I forgot to mention, you can get a bigger view of the cover art by jumping onto Archive of Our Own. Follow the link on my profile and check out the first chapter of this story there!
Weiss was thirteen when she experienced her very first terrorist attack.
They were dining at Uncle's place to celebrate a new business deal. Weiss was looking forward to seeing Lavender again, but Uncle said she was out with a suitor he picked for her. She didn't ask who Lavender was seeing, nor did she comment on the mysterious injury rendering his entire right arm useless. As Father expected of her, she kept quiet and spoke only when spoken to.
Despite being on her best behaviour, nothing could've stopped the night from dissolving into chaos so suddenly.
One moment she was enjoying dinner with her family and the next she was hiding beneath the table while their guards fought with masked Faunus assailants.
Swords clashed and bullets went flying. All she could do was curl into a ball as the chaos raged senselessly around her.
One of their men collapsed by the table with a blade protruding out of their chest, blood spilling onto the pristine white floor. Whitley screamed and latched onto her.
The memories seized her by the throat. She once again found herself in a similar crimson pool, with a weight pressing down on her chest and a pointed edge sinking into her–
Weiss shoved her brother away so hard he almost tumbled out onto the bloody scene. She ignored the pained look he shot her and curled further into herself. Weiss bit back a scream as fragments of that awful night all came rushing back to her like a hurricane.
Shattered glass.
Red.
Red in her hair.
Red staining her clothes.
Red in her vision.
Tears burned her eyes as a small part of her longed for Adam's embrace. Weiss knew it was bad to yearn for the touch of a Faunus - Father made it very clear it was forbidden. Yet, she couldn't help but escape into those forbidden memories and the comfort they provided.
Winter wasn't the slightest bit fazed by the violent attackers. Once the second guard fell, she rushed out, took his sword, and faced the Faunus attackers alongside their remaining guards.
Weiss watched Winter's Semblance in awe. She'd never seen their Semblance used in real combat before, it was magical to see Winter control her Glyphs like it was an extension of her body. For a brief second, Weiss wondered if she could ever use her Semblance in such a heroic way - Weiss dismissed the foolish thought as quickly as it came.
Father would never allow her to do that.
By the time backup finally reached them, most of the Faunus attackers fled or died in combat. They were led into the Sitting Room while staff cleaned up the bodies.
Whitley inched closer to her side, silently begging her to hold his hand or hum him a melody. She folded her arms and turned her back on him.
If Father caught her coddling Whitley it'd only upset him. It was time her brother learned to grow up as she did.
"This is why we can never let those animals out of sight!" Father spat once they were safely secured. "Anyone who tries to show those beasts mercy is no different than those White Fang terrorists!"
Weiss didn't miss the way Father kept his eyes locked on her. She caught a glimpse of someone carrying the dead bodies of their guards past the Sitting Room.
Father was right.
Father was always right.
It was all the Faunus' fault. They were heatless murderers and violent beasts. Adam was no different from the rest of them.
She pushed the warm, comfy memories of Adam to the very back of her mind until all she had left was rage that threatened to drown her.
It was so easy to associate him with the horrible criminals targeting her family.
With the White Fang hurting her family and business, it became easier to target her anger towards them. And her anger had only gotten worse over the years.
Nothing made her happy anymore. Weiss felt horrible for yelling at innocent staff members, lashing out at Mother for passing out in the gardens, insulting Winter when she abandoned their family for Atlas Academy; chastizing Whitley whenever he tried to distract her from her studies.
But she couldn't control herself, no matter how hard she tried.
Weiss wasn't sure why she was always so angry. Her unfiltered rage incinerated everything in her life. It didn't stop no matter what she did, no matter how many expensive gifts she got.
The fact that no one cared about her unending rage only fanned the flames even more.
The only time the fiery beast relented was when she thought about her role in the family business. Father, while still keeping an iron grip over everything she did, was praising her more and more now that she was the new Heiress. Weiss took the position with pride and threw herself into her studies. After all, it was what made Father happy. As long as he was content, so was she.
But on nights when the darkness proved too much; when the memories screamed so loud she couldn't ignore their cries, she thought back to the boy in the Dust Mine.
It was a forbidden daydream that tempted her like the beckoning light she once saw from her window.
She'd always remind herself that he was no different from the rest of them.
She was an ignorant child when they both met. She knew nothing about the monstrous nature of his people, it was a godsend that her Father and Uncle intervened. He was manipulating her from the moment they met.
At least that's what she's gotten used to telling herself.
But despite everything, she could never forget the warmth and safety his embrace brought her. No matter how hard she tried to rewrite history, that memory remained tattooed in her head, and that was what made her fury explosive.
Weiss was fourteen she attended the closed-casket funeral of Lavender and her entire household. Mother was too intoxicated to attend the funeral. They left her in the garden without saying a word that morning.
Whitley was in shambles throughout the service, and for once Father didn't bat an eye at his failure to control his emotions. Weiss turned her back to him when he came over to her seeking a hug.
She couldn't process anything said at the service. It didn't feel real. Lavender was just a kid, she didn't do anything wrong. Now, she'll never get the chance to grow up.
It was all because of their kind.
Her eyes locked on the small white coffin containing Lavender's dismembered corpse. She didn't know how to feel for her cousin.
It was always Lavender who picked on her for being not pretty enough, for not being smart enough, for liking the wrong colours, wrong clothes, and wrong books.
It was Lavender who first saw her bruises; who taught her how to conceal them like she'd been training her whole life to do so. She didn't even laugh at Weiss once when she learned the truth.
It was Lavender that they killed and disfigured so badly Weiss couldn't even see her one last time to say goodbye.
The fire raging in her chest was beginning to hurt. All she could do was keep a straight face and let the flames consume her.
"Can I talk with you?"
Weiss held back a sneer when Winter entered her room uninvited. This was the first time Weiss had seen her older sister since she left to train. She didn't expect Winter to leave her precious school to attend the funeral. It's not like she ever bothered to visit the Manor since beginning her career as a Huntress.
"I'm busy," Weiss said, not taking her eyes off her Scroll.
The news sites were buzzing about the murder of Lavender's family. Countless articles highlighted the gruesome crimes committed by the White Fang, using the most explicit titles to gain viewership. It was like their murder was a freak show for the public to watch.
What disgusted her most was the new Faunus group using this opportunity to gain media exposure. She'd clicked on the story out of curiosity.
The group called themselves the Silver Robins. They used public obstruction to complain about increased security measures placed on Faunus neighbourhoods. One of their members even vandalized an innocent florist shop caught in the crossfire.
If they didn't want increased security measures then they shouldn't go around slaughtering innocent Humans. Then again, since when did the Faunus listen to reason?
"You just got back from a funeral, Weiss. Give yourself a break."
"Go waste Whitley's time. He doesn't have reports to review for tomorrow."
Winter ignored her retort and strolled to her desk, peeking over her shoulder. Weiss clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"What are you looking at?" Winter asked casually.
Weiss tapped on an article detailing the beheading of some visiting Huntsman named Orin Blackwood. He was murdered and disembowelled by the White Fang shortly after Lavender's family. The leader, Sienna Kahn, left a message and her name on the crime scene, claiming she had done it all by herself.
Was this the same psychopath responsible for hurting Lavender's family?
"It's not healthy to be consuming news like this," Winter chided.
"Since when did you care?" She stubbornly tapped on another article detailing Blackwood's murder.
Weiss wondered if Winter ever regretted abandoning their family to be a Huntress. Does it scare her a terrorist went out of her way to brutalize a Huntsman? Did she worry her family would one day stumble across her gruesome murder on the news?
"Atlas is already shaken by the recent events, Weiss. We don't need to add onto the negativity."
"It wouldn't be an issue if the Faunus weren't such pricks," Weiss seethed.
"Let's not talk about politics." Winter placed a hand on her shoulder. "How are you? I haven't seen you in so long."
"And whose fault is that?" She slammed her Scroll down on her desk. The rage that'd been eating her away for so long was beginning to take control.
"I know my decision to join Atlas Academy may be confusing, but I had my reasons. I'm sure you'd understand if–"
"I highly doubt that. Unlike you, I actually give a shit about our family."
"Weiss!" Winter's voice went terse. It reminded Weiss of military officers who addressed their underlings. When had her loving sister turned into someone so cold?
"Watch your language, Weiss."
"Don't talk like you're any better than me. I wasn't the one who turned my back on everyone. Thanks for that by the way, I appreciated waking up to you leaving us for some stupid school!"
"I apologize for my abrupt departure, but I left because Father's control was too much for me. It was the only thing I could do to escape."
Weiss wasn't sure why Winter's response irked her so badly. She almost shoved her sister away had she not noticed the rapier strapped to her side. She wasn't stupid enough to get into a physical fight with Winter.
"I'm not here to justify what I did," Winter continued when Weiss didn't speak up. "I came home because I'm worried about you."
If Winter worried about her so much then she never should've left.
"You're wasting your time," Weiss said, folding her arms.
"I don't know what kind of pressure Father has been putting on you, but you don't look healthy."
"I said I'm fine!"
"You can't possibly expect me to believe that."
"Can you stop pretending to care about me and leave?! You managed to do that just fine the first time! Walk out of here and have fun with all your Huntsmen friends and forget about me!"
Weiss cursed when her eyes welled with tears. She felt like a petulant child. Weiss removed herself from her desk and wandered to the window, pretending to take a keen interest in the airships passing over the Manor.
"Weiss, I'm not sure what happened after you went to visit those Dust Mines, but you know you can tell me anything."
Broken mirrors.
Screams.
Her screams.
Glass digging into her back.
Weiss suppressed a shiver, mentally reciting the intricate steps of Dust Processing until the memories quieted down to a mere whisper.
"Who says anything happened at the Mine?" Weiss asked when she managed to regain some control over herself.
"You've been different ever since that trip," Winter said. "Is there something you want to tell me–"
"Is that all?! If you don't have anything better to say, then leave. I have work to do."
Winter didn't respond. Weiss was certain that would be the final nail in the coffin, that Winter would leave and never come back for her again. She clenched her teeth as more tears burned her eyes.
"I'm here to offer you a chance to get out of here." The click of Winter's heels stopped behind Weiss. "If you'll allow me, I'd be happy to train and prepare you for any Huntsman Academy you wish to attend."
Weiss had never dreamed about the prospect of leaving. It was a waste of time to dream about something so improbable. Yet, she couldn't stamp down the exciting leap from her heart.
"Father would never allow it," Weiss said, unsure who she was trying to convince.
"Let me worry about Father. As long as you're willing to put in the work to train, I can make sure he'll let you leave home for school."
Weiss wanted to reject Winter's idea on the spot, but whatever objections she had failed to leave her lips. Her heart was racing, but it wasn't because of fear.
"Why did you do it?" Weiss asked the question haunting her ever since Winter left. "Why did you throw everything away to be a Huntress? Why not do something safer?"
"Because I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I can save people with my training and be a hero for once. I don't have to be Father's obedient puppet anymore."
He wanted to be a hero when he grew up too.
Heroes were brave. Heroes could face the Grimm without flinching and saved lives as easily as fish could swim.
Heroes don't get paralyzed when they confronted their fathers. Weiss couldn't see how someone like her could be a hero like Winter.
"Think about it," Winter urged. "This may be your only shot at getting away from him."
Her sister squeezed Weiss' shoulder before leaving, abandoning her once again in silence.
It was dangerous to ponder over Winter's offer. There was no telling how Father would react once Winter approached him with the idea. But that night, with a storm brewing outside, Weiss couldn't close her eyes without reliving that awful night. She rolled out of bed and mulled over her conversation with Winter.
If she accepted Winter's offer, she'd get the chance to leave. She'd be completely free from Father's control during the school year.
But would Father let her leave even for a few months? Would he hurt Winter for trying to win her freedom?
Weiss recalled the rapier strapped on her sister's side - of the distant memory when Winter picked up a fallen guard's sword to face the Faunus terrorists.
Winter would fight back if he tried anything. She's a Huntress now – she's not afraid of anything. Even back then she didn't cower in fear. Winter was born to be a hero.
Weiss didn't delude herself into believing she could ever be strong like Winter. But if she trained hard like Winter…maybe…just maybe she could save herself.
She grabbed her Scroll. Within seconds Winter's contact was on the screen, her finger hovering dangerously over the call icon. Weiss held her breath and took the plunge. Winter answered in three rings.
And that's all for the first week of uploads! Apologies for the small hiccups yesterday! I completely forgot how this site works and it took me 1 hour to get FF and Ao3 working for me lol.
Thank you to the commenter who told me about a duplicate chapter 4! I must've misclicked the document file while rushing out the content haha.
And thanks for the warm reception! I saw some very familiar names following/favouriting and commenting on the story! Glad to see you guys are enjoying the updated content!
Take care and I'll see you again next weekend!