In Plain Sight

The first part of this journal has been ripped away with nothing more than a few fragments remaining. What remains is valueless save the initial entry which states the name Willow Schnee and a date.

Winter continues to perform wonderfully. I know the future of the family is looking brighter than ever and little Weiss is such a curious child.

Soon her instruction will need to begin, but last night’s hunt took a toll on me so I shall rest for now. 

I must research more what these Kuei-Jinn are as that was far too close for comfort and I don’t believe I would have lived had they not had to retreat due to -illegible writing mars this page-

From what little I can find these KJ are known as Eastern Vampires, but are more approximate to a spirit inhabiting a body.

They consume chi which appears to be a mix of blood and the life essence of a victim which might be why I’m still tired today and my wounds are healing slower than I’m used to, or perhaps I’m simply getting up there in age!

Regardless I’ve allowed Winter and Weiss a free day today and given them leave to have fun. Jacques is worried we’ll spoil them but I know he dotes on them as much as I do even if he’s sometimes a bit more strict than I’d like. 

I’ll need the day to recover. I believe I can perform normal activities well enough but there’s no way I could train Winter as she needs. 

Jacques has been acting strange lately. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but when he thinks no one is watching he makes the most queer faces. 

Perhaps he’s merely worried he’s forgotten our anniversary and is wracking his mind for a present!

Winter has slain her first abomination! The world is a safer place because of her. I’m just so proud of her. 

Granted, I had injured it to the point of death but I left the killing blow to her. 

It was hard but she persevered. When she was finished we took the body outside the manor from a passage down below and watched it turn to ash as the sun rose. 

She was brave and held in her tears, but I think watching it turn to ash helped her realize that it wasn’t truly human anymore. 

Perhaps a treat is in order. I’ll see if Klein can make her favorite lunch for her. 

I can only hope Weiss does as well when her time comes. I’m sure she will after all she’s - the writing ends here abruptly.

For the life of me I can’t understand what or where Jacques is most of the time. He’ll be missing and then - this line is scratched through thoroughly and can’t be read .

My research into the KJ has born some fruit in that I found out a few more interesting tidbits about them. They’re extremely untrustworthy and prideful but appear to be polite and honest and will even maintain the facade for a while before stabbing you in the back at your most vulnerable. 

They’re also exceedingly weak to the sunlight, but rot from the inside rather than burn. 

It also appears that since they’re closer to a spirit it takes an absurd amount of damage to the body to force the spirit out. 

Unlike vampires who can blend in KJ appear to have an easier time overall depending on how they’ve fed. 

I’m unsure if sufficiently powerful lights that replicate sunlight could work although it’s possible that light that bright might blind me which I doubt would help me in the long run. 

Weiss spoke of a friend she’s made recently. I can’t wait to meet them!

Being hunted. Chased. Something is stalking me when I go out at night. Always watching. None of the traps I set to deter them are disturbed but I know what I feel!

It doesn’t appear to follow me in public, or at home but merely out of sight when I go hunting. 

It is most distressing. I must make sure it’s not after my family. For now I’ll have to put off meeting Weiss’s friend and increase Winter’s training. Especially if - the rest of this entire page has been ripped out of the journal.

Splotches of blood dot this page rendering parts of it unreadable. 

Could never have imagin** **** ******* *as **volved. Never trust one. They had seemed so normal. Just a young one struck with a curse they didn’t want and wanted to do right. 

I should have killed her where she stood when she asked to help. They’re all monsters. Can’t trust any of them. 

T**t umbrella wielding bi***. Clean strike right through me from behind. I hope she enjoyed the parting gift of explosives I gave her. I doubt they’ll destroy the body but it should b**** ***e.

*** such a mistake. Will I be unable to make it home? My family. Winter. Jacques. Weiss. Father, have I failed you? Why does the memory of you vex me so? I can see you so clear** *** when I *** ** **cus the pain comes. 

I’m currently using one of my safe houses or rather one from one of my friends **********.

I lost consciousness for a brief period on the way. Upon waking up I felt even weaker, and almost on fire. 

I’ve called for Klein, but am unsure when or even if he can reach me. The bleeding is barely slowly down. I should be healing much faster than thi*. W** ** * no*?

I don’t know how long I’ve rested. I’ve gone in and out of sleep a few times. I believe I saw the sun, but if I went out like I am now I’d be arrested or taken to a hospital. Not something I can afford. 

Something tells me it’d be a much worse idea. Likely because my attackers, or stalker would have an easier time finding me. 

The bleeding is more under control, but I’m still not in good shape. I wish I had taken the recordings of my family with me to listen to…to give me strength. 

As much as I don’t wish to, and as safe as it is I will soon need to leave the safe house for supplies. I might be able to stretch it for another day or so, but it will not last beyond that. 

I’m still just so tired though, and rather tender around the middle. 

I can’t be sure, but I keep hearing things which is absurd. Nothing should be able to get into this safe house, or at least nothing I’m aware of. It’s been warded against the Fae, vampires, werewolves, and other common supernatural creatures, and yet…

I’ve taken a thorough look at my body and discovered no marks or bites which eases my mind and no curses or anything else that I could find.

I have another half day worth of supplies here. Soon I’ll need to head to the nearby town of -this section of the manuscript has been removed as if a pen was pressed too hard and went through the page. 

I am feeling somewhat better although still weak. No response from Klein means the message wasn’t likely received. 

I have some money. Enough to purchase supplies for a time. I might also send a postcard to my children. Just so they know I’m alright. 

I’d call but I can’t risk it being listened to. Whomever arranged for that ambush. That umbrella girl’s master. They knew all my strategies. The safe room is only safe because nothing can get in or out so I can’t make any real calls from it. 

The card will have to do. I’ll go after a quick nap. 

I made sure to go during the day when I know kj can’t truly be active. I purchased supplies for another week, and some first aid kits under the guise of stocking up. 

Thankfully since my wounds are no longer bleeding freely it wasn’t that noticeable

The card was sent, but I broke down and called from a payphone. No one answered but I did hear the cute message my daughters left on the machine. 

I didn’t want them to be in danger so I didn’t leave a message but their voices gave me strength. 

It was so bright in the market after being in the safe house and it’s artificial light that it hurt my eyes. I daresay the clothes I borrowed from their aren’t helping either as I felt a rash or some form of itching the entire time when I was shopping.

I felt that I was being watched the entire time at the market but it wasn’t malevolent, merely curious. I do not know what to make of it.   

The last few days have done a great deal to restore my strength to me, at least in body. In my mind is another story. 

Even though by all measures I am safe I could swear I hear things. Inside my mind, urging me to leave, to travel to some indistinct location. 

I do not like the thought of being in control of my own mind. Was this some sort of implanted suggestion from that damnable kj in case I survived? I don’t know what their abilities are, which doesn’t bode well for me.

I am the master of my mind. I refuse. 

Finally, I feel mostly recovered. Moving doesn’t seem to cause me any pain, and in fact my healing seems to have kicked in when I went to bed. 

The downside is I appear to have slept through most of the day, but if that’s what it took to get me back to full strength then it was worth it. 

I believe I’ve become sick or got an infection from my wounds. I can’t keep much food down anymore. 

I keep hearing a cacophony of voices in my head. Indistinct as a choir that somehow forms into a whisper I can understand. 

It’s telling me things, but I can’t believe them. 

Truly it must be joking. There’s no way it’s correct. 

I am the master of my own mind. 

I’m starting to become thirsty. 

I’ve somehow slept through most of the day again. This infection is taking a toll on me I didn’t expect. 

The scant books here don’t talk much about the dangers of the kj. There’s hardly any mention of them at all, and for all I know it’s merely a normal infection of a robust variety rather than a supernatural one.

My head has started to hurt when I try to recall my father more and more. Even some of my older memories are the same. 

I can remember the training. 

I’m so thirsty. 

I must have drank so much water and yet I’m still thirsty. I can’t keep food down.

The voices are becoming more insistent. 

I’m not insane though. Or am I? Am I insane if I know that I am? Has my accident or battle rather caused an adult onset case of psychosis? 

Klein hasn’t come yet. He must have been delayed, or my message never reached him…or has he been in league with them the entire time?

I must think carefully on this. 

The voices have counseled me. Klein likely has either not received the message or is dead. There’s no other explanation. 

I took a very short trip outside today. The voices warned me of the few I saw that were plotting against me. Thankfully it was only a few. It even seemed to like a few of them. 

I did try a noodle bowl. I forced myself to eat the entire thing. It tasted fine, but empty? I left even hungrier than when I entered. 

I had to be inside though. Being outside was becoming uncomfortable for me despite it being long after sundown. 

On the way back I briefly blacked out only to come to, inside the safe room taking a shower. 

I felt better for the first time in a while, and I’m finally not thirsty. 

Hopefully that means this infection is finally leaving me. 

I saw them! The voices warned me and they were right! If they were right about this then what else could they be right about?

Who can I trust? I can’t let anyone know about this. They’ll know I’m onto them. 

To think they hid it so well for so long. Well I can’t wait until I see -this portion of the page has been made illegible by scribbling that overlap until whatever design they might have once had is gone, and vanished inside a chaotic mess that has no discernible pattern or clues that can be gleaned from it. 

Still the voices counsel caution. They’re far more clever and powerful than first appearances would suggest. 

But who can I trust?

Klein if he lives. Winter, and Weiss certainly. Even the voices agree on those three. 

There’s more. When I slumber I can almost make out other figures, but I don’t believe I’ve ever met them before, but they’re trustworthy. 

There’s a few silhouettes. Half a dozen, maybe a dozen in total, but only a few that are significant to offer aid. 

Something is coming. Something horrible, but what?

I need a drink. 

Still as long as I can keep out of the reach of them I should do well. 

Wait, was that the safe room door? Did someone else arrive? Backup! If they can be trusted. 

-several drops of dried blood stain this page with no rhyme or reason

It was some monster trying to pretend to be *li**. I give them credit for the act though. I was almost convinced, but the voices knew! The plot was revealed to me. 

I took satisfaction in ending them as they tried to swear they had no idea what I was talking about. 

I even managed to accidentally in**** some of its foul ***od. Strangely enough it tasted very ***et. 

—--------------------------------------

-Bloody Hand prints stain large portions of this page

I KNEW IT! I’VE ALWAYS KNOWN! Deep down I’ve known. Just the ones from the visions. Yes, only them, but how to find them? I can’t leave anymore. They’re waiting for me to leave in order to strike. 

But how will I get supplies? I have the secret account, but will that be watched? So few I can trust. 

- blood renders the rest of the page unable to be read

If anyone reads this. I’ve entrusted it to the one the voices said was safe. 

I…I don’t know what to do anymore, what I’ve become, my family? 

Can someone help me? Jacques where are you? Klein? Winter? Weiss? Has no one come to look for me yet? How? 

I’m so thirsty.

Winter closed the journal with a frown as the rest of those present in the room the next night stared at a very uncomfortable looking Neo who was wildly signing to Penny protesting her innocence and the suddenly tense atmosphere that had descended over them as they’d encircled her part way through the journal.

Hazel and the rest had shown back up with the large man handing over the journal and the letter, the group somehow arriving before Beckett who they were expecting later today or tomorrow at the latest.

The letter was currently held by Cinder who looked to be on the verge of ripping it apart and was glaring at the mute although she was holding back Winter while Velvet and Ruby were talking lowly to Weiss who was struggling to escape Velvet’s arms. 

“Start talking,” Cinder commanded as she put the letter on her desk. 

Neo took a deep breath and began signing to Penny in a slow deliberate manner.