Till Ashes do we Part
"Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice." –Michael Novak
Chapter 6
Winter didn't know how long they had been waiting in the library. It felt like an eternity, at least for her. The kids seemed to be having fun, interrogating poor Oscar about every facet of his life. The boy blinked wide-eyed as they darted from Yang to Ilia to Ruby (where they lingered a little longer) and then back again before finally, he settled on just looking at his lap.
"So how did you and Ozpin meet?" Ilia asked.
"When did he turn you?" Yang questioned.
"Can you do super cool vampire stuff like he can?" Ruby practically squealed her question to the point even Winter was feeling embarrassed for them.
"Well," Oscar started as he rubbed the back of his tanned neck. "He sort of found me on a farm a few states over. It was just me left on the farm since my aunt fell ill a few months prior and I didn't know what I was going to do with the place. He kind of offered me a salvation away from the issues I had to deal with."
Oscar paused as he remembered something. There was a slight turn-up of his lips but a sadness in his eyes as he remembered something from when it happened. However far back or recent they had been.
"That was only a few months ago though. Ozpin hasn't really… changed, me yet though. He wants to wait until I reached a more physically mature age. Something about making sure I could command respect."
"Wait, you haven't been turned yet?" Winter hadn't realized she had been the one to ask the question until everyone turned to look at her. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest and all her blood rush to her face as she averted her gaze.
"No," Oscar replied. "Since I wouldn't age anymore, it would seem stupid to stop my growth. Or at least that's what Ozpin says. And being pubescent for all eternity seemed more torcher then pleasure."
"Then why is he saying he's going to die?" It was a legitimate question that Ruby asked with her wide eyes growing almost sad. She appeared to have a fondness for the vampire, though Winter couldn't imagine why since he was the reason she was in "Lady-Stilts" in the first place.
"Everything dies eventually, even immortals. Never know when a town would decide to hunt him or when he would clash with another clan, better to be prepared. Or so he likes to remind me." The more Winter listened to Oscar talk the more she could tell he seemed older then what his actual age was.
"I guess it makes sense," Winter mumbled before turning her head away from the conversation, already embarrassed about having to be caught in the first place. There were still flaws to the plan, for example, what would Ozpin do if he died before Oscar was turned? Could anyone turn him or did it have to be Ozpin? What if Oscar died? Would Ozpin be able to find another successor, or would Qrow take over? Honestly, after everything here had changed her vision on the night-creatures she wasn't quite sure how many of their societal rules might work. She hoped she might have an opportunity to ask Ozpin these questions. Asking those she lived with might be too intruding but surely Ozpin would answer without a fuss.
As if her thoughts had summoned him the doors of the library flew open and Ozpin stood there in the opening, proud and tall. Behind him, Qrow stood hunched over and on Ozpin's other side was Tai who had taken to leaning against the door frame. The looked so ridiculous posed like that, that Winter had to wonder if the change increased one's tendencies to theatrics.
"Children, you are free to leave now," Winter stood with the children though she felt slightly miffed that he had included her in with them, though she supposed she fit in with compared to what Ozpin's age must be. "Miss Winter, I would like to have a word if you don't mind."
Suddenly, Winter wished she had been grouped with the children like she had predicted she was.
…
The garden, where Ozpin had escorted Winter too, was much larger than she had previously realized. Just as everything up front had been dead, so was everything in the garden, at least that was what Winter thought until they entered past the hedge maze that hid the real garden that was well and alive. Winter vaguely remembered Yang mentioning in passing that her father tended to the garden but Winter had written it off as if it was from an Adam's Family cartoon. She could imagine Tai pouring poison in the soil and pulling the flowers much easier then she could see him tending to them.
Sure, enough once they were outside she saw Tai immediately setting to a large plot of sunflowers and some smaller flowers that preferred partial shade. The garden looked huge now that she was in it, it had to have been at least two-acers large. The children had followed them into the garden but scattered as soon as they reached the end of the maze. Winter found herself wondering where Qrow had disappeared to only to brush aside the question. He was likely sulking in a tower somewhere and glowering at them from above.
"Don't judge Qrow too harshly," Ozpin mentioned once the two of them were alone and caused Winter to jump suddenly. "He has been though a great deal and bares the brunt of my mistakes."
"He seems to be doing well for himself, all things considered," Winter retorted without even thinking. Ozpin only let out a low laugh in response.
"Perhaps he is doing better then he was, never the less, it doesn't change his hardships."
"You say that," Winter started as she began to feel a hint or irritation at the man's defense of her captor. "But I have yet to have the man even talk with me properly without harassing me in some way."
She found herself pausing as her mind dragged up a memory she would rather forget. The feeling of his body pressed against hers and the taste of his mouth that was iron and salt. She could even feel where his fangs almost pierced the soft flesh of her neck. Those were not things she wished to remember.
"I don't see why I should give him any sympathy considering my situation."
Ozpin looked at her with an intense gaze and Winter could suddenly feel a life time's worth of wisdom leaking from them and washing over her. Almost as if it was a sense of calm.
"Your trying to charm me," Winter blurted out as she tore her gaze away from him. She remembered reading about the gaze that was almost hypnotic and how it was easy to have your willpower stolen from you with it. She felt stupid for only now realizing what it was but decided to forgive herself considering the stress around her.
"You are correct and it was rude, I apologize," Ozpin stated with a slight bow. "I was merely trying to get you to understand."
"Then tell me why, don't try and bewitch me," Winter fought back and swallowed hard when she realized she was damaging things of a vampire many years older then herself. "Sorry, I shouldn't have lost my cool."
"You are fine Miss Winter," Ozpin said softly before sighing. "It is fine, I was just hoping to avoid telling you the story, but it would seem I have no choice. No matter, we are at our first stop anyway. Do be quiet though, I don't wish to disturb him."
Winter wanted to ask what he meant before he realized where they were. It was a pavilion that looked over the whole garden, and she could clearly see everyone and what they were doing. She could see Yang and Ilia sitting on a bench and while Ilia read by the moonlight Yang rested her head in the girl's lap. If she looked over further she could see a pond with various mosaic blocks where Oscar and Ruby were sword fighting with sticks.
Tai was to the left by the entrance still, now forgoing watering and focusing on pulling weeds instead. And in the center of it all was a grave surrounded by bushes of dead roses. She wondered why no one had tended to the bushes but decided that would be a little too personal to ask just yet. However, what surprised her most was the dark figure kneeling in front of the grave.
"Qrow?" Winter asked in a mix of shock and surprise.
"It was about three centuries ago I found Qrow stranded in a snow storm," Ozpin began and Winter didn't move her gaze from Qrow.
"The poor boy was half dead already. I had asked him how badly he wanted to go on existing," Ozpin paused to laugh a bit. "He was confused a bit by my wording but he said he was desperate. He had to help his sister support their caravan. So, I turned him, and then his sister as I couldn't let him be alone like that. Qrow was grateful and traveled with me for a time, Raven—his sister followed along for a time as well though she was more reluctant then he was."
Ozpin paused to see if Winter had questions but she was still transfixed on Qrow.
"About a century later, the twins went on their own but visited from time to time. They had found a small village named Patch and that was where my burden on Qrow became apparent. While Raven relished in the power and hated the way Qrow curbed her appetite for human blood, Qrow missed the socialization and the life he was robbed of even if he wouldn't say anything."
"In that village was a woman named Summer Rose," Winter perked up at the last name. She recognized it. It was the same as Ruby's. "Qrow became absolutely smitten with her from afar. One day he finally talked to her and for a time they enjoyed each other's company even if the romance was one-sided. She had already fallen for Tai by then, but Qrow was happy just be near her. However, they never noticed Tai making a move on Raven. And before they knew it, Yang had come into the picture. The first Dampier in five centuries."
Ozpin shook his head at the memory of the news and Winter vaguely stored that information in her mind, connecting the dots to understand what Ruby said when she meant three and a half vampires were in the castle.
"After Yang was born Raven disappeared having been finished curbing her appetite and then Summer stepped up to be a mother for a Yang. Tai was grateful and Ruby was on the way shortly after. Qrow was heartbroken but smiled none-the-less for them. Not baring to part from his new family he told them the truth about himself and offered them the same choice I had him years ago. They agreed so he wouldn't have to be alone anymore. Little Ruby would be turned as well when she came of age. However, Ruby would never be turned before her mother passes. Patch drove them out shortly after Ruby's birth and in finding their castle they ran into another clan that had conflicted with mine for eons. Summer didn't make it. Tai still can't bring himself to go to her grave to care for her favorite red roses."
Winter could feel the sorrow of the story weigh heavy on her. She had no idea the kind of tragedy that they had been through. And to think, she wanted to kill them when she first arrived. She had no idea who they were or their stories and yet she judged them as if they were monsters in her closet. She imagined them just pulling her away from her life for their own amusement. But she forgot they were likely lonely themselves. Though, part of her was still sure Qrow had his own personal reasons for tormenting her.
"Qrow has never been good at expressing himself," Ozpin explained with a soft smile. "Please be patient with him."
"I will try," Winter agreed as she finally pulled her eyes away from Qrow to look at the High Vampire. "But I make no promises."
Ozpin laughed at her response, throwing his head back even in response.
"Trying is all I ask."
BRK: *Is playing Witcher to recover from family*
What day is it?
*See's its Thursday*
Oops.
Also, I'll be in California next week so no update again. Sorry, when I planned this schedule I didn't think I would be this busy. I hope I get can at least another 4 chapters out before school starts up again. Sorry if Ozpin seems a little too talkative on Qrow's past I just feel like he's the kind of guy to help overs get a push in the right direction. Until next time, later Gators!