Chapter 107 – Atlas – Plots and Plans
Year 74VE, March
Cover Art by Mi Chumi
In the wee hours of the morning, two men received a text-only group message that woke them from their sleep. The first recipient was Rhodes' closest and oldest friend, fellow former-loner and current Cove Headmaster Garek Grae-Lumerent. He was feeling slightly hung over, having spent the evening 'bonding' with the staff of Cove Combat School over alcohol and embarrassing stories. The second member of the group text was Rhodes' current boss, former Atlas Specialist Reggie Cass, callsign Broken Arrow.
R: SITUATION CRITICAL POSSIBLE SCOPE CREEP.
Garek stared blearily at the text.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
R: Have seduced client. Or been seduced by client. Maybe both. Client rates BAST as ten stars out of five. Requesting emergency guidance.
Garek felt hysterical laughter threaten to rise up, and choked it down so that he didn't wake up his scarlet-eyed wife. He was considering exactly how to best respond when Reggie beat him to it.
BA: EXTRACTION REQUIRED?
The line was accompanied by several crying-laughing emojis.
Garek went ahead and added his thoughts anyway.
G: Gods DAMMIT Irons. You do this every time…
After a few seconds, BA added his response to that.
BA: Could have warned me about that, Garek. Rhodes, please refrain from suggesting client post a business review on same basis. Do not want a certain corporation burning BAST to the ground.
. . .
R: Not an issue. Have awakened sleeping giant, and she is PISSED.
Huh, thought Garek. Well, that sounds… promising and terrifying?
R: Sorry, Mistress is returning from washroom, I am RTB. Will call soonest.
BA: WAIT you can't just leave us hanging!
BA: Rhodes!
BA: DAMMIT. Garek this is your fault!
G: How is this my fault?
BA: He's your friend and you recommended him.
G: Fine. But hold off on firing him until after we hear what he has to say?
BA: No promises.
Garek set the scroll on his nightstand and eased back down into his own pillow, feeling the urge to laugh maniacally.
Well shit…
Willow emerged from her private washroom wearing a thick cotton robe against the cool air, but Rhodes had already set his scroll down and was leaning against the headboard watching her. Her expression was… a complex mixture of wariness, satisfaction, and appraisal as she let her eyes roam over his form, barely hidden by the sheets that draped over him. They'd passed out soon after their second or perhaps third round last night.
Rhodes suspected that Willow had found the experience beyond her expectations, if her comments last night had been anything to go by. What he was sure of was that neither of them had been in any condition for pillow talk afterward.
For his part, he'd found it unlike his previous experiences. Willow Schnee was a contradiction in terms. She was a mature woman with a lifetime of knowledge of her own body, but almost no experience with a lover who cared for her. She was wanton and had been gamely willing to follow his lead the entire night. There'd been none of the hesitation or fear that a younger less experienced woman might have shown, and yet she in many ways was inexperienced.
The combination had driven him kinda nuts.
I am well and truly screwed.
The moment stretched out, and if he was reading the room right, might have led to… things, but there was a discrete knock on the parlor door.
"Mistress Schnee."
Willow glanced at Rhodes, then took in the room at large, and lifted one shoulder in what he might have interpreted as a shrug. "Yes, Winston."
Rhodes felt himself freeze as the butler simply opened the door and entered, bearing several items. Rhodes felt as if he were suddenly on a theater stage. It didn't help that the bed was on a raised platform several feet above the level of the rest of the bedroom.
Winston seemed to barely notice the condition of the room, and didn't spare Rhodes a single glance. "Mistress, I have set a cold breakfast in the parlor, as I was unsure at what hour you would arise. I have also taken the liberty of bringing Master Rhodes a change of clothing and his grooming kit, should he desire to refresh himself here before dining," His expression was carefully neutral.
"Thank you, Winston," Willow nodded, smiling slightly.
The butler nodded. "I have also ensured that any unexpected visitors will be brought to my attention immediately so that you are not disturbed, and Klein has notified young Master Whitley and Mistress Weiss that you will likely be unavailable until lunch, due to personal business matters." Rhodes kept looking back and forth between the two, both of whom were behaving as if this whole situation was perfectly normal and as if they had zero awareness of the fact that there was a man in the lady of the manor's bed who was not her husband and there were clothes strewn all over the floor. As if reading his mind, Winston continued. "And I shall have Miss Sybil placed personally in charge of the bedchamber, including making future arrangements to ensure any unusual laundry activities are unnoticed." And with that, Winston place one of Rhodes' casual outfits, carefully folded, on the piano bench with his toiletries on top of them, nodded, and exited into the parlor, closing the door behind him.
Rhodes remembered how to breathe. "Willow, what the hell?" He managed.
Her laughter was musical. "Ah, Rhodes, I apologize. I sometimes forget that not everyone grows up with a trusted servant capable of studiously ignoring even the most embarrassing of personal situations. That's just… how things are done. Winston won't mention anything he saw here, other than what is minimally required to ensure Jacques cannot possibly find out what has occurred."
Rhodes blinked. "That's... insane. He barely even noticed me!"
Her blue eyes were bright with mirth as she appraised him, wandering across his form from toes to eyes. "Oh, he noticed everything, Rhodes. But he will be discrete."
Rhodes flopped back down and stared at the canopy over the bed, trying to make sense of the world. A few minutes ago, he'd been pondering whether to proposition Willow for a bit of morning fun, but that was all out the door now. "I just don't get it. But I'll take your word for it," he muttered.
"Good. Yes. Come, clean up and then join me in the parlor. I'm famished from last nights… exertions." And with that, she gave him a last, long look, and swept out of the room.
Rhodes joined her fifteen minutes later, having quickly rinsed off, dried, and dressed himself in the clothing Winston had left. He found her having already begun eating and alternating between juice and some sort of weak cocktail. "Ah, good. The food is quite good, albeit cold." She smiled slightly. "I trust you slept well?"
Rhodes sat down and began filling a plate. "I… did." He felt the corner of his mouth turn up. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Surreal," Her bright blue eyes met his, slightly mischievous. "And perhaps slightly sore." She sobered. "I will… require some time to absorb what has happened… what I… what we have done."
He took a bite, chewed carefully, and swallowed. "But not unhappy?"
"Oh… no. I would not use any approximation of that word."
"Good."
"Yes. Good." She bit into another slice of toast with fruit spread across it. "I shall have to follow up on yesterday's conversation with Weiss and Whitley, and ensure your role in it remains discrete. It will be… difficult to manage their expectations while also hiding our… personal relationship."
Personal relationship. Yeah. That. Willow and I have a personal relationship. What kind I'm still not sure. But it is definitely personal. "Yeah. And that discussion should be sooner rather than later, I'm guessing."
"Yes. After lunch I suspect. I have some… ideas based on what you proposed." Her face held an expression of fierce determination. "I find I have reached some conclusions about my life, and my children's well-being, and I wish to put them into action without delay." She paused, and tapped her lip with a fingertip. "Though I would wish to include Winter as well, and she may be unavailable."
Yeah… and I need to call Reggie and Garek at some point, and figure out whether I've royally fucked up. But outwardly he just nodded.
"And of course, then you and I shall speak more this evening about… what has occurred here."
He gave a soft laugh, but swallowed a glib reply when he saw conflicting emotions wash across her lovely face. "Yeah… I can see how you might be having second tho-"
"No. Do not phrase it so," she shook her head. "I do not regret what has occurred. I am… merely unsteady. I need time to reflect on my feelings."
"Right. I understand."
"And you?"
"Me?" She looked around the room, and arched a pale eyebrow at him. "Oh, yeah. Well, I may have put myself in a position for breach of contract with Reggie." He waved a hand when she started to pale. "Sorry, that's my humor again. Reggie isn't gonna fire me." At least I don't think so.
"You're going to tell him?!"
"Whoah! Easy, Willow. Look, you have your Winston and that Miss Sybil, and I have Reggie and Garek, and Selene for that matter. Trust me, they won't breathe a word. I can't keep this a secret from them, but they'll be looking out for my best interests, and yours. I just need… I can't let them be surprised if something bad happens and we need them to bail us out." He could see she was distressed. Her hands were shaking as she took a long drink of her cocktail. "Willow, I swear to you, I won't hurt you and they won't either."
Willow set the glass down, and her hands gripped each other. "I… it is difficult to trust, Rhodes. I don't know these people, and…" she looked at him with an intense gaze, "I have… made myself vulnerable to you, in a manner that I have not for anyone else. You could ruin me."
"But I won't. I didn't save you from those men just to hurt you, Willow."
Willow breathed for a few moments. Inhale. Exhale. Finally, she said quietly. "No… no you wouldn't have."
"Trust me. Please."
"I… I must."
He noticed she didn't say she would, or that she was choosing to.
She believes she has no choice, and that's not the same thing at all.
Rhodes stood and moved over to her side of the small table, and she turned toward him as he did. He knelt down at her chair. "Willow, I swear to you. I'd sooner take a sword than hurt you. I won't."
Her eyes flicked between his for long moments, searching for something, or fearing they would find something, before she nodded slowly, once. She reached out and caressed his jawline with one hand. "Very well. I will trust you, but impress upon them the delicacy of the matter. The damage it could do to my family."
"I will. They'll understand. They're good at being careful."
He leaned forward, and she tilted her head down, and he kissed her, willing her to understand how he felt, that he wasn't hiding anything from her.
Of course he was, but nothing that was meant to hurt her.
After they ate, both retired to their own rooms to dress for the day, and to recover some of the facade they'd be required to put on around the rest of the household. Two lovers cheating right under Jacques Schnee's nose entered their respective rooms, and Mistress Schnee and her private security detail, charged with ensuring her well-being, exited through two separate doors into the hall.
He'd found it easier than he expected, and suspected Willow found it second-nature. He was standing outside the door to her suite when she exited, and she wore a variation of the mask he'd seen her wear when they'd gone out to that dinner party. Not the same one, not a coldly pleasant indifference, but a mask of casual appreciation for his services, and nothing of the emotions that he'd felt the prior evening.
The emotions that threatened to rise within him now, looking at her beauty and poise. He could still see her, beneath the mask. And he could remember her, how she-
Fuzzy puppies furry kittens fuzzy puppies furry kittens dear gods think of something else….
He probably just imagined the momentary flash of wicked humor in her expression.
"Shall we, Rhodes? We have a busy day," she said. All he could manage was a nod.
. . .
It was less than an hour later when he managed to slip outside to make a video call to Reggie and Garek.
"About time you called," Garek grumbled. "We've been losing our minds out here."
"Report, Rhodes," Reggie added, in a non-nonsense tone. "And I'm not joking. What are we dealing with here?"
"I… shit, guys I'm not sure whether I've fucked up or not."
"Meaning…"
"Jacques Schnee is an asshole who apparently never loved his wife, and divorced her in every way but legally years ago. I suspect the only reason he didn't make it official was because of the public relations implications, and the fact that she might get a slice of his precious fortune if he did."
Reggie looked incredulous. "And that made you think it was a good idea to sleep with her?!"
"She… uh… seduced me?"
"Irons, you, sir, are a man-whore," Garek scoffed. "It's a known fact that you've bragged about more than once."
Rhodes felt offended. "This is different, Garek. I… gods… she's incredible, man. She's beautiful and intelligent and she loves those kids, and she's… gods she's got some strength in there once she's got someone she can lean on a little."
There was a long pause.
"Shit… are you in love with Willow Schnee?" Garek asked.
"No!" Rhodes stood breathing heavily for a minute. "Uh… dammit…" he finished more quietly. "I've had so many screwed up relationships, man. Hell, I dunno."
"So, you think you might be falling in love with the wife of the most powerful businessman on the entire planet and you don't think this is going to be a problem?" Garek's voice was rising.
"Well, when you put it that way it does sound a little difficult, yeah." Rhodes managed sheepishly.
Garek sighed. "I feel like this is exactly what I deserved. I really do. It's payback for fate dropping Selene in my lap."
Reggie interjected. "All right both of you. Let's all calm down a little. Yes, this could be bad, but we have no idea which way it's going to go. We need intel and then to consider whether we do need to do some damage control. What is Mrs. Schnee's intent here? What's her attitude? I think we need to know what her plans are before we give away operational initiative."
Rhodes nodded. "That's… a good question. Right now, she seems pretty happy. But she's been through a lot. Two years of alcohol. She's just now sobering up and realizing what she wants out of life again, and part of what she wants, I think, is to fuck over Jacques Schnee, hard. Without lube.
Reggie's eyes narrowed, "And do you think she's going to do that by announcing that she's taking a lover?"
"No! That's too risky for her, and she's not that kind of risk taker." He considered what had just happened, "At least I don't think she normally is." He shook his head, trying to figure out how to explain. "Look, here's an example. It turns out that she's been recording evidence of that bastard's business dealings and keeping tabs on people who have been visiting the manor over the last two years. She's got cameras all over the freaking place and I suspect that she's gonna start looking for ways to use that to get some leverage against him. I dunno if she's planning to use it to force him to divorce her on good terms or what, but this is a woman who thinks long-term." He shook his head. "But now that her wits are coming back, I wouldn't want to be on her bad side, that's for damn sure."
BA rubbed his jaw. "Two years of evidence, huh. And she's just been sitting on this?" Rhodes nodded. "That has potential."
Garek spoke up again. "But regardless, Rhodes. You need to have a conversation with her and find out what she plans to do, and try to steer her away from things that will drag you into anything that could compromise us." Rhodes just stared at him. How the hell am I supposed to do that? "Don't give me that look," Garek continued. "What I'm saying is, if it gets ugly, you might have to cut ties."
Rhodes felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. "No. No way. I'll… figure out how to keep this separate from the other work we're doing. Hell, I'll resign from BAST if you guys need me to protect you from any blowback. But I'm not gonna abandon her. She needs me, man." He looked at Garek. "This is… this is like with you guys and Cinder, except it's a whole family."
"Ouch," Garek flinched.
"Damn right."
Reggie didn't look happy, but Garek was nodding now. "How soon will you know more?"
"She's supposed to have some sort of meeting with her kids today at lunch. I'll talk to her again after that, and we should have some more perspective then."
"She's… having a family meeting?"
Rhodes nodded. "Jacques has been treating this whole family like… I don't know… some kind of damn business asset for years. I don't think these kids like him very much, other than the youngest who still idolizes him a little, maybe. He's abused them and used them, and I think that there's a real opportunity here. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be looking down the barrel of Willow Schnee, and if she gets Specialist Winter on board… that's double the trouble."
"All right, roger that," Reggie replied. "Keep us informed."
"I will. And I don't think it really needs to be said, but Willow made me promise to beg you guys to be discreet about all this."
Reggie's face goggled, "Are you telling us that she knows you're talking to us about this?"
"Yeah, like I said, She's been lied to and used most of her life. I'm not going to continue that. So don't tell me anything that you don't want her knowing."
"Holy shit dude, you really are in love with her…" Garek said, in a sort of awe.
"I guess so man. Fuck me."
"Yeah man, fuck you. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy." Rhodes ended the call. "Ain't that the truth," he muttered to himself.
Lunch was a surprisingly quiet affair. The children seem to be in good spirits, happy that they had their mother back with them during mealtimes. Willow, for her part, was quite sober and very thoughtful. Rhodes sat at a side table pushed against the far wall, while Winston and Klein both stood nearby. Finally, after everyone had eaten their fill, Willow pushed her plate away.
"Well, children, I believe it is time that we had our discussion regarding what we shall do, and how we shall conduct our affairs," She began.
Tween-aged Weiss crossed her hands on the table in front of her, looking more attentive than her years should have allowed. "What did you have in mind, mother?"
"I believe we must begin by setting initial expectations among the three of us," she nodded to the two children, "and then we should schedule a second meeting at a time when Winter is available. She should be involved in this discussion as well."
"Yes, I agree," Weiss nodded.
Ten-year-old Whitley looked slightly concerned. "But what about father? Should he not be included?"
Willow's brow furrowed. "You have struck upon a concern, Whitley," she watched him beam under the slight praise, and it nearly broke her heart. "That is part of the issue. Do you understand that your father would neither approve of our discussions, nor of any decisions that we shall likely reach? For that reason, I would argue that we cannot include him."
Whitley bit his lip and considered this for several breaths, eyes flicking frequently to Weiss seeking her opinion. She gave a small nod. Finally, he nodded his head slowly, and Willow took that as agreement.
"Very well. I will propose we act as a sort of Board of Directors for our portion of the family, and that we make all decisions by unanimous consent only."
Weiss smiled happily at that. She liked everything that she had heard so far. Whitley, however, looked somewhat confused. "What is unanimous consent, mother?"
Weiss answered for her. "It means, dear brother, that all of us have to agree, or we can't make a decision at all."
Whitley's face shifted in surprise. He had never heard of such a thing. His mother was saying that… she was going to give everyone an equal vote. An equal say in decisions… even him. "So… if I do not agree… even if you both say we must do something… then we don't do it?"
"That is exactly what we are saying," Willow nodded. "If any one of us objects, then we take no action.
Whitley sat very still, staring into the distance, trying to absorb that. It seemed incredible that his opinion should matter so much. He was only ten years old! He felt like no one had ever taken his opinions into account, much less his own parents. He was always told what to do.
Whitley turned to look at Weiss carefully again, and she gave him a helpful smile. He turned back to his mother and squared his shoulders, trying to look very mature. "Very well, mother. I will agree that we will make decisions this way."
Whitley is taking his cues from Weiss, Willow realized. He had done so at least twice now. And Weiss… Weiss was much more mature than her nearly twelve years would have one believe.
This was promising.
Willow turned to Weiss and received affirmation from her.
"And I agree as well. So, we have already made our first decisions: That we will include the four of us, and we shall agree by unanimous consent only, and that we will await Winter before anything substantial is discussed." She took a deep breath. This was important. "And next I would ask that, until Winter can join us, that we must not under any circumstances tell your father of our mutual agreement or any of the plans that we make when we are here together."
Weiss's face paled, but she seemed determined and cautious.
Whitley on the other hand looked mortified, if not terrified, by the prospect. It was one thing to not include his father in discussions, another to keep secrets from him. "But what if father finds out?" He objected. There was an undertone of whine to his voice. "He will punish us all!"
"Then we shall all be punished," Willow said calmly. "We should be punished together, and we shall stand together." She reached out and took her son's hand, trying to reassure him. "And Whitley, what do you imagine your father could do to us?"
Whitley thought about that.
Father might not make him the heir, for one thing. But he didn't really want to be the heir anyway. He imagined he might take away all of his toys and games… but really… he'd still have Weiss and he had mother now. What if…
"What if… he made us leave the house and live somewhere else?"
"Then we should find another house, and live there, together."
That… didn't sound so very horrible.
"And Winter has done so, and she is not unhappy," Weiss added helpfully. "In fact, Winter tells me that she feels free to do as she chooses."
Willow nodded, "And that is what we hope to achieve here as well. But to do that, your father must not learn that I have… become better."
Whitley's face shown bewilderment. "But… wouldn't father be happy to learn that you are better?"
Rhodes' attention snapped toward them, and Willow felt herself recoil. Her hand twitched toward the wine glass to her right, and Rhodes watched as she swallowed several times. "I… I… would not wish to… that is a difficult question…"
Weiss spoke again, very quietly and carefully. She had obviously been thinking about this for some time. "Mother… what happened? You… became unwell." Weiss looked pointedly at the glass of wine. "I remember, you weren't always like that."
"I can't…" Willow said quietly. "Not yet. We must… Winter must be here, so that I can explain."
Weiss and Whitley traded looks. "Very well, mother, we will wait," Weiss said, "and we will not speak of any of this until then. Right Whitley?" Her brother looked uncomfortable, but eventually nodded under his sister's steady gaze. "But you must promise, mother, that you will explain."
"Yes," Willow said thickly. "I will explain myself."
Klein spoke up, eyes flickering to red. "Well, I think that's enough for now," and then to yellow. "Perhaps young Master and Mistress would enjoy a game of Remnant?" He quipped.
"Yes please!" Whitley chirped. And the two of them filed out behind him.
. . .
Willow nearly collapsed, thanking Klien under her breath. Rhodes was immediately at her side.
"Gods… what have I done," she mourned.
"It's okay, Willow, you handled that right."
"I didn't expect… I wasn't ready for them to ask..." She looked at him with pain-filled eyes and grasped his sleeve weakly. "Take me back to my parlor, please."
Rhodes glanced at Winston, who nodded and collected her glass and the wine bottle.
"Let's give you a few minutes, and then call Winter before you tie one on, okay? You can have one glass first." He added quickly, before she could sob. "We need to get this done as fast as possible. If Whitley goes blabbing to a servant or to Jacques, this could blow up in your face before you can get your legs under you."
"I know!" She snapped, then whimpered. "I'm sorry. Gods. So hard. So very hard. Why can it not be easy?"
"It can, you just have to get the hard parts out of the way first." Rhodes squeezed her shoulder. "Selene taught me that, one dark evening in the basement of an Atlas Hotel. Long story there."
The call to Winter an hour later helped. Apparently, Weiss had already messaged her that they wanted to have a family meeting about their future, and she was expecting Willow's call. She was eager to learn what was to be discussed, once she understood clearly that Jacques would not be involved.
And then, Willow got quietly drunk. Not nearly as dramatically as after nearly dying, nor as after Jacques' prior visit, but enough that it deferred their other conversation, and any hopes for a repeat of the previous night's intimacies, to a future date.
Rhodes slept alone in his bed that night.
It sucked.
The next morning, Willow entered the parlor looking rather rough. Rhodes gave a low whistle. "You going to be okay?"
"I shall have to be," she said mournfully, and after a short breakfast, spent two hours dressing and composing herself until she reacquired some degree of poise.
She also received word from Winter that she had begged the day off for a family emergency, and had received approval from Colonel Ironwood. Her oldest daughter arrived an hour later by pool vehicle, driven by a soldier who would return upon her call. Trusted servants were posted at more than one location, watching for either Jacques or one of his toadies. The tutors were likewise given the day off.
The four met in the dining room again. Willow quickly filled Winter in on the agreements already reached.
"By consensus?" Her eldest daughter scanned the room, settling on young Whitley, and then back to Willow. "That is… both bold and considerate, mother."
"I feel I owe it to you, to all of you. You have…" her eyes became slightly glassy, and she sniffed, "…had so little ability to choose your own destinies. And there will be risk. If we are to rise or fall together, we must do so united in purpose and means."
Winter stared at her mother.
Who was this woman?
Where had she been the last two years?
Could she be trusted to stay?
Winter's eyes were drawn to the glass at her mother's left hand, half-full of wine.
It had not yet been touched in the fifteen minutes they had been seated. It was… uncanny.
"Very well," Winter nodded curtly. "I am in full agreement of all that has been decided to this point."
"Thank you, Winter, that means much to me."
"To all of us," Weiss added, eyes shining. Winter's departure two years prior had hurt, but Weiss still idolized her older sister, with her independent strength and her smartly appointed uniform. And now they were all four of them together. It was more than Weiss imagined she could ever have again.
Willow looked over to Rhodes, who gave her a nod of encouragement, and took her first sip of wine.
"And now, it comes to it." Her voice shook slightly. "For you to trust me, and to understand what is at stake, I must explain myself. And to do so, I will have to tell you… unpleasantries that may impact your impression of me and of your father. I would not wish to do so, but… your questions make it clear I cannot avoid it." She took in the attentive faces of her children, one by one. "I… I failed you, as a mother, these last two years." Her voice cracked. "I failed you when you needed me, and you suffered for it."
"Mother!" Weiss protested, reaching across the table to take one of her hands. "No!"
"It is true. And I did so because of my own pain. A pain that I could not withstand, and would not share with you, and had no one else to bear it with me."
"What…" Winter said, her voice carefully neutral, though her eyes were filling with unshed tears, then they widened. "It was me, wasn't it? It's my fault."
"No! No, Winter. The fault wasn't yours, though it was you who first pushed back against his hand. It was my rebellion that broke our family."
"You, mother? How?" Weiss asked.
Willow turned to her middle child. "Weiss, do you remember your tenth birthday party, when your father was… absent?"
Weiss gripped her hand, but her expression grew wary. "Yes, mother. He… had a business meeting and offered his apologies after, and he brought my present the next day."
Willow swallowed and blinked once, causing tears to trail across her cheeks.
The moment. The beginning of the painful truths.
"That was… a facade. There was no business meeting."
Winter understood first. "It was our argument."
Willow scoffed, but it almost turned into a sob. "That was no argument, Winter. You were a child, and expressed your desires, and your father belittled that which you held important in front of me. Tell me, if your Colonel Ironwood disagreed with your desires, would he laugh in your face? Call you immature in front of your peers?" Willow knew the answer, and Winter was shaking her head in denial of what she knew Willow would reveal in front of her siblings next. "Would he strike you for daring to stand up for that which you held dear?"
Weiss gasped, as did Whitley a moment later. "Father… father struck you?" Whitley said in disbelief, staring at Winter.
Winter looked down at the table, and then touched her cheek. "It was… it was nothing, it didn't even bruise."
Willow bared her teeth at the memory. "It was not nothing, daughter," Her free hand clenched into a fist. "I was… I was horrified. Outraged. He dared lay a hand on our child!?"
Winter looked up, confused. "But you didn't say-"
"You left while I was still trying to understand what had happened." She reached for Winter's hand, and clasped it. "I do not blame you. And then Weiss's party began," she nodded to Weiss, "and your father informed me he had no interest in further family trivialities that evening." There was another collective gasp. "I had to ensure Weiss' birthday was suitably celebrated, and this gave me ample time to understand and consider my next words. I confronted your father, after the party. I expressed my disappointment and displeasure that he didn't consider your feelings, Winter, and that he dared strike you, and that he would indirectly punish Weiss for his own frustrations."
She felt another sob threatening to emerge, and spent a few moments focusing on her breathing. "And he… he…." Her voice grew quieter.
"Did he… strike you, mother?" Surprisingly it was Whitley who asked the question, almost in a whisper.
Willow shook her head silently, tears running freely down her face. She sniffled, released Weiss' hand and wiped her face, and took another drink of wine.
"No. Worse." She drew a shuddering breath. "Your father gets what he wants, by the most ruthless and efficient means necessary. You know this. He brags of this in his business dealings. He wanted me removed as a moderating force against his will in the household. He wanted me removed as an effective counter to his decisions. I believe that he reasoned and found the most efficient way to achieve this." She took another drink, then continued. "He informed me, that evening, that he did not love me." She took a shuddering breath, staring at her glass so that she did not have to meet her children's eyes. "That he had never loved me. That he married me solely for the family name, and the opportunities that came with it."
She finally dragged her eyes from the glass to look at her children, fearful of what she would find. Winter gazed at her in sympathy. Weiss looked stricken.
Whitley was shaking his head in denial."No… No mother… this cannot be."
"Whitley…" Winter began.
"No, he… he was angry and he… he didn't mean it," her youngest was almost hyperventilating.
Rhodes found the fact that what hurt Whitley the most was the idea that his father didn't love his mother… just heartbreaking. He glanced at Winston and Klien to find their faces unreadable.
Must be hell to be a servant, to have to hide things like that and your own feelings about them behind a mask all day.
"I'm sorry, Whitley…" Willow said thickly, "He has… reinforced this statement, many times since. Always to hurt. Always when it seemed I might push back." She wiped her face again. "Jacques Schnee does not accept defiance, my son. You have seen this yourself."
"But… but… we are to obey."
"If I told you to strike your sister, would you do so?" Willow said sharply, through her own anguish. Her daughters were both very quiet. Winter's face was pale.
"No!" Whitley wailed.
"But you are to obey."
"I… I…" His eyes roamed the room, settling on Weiss. "I wouldn't hit you, Weiss."
"I know, Whitley. I know," Weiss leaned over and hugged her brother, who looked like he might collapse.
"But… is it true?" He whispered, his face buried in Weiss's neck.
"I believe mother," Weiss said, mournfully. She looked at Willow. "And this why you… became unwell."
"Yes. I was weak. Wounded. My entire life… built upon vows that your father turned into lies. I should have… I should have remained strong, for you. I am sorry." She tried to breathe, and it turned into a choked sob. "Can you forgive me?"
Weiss regarded her mother carefully. "Mother, I need to speak with Whitley for a few minutes. May we be excused?"
Willow gave a mute nod, and then turned to her right, to find herself immediately enveloped in the arms of her oldest daughter.
"Yes, mother. I forgive you. A thousand times yes. Only stay with us now," Winter managed through her own tears. "Stay with us, do not leave again, and all is forgiven."
"I will. I swear. I have… help now. I can be strong." Winter's eyes opened at the words, and she saw Rhodes sitting at the table beyond, looking both stricken and relieved. She felt a picture begin to form and wondered what the final image might be.
"Good. Weiss will explain it to Whitley," she reassured her mother. "He trusts her, more than anyone else." The truth of that, that Whitley trusted Weiss more than her, hurt Willow. But it also meant he trusted Weiss more than he trusted Jacques.
That would have to do, for now.
Finally, the two youngest returned. It looked like both had been crying. Whitley walked to his mother and stood before her. "I believe you, mother. I'll… I'll do what Weiss-" his older sister hit him softly on the back of the head. "Weiss no hitting!"
"Dolt, you were supposed to do what you want, not just what I say is best."
"But you said!"
"Dolt!"
"Meanie!"
Winter barked, "Attention!"
Everyone froze and Rhodes felt a laugh try to force its way out. Well, that was effective.
"Sorry," Whitley and Weiss both mumbled.
It took Whitley a moment to get back on track. "Oh… yes. I believe you mother, and I will vote to keep our secrets." He blinked. "But only if Weiss stops calling me a dolt."
"We can make that another vote," Willow smiled with tear-stained cheeks.
"Mother!"
Willow managed to arch an eyebrow, and Weiss huffed. "Fine." And the worst part was, Weiss knew she would have to vote in favor. Otherwise, she would appear terrible. "I hate this new vote thing. It's a double-edged rapier," she muttered.
Winter spoke again. "So… to be sure, we are in agreement that we will keep both our activities here, and our mother's recovery secret from father?" They all gave verbal agreement. Winter pulled out her scroll. "I will take minutes, if there is no objection." She looked around. "Well, I am the one whose scroll is least likely to be seen by father." Rhodes felt his mouth turn up. That Winter was going to be a firecracker. He could tell. "Is there any other business today? What are we to do with our newfound Board?"
"Mr. Rhodes suggested yesterday that we should agree to ignore father's machinations regarding the heir, and to share the responsibilities equally, once that occurs," Weiss stated. "I believe that is an elegant solution."
Again, there was easy assent, though Rhodes caught Winter's pale blue eyes regarding him curiously.
Uh oh.
Willow felt her hands beginning to shake both from the stress of the subject matter, and the with effort of holding herself together through it. "I believe… we can table further decisions? I am afraid this has been difficult for me."
"Of course, mother," Winter agreed. "Shall we meet again in a week?"
"Yes… I… when you are available."
Winter rose again and hugged her mother. "Take care of yourself, mother. We are with you."
"Thank you, Winter."
[A/N] Thanks as always to AtomicR4y and Rookie80!
The next chapter will return to the matter of Rhodes and Willow's rather steamy affair, and then another chapter of intrigue where the figurative screwing of Jacques Schnee shall begin to take form.
For anyone questioning the inclusion of ten-year-old Whitley in the decision-making process (and I sure as hell second-guessed myself), I provide the following:
'Parents may notice that around age 10, children start thinking and sounding almost "grown-up." Children this age are on the cusp of adolescence and have the language skills and cognitive ability to gather information and formulate well-organized opinions and thoughts. As such, many 10-year-old children can be effective conversationalists at dinner and at social gatherings, capable of expressing their thoughts on current events, books, music, art, and other subjects. "Engage your 10-year-old in their critical thinking skills," says Dr. Pressman. At this age, they can contribute their ideas, solutions, and plans. "They can come up with a roadmap for things they want to do. Your job as the caregiver is to listen, offer guidance when solicited, and help promote their agency."'
So apparently, writing him in this way was not at all outrageous. I hope you found it believable and interesting.
Regarding last chapter's comments:
Rookie80 - Yep, Menagerie is doing their best to adapt to a lot of different forces, internal and external, and I'm glad you enjoyed the sneak peek into different people's methods of dealing with that. Regarding who wiped out a bunch of human supremacists in Mistral, this will become clear! And regarding Roman, you gotta get out of my head, because that's a hook to drag him into Grimmling's plot.
AtomicR4y - Logistics is what wins wars! You will definitely start seeing real evidence of Menagerie making inroads during this year. And Watts will do what he do best.