Chapter 18

Weiss walked through a forest, her skin unblemished. So dense was the canopy that no light shone through. A cold wind blew through the trees, yet she found herself unaffected. For a fire burned within her, a gift, treasured and precious, warming her tattered soul. Just the thought of the flame's flickering drove her onward through the thicket, seeking freedom, her salvation from the dark. She sought the light, for the light provided safety, its strong arms protecting her from the world like a mother's embrace. She could feel it in her bones, and now, she could see it with her eyes, a smile growing across her face as the first pinprick appeared.

Weiss pushed forward with renewed vigor and the pinprick grew, until with a final lurch, she found herself at the edge of a clearing, light streaming down, blinding her. But she refused to falter, for her goal was within, shining like the sun, the very essence of warmth, the light of her life. Laughing, she advanced, stepping into the light, only to flinch backward...it burned. She reached forward, only to flinch back again, her hand red raw, stinging. She clutched at the throbbing limb, squinting into the distance. Her light beckoned still, a silent, warm plea for her to come forth. And so she gritted her teeth, and obeyed.

The pain was excruciating, like a million needles puncturing her flesh, a thousand tons of pressure weighing her down. But still she pushed forward, even as her skin bubbled and blistered, even as her vocal chords tore apart, even as the world blurred and dimmed, the very eyes burning within her skull. She would have given anything for it to stop, but not the light of her life, the one refuge from her pain. She would suffer a thousand incinerations to behold her light, one last time.

"Please…" Weiss plead, to what or whom she did not know. "Just one more time…" Just one more time, and she could perish in peace.

The pain ended, everything ended. All was dark, but for the glowing lilac irises before her. "Snowball?" Yang's heavenly voice whispered.

"Yang." Weiss wept, burying herself in Yang's chest.

"It's okay Snowball, I've got you." Yang soothed.

"It hurt." Weiss whined, shuddering. "It hurt so much."

"You're okay now, I promise, I found you." Yang insisted.

"I thought they'd stopped." Weiss choked. "I thought I'd be at peace."

Yang swallowed, taking in a deep breath and steeling herself. "You died Weiss." She bit out.

Weiss froze, shocked. "What?"

"I came back, and you were dead." Yang explained. "Your heart had stopped, you scared the hell out of me Weiss. I nearly burned down Glynda's place trying to get you help."

"I-I died?" Weiss balked.

"You starved yourself to death!" Yang cried. "You let me think you were okay, and then I came back and I thought I'd lost you!"

"I-I-" Weiss stammered.

"What was I going to do if I'd really lost you?" Yang pressed. "What was Winter going to do? Glynda? Ruby? We all thought you were okay-"

"I'm not okay!" Weiss snapped.

"Then tell us!" Yang choked back. "Tell us. We love you. I love you. I dedicate myself to you Weiss…" This time Yang buried her face in Weiss' chest. Her tears stung, but did not burn. "Please don't leave me." She whimpered.

Weiss lie there in shock, slowly letting everything sink in. First the nightmare, then the revelation that she had died, again, and now not only had Yang confessed her love, but begged her not to leave. Yang, Goddess of Flame, clinging to her like a scared child. It broke her heart. "You are my light Yang." Weiss whispered, wrapping her arms around Yang's head, fingers threading through her golden hair. "From them moment we met you were providing for me. You gifted me your essence, and when I awoke, you gifted me your warmth, your company, so precious to me...but your true gift to me Yang…" Weiss moved her hand to Yang's cheek, coaxing her lilac gaze upward. "...was you."

And with that Weiss kissed Yang. For the first time their lips met, and Weiss swore they felt hotter than every other time they had graced her being. Yang's hands trailed up to her jaw, their kiss deepening, a hot tongue begging permission at her lips, permission she readily gave as heat pooled in her, below her belly, letting out a pleased whine as it explored her lips, hot and wet, brushing against her own...she tasted of cinnamon...and then the kiss was over. Yang loomed over her, lilac eyes and golden mane glowing like beacons in the dark. She was so beautiful, the throbbing in her nethers screamed at her to pull her back down.

"W-Weiss...before we go any further...we need to talk to the others." Yang hesitantly stated.

Weiss felt a cold chill descend upon her, a lump growing in her throat. "I know…" She whispered thickly. "Are they mad at me?"

"No Weiss." Yang leaned down to kiss her once more, softly this time. "But this isn't going to be easy, for any of us. You know what needs to happen."

Weiss felt the sickly trickle of anxiety pool in her chest. "I-I know." She whimpered, eyes beginning to sting. "I'm scared."

"I'll be by your side the entire time." Yang promised.

Weiss nodded, reaching to pull Yang back down entirely, her warm weight a comfort on her bare chest. "I love you too my Light."

To say Weiss was surprised when Glynda hugged her would have been an understatement. She had expected disappointment, anger, shame. Not comfort. "I'm sorry." Weiss murmured fearfully into Glynda' shirt.

"I know." Glynda sighed. "I'm sorry too." Glynda's arms tightened around Weiss, and she could not resist nuzzling into her warmth, breathing in the strong lavender scent which clung to her being, the faint thrum of her heartbeat became evident, alongside the faint copper tinge of life's blood, rushing beneath her. She made to retreat, but Glynda held fast. "Weiss."

"Glynda-" Weiss tried to protest.

"Don't resist." Glynda plead. "Stop fighting your instincts Weiss. It's okay, I give you my permission. Take all you need." She assured, bending down and craning her neck.

Weiss could have shoved Glynda away, but she found herself unwilling, staring at the offered flesh. The scent became stronger, the heartbeat louder. Her mouth felt parched, every part of her ached to lean in, to sink her teeth deep and drink to her heart's content. But she could not. The very thought horrified her, victimizing a human, like Cinder had victimized her, it pained her, agonized her.

Just as the first sob escaped Weiss' lips, she felt herself tugged back into a strong, calming embrace. Glynda barely stumbled as Yang shoved her away, the aspect's crimson eyes burning into her. "This isn't working!" Yang snapped, running her hands soothingly through Weiss' hair as she shook.

Glynda sighed in frustration, turning away. "Then we need to find a way that works." She stated. "Weiss, if you do not feel, you will die, again."

"J-just hook me to the IV again." Weiss stammered.

"The IV was a temporary solution, to keep you alive and calm while you recovered." Glynda scoffed. "You should know this. It is in the book I wrote for you." She spun around, flinging her hand angrily.

"I know!" Weiss yelled, her bloodstained face turning to glare at Glynda. "I've read it. I read it all. How much blood the average vampire needs, the desirability of virgin blood, the feeding euphoria so great there's a chance that I might become addicted!"

"You can become addicted to many things in life." Glynda dismissed. "It doesn't stop people from indulging in them, and living perfectly happy, functional lives, and unlike many of those things you need blood to live!" She hissed. "If you refuse to do what is necessary to keep yourself alive, I cannot help you." Glynda's face fell. "Do you really want to keep doing this? Starving yourself until we pour blood down your throat like a petulant child? Because if that's the life you wish to lead, you're better off walking into the sunlight. It will be a far less cruel fate." Weiss shuddered, a phantom pain running through her body, her nightmare fresh in her mind.

"I have an idea." Ruby piped up. Everyone turned to look at her, including Pyrrha, who had awoken sometime during Glynda's rant.

"Yes Ruby?" Glynda inquired, brow raised.

"My blood is like Pyrrha's right?" Ruby asked.

Glynda nodded. "Identical as far as I can tell. Ironwood's tests found no differences either."

"Try my blood!" Ruby yelled, slipping from behind Pyrrha and rushing to Weiss.

"Ruby-" Weiss started.

"I'm not human Weiss, but I have human blood." Ruby cut her off. "I have more blood than I know what to do with! And I can control it, and I can heal myself!" Ruby counted off with her fingers as she approached. "You won't hurt me Weiss. You can't hurt me. Let me help you live, please." Ruby held her hands out toward Weiss.

Weiss glanced around the room. Glynda seemed passive, Blake curious, Pyrrha obviously trying to hide concern. Yang quirked her brow and looked at her. "I've never felt the desire to feed on you before."

"Maybe you just never thought about it." Ruby shrugged.

"That...is a strange but fair point...maybe...maybe that's a good thing." Weiss looked to her fellow Huntress. "Pyrrha, are you comfortable with this?"

Pyrrha plastered on a kind smile. "So long as Ruby is, I will support her Weiss. As I will support you." Her smile grew more genuine as she spoke, a sight that brought Weiss relief, however little was possible during this trying time.

"Thank you Pyrrha...this…" Weiss took a shaky breath, stepping out of Yang's embrace to approach Ruby. "This is…" She clasped her hands together. "I-I can do this...I need to do this." She said, more to herself than anyone else.

"You can do this." Ruby encouraged, stepping forward to clasp Weiss' hands in her own. "I know you can."

Weiss choked a laugh, eyes stinging once again. She met Ruby's familiar gaze and smiled. "M-maybe you're a cheerleading aspect." She joked thickly.

"I don't know what that is." Ruby smiled back regardless, provoking another laugh from the shaking vampire.

"It doesn't matter." Weiss admitted, drawing ever closer, Ruby's eyes gleaming, drawing her in. "Just keep doing it."

"You can do this Weiss." Ruby repeated, their faces less than an inch from each other, her floral scent wafting over Weiss.

"I can do it." Weiss' gaze flickered to Ruby's neck for an instant.

"You need to do it." Ruby insisted.

"I need to…" Weiss tore her gaze away and leaned in, Ruby's aroma growing stronger as her senses sharpened.

"Almost there." Ruby encouraged. Opening her mouth, Weiss closed her eyes...and sunk her teeth into Ruby's flesh. "You did it." Ruby whispered.

Weiss' world turned black and white, blood rushing through her fangs, the majority traveling through ducts down the back of her throat, the rest filtering through the arteries connected to her gums, rushing directly to her brain. It was...like nothing she could truly describe in words. Pleasure, ecstasy, happiness, joy, delight, power, all at once and a million times over, but different. She never wanted to stop. Why would she? Ruby said she would be fine. Ruby was nice, such a beautiful little girl, such a wonderful friend. She would stay with her, she would treat her well, much better than Pyrrha, she probably didn't even-

"That's enough, Yang." Glynda ordered. Weiss had been feeding for fifteen seconds now, and apart from the initial shudder, and a muffled moan, showed no signs of awareness. Glynda had expected this, and instructed Yang accordingly.

"Come on Snowball, ease up." Yang ordered, wrapping an arm around Weiss' waist and a hand around her throat, squeezing gently. "Come on, don't be greedy."

With a firmer squeeze and tug, Weiss pulled free, gasping for air. Ruby staggered back into Glynda and Pyrrha's arms, the punctures on her throat healing instantly, any stray drops of blood being absorbed by her skin. Pyrrha ran her fingers over the area to find it completely smooth, before a strangled moan drew her attention back to Weiss. The vampire convulsed in Yang's arms, eyes wide, revealing blackened sclera. Shockwaves ran through her form, fingers splayed outward, grasping at thin air, her back arched, mouth hung wide, each spasm emitting another choked exclamation.

"Did I hurt her?" Ruby gasped. In response, a final, languid shudder ran through Weiss' body, accompanied by a long, drawn out, blissful moan, before she collapsed entirely, hanging limply in Yang's arms, twitching.

"Well." Blake cut in, from beside Glynda. "That was educational." Yang chuckled, lowering herself to the floor, shifting Weiss' huffing form to her lap. Weiss began to giggle, like a drunken teenager told a silly joke. It was mirthful, it was joyful, it was surprisingly intimidating given the circumstances, especially as it turned to hysterical cackling. "She sounds like you Glynda." Blake smirked, nudging her bondmate.

"It was literally one time." Glynda shot back.

"At least she's happy?" Ruby half observed, half questioned.

"I don't think this is...happiness Ruby…" Pyrrha pulled Ruby back to the couch, holding her close. "Do you feel lightheaded?"

"No, I feel fine, just a little weird." Ruby assured, snuggling into Pyrrha's embrace.

Weiss' laughter slowly died down, until she gazed dreamily up at Yang with a cheshire grin. "My Light." She crooned, reaching up to cup Yang's face.

"Hey Snowball, how are you feeling?" Yang leaned down, only to be met with a kiss.

"I feel like...a goddess for dessert." Weiss purred, flipping over with a giggle and straddling the surprised aspect.

"Alright, alright, calm down Snowball." Yang laughed as Weiss' lips trailed kisses along her throat.

"I wonder what would happen if I fed from you-" Weiss started.

Yang grabbed Weiss by the shoulders and held her away. "Weiss, don't, you will burn to death." She warned as firmly and seriously as possible with a lusty vampire, high on blood, attempting to jump her essence. A pouting vampire.

"Aw...what about...down here." Weiss' hand crept down to cup Yang through the thin firesilk of her gown.

Yang bit her lip, letting go to snatch both Weiss' hands. "Weiss, we still have company."

"Oh no, please go on." Blake drawled,

Weiss stiffened. "Blake?" She exclaimed, twisting around, freezing when she saw the others. "Oh...oh right...you can leave now. I'm quite alright, and I have business to attend to if you don't mind."

"We are staying the night Weiss." Glynda stated, deadpan.

"Witch." Weiss huffed.

Glynda sighed, rubbing her temples. "Lovely, she's a smartass when high."

But regardless, tonight was a victory, so far. Hopefully tomorrow, when Weiss had sobered up, they could gauge the true effects of her first feeding. Hopefully she would handle it well.

Weiss' bloodhaze had lasted until early in the morning, during which time she had continually snipped at Glynda, flirted heavily with Yang, and on more than one occasion, become oddly intimate with Ruby, hugging, complimenting and smelling her, only stopping when, in a case of rare firmness, Ruby ordered Weiss to please stop, as she was making Pyrrha irritable. Even through her haze Weiss seemed to take the admonition to heart, and retreated to her office with a confused Yang in tow. Blake found the entire affair deeply amusing. It was as if Weiss' inner teenager had finally come to the surface after so many years of suppression. An amorous, bitchy teenager.

Pyrrha had fallen asleep after Weiss left. Having her rest interrupted twice had taken its toll, and at Glynda's suggestion, she had taken Weiss' bed. The vampire would not be using it. Weiss was far too hyped up to sleep, and indeed many vampires rarely did so. Humans required rest to regenerate their muscles and digest new experiences. Vampires did so constantly, so sleep was reserved for relaxation, and conserving blood, neither of which were on Weiss' agenda. Glynda, however, decided she had earned a rest of her own, fetching a blanket from Weiss' storage room laying it on one of the couches, Blake's feline form curling up in her lap. As far as slumber parties went, Glynda had attended worse...and stranger.

A dull clack stirred Glynda from her slumber, and she groaned, scowling at the back of her eyelids. "I apologize Glynda." Weiss' voice softly spoke.

"Wakey, wakey." Blake whispered inside Glynda's head. "She looks so guilty."

Glynda scoffed, opening her eyes to squint in the firelight. "Good morning Weiss." She groaned. "How do you feel?" Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she looked across to see Weiss seated on the couch opposite, a mug of coffee in hand, another on the table before Glynda. Yang sauntered over, passing Blake a cup of tea.

"Well, very well as a matter of fact, which makes me feel all the worse." Weiss grimaced. "Everything is a blurry, mumbling haze...but I remember enough…" Yang flopped down beside her, slipping an arm around her shoulders. The vampire leaned into the aspect's warmth with a sigh. "I called you a witch."

"An astute observation, you get a gold star." Glynda jested, reaching for her coffee, taking a searing sip, groaning as the hot liquid sent a shiver down her spine.

"Regardless, the implication was insulting, and I apologize." Weiss insisted. "You saved my life, again, due to my foolishness."

"I'll accept your apology…" Glynda pushed herself up, somehow having ended up lying on Blake's chest in the night. "...on the grounds that you hold nothing back as I quiz you." She reached into her pocket, pulling forth a notebook and pencil, flipping to a clean page.

Weiss nodded. "Of course."