"Purity is our strength.

With righteousness we stand separate from the world mired in corruption.

With eyes of silver we purge the darkness in our sights.

We are truth and light, rending falsehood and restoring order.

With our power we pledge to protect those who cannot protect themselves for the impurities that plague the world.

Purity is our Strength,

Light is our virtue

and

Silver is our birthright."

Blake stared at those words, reading them over and over again as she carefully cradled the dusty old tome in her hands, staring down at the decrepit pages leafed with gold on its edges. It was a book they found in the restricted section of the library and were only able to take out with special permission. Though she wasn't a stranger to visiting the restricted section, Blake had never seen this particular tome which they found covered in dust way in the back of the vault. A pre great war encyclopedia of ancient myths.

"Wanna fill me in on what's going on?" Sun leaned over to his girlfriend, whispering in her cat ear as he looked worried to their girlfriend marching in front of them, her eyes set ablaze with crimson from the moment she stood up in the library and stormed off without a word leaving her lovers to follow.

"It's some sort of mantra or oath connected to the silver eyed Slayers." As they trio made their way from the library towards the main building in which Ozpin's office was located, Blake had looked through the book as quickly as possible. She found references to Vampires, multiple pages full… But this mantra and a small description is all the entire library seemed to have on silver eyed Slayers.

"Why would that get Yang all worked up like this?" Sun furrowed his brow, concerned by the brawler's behavior. She hadn't been the same since Ruby left, Blake told him as much but ever since he returned, she was obsessed with her Vampire lineage.

"I honestly don't know but this is definitely what she was looking at." She was angry at herself, nothing she did seemed to console the woman she loved. Yang had experienced the most massive life changes she had ever seen in a very short time. It was a violent upheaval that began with Ruby passing out in their bathroom from drinking her own blood and ended with Ruby leaving, Yang discovering that her sister is really her cousin and that neither of them are human. I just wish there was more I could do to help…

"Purity is our strength? What does that even mean?" He was having a hard time making sense of any of this. Aside from her pretty dramatic change in personality, lack of sleep, exhaustion and depression, Yang still seemed like Yang to him, this Vampire stuff just didn't make sense.

"A lot of ancient myths around silver regard it for its purity, maybe that's where the Slayers got it or maybe the myths came about because of the Slayers. It's impossible to say with so little to go on." With a heavy sigh Blake carefully lowered the book and looked to the back of her girlfriend, her long blonde hair glowing as her Semblance flared, heat radiating off of her in waves just from what she had read in that verse.

"Well do you have any idea why we're heading to Ozpin's office?" He didn't even know what Yang wanted, she had barely been talking to them but neither could leave her alone. It was obvious she was hurting and needed them, but they were sure what exactly they could do to make it better.

"Obviously Yang thinks he knows something relevant. He's as good a place as any to start, then possibly Professor Oobleck since he is a historian. After that, our leads may dry up unless we take a trip to the other Academies and check out their libraries, they might have more than Beacon." She wasn't sure exactly what they would look for. Initially, she suggested doing research on Vampires in the hopes that it might make Yang feel better, but now something about the Silver Eyes verse was now at the forefront of Yang's mind.

"You know I'll do whatever it takes but I think before we go any further, we need to have a talk with her. She going to burn herself out at this rate." They'd all known each other for years and have been dating a triad for longer than any other relationship he's ever had and in all that time he had never seen Yang get like this. I mean, I understand, I don't know how I'd hold up if I was told that my entire life was a lie but that doesn't make this any easier on us and she's only getting more distant. If Ruby were here we could ask her for advice, she's known Yang a lot longer than we have. Still, Yang is our girlfriend and we're going to get her through this.

"I agree but not right now, she needs to cool down before she'll listen to us. Let's let her blow off some steam at Ozpin before we try to talk to her." She knew Yang, no matter how angry she got she wouldn't do anything to get expelled and she would bet money that Ozpin would be understanding.

"You know I can hear everything you two are saying right?" Yang's voice suddenly snapped the two students behind them to attention, both looking up at her nervously as they came to a stop in front of the elevator leading to Ozpin's office. Yang's once balled fists relaxed at her sides and with a long breath, she eased up her semblance, letting her eyes cool to lilac though she never turned to face her lovers.

"We'll talk after this… I promise." With that, she raised her hand up and pressed the button while her other hand nestled inside the tight pocket of her tattered jeans. "I know I've been difficult but thank you, for sticking with me."

"You really think we'd up and leave you when you're like this? Nah, you couldn't get rid of us if you tried." Sun gave that bright and playful grin that they loved as he wrapped one arm around Blake, pulling her into his side by her torso. "We've got your back, no matter what."

"You don't know how much that means to me, especially now." A long, anxiety filled exhale left her lungs as the elevator door opened. As she stepped into the elevator, her lovers did was well and that pain and emptiness in her heart that she had felt since Ruby left, felt filled again, just a little, by the warm, safe, pure feeling of true love. Even though it still hurt, even though she still couldn't quite process everything she had learned, as Blake and Sun each too up her sides, both taking her hands in theirs, she couldn't help but smile.

"We're going to do whatever we can to help." Blake's cat ears flicked with happiness as her fingers entwined with Yangs. She'd never know just how immense such a simple touch could feel. It was pure safety and security in her grasp. I wonder if it feels this way for both of them?

"Whatever you decide to do, we'll support you." Sun's hand held Yang's tight, letting her know that he wouldn't let her go, that he was right there for her. They stood, the three of them in a row, hands held against the anguish they felt. He knew in his heart that the three of them were perfect together, each of them supporting the others. As long as it's the three of us, we'll make it through anything.

Ding!

They had arrived and before the door could open Yang pulled her hands from her lovers' and stepped forward, her Semblance igniting and her eyes scorching crimson. She knew the toll that keeping up her Semblance for hours on end was taking on her, but she also knew that crimson eyes were the hallmark of being a Vampire. So, despite the exhaustion and fatigue that wore all the way down to her soul, she kept pushing herself, those crimson eyes were the only proof of what she really was.

"Ms. Xiao Long, Ms. Belladonna, Mr. Wukong, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Ozpin sat at his desk with his elbows resting on the wooden surface, his hands clasped together over his chin as he leaned slightly forward, his brown eyes looking warily from Yang to the old tome in Blake's hands.

"You knew about me and Ruby didn't you?" With a shaky inhale Yang walked forward, her gaze never faltering from his as she approached his desk. "You knew about Qrow and my mom, you knew Ruby and I weren't really sisters. You knew what we really are."

"I only knew that you were a Vampire like your mother and that Ruby was a Slayer like her mother. No one expected her to be a latent hybrid." The calm in Yang's voice contrasted with the pain in her burning eyes and even Ozpin was unsure of what such an unstable and powerful soon to be Huntress would do. By his side Glynda stepped slightly forward, ready to intervene should it become necessary.

"Do you know what Raven did to me?" Her fists and jaw clenched as she took another step forward, now only the desk separated her from the Headmaster.

"Only what Qrow told me and even he didn't know exactly how she sealed away your Vampire nature." With a soft sigh he let his arms rest comfortably on his desk while he leaned forward. "What did you find in the library?"

"There wasn't much on Vampires, maybe ten pages in total spread across three different books but what I found for the Slayers was only one short verse in the entire library." Her exhaustion won out and her Semblance died down, cooling her eyes back done to lilac once again, showing the deep sadness in their gentle color.

"Purity is our strength. Yes, I'm afraid there isn't much left of their existence even as stories or anecdotes in history books. The Slayers are even more scarce today than the Vampires." The tension in the room gave way to an uneasy calm as Blake and Sun took up her sides, all looking expectantly at Ozpin with hope and worry in their eyes.

"From what I understand, in ancient times, before humans or faunus discovered Dust, the Grimm still hunted us and we were powerless fend them off. However, two races existed that could fight the Grimm and protect those who could not. They were the Crimson Eyed Vampires and the Silver Eyed Slayers. Both possessed incredible power, the Vampires were power incarnate and could fight even the strongest of Grimm at the cost of the blood of Humans and Faunus which many were happy to give to their saviors. The Slayers were purity incarnate and could destroy Grimm, which they saw as corrupt beings, with merely a look. It was said that the two races were amiable for a very long time, but shortly before the discovery of Dust, the Vampires and the Slayers went to war… and neither side won." He could only shake his head at the waste of power and potential that the was cost the world. He didn't know their reasons, but that the would could use more of both Vampires and Slayers. Now more than ever.

"Purity incarnate, with the power to rend falsehood and restore order." Yang's voice was cold and soft as she put her hands on his desk, looking into his eyes with conviction and pain. "I'm a Vampire, but something was done to me to take that away. I'm not like I should be. A Silver Eyed Slayer, they could remove that, couldn't they?"

"I'm unsure as the the true extent of their power, but I believe they could." His thoughts turned to Summer Rose, a powerful Slayer with knowledge of her heritage. He wished she were still alive to help her children through these trying times.

"How many Slayers are there left?" Blake's grip tightened around the old, leather bound book as she spoke, looking from Ozpin to her girlfriend, hoping there was something they could learn that would help Yang where she and Sun couldn't.

"Not many." His sorrowful admission came with a long sigh as he looked to Blake. "There are hundreds of Vampires but I've only ever known three Slayers, two being Ruby and her mother Summer."

"And the third?" Yang's voice came as a low, impatient growl as she struggled use her Semblance, her aura nearly depleted from the constant use.

"The third is a man, a very dangerous man I would advise you not to seek out." There were few people in the world Ozpin considered truly dangerous and that man was among the most powerful of them.

"Well… I'm pretty dangerous myself." Her rage was like a spark igniting her Semblance, waves of heat rolled off of her and her eyes burned a deep crimson as she slowly raised her head, her Vampiric eyes meeting Ozpin's with fury and indomitable will. "Who is he?"

"Alexandrite Crowley." Ozpin stood up, looking down at the stunted Vampire with pity and worry, but still, her conviction never faltered. "I've only met him once before and I would prefer to keep it at that. He's a self proclaimed expert on Silver Eyed Slayers though so perhaps he can give you what you're seeking. However, do think very carefully before you decide to look for him, he is not someone to trifle with."

"Thank you." Without another word, Yang stood up straight, letting her hands rest at her sides once again… and walked away towards the elevator, Sun and Blake sharing a worried glance before following along.

Alexandrite Crowley… I'm going to find you you're going to make me a Vampire!

"Ouch…" A frustrated whine filled her room as she lay in bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling, licking at her aching fangs with her tongue, trying to distract them from the pain. She had been with the clan for days and she was settling in almost disconcertingly fast. She lived in a small two bedroom home with Raven and while the house wasn't anything special from looking at it, Ruby felt at home there. She shared a bedroom with Raven, both sleeping on mats on the floor instead of a mattress, still, it wasn't uncomfortable.

Raven was a strict mentor, Ruby was always woken up at the crack of dawn and put to work cleaning the house and running errands for her around the village before she would be allowed to feed. Still, she had come to respect Raven, she was tough and could be hard on her, but Ruby had no doubt that her mentor cared for her. Everything here just feels right to me. Maybe it's because I'm Vampire but something just feels like this is the way I'm supposed to live.

'I've fed on someone several times a day since I've been here and it's felt great, always having someone's blood to drink when I need it has made me feel stronger and more connected to everyone I feed from and it makes me feel right.' She licked at her fangs, running her tongue very carefully over the tip of her surgically sharp tooth as it throbbed with pain, begging to bite into someone. But ever since I was told I'd be getting my familiar I haven't been allowed to feed at all and it's driving me crazy! It feels so wrong not feeding… I don't like it but if Raven says I have to, then I'll listen.

"Still, I can't wait until this is over." Ruby grumbled as she rolled onto her side, facing an antique mirror screwed into the wall. Their room was minimally decorated, a Grimm mask hung from the wall along something Ruby didn't expect to see when she first started living with the then cold and distant Raven; A copy of Yang's birth certificate, framed and encased in glass and wood. A dressed lined the wall her feet pointed towards, her clothes were mixed in with Raven's because the Oracle of the Rubrum Clan was actually pretty lazy about chores, leaving Ruby to pick up the slack. Still, she didn't mind, especially since Raven never seemed to mind her borrowing her clothes from time to time.

"I can't believe how much has changed." Her attention was focused on the crimson surrounding the silver in her eyes. Something that had been a constant her entire life had changed overnight and now it felt so natural, just like her fangs. And now, if I'm understanding this right, I'm about to merge my soul with an animal's so it can become my familiar. Everything is changing so fast but… I'm kinda excited.

Knock-knock!

The tepid, light banging, almost nervously reserved echoed through the small house, making Ruby sit up in her bed, the thick, warm blankets falling from her chest into her lap. She was wearing a combination of her and Raven's clothes, keeping her cape while wearing her mentor's black and red robe with no sleeves with a black sash tied around her belly. At her waist she wore a pair of short, tight black shorts with semi-transparent chiffon hanging around it like a skirt down to her knees. She had blood red stockings coming up to her mid thigh, all accentuated by the single ruby earring hanging from her right ear, dangling on a thin gold chain given to her by her partner.

"I guess it's time…" She forced her tired body up, being deprived of blood left her feeling sluggish a little heavier than she was used to. She knelt down beside her bed and quickly fixed the blankets, making them neat and tight beside an equally well made mat right beside hers that Raven slept in. She's powerful and beautiful but she's not the best at keeping her room clean… I guess that's where Yang gets it.

With a smile she got to her feet and opened the sliding paper and wood door that led out from the bedroom, walking into the larger living room, a rarely used kitchen sat was at the other end of the living room and the spare bedroom was parallel to the front door. It was largely empty save for a couple picture frames on the walls and trophies from battles and hunts. The entire town was powered by a large Dust Generator so they had electricity but as far from the kingdoms as they were, there wasn't much reception for Scrolls to make calls. It was isolating at first but now she kind of liked it, being so far away from everything made her feel closer to the things and people that were nearby.

"Alright, I'm read to… oh!" As Ruby opened the door, expecting to see her mentor and roommate, she was instead greeted by a young man with a bush brown fox tail that swayed gently back and forth. His shadow was cast into her home by the light of the setting sun behind him. "Alan! Hi, I um, I wasn't expecting you."

"Probably waiting on Lady Raven right?" He grinned, pulling his hands from his jean pockets, the sleeves of his baggy hoodie rolled up, leaving his forearms bare and exposed. Immediately Ruby found her eyes drawn to those big blue veins, she could almost hear his blood rushing in his body and it made her fangs beg to be plunged through his skin.

"Yeah…" She was barely focused on what he was saying as her hunger grew, she didn't even realize she was licking at her fangs and lips while she stared at his arm.

"Heh-heh, something on your mind Ruby?" Alan snorted a laugh, stepping back slightly as his tail swished against the ground and his eyes looking bashfully away from the girl before him.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you I just haven't fed since yesterday and I'm really hungry and-"

"Pfff, Ruby, you know I've been living with Vampires my entire life right?" Alan leaned against the doorframe, smirking playfully as he forced himself to meet Ruby's stunning and beautiful Crimson and Silver eyes.

"R-right… I guess you're less new to this than I am. I didn't even know Vampires existed until I was one." She blushed, feeling her bloodlust give way to a gentle sense of comfort talking to her only friend in the clan. "It's been hard for me to get used to in some ways."

"I'm just an acolyte, my sister and I were born with this clan and we've always been comfortable around the Vampires. I mean, we grew up with them, some of them are childhood friends so the way things work here is just what's normal for us. I've never even left the village and Krystal is about to start at Beacon, most acolytes don't leave so this is what we always consider home." His smirk turned into a wistful and fond smile as his gaze turned up, looking at nothing but the distance. Ruby could tell his sister meant the world to him, she actually thought it was cute how he always talked about her and worried about her, it reminded Ruby of herself and Yang.

"That makes sense. I mean, I like it here but I've lived here for all of about a week so I'm still getting used to everything." Her shoulders slumped and her expression turned downcast as the ache in her fangs grew. I had a hard time finding a place to fit in a Beacon, if I'm being honest, it took me a long time to really feel at home there. Now I'm here and things are just so much more close knit and I have to feed off of people who are strangers to me, they just give me their blood, something that keeps them alive, just because I'm a Vampire.

"Hey, don't look like that, it doesn't suit you." A warm but surprisingly strong hand held her shoulder, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts, pulling her gaze to his. "I know everyone in town, I talk to people and I listen. People are liking you being here, they say Raven has lightened up since you've arrived and they're right. They like you, I like you, you're part of our family so don't worry so much, just be yourself."

"Thank you." Even though she still had a little residual anxiety left, she still found herself smiling and feeling her thirst for blood becoming nearly unbearable the longer he touched her. She felt something, a feeling in her chest that was at once pleasantly warm and burning hot as she looked into his big brown eyes. "That's good advice, I'll do that."

"Good, I'm happy to hear that." With an affirming nod he let his hand fall from her shoulder, the warmth of his touch lingering on her skin for seconds after before it was lost to her own body heat. Suddenly, his demeanor changed, he raised his shoulders slightly and tucked his head just a little as he looked nervously at the floor. "Um… you know, no one has fed from me today and you might not get to feed again for a while."

"Alan… are you saying-Hmph! Um... " An awkwardly held back smile brightened her face as she barely forced down snorts of laughter, her gaze now looking decidedly at something just behind Alan that she gestured to with a quick nod of her head while she covered her mouth with her hand, already on the verge of bursting out with laughter.

"Wha- Ah! Lady Raven!" Alan whipped around, his tail raising up along with every strand of fur on it as he turned and faced the smirking Vampire, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Alan, were you trying to tempt my protege into breaking the rules?" She stepped forward and he stepped back, his tail brushing softly against Ruby's legs.

"What? Me? No I would never do something let that, heh-heh…" Ruby couldn't help but laugh at how terrible a liar he was.

"Hmm, so you say. Well, if you know anyone who has any such ideas, do let them know that I'll see it coming before they do so it wouldn't be smart to try again." Raven smiled, intentionally baring her fangs as her crimson eyes burned into his and with every inch she advanced he retreated.

"W-will do Ma'am!" He laughed it off awkwardly, looking to Ruby for backup but all he was another snort of laughter from her.

"Good. Now, if you're done corrupting my niece, I'd like to have a word with her alone." Raven relaxed, smiling more casually as she stepped aside, giving him space to walk out.

"Of course! I'll see you after your trial Ruby! Good luck!" And with that and a timid smile at Raven, he took his leave, walking down the dirt path through the village.

"Alan has always been a handful, I don't envy Iris, it's her job to look after the acolytes including him. He was much easier to manage with his sister keeping him in line." She shook her head while smiling before facing her niece. "What do you think of him by the way?"

"Of Alan? I don't know, he's really nice and funny." The question seemed very much out of nowhere to Ruby, catching her off guard. "His blood tastes really good and he's easy to talk to."

"You know, there's an old saying about Vampires?" Raven's smiled softened as she folded her arms over her chest, leaning her back against the door frame. "It's said that Vampires are greedy creatures. I believe it, we take what we desire, it's in our nature."

"I don't really get what you mean but I guess I could see that, I mean, Yang's always kinda been that way." She wasn't even sure she knew what she was talking about but she didn't want to argue with Raven and somehow, in her heart, those words seemed to echo with some truth.

"I heard my daughter has two lovers. Taking multiple mates is very common with Vampires as having more Vassals is beneficial for us on many levels." She looked back over to Alan as he turned the corner, disappearing behind a house.

"So you do keep up with what's happening to Yang." Ruby grinned, but she already knew. She knew Raven still loved her daughter the moment she saw Yang's birth certificate hanging up on her wall.

"I might not be a good parent but I do like to know what's going on in her life." Raven's voice turned cold as she reached for her belt, pulling out a sizable knife, razor sharp on its edge with serrations on its back, a solid black handle with a good grip was fixed to the blade held between her fingers with the hilt extended to Ruby.

"Your trial is about to begin. The forest is massive, stretching between the kingdoms and the animals out there can get far larger than the ones closer to civilization. There are Grimm and natural dangers and you will be staying out there alone until you find your familiar." Raven watched Ruby's expression harden as she gently took the knife from her hands, examining the blade, her crimson and silver eyes burning with conviction.

"What will my familiar be?" She looked up inquisitively at her aunt, tilting her head slightly as she held the knife down at her side.

"That's something you'll find out when you see it." Ruby wasn't the first to ask for a clairvoyant sneak peek at their Familiar and she wouldn't be the last, she had come to enjoy dangling the answer just out of reach.

"Aw come on! I know you can see the future! Can't I at least get a hint!?" She pouted, her big endearing eyes sparkling with mock sadness and pleading as she looked up to her mentor.

"Of course I know what it is and it's a good one, oh if only you could see it." Raven put her hands up dismissively as she shrugged her shoulders, grinning the entire time. "It's too bad you have to wait, I know you'll like it."

"You evil you know that?" She knew better than to keep letting Raven play with her, she wasn't going to get anywhere. All she could do was laugh along side her and give up.

"Hey, I have to have fun somehow." Her mentor giggled along with her niece, but as their laughter subsided, she gave a soft sigh and stepped off from the doorframe, putting both hands on Ruby shoulders, looking into her unique eyes with hard seriousness. "Ruby, you could be out there for a long time. After a few days without blood, your body will start to experience mortal hunger again, when that happens, you'll need to forage and hunt to survive. It's going to be dangerous, but I know you can make it back."

"I will." There was no doubt in her heart as she gave an assuring and firm nod to her mentor. I will come back, because this is my home, and they're going to need me… and I need them.