Till Ashes do we Part

"Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice." –Michael Novak

Chapter 5

It had been about a week since Winter wrote the letter and she had yet to receive any kind of response from Weiss. That was fine though, there was at least an attempt. Besides, email wasn't exactly something Winter thought Weiss made a habit of checking on a regular basis. Since then Winter had done her best to become… sociable with the others. By that, she started to take her meals with the others again, even if it was in silence on her part.

Thankfully though, Qrow seemed to give Winter space since the incident. He would watch Winter stroll about the grounds or he would sit silently at the table, but he dares not confront her. Winter imagined this was his way of trying to make amends, by keeping his distance. Somehow she found it more irritating then if he had said something. It made her feel sorry like she should apologize for her outburst. However, that was something she refused to do.

Winter had gone that whole week without a peep from Qrow Branwen, until the evening one day when he came bursting into the library where Winter was watching Ilia, Ruby, and Yang play some obscure card game she had never heard of.

"Get dressed," was all that came out of Qrow's mouth. He sounded uncharacteristically serious for once. Some much so that even Winter felt compelled to obey. "All of you, hurry."

"Uh, Uncle Qrow," Ruby pipped up. She looked just as confused as Winter felt. "Were already dressed."

"Not in your everyday rags," Qrow said back with an eyeroll as if it should have been obvious. He seemed, unusually testy about whatever it was that seemed to be causing him to lash out at even his most precious niece. "I need you in your formal attire."

"What, was there a blood ball that you forgot to tell us about?" Yang teased but got to her feet and began to move to the door anyway. Winter had no clue what Yang was talking about but didn't bother to ask.

"Not quite that fancy, but still nicer clothes," Qrow explained as he quickly rushed over to help Ilia and Ruby pack up the game. "Ozpin decided he was going to drop in for a visit today and didn't bother to let anyone know until now."

As if a switch had been flipped Winter watched as suddenly Yang and Ruby turned into a whirlwind and rushed out of the room without so much as a snide remark to combat the news. This just left Ilia and Winter in a stupor. Winter could feel her head beginning to ache from all the questions. Who was Ozpin? Why was he coming here? What business could he possibly have with these vampires? Why did Qrow seem so… Winter couldn't even think of the right adjectives to describe Qrow's reaction. It was almost as if he was a boy rushing around his house trying to make it more presentable for their father. Winter had memories of her doing that to her own room in hopes to please Jacque.

Winter left to her room right behind Ilia, both girls not daring to question Qrow's antics that day. And, to be quite frank, they were curious about who could get all of them to behave so quickly. Though, Winter had no idea what Qrow meant about a better dress. She always considered herself a sharp dresser. She never even owned a pair of jeans in her life.

She quickly figured out what they mean by better dressed when she went to her room. Apparently, someone (very likely having been Tai) left out clothes for her so she wouldn't have to figure out exactly what it was that she was expected to wear. It wasn't like anything she would have been expected to wear to her father's parties but it wasn't exactly everyday wear either. More like something she would wear to a meeting with a proper business partner.

The dress, once she slipped it one, fell to about her knees with ruffles at the end. There was a matching ribbon that sinched into her waist and it was a lower V-neck cut with free-flowing sleeves that barely covered her shoulders. The shoes were strappy, low-heeled sandals that pinched her toes a little and the white leather bit at the back of her heals but she wore them non-the-less.

Winter decided to let her hair flow free with the sides pulled back. While she didn't care for the younger appearance it gave her, she looked odd with her hair up in more formal attire. There were a few hair ordainments and jewelry she could wear but decided with a simple silver barrette instead. She left her ears without jewels and the necklace from her sister around her neck.

With these few pieces of armor put in place, she felt ready for whatever challenge this Ozpin could throw at her. Having that in mind, Winter left the room and headed down to the main floor where she was sure the next challenge would be waiting for her.

…

"I hate these lady stilts," Winter could hear Ruby whine once she reached the main level.

"Just a little longer Ruby," Yang soothed her sister as Winter watched Yang pat Ruby's back. They both looked lovely in their dresses. Ruby wearing a blood red gown that corseted across her chest and flared out from a satin ribbon around her waist. Yang wore a simple white number that reminded Winter of Buffy's prom dress from the TV show that Weiss and Winter watched together when they were younger.

Ilia was in a simple grey sweater dress that was sleeveless and simple with its pencil straight design and boatneck cut. Ilia had her hair down with the sides pulled back as well but she wore a gold barrette in her hair rather than silver. Tai was present in a yellow dress shirt and black dress pants but Qrow was still nowhere to be seen.

Until he was.

He wore a blood red dress shirt that was halfway open and leather pants that were all too tight. Despite the looks that might have been mouthwatering to most all Winter could find herself doing was rolling her eyes. He looked like the cover of some second-rate romance novel that she could find at a bookstore being read by some little old ladies. Yes, it was highly attractive but so obnoxiously Qrow that Winter couldn't even appreciate the view when she tried to forget whose body she was admiring.

Qrow's eyes met Winter's again in a clash of ice and fire once more but where there would normally be a teasing jest, Qrow only averted his gaze again and walked forward to open the heavy doors. Winter was starting to wonder if the dramatic self-opening doors were a prank when she first arrived when she noticed that as the doors opened there were already two figures present on the doorstep, waiting to be received.

The first person to catch Winter's eye was obviously Ozpin. He oozed power and confidence with his cane supporting him as he dressed in an all-black suit and an emerald-colored ascot around his neck and pinned into place by an onyx stone. His glasses were firmly in place and his silver hair seemed well kept.

What looked out of place was the boy next to him. He seemed scrawny and shy in comparison, his hazel eyes darting from the floor to the various people in the lobby. He wore a white dress shirt and ill-fitted pants but still maintained work boots that looked horribly out of place.

"Hello Qrow," the man who Winter assumed was Ozpin greeted. "How have you been?"

"Well enough, all things considered," Qrow answered with a mild shrug. Winter looked around and none of the others dared answered or asked questions even though Winter could already feel the words to ask bubbling in her chest.

"This is Oscar Pine," Ozpin introduced his companion next to him without needing to be prompted. However, if it was for everyone in the room or just for Winter and Ilia's benefit Winter didn't know. "He's been a traveling companion of sorts for the last few years."

Ozpin smiled then and Winter could feel herself gasp involuntarily. His fangs were even more noticeable then Qrow's and seemed much sharper if that was even possible. It was enough to make her heart rate quicken in fear and make her take a step back. She hadn't felt this level of pressure in a long time, or she had grown so used to the pressure already around her that the pressure had to increase for her to notice.

The man in front of her was more than a vampire. She could already feel it.

"You mean your successor," Qrow pointed out with an eyebrow cocked and a hip jutted out while his arms crossed his chest. Oscar winced at Qrow's words but Ozpin didn't seem to be affected at all.

"Yes, when I die, Oscar will be out coven's new High Vampire," Ozpin stated simply and Winter could see Oscar shrink again. "Now, if the children and miss Winter wouldn't mind. I would like to discuss matters with my family members of sorts."

Winter could feel the dismissive tone and felt her body moving despite her minds' protest. She didn't know what they were going to discuss or to what trouble that would be coming but Winter wasn't sure she was ready to learn what those secrets were yet.

Or if she ever really wanted to know what was behind the thin curtain between her world and the rest of their world.

BRK: And I'm back and we are now a fourth of the way done. I'm so exited for this next mini-arc you have no idea. But until next time, later gators.