New chapter, who dis?
Drip.
Most people would be concerned to hear that she'd been in cells more than once. Her dad would probably have a heart attack. Her friends? Something between awe and horror. Raven…
Raven would probably put her in one so that didn't count.
Yang stared up at the damp spot in the ceiling, narrowing her eyes as another droplet hit the floor.
Not beneath a building, not unless the room was leaking. Outside? It had rained earlier so that made sense; the ground had become so sodden that water had saturated it. It would explain why she never heard anything unless someone was in the cells with her. Which there wasn't. No one else was down here save for whoever was on guard duty.
Pushing her tongue through her lips Yang leaned forward, chains pulling at her wrists. The water hit her tongue and she immediately fought back a gag, spitting and shuddering, face pulled in an ugly grimace.
Water mixed with manure if she had to guess. Why'd she even try that? The answer was simple: boredom.
Great, so she was imprisoned under a fucking flower bed or something. What were the chances people didn't even know the cells were down here?
Heaving out a frustrated sigh she got to her feet. Her posture slumped because of the chains and she stared at the bolt in the center of the floor, sticking her tongue out childishly. With her magic cut off from her it wasn't like she could burn her way out and the links were too thick to break bare handed. The bastards who stuck her in the cell knew what they were doing.
Down the hall, the wooden door creaked open, deadbolt sliding against rusted fixtures. Jasper, a kid who couldn't weigh more than a few sheets of paper, jumped in his chair, nearly knocking it over as he stood. Yang snorted and rolled her eyes.
Drip.
Figuring it was just a change in the guard Yang dropped onto her bed. The wooden frame flexed beneath her, creaking, and she shifted her weight to draw her feet up and lay back. Maybe she'd go back to tracing patterns in the ceiling. That sounded like fun.
"Is she awake?"
Or not. Yang's eyes snapped to the cell door, slowly rising from the bed. Jasper nodded to someone just out of view and spoke - or mimed, she couldn't hear the kid, gesticulating wildly. More interested in the woman who'd addressed him Yang moved towards the cell door, reaching for bars before remembering the enchantments placed on them.
"You're dismissed. Be a dear and ask one of the twins to come down when I'm done, won't you? I shan't be long."
Pinkish-orange hair bobbed into view; a full head shorter than her. Peach gave her a smile caught somewhere between apology and greeting, one that tried to convey both happiness and regret. Yang wasn't sure which, too busy just staring at the woman to pick out subtle nuances. She could have had a tree sprouting out of her forehead and she'd have been too confused to notice.
"Yang… May I call you Yang? I'm glad to see that you're awake and none the worse for wear. When I heard that things turned nasty at the farm I'd feared you were injured. I'm happy to see that's not the case."
Why was this lady here? They'd last met in Ambrose; a town ravaged by disease. Despite already feeling like ages ago it couldn't have been more than two weeks. In any other scenario she'd be thrilled to see the woman again; Peach being here meant that Ambrose had survived the ordeal. Which in hindsight was obvious seeing as they'd run into Coco and company recently.
"Yang, dearie, can you hear me?"
"Uh-huh… Loud and clear." Yang tilted her head and blinked. "... Why are you here, grandma?"
Peach laughed, covering her mouth and grabbing her rounded belly. "Grandma? Dear, I'm not quite that old! And I'm here because I brought you here, of course. Why else would I be here?"
"You brought me here?" Yang played with the idea before shaking her head. "Some goons in white jumped me and Ruby and -" Her eyes widened, and she lunged for the bars, grabbing it. Electricity zapped her hands and she stumbled back with a yelp. "Fuck!"
"Please be careful! Those spells are an ugly necessity, I'm afraid. So long as you don't touch the door, you'll be fine."
"Screw the door! If I'm here then Ruby must be here too, right? Let me see her then!"
"Please don't yell. Your sister is here, yes, but for the time being -"
"Then let me see her, dammit!" Yang almost grabbed the bars again before settling for stomping her foot. The cold floor made her calloused sole sting on impact and she curled her toes, gritting her teeth and pulling at the chains. "Please…" she half-whispered, half pleaded. "I just need to make sure she's okay."
"Ruby is perfectly fine, sweetheart. She's being kept in another building on site, in nicer accomodations than any inn you'd find." The woman looked at her cell and grimaced. "Nicer than yours too. I know this is all a bit much, but I promise that our intentions aren't to harm either of you."
"But you had us kidnapped?"
"We did try to have you come with us willingly, but as I understand you started a fight, my dear," Peach reprimanded gently. "What's done is done. You're here and you're awake which means we can finally have a talk." She took the chair Jasper had occupied and settled into it, scooting closer to the cell and dropping her satchel at her feet.
"I didn't start anything! They attacked Ruby and I defended her. Don't paint me like the bad guy here."
"Did they…? Well in that case I'll speak to them when I'm done here. I'm very sorry, Yang. They were never supposed to harm either of you. I realize now it means little…"
Damn straight it meant little. Hard to forgive the lady responsible for cramming you in a musty cold cell.
Not having magic really, really sucked. Not that Yang felt like she'd blow the lady away if given the chance, she wasn't a total monster, but she'd break out in an instant and go find Ruby. Without a means of getting free she huffed, sitting on the cold floor, crossing her legs awkwardly with chains rattling.
"Fine, talk. What's going on?"
"We're just trying to get some answers, dearie. After everything you endured at the hands of that madman Merlot, I wouldn't dare subject you to anything unpleasant."
"You had some guys attack me and stuck me in a cell where I can't use my magic." Yang raised an eyebrow. "That sounds pretty unpleasant to me."
"And I am sincerely sorry for all of that, but you're a risk. That Grimm of yours, while it could be an asset, could just as easily make you attack others blindly. I've seen the reports from Holbrook, dear." Peach gave her a confounding smile. "I'm doing this so everyone is at ease, and so no one attacks you in turn."
"Locked me up for my own good?" Yang chuckled humorlessly, leaning back and linking her arms around one knee. "Real nice of ya."
"This is for your own good," the woman repeated. "There are other people who'd do to you what Merlot did if given the chance."
"And you're different because…?"
"Because I'm trying to cure you, sweetheart." The answer made Yang stop and stare. Cure her? She almost laughed, a soft, derisive sound. "I know what happens to you, and I know why it happens to you."
"Because of the Grimm, right?" Yang asked, bored. "Look, if we're just gonna go over this stuff I'd rather take a nap."
"It's because of the Grimm, yes, but it's also because of magic. What it does to us. Dear, the Church isn't as blind to what happened in Plockton as you think. Of course, it helps that your own mother all but admitted everything to her brother."
Yang's lips drew into a harsh line. "She's not my mother."
"You know magic attracts Grimm but not why," she went on without missing a beat. "From the sounds of things Raven doesn't quite know either other than it does." She was being led on and she knew it yet Yang couldn't help but lean forward just a bit. "Miasma, dearie. Grimm are attracted to miasma, everyone knows that, it's why its banned from use. But the truth of the matter is that all magic produces miasma. Every spell to varying degrees makes it and that is what makes Grimm flock to us. To Magi, to Hunters, the very people sworn to kill the beasts."
"Magic makes miasma?" Yang repeated, brow furrowed.
"Spellcast Sickness. Haven't you ever wondered how it makes someone ill? It is, after a fashion, miasma poisoning. Most don't know that however since it can't be used but the symptoms are strikingly similar. I've seen quite a few cadavers in my day, sweetheart, a product of my profession." Peach's smile fell and she closed her eyes, prominent wrinkles forming on her face as it contorted.
"So many young men and women and veterans alike. Overexerting themselves to protect people only to die by their own hand. The Church keeps it a secret because we need magic to kill Grimm. Without it we'd be wiped out. A necessary evil, but evil nonetheless."
Yang clicked her tongue and shifted her weight, chains rattling, dragging coldly against her exposed skin. It all sounded reasonable enough. Hell, she'd even say it made perfect sense given what she'd seen. Magic existed everywhere. It was like air. If all it took for Grimm to appear was some magic then Remnant would be blanketed by the things, but it wasn't, and they weren't. There had to be something else to it.
Just because it made sense didn't mean that Yang bought it entirely.
"Got a way to prove that? Cuz I've had plenty of people tell me plenty of things over the years, ya know." She smiled bitterly. "Doesn't mean a whole lot without some proof."
"Miasma drives Grimm into a frenzy, attracts them and makes them attack people. It's like nectar for bees." If bees were huge with sharp claws and fangs then sure, just like nectar and bees. "What's happened to you in the past when you've been around magic? Surely you've noticed?"
She'd go mad. The Grimm reacted, drove her into a frenzy. She'd nearly attacked Ruby and Weiss in Holbrook. Again, in the caves. By some miracle she hadn't gone berserk in Plockton.
"That's my proof, dear. I have plenty of accounts about your behavior, and plenty of documents from the Church that supports what I've said. It's a dreadful secret we've kept from our own but without it we'd be powerless. The world needs magic, Yang. Side effects and all."
"So… Where do I fit in? You mentioned curing me?"
Peach nodded, inching forward towards the cell bars, chair scraping against the floor. She reached a hand through the bars and Yang stared at it, then took it when the woman nodded encouragingly. A green light formed around their hands, disappearing abruptly with a faint spark.
In the brief moment Yang felt her arm itch and something tense inside of her. The woman drew her hand back, shaking it, and Yang inspected her bandaged arm curiously, contorting a bit to run her other hand along the limb.
"Without that Grimm you won't be targeted anymore. You'd be yourself, and with luck, people will stop trying to replicate what Merlot created."
"A monster."
"A tireless Hunter, but one with a terrible curse," Peach corrected. She gave a soft motherly smile and placed her hands on her knees. "I'd like to help you be free from that, sweetheart, and I think I know how. Ambrose, as terrible as it was, gave me some valuable insight about your condition."
"And your way of curing me was to kidnap me? Keeping me in isolation?" she balked.
"It's quarantine, dear. I'm sorry for how it happened but surely you must understand? If you're given to anger, then you lash out. I can't perform something like this in the city where civilians could be at risk. We can't have a repeat of the chapel."
Yang cringed, sinking into herself with a grimace. She'd much rather not have to think about that ever again. Even when lost to Merlot's commands she could still hear things. The screams, the panicked cries as people tried to escape. In a fugue-like state she could recall how flames danced up the walls, rafters breaking, blocking the exits and crumbling. It was hell inside the building, fire and brimstone. People engulfed in flames.
The smell of blood.
Gods, that she could picture it so vividly even now made her retch. Her body shuddered on reflex and she curled up on the spot, burying her face in her knees.
"Yang? Yang?" Peach watched on in concern, rising from her chair. She moved to open the cell door.
"I wouldn't do that."
The small woman jumped with a start, putting a hand on her chest. "Oh, Arthur, don't do that! You'll give me a heart attack!" She looked into the cell again and moved again to open it. A hand caught her wrist and she pulled in protest. "Arhur, she's harmless as she is. Let me comfort -"
"It is your duty to make sure she survives the ordeal, not to comfort her. Until that thing is removed she is a risk."
Yang pried her shining face from her knees, drawing short, gasping breaths. Peach, several heads taller than Arthur, glowered up at him. She looked to want to defy him, and more than once she sent a pity-riddled glance her way. After a long moment's silence, she nodded, her wrist released. "Very well, but if you harm her then Ozpin will hear of it. We are here to help her, not hurt her."
"Rest assured we are doing what is in Miss Xiao Long's best interests, nothing more. Now if you'd be a dear and return upstairs there's some work that needs doing. Hurry along, won't you?"
"I swear to Edos, if you harm her…"
"I have no intentions to. Now go, you have business elsewhere."
With one last passing glance Peach hitched up her robe and hurried out of view. Yang listened to hurried footsteps against wooden stairs and the sound of a door creaking open before slamming closed. As dubious as she had been about Peach's company, she found herself wanting for it instantly. The woman seemed to be kindly, certainly more so than most people she'd met. A genuine desire to help.
The lanky man with her now leered at her like a predator. Not one appraising a meal for there was no hunger in his eyes. Pure hatred. With her own flames snuffed out she wondered if this man hadn't stolen them with how intensely he glowered at her, trying to set her aflame with his eyes alone.
"I'm going to make one thing abundantly clear." Arthur lowered himself to a squat to come eye to eye. "You are a blight on the Church. Your mere existence is heresy. An unholy marriage between beast and man." His expression hardened, growing angrier still, face turning red. "That you still live is a sin. Ozpin may want to keep you alive, and the crown may wish it so as well, but I'm not so inclined."
Even with unpleasant images in her mind still Yang shuffled forward on her knees and sneered. "Am I supposed to be afraid? I've seen scarier shit than you in my sleep, you mustached reed."
"Your bite is worse than your bark, clearly." In a swift turnaround he calmed himself, stood and adjusted his doublet, smoothing out wrinkles. "By some idiocy you're safe, but rest assured that given the slightest provocation I will dispose of you, girl. It would be so much easier to bury you along with this sordid ordeal."
"But you can't, because Ozpin says so," she said. "Thanks for the info, by the way. Now I know what's going on here."
"Because it doesn't matter, dear. Because, frankly, you're not expected to survive the procedures." Arthur smiled cruelly. "The people of Ambrose didn't. Oh, did she neglect to mention that part? Everything with your treatment is theory and nothing more. There's a very high likelihood it will kill you, or at best, render you catatonic."
A twinge of terror was masked behind a sharp laugh, Yang's hands trembling as she gripped her trousers. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Hide what you guys failed to do, pretend it didn't happen. Wouldn't want a stain on the Church now would you?" She settled back down and smiled. "Except I see a shit stain right in front of me."
"Charming. Almost as charming as your younger sister who I dare say will be absolutely devastated to hear of your passing."
"You leave Ruby out of this or I swear -"
"You'll do what? You're powerless in there. No magic to call upon whatsoever. Please spare me your empty threats."
"When I get out of here I'm going to seriously enjoy burning that mustache off your face," Yang growled.
Arthur smiled and raised a hand to the cell. "I don't doubt you'd like a chance. A pity you won't get it." His hand began to glow blue. Yang's eyelids suddenly felt heavier, her head swaying despite her best efforts to keep it up. "Now, be a dear and sleep, won't you? After all, we have much work ahead of us." An insult died on Yang's lips and she fell sideways, hair obscuring her face. Arthur smiled, cancelling his spell and waving. "Enjoy your rest, girl."
/+/+/+/+/+/
What was finer than a good drink in the lovely outdoors? Sure, technically the outdoors in question were cordoned off by brick walls and wrought iron gates but it was still outdoors. Perhaps the trimmed hedges without a leaf out of line, the brick walkways, water fountains to the left and right of the central path, and a pond with fish further back weren't wholly natural, but it was still outside.
Life was full of technicalities. Technically, metal shouldn't float and yet Atlas created a vessel to do just that. Technically, Grimm should have wiped out humanity ages ago. Magic solved that issue too. With a sip of honeyed whiskey, he let out a contented sigh, craning his head back and soaking up the sun's rays.
Technically he should be in Vale right now meeting with his fellows to decide on some important business. So important in fact it had completely slipped from his thoughts. If it was serious enough one of his attendants would come to fetch him.
None had and so he elected to lounge about instead.
"This is the life isn't it? Spending afternoons in a cozy garden, lounging about and sampling some of the newest imports the kingdom has to offer." He cracked one eye open lazily and smiled. Neo stared at him, arms folded and legs dangling off a low wall. "Oh, come on, don't pout at me. It's relaxing!"
They had work to do unofficially but that could wait as well.
Rising from his chair, popping his back with a groan and adjusting his cap, he sauntered over to one of the fountains. Crystalline water showed his face back to him and he leaned in, using it like a mirror to fix his collar.
"You know, one of these days I'll get another fountain installed." He held out his glass and Neo took it eagerly. Too eagerly. He smacked her hand before she could drink and tutted. "No alcohol, you know that."
Neo stuck out her tongue and dumped the drink in a rose bush.
"Neo! I wasn't done with that!" His companion's answer was a sweet smile and twirl of her pink and brown hair. "Wonderful, now I've got to get someone to bring me another drink." He smiled and fetched his cane, twirling it as he followed along the path. "Unless that's your way of telling me I've had enough?"
What was wrong with a bit of self-indulgence? A new fountain, a few casks of whiskey or wine. He'd bought himself a statue of the goddess Xion which now stood proudly over a bed of lilies, gardenias, orchids, and over variants that the botanist had listed off, yet he hadn't enough care to memorize.
And what a lovely statue it was. As goddess of all things scholarly the statue held itself with dignity, long straight tresses flowing down her back, a robe swirling around her body, concealing her more private areas; a shame as the statue was otherwise gorgeous. He paused at the base of it and smiled, tapping its foundation idly. On one hand a book, its font a Mistralian scrawl he couldn't possibly hope to read, and in the other some kind of branch. It was symbolic of something, probably. Again, he didn't care to know.
"Hm… Do you suppose the gods like when we erect statues of them?" he mused aloud, tapping the base again. "Do you think they enjoy it, or do you suppose we're making idols for nothing?" Neo shrugged, looking at the statue head to toe before making a crude gesture. "I hardly bought it for that! What do you take me for?" He held a hand up and looked away. "Forget I asked."
"I've always wondered about it." Moving away from the statue he continued down the brick path, cane held behind his back. He passed along squared hedges, lattices with flowering vines creeping up them, attempting to reach the sky for more potent sunlight. "I wonder if the Church with all their gospel and priests believe what they spout or if it's just food for the mindless masses?"
Another nice thing about days off was the chance to entertain idle thoughts. Not that his companion was the best person to converse with; Neo's range of vocalizations amounted to that of a newborn. It was a good thing she couldn't read his thoughts.
"That reminds me, we've got that confounded wedding to go to don't we? For Lady Lavender?" Neo wasn't his stewardess, but she kept track of enough to know. He grimaced when she nodded. "Lovely. I'll need to have another suit tailored. I'd be a laughingstock if I showed up with the same suit as last time. Can you imagine?"
Her response was to put a hand to her forehead and lean back in dramatic fashion.
"Exactly! I can't do that. Lord Bisset has a reputation to upkeep after all."
He circled around the garden, following the intersecting paths until he reached the rear. There sat the pond with a variety of fish which, much like with the botanist, he'd feigned interest as the gentleman from the fishery listed them off. Goldfish, those he knew, but the red and black ones, or the white scaled, slender fish? It was like trying to differentiate between two rocks.
Neo crept to the water's edge and knelt, smiling as she watched fish swim about. Mismatched eyes followed one as it swam closer to the shore, a goldfish no bigger than his hand. Fixed on the creature she leaned in closer and held a hand towards the water…
He groaned when she plucked it out and lobbed it into the gardens. For no reason other than sheer boredom, he was sure. "And this is why the groundskeeper is cross with me. How do I explain fish ending up in the beds?" She gave him a sickly-sweet smile and zipped her lips. "Your tendencies are going to cost me a fortune, Neo."
Chuckling, he peered into the pond and kicked a small pebble into the water, watching as fish scrambled from the disturbance. "Ah well, not like it's my Lien anyways."
Nearby at the water's edge a willow stood, its drooping branches forming a dome of green, a handful of branches skimming the pond's surface. A lovely addition if he was honest, if a bothersome acquisition. Who knew there were no willows anywhere in this region of Vale? He certainly hadn't.
"Let's head inside. I don't know about you but I'm hungry," he said, smiling as Neo hopped to her feet and nodded emphatically. "Maybe some fish? No, not the one you threw, but you've inspired me, what can I say? Maybe a nice white wine to go with it too. Hm… I wonder if we've gotten anything new this week."
The willow's branches rustled, and he passed it off as the wind until a black blotch moved around between the limbs. A cursory glance revealed a black bird hopping between branches. Not uncommon. If he counted the number of birds across his estate, he'd go mad before long. They hardly warranted any attention.
Most didn't have a message tied to their legs.
"Oh, a gift for me?" He smiled and held out a hand, clicking his tongue. The small avian fluttered into his palm and held still as he fiddled with the tie. And fiddled some more. Small strings were such a pain in the ass to undo. "Come on you… Aha!" Letting the bird fly off his hand he took a seat on a stone bench beneath the tree and unraveled it.
"We need to talk."
"My, if that isn't cryptic! And without a name either. How am I supposed to know who is so important that they demand my time?"
The bird fluttered and landed before them, hopping in place and pecking at the ground. Looking around, it flapped its wings and hopped closer to them, pecking at the ground at his feet. Then it fixed its beady black eyes on him, cocked its head, and squawked. "Roman! Roman! Dead! Dead!"
A talking…
Oh, that wasn't good.
He tossed the note aside, gathered his cane, and shooed the bird away with it. "Neo, let's get inside, preferably right this moment." He turned to run, calmly, back to his home, only to gasp and stumble back as a red blade almost caught his throat. "Ah! Bloody hell!"
"Hello to you too, Roman. I see you've been enjoying yourself."
"Aha… I suppose you could say that. Just letting myself savor some perks of my new station." He raised a finger, slowly, to try and inch the blade back. It pressed against his skin and his hand dropped.
"I've noticed. I've also noticed that you've not been keeping in contact like you're supposed to." Raven smiled dangerously, raising an eyebrow as she used the flat of the blade to lift his chin. "Care to tell me why? Or has your head ended up so far up your ass that you can't think straight?"
Neo, pale as Roman himself, drew a dagger from her white twin tail coat. Raven's eyes shifted from her employer to her and she smirked, easing the blade back from his throat.
"Move so much as an inch and I will relieve you of that arm, runt."
She kept still but clutched the dagger tighter. Staring at one another for an agonizingly long moment Raven finally stepped back and lowered her sword while Neo kept her dagger ready, grabbing Roman's sleeve and pulling him back. Placing herself between him and the bandit she frowned, knuckles turning white.
"Gods, you two look ready to shit yourselves. Relax, I was just having some fun."
"Your fun could involve not scaring me half to death you know," Roman protested.
"But that is the fun. What can be better than watching a self-assured man squirm? Little else I think." She sheathed her sword and only then did Neo finally lower her daggers, although she didn't sheathe them herself. Raven clicked her tongue and the bird, a raven, he idiotically realized, flew to her and dissolved into her palm. "You still didn't explain yourself. I'm waiting."
Was there an explanation that didn't involve him getting cut open like a swine? Probably not. Roman smiled and nodded, tugging at his collar, then taking a moment to adjust his cap. "Would you care to come inside and have a drink while we talk?"
"Answers. Now."
"Fine, fine! Yes, perhaps I've been a little… Carefree in my time here. But can you blame me? I have everything I could possibly want, I have access to the palace, I hear all kinds of interesting and, dare I say, salacious rumors. You wouldn't believe the things that people discuss openly when they think they're among their peers!"
"You won't believe how quickly I can lop off your head either." Raven's thumb caressed the guard of her sword. "Care to find out?"
Letting out a frightened squeak more befitting of a mouse he held up his hands and took a half step back. "I've neglected keeping in touch, okay? It's not like any of you have sent me letters either though! You haven't sent a messenger, Hazel hasn't, and -"
"If there were new developments that were important, you'd have been informed. You know about the Schnee girl and her friends already so there's no point." The black-haired woman paused, then frowned, black scales along her face garish against her pale skin. "Which brings me to my original point. Why. Haven't. You. Been. Updating. Us."
"See, there's been a recent… Turn of events. Ones that I haven't quite had time to work around, but I am! It's just…" The sword inched out of its sheath and his eyes widened. "Wardens! Wardens attacked the Schnee and the cat! I tried to tell them not to go back but they returned to the city!"
"And you let them!?"
"What was I going to do, lock them up here? If I kidnapped them then the Church would send Hunters, or worse, more Wardens, and I'd be exposed. I couldn't risk that!" Roman sighed and lifted his cap to rub at his forehead. "I didn't think they'd be stupid enough to return but the Schnee girl seems to trust Ozpin still. I thought she was supposed to be smart."
"Wonderful. At least you delivered the invitations. You did that much, didn't you?" He nodded. "Then they'll be meeting with the king soon. Ozpin can't do anything to them without someone noticing their absence."
"Eheh… About that."
"Roman…?"
"I've heard from some sources that those two weren't the only ones attacked. They were attacked in the city, and that made a bigger scene, but there was another attack outside of the city too. A farm where… Erm…" This was the part where she killed him wasn't it? Roman cleared his throat and wrung his hands together. "They… May have attacked your daughter and the Rose girl. And… They may have… Sort of… Taken them?"
He expected an explosion of anger, or maybe a blade to the chest. Raven stared at him for a time before nodding to herself, tapping her chin in thought. Neo glanced back at him warily and tried to ease him back just in case. It wasn't like the woman was that unreasonable. Scary, sure, but she wasn't the brute that people assumed her to be.
Roman groaned when his back slammed into the stone and stars filled his eyes. Neo gasped and fell into a bush. The branches of the willow cracked, fluttering erratically, and pieces of loam and mulch flew everywhere. A boot slammed into his chest and he tried to grab it, yelping when a sword hovered before his face, close enough that the tip brushed against his nose, blood trickling down onto his upper lip.
"You had one job, Roman. Keep the Wardens off them, whatever it takes. One fucking job."
"I t-tried! I gave them the invitations; I was having them watched day and night! I'm not sure how they managed -"
"Because it's what they do you moron! You got complacent and they made a fool of you!" Raven growled and put the green blade to his neck. "I should kill you for your incompetence…" she narrowed angry pools of red. "But I won't because as much as I hate to admit it we still need you. But you had better have a plan to fix this."
Slowly, once the blade was moved, Roman pushed himself up, leaning on his hands before sitting up. He fished out a cloth with a trembling hand and wiped his lip dry, then his nose. "I'm working on it. I have contacts in the Church, I'm trying to find where they were taken."
"Find out faster."
"I am trying, but this isn't exactly the kind of thing you can ask about openly. And I'd prefer not to get my contacts killed by being hasty!"
"Ralthor's balls…" Raven grumbled, stomping away before returning, lips curling. "I have played their damn games to prevent this from happening, and for what? I did not make myself an assassin for those pricks because I wanted to!" She glanced over to Neo who found her way out of the bush, a small gash bleeding on her shoulder. "You will stay where you are or the next wound will be a fatal one."
"And you…" Raven squatted down and laid her sword across her knees. "You are going to get that information for me by tomorrow, and you are going to contact Hazel. If they're using Wardens, then I'll need help getting them out."
"You're going to attack them?!"
"No, I'm going to fucking walk in and ask nicely for my daughter back. Yes, I'm going to attack them!" Raven spat.
"But Hazel's position -"
"Hells take his position! I bet he wants nothing to do with it anyways knowing him. Tell him to either come himself or send someone else, I really don't care. I just need more bodies." She paused, her eyes flickering to Neo. "She's coming with me," she added. "And you, if I need it. Any good in a fight?"
"I um -"
"Good. You made this mess so it's only right you help fix it." Raven patted his cheek, or more smacked it, stinging his skin. She stood back and pinched the bridge of her nose. "What a wonderful shitshow this is… And what about the others? Schnee and Belladonna?"
"L-Like I said they went back into the city. I haven't gotten word of where they've gone from there, or if they're even alive!"
"Ozpin wouldn't have killed them. He needs Weiss just like we do." She began to walk away, holding out her hand and conjuring another bird. She whispered to it and sent it on its way before glancing back at Roman. "Get to work."
"A-And where are you going? I could use some help with the search!"
"I am helping you though." She smiled, patting the blades on her hip. "I'm going to get those two back from Oz while you start looking."
Back from… "Are you insane? If you go into the city they'll have your head! It's crawling with Hunters!"
"If they're in the city then I'll figure something out. But I'll know for sure before long." Raven nodded towards the bird beginning to disappear in the distance. Roman called for her to wait and went ignored.
She kept on walking, frightening a poor serving girl that had just come outside. Raven took the bottle from the tray she carried, popped the cork, took a long drink, then set it down and patted the girl's back, nearly knocking her over. She disappeared into the house.
Neo was at his side in an instant and helped him to his feet despite her wound. He brushed her off and took the same bloody cloth to her shoulder, pressing down and letting her hold it in place. "Come on, let's get you inside and have them patch you up." He couldn't bring himself to smile fully while he dug into his pocket and produced a cigar, nodding gratefully as Neo lit it.
"Gods… Well, we're technically not dead yet," he mused morbidly, taking a long drag.
Technically. Life was full of technicalities.
/+/+/+/+/+/
Caught between exiting and entering the city nigh incessantly as of late Weiss was becoming intimately familiar with the guards at the gate. A few she knew by name - Richmond, the oldest man who walked with a limp, greeted her, Blake, and Glynda with a lopsided smile. Hans and Erik, two of the more regular faces, sat by one of the barricades playing a game of dice. Weiss waved when they looked up and shook her head at an offer to play. Official business and all.
The others she didn't recognize. The city had hundreds if not thousands of guards inside its walls. Guards to escort nobility, guards to watch over warehouses. Patrols to keep the streets clean, ones out at the docks to keep the peace and oversee trades and shipments. Even more patrolled beyond the walls regularly. That she knew even a handful by name was remarkable.
With regular traffic in and out of Vale getting through the gate was as simple as them, or rather, Glynda flashing her mark. They were sent through without a moment's hesitation and moved to the side of the road to let a cart filled with crates rattle on by.
"We're going to Cress farm, a small plot about a mile out of the city. From what we understand that was the last place Miss Rose and Miss Xiao Long were spotted. From there we'll search the immediate area for clues." Glynda, hands folded behind her back, looked over her shoulder to her and Blake. "You two are to assist in the search but allow me to handle questions, am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am," Weiss said. Blake nodded stoically. "If we do find information though…?"
"Whatever we find we'll bring back to the Archbishop and he'll organize a search party if necessary. Given they have Wardens under their command this is not something you two should take lightly."
Weiss wasn't, although she wasn't thrilled leaving it to someone else either. If the people responsible decided to move Ruby and Yang, then they would be long gone before anything was done. If matters weren't so dire, she'd almost laugh at how obscene it was; they'd rescued Ruby only for her to end up captured again. It was like having a princess that constantly found herself kidnapped.
... Did that make her Ruby's knight?
She isn't allowed to leave my side after this, I swear. It's like the universe is conspiring to keep us apart. Her heart wasn't going to survive many more of these surprises.
The walk out was spent largely in silence. Glynda had no reason to speak and Blake… Well getting Blake to converse most days was as easy as taming a Grimm; impossible without magic. Cress farm, which was a 'small' plot, had to easily cover half an acre. While the home itself was small and the barn relatively small as well it was clear that despite the fields they worked the family had little wealth of their own.
It was also clear that this was the site of the battle.
Long before Weiss ever saw the painted sign with the family name, she noticed tree roots jutting out of the earth, twisted and gnarled. Soil upturned, great pits had formed where the roots drove through, forming muddy puddles from an earlier rainfall. A day and a half since their disappearance and no work had been done to repair the damage wrought. Not that Weiss would even know where to begin.
Passing through a rickety wooden gate they had to move around the path leading to the farmhouse. A patch of grass turned black from flames crumpled in the wind revealing scorched earth. Spires of stone thrust upward, jagged and sharpened like a spearhead.
Weiss paused at a trail of scorched earth and stared, inching closer to the grass and kneeling down. She thought it had been charred blades of grass but instead of black it was deep red, crimson. Dried blood.
"Miss Schnee."
Yang's, Ruby's, or someone else's? She bit her lip and hurried after Glynda, past a small pond on their right and a field of golden wheat to their left. Outside the farmhouse two young children played with their pet dog and upon seeing them both went running into the building. The dog, small as it was, ran towards them, stopped short, and began to bark.
A haggard looking man came out of the house to greet them, dark rings under his eyes and one arm in a cloth sling, bandages around his forearm. Wary, and understandably so, he kept his distance, nervously itching at his bandaged arm. "Yes…? How can I help you?"
"You must be Wyatt Cress. Glynda Goodwitch," the strict woman greeted. "I'm here on behalf of the Church to ask you a few questions about recent events. If you could please cooperate, we'll be out of your way shortly."
His leathery face twisted slightly, forming a half-smile, half-grimace. "More Church business… Ain't supposing I got much choice. So be it, ask your questions then."
Weiss hoped they'd go inside and sit but they remained out in the road, under the sun that gradually grew warmer and warmer. Pulling at her jerkin she grimaced feeling her doublet peel off her skin. Having had to trade in her usual tunic for more formal wear, something more befitting a Hunter, she found the heavier clothing unbearable. Blake fared little better, although at least they'd let her keep her scarf. As if a scarf in the waning summer heat made sense.
"We understand that your property was the site of a battle between a small group of Magi. Can you confirm the identities of those involved for me?" Glynda asked.
"Aye… Was Tai's girls, Ruby and Yang. They was here ridin' some of our horses around, sweet girls, those two. Favor for a favor from their old man." Wyatt wriggled his nose, snorted, then turned and spit. "They was having the time of their lives when a group of guards and some hooligans rode up, started demanding they go along with 'em."
"And this group, you mentioned guards, but what about other people? Were there any striking features about them?"
"Wore cloaks white as snow, they did. Kept their faces hidden until the fightin' started. Besides that, weren't much to see. One was a girl, can't be much older than Tai's girls, and the other was a big lout, good six feet or so."
Glynda began drumming her fingers behind her back, inhaling through her nose. "Care to elaborate…?"
"The man's face, aye, I got a good look at that I did. Square jaw, trimmed beard, mean brown eyes dark as coal. Spoke in a real deep voice, the sort that'll make you shit yourself if he catches you in an alley." Weiss grimaced at the phrasing. Glynda nodded, listening as though any of that meant anything. "Lass I got less of a good look at. Purple hair, short. Not much else really."
"That's more than enough, thank you. Are you aware of the general direction they might have gone? Did you see them leave?"
The man turned sheepish and scratched at his grey tinged russet beard. "I… I didn't. Got knocked by a spell, cut my arm pretty good. Hid, then by the time it ended they was already gone. Not been able to get any answers from anyone." He looked past Glynda to Weiss and Blake, then stepped forward cautiously. "You two… I recognize you. You're friends with the girls, ain't you?"
"We are, and we're doing everything we can to help find them," Weiss said. She made sure Glynda wasn't cross with her for speaking then smiled when given a nod. "The Church is going to do everything it can to help find them, I promise."
"Ain't the Church responsible for this to begin with? They had your marks, miss," he said to Glynda. "That makes 'em some of your own, don't they? What's your boss thinkin' having those two attacked like that?" Wyatt's face grew red. "You got some nerve coming here."
"What happened was not condoned by the Archbishop or any of us. A rogue cell of our own is responsible for this." She bowed her head. "I'm sorry that you've had to experience this, our own inattentiveness allowed this to happen, but please do not accuse us of causing this. We do not deal in the business of attacking our own like that."
What could she do but nod in agreement? Ozpin had said as much and she believed him. Sure, he'd withheld information but only because it was necessary. The Church wasn't perfect, but it wasn't some wicked entity either. And a few unruly Hunters didn't make the entire organization corrupt.
"Anyways, thank you for your time, Mr. Cress. If we have any further questions, we'll be in touch with you. As for your land…" Glynda took a survey of the ruined property, sighed, and adjusted her spectacles. "We will have someone out by tomorrow to repair the damage done. If any of your crops, animals, or belongings were damaged we will also compensate you accordingly."
Wyatt nodded but didn't leave yet. He came closer instead and looked between Blake and Weiss. "Please make sure those girls come back alright? I… Something ain't right with Yang. I don't know what but it ain't no magic I've ever seen before. And Ruby… That girl ain't cut out for this life, I swears it. Please make sure they're both safe?" He grabbed Weiss' hand and she shuffled her feet, looking for help from Blake.
"We'll get them back," the Meera nodded, ears folding, then swiveling. A raven flew overhead, circling around them. It cried out repeatedly, and while high above them Weiss couldn't quite make out the words it sounded an awful lot like 'found'.
Both turned at the sound of boots on the ground and the crunch of gravel. Glynda turned with them and cursed, putting an arm out and keeping her and Blake back.
"You! You have some nerve showing yourself here!
Raven smiled as a portal blinked shut behind her, dropping a stone at her feet. "Hello to you too, Glynda. It's been far too long."
"Not long enough. You're either insane or you've lost your mind, coming here." Glynda raised a hand, fingers stretched. A purple aura engulfed some of the larger stones and they trembled before rising out of the ground, circling above Raven. "I have enough to deal with at the moment so I suggest you leave here, now."
"Hm…" Raven drew her green blade and balanced it on her shoulder. "I can't do that. You've got something I need." She smiled. "Two somethings, actually. I'll get out of your hair as soon as I get those two off your hands."
"What are you doing here?" Weiss balked, stepping past Glynda. "We want nothing to do with you!"
"No? You might change your mind when you hear what I have to say." She leveled her sword at Glynda, eyes locked on the woman. "Your friends, my daughter and her sister, they were taken by Wardens. And guess who orders them around?"
"What happened was not our doing, Raven. Neither Ozpin nor myself sent -"
"You're the only ones who can! Don't feed me that shit!" Raven shouted. She twisted the blade, dull edge skyward, angled down. Green wisps appeared and circled the blade, twisting like twin snakes, and a small burst of air created a cloud of dust at her feet.
"Like I said, I'll leave, but not before those two come with me. I'm going to need their help getting my daughter back." She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Again. So, either hand them over or I can kick your ass and take them. What happens next is up to you, Goodbitch."
There we are! Bit of info for magic, setting up some character relationships, and some fun in the coming chapters.
I just want to take a moment and thank everyone that reads my little story. I really ought to do it after every chapter but I haven't. So, thanks! That even one person seems to enjoy it makes writing it worthwhile.
Y'all are the best!