Chapter 30

The rain continued to pour the next day, the blue sky snuffed out by grey clouds as the sun struggled to penetrate their mass. In the cold of Atlas the chill of the rain seemed to pass right through you. The four had since left the main city as the silver car slowly made its way up a lonesome road to the top of one hill that overlooked the city itself. The snow on the road seemed to have been regularly cleared and so proved no obstacle to the vehicle as it ascended ever higher. The rain beat down against the wind-shield as the wipers did what they could to keep their vision clear.

A flash of lightning and a boom of thunder sounded out, the storm had only continued. They could already see their destination in sight as it loomed ever closer into view. Seeing it clearly now they could tell, it was although an old mansion with sharp towers and jagged ornamental walls. If anything the building could be described as Gothic in nature. They were approaching a large stone wall with an intricate iron gate set into it. The rain had formed into ice along its spindly design, blocking out any gap that was previously present in the gate. It looked although the ice was there by purpose and it blurred the view into the courtyard itself.

The vehicle came to a halt before the gate as Winter opened her door, stepping outside and closing it as she approached a device against the wall that had been spared the effects of the weather. Her long silver-white hair was quickly beginning to soak in the rain and she could feel the cold already biting through the warmth of her clothes. With her index finger she pushed a button on the device as she spoke with intent. "This is Winter Schnee. Open the gate" she ordered before releasing the button. There was a short pause, longer than it should have been before a response came through.

"Good evening Miss Schnee, as of right now we are unable to grant you access. Your father is holding a very important meeting and can not be disturbed. My apologies for the inconvenience" replied the voice before an audible click signalled its end.

Winter narrowed her eyes as she pushed her finger against the button once more, "You refuse me entry into my own home?" she asked, her voice seeming sharper now, releasing the button once more.

The voice replied quicker this time, "Apologies Miss Schnee, this meeting is of the utmost important and cannot-" the voice was cut off as Winter held the button down again.

"If you do not grant me entry I will grant it myself. Open the damn gate" she spoke, her voice now angered. After another pause of about five seconds she heard a loud clink come from the gate, then a crack as the ice split into two. The force of the gate breaking the ice as it parted in the middle, slowly opening and revealing the way forward. The woman, now drenched by the cold rain made her way back to the car. Her long fringe clung to the skin on the right side of her face as she opened and closed the door behind her.

Yang peered over to Winter, "Well if he didn't know you were here... he does now" she said.

"It is as much surprise as we could have hoped for" replied Winter as the car accelerated, passing through the gate and into the courtyard. Blake peered back and could see the gate closing behind them, if they had to make a speedy escape it seemed the car was doomed. The courtyard itself split into a small roundabout that surrounded a frozen fountain, the water that would once shoot from its pinnacle now simply a pillar of clear ice, as if it was frozen instantly by some means. The manor itself was riddled with icicles from the recent and continuing rain. Turning around the fountain the car came to a halt with its left side facing the stairs that moved up towards the large main door. The colour scheme of the building itself was a brilliant white and upon its every surface was something intricate and ornate. The amount of money the building would have cost just seemed absurd in Yang's mind.

"So... Are we ready?" asked Blake, looking to Winter. The woman nodded once.

"Remember what I said" replied Winter as she opened her door, followed by the sound of the other three opening theirs as each one stepped out and into the rain. Neo was quick to open up her umbrella and moved over to Yang's side, holding it higher in order to shield her from the rain. The blonde couldn't help but thank her, the rain was really cold after all.

Winter began making her way up the steps which had been iced over somewhat, but her footing upon such a surface was perfect as she easily advanced. Blake quickly followed with no desire to be out in the rain any longer. She ascended the steps a little slower once realising what had formed upon their surface. Meanwhile Yang had all the time in the world for the rain barely bothered her thanks to Neo's umbrella as she too made her way up. Though her footing upon the slippery surface suffered slightly as she almost slipped. Neo made her attempt to steady her and succeeded as the four had reached the door, the overarching structure now sheltering them from the rain entirely.

The door was made of two and it stood tall. The three looked to Winter who made no attempt to open it, instead her eyes only narrowed. With an initial thud and a creak the door slowly opened as two men in suits appeared on the other side, one by each door as they had been the ones to open it. They both gestured with white gloved hands for the four to enter. "Miss Schnee, welcome home" spoke the elderly looking butler.

Winter never offered a response as she made her way inside, hair and clothes still dripping from the rain as they trailed her path in spots of water. Her eyes scanned left and right as she entered the grand foyer. Ahead of them was another large door, to her left were two along one side, and on her right were two more. The walls, fitting with the theme of the family and Atlas, were white and decorative with various paintings of family members and other decorations. The large hall was empty save for themselves and the two butlers who were now closing the door behind the group. Winter looked back to them, "Where is my sister?" she asked in a stern tone.

The older looking servant held a hand to his chest as he spoke in his frail voice, "The young lady is with your father, just ahead in the great hall" he replied.

Winter peered to the man a while longer before responding, "Thank you Klein, as you were" she spoke as the man nodded to her in kind, moving away to one of the side rooms to likely continue other tasks. After he had left Winter began leading the group to the door at the far end of the foyer.

"You... lived here?" asked Yang as her eyes looked up to the tall ceiling.

"Lived? I suppose that would be appropriate after we leave" replied Winter as her heels clacked with each step, the door growing closer.

Yang began to notice the technology mixed with the architecture of the building. Some of the doors for example had small electronic devices in the walls next to them, the chandeliers above were actually small disguised blowtorches, not candles, and likely powered with dust. "It's... big" commented Yang.

The three reached the door and Winter halted. She breathed in deeply. The door led to the grand hall, the place her father would conduct meetings. But to her expectations there were no voices from beyond the door, only silence. He was waiting. She closed her eyes briefly, after all this time she was going to see her sister again. But something wouldn't stop nagging at the back of her mind... She opened her eyes and pushed her hands against the door as it slowly crept open.

The room revealed to them was larger than the foyer and spanned on ahead. The oddest thing about the room was that it was devoid of any furniture. Where there used to be tables there was no only empty space, as if the room had been cleared intentionally. The tall windows upon the sides of the building let the light from the inner courtyard around the room in. The rain smashing down upon them as another flash of lightning struck, lighting the room up in its entirety before fading only to be followed by the thunderous bellow of the sky. The floor reflected what light was in the room and ahead they could see a single chair with the emblem of the Schnee family built into the wall behind it in place of a window. But who was sat upon the decorative chair was of most note.

A dress that began a dark shade of blue at its top and grew into a light shade the further down her form that it reached. Snow white hair formed into an obscenely long ponytail, crowned with a spiked silver tiara at its base. Blue eyes opened, one featured with a scar over the left side. Weiss Schnee. She was not alone however, as besides her stood a tall older man with short white hair and a moustache, his own piercing and sharp blue eyes glaring down at the four as his left hand rested upon the back of the chair that Weiss sat upon.

Winter took a step forward as she called out her sister's name. "Weiss!" she yelled as her sibling stared back at her, her expression holding a frown as her eyes drifted to Blake and Yang who seemed more shocked than anything.

The man that could only be assumed as the father of Winter and Weiss stood forward, hands held behind his back as he addressed his daughter. "Winter, why have you come here? I hear you abandoned your post in Vale..." he spoke in a demeaning manner.

Winter's eyes glared at her father as her expression turned to that of a foul one, "You know very well why I came" she stated, there was no love in her voice towards the man who shared her blood.

"Foolish child. You believe she wants to leave? She is home. This is where she belongs" stated her father, not even looking upon Weiss as he referred to her. Weiss' head dipped slightly as her eyes glanced to the floor.

"You idiot, even now you cannot bring yourself to look upon her to realise, to see, what she is feeling! Did you ever dare ask her if this is where she wants to be? Because I would wager the answer would be far from what you expect!" answered Winter as she took another step forward in anger.

The man narrowed his sharp gaze upon Winter, "Even if she were not content with her place in life, who do you think would be to blame? That was your position Winter, and in your selfish nature you sought to pass that burden upon your younger sister, a disgraceful act that spits upon the grave of our ancestors. You would rather live your life free of the "trouble" that our name brings, only to force someone you claim to love into that very same fate that you so desperately avoided! That is not the type of family this shall become, one that shirks the responsibilities of its legacy and lusts only after the luxuries that we inherit! You are greedy, my daughter" he finished, his form remaining as that of a statue, even when he raised his voice.

"Do not manipulate her in front of me old man!" yelled Winter, her voice carrying across the hall as she unsheathed her sabre in frustration. Yang and Blake widened their eyes as she pulled a weapon upon her own father, pointing it in his direction. Her eyes looked to Weiss who peered up to her as a result. "Weiss, come, we are leaving this prison" she urged her sister, expression softening as she gazed upon her.

"I told you... What makes you think she would want to leave...?" spoke their father, his voice turning more dark and sinister. Weiss sat still in her chair as she remained silent, she made no attempt to stand up.

Winter took several steps forward, "What poison have you filled her thoughts with this time!?" she growled, her eyes like daggers as they glared at her father.

In response her father moved one of his hands forward, the one closest to Weiss. With a gesture he raised his hand. Winter halted in her tracks as she saw Weiss stand to her feet as a result, stepping in front of her father and drawing Myrtenaster. Winter's expression was full of shock, she couldn't believe that her own sister had drawn her weapon in her presence like she just had. "She will not let you harm our family, Winter" spoke her father as he stood looming behind Weiss. Weiss herself still held a sorrowful expression as she stared back at Winter.

"Weiss, what are you doing!?" came Yang's voice as she approached, "She's your sister!"

Weiss closed her eyes and glanced to the side, as if struggling to keep her threatening posture. Her blue eyes snapped open as she stared back at Winter, her face now a mixture of feigned anger. "Yang, do not interfere..." came Winter's soft voice as she kept her eyes on Weiss.

"But-!" started Yang.

"This... This is a personal issue... Make sure nobody interrupts..." answered Winter, her tone of voice unlike anything Yang had heard from her before. She appeared to be at a loss of words, hopelessly uncertain of what had happened before her.

Yang looked between the two and her eyes lingered on Weiss who refused to look back, her gaze locked onto Winter alone. Yang didn't like it, it wasn't like Weiss at all, at least like the Weiss she knew from Beacon. But she trusted Winter, trusted that whatever she had planned it would be the right thing to do. She'd never hurt Weiss, at least, that was what she understood of her. With this in mind she nodded to Winter with a frown, she would do as she asked and turned to make her way back to Blake and Neo. Blake of which had a concerned expression which was understandable as she looked upon Yang as she neared. "She... She has it handled" answered Yang, refusing to watch what may transpire as she looked to the door.

"This isn't right..." replied Blake as she hesitantly did the same. Neo on the other hand kept watching, what she was staring at nobody noticed, but something had caught her keen eyes.

Myrtenaster lightly rattled, it was a result of Weiss' hand shaking slightly as her head lowered. "Weiss" came her father's voice as her posture grew more firm, her blade held still and her chin up once more. "You are doing well, in fact I am proud of how firm you are in your beliefs that this family is worth protecting" he praised, smiling down at his daughter. Though from here Winter could tell just how fake the smile was.

"Stop it!" yelled Winter furiously.

Her father watched Winter intently as he leaned forward to whisper into Weiss' ear. "Defend your legacy..." he said softly before standing up straight and taking a few steps back.

With those words Weiss' gaze narrowed as a white glyph appeared behind her, taking a ready stance to charge. Winter watched in horror as her sister prepared to attack her, holding her own sabre in a defensive posture. "Weiss..." she spoke softly, she had no desire to fight her sibling. No desire to raise her sword at her. Weiss' expression seemed to shift momentarily into a frown, but she forced herself back into an angered one, a glimmer of light forming under her eyes. She was trying so hard to keep herself focused, but in the end...

Yang and Blake couldn't help but turn around as they heard it. Using her glyph Weiss had lunged forward with Myrtenaster towards her own sister. Winter, with a sorrowful expression, side-stepped the stab before taking an immediate second step back as Weiss turned and made a wide arcing slash, catching nothing but air. She leaned in for several stabs, each parried by Winter who leapt back after the final one to create distance between the two.

Both Yang and Blake wanted nothing more than to intervene but they had to accept that Winter knew what she was doing. Glyphs lined the floor in a pattern towards Winter as Weiss began to sprint from each one, picking up speed after every glyph she passed over. Winter closed her eyes gently, regretting what she was about to do. As the silver blade of Myrtenaster came closing in she opened her eyes into narrowed slits of blue as she brought her sabre up to lock against the rapier, she overpowered her sibling and knocked the weapon aside before she reached forward, grabbing Weiss' arm and harshly pulling her towards herself as she span her body, throwing Weiss harshly against the floor as she slid forward.

"Weiss, stop this immediately!" yelled Winter as she watched her stand up to her feet. Weiss aimed her weapon at Winter once again as five smaller glyphs appeared around her. Winter took a step back as five blue missiles of ice came closing in on her. Each one she dodged deftly, swiping the last with her blade as it shattered around her. From behind the shards of ice came Weiss again with a charge, this time clipping Winter as she passed. Her aura took on the damage as she was struck again. It was a technique she often saw Weiss employ, repeated passing slashes assisted by the use of her glyphs. Though more often than not she left herself vulnerable after the combo.

After a fifth strike Winter turned to meet the sixth. She adjusted her body enough so that the piercing blade of Myrtenaster missed her by an inch. Winter them slammed her shoulder into Weiss, forcing her to crash back against the ground as she rolled back up to her feet in a sliding halt some distance from her sister. The tears in Weiss' eyes were clear now yet she was determined to hold her battle-ready expression as her father watched on with intent.

"Weiss!" yelled Winter again, but once more she would not listen as she raised her rapier high before stabbing it into the ground. A path of spiked ice began to erupt towards Winter who brought back her sabre and met the spell with a powerful uppercut. The ice shattered into shards and mist. She knew that Weiss would attack from behind the newly created cover and so prepared herself as the reflection of the sharp blade of Myrtenaster appeared within the shards of ice, glinting and revealing her attack as Weiss came lunging through the white cloud towards her. Winter took a step forward as she ducked low and used her arm to collide into the legs of Weiss who then fell straight forward, slamming into her front upon the floor.

Winter made to restrain her sister but she had already sprung back to her feet, slashing out with Myrtenaster in a desperately defensive fashion as her tears fell from her face like glittering sparks in the light. She was getting tired, she was struggling to keep up her assault. Winter's expression pleaded for her to stop as she stepped out of range from the wild slashes. But she wouldn't.

She wouldn't give up this farce. She wouldn't give up, not like she always did. She stepped back onto a glyph that slid her away from Winter to create some distance. She came to a halt as a large white glyph materialized behind her back, taking a ready posture as she prepared to charge. With a frown Winter watched her, forgoing any ready posture as a great glyph appeared behind herself. Her own dwarfed Weiss' in size. "Weiss... Don't..." spoke Winter softly, once more spotting the hesitation in her sister as her weapon trembled. There was no chance that Weiss' charge could best Winter's and both of them knew it.

"Weiss!" boomed her father's voice as the girl's eyes widened. Without a second thought her glyph launched her forward. Winter watched Weiss as her own glyph simply vanished, her hand throwing her sabre aside as the lunge came towards her. Her weapon clanged against the floor as Weiss' expression grew into that of shock and fear. Myrtenaster was on a path for Winter's heart and her sister seemed intent on leaving herself open.

Winter wrapped her arms around Weiss, the rapier had cut deep as it narrowly passed her side, her sister had done her best to alter the path of the fatal attack. The weapon was still extended behind Winter, blood dripping from its silver blade. Weiss was frozen in Winter's arms, unable to believe what she had done. "W- Winter..." she whispered as the tears only fell faster. Her sister showed no signs of pain as her arms held her tightly. Myrtenaster fell from Weiss' grasp, landing against the floor with a clatter as it rolled, the tip of the blade trailing a thin line of blood against the ground.

"It's okay..." whispered Winter, "We are getting out of here... together. We will never return... I promise you this" she added as she felt Weiss wrap her own arms around her, sobbing against her for daring to raise a weapon to her sibling. In the distance Winter spotted her father, he stared at the two as he casually pulled out a scroll from his pocket before bringing it to his ear.

"Send out that contract... Tell them we're paying a premium..." he uttered into the scroll.

Winter's eyes narrowed, "Weiss... Go to your friends now..." she spoke as her arms loosened. Weiss pulled back to look up at her confused.

"What are you going to do...?" she asked, wiping away her tears.

"Something I will undoubtedly regret" she answered, her voice growing colder as her hand slowly reached for her sabre upon the floor. Her father stared back at her as he noticed this, though it appeared he was prepared as something was approaching the door they had come in from.