The Grimm Huntress

Taking Control

Weiss stepped out of her bedroom, carrying a white suitcase and Myrtenaster. She looked around cautiously, her footsteps loudly resounding in the ornate hallway. She jumped and gasped when Klein appeared right behind her. He put his finger to his lips and shushed her before smiling.

"Let's go," the butler whispered.

The two moved quickly across the carpet, their footsteps muffled. Side by side, they went down the staircase and made their way across the entrance hall. They were moving down another hallway when Klein's Scroll buzzed. They both looked at it with narrowed eyes.

"Master Whitley!" Klein greeted in a false cheery voice. "I... um... yes, of course. I'll be just a moment."

He clicked his Scroll off and tucked it away.

"Head to the first floor library. I'll meet you there."

The two separated, going in opposite directions. Weiss was soon creeping outside her father's study door when she heard a glass crash, making her jump, followed by the rising voice of James Ironwood. She crouched behind a cushioned chair against the wall.

"You need to control yourself!" Ironwood's muffled voice said.

"You're talking to me about control?" Weiss heard her father ask, irritated. "Do you even hear what you're saying?"

"I am basing everything on my reports from your daughter."

"A daughter you stole!"

'Arguing. Typical,' Weiss found herself thinking. 'Although...'

She moved closer to the door to listen.

"Oh, we are not getting into that again." Ironwood scoffed.

"Oh, yes, we have far more pressing matters to discuss, starting with your apparent lunacy!"

"Jacques!"

She heard Ironwood sigh heavily. "Winter is one of my best. If she's telling me there's a threat in Mistral then I am not going to take that news lightly. She's been there for weeks, people are mobilizing, sudden spikes in weapons and Dust trades. Someone is about to make a play and I do not trust Leo to stop them."

Weiss gasped quietly.

"You've never trusted anyone other than yourself!" Jacques argued.

"And for good reason!" Ironwood shouted back.

Weiss covered her mouth with her hand as she gasped again at the sound of Ironwood slamming his fist onto the desk.

"If Oz had just listened to me from the start..."

"You need to get a grip," Jacques said in his usual cold voice.

"That's exactly what I'm doing," Ironwood replied. "Our people need protection. By this time next week, the Kingdom of Atlas will be officially closing its borders. No one in; no one out. Without the council's permission."

"You mean, without your permission?"

"And if that becomes the case, I would think you'd want to be on my good side."

Weiss heard Ironwood walking toward the door and used Myrtenaster to cast a black Glyph onto the handle. When Ironwood tried to leave, the handle turned but the door wouldn't open, despite him shaking it.

"It's locked."

"What are you talking about?"

Ironwood stepped back and slammed into the door, shoulder first. It still didn't budge. Weiss turned and quickly made her way down the hall across the carpet while a couple more bangs came from the door.