Pre-Note: :)
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"Heh. I never thought you would be the first boy, man, I invited into my room." Aurora chimed with a mischievous grin. Sitting on her bed with her feet kicked over the side. Letting her eyes travel around her room before landing on him. A frail smile on her face. "Are you going to kill me now?" She choked softly, never breaking eye contact with him.
"No." Jaune whispered, leaning against a desk beside the window. "Never."
"Then why did you put my sister to sleep?" She accused, heat bleeding into her voice as it cracked. A choked sob escaping her as she dried her tears with her sleeve. "Then why are you here!" She spat hurtfully. Tears threatening to break out at any moment.
"Because no one deserves to die alone." Jaune whispered softly. Never taking his eyes of her. Even if his smile meant to reassure was frailer than ever before.
The crumbling walls had forced to keep up ever since waking up in Remnant came crumbling down. Tears falling freely as she hickuped. Hiding her head in her hands and crying her heart out.
Sighing softly, Jaune moved to her side. Gently sitting down beside her and putting an arm around her. Aurora clinging onto his as if he were her only lifeline while her tears fell freely.
"I hate you." She spat into his side between sobs. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you."
"It's ok." Jaune whispered gently, running circles on her back with his hand as she cried and screamed herself hoars into his side. "I hate me too."
"Don't patronize me." Aurora seethed, pulling away and glaring up at him. Her eyes red from crying, cracks of gold stretching out from her pupils. Lines of tears coloured her cheeks. And snot ran from her nose.
"I promise I'm not." Jaune assured softly. Not minding her righteous anger. Every invisible standard Aurora had constantly measured herself against nowhere to be seen. Revealing who she truly was too the world. A scared young girl trying to find her place in a cruel and unforgiving world. Pulled to all sides by circumstances outside her control. Yharnam, faith, a food shortage, the hunt, a sister, him. Love for her sister might have fuelled her, but it was desperation, a fear of being left alone, that gave her the push to chase after the bogy man on blood-soaked streets.
"But… why? How?" Aurora whispered, drying her snot on her sleeve. Never taking her eyes of him. Brows furrowed, her mouth a thin line.
"Oh. Does it really come as a surprise?" Jaune chuckled. It was a hollow laugh. Filled to the brim with self-loathing. "I do loath my work. I make no effort to hide it."
"But… But!" Aurora tried, repeated herself as a broken record while she waved her arms around. Trying to convey trough gestures. "But you are strong." She managed to eventually whisper out.
"Being strong for others and being strong for oneself are two different things." Jaune smiled softly. "Violet needed someone to lean on, so that is what I became. Pyrrha, Nora, Ren, they needed someone they could trust. Someone they knew would have their backs. So that is what I became. But… you know… just between the two off us… I can't really remember the last time I was strong for myself. Gehrman, my mentor, said that opening my heart to the world was inviting weakness. But I have never been stronger when I have someone to fight for."
"Why…" Aurora hiccupped, hurriedly drying her tears as she glared at him. "Why won't you leave me! I don't want you! Leave! Please! Why can't you leave me alone?!"
Gently getting up from the bed, Jaune knelt and took her hands softly in his own. "Because all I can hear is a young girl crying out 'I don't want to be alone'."
The dam cracked, Aurora throwing herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she wailed into him. Shaking as a leave while tears and into ran really. "Shh. It's okay to be scared." He whispered, returning the hug softly. "For what it is worth. I'm sorry. It never should have come to this. I just wanted you to be safe. To be happy."
A heart wrenching wail echoed through the room. Aurora clinging to him. Terrified to let go.
"I don't want to die." She chocked out between her sobs. Starting the waterworks again. Crying until her tears ran dry. Until only chocked sobs echoed of the four walls.
"I'm sorry." Jaune whispered softly. Running a gloveless hand through her hair. "I'm sorry it had to be this way." He whispered, hurt and guilt leaking into his voice. "I wish it could have been another way, but, heh, I guess man proposes and heaven disposes."
"Don't talk bad about the Divine." Aurora murmured into his neck.
"I think the Divine have better things to do than pay attention to me." Jaune laughed softly. "And, between the two of us, I… I wouldn't exactly call myself an atheist, but neither would I call myself pious."
"But… but the Divine is real. They gave us the blood to heal our wounds, to cure our sick. They care about us. Why wouldn't you believe?" Aurora asked, breaking the hug and looking up at him with wet and red eyes. Disbelief momentarily drying her tears.
"I am not down talking the Divine." Jaune said softly, gently moving a lock of hair out of her face. "I… I have felt the attention of the Divine on me, once or twice during my hunts. It's simply that I am an outsider who never had the time to learn of them the normal way." He lied, something he had promised himself not to do. While he would never think lesser of those who pledged themselves to a higher being. Jaune knew that he could never so that. Something answered his prayers, but he already had too much on his plate. It was easier to know that beings such as Gods and other Divine beings existed, than go staring into the sun until he went blind. Rightfully terrified of what he would find.
'Gehrman made a deal with a God, or something of the Divine, didn't he?' Jaune just knew. Gehrman's desperate notes, the Doll's existence both in the Dream and in the waking world, and the impossible dream with all it's wonder and horrors. He didn't know what his old mentor had wished for, but it had come true in some shape or form. But the times he had walked up on his mentor pleading in his sleep, crying tears while haunted by nightmares, his grief that threatened to strangle him. Walking onto Gehrman sleeping was a better warning about hasty deals with the Divine than anything else. Sympathetic they may be, but they weren't understanding.
"But what do you want to do?" Jaune asked, stopping Aurora before she could regale him with the Divine until her last breath.
"What?" Aurora asked, pulling slightly into herself. No doubt noticing the hollow grief in his tone.
"What do you want to do? Any dreams? If there was one last thing you wanted to do, what would it be?" He asked gently. Feeling his heart break at how quickly Aurora caught his drift. A hollow smile splitting her lips before she began laughing. A hysterical laugh with tears of grief trailing down her cheeks.
"Do… Do you think you could walk me down the aisle?" Aurora asked embarrassedly when she got herself under control. Fidgeting slightly. "I… I know the Grand Catedral isn't for that purpose. But… dad is watching over me there. And… and I want him and mother to be there to receive me."
"Of course." Jaune whispered hoarsely. Feeling guilt swell within him once more. Aurora to calm, to accepting, of her inevitable death. "Why don't we get going then?"
Standing up, Aurora quickly got off her bed. Following him out the door, throwing one long look at her room, before closing the door behind her. Her hand coming up to wipe away more tears.
Walking down the cramped staircase, he followed patiently as Aurora walked trough her home for one last time. Running her fingers under the family portrait. Setting the old music box to play a familiar lullaby. The soft plinging of offkey piano keys echoing trough the house. Dancing a silent dance, she wandered aimlessly from room to room. Burning everything onto her mind, into her soul. Only stopping when she looked fit to faint. Her already pale skin taking on a bone white colour. Making her look no different from cadavers.
"Are you up for a walk?" Jaune asked gently, catching her before she could fall and hurt herself. Aurora shivering against him, feeling so bony, so light, against his hands.
"I… Yes. Please. I… I need to do this myself." She whispered, voice cracking slightly as tears formed in her eyes again. Giving her the time she needed to gather herself again, Jaune waited patiently. Not wanting to rush her.
"I'm good now… I'm good now." Aurora breathed, pushing away from him. Taking one last look at the family painting. Tears welling up in her eyes before she forced her gaze away. Walking with determined steps towards the entrance.
"Here. I want you to give my sister." Aurora whispered and handed him the house key. "It's hers to have."
"Thank you." Jaune replied, closing the door behind him and locking the door. Red veins escaping from his palm as he cast a protective curse over the house. Making sure that no one would break in. He doubted anyone would try while the moon was still up. But this was Yharnam, and he wasn't taking any chances.
Together they began slowly walking towards the Gand Cathedral. Aurora showing him a shortcut he hadn't noticed before. Leading them quickly and almost bloodlessly towards the grand bridge where he had slaid his first beast so many nights ago. Only a few hostile drunks and hungry crow hiding in the alley. The entrance to the Catedral Ward was still blocked, but Jaune wasn't the man he once was.
Bending down, he gestured for Auora to hop onto his back. Aurora pouting at him but didn't complain. When her arms were wrapping tight around him, Jaune opened his coat and took out a grappling hook. It wasn't the prettiest of things, but it would get the job done. Aiming his throw, the hock swirled over the railing. Swinging back under the railing thanks to some finicky tinkering from his side. Taking the hock, Jaune fashioned himself a quick little elevator before pulling them up.
And not before long, the two of them found themselves above the locked gate and firmly inside the Cathedral Ward. Aurora almost falling to her knees when she slid of his back. Desperately having to lean against him as she breathed shallowly. Fighting desperately for each breath. A dewy gaze never breaking away from the grand clocktower, only mirrored by the wishful and delirious smile that was on her lips.
Pushing away from him and taking a step forward. Aurora collapsed forward. Seemingly only having strength to look up at the clocktower. Pearls trailing down her cheeks.
Without hesitation, Jaune lifted her up in his arms. Brows furrowing when she felt like she weighted nothing at all. His trusty blade weighting more than her. Lifting her in a bridal carry, he walked towards the grand cathedral. Blood freezing in his veins when a church giant went down on one knee and bowed as they passed.
"I lied." Aurora whispered, a cold hand coming up to cradle his cheek as they stepped into the plaza. "I don't really hate you. I didn't want to hurt you. I know how you look at me and my sister. Thank you for caring where others would have turned the other eye."
"I know. I know." Jaune whispered softly. The toll of a bell echoing over the ward. Casting and channelling all the healing spells he knew as they walked up the large staircase. Every giant and church doctor stopping to kneel as they passed.
"I lied about father as well." Aurora whispered; her soft voice filled with guilt. "It… it was easier saying goodbye if they had been cruel. But they hadn't, and it hurts. And it still does."
"I know." Jaune replied gently. Bending down her planting a soft kiss on her forehead before he stepped into the Grand Cathedral. "I also know that, if your father is anything like me, that he has already forgiven you."
"Why do you make it so hard to hate you." Aurora mustered, her voice no more than a whisper. Her eyes cloudy, lines of gold coming out of them end racing down to her chest. Making the vicar's amulet shine luminously trough her dress. Bathing her in a golden light. The light flashed, diving into her when the bell tolled a second time.
Setting foot into the grand cathedral, an invisible warmth fell over them. Walking up the stairs, Jaune had to blink. Pew's made from golden light lined the sides. Filled to the brim with shrouded forms of gold. A gasp escaped Aurora, her arm falling helplessly down to the side as she tried reaching for the wispy strands of gold that hung in the air. By the aisle stood a tall women robed in gold and white. A shimmering veil over her face, golden embroidery decorating her robe.
Carrying her down the aisle, Jaune's spirituality churned. A bracing breath escaping him before he channelled all his spirituality into his eyes. Wrath sparking alive in his heart, eaten away by the seal on his emotions as it was siphoned away.
The wonderful illusion of gold was stripped away, leaving only the woman. Now dressed in a mourners veil, eight pairs of skeletal arms held before Her. One held a metal lantern who burned with a pale flame. Two caried a simple scythe. Another held an incense burner. And a scissor made up of pale white bones were resting in another hand. The veil gone, showing a pristine skull to the world. He could see a pair of empty sockets staring back at him from behind the veil. A skeletal mouth clacking together in a mockery of laughter.
A skeletal hand coming up and pointing at them.
"Mine."
It was barely more than a whisper, but all the lights inside the cathedral were snuffed out. His right eye exploding in its socket. His spirituality almost shattering then and there. Tilting, churning as large waves crashed against the three pillars.
"No, not yet." Jaune breathed, words coming out as a gargled mess. Looking down at the child in his arms, his aura surged. Aurora's eyes turning misty, yet there was a grateful smile on her lips. Her spirit faltering, growing silent with each struggling breath.
"Thank you. Thank you for being kind. Thank you for being there. And I'm sorry, but could I ask one last thing off you? Could you give my ribbon to Arianna? It was my mother's, and I want her to have it." Aurora whispered, barely lucid. Some clarity sparking alive in her eyes as the warm blood splattered over her.
"I will." Jaune whispered back. Softly shuffling her in his arms, bringing his free hand up to wipe away the tear that trailed down her cheek. Hand briefly touching the golden amulet around her neck. But that was enough. As if alive, golden chains shoot from the amulet. Wrapping around his left hand as the chains seared themselves into his skin. Some chains drilling deeper, piercing trough muscles and flesh until they wrapped themselves around bone. Seering with a heat that almost made him drop Aurora as the golden pendant burned itself into the palm of his hand.
Trough the painfilled haze, the weight in his arm disappeared. Collapsing on one knee, Jaune forced himself to look up. Where he saw Aurora looking back at him with a soft smile. Walking hand in hand with the skeletal figure. Tears streaming down her face as she mouthed 'Take care of Violet in my steed, please' to him.
"Do not cry, little one. There was no road in which you wouldn't have met me." The words where a mournful whisper. Yet containing a power that smashed against his spirituality. Festering cracks racing down one of the pillars. His right arm thudding against the stone floor. Bringing with it a stench of decay, muscle and bone festering with rot and maggots.
"Dad!" A piercing cry echoed trough the grand cathedral. Turning back, Jaune saw Violet coated in blood. Only the wooden club a remainder of her saw-cleaver, pieces of blood and squirming brain matter still on it. Reaching out with his left arm, he collapsed forward. The world going black before his head hit the ground.
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Violet woke up from her dreamless sleep with a sinking rock in her stomach. The rock only sinking deeper when she woke up alone in the workshop. Well, her master's mentor and the Doll was there. But it wasn't them she was looking for. The blade of betrayal stung deep, sending angry tears trailing down her cheeks.
She knew something had been weird when her dad had carried her into the workshop. It wasn't something obvious, but she had learned to read him. And his eyes had screamed at her that something she didn't like was going to happen.
Biting down on her trembling lip, she darted back into the workshop. Pocketing some throwing knives, pebbles, blood vials, before grabbing a piece of chalk and her journal. Holstering her pistol, guilt gnawed at her. This wasn't just popping up in a safe workshop. She knew that she was actively breaking her fathers trust. But the guilt was washed away by stinging betrayal. Grabbing her trusty saw cleaver, she breathed out with a shudder before placing her hat on. Knowing there was no going back.
Stepping down the staircase, each step added another weight onto her shoulders. The realisation of what she was about to do settling in. This wasn't the same as sneaking out to search after her mother because she didn't believe her dad's words. This was directly going behind his back, doing something she had promised not to do.
Letting her eyes wander over the headstones, Violet turned to the Doll. Hoping she would give her some guidance.
"I am sorry little one." The Doll bowed apologetically. "However the kind hunter has asked me to not help you. And while I care for you both, as your father, he has revoked your ability to wake up in the waking world temporarily."
The words hurt, and the feeling of betrayal only grew. Drying her tears, she turned on the spot darting back into the workshop. Slamming the doors behind her petulantly.
Stopping in her tracks when her blue eyes landed on an inconspicuous key. "Gilbert's key." She hiccupped, quickly drying her tears while her mind worked overtime. Looking down at the parchment, she knew the words, but couldn't understand the jargon that was written. But the words Ownership, Deed and Property stood out to her.
Throwing her eyes at the door, she grabbed the key with nervous energy in abundance. "It coulndt work like this… right?" She asked no one in particular. Knowing how weird and mystical the dream was. Inserting the key into the workshops large, closed doors. The key fitting into the keyhole as if it belonged. Turning it around she didn't meet the resistance she expected, instead only a soft 'click' rang out. Pocketing the key, Violet breathed out nervously. Placing her hands on the big wooden doors and pushing.
Stumbling forwards as the doors swung open without any struggle. Yharnam's dreary grey skies greeting her. The full moon bathing her in light. Looking back, she saw Gilbert's door was open. The dream's large wooden doors nowhere to be found. Closing and locking the door behind her, Violet gulped. Ice raising up her spine as distant beasts howled. Instinctively reaching out for a hand that wasn't there.
Biting down onto her lips, she did her best to push the fear out of her mind. Looking around before eventually choosing to head right. Stepping down the little staircase and onto the walkway. Tiptoeing over the bridge when she saw a patrol of men that behaved more like beasts. Torches and pitchforks held high as they scoured the street.
Reacting more on instinct than anything else, Violet spun, bringing up her saw-cleaver as a man sprang out from some boxes. The teeth digging into his stomach and splattering her with blood as she followed her weapon. Escaping from his blow by the skin of her teeth.
"That's a dangerous weapon lassie." The man growled, his free hand coming down to check the damage. To high on blood or something else to care about his intestines spilling out. "But you aren't no lassie are you, beast."
'Just go out and kill some beast's. It's for your own good. You'll get over it sooner or later. Don't think too much about it.' Gehrman's voice echoed in her mind. Not helping her in the slightest.
'Two.' Her father shouted strictly in her mind. What muscle memory she had kicking into high gear. Sidestepping, Violet brought her trusty weapon up with all her might. The teeth digging into tender flesh instead of bouncing back as it did on the wooden training dummies. Pulling the trigger, the springs sprang to life. The cleaver digging itself deeper into the man as she heaved. A silent scream escaping her, muscles burning in protest.
Her trusty weapon didn't betray her. Rending large chunks of flesh as she scampered away. Pulling out her pistol and shooting him in the head. Blood, bone, and squirming brain matter coating the wall behind him. He was dead. Deader than dead. But that didn't stop her from poking him with her saw-cleaver from a distance. Her fear ordering her to make sure he wouldn't wake up again.
Breathing out when he didn't move, she quickly picked up her pace. Walking down a staircase onto a stone balcony, she felt her hearth hammering in her chest. Turning the corner, torches and pitchforks greeted her like a wall. The patrol from earlier filling up the staircase. A dozen burning eyes glaring at her.
"Thought we wouldn't notice you prowling around, beast?" The leading man spat. Tall and lanky, with a beard that looked closer to a bush that proper hair. Dressed in a tattered suit with hair poking out along his arms. His mouth a rotten grin.
"Did she scream?" The leader asked, taking a step up, and towering over her. Bestial cruelty shinning in his eyes as he looked down at her. "The little girl's skin you wear. Did she scream when you peeled it off her? Did she plead for you to spare her? None the matter. We proud and proper 'gent's of Yharnam will repay you a thousand time's back for what you did too her. Won't we 'gent's?"
Lifting his torch, the blood crazed men behind her shouted a rallying cry.
'Remember, Violet. The most important thing for a good hunter isn't strength, speed, skill, tools, or equipment. Don't get me wrong, they all play a part. But having a molotov in your breast pocket doesn't matter if you forget to use it. The part that separates a good hunter from a bad one, is how they use what they have at hand. Pyrrha might be more skilled than me, but I have tricks in my sleeves skill and technique can't overcome. Ruby may be faster than me when she uses her semblance, but why should I let her play to her strength's when I have tool's to make them redundant? A window? Smash their heads into it. A staircase? Push them down and kill the survivors. A door? A weapon in the right circumstances.' Her master's voice explained gently in her mind. Quelling the panic she felt.
Before the leading man could do anything, she triggered her saw-cleavers transformation and ran the blunt part of the metal up into his crotch. Bringing the blunt part up to crash into his nose as he collapsed forward. With one last hit into the crotch he collapsed backwards.
Crashing into the next man and bringing him with him down. Creating a symphony of panicked screams. Blood coated the stone walls, from people slamming their heads into the walls. The lucky ones nailed their heads onto the metal fence's spikes, dying on the spot. While the unlucky ones got their limbs tangled trough the metal fence and snapped as they fell. Or tangled into a limb of bodies that tore joints. Torches were pushed into faces as they tumbled down, catching fire on greasy jackets and coats. Pitchforks broke, stabbing into falling men with wooden spears, or puncturing them with three long teeth.
Violet stood transfixed. Not managing to tear her eyes from the mangled bodies that began catching fire one after another. Only snapping out of it when she heard another patrol coming further down the street. Panic racing trough her, before she jumped down the staircase. Keeping her aura up as she landed heel first into the mangled face of the leader. Snaping his neck and cracking his skull against the uncaring pavement.
Jumping further, she landed softly on another man's chest. His rib's cracking in tandem. Stepping off him, Violet legged it. Hearing the shouts and cries of the patrol behind her. Picking up he pace when she saw a large beast tied up against a pole, fire coating it. Blinking, she saw herself in the beast's place. Smoke forcing its way down her throat and fire licked her skin.
Just imagining it made her pick up the pace. Inwardly glad that her father focused so much off her training on endurance. Knowing she would never be able to run so fast for so long otherwise.
Looking around, she saw a possible way out. Forcing herself to pick up the speed as she saw a group of blood drunk men chasing after her. Hollering in joy at the chase. Torches and pitchforks raised high.
Turning left, she sprinted down the great bridge. Feeling panic setting in, out from the corner of her side she saw another bridge. Making her blood freeze in her veins as she realized she was on the wrong bridge.
Hope blazed in her chest when she saw a familiar hook lying on the stone pavement. Grabbing the hook, she prayed to whatever Deity would listen and threw. Heart sinking when she knew before it left her hand that it wouldn't be enough. The hook bouncing back and landing before her feet.
Throwing her head over her shoulders, her heart plummeted. The way back was closed off. The group of blood mad hunters blocking the way back. Slowly making their way towards her as they laughed, hollered, and grinned at her like they didn't know if they should burn her or hang her.
"Please… Dad. Anyone. Help me." Violet prayed desperately, grabbing the hook and throwing it up with all her might. The wind turning to her favour for a split second. Pushing the hook up just enough for it to bite into stone.
Without thinking, Violet grabbed the rope and climbed like her life depended on it. Hearing the commotion behind her.
"The beast is getting away!"
"Plague ridden rat! It's trying to scamper away."
"Rip the kid apart! Don't let the skinchanger escape!"
The world seemed to slow down as Violet felt her death approaching. A blue glow settling over her vision as she climbed. Everything disappeared, leaving only her, the rope, and the length left. Her mind and body working in perfect synchronisation. Her lungs didn't burn, neither did she feel anything in her arms. Instead she only felt a quiet detachment and intense focus.
Crawling under the stone railing, she scrapped her knee against the stone pavement, not caring in the slightest as she pulled up the rope. Pulling it up right before a mad man tried jumping after it, having broken out of the pack and tried sprinting and jumping to catch it. All he got for his trouble's being a broken leg. Snapping like a twig when he landed and sending him planting face first into the stone bridge.
He didn't get up.
But neither did she have time to catch her breath or to feel the rope-burn in her hands. Torches were thrown over the railing. One passing right by her ear, the cackling of fire making the world slow down as she threw herself away.
Choosing not to question her sudden ability, wanting to bring it up with her father instead, she scurried from the stone fence. Looking around wildly, not knowing where she was. Her eyes eventually landing on the great clocktower. She didn't know where her dad was, but he would never leave her sister alone. Especially not when she was dying. That stung, that her sister didn't want her by her side. Forever steeling away her chance to say her last goodbye.
She didn't know where her dad was, but she knew intimately how kind he was. And she knew that her sister always wished to walk down the aisle. It wasn't much to go on. But it was enough. Violet made a split decision to trust her gut, taking a deep breath before legging it.
The world slowing down as she ran past a sleeping giant. Sprinting up a staircase, she let her gut lead her. Choosing to follow her instincts. Who for their part screamed that she was making a stupid idea, but they had been screaming at her for the last minutest now. And she was already far too gone for her to turn back.
Stepping into a large plaza the world slowed down as a wooden stick raced towards her temple. Mimicking the time she saw her dad and his partner dance; she twirled around the staff. Her ankle screaming at her when the world snapped back. Pushing through it, she gritted her teeth and ran. Slipping into her ability when a giant raised a cleaver larger than her. Instead of trying anything fancy, she used her small size too her advantage. Slipping between it's legs as she continued up the stairs uninterrupted.
Racing up the stairs, her chest burned. Her vision having long since grown hazy as she fought for each and every breath. Dodging under another wooden stick racing for her dome, she stumbled.
Panic racing trough her as her wrist snapped against the uncaring stone steps. Yet she didn't feel the pain. Her heart hammered in her ears, the world was slow and in a light shade of blue. Pushing up, she didn't feel the pain as bone poked out of her skin. Only leaning to the side as the pointy end of the stick slammed down where she had been. Nearly impaling her.
Bringing her trusty saw-cleaver up, the metal dug into the pale man's knee. Tearing muscle and colouring the light blue world with the familiar splatter of red. Backstepping, she almost slipped, the blood turning the staircase into a slippery death trap. The world stood still as she forced herself to bring her weapon up before her.
Knowing she had made a mistake before the wooden club impacted her shoddy guard. A crack rang out from her arm, but she didn't care. Didn't feel it either. Instead she stared transfixed at the bent metal. Springs and gears jutting out sharply, the connection between the hinge and saw blade also bending.
She didn't register the sharp stone stair's digging into her back, nor did she feel how her aura protected her. Her soul coming to her rescue, a part of herself she had forgotten she had. It was the warm light that shone inside her that warmed her up. It was something she had seen her father and his team be capable of bringing out. It was something she had forgotten in her rising hysteria.
The shock of her aura coming to life enough to jumpstart her head. A childish bellow of wrath escaping her. Her precious weapon, the first thing that her father had given her falling apart as she swung without thought or reason. A tinge of red creeping into the light blue world as her mind grew cruller. The pale man before her was stronger than her. But she was faster, and far more vicious.
Climbing up his coat like a monkey, his movement's to get him off nowhere close to the roller coaster of speed and ferocity that was her dad yesterday. Compared to when she clung on for dear life, the pale skinned man moved in slow motion.
Smashing the cleaver into his skull, only a wooden stick remained when she readied back for another strike. Not even stopping to think, she brought it down with all her strength. Trying to mimic Nora. Unfortunately she didn't have the ginger's inhuman strength, but she had her motivation in spades. The stick cracking against the side of his skull again and again and again. Until black and grey brain matter splattered out all over her.
Landing on the staircase, Violet tried catching herself from slipping. The toll of a bell pushing her out of her purple haze. Snapping her back to reality. Sweat trailed down her back, blood was all over her. And her wrist's were weird and swollen. The bone poking out only bringing macabre curiosity and a desire to poke at it.
Trying to slip into the blue world again, she almost fainted on the spot. Catching herself on the railing before her leg's betrayed her. Taking a shuddering breath, she looked up. Forcing herself to stand and begin walking up the staircase. Her leg's and lung's burned. But she pushed on, forcing herself to move faster and faster. And before she knew it, she was racing up the staircase.
The grand clocktower rising over her impossibly. Blotting out the hope she had in her chest. She hadn't seen any blood, nor had see seen the corpses that always followed her dad. Making the seed of doubt in her heart blossom and fester.
The bell tolled again, urging her faster upward. Her body protested at her, but at last she was before the Cathedral's great doors.
"¤¤"#UI()JKV()"()!¤&/"#&/()"#)!(")!/#(&/¤"¤&/#"%¤!"?#¤/"(¤&/("#¤/#."
A mournful whisper of nothing but gibberish echoed out of the cathedral. Knocking the air out of her lungs, the fire out of her heart, and the fight out of her spirit. Feeling her eyelids grow heavy, she almost fell asleep on the spot. 'It would be so easy to just fall asleep. To not worry. To be at peace. To just sleep forever.'
'Come now, little one. Your adventure has barely begun.'
'A child will always be a child. Childish until the end. And here I thought you were different.'
'That's my girl. Why don't I sing you a lullaby after you finish brushing your teeth.'
Violet snapped her eyes open, heart hammering in her chest. Fear encompassing her entire being.
"What… What was that?" She panted hoarsely. Speaking felt like torture. There were nails and blades in her throat. She tasted blood on her tongue. Something warm tickled down her leg.
'You were right, sister. The Hunter is a kind man. Kinder than any man I have seen in Yharnam. Look after him, please.' Looking around in fear and confusion. Violet blinked rapidly. Swearing that she could see her sister smile wryly from the grand cathedrals many windows. Dressed in a robe of white with golden accents.
Stepping forward, she made her way into the cathedral. Feeling as if she didn't belong. The many eyed guardians finding her lacking, their eyes never leaving her. Each step up the little staircase feeling more crushing. Sacrilegious, it felt. She was dirty, unclean, cacked with blood and wielding a stick used for murder. She didn't belong here. No matter how much her father preached about the righteous cause of the church. Sometimes it felt as he had been preaching for himself instead of them.
The awe she felt when she finally saw the grand cathedral proper wasn't something she could ever put into words. It felt all-encompassing. Almost as if the tall roof was made to challenge the very notion of the Divine Heaven. It felt as if the cathedral was the beginning, a declaration and an entrance both.
'Where does the tower lead?' She had remembered asking, enthralled in her father's lecture on blood magic. The memory returning to her with crystal clarity. 'Well my dear, where else but up.'
'Did the church build the Cathedral as the entrance of their tower?' Violet wondered. 'Did they want to build a tower to the sky? Where birth father said the divine ruled from?'
Her question's died as a soft thud echoed trough the cathedral. Instantly her eyes snapped to the only other figure in the grand hall. A squirming mass of flesh writhing on the floor. Pink blood pouring out, turning black before it managed to hit the ground. The familiar back, the familiar smell. The feeling of safety.
"Dad!" She cried, forcing her wounded and tired body to break into a sprint. Heart hammering in her ears. Her dad heard her, turning around. His right eye nowhere to be seen, only pinkish blood pouring out of the empty socket. Maggots and flies festering over his quickly rotting face. A hand reaching toward her, a mouth opening to revel rotting teeth and letting a swarm of flies dart out.
Collapsing forward, he hit the ground and exploded into a cloud of a million slivery lights and a thousand hungry flies.
Silvery clouds materializing above her and crashing into her. Stumbling forward, she tripped and fell into a pair of waiting arms. Looking up, she allowed herself to collapse in relief. The doll smiling down at her. Not judging. Instead only pride and love shone in her eyes.
"You are safe now, little one. What a splendid performance you put on. This dream We share, We are proud to call you one of our own. You have earned your place as Our Kind Hunter's daughter." The doll whispered gently. Running a gentle hand over her, moving a sticky strand of hair out of the way.
"Dad. Where is dad. Is he safe?" Violet managed to muster. Forcing herself to stay awake even when she only wanted to collapse into the Doll's gentle embrace.
"He is in the workshop." The doll whispered, letting her go as Violet forced herself up. Forcing her beaten and battered body up the staircase, passing by the open door's she saw her father by the workbench. Three glass bottles in a ritual circle, disappearing into one with a snap of his fingers. Without hesitation her dad grabbed the glass and downed the blood mixture. Only for him to fish out another three glass jars and casting the ritual again. A heavy sigh of relief escaping him as he downed the last glass. Collapsing against the workbench as he panted lighter.
Beautiful eyes of blue with black lines trailing trough them landed on her. Before she knew it, she was scooped up into a hug. Only to be sat down in her chair as her father took her hand in his. A soft green glow enveloping them. Causing the golden pendant wrapped around his left hand start to shine. The healing light shining with motes of gold. The healing bringing with her warm feeling of a hundred hugs.
"Where… where is Aurora." Violet croaked. This time when she spoke it didn't feel like someone had forced nails and blade down her throat. Instead there was a heavy clump that refused to go away. Guilt for what she had done gnawed at her, so did the empty hole in her chest that only grew when her thoughts trailed towards her sister.
"She is in a better place." Her father said softly. The hand she had seen just seconds ago rotting away coming up and gently wiping away a stray tear. "She is with your father and uncle. Looking over you from above."
"Nuhuh." Violet mustered as she threw her arms around her dad. "She isn't here. She isn't with you. With us."
Her father returned her hug, his big arms and warm chest making her forget herself. Tears streamed down as she wailed. Burring her face in his large chest. Letting out everything she held inside. The sting of betrayal, the hurt, the emptiness, the fear, lashing out as her father held her in his strong and warm embrace. Returning her feelings with an ocean of warm love.
"Why, why did you make me sleep!" She choked out between sobs. Her fists bouncing harmlessly against his chest.
"Because your sister begged me to." Her father replied softly. "Your sister was selfless, but she was also a very selfish girl. She didn't ever want you to see her hurt or weak. She coulndt bring herself to betray your image of her."
Violet screamed. Wrapping her arms around her fathers chest as she screamed until she had no more air left. Screaming until she felt blood upon her tongue. Screaming her pain out until all that was left was a hollow shell. And even then, she screamed. Hoping deep inside that her sister would somehow hear her screams.
"Shh, it's alright. I'm sorry. It will be alright. We will make it all right." Her father promised softly. Running a hand lovably trough her hair. Ignoring the blood and grime that had gotten stuck there. "And I'm sorry for putting your sister's last wishes over your wellbeing."
"Don't be." Violet sniffled. The knives and nails in her throat disappearing as the soft green light with golden glimmers enveloped his hands again. "You shouldn't have to choose between my happiness or hers."
"Thank you. You are a kind girl." Her father whispered softly in her ear. Making butterflies dance in her stomach. "You are also wilful. I won't ask why. But I am disappointed."
The butterflies and warmth inside her disappeared, leaving a bitter chill as Violet pulled back. Scouring her father's face fretfully, her heart falling further when he only nodded sombrely at her. The disappointment in his eyes hurting far worse than anything the mad men of Yharnam could ever do too her.
"You are too soft, lad." Gehrman called out from behind him. Cloudy eyes falling on her, sending a shiver racing up her back.
"She will get punished, if that's what you are thinking. But not today, or tonight." Her father replied, sighing heavily and running a hand trough her hair. "She just lost her sister, and I'm also not… in the correct mindset."
"What happened?" Violet asked, her mouth moving before her mind could catch up.
"Let's just say I saw someone, and they took exception to that." Her father replied, rustling her hair again. "Don't think too hard about it."
"You are playing with fire lad." Gehrman said, never taking his eyes from her dad. "If you continue like this, you might find out that forever isn't that long."
"Oh trust me, I know." Her dad barked with a weird laugh. Standing up and turning to his master. "But we are all a little messed up in the head. If I hadn't known, I would have thought it was a requirement for being in this little family of ours." Her dad snarked, bending down and plucking up her stick. The only thing that remained from her weapon.
"I thought it would have lasted longer." He mussed, running his fingers over the pointy splinters that exploded out at the head. "Do you want me to repair it, princess?"
"I want that." Violet declared, pointing at one of the weapons hanging over the fireplace.
"Really, that?" Her father asked softly. "It's taller than you."
"I will grow." Violet shot back, never taking her eyes from it. Her eyes always having been dragged towards the weapon when her father left her alone.
"It weight's more than you do."
"I will get stronger."
Her father looked at her, nodding to himself. Seemingly satisfied with what he found in her eyes. Reaching up, he lifted the large weapon down. The tip digging deep into the wooden floor. Tongues of fire dancing over the large stone sheeted as he pulled out the sword. A soft 'ching' sound echoing trough the workshop. Nothing compared to the sharp scream she heard whenever her dad pulled out his sword.
Twirling the longsword around as it weighted nothing, Violet felt her heart soar. 'I want to be like that.' Her heart screamed at her. A pang of guilt shot trough her, the hole in her chest threatening to swallow her again. Shaking her head, she pushed that aside. Knowing that her sister wanted her to be safe, and if Aurora had been allowed to be selfish. Then she was also allowed to be selfish.
"That's a tall legacy to live up too." Gehrman said wispily. Cloudy eyes turning razor sharp. "Don't take it lightly." He glared at her. The misty clouds in his eyes washed away. Giving her a peek behind the curtains.
"So is that thing on your hand, lad." Gehrman continued unabated. Slapping her dad's left hand into the open. A horrified gasp escaping her. Pulsing, angry red lines trailing all over his hand. The golden pendant seemingly fused into his hands. Some chains of gold mimicking veins as they pulsed in tandem with his beating heart. In the middle of his palm laid the pendant. Half buried into his palm; the skin completely fused into it's gold.
"It wasn't something I chose." Her dad said flatly. Ice trailing down her spine at the hollowness in his voice.
"Sometimes, you don't get to choose." Gehrman chuckled wistfully. A lost look of searching falling over him.
"Oh, trust me. I'm well aware." Her dad spat. His face carved from stone, the only thing betraying his inner turmoil being his erratically twitching eyebrow. Walking over to the workbench, he reached for another glass of special blood before slamming it down. Sending a jolt trough her. Instead of drinking it, he took out an old metal pole and sat up for a transfusion. The needle breaking skin above his left hand. A sigh of relief escaping him as leaned back. Blood racing trough the tube before disappearing into him.
Looking between her father and Gehrman, Violet pulled into herself. Not liking the way they looked ready to bite into another.
"Was it my fault?" She coulndt help but ask. Both men instantly turning towards her. "Was it my fault sister is dead? Is it my fault that dad died? That something hurt him?" Violet didn't get to her dad's answer or Gehrman's for that matter. Before the tiredness of the night's events lulled her into a gentle sleep.
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Note. Jaune speed running the Any% 99 Insight world record.
Note: I love the saw-cleaver, I really do. But basic hinges on a wooden stick aren't the most long-lasting combo. It's a weapon that can quickly be fashioned from spare parts, and its easily replaceable.
Note: Violet has unlocked her semblance. It might seem familiar to some, that's because it is. Her semblance is the Thief game's focus mechanic. Not something directly OP, but something with potential. After all, entering the 'Zone', or a 'Flow state', at will, be it to kill an enemy or to learn is powerful. And as demonstrated, there are multiple places where flow comes in handy. Of course, it isn't without its flaws. But that's for a later date.
Note: Violet's 'real' weapon is finally here. Ludwig's Holy Blade. I had wanted to maybe try my hands at something original, maybe a rapier of some kind. But this just fits better. Between her hero worship for Jaune and it being the weapon her sister wanted, she has more emotional weight behind this choice.
Note: Also this will be the last chapter until I finish my bachelor and exams. Till then.