Author's note: Hello everyone, back with another chapter. As always thanks for the follows, favourites and reviews. Music is a big part of my writing process, so if there is any song/songs that have inspired the chapter I will make not of it up here, just in case you guys wanted to listen along while reading. For this chapter; Iron by Woodkid.
A gust of wind blew through the countryside, the cool autumn air sending shivers down Weiss' spine. The sun had set an hour ago, and night had finally settled in. Weiss had lit the Inn's lamps and fireplaces, to keep warm and provide some light; she would need it for the coming fight. The two horses were now tied up in the barn, and Yang and Ruby remained upstairs with their father. Ruby had gone eerily quiet, she was hurting bad. Weiss had left them, Yang was not trained and in no condition to help fight, even though she had made a good show of it when Torchwick's men had first come. Weiss stood in the doorway of the Inn, waiting for them to come.
She ran her hands over both of her pistols, reassuring herself they were there. Yang had said that they had only come with six men the first time; Weiss hoped they wouldn't bring many more than that again. She tried to keep her breathing calm, the fear and anxiousness rising in her chest.
Eventually she heard the sounds of horses, the sound slowly growing louder as a group of horsemen made their way to the Inn. Twelve men approached, slowly dismounting as they eyed Weiss cautiously. Out from the group strode a larger man, similarly clad in the black and brown leathers as his comrades. "Girl, step aside and let us get what we came for. We don't have time for any games; Torchwick has stressed the importance of haste for this job." He grinned with a near toothless smile, hand resting on his sword. "Last time a man offered me a similar deal, and he died chocking on his own blood". It was Weiss' time to smile, her words holding much more malice.
The man shrugged and waved for his men to attack. Weiss tensed, drawing her pistols. Her enemies also had firearms, taking shots with pistols and carbines. Weiss dashed to the side, her movements erratic and serpentine. She felt the air around her fill with bullets, felt the dull thuds as the shots found their way into the earth around her. She ran forward, raising her pistols as the men now pulled forth swords, hammers and axes.
She opened fire at close range, assuring her targets fell. The two men slumped to the ground, the air now filled with smoke and the smell of gunpowder. She flipped her pistol, using it to intercept the haphazard swing of a crude axe. The pistol was broken and knocked from her grip; dropping her second one as well she flicked her hand and felt the familiar sliding of her hidden blade. The man was not quick enough to bring his axe up to block her stab, the blade taking him in the chest.
Three men lay dead at her feet, while the rest slowly surrounded her. They all came at her at once, Weiss barely having time to draw her rapier. She backed up against the exterior of the Inn, her blade busily fending off her enemy's strikes. She felt a few of their weapons pass through her defence, feeling the sting of cold steel. The cuts were not fatal, but they would slow her down.
She lashed out, seeing an opportunity to break free from their concave. Her rapier flashed in the night, taking down another man, her hidden blade pushing through the heavy coat of another. She broke away running at the large man who sat chuckling at her efforts to fight off his men. His eyes went wide with terror as the snarling girl in white rushed past them and plunged her rapier into his soft flesh. She had no time to relish killing the fat man; turning quickly in order to avoid another swing. The blow caught her rapier, getting tangled in the weapons guard, and pulling it from her hand.
Weiss watched three of the men break away and head into the Inn, unable to stop them. The next blow came quickly, Weiss managing to hold off the sword with her hidden blade. The force of the blow, followed by a swift kick, sent Weiss stumbling to the ground. "You're in for it now princess," the man grumbled as he closed in for another attack. Weiss rolled away from the attack as it came down, her opponent desperately swinging down trying to catch her. She managed to rise to one knee, slamming her hidden blade into the man's thigh. Leaning in to clutch his wound, Weiss stabbed his now exposed throat. She managed to rise to her full height, as another blow, this time the butt of a hammer, struck her stomach. With the wind knocked out of her she dropped, having the urge to throw up from the force of the shock.
The rest of the men split off, running inside as Weiss lay defeated. Her breathing now rough from her exertion as well as her injuries, she looked into the man's eyes. Looking past his face she saw a figure leap from the roof of the Inn. The man's eyes immediately glassed over, a look of pain crossing his face, a scream on his lips that never came. The dark figure pushed him down, her body's momentum likely breaking his back as her blade pierced his back. Ruby rolled off of the corpse, dragging Weiss to her feet in one swift motion. The men from inside the Inn started backing away, weapons raised. Through the doorway a lifeless body was flung, Yang stepping out to face the rest of them. Her face a visage of rage she charged with axe in hand. "Come on Weiss," Ruby's voice whispered in her ear. They rushed the last of the men together, Weiss scooping up her rapier as she ran.
The fight was now equal, three of Torchwick's men against two Assassins and a very angry blonde. Yang screamed with anger as she batted away her opponent's weapon, he barely had a second to beg before he was felled. Ruby drew her sabre, easily winning her duel with a few quick parries and a final swipe. Weiss took the longest, her wounds slowing her significantly now. Yet like the others her opponent stood no chance alone, and died clutching his fatally wounded stomach.
The three of them stood there, silence finally returning to the night. Weiss looked over her companions; Yang was still writhing with anger, but she could see as she slowly regained her composure. Ruby was silent, but Weiss could see the whites of her knuckles as she clenched her fist on her sabre. Weiss set about assessing her wounds, nothing that would slow her down in the long term, but they would likely leave a few more scars. "Thanks for the help, it would have been nice a little earlier, but thanks," She watched as Yang stomped off back into the Inn, Ruby silently standing over the man she had just killed. Weiss moved over towards her, "Ruby, you don't have to feel bad, they work for the man who killed your mother after all"
"No, I do need to feel bad. I'm a monster, a murderer, even if he was 'bad'."
"If you're a monster Ruby, then I'm the Queen of the monsters."
"O-oh I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that," Ruby's childlike awkwardness returning. Weiss tried to supress her laughter, but failed, the adrenaline making the whole situation all the more funny. Ruby blushed slightly at Weiss' mocking, "Ruby, it is exactly like that. I am a monster, and it is hard to think I have turned you into one as well, I realise I may have made a mistake there. But we have to be monsters, to fight monsters. We take lives to safeguards others; I know it's not the most comforting thing, but we have to remember that." Ruby thought it over, slowly nodding in agreement. "You did very well if I may say so, someone must have taught you well," Ruby let out a chuckle. "Maybe someone did."
The ride back to London was long and tiring. The group didn't stop, fearing that more of Torchwick's men would catch up. Ruby was riding with her father; he was still injured and not completely conscious. Weiss feared an infection, which meant they did not have time to spare in getting him back. They arrived late in the afternoon a day after the fight at the Inn, having ridden through the night. Immediately upon arriving in London, the group rushed towards the Schnee Manor. Their horse barged through the busy afternoon crowds that lined the streets. Eventually coming upon the large Iron gates of the manor, the guards opening them as they saw Weiss approach.
Weiss started shouting orders at the serving staff, sending people off to find a physician, finding a room for Taiyang. She noticed her father watching from the window of his office, a sour look on his face. Yang eyed her, surprised by her wealth, and suspicious of it. Ruby to usher Yang away, taking her down to the secret cellar she stayed in.
They all split off, desperate for rest and safety.
The next day began too soon. Having had barely six hours sleep, Ruby woke to Weiss' insistence. "Ruby, there is a lot going on right now, we don't have time to sleep in."
"Weiss…Please, I'm tired". Her incessant shaking finally forcing Ruby out of bed. "Fine, I'm up. How's dad, what did the doctor say?"
"Your dad will be fine, he just needs a lot of rest. I moved Yang and your father to Blake's tavern, they will be safer there"
"What about here, you have like guards and stuff"
"Guards who could be paid off, more places to hide, and bigger targets. Also your sister, request at nauseam that she stayed somewhere with a bar."
"That's Yang" Ruby shrugging a sly look on her face.
"How is it that you too look nothing alike?"
"Summer wasn't Yang's real mum, her real mum disappeared a long time ago". Weiss made note of the use of 'disappeared' rather than 'dead'. "Anyway, we have more training to do if you are still willing." There was a hesitation in Weiss voice; she still had doubts on whether she should continue.
"Sounds good to me, but first I have to visit a friend of mine."
"Very well, I shall accompany you; it is still very dangerous out there." Ruby beamed and began getting her gear on. Soon the two were ready to leave, "So where are we going?"
"The Lie family, they have been good friends of my family's for some time. In my mother's letter she said they know something about why Torchwick and the Templars were after her". Weiss nodded, she had heard of the Lie family, they were one of the more prominent opium merchants in London. "Very well I will call for the horses, sadly we have to buy a new carriage," Weiss was not happy about that loss. Ruby grinned, "I have a better idea, I need to practice the stuff Blake taught me anyway. Maybe we could have a race"
"Ruby I don't think we have time for gam-" she didn't have time to finish as Ruby started sprinting, vaulting over the manors wall. Weiss groaned and ran after her. Dolt.
"What's got you in such a good mood today" Weiss slightly out of breath after the rooftop race, the two having decided on a tie.
"Well I dunno, my family are home and are safe for now. It's just a nice change of pace to the constant worrying and bad stuff"
"As great as it all is, we do have work to do. Torchwick remains at large and we are no closer to finding him." Ruby shook her head and playfully punched Weiss in the shoulder
"Lighten up Ice Queen." Weiss simply raised an eyebrow indignantly. The two made their way down from the roof of the building. They approached the Lie family house, Ruby eager to see her friend again.
Ruby flashed back to what seemed like a lifetime ago, knocking the same silver door knocker as she did that night. The door opened slowly, a sliver of light illuminating the green clad figure inside.
"Ren?"
"Ruby?" the figure hidden from Weiss' view. Weiss looked expectantly at Ruby, waiting for an introduction . The two friends however were caught up looking at each other with a shock, forgetting their manners. "Ren…. What's wrong, what happened?" Ren tried to mask his sadness, but gave up quickly.
"I could ask you the same thing, now get inside quickly." He ushered the two in, another look of surprise coming over his face as he watched Weiss walk in. She examined him closer as she stepped inside, surprise to see two hidden blades strapped to his arms, an Assassin. He wore a simple yet elegant green robe, his hood down but an ever present mark of an Assassin. Weiss spoke up first, "I'm Weiss Schnee, my father is the head of the Assassin order here in London, how have I never heard of you?" Ren eyed her cautiously,
"Ask your father, for now all I will say is that he has made many enemies, not just with the Templars. Ruby," Ren proceeding to ignore Weiss, "I heard about your mother, I'm truly sorry. Do you still have the letter my father wrote?"
"Ugh, no Weiss' father still has it." Ren sighed, energy clearly draining from his body.
"Ruby, my father was attacked, assassinated by the Templars. He did not tell me much, but he said that your mother was the key to stopping something horrible. All I know is that the thing that your mother had us bring back is what everyone is after. You need to get that letter, I will try and help if I can, but I'm head of the family now. I have to protect what's left of my family and get them somewhere safe, I wish I could stay and help."
Ruby nodded, still a little stunned as to the whole situation. "It's okay Ren, I understand. I will get it back, and I will stop all this." She turned to Weiss, her face a strange mix of determination and sadness, a mix that Weiss was all too familiar with. "Weiss, we need that letter." Weiss sighed, will this never end.
"Then let's go get it."
End note: For some awesome Ren Assassin artwork hit up Shazarakk's deviant art.