Winter, Jack, and Jekyll descended down the elevator. Jack was insistent of accompanying Winter that she, along with Jekyll, had suspicions of the true nature of their being there. Jack had a strange dread about her and was almost impatient.

The doors opened and Jack rushed immediately to Fria's side. Jekyll did the same but he had restraint and poise. He didn't show panic but he saw something almost immediately. Fria was there, lying on her back; her breathing was slow and her eyes were heavy.

"Grandmother," Jack said. She was holding back a few sobs as she held Fria's hand.

"Jack." Fria's voice was weak and getting weaker. "You're here." She turned to see Jekyll and Winter. "You too."

"Jack was insistent that we be here," Jekyll replied. He held Fria's other hand.

Fria's lips curved with effort. "Winter, dear."

Winter took her place by Jack's side. She had her arm around Jack.

"Thank you," she said. "My time is coming to an end. And I am happy that you two are here."

Fria turned to Jack.

"Jack," she said. "Take care of yourself, okay? And take care of your mother and father."

Jack sobbed and nodded. "I will."

"Winter." Fria looked to Winter's eyes. "Take care of Jack, yes? I know you haven't had a child. But please, raise her as though she were your own."

"I will." Winter nodded.

"Jekyll."

"I understand." Jekyll nodded.

"Try to minimize Hyde around Jack, yes? I want her to grow up a good girl."

Jekyll and Jack chuckled. "Of course," Jekyll replied. "Hyde is a bit of a bad influence."

Winter took a deep breath and grabbed hold of Fria's hand, also intertwining with Jack's own.

Fria continued to breathe. It slowed until it stopped.

Jack's tears fell. Winter's eyes glowed.

Jack buried herself into Winter's clothes. Winter pulled out her scroll.

"General," she said. "It is done."

"My condolences, specialist," general said from the other side. "Take the rest of the day off. You have that charity ball your father had arranged to attend to."

The charity ball. The same ball where father would make his announcement. Robyn Hill had been invited there, no doubt to create something of an event. The fact that said charity was for the citizens of Mantle told them everything.

Rather than return home, Winter and Jekyll stayed there to calm Jack down. Jack was brought into this world by Fria. There was nothing that could be done about it; old age would come for everyone. Perhaps Jack felt it coming close which was why she was so insistent.

Eventually, Jack fell asleep in Winter's arm. Jekyll took off his jacket and draped it over Jack's shoulders, serving as the blanket.

"What was that about?" Winter asked. "That knowing chuckle you two had."

"Would you believe me if I told you that Jack—the real one—and I could have met? We come from the same place, London. Similar enough time periods that I could have passed by the real Jack the Ripper and I never realized. For all I know, Hyde may have been the reason that Jack exists, making me Jack's genuine father in a sense."

"Heroic Spirits are made based on their legends," Winter recited.

Jekyll nodded. "It is the only connection that could be made between me and the historical Jack. Obviously, it didn't pan out in that manner. Jack the Ripper was never found."

"Neither was Hyde until the end."

"That was more because I had to make a confession. I…" Jekyll looked away. "I didn't want to face the consequences of dealing with Hyde—my actions. I ran from it."

"Had Hyde not taken over every morning, you would have done well?"

"I would have slipped up eventually. Hubris has always been the bane of any man who calls himself great. And I lied to myself into thinking I could separate the good and evil within man. Hyde may be pure evil but Jekyll is just like any other man: capable of both. I just couldn't live with that. I wanted these two to be separate."

But they are, Winter thought. She was grateful she never said it out loud. No matter what Jekyll thinks, Hyde is not Jekyll, and Jekyll is not Hyde.

"Would you rather that I carry Jack?" Jekyll offered. "You'll need to look your best later."

"I think that question should be asked of you," Winter replied. "You're my escort for the night. It wouldn't do well for your arms to be exhausted later."

She still did give Jack to Jekyll. Jack slept soundly while the two walked side-by-side. Winter a few moments to get a better feel for the Maiden powers. Aura techniques were expected among the Schnee especially because of their semblances. Maiden powers were treated in a similar manner and Winter's habits had made them akin to an extra fuel source for now.

"Give me time," Winter said to no one but Jekyll did hear it. "And I should be able to do what Fria did."

"If you'd like," Jekyll said. "I could contact Amber and the two of you could train together. She has more experience with this."

"That would be appreciated. But perhaps another time. I thought she was to return to Vale?"

"She would. But her flight is still days away, before my own return to Beacon."

The Schnee home was full of workers. People from different backgrounds and definitely other agencies were busy refurbishing the place for the charity ball later. Weiss and her team were out looking for dresses to rent. They themselves won't dance—too formal—but that didn't excuse them from not wearing anything special for the day.

It is how it is with these things. Those masks they wear is just the way it is around here. High society likes to add a coat of paint to make them what they are not. A masquerade. A façade.

Jack was lain on the bed. Jekyll couldn't get his jacket back with how tight Jack's grip was.

"Now that I think about it," Jekyll asked. "Does Jack have—"

"She does," Winter said. She moved to one of the drawers. "It isn't much but father does intend to show Jack off if only to show how kind he is by taking in a poor orphan."

Jekyll's eyes were somewhere between green and red. "Jack must know of this, surely?"

"She does." Winter nodded. "Jack actually uneased father with how well she wore her mask. Not like it is going to be much since Jack will be with us throughout the night."

His green eyes returned. "That makes things easier, at least."

The first activity began that night: the arrival of the guests. General Ironwood had been the first to arrive. While his presence was expected, there was a neutral, almost indifferent formality, between him and Jacques Schnee. Whatever falsehood of pleasantries they had left no more of an impression than the sole of a boot leaves on dry pavement during a clear sunny day. They spoke of the weather.

It was Robyn Hill's appearance that surprised Winter. Jekyll was the same but he was more amused which Winter followed afterwards.

Qrow was evidently not one for formal events.

"Social elite," Robyn addressed Winter.

"Birds of a feather," Winter returned.

"That was horrible," Qrow commented.

"I'll have to agree," Jekyll nodded along.

The two women gave them a dirty look and the two men looked away.

"No alcohol this time, Qrow?" Jekyll stirred away towards a different topic.

"Lie detector here apparently needed an escort." He pointed to Robyn.

"Unfortunately," Robyn emphasized. "None of the Happy Huntresses were exactly used to this sort of thing. Never mind that they went to a school dance which is about as much of an experience as the rogue over here had."

"If it helps," Jekyll said. "There is wine around here. I'm sure you'd want to keep Ruby away from it."

"Not just Ruby. Yang too."

"Aren't they both of legal age?" Winter asked. "Well, I'm sure miss Xiao Long is anyway."

"It isn't the legality of them drinking that concerns him, Winter," Jekyll replied. "He just has an excuse to be a responsible uncle."

As the number of guests increased, Winter could already hear the façade of the prim and proper breaking as they all engaged in gossip.

"…having an affair, with the butler over there."

"… queer as hell, and bi-sexuelle, likes to switch."

"Did you hear that?"

"Must have been a stray."

"In one of Schnee's events?"

"Would be quite a dent!"

"Brothers! He's put on weight, gives you more to hate."

"… absolutely neat. Pity they're not all her teeth."

Jekyll was chuckling to himself. He was shaking his head. Winter heard him say, "nothing changes. Absolutely nothing changed."

For something that should be a charity event, few people were certainly charitable. Perhaps it's the bias, but it seems like only those who Winter would call friend were remotely charitable. Weiss' team knew how to keep their façade on, except perhaps for that team leader of hers. Ruby Rose was genuinely nice that it put the other off. Winter took pleasure in seeing them believe such genuineness be naivete.

Foods were fanciful and most were seated. They exchanged pleasantries but they kept anything scandalous away from each other's mouth.

Winter heard them gossip again.

"Is that the doctor?"

"A doctor?"

"The upstart, making a name for himself."

"For himself? Why, he is just latching himself to the Schnee."

"Probably wants the company."

Winter exercised great effort not to crack her wine glass. As if none of those people have tried to be on good terms with father just for that same reason.

"He's a huntsman."

"Ah. Barbarians together?"

"Shame. Such a shame. Would have wanted to keep her civilized."

Suddenly, their table and the surrounding ones went chillingly still. No conversation was had in those minutes. Those who boasted themselves as tough and strong, could take on even the general in a bout of fisticuffs, backed down and lost their bark.

Winter knew this feeling well. Hyde's eyes faded away as Jekyll returned. He smiled knowingly and took a sip with faux-naïf act. Jack was chuckling.

"Is everyone alright?" Jekyll asked. "You all looked as though you've seen a ghost."

Their fellows at the table cleared their throats. One of them said, "quite fine, doctor. Quite fine."

Jekyll leaned close to Winter and whispered, "wouldn't do well if I wasn't a bit protective of you."

"What if you had lost control?" Winter whispered back with chastisement.

"So long as I don't have to fight Grimm, I think I can manage for a while. Just not too much, but enough to set a different atmosphere."

Then, Jacques Schnee came out. His announcement about his generous donations were dedicated to the citizens of Mantle. Robyn Hill took it with as much grace as any politician should.

Winter tuned out the inevitable announcement.

Predictably, it had the reaction that she had anticipated: shock, surprise, with some already seeing opportunity to push themselves further. Whether or not this had been a good decision is up to the election cycle to decide.

Jacques Schnee made his generous donation and made a courteous disagreement on how Robyn Hill could run as a councilwoman, arguing that her duties as a huntress may interfere and that she might not be as familiar with civilian matters as Jacques Schnee. Never mind that he himself wasn't at all familiar either. He argued against the more militant approach of Atlas and that it needed some means of balance with civilian hands. Many of Atlas' councilmembers were either huntsmen, military, or veterans of either profession.

Robyn took it as well as she should. Jacques Schnee's eyes turned to Winter, momentarily with suspicion. He had expected that Robyn would find reason to leave. But she didn't. Robyn Hill stayed and was willing to entertain talks with Jacques Schnee to see if they could even work together regardless of results.

Then, as things then went on with the ball. Talk and conversation was had, mostly from opportunist wanting to get something out of Jacques Schnee.

Things soon started to die down. The charity ball and the announcement did go as cordially as it did. Probably not how Jacques Schnee wanted it, but that is a victory for Robyn Hill. Still, there was one thing left that was had.

Weiss wore her dress humbly. Mainly white with a little bit of deep blue. The deep blue had stars on them that made Weiss appear as though she was wearing stars. There was no weapon on her person. Right now, she was Weiss Schnee, daughter of the Schnee family.

Weiss' eyes met with Winter's. She winked. Winter raised an eyebrow. Weiss never did reveal to Winter her song of choice. If anything, she kept it as close to her chest for this very moment.

Jacques Schnee made his usual announcements and his posturing of Weiss' so-called offer of song for the occasion made Winter roll her eyes.

Jekyll shared her sentiments. Jack just looked excited to hear her auntie sing. Weiss' team were on the edges of their seat with the other two members holding down their own team leader. Miss Xiao Long kept her mouth on miss Rose's. Qrow Branwen had an elbow on the table and Robyn Hill was savoring her apparent victory of reacting just right to Jacques' announcement.

Weiss sang out the first words of her song. It wasn't one of her own but a cover of another.

"The Man with Two Souls: The Musical," Jekyll said. "I heard this one before. Never did see a performance of it though."

I'm willing to bet that it might be one of your favorite tales. The Man with Two Souls. A tale where two beings fought for control. A good and an evil. Sounded familiar? Or your least favorite.

The musical itself had some additions like the romance options which added an additional layer to that dichotomy of good and evil. Only, the evil half ultimately met a tragic end by the hands of the evil soul.

It was one of her songs that Weiss sang about.

" …but if someone like you, found someone like me…"

Winter Schnee had been used to this sort of life. To that façade of the Schnee name that she had to live up to. She may have run off and joined the military, but she still carried the name and performed her best, bringing excellence as yet another good stamp of public appeal for the Schnee name.

Now, she was the Winter Maiden. One of four women tasked—or cursed—with a power that many would seek for. She had Jack the Ripper, a Heroic Spirit from some far away ritual.

"So many secrets, I've longed to share! All I have needed is someone there."

Jekyll, either ignorant or grimly accepting of what awaits, seemed to be at peace right now. Someone she could confide with. Unlike the general, there wasn't the line of profession that divided them. Unlike the likes of Qrow, there was no irritating her. Much like herself, Jekyll experienced the falsehoods of the elites, even the one she put on.

"To set me free, so I can soar!" Weiss raised her voice naturally. There were many times that Winter had thought she heard a shout. It was just Weiss trying not to when she was still quite rusty; she got back to her rhythm though.

Everyone else went deafeningly quiet. Even Jacques Schnee had genuine surprise painting his face. Weiss always kept to herself when it came to her song. Winter beamed with pride for she knew that Weiss was singing with genuine heart.

Her voice resonated in every ear. Jekyll closed his own eyes as he let his ears have it all. Weiss didn't dance nor did she move about on that stage. She continued to sing. Colors painted the air around them. Anyone who had anything horrid to say or thought of Weiss had marked guilt written on their faces.

"Oh, if someone like you, found someone like me, then suddenly nothing would ever be the same!"

Winter sighed and looked away. She shook her head. She can't. Not when he could be lost forever, not when he would rear his hideous head, trapping Jekyll in the deepest recesses of that mind. Would Jekyll even still be there? Or would Hyde taunt them all?

"You can never separate Jekyll from Hyde!"

Shut up. Her own thoughts warred. She focused on Weiss.

"If someone like you," Weiss lowered her voice, almost a whisper. "Loved me… Loved me… Loved me."

The deafening applause was quiet to Winter's ears. Weiss took in the praise but her eyes were focused on Winter. Weiss winked and smiled knowingly when the two made eye contact.

Winter sighed. Jack's wild clapping hardly brought her back to the present. She clapped chastely.

Afterwards, there had been another round of attempted courtships for Weiss but she refused them all. This time, with the rest of team RWBY being there to be the wall between Weiss and the opportunistic suitors.

From the upper floors, Winter caught Whitley also clapping. Of course, mother was nowhere to be found.

Winter looked down to Jack who wanted to go somewhere else. Winter let her go and reminded her to behave. Jack went to Whitley. The latter sighed and followed wherever it was that Jack dragged poor Whitley to. They better not be going through another box. Winter counted, they already went through ten in the span of one day, not counting those that were given to the others, barring the box top.

"Winter?" Jekyll asked, hand offering. "Everyone else has proceeded to dance. Even Qrow and Robyn if you can believe it."

Finding the two birds were easy. They may have been formal but there was roguish edge to their demeanor that made them stand out. Unsurprisingly, they were rather basic in their steps, stiff as well that no amount of alcohol could make them loosen up.

By contrast, Winter and Jekyll glided across the dancefloor with trained familiarity. Even the other dancers noticed their synchronization. They weren't pleasant though.

"Doctor actually has taste."

"Seems like there is a brain in those barbarian heads."

"And sense to tell of the others' presence as well!"

Winter ignored them as she and Jekyll continued their dance. Winter caught Weiss and her team being fully supportive. Miss Rose had her fists to the air though her mouth was muffled by miss Xiao Long's hands; those hands were moving though, something muffled was trying to escape that mouth.

The two continued their dance. Winter spun with Jekyll always there to hold her hand. He kept her close and never once did he step on her feet.

Eventually, the floor space allowed for more movement as others have begun to leave or have taken that time to rest.

Jekyll led Winter to the balconies. The cold winds nearly made her shiver that Jekyll took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"Figured you would want out," Jekyll said. "You seem distracted."

"Was I?"

"You weren't all there, Winter. You weren't looking at whatever it was your eyes were on."

"I… suppose it's the Maiden powers, Jack, and Salem."

"Reall now? You know you're not alone."

"I know. Doesn't mean that I'm just going to be alright after that. Even soldiers need time to process everything they go through."

"Well, I guess you are fortunate that I'm a doctor. We're called healers, you know."

Winter chuckled. "That was a terrible attempt at humor."

"You still laughed. I say it worked."

Silence reigned for the next minute or two. The freezing breeze forced Winter to stick as close to Jekyll as possible, despite the coat.

"How are you not cold without this coat?" Even if Winter had it, she was still feeling it. "I'm used to being up here and I'm feeling it."

"Outer vest, a good long-sleeve polo and an inner shirt," Jekyll replied. "I also brought gloves for my hands just in case. If anything, my face is freezing here with how unprotected it is."

"Seems like most of the guests have left," said Winter. "Let's return back?"

Jekyll offered his arm. "If that is what you wish."

There were still a few people there, but they have already begun to clean up. As for Jack, she was doing remarkedly well. Winter's eyes narrowed at the crumbs on her face. Poor Whitley looked like he could vomit at any moment.

/-/

When Winter and doctor Jekyll had left, Yang couldn't resist at the opportune moment. "So, how do you think it's going to go?"

"You better not be thinking anything, crass, Xiao Long," Weiss said.

"I wasn't." Yang coyly smiled. "Why would you think that, Weiss queen?"

"I thought I'm the Ice Princess?"

"Nah, your big sis is more of a Snow Queen. That means I just have to come up with something else."

Weiss rolled her eye. Her father called for her. Seeing the young boy with him, Weiss sighed at the inevitable.

"Come here, Weiss," Jacques Schnee said, minimizing any demanding tone in his voice. "This young lad here wants to meet you. A mister Ball."

"Teal E. Ball," he said. He offered out a hand.

"Fan of sports?" Weiss asked.

Father may have looked offended but mister Ball took it in stride. "Original." His voice was dry. "I haven't heard that one before," he lied. Weiss suspected he heard it many times; she did her hardest to play innocent. They're not seeing the huntress and only saw an heiress.

Jacques was salvaging the first impression. "Mister Ball here is a patron for an opera house here in Atlas. He's here to offer you a chance to be in the spotlight."

"Surely not," Weiss replied. She maintained her own mask. "I have only performed once, father, and I am severely out of practice."

"Ah, but nothing that a few more hours couldn't fix!" Mister Ball exclaimed. "I can see talent in you, young Weiss. I can picture you there on stage and the people will love you!"

"I am flattered by your praise, mister Ball." Weiss curtsied. "But I also have my duties as a huntress-in-training."

"Can I not convince you to change your mind? Surely, your time could be better spent in perfecting that voice of yours. You don't have to reject your huntress training either. Such movements could only elevate your dance."

"Perhaps some other time," Weiss replied. "I believe it to be a noble duty to battle the Grimm as defender of our glorious kingdom and all of humanity as well."

"Alas!" Mister Ball was taking it well. "Another loss. It is such a shame then."

"Come now," Jacques Schnee said. "I'm sure Weiss would come to it eventually."

"No." Mister Ball shook his head. "It is alright. The opera house is soon to be closed down anyway. I am but holding out for a hope that perhaps we could turn it around."

"I am so sorry for your loss," Weiss said. She sounded genuinely apologetic.

"Think not of it." He waved his hand in dismissal. "I have already sold the place to a lovely lady. I've never met her personally but her representative certainly had quite the eye and ear for these things. Should you meet him, perhaps he could convince you. Farewell!"

Weiss curtsied once more. As far as meetings with father's associates went, that one was surprisingly pleasant. Father didn't approve the rejection though. Weiss saw that much. But she also saw opportunity in his eyes. That opera house was going to come into play for father's campaign, Weiss was sure.

/-/

There he was, standing just out of sight. He had heard samples as he went through all the information that Salem's minion had given him. But the capacity of the device couldn't do justice to the real thing that he had to find a way to hear her in person.

Then, he heard her voice. He froze there and listened to the end.

"Can it be?" Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, almost sang in tune. "Can it be Christine?"

When she finished. He too clapped along with the audience.

Phantom left the roofs and went into hiding. He found her. He finally found her.

AN: So here's the thing about Phantom specifically, he wasn't the original Servant for Salem that I had in mind (from the initial, potential roster). See, Phantom was initially meant for a completely different fic idea I had, one where the only Servant (think Jeanne from Ideal Semblance equivalent) would be an antagonist (not necessarily aligned with Salem).

Phantom had been the only one in that idea but was shifted to be implemented into this one when I was going through the potential Servants for this fic. However, that initial idea is still present here. It had been influenced primarily by the White trailer where Weiss was singing.

All I have left to say is: I already have a Raoul in mind.