Chapter-25

The drive to Schnee Manor was relatively short from Atlas Academy, and soon they were passing through giant iron wrought gates and driving by rows of fountains spraying water to the heavens, the driveway flanked by towering hedges. As their cars pulled up in front of the main house, their vehicles were engulfed in a sea of flashing lights. Squinting against the harsh flashes, Jaune shielded his eyes with an arm across his face as he opened his door, attempting to make out their surroundings. Rows of journalists ringed the area, their cameramen snapping pictures furiously as General Ironwood stepped out, Winter by his side. Penny followed them, looking solemn and subdued. Glancing to the side, Jaune saw the Ace-Op's exiting their own vehicle and after a moment to compose himself, he did the same.

Holding out a hand, Jaune felt Weiss lace her fingers with his as she slipped out of the car gracefully, head held high as each flash of a camera glinted off her beautiful sapphire earrings. Set within her hair was a gorgeous silver tiara lined with a series of blue and red gemstones. The metal was worked in several looping bands separated with rows of snowflakes, the Schnee family symbol. It proclaimed loud and clear that while she may no longer be the Schnee heiress, she was no outsider.

She was making a statement.

"Ignore them," Weiss said simply, eyes forward. "Do not give them a single piece of your attention or they will pounce. Father could have barred them from the property but he did not. He wishes to make us uncomfortable."

He took a moment to admire the graceful curve of her neck before looking to her other side. Yang met his gaze and shot him a saucy wink, her lips quirking into a suggestive smile. Her beautiful eyes matched the pre-dusk sky, a deep purple as the sun made its descent beyond the western horizon. Her long luscious hair was woven with pieces of sheer fabric fashioned as flower petals, matching the color of her dress. It was an attractive look, an idea that Weiss had pitched to her friend.

"I can barely walk," Ruby complained, bumping against his left. Her hands curled around his forearm, holding on tight. "These shoes are the worst! "

Turning, he gazed down at his younger friend, meeting her annoyed gaze with one of levity.

"You look great, though," he complimented, utterly sincere. "I believe in you."

Ruby scoffed but couldn't fight off the pleased smile that twisted her glossy lips. The slender set of her shoulders drew his eyes, skin bare and pale as snow. Her arms were defined, muscles lithe and shapely from swinging Crescent Rose. The hem of her dress fluttered as they walked forward, bouncing about her knees with each step.

"So do you," Blake said from Ruby's other side. Amber eyes raked over his body hungrily. "You really clean up well."

Jaune returned the favor, devouring the way her sleek black dress shifted across her slender body, tracing the lines of her collarbone and the dip of her cleavage. Her little smirk told him she saw him looking.

"Thanks," he replied, grinning.

The suit he wore was a three piece, the material of the jacket and trousers pitch black, while the vest was a dark, charcoal gray. His shoes were polished black leather, while his tie was a simple straight black. His shirt was a crisp white, popping against the dark colors perfectly, while golden cufflinks adorned his wrists. They were fashioned into twin crescent moons, so similar to the symbol upon the shield of Crocea Mors that Weiss had demanded he get them.

When he had seen himself in the mirror before they departed, he had barely recognized himself. He actually looked cool .

"I suppose we should smile for the cameras," Ironwood quipped from further ahead.

Winter's face was as expressive as stone. "Sir, with all due respect, you'd have to pay me."

Even Ironwood couldn't keep the amused smirk that crossed his face contained.

Ascending the stone steps, their group approached the large doors flanked by security, several other guests being waved through. It took some time, as the Ace-Op's were all carrying weapons. Papers were checked and rechecked, and calls were made before at last, they were allowed entry.

They were greeted within by a young boy, no older than Oscar.

"Good evening, everyone," he greeted politely, hands folded behind his back. Jaune glanced between the boy and Winter, and saw that their posture was a match, both standing at rigid attention. That wasn't all; this boy shared the same eye and hair color as the Schnee sisters, though his locks were short and neat.

Jaune felt Weiss tense beside him.

"Where's Klein?" she asked, confused.

Jaune wasn't sure but for a moment, he thought he saw a flash of hurt cross the boy's eyes. It was gone in an instant, replaced by an air of mocking as he said, "What an interesting way to say, 'Hello, dear brother. How have you been?'... I'm afraid you won't find him here. He was let go. I can't imagine why."

Weiss' fingers tightened around his hand until his bones creaked in protest. Jaune shared a look with Ruby, grimacing. They knew that Weiss' situation with her family was rough but they hadn't even gotten through the door yet. When he looked at Winter, he noticed that she looked extraordinarily sad.

"Whitley," Winter greeted softly.

"Winter," he returned coolly before addressing Ironwood. "General, exactly how large do you think our dining room table is?"

"I happen to know it is enormous," Ironwood said frankly. "But most of my guests will be on standby in case the council requests additional eye witnesses. Until then I am sure they will be happily celebrating your father's victory."

Whitley smiled, giving a little sarcastic laugh before turning and showing them in. The entrance hall was large and circular, the floor made of blue and white marble. Their shoes clicked audibly against the surface as they passed beneath a gigantic chandelier, an equally large Schnee snowflake beneath their feet. A large grand staircase rose up between two massive suits of armor, the pair of inanimate sentinels grasping long, deadly broadswords. Blue tinted glass filtered light from atop the stairs and bathed the room in a cool glow, creating a cold, impersonal atmosphere at odds with the loud chatter all around them. It seemed like all of the Atlesian elite were in attendance, as expected of the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company.

"For those of you joining us in the dining room," Whitley turned to face them and gestured to their left. "Please, follow me."

"Well," Jaune said when Ironwood, Winter, Penny and the Ace-Op's followed the youngest Schnee. "I guess we mingle?"

Weiss sighed. "If we must."

Waiters moved between guests, carrying trays laden with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. They were dressed smartly and were exceedingly polite, even in the face of distrust and suspicion. For you see, every single one of them were a faunus, and those they served eyed them warily even as they partook in the food and drink on offer. They weren't the only ones garnering looks.

Blake stood out like a sore thumb.

Eyes lingered on her ears as much as they lingered on her svelte body, the question clear. Why was she not among the help?

To her credit, Blake didn't let the judgment phase her. Instead, she plucked a flute of wine off a passing tray and sipped at it, humming at its taste. Yang followed suit, taking a much larger mouthful. She smacked her lips loudly, purposefully antagonizing a nearby group of stiff old women that glared at her balefully.

"I give it a six out of ten," she judged harshly. "Your dad needs to up his game."

A pianist played in the corner upon a beautiful grand piano, fingers dancing over the keys with practiced ease and great skill. The melody was beautiful, yet sorrowful. Not the type of tune to rouse the spirit for celebration, an odd choice for the occasion.

"It feels like a funeral in here," Nora complained, Ren on her arm. He was looking very handsome in his own suit, his shirt a shade of pale pink to match the highlight in his hair and eyes. "Where is the dance floor?"

"It isn't that kind of party, I'm afraid," Weiss glanced around the room with an air of disgust. "You won't find anything fun here. I can't believe I used to want the approval of these people. I really was blind to it all."

"The food is good," Ruby said around a mouthful of smoked salmon and blue cheese spread over the golden toasted crust of bread. There were a half dozen more in her hands. Weiss let out a most unlady-like snort.

"Pass one of those this way," Jaune said, plucking one of them from Ruby's hands. She was right, it was very good. The smoked salmon was flaky but not dry retaining that fattiness the fish was known for. The blue cheese sauce was strong but not overpowering, a great compliment to the fish. The crunch of the bread really brought it all together, adding a mouth feel that challenged the softer textures of the fish and cheese sauce. "Pass another one."

Ruby held her treasure out of reach. "Nuh-uh! Get your own."

Jaune saw the arch of Weiss' eyebrow and grinned, nudging her shoulder. "Hey, we might as well get a decent meal out of this before we – you know, do any sleuthing."

She tried to appear stern but when a waiter passed by with a selection of caviar atop toasted points, accompanied by sour cream, seasoned minced onions and a dollop of unknown chutney, the battle was lost.

She rolled her eyes as he shot her an amused smirk, fingers plucking one from the tray. "Oh shut up. I may hate the people but the food was always my favorite part of these things."

Jaune grabbed one of his own and hummed as the taste spread over his tongue. He had never had caviar before but he found he rather liked it. The mild saltiness paired well with the smooth sour cream and the acidic onions, the chutney having a citrus tang to it; lemon, he thought.

"Jaune?" a voice said. "Is that you?"

A familiar face approached, surprise writ across her pretty features. Straight platinum blonde hair fell across her shoulders in a curtain of silk, her jade green eyes matching those of the pendant that hung around her slender neck. It took Jaune a few seconds to place her, a little longer to remember her name.

"Aurelia," he greeted. Over her shoulder, he saw Yang pull a face. He tried not to laugh. "I didn't expect to see you here."

The average age of the people in the room was well over 40. They were among the youngest in attendance.

"Nor I you," she said happily. She then noticed who stood beside him and her smile became brittle. "Weiss! I almost didn't recognize you! It has been so long ."

"Yes, it has," Weiss returned bluntly, not even attempting to sound civil. Ice blue eyes turned on him, colder than the tundra that surrounded Mantle. "You know each other?"

Blake stifled a chortle behind a sip of wine, almost choking.

Somehow, he felt like the conversation had taken a very dangerous turn somewhere and he wasn't sure how. "Uh – you know how we went clubbing that one time with Team FNKI? I mean the time I went with them?" Weiss nodded slowly. "We met at the club. She was there with some of her friends – letting their hair down, I guess you could say."

"Is that so," Weiss turned to face Aurelia. "I didn't know you attended such places. I must say, I am rather shocked."

"Yes, well – some of us like to let loose a little and have fun," if Weiss' eyes were cold, the green of Aurelia's eyes were hot enough to burn. "Though it looks like you've learned to open up a little," she stared at their clasped hands. "Open anything else?"

Jaune had the uncomfortable feeling that a fight was imminent. No, not a fight – a cold blooded murder, and the most rich and powerful of Atlas were the audience.

" Reeeow ," Yang sounded out, looping an arm around Aurelia's shoulders. The girl tensed. "That wasn't very nice, was it?"

Yang had used her metal hand, the threat clear. Aurelia scowled.

Weiss smiled widely. "Yes, I guess I have opened up a little. This is what having friends is like. Pretty neat, don't you think?"

"Hey, what's going on over here?" a blue haired boy approached with a swagger, eyes devouring the bodies of his friends. "This group looks fun. Mind if I join in?"

Weiss' good mood turned sour.

"Oh great. Let me find a rope so I can hang myself from the chandelier," she said dryly. The newcomer eyed her warily, a flash of fear crossing his face. It was clear that there was some sort of history there.

Nora giggle-snorted. "Oh Weiss, you are too much ."

"Uh – Henry Marigold, at your service, ladies," he gave an extravagant bow.

Ruby tilted her head, tapping her chin as she looked Henry over. "You remind me of someone."

Jaune copied her, focusing on his hair. "You know what, you're right. He does remind me of someone."

Yang clicked her fingers, the metal sound grating and causing Aurelia to jump. "I know! Doesn't he look a bit like Neptune?"

He was a little more handsome and his hair was darker, styled a tad more aggressively, but the resemblance was clear. They all made sounds of recognition, while Weiss made one of dismay.

"Did you really have to say that?" Weiss snapped angrily.

"Neptune?" Aurelia questioned.

"None of your business," Weiss said between gritted teeth. Then she glared at Yang. "Don't you say a word! I know where you sleep."

"Woah, chill," Yang backed off, letting her hold on Aurelia go. "Forget I said anything. Sheesh."

"I require a drink," Weiss muttered, tugging Jaune away from the group. There was a waiter nearby carrying a tray of wine flutes but she ignored it, storming over to the far side of the room.

"I take it you don't like that guy," Jaune said when they finally stopped in the shadow of one of the giant suits of armor. Jaune felt like this was a spot that discouraged anyone from approaching them, probably by design.

"He is an insufferable jerk," Weiss said after a moment, scowling at nothing in particular. Then she sighed, her annoyance bleeding away like a deflating balloon. "Of course he is, he grew up surrounded by this !" she waved her hand around. "Not exactly the best place to learn how to be a decent human being."

"Eh," Jaune shrugged. "You turned out alright."

"If I hadn't run away, I'd still be a brat like my younger brother."

"You can still be a bit of a brat," he teased, laughing when she dug her elbow in none too gently. "But that was my point – they just need to get away a bit. You notice how all those old stiffs keep glaring at Blake? Well, look at Henry and Aurelia."

She did – and Jaune saw that she understood what he was getting at. There was no derision on their faces, no contempt. They were talking with the rest of their friends as equals – and that included Blake, a faunus. Though in Henry's case, it may have been because he wanted to get inside her dress. Aurelia, though, had no qualms with talking with her. Jaune remembered that night at the club. She may have been a spoiled rich girl but she didn't strike him as a genuinely bad person. Just as Weiss hadn't, when they'd first met. She'd been cold and mean, and had been way too full of herself by half – but she wasn't bad. She never had been.

Just a little misguided.

Now that they were alone, Jaune took the time to admire her incredible beauty. Weiss may have hated these types of events, disdained what they represented, but there was no denying that she fit right in. Her elegance and charm were unmatched by any of the Atlesian elite in attendance, her poise and class truly astounding. Yang often called her a princess and they all knew it riled the proud woman something fierce, yet that is exactly what she looked like; royalty.

She was a step above the rest.

While he was checking her out, she was returning the favor. Her eyes raked over his form with appreciation.

"You look very handsome tonight," Weiss said lowly. He loved the way her voice sounded when it dropped, deep and smoky. "I knew you would look amazing in that suit."

"Not as good as you look in that dress," he replied.

The way it hugged the lines and swells of her body was divine. It fit her like a glove, accentuating her small breasts and hips, while drawing the eye to her trim, unbelievable waist and flat tummy. Jaune truly believed that her body had been sculpted by the best, the Brother Gods themselves.

He wanted to peel that dress off her body and take her every way you could take a woman. He wanted to taste her, everywhere. He wanted to cum inside her and watch that fit, athletic body swell with his children. Twins, they would have twins and then he would fuck her while she was pregnant, breasts swollen with milk and leaking into his mouth.

Jaune closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His pants felt uncomfortably tight.

"I do look fantastic, don't I?" she mused with an arrogant tilt of her head. "What are you going to do about it?"

The challenge was clear.

Unfortunately, her little brother chose that moment to appear.

"Dear sister," Whitley smiled, though it was anything but pleasant. "I was hoping we could use this time to catch up." He paused, looking between the pair of them. They were still holding hands. His eyes zeroed in on this immediately. "And who might you be, if I may ask?"

"Jaune. Jaune Arc. I am a friend from Beacon."

"Oh," Whitley exclaimed. "A huntsman?"

"That's right."

"And her boyfriend, perhaps?"

Weiss frowned. "Whitley."

"Color me surprised," he continued, ignoring Weiss' disapproving tone. "I'm sure you know this but my sister can be rather serious. I never thought that when she went off to huntress school, she would come back with a lover. Curious – why did you come back? I find it strange that you went through so much trouble to leave, only to come crawling back here?"

"Why else? To celebrate father's extraordinary victory," Weiss replied sarcastically, parroting General Ironwood. "Now, if you'll excuse us." She went to move around him, tugging on Jaune to follow.

"And where do you think you are going?" he said, quickly stepping in their way.

"To make love to my boyfriend ," she needled. Whitley blanched. "Now move."

"H-How uncouth," Whitley stammered, flushing bright red as Weiss shouldered him aside.

"She was joking," Jaune said hurriedly as she pulled him up the staircase. "She just wants to show me where she grew up."

They ascended the stairs quickly, Weiss striding with purpose. When they were out of sight, she stopped for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Sorry about that," Weiss muttered. "He really knows how to get under my skin."

"Siblings, right?" Jaune joked. She smiled weakly.

"Right."

"Well – I guess this is a good time to do some snooping," Jaune supplied, looking around. The hall they were in was empty, not a servant in sight.

Weiss wavered, before saying, "Yes, I suppose you are right. Work first."

The rest of Schnee Manor was just as grand as the entrance hall and just as cold, the walls bare of any personal decoration. Old-fashioned torches lined the way, illuminating the hallway in that same chilling blue hue that her family seemed so fond of. How they produced blue flame, Jaune didn't have a clue – dust? They passed by many doors, all of them closed tight. They walked for some time, still hand in hand; her palm was warm and soft, and he enjoyed holding it.

They didn't pass by a single soul. Everyone was focused on the party, to their advantage.

"So where are we going?" he asked.

"If my father is hiding anything, it will be on his personal computer – which he keeps just down here, in his office," they stopped in front of a door, identical to all the others. Only the wall next to it actually had a portrait of the entire Schnee family. It was not a happy picture, the artist unable to do a thing about the pinched look on a younger Winter's face. "Come on."

The door clicked open as she turned the handle, sounding louder than it actually was.

His office was in stark contrast to the rest of the house, the walls lined with bookshelves made from rich mahogany. Not just the bookshelves either but the floor, the desk, the paneling upon the walls. High above, box windows allowed natural light to filter in. From what Jaune could see of the sky, the sun had finally set. Now it was the broken moon that cast its glow upon them.

"Hello darling," a feminine voice said, causing them to jump in alarm. From the corner, a figure appeared. "I'm sorry I couldn't attend your little party but I wasn't feeling well."

"Um," Weiss hesitated.

Willow Schnee smiled at them sadly.

Even at a glance, Jaune could see that once upon a time, she had been an extraordinarily beautiful woman. In her face, he could see all the best parts of Weiss and Winter – the slope of their nose, the shape of their eyes, their lips and pale skin, and of course their trademark white hair. They had taken very little of their father, physically. The years had not been kind to her, however. There was a worn quality to her, a tiredness that went deep. The lines of her face spoke of an unhappiness that was lodged firmly within her very soul and the bottle of vodka clasped in her hand only reinforced the image. Even so, women the world over would pay a pretty penny to look as good as she did at her age.

"And who might this young man be?" she gazed at him curiously – and then she frowned. "And... what are you doing in your fathers study?"

Jaune felt the tremble in her arm and squeezed her hand firmly. It gave Weiss the strength she needed.

"I need to use father's computer."

Willow straightened. "Why?"

"Because I think father has done something – something wrong."

Her mother scoffed. "I thought we all simply assumed that at this point."

"Yes, well, some of us are actually trying to do something about it."

Jaune never wanted to be somewhere else more than he did right now. Awkward didn't even begin to describe how he was feeling, his spine attempting to crawl out of his body and hide as mother and daughter eyed each other up. Then Willow pressed the bottle of vodka to her lips and took a massive pull, emptying a quarter of what remained. Weiss couldn't watch, looking away.

Her family was a train wreck. He had never been more glad to be born to his wonderful parents. They may have doubted he could make it as a huntsman but they were normal, honest folk who loved him and his sisters. This was just unbelievably sad.

Willow then came to a decision. "He started locking his home computer." Weiss looked to her mother in surprise. "But – he still has blind spots."

She grabbed a small device off the desk and pulled it apart, revealing a screen. Approaching her daughter, she held it between them so they all could see. Jaune blinked, startled to see the three of them upon the screen. Weiss glanced up and to the corner, and Jaune saw her on the screen copy the action.

"You put a camera in here?"

"I put cameras in every room in this house," she revealed, voice becoming a tad hysterical. "For our safety! In case I ever needed to--" she cut herself off then, taking a moment to regain her composure. "You haven't come back to stay, have you?"

"No," Weiss replied firmly.

Willow looked relieved. "Good."

Jaune looked away as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

She wiped it away quickly before handing Weiss the device.

"A man came by," she said slowly as she turned away, heading for the door. "I'm afraid your father may be involved in something more dangerous than he realizes."

The sound of her shoes against the hardwood flooring was deafening. Weiss watched her mother retreat with a sorrowful look.

"No matter what happens, Weiss – please don't forget about your brother."

"Whitley wants nothing to do with me."

Willow stopped in front of the door, turning.

"Of course not," she said simply. "You left him alone – with us ."

Then she was gone, though not before giving Jaune a long considering look.

"Look after her, will you?" she smiled. It was a little thing, brittle – but warm.

The door clicked shut with her departure, leaving behind heavy hearts.