RWBY is property of Roosterteeth! I only own my characters.
CHAPTER 42
Chess looked around him as he followed the three Maidens through the overgrown forest between Vacuo and Vale. The trees were so thick that only tiny beams of light managed to shine through the tangled canopy of branches and leaves. Twisted roots snaked in every conceivable direction, overlapping and creating knots which occasionally caused a member of their group to trip and fall. Still, despite the dreary scenery, Chess found himself in relatively good spirits at the moment. Melody's hand was tightly intertwined with his own, and the silver-haired girl took every available opportunity to flash the Bloodline an overjoyed smile or wrap him in a warm embrace.
"What time of day is it, anyway?" Amber asked from ahead of the couple, attempting to peer through the twisted mass of plant life above them.
"Just past noon, I think," Cherri answered, quickly stumbling as her foot caught in a looping tree root. "It's... really quiet out here, don't you think?"
"We're so far away from any sort of settlement," Melody spoke up, hugging Chess' arm close to her, "there probably aren't many Grimm. Since they're attracted to negative emotions, most of them have probably swarmed towards the Kingdoms and surrounding towns..."
"I hadn't actually considered that..." Cherri trailed off. "We'd better finish with Shiro quickly so we can go back and help with the Grimm."
"Sounds fun..." Amber quipped with a soft smirk. Chess found himself smiling gently as his three companions continued to chat with each other. However, his mirth evaporated as his ears detected the distinct sound of a loudly snapping branch. He came to a halt, freezing Melody, who was still holding onto him, in her tracks as well. Amber and Cherri both came to complete stops when they noticed Chess rapidly scanning the trees around them.
"What's wrong?" Melody asked, joining the snow-haired Bloodline in searching their surroundings.
"You didn't hear that?" Chess replied. "That loud snapping noise?"
"I didn't hear a thing," Amber answered.
"Neither did I," Cherri added.
"Chess," Melody placed her hand on his forehead, "are you okay?"
"I..." the ex-Lord trailed off. Had it been his imagination? A blur of movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Chess whirled to around to face whatever it was, stepping between Melody and the unknown entity.
"Chess, there's nothing there..." Melody said worriedly, wrapping her arms around his chest. "Cherri, maybe we should stop and rest... This forest is starting to play tricks on us."
"First clearing we come across, we'll set up camp for the day," the Maiden of Spring nodded softly. "You're right, even I'm starting to feel exhausted..."
"Let's keep up the pace for a while longer, then," Amber added gently. "The sooner we find a clearing, the sooner we can all relax for a bit."
As he followed the Maidens through the woods, Chess began to wonder whether he was losing his mind. Melody held onto him tightly as the Bloodline's head turned in search of sounds or movement that none of them could see. The noises Chess could hear slowly became less and less natural. Chains clanking and breaking, nails across metal, and many more sounds seemed to echo from around him.
What's happening? Chess thought, hoping Mini would be able to answer. No response came. Mini? Silence. The small boy had seemingly vanished. A steady ringing tone filled Chess' ears, rising to an ear splitting volume. The Bloodline placed a hand to his head and grit his teeth. He began to feel dizzy, and the forest seemed to spin and swirl around him.
"Chess!" Melody's voice was muffled, as if she were far away. "You're bleeding!" Dazedly, the Bloodline touched the area above his lip with two fingers, finding them covered with crimson liquid. Sudden, blinding pain coursed through his body, as if every nerve in his body had been dipped in corrosive acid. Chess vaguely felt himself begin to fall. For the first time in recent memory, he let out a scream of sheer agony. "Chess!"
Melody continued to shout his name as Chess flailed and spasmed in response to the excruciating pain being inflicted upon him. The Bloodline of Chaos could no longer even hear her voice over his own cries. The young Maiden was gripping him tightly, attempting to prevent Chess from hurting himself.
This is your reward for defying me, you filthy brat, his mother's voice spat. You dared to try and lock me away... but your foolish attempts at being "normal" have made you weak. No prison you make will hold me forever.
Go... to... hell! Chess shouted internally. He vaguely registered the worried and shocked expressions on the Maidens. The young Bloodline realized he must have screamed the words out loud as well. Cherri and Amber were desperately trying to assist Melody in keeping Chess' struggling from inflicting injuries on either himself or Melody.
Why would I need to go to hell? An apparition of Chess' mother appeared, as pale-skinned, white-haired, and red-eyed as the last day she had been alive. A twisted smile rested on her face as she sat idly on the trunk of a fallen tree. Why would I need to go when you're already here with me? Chess could only make a growling sound in response between the stabs of pain lancing across his body. I've been watching you, you know... At first, I thought that girl would only serve to be a nuisance... but she honestly believes she can "save" you! Chess' mother laughed, an eerily girlish sound for a woman of her age. That's how I ended up conceiving you, after all... your idiot father thought that he could "fix" me. As if anything was broken in the first place. He was fun to play with. Perhaps you could do the same with-
NO! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I'LL DIE BEFORE I HURT MELODY!
You really must give up on this. Playing house is unbecoming for someone with your potential, Chess' mother said tiredly. Unless any of those girls can serve as a vessel to pass on the power of Chaos, they're useles-
Shut up! Chess screamed, They're more of a family to me than you ever were! The young Bloodline glared at his mother's seat atop the fallen tree. Suddenly the smirking expression across the older Chaos Inheritor's face vanished. The three Maidens gazes were wide-eyed as they traced Chess' line of sight. They were staring right Chess' mother.
How can they- What is this!? the older Chaos demanded, her face twisting into a mixture of surprise, fury, and confusion. Suddenly, in her moment of distraction, long twisting chains burst from the air around her. The metal bonds snaked themselves around Chess' mother, pulling her into a black void that opened up behind her. You can lock me up as many times as you want, you brats! But you'll never win! I will destroy everything you hold-
The woman's mad ravings were cut off as the void closed around her. Silently, Mini's phantom-like presence appeared in the space between the log where the old Chaos had been and the pile consisting of the Maidens and Chess. The boy's form was beaten badly. Long slashes were cut deep into his skin, some even exposing bone underneath. The simple shirt Mini wore was in tatters, loosely hanging off his form, revealing the unclosed wounds that covered his chest and back.
I- I'm sorry... The small boy breathed heavily, his voice echoing through every member of the group's head. She... broke free... caught me by surprise...
"Wait," Amber said urgently, "can we slow down and cover what's going on first?"
"Chess... has... a couple... other people living in his head..." Melody explained hesitantly. The Bloodline gently touched the young Maiden's arm, and Melody helped him sit up straight.
"Okay, but how can we see them?" the Maiden of Fall asked.
People that Chess has a strong connection with can see and hear us when they are in contact with him, Mini explained tiredly.
"And who are you?" Cherri inquired politely, gripping Chess' arm gently. Amber similarly had placed her own hand on his shoulder. Melody was sitting behind Chess and slightly to his side, with her arms wrapped protectively around his chest.
I don't technically have a name, but you may call me "Mini". It is the name Melody came up with for me.
"He's me," Chess informed them, "or at least... a sentient fragment of my soul."
"Who was the other one?" Cherri asked, taking a small cloth from her bag to wipe off the blood leaking from Chess' nostrils.
That was... our mother... Mini answered, anger seeping into his tone.
"Your mother!?" Amber responded loudly. "And she did this to you!?" The Maiden of Fall gestured towards both Chess' and Mini's injuries. "What kind of bitch would-"
"Amber," Melody spoke softly, "there's no point in yelling right now..." The young Maiden tightened her hold on Chess. "I'm just glad Chess is alright..."
"How is she doing this to you, Chess?" Cherri asked gently. "Maybe there's a way for us to help you."
Unfortunately, that is not the case... Mini answered for the Bloodline. Our mother is our curse in a way. She is a part of us we cannot get rid of in our current state, only try to lock away.
"There must be something we can do..." Amber said sadly. "You said Chess had to have a strong connection with us, maybe there's a way for us to-"
"A "strong connection" means that I trust you... That I view you as family," Chess explained softly. A pit of helplessness seemed to have settled itself in his stomach. The Maidens- no. Amber... Cherri... Melody... They wanted to help him... but there was nothing they could really do.
"We can't... just give up..." Melody stated, leaning her head into Chess' back. Soft patches of warm moisture informed the young Bloodline that she was crying. He gently grasped one of the silver-haired girl's hands in his own. "Maybe... Maybe there's something we can do, you just haven't thought of it yet..."
Melody... Mini trailed off sadly. I've looked over our past countless times... I've run endless scenarios and possibilities... but I've never-
"Then you haven't looked at things in the right way!" Melody yelled. "There's always a way to fix things! Maybe one of us can see something you missed!"
"Melody," Cherri placed a calming hand on the young Maiden's shoulder, "you don't need to yell at Mini..." The Maiden of Spring looked around them, catching sight of a pale light in the distance. "I believe there's a clearing nearby, let's get there first, then we can continue talking." Reluctantly, Melody nodded her head and rose to her feet, red impressions of the roots on the forest floor painfully pressed into her skin.
It wasn't a far walk compared to the rest of their journey, but Chess felt like it was an eternity before their group stumbled into the clearing. Melody kept stealing terrified glances at him, as if she were worried he would vanish if she didn't keep checking. Amber was unusually quiet, a silent, furious expression burned into her eyes. Cherri was doing her best to be the calm one out of all of them, but her concern was still easily seen. The clearing they entered into was rather small, with barely fifteen feet of space in any direction from the center. Gently, the four of them sat down on the grass, as the sun slowly began to pass below the edge of the treeline.
I'm... not sure what to do... Mini stated to Chess. I am not sure how to explain to them that there is no way to remove or permanently silence our mother... That simply is not how Bloodlines work...
Mother mentioned... our father... but I don't remember him... Chess replied, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
Our memories of him reside in me, Mini explained. When I broke off from the rest of your soul, your experiences with him were one of the things that came with me...
"Mini," Melody seated herself beside Chess and grabbed the young Bloodline's body in her arms again, "Please... I know there must be many painful things in Chess' past... but I need you to tell me..."
"We might not find anything," Amber added, placing a hand on Chess' shoulder while she stood, "but at least we'd be able to understand everything a bit better."
"From what I remember from my past..." Chess trailed off, "things were... unpleasant... If Mini's been holding onto more of that... I don't know if I want to expose you all to-"
"Unfortunately for you," Melody interrupted forcefully, "I don't really care. You promised to protect me, so let me at least try to do the same for you!"
"I agree," Cherri added as she set her pack down, joining the others in the grass. "We won't know unless we try."
"Are you all sure about this?" Chess asked, a hint of worry edging into his voice. "I can't even remember everything..."
I can... Mini sighed. I suppose... if we can trust anyone with our past... it will be the three of you... But Chess is right... you must be absolutely certain that you're willing to-
"I am," Melody stated firmly.
"So am I."
"It seems we are all in agreement," Cherri smiled gently. "Take your time, Chess, you don't have to rush to tell us your story..."
Chess won't need to speak... Mini said, I will show you... The trio of Maidens and Chess suddenly found themselves standing in a dark-gray, almost black, void. Voices whispered around them, causing Melody to edge closer to the young Bloodline. Mini stood before them, a solemn expression painted across his face. Let us begin...
Melody saw colors begin to flow around them, slowly swirling and coalescing into a room. It was an ugly, gray-walled cube of a room, with a single dirty window facing out into the world outside. Melody caught sight of tall buildings, skyscrapers like those in Mountain Glenn, towering outside the window. In the center of the room, sat a man and a small child. Their voices were muffled, though their lips moved in accordance with the sound.
"Why can't we hear them?" Melody asked, noticing that the others were still standing nearby.
That's because I can no longer recall the exact words spoken, Mini explained sadly. I remember that a conversation took place, but I can't remember what was said. Melody nodded her head understandingly. She took the time to observe the pair in the room more closely. The child was clearly a very young Chess, perhaps only three years old, in comparison to Mini, who appeared to be around eight.
The man appeared to be in his mid-twenties. He was pale-skinned, and had a thin physique. Short dark hair sat atop his head. However, the thing that stood out most to Melody was the man's eyes. They were a warm, caring blue, that watched over the young Chess with a deep pride. This was Chess' father.
The young Bloodline and his father continued to stare at a small book laid out on the grungy carpet on which they sat. Judging by the back-and-forth speech of their conversation, and by how Chess' father would pat the young child affectionately every time Chess spoke, Melody realized that the man was teaching his young son to read.
The peaceful, warm-hearted scene suddenly shattered, as the door of the room was flung open with a crash. Chess' father stood, stepping between his son and the woman who had entered the room. Chess' mother yelled inaudible words at the man, summoning shadows just like Chess that whipped angrily through the air around her. The dark extensions snatched and tore up the small book into small pieces. For the first time, Melody and the others were able to pick out a few words that Mini clearly remembered.
"-Not what the boy should be learning! He needs to learn to be strong and embrace his power! Not become some simpering fool!" Chess' mother screamed.
"What he needs," Chess' father replied calmly, "is to learn how to function properly in the world. His powers can't help him do that."
The conversation became inaudible once again as Mini forgot the exact words that were being said. The tiny Chess sat on the floor behind his father, watching his mother's shadows with a terrified expression on his face. The argument continued to go back and forth, when suddenly, Chess' mother twitched, and one of her shadows lashed across the man's throat. Melody covered her mouth in horror as Chess' father fell onto the carpet and began to stain the carpet crimson. To make matters worse, the man did not cry out in pain, nor curse or gurgle at his killer. Instead, as the young Chess raced over to check on his father, the man gave his son and the mother of his child one last apologetic look. No words were spoken, but Melody saw his eyes fill with sorrow at being unable to save the woman and small boy before him. The young Chess shook his father as the man grew still.
"Da-" the small Chess choked out, tears streaming down his face. His mother took several steps forward, grabbing the small boy and throwing him to the side.
"An Inheritor of our Bloodline does not cry," the woman snarled. "If you wish to blubber, then I will give you something to shed tears over." Chess' mother's shadows sprung forth, digging into the small child's skin. Melody felt sick, as if she would vomit at any second.
"Stop it!" the young Maiden screamed as the small Chess was beaten and slashed before her very eyes. "Leave him alone!"
They cannot hear you, Mini said softly. All of this has already passed...
The scene around the group wavered and faded, replaced by a different, equally dreary room, this time with walls of cement. Melody heard Amber make a sound halfway between a gasp and an uneasy gulp. It didn't take long for her to realize why. On the floor lay the carelessly strewn bloody remains of countless living beings, both Human and animal. Melody saw the older Chess' fist tighten into a ball. They had arrived at a place he remembered, even if the he could not recall the event.
The door of the room burst open, Chess' mother leading a slightly older version of her son inside. A small rodent struggled viciously in her hand. The woman held the creature out to her child.
"Go on, kill it."
Hesitantly, the young Chess took the flailing creature from his mother, and sat on the blood-covered floor. Small wispy shadows crawled out from underneath the small boy, wavering uneasily in the air for several moments.
"What are you waiting for, idiot? Do it."
The small Chess closed his eyes and the shadows formed into the bladed tendrils that Melody had seen him use many times before. The tiny rodent struggled more intensely, sensing its imminent demise. The blades stabbed forward, impaling the small creature. Its blood leaked out onto the young Chess' hands, dripping onto the floor.
"Good," Chess' mother pat her child's head. Melody felt a rage build up inside her chest at the genuinely overjoyed smile the woman had on her face. "I'll make a true Inheritor of Chaos out of you yet."
The scenes began to shift rapidly, but the room remained intact. Every time Chess and his mother reentered the room, they were just a little bit older. Chess' mother was working the boy up to larger prey. After the rat, she had him slaughter birds, rabbits, cats, dogs... and finally people. The small Chess began to smile when he ended a living being's existence, after all, it made his mother happy.
Melody wanted to turn away, but couldn't. The silver-haired Maiden edged closer and closer to the Chess she knew, tightly grasping his hand to let him know she was still beside him. The Bloodline responded with an appreciative squeeze. Melody could feel him shaking.
The three Maiden's noticeably flinched as the small pale-haired boy slowly descended into madness. Shivers passed down their spines as the child let out a bone-chilling laugh. The scene faded once again.
When it reformed, the young Chaos Inheritor was standing in his mother's room while she slept. At this point, he looked exactly like Mini. There were no words spoken, but Melody, Amber, and Cherri could understand the situation as if they could hear the child's thoughts. For years, Chess' mother had taught him to kill stronger and stronger prey, always searching for something stronger to assert their superiority over. In the small Bloodline's mind, there was only one creature left that he considered strong. Mother.
Melody saw the boy's face split open into an eager grin. Horrified, she watched the young Bloodline summon the bladed tendrils of shadow. The young Maiden couldn't bring herself to continue, and turned away, burying her face in her Chess' chest. She felt his arms close gently around her as she covered her ears in an attempt to drown out the horrid sounds behind her.
"I- I did it!" the young Chess cried breathlessly. "I beat her! I won!" Melody felt her blood chill.
Excellent job, Chess' mother's voice echoed around them. I was wondering when you'd take the next step. It seems you're ready after all... The small Chess wailed in despair and frustration. Don't be upset. Mother will make sure you grow strong...
Once again, the scene faded and rapidly began to change. Chess continued to grow older and older, killing countless people at his mother's behest. Melody began to shake violently as the images from Chess' time as Lord Chaos began to play. Countless bodies, voices screaming for mercy, blood everywhere. All perpetrated by someone with the same face as the person she loved with all her heart.
"Mini! Please stop!" Melody cried. "Please... I can't..."
Melody opened her eyes. All of them were back in the clearing in the middle of the clearing in the woods. A harsh wind shook the trees around them. The sun had seemingly long-since set, leaving all of them cloaked in darkness. The three Maidens couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
"Chess?" Melody called, realizing that the young Bloodline was not were he had been. Instead, the snow-haired boy was seated a good distance away from them with his back against a tree. "What are you doing over there?"
"Melody- I-" Chess tried to speak, but found that he couldn't find the words. A pair of silvery tears, gleaming in the moonlight, fell to the ground at the Bloodline's feet. "I'm- I'm a mon-"
"No! You aren't!" Melody yelled firmly. "You're Chess, and that's all I or anyone else need you to be!" The silver-haired Maiden ran over to him, quickly throwing her arms around the distraught Bloodline. After exchanging a glance, Amber and Cherri both joined the pair, doing their best to embrace both Chess and Melody in their arms.
Then, for the first time he could remember, Chess cried. As he shook, he hugged Melody. Not the pitiful, awkward attempts at embraces he had tried before, but an actual, heartfelt grasp. He held onto her tightly, as if she were his only lifeline in the middle of an ocean of despair and pain.
"It's okay, Chess," Melody rested her forehead against his, "you aren't alone anymore."
A/N:I continue to write as fast as I can. Today, we finally get a glimpse into Chess' past! Dark themes! Dark themes everywhere!
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