"Still asleep…" A soft voice and an even softer smile were brought forth by the figure sleeping deeply and soundly on the mat beside Raven's. A young woman snored softly, her chest rising and falling steadily beneath the warm covers, drool trickling out of her mouth onto her pillow and her oily black and crimson hair splayed out around her head.
The merging is exhausting on the soul and body. She will likely be asleep all day, after the weeks she spent in the wilderness she deserves it. I'll let her sleep the day away. Tomorrow, will be a big day, then her training will begin A warm, gentle hand reached down and Raven knelt to the floor beside Ruby's mat, seeing the sleeping girl so peaceful and content further brightening the smile on the older vampire's face.
"Sleep well, Ruby. I'll be back tonight." Her fingers tenderly and gingerly brushed aside several stray strands of hair from the hybrid's face. The warmth of her niece's rosy cheek flowing into her skin and surprisingly causing a wave of sleepiness to wash back over her.
Their mats were side by side and they shared blankets. Family was paramount to the Rubrum clan and familial intimacy had a greater extent than back in the cities. It wasn't strange at all for families to bathe together, sleep together and live together. Still, without Qrow or her daughter Yang and having never taken a Vassal, Raven's home had been empty… Until now.
This house did always feel a little too big for one person, just a bit too much space and a bit too quiet. Now that Ruby's home… now that she's home things feel better. Silly girl, she kept moving towards me in her sleep, she's done that since she arrived. Now I've started just sleeping at the edge my my bed closest to her so she doesn't push me towards the floor. I don't mind, I do like having her around.
"Perhaps I'm letting myself get too sentimental. After all, you're Summer's daughter and I'm just the woman who abandoned your family." With a bitter, half hearted laugh, Raven stood up, resting one hand on the top of the hilt of her sword sheathed at her side. Those striking crimson eyes lingered once more on the vulnerable girl who was little more than a child, before Raven forced herself to turn away.
She grown so much. I've watched her change from a frightened child on the day she first arrived here into a fierce survivor. I watched over her time in the wilderness, I saw her take her first life to sustain herself, I watched her take the lessons of the forest to heart. I've never felt so much pride for someone else before, not since I gave birth to Yang. She's going to be okay Summer, I'll do what I should have done, now that I have the blessing of my clan. Forlorn and bittersweet feelings were welling up in her chest that she had long since buried as she made her way out of the bedroom and to the front door.
Qrow… you could have mentored her yourself. You may have lost touch with your heritage but you're still a Vampire. Is this what you wanted? You always did love to meddle' She wanted to be angry but the soft snoring coming from the bedroom kept a happy smirk on her face. Even trying to shake away the smile to greet the morning as stoically as ever, she found herself incapable of breaking her unusually positive mood while she slid open the front door to her home.
"Raven." A deep and subtly playful voice spoke up, a man that towered over Raven, bulky with large muscles and crimson eyes covered in scars.
"Master Calister, good morning." Not much came as a surprise to her with her Semblance allowing her to see into the future. She knew when she awoke that her clan's patriarch would greet her, though she couldn't sort out the the finer details very often.
"Come, let's speak outside, it's a beautiful day." His grin pulled at his graying beard and mustache and bared his fangs. Raven nodded and followed him outside without question, quietly closing the door behind her so as not to disturb Ruby
"How is the newest member of our clan doing now that she's home?" Calister leaned casually against the railing of her porch, glancing behind her towards where Ruby still lay sleeping. The mid morning sun shined down with high intensity but a cool breeze followed in the wake of the storm from the night.
"She's well, after she got home we bathed and she fell right to sleep. I don't expect her to wake up for some time. I hope you'll excuse her of her chores and tasks for the day while she recovers." It was customary but Raven still asked with a subdued look of worry on her face. Does he really accept Ruby as part of our tribe? I mean… she's changed yes, but does she really know what it would mean to stay with us? This isn't the life I wanted for Taiyang or my daughter… but Ruby is already here, despite growing up with a loving family and the ideals of Huntsmen and Huntresses.
"Of course, from what you told me she had quite a trial. I barely recognize her, she's obviously changed from her experience and was lucky to have you watching over her. I expect the daughter of Qrow and Summer to be quite the addition to our family." He chuckled, looking around casually at his clan busy into the day's chores. The Vampires had already fed on the Acolytes and were getting to work cleaning their homes and the town, organizing scouting and hunting and scouting parties and just being busy, all for the sake of their home and their family. It was a site that, even after hundreds of years, filled his heart with joy.
"Morning Raven, Master Calister." A cheerful voice of a woman spoke up, both subjects addressed turned to see a woman a bit older than Raven with extremely short black hair and crimson eyes. She wore black and red with plates wooden armor at her hips and shoulders.
"And a fine morning to you, Iris." Calister dipped his head respectfully, greeting the caretaker of the Acolytes amiably.
"I heard your niece has returned, and by heard I mean Alan brought it up about six times." Iris gave a snort of laughter, shaking her head while she folded her arms over her chest. "That boy is quite invested in her, asking if he could give her blood. He seemed disappointed when I told him that she likely wouldn't wake until later today if not tonight."
"It's good to see Alan invested in something other than trouble making. He's been wreaking havoc ever since Krystal left for Beacon. I'm sure Ruby will be good for him." Calister made it a point to know as much as he could about everyone in his clan, but he had not had much chance to give his attention to the young hybrid.
"Perhaps too good." Iris smirked in equal parts amusement and skepticism. "He was fairly popular as an Acolyte to feed on, but we can taste it in his blood and others are shying away from him. Whether the new girl knows it or not, she's marking him."
"Do you think he'll face an inquisition?" At Raven's question both women turned their eyes up to their patriarch expectantly.
"Soon, but not yet. They haven't spent much time together, they're young, I want them to have time to sort out their feelings on their own before we step in. For now, they are just good friends." His gaze wandered over to the large community home of the Acolytes that Iris oversaw. They lived together and worked together, often growing up and dying together over the generations. Acolytes were born into the clan, taken in from elsewhere or married into Acolytedom. Just like the Vampires, they were under his governance and protection and always tried to do what was best for them, including giving them say in the runnings of the village, just as the vampires did.
"Very well." Iris bowed her head respectfully. "He'll want to feed her when she awakes, I'll allow him off of feeding duties until then."
"Thank you, I'm sure both our young Ruby and he would appreciate that." He appointed Iris to her position long ago, she was empathetic and a capable leader.
"I'll return to my own duties then." With a small bow, the overseer took her leave, walking back towards the large home to her charges.
"Alan is a good young man, just troubled. I do think your niece would be good for him. Who knows, maybe we'll get to see an inquisition soon." His smile was fond and full of hope but his voice held slight undertones of sorrow as he spoke of the boy.
"Perhaps." Even Raven herself was caught off guard by the protectiveness she felt for the girl she left sleeping in her room. Ruby is an adult, she can do what she wants. Why would I care if she becomes romantically involved with a slacker like Alan?
"Well, I was just curious about Ruby. I'll speak more to her when she wakes up. Thank you for your time." With a smile and a shrug, Calister turned to leave.
Raven leaned against the frame of her door, her dull gaze falling to nowhere in particular. The sounds of nature and her community surrounding her on all sides. Not much had changed. I worried that… when I came back from Beacon, I wouldn't recognize this place. I got special dispensation along with Qrow to attend one of the huntsmen academies, I didn't really have much of a choice. Still, once I came home, I couldn't have been happier.
Her senses were divided from the idyllic scene of her village, to the girl sleeping behind her. I can't help but think Qrow saw the parallels between Ruby and I too. Leaving Beacon to come here, having to choose between this family and her mortal one. There's still a chance she'll choose them over us, I know I almost did.
"Oh well… I can't just laze about all day." With a soft shake of her head, Raven pulled herself from her thoughts and forced her body to move forward.
Sparing one last glance back at her home, before leaving Ruby to her well earned rest.
The midmorning sun was broken up by sparse clouds overhead, remnants of the massive storm that narrowly missed the village the night before. The air was cool and mild, with a prevailing breeze washing over everything.
Callister was right, it's a beautiful day. Even as she imbibed the fresh air, a lingering anxiety burned softly in her chest. Images of her vision flashed through her mind; two powerful warriors were going to attack their home. They're just humans, they shouldn't pose a serious threat, but still, something about this whole thing is bothering me.
"You okay, Raven?" A sudden voice startled Raven out of her thoughts as she looked up to see a man smiling at her. He was tall and dressed in robes that were fashionable a century ago. He was muscular and his eyes were a soft hazel, a human she recognized immediately.
"Master Mica," she bowed her head respectfully. "I'm fine, but there's a lot more happening recently than I'm used to."
"People have been talking a lot; about your vision of the intruders, about Qrow's sudden reappearance and about your niece," His tone cooled from a casual, relaxed voice to a harder note, his eyes fixing on Raven's, ensuring she was listening. "Opinions of her are mixed, the younger vampires and acolytes are lagerly unbothered by her, though I'd hesitate to call their opinion favorable. Even so, she's not really winning over our clan's elders."
"Why are you telling me this? Master Calister didn't-"
"Calister had a soft spot for Summer. He's old enough to remember the last fleeting moments of peace between the Slayers and Vampire kind, he saw Summer as a chance to rebuild that. Your niece is a literal bridge, both crimson and silver, I know that's part of his motivation. He also feels bad for what he had to do to Qrow, so he wasn't going to turn the guy's daughter away." Mica gave a heavy sigh, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Raven simply listened to him patiently. Few in the clan had the status or audacity to speak so personally and casually about their chief. 'Being the Master Calister's vassal, Master Mica isn't someone to take lightly. He might look like a normal human, but he's almost two-hundred years old. If he's telling me this, I'm sure there's a good reason.
"Ruby's Skin ceremony is tomorrow night, right?" Mica's calm, carefree demeanor returned, he was very much like Calister in that regard.
"Yes, assuming she wakes up by then, she had a particularly rough experience finding her familiar." Raven felt an unexpected desire to return to her home to check on the sleeping halfling.
"It's a big deal, everyone in the village is present, we have a feast, a dance, bonfire, the works. It could be a great opportunity for her… and you." Those last words held an edge that was deliberately impossible to miss.
"What are you implying?" Raven kept her tone calm and respectful, but narrowed her eyes at the human before her.
"It's not just Ruby, you have your own powerful detractors too. I mean, running off and getting pregnant is one thing, but your daughter was born a vampire, and instead of bringing her back like you were supposed to, you used some blood magic to seal her vampire side and left her with your human partner. Many saw that as a banishable offense, but then your brother went and knocked up a slayer, and people largely forgot about what you did. Now, Qrow's daughter is here, and you're acting like her mother, and it's got people talking again." He spoke so casually, even giggling at himself as he spoke, and he could tell it was pissing Raven off.
"If some people feel that way, they should say it to my face." Raven growled dangerously, baring her fangs before immediately sheathing them behind her lips, remembering he outranked her.
"Hey hey, relax, I'm not one of your detractors. Everyone makes mistakes when they're young, it's natural. Take it from a human, this way of life isn't for everyone, maybe your daughter is happier for what you did, who knows? Either way, you and Qrow are like Calister's own kids to him. The two orphaned vampires, Calister, myself and his other vassals helped raise you, changed your diapers and everything." Without hesitation, Mica placed a hand on Raven's head and gently patted her with a warm, playful smile. "I want you and Ruby to be happy here, it's just a matter of winning over some stubborn old Vampires."
"Mmmrr…" Raven looked shyly away as her cheeks burned with a soft pink blush. Suddenly, she found herself incredibly grateful that Ruby was still unconscious. He's always been like this, it's embarrassing, I'm not a little kid anymore.
"I don't need to tell you this, but do keep it in mind… Calister might be our chief, but he can be overruled. Ruby's arrival is opening old wounds and stirring up some hard feelings. I'd say there's a storm coming, and you and Ruby will be in the thick of it." He couldn't help but glance back at Raven's home, where the newest member of their clan slept, blissfully unaware.
"Thank you for telling me all this." Raven's shoulders relaxed and her walls dropped as a look of genuine gratitude overtook her expression.
"No problem!" He beamed a great big smile before he turned on his heel and began to walk off. "Keep Ruby safe, that kid might as well be my granddaughter."
Raven bowed once more to her superior as he took his leave. Another storm… it seems we're having a lot of those. I have to make sure Ruby has a permanent place here, if she wants it, and I also need to assure the safety of our clan. I just hope the Schnee girl and my idiot brother aren't going to cause too much trouble.
Two Weeks Earlier
Why aren't they answering!? Weiss growled as she gripped her scroll tighter and tighter, her call log filled with unanswered calls to her two remaining teammates. Yang, your sister is in danger, pick up your damn scroll!
Weiss' heart was pounding, her free hand restlessly ruffling her dress as she stood in the courtyard. The sun was getting low, casting the horizon in hues of brilliant pink and stunning orange.
I asked Ozpin, there was no record of a Thistle or Vitali registered as visitors, their passes must have been fake. Why are they looking for Ruby? They seem like guns for hire, so who's bankrolling this? Best guess, it's because Ruby's a hybrid of two very rare things, beyond that… I don't even want to think about what they want to do with her.
The heiress' strength gave out, her arms falling to her sides and her scroll nearly slipping out of her weak grasp. I couldn't keep her at Beacon, I couldn't go with her, now I can't even save her from the two psycho mercenaries hunting her down.
"I'm Ruby's partner… how can I be so useless in protecting her?" Weiss' eyes squeezed shut against the out flowing of tears that began to roll down her cheek, her fists balling as hard as they could while her muscles trembled. I miss her so much.
"I can come back if this is a bad time." A tired, awkward voice drew Weiss' bleary eyes open to see a familiar man standing before her.
"Qrow!" Weiss sniffled and rubbed the tears from her vision, forcing aside her pain with anger. "Where have you been!?"
"I have a life you know," Qrow huffed bitterly. "Oz said you were looking for me."
"Ruby is in danger! You have to take me to her now!" Weiss stepped firmly forward until she was only centimeters away from Qrow, glaring into his eyes while her own shimmered with tears and impotent rage. "I don't care about your stupid vampire rules, she has no idea what's coming!"
The gruff vampire staggered back at the sudden outburst, frantically looking around the courtyard as he put a hand over Weiss' mouth.
"Hey, Ice Queen, keep it down will ya? You want everyone to-"
"What do you know about vampires?"
A soft but firm voice from behind Qrow drew both of their attentions, finding a young faunus girl glaring at them as her fluffy brown fox tail lashed impatiently back and forth. She was tall, and work a frilly pink and brown dress and had curly long brown hair and sandy brown eyes to match.
"Nothing kid, don't you have classes or something?" Qrow growled at the fox faunus, but she didn't even flinch.
"Wait… your eyes," The girl's lips parted leaving her mouth slightly agape as she stared dubiously at the gruff, whiskey scented mess before her. "Are you Lady Raven's disgraced brother!?"
"Lady Raven? Wait, you're an acolyte?" The vampire raised an eyebrow, looking up and down at her.
"Yes, my name's Krystal. Before you ask, I didn't leave the clan, I got permission to come here, and unlike you, I don't intend to abandon my family." Krystal glared up at the deserter, meeting him eye to eye.
"Well aren't you fun…" With a shrug of his shoulders, Qrow took to the flask of whiskey at his hip, taking a good solid gulp before screwing the cap back on.
"What's an acolyte?" Weiss' gaze bounced from the newcomer to the vampire and back, her mind reeling as it tried to organize everything happening.
"Who are you anyway? What do you know about us?" Krystal walked past Qrow, bumping him with her shoulder before stopping in front of Weiss.
"M-my partner here at Beacon, well, former partner… she's a vampire… or, half vampire. I don't really understand but she went to live where Qrow is from. Her name is Ruby." Weiss' jumbled mess of an explanation was about the extent of what she knew. I hate being in the dark like this.
"I see…" Krystal paused for a moment, looking up and down at the older girl, until her eyes settled just below Weiss' shoulder. "Oh, ooh! I get it! She fed from you!"
"H-how did you know?" Weiss shrunk back, her cheeks scorched a deep red as her hand gently fell over the area Ruby had tapped for her blood.
"Acolytes are humans and faunus that live with vampires, either by birth, by marriage or sometimes just by showing up and asking. We feed vampires with our blood, and in exchange, they protect us, at least, that's how it looks from the outside. In truth, we're a tight-knit community and we're all just doing our part." The acolyte was beaming with pride as she spoke.
"So… right now, Ruby is feeding off of other acolytes?" The heiress' soft fingertips gently pressed into her own smooth, cool skin where Ruby had bitten her. A strange feeling pooled in her chest, a conflict of connection and disconnection at once.
"Probably, younger vampires can't go very long without blood and even older ones don't enjoy it. We'd each feed a couple vampires a day, actually, our bodies produce more blood and faster in response to being fed on, so even repeated feedings don't leave us feeling bad. Of course, it's hard to feel bad when a vampire is feeding on you, but you know what I mean." Krystal grinned playfully at Weiss, leaning forward towards her.
"If I'm being honest, I want her to do it again. It was nice, feeling that connected to her. I think Blake and Yang thought I was crazy, or had some kind of fetish, hearing you say that is a big relief." Weiss gave a soft sigh, content at least to know she wasn't crazy.
"My slacker big brother is an acolyte too, his blood apparently tastes good because he's pretty popular to feed on and gets along with pretty much everyone. I'd say there's a good chance that your partner has fed off my brother. If you think about it, that kinda makes us extended family." The fox faunus rocked back on her heels, her eyes holding a complicated mix of emotions while her smile softened.
"Family?" As that single whispered word left her lips, she felt a gentle warmth radiate from where she was bitten, washing over her body. That's how they see it, blood connects people. We've just met, but Krystal is already considering us family to some extent. Since Ruby drank my blood, that means even though we're not together in person, we're still connected. Yeah… I like that notion.
"If you two are done, weren't you telling me something about Ruby being in danger?" Qrow stood glaring at the two girls impatiently, his arms folded over his chest.
"Right!" Weiss shook herself back to reality. "Two mercenaries showed up here with fake visitor's passes. A guy and a girl, I think they were brother and sister. The brother went to look for you, Qrow, while the girl talked to me. She said they were hired to capture Ruby alive. I can tell, they're both extremely dangerous, we need to do something!"
Qrow's annoyed expression quickly devolved into a look of shock while Krystal stared at Weiss with wide eyed fear, both immediately comprehending the implication.
"Okay, this is serious. Uhg, I hate family reunions, just hold on." Running his fingers through his bangs Qrow slicked back his hair and drew in deep breath.
Both Weiss and Krystal watched silently as Qrow pulled his lips back… revealing long, incredibly sharp fangs, a feature he had hidden for years. Without hesitation, Qrow brought his hand to his canines and punctured his skin, deep crimson blood drawing out from the wound as he licked it.
After indulging in his first blood drinking in a long, long time, Vampire dipped his finger into his spilt vital fluid and his eyes began to glow. He smeared his blood across his palm just below his fingers in a wide sweep… and then whispered something into his hand.
Weiss glanced at Krystal, hoping for some kind of clarification, but all she got out of the acolyte was a resigned shrug… until the space before them distorted and warped as a glowing porthole formed.
"I hope you have a good reason for calling me, Ruby's in the middle of her trail for her familiar." Raven stepped through the portal, her crimson eyes glaring at her brother. "I just left her alone in the middle of the woods."
"You did what!?" Weiss gapped, drawing the attention of the vampire.
"… you must be the Schnee girl, Ruby's former partner if I remember right." Her steely hard gaze and cold tone made Weiss flinch as the imposing woman looked her up and down. "Don't worry, Ruby is strong, and getting stronger every day. I'm sure you'd hardly recognize her if you see her again."
"Lady Raven!" A giddy and jubilant voice chimed in drawing Raven's attention from Weiss.
"Krystal, it's good to see you. You're looking well, I hope you're not having too hard a time adjusting to life outside our village." Instantly the harshness in Raven's tone evaporated.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm getting homesick a lot, but I'm enjoying my time here too, I'm already top of my class in combat!" Krystal beamed with confidence and pride… until her voice became soft and somber and she stepped aside. "There's so much more I want to say, but for now, Weiss has something urgent to tell you."
"Oh? What could that be?" Raven's tone wasn't as much curiosity as annoyed, but still, at Krystal's insistence, she listened.
"Okay…" Weiss drew in a deep breath, hoping that this scary vampire lady would listen. "Well-"
…
…
…
"Mercenaries hunting Ruby… that is troubling." Raven sighed, having fully processed Weiss' recount of events. "Any details you can give me about their capabilities would be helpful."
"The girl didn't use her Semblance, but her weapons are a pair of recurved knives tethered to chains on her wrist. The guy had two pistols with combat knife blades attached like bayonets, his Semblance seemed to be the ability to create an attractive force between two points. First he pinned my scroll to the table, then he pinned me against a tree without even touching me." Weiss could still vividly recall every detail of her brief encounter with the two hired guns.
"That's a lot more information to go on than we had before… is there anything else that might be relevant?" Raven folded her arms over her chest, feeling a sense of unease gripping her heart.
"Um… I think the girl, Thistle, said something about her working for a very dangerous man who's working for another very dangerous man… but that's all she said about that." The heiress replayed those memories over and over, trying to extract anything else from them, but to no avail.
"I'll bring this to Master Calister, if anything relevant comes up, Qrow knows how to contact me." Without another word, Raven reopened the porthole and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Everyone fell into a stunned silence… as Weiss rushed Raven and grabbed hold of her arm, pulling the vampire back from the porthole. In the next instant, a pair of searing crimson eyes glared down at the huntress in training. All Weiss could do was stare back, her blood running cold as her brain reeled from the result of her impulse.
If I let her go now… I might never get answers. Despite all her instincts screaming at her to let go and back away, Weiss' grip tightened and her eyes never faltered from Raven's.
"W-what did you mean… if I see her again?" The heiress was trembling, she knew Raven could feel it. She could feel her blood quaking in the presence of a full fledged vampire. Still, she held her ground, compelling her fear down with the image of Ruby. I need to know… I need to know if the last time I saw Ruby… will be the last I ever see her.
"You care for her a great deal." Raven's gaze didn't falter, as she spoke, she let her fangs show, but still, beneath the cold in her tone, a permeating heartache dulled the edge in her words. "It's not easy, choosing between our clan and whatever family our kind builds outside of it. Still, our kind has an innately strong sense of kinship. Outside of the clan, we can't live as we're truly meant to… we have such long lives. The alternative is watching everyone you love turn to dust before your eyes."
"… is that the choice you made when you left Yang?" Weiss' mouth immediately snapped shut as she felt like she stepped on a landmine. Shit.
"Don't think you can speak so freely to me!" All of the softness was obliterated as Raven grabbed Weiss' wrist, violently twisting her arm and pulling her closer, her fangs fully bared.
Weiss struggled impotently, her aura caving under the insane strength of the vampire. She could somehow feel Raven's bloodlust and anger through her touch, her heart pounded so loud through her ears it drowned out everything as she tried desperately to break free.
"L-let me go!" Weiss tried to pry off Raven's grasp with her free hand… but only succeeded in allowing the vampire to get a hold on her other arm before she was pulled only centimeters from those deadly sharp fangs.
Weiss' eyes squeezed shut as her pathetic struggling gave way to a weak resignation. Her muscles burned through the last of her strength and will, exhaustion overwhelming every fiber of her being. With a soft, barely perceptible release of air from her lungs, she braced herself for whatever came next.
"… As a kindness towards Ruby, I won't hurt you." Raven huffed bitterly, shoving Weiss away as though she weighed nothing. "Krystal, ensure that Weiss stays out of trouble, and away from our village. Ruby is under our care now."
"Yes, Lady Raven." Krystal bowed deeply, breathing a sigh of relief as the tension faded from the air.
All Weiss could do was watch, held back by Krystal, as Raven gave one last menacing glare to the huntress in training… before she disappeared back into the porthole.
Present Day
Still no answer… Weiss gave a soft sigh, quenching the rising anxiety in her heart as she looked again to her call log. It's been two weeks, and still no trace of Yang, Blake or Sun. I can't do anything for Ruby right now, but at least I know she's safe enough with Raven.
"Hey, don't look so depressed, we have a solid lead now at least, which is more than we've had in a while." Krystal walked beside Weiss, her fox tail lashing back and forth behind her as they navigated their way through the slums of Vale.
"My dad told me a few things about Roman Torchwick… like 'we should stay away from him' and 'don't get in too deep, you're just a first year'." Lucaa Blackwell, a young man with short, slick black hair and black eyes followed along beside his partner and their new third year friend.
"Did he say anything useful?" Krystal narrowed her eyes in frustration at her partner.
"Just that Torchwick is dangerous and has a lot of connections." Lucaa bobbed his head back and forth. "That's probably why Yang and the others went to him, to find someone."
"It doesn't matter how dangerous he is, he's our only lead on my team." Weiss picked up the pace, edging out in front of her two juniors. Lucaa doesn't know about vampires or slayers and Krystal asked me to keep it a secret. This is annoying. I know she offered to help because Raven wanted her to keep an eye on me, but I can't believe Ozpin approved this. Still, I can't say I'm upset to have backup… and company. I just hope Yang, Blake and Sun are safe.
Heavy boots scuffed against cold hard stone, echoing through the dimly lit, narrow corridor that descended down into the earth. A modest procession following along the damp chiseled steps, led by a man clad in a silver and white cloak with matching plate armor.
"How deep does this go?" Another man spoke up from directly behind the man leading the way. He looked painfully average, with short, messy brown hair, dull brown eyes and dress cargo shorts and a button-up shirt with the sleeves ripped off.
"Getting bored, or claustrophobic?" The man in front laughed, looking behind him, his striking silver eyes shining like the full moon even in the dim light of the hall.
"Both." The second in line didn't flinch or hesitate at the admission.
"Oh, the infamous Ebony Grey, scared of tight spaces? Well, I suppose we all have our fears." He gave a brief huff of laughter before turning back towards the seemingly endless passage.
"And what do you fear, Crowley?" Ebony's words were spoken so calmly, but no one could mistake the danger in his words.
"Aside from you?" Alexandrite Crowley's pace picked up, spacing himself from the rest of the group before coming to a dead stop. "I guess if I had to sum it up… my biggest fear is being left behind."
The rest of the group caught up with Crowley, continuing their descent into the bowels of his compound. Though now, there was a greater gap between the front and the middle, where two siblings exchanged worried glances.
"Those two creep me out…" The soft, warm voice of Thistle barely registered as a whisper to anyone but her brother as they kept what they perceived as a safe distance from Alexandrite and Ebony.
"This whole place creeps me out. Not to mention…" Vitali lightly elbowed his little sister and with a subtle jerk of his head, brought her attention behind them.
At the very rear of the group, four others walked silently behind the rest. An eerie sight, three pairs of silver eyes shone in the dim light like mirrors. The Crowley children; Bianca, the oldest and pride of her father, Eshell, the middle daughter and Salis, the only son and the youngest of the three.
Between the Crowley children, a fourth figure staggered, carefully navigating the steps by feel… due to the sack tied over their head.
Thistle shuttered at the sight of them, immediately turning her attention back in front of her, as little comfort as that gave her. She stayed as close to Vitali as she could, knowing he was as uncomfortable as he was, and the only other remotely sane person there.
"We're here…" Alexandrite's cold, hard voice echoed up the steps as he flicked a switch on the wall, lighting up a wide, flat area carved into the stone… with a series of rooms shut off with heavy metal doors.
He didn't wait for the rest of them to catch up before he proceeded towards the central room. His placid face grew a devious, sadistic smile as he unlocked the door, and pulled it slowly open, filling the once pitch black space with light.
"Hello, my dear guest, I hope you're finding the accommodations tolerable." Alexandrine stepped forward, standing just at the threshold of the room.
Before him… piercing crimson eyes glowed with a bloodthirsty rage glared into his. Heavy shackles attached to numerous bolts embedded into the stone around the cell shook and strained against the furious thrashing of the body they held in place.
"CROWLEY!" The prisoner screamed, ripping her vocal cords from the sheer force of her shout as her lips pulled back, baring long, sharp fangs. "I'll kill you when I get out of here!"
"Ms. Xiao Long, there's really no need for that." Alexandrite spoke so calmly. "I gave you what you wanted, I removed the blood magic keeping you from being a full fledged vampire. Still, you didn't expect me to do it for free did you?"
"Aaaaahg!" Yang screamed at him, pulling at the shackles even harder.
"Mmm, wouldn't do that. Those are bolted into the stone around you. Keep fighting like that and the entire thing will collapse on you, you won't survive that, and I'd hate to lose a valuable research subject." Alexandrite merely watched with amusement as her useless fighting died down to a heartbroken resignation.
"There there, we can still be on good terms, I even brought a peace offering." He stepped back from the threshold, joining with the others who had finally caught up. "Salis, Bianca, bring me Ms. Xiao Long's gift, Eshell, just stay by the stairs and don't touch anything."
In unison, the oldest and youngest child grabbed the bagged prisoner by their arms and pushed them forward, while Eshell slunked off to sit on the cold steps behind everyone else.
Thistle and Vitali watched as the trembling person reluctantly followed the lead of their captors, until they came to a stop right beside Alexandrite.
"Here, I hope this will help you warm up to me." The patriarch of the Crowley family laughed to himself… before he pulled off the cloth sack over the prisoner's head.
"Blake!" Yang screamed again, feeling her throat tear at the pressure of her voice.
"See, I knew this would lift your spirits." Crowley fist balled up a bunch of Blake's black, silky hair, lifting her to her toes. The cat faunus was pale and bruised, but her warm amber eyes were defiantly strong.
"Ebony… break her aura." With a look of disgust, Alexandrite shoved Blake away.
Without hesitation, Ebony Grey stepped forward, and grabbed Blake by the back of her head and before she could blink… her skull smashed into the stone wall with enough force the fracture it. Blake's aura flickered out before she was tossed to the ground, unconscious.
"Blake! Blake!" Yang's crimson eyes pooled with tears as she struggled in vain against her restraints, leaning forward as far as she could just to get closer to the partner. "Please, don't hurt her! I'll do whatever you want just… stop!"
"Stop?" Alexandrite's voice became disturbingly gentle and cool as he turned his silver eyes towards the vampire in his dungeon. "You know, it's rude to refuse a gift from your host, right?"
The patriarch reached towards his back, never breaking eye contact with Yang as he drew a long, thin sword. The blade was ornate, and finely made, with silver accents… and a rose emblem on the hilt.
"Wait! Don't-"
Before Yang could get another word out… she watched his sword slide slowly and deliberately into Blake's flesh at her shoulder, the cat faunus' body trembling from the damage before falling limp as shock won out over pain.
"You should be thankful, you haven't fed since I removed your mother's curse." With a small nod to Ebony, the mercenary picked up Blake's body as though it weighed nothing… and tossed her into the cell with Yang, just within reach.
"Eat up, I've saved your boyfriend in case you bleed her dry, so no need to hold back." Without letting Yang react… Alexandrite slammed the solid metal door.
Even through the door, Thistle could hear the pitiful sobbing and repeated apologies as the vampire cried over Blake. The small mercenary's fists balled up around her white shorts, trying to force her trembling body to be still. Why did he do that? He already had her captured, she said she would cooperate. These people really are insane.
"The hybrid should be at the vampire village, it would be the only logical place to store her. Go there and bring her back to me alive." Alexandrite's tone was harsh and impatient as he flicked the girl's blood from his sword.
"Let us handle this!" Thistle chimed in, all traces of fear burned from her voice with raw confidence.
"By yourselves?" Ebony Grey raised an eyebrow at his underling.
"I know what I'm capable of." Thistle's eyes narrowed, staring directly into Ebony's and voice grew hard. The air around her body crackled and hissed as her Semblance flared up with her emotions.
"I like this one." Alexandrite looked up at down at the tiny girl.
"Hmm, I suppose it's about time you get your chance to shine." Ebony shrugged. "Don't disappoint me."
"We'll head out now, just send us the coordinates." Thistle turned on her heel and grabbed her brother by his arm, dragging him past the Crowley children and up the stairs. I just want to get out of here.
Vitali neither Thistle nor Vitali spoke a word until they were sure they were out of earshot.
"So… are you crazy or what?" Vitali breathed heavily from how quickly they had rushed up the many, many steps to reach the main part of the Crowley compound… a massive stone castle.
"No, I'm not. What we saw back there? That's crazy." Thistle hadn't let go of his arm, squeezing him as tight as she could as she struggled to steady her pounding heart.
"We're really gonna just attack a whole village of vampires? I mean, we're strong, and you're pretty much unbeatable one on one but-"
"What's the alternative? Ebony Grey doesn't give a shit about collateral damage. He'd wipe the place off the map along with everyone living there. Maybe we can just get them to hand Ruby over with a show of force." A cold feeling in her gut gnawed at her as she looked out the arched window out to the countryside. We're in over our heads, aren't we?