but I lost that twenty-five years ago when my father fell into debt with some asshole he was working with."

Emmeline looked distinctly concerned. "What?"

"You know my father's profile well enough, by now," Alice replied darkly. "He was involved with the underground types, including a certain...Arthur Watts."

"That is public knowledge," Emmeline frowned. "Don't tell me you're manipulating the current owners to keep dangerous items hidden."

Alice shook her head. "I'd be behind bars by now if that were the case. They're rich and elderly, and therefore a little ignorant, but they're not stupid. Frankly, they're more concerned that I'll give them a VHS tape like in The Ring. One of their grandchildren actually said I look like the vengeful child ghost from that movie, which I took both as a compliment and an insult, considering that I am very much alive and don't have stringy black hair that hangs in front of my face. Also, who the hell owns VHS tapes anymore?"

Her wife sighed. "I do, and -"

"You and no one else," Alice smiled and affectionately ruffled her hair. "You always have been a bit eccentric, darling, please don't deny it."

"Well, thankfully you haven't killed hundreds of people," Emmett said, trying not to laugh. "We're all glad you don't make people watch a video tape within a week or they die. It's good to know you have standards."

"I'm a saint compared to the rest of my family," Alice said, angrily pushing aside any guilt that bubbled up within her. "My father and brother are bad enough, but my mom was just as bad, if not worse."

"I don't want to know!" Emmett said, putting up his hands. "I surrender, I surrender!"

Cate rolled her eyes. "You can be such a pansy sometimes Emmett, you know that?"

"I do and I am okay with that!" He declared, eliciting a small laugh from his wife. "See? It's part of my endearing charm!"

"To me, at any rate," Emmeline squeezed his hand. "To the rest of my family...well, I'm not so sure."

Emmett shrugged. "Your dad likes me well enough, even if he won't admit it."

Emmeline sighed. "He'd like you a lot more if we had a son. I don't see what he has against our girls, but -"

"It's okay, Emmy," He said softly. "Don't let the old man get under your skin."

"Agreed," Alice said, pouring herself some wine. "I'll drink to that! After all, us kids are grown up but I sure as hell wouldn't go as far as to say we're alright...more like we're troubled."

"Haven't we always been?" Her wife shook her head. "Al, I don't -"

"It's going to be fine," She promised her. "The year is almost over now anyways, and -"

"Thankfully," Emmett added. "Too much shit has happened in the last month alone."

"No kidding," Emmeline remarked under her breath.

Cate Schnee glanced out the window while the clock struck midnight.

"And so it begins…" She murmured while the snow continued to fall heavily outside. "At any rate, that is. Who are we to stop it?"

Author's Note: Happy New Year, my dears! Read. Review. PM. I love you all! :)