A.N. I actually almost forgot to write this. Had to bust my ass at the last minute for this chapter.
Chapter 51 - Day of Snow
Today was the day.
Willow Schnee felt a brush against her hand for a moment. She didn't need to look down to know that it was probably another high-brand wine bottle - one that she once would have used for comfort.
But now, being sober is important enough for Willow to temporarily ignore the crutch she had been using all these years to handle her feelings about her husband. After today, if she ever drinks again, she'll only toast to the idea of Jacques Not-Schnee leaving forever.
Now that's something she can get drunk to.
She has been preparing for this for the past few weeks. Her days of hollow drunkenness had been replaced with long-forgotten board meetings and conversations with lawyers and fellow relatives involved in the company. Meeting that strange teenager, representing one of Remnant arguably worst villains, had been a godsend.
She felt the urge to cry for a moment. Oh god, she was going to be free.
"Mother, are you alright?"
Winter. Oh, her beautiful Winter. When she announced her plans on getting rid of Jacques in public, Winter had been one of the first people to immediately come to her. Willow felt a pang of gut-ripping guilt attack her for neglecting her eldest child for all these years, and even more so when Winter showed how useful of an asset she was with her connection to the Military.
"I-I'm fine Winter. J-Just calming ourselves before the inevitable."
Winter nodded, even if she still looked concerned for her mother's welfare.
"Weiss and Whitley are staying with Klein in a hotel while this whole situation is happening. We also hired several bodyguards to watch over them, in case another attack happens."
"Good. Have any calls come from Rory yet?"
"No, only a representative who calls himself [The Brain]. His voice felt familiar to me for some reason. Maybe he's a contact with the Military."
"That's not important right now," Willow interrupted. She knew about Arthur Watts and his apparent seniority over her in being one of Salem's agents. "Just tell me if Rory or this [Brain] calls again."
"I will. A-Are you... alright, Mother?"
No, she wasn't. The next week would determine not only her fate but the fate of the entire Remnant. She was effectively taking over the largest supply of Dust while being in cahoots with the enemy of Humanity and Faunuskind.
"I have to be, Winter. I just have to— if we want to free ourselves."