Ebony reporting in with Higher Ups Part II. It is rather short but it is a needed chapter. I decided to upload this chapter a little faster since I got some more favorites and follows. You guys really should review more! You have no idea how happy a review makes me. Well, I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Higher Ups
Part II

"Sure, I can get a little bit jealous. The good part about jealousy is that it comes from passion. It's also the dangerous part and it's an ugly emotion that hurts."

~Matthew McConaughey

"Sir, Lady Cinder demands that you go see here immediately."

Lady Cinder? Is that what the bitch had the animals calling her now?

"Of course she does." Roman mumbled, rolling his eyes. He grabbed his cane and spun on his heel so he could face the faunus that was talking to him. "Is there anything else?" he flicked his cigar at the faunus. "Or are you just standing there to waste my time?"

The faunus quickly straightened and cleared his throat. "N-no, sir." The male faunus quickly scurried away, nearly tripping over his own two feet.

Roman took one last puff of his cigar before dropping it on the ground and crushing it. Someone would clean up the mess later.

Now to face her majesty, Roman chuckled as he walked to Cinder's chambers.

Once he arrived at the door he knocked. He made it a point to always knock - he didn't want a repeat of what happened the last time he came in without knocking. His brain was scared with the image of naked Cinder and the faunus between her legs. He shuddered. He most definitely didn't want to repeat that experience.

"Enter." Cinder's calm and seductive voice entered.

Roman opened the door, quietly shutting it behind him once he had stepped in the room. "You wanted to see me?"

Cinders chambers were mostly empty. The only thing the dimly lit room contained was a king sized bed in the center with two nightstands on either side. Off to the side there was a desk but it was bare of anything.

What everyone loved about Cinder's room was her bed. It was the most extravagant piece of furniture most of the mutts would ever see in their entire life. The alabaster sheets stood out from the thick and irresistibly soft red comforter. The pillows were made of silk and had her symbol sewn on the center. There were also thick, dark red curtains that could be pulled around the bed to allow for more privacy.

"Yes, I did Roman." Cinder was sitting on the edge of her bed, legs crossed.

Roman couldn't resist rolling his eyes. He hated when she tried to act coy with him. "Shouldn't you be at Beacon? Won't people get suspicious if they never see you?"

"I have it under control, Roman. Mercury and Emerald are telling anyone who asks that I am sick and need bed rest."

"I see." Roman drummed his fingers on his cane. "Did you call me in here just for that? I really could care less what the twerps are doing at school, believe it or not. If that's all I'll just be going." He turned to leave.

"Wait." Cinder stood and slowly approached him, heels clinking on the hard wood floor. She forcefully turned him around and caressed his cheek.

Roman did his best not to cringe at her touch.

"Roman, dear, did I say you could leave?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Tch. It didn't seem you needed me any longer so I thought I would go do something productive."

"Did I say you could leave?" she asked again. There was an intense fire in her eyes that forced Roman to look away.

He cleared his throat. "No."

"I didn't think so." she removed her hand and backed away from him. "I just thought I'd make you aware of our next plans. Here I thought you'd be grateful that I was including you more."

Roman held back an annoyed growl and started to grind his teeth together. "Of course. What are your next plans?"

"It seems as though the leader of Team RWBY has awoken. Emerald has also informed me that they are under a sort of 'house arrest' for disobeying Ozpin. Ruby Rose is their leader and I believe she is the same girl always ruining your plans. I have ordered Mercury to befriend her and gain her trust - to become a love interest of sorts - and then dispose of her." A cruel smile formed on Cinders lips.

Roman's body stiffened slightly but he kept his face neutral.

She didn't seem to notice Roman's discomfort and continued, "And I decided that I would give you the honor of deciding who got to dispose of the brat."

Had Roman been drinking something he would have spewed it all over the place. Cinder was honestly planning on killing Red. Shouldn't this be a good thing, though? Shouldn't he be happy that he was finally going to get rid of that annoying thorn in his side? Why did this just make him want to throw up?

Cinder smirked and turned away from him. "Think about it. You still have time to make the decision." Before she reached her bed she turned her head to look back at him and said, "Oh, you are excused now, Roman."

Roman didn't need to be told twice - he left without hesitation. Once he was out he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and started marching straight to the training room to try and relieve some stress.

On his way there he thought about the two things that didn't settle well him. The first thing was Mercury. Why was that little twerp getting to be her love interest? He was nothing but a player! There was no way he could act genuinely interested in such an innocent girl like Ruby - no one would believe him! Perhaps that was a good thing.

The second thing bothering him was the thought of having to decide who would... dispose of Ruby. Maybe killing her at the warehouse would have been a mercy kill. There was no way Cinder would just let anyone murder the poor girl without having some fun of her own. Why did he care though? It wouldn't be the first time Cinder had tortured someone. It wouldn't be the first death he was responsible for either. In fact, this should be something he was celebrating. The annoying girl in red would no longer be a problem for him. Maybe killing her would be good for him. She was obviously getting inside his head and making him question his own morals.

Killing her was going to be a good thing, he decided. He could finally move on with the plans Cinder had given him without worrying about the stupid girl showing up.

If killing her was such a good thing, though, why did he feel nauseous?

Tch. I need a cigar.

Salutations! This concludes Higher Ups Part II. It's not the most interesting chapter and the ending is kind of eh, but it was a needed chapter. Here we can see Roman is having some conflict with his emotions and Cinder has set in motion some more plans. Does that mean we get some Mercury/Ruby moments? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Also, I know this summary says this is Rosewick and Ruby and Roman have had little interaction. Please be patient. It won't be too much longer until they have another run in. But you have to realize they are enemies. They have to work through some complicated things before they can get together.

Onto reviews. I usually try to thank everyone through a PM but my inbox is cluttered right now so I'll respond here:

Sainity Sanna: It's so good to meet someone else who is Rosewick trash! Finding a good Rosewick story can be hard since it's so small. I recommend Still Dreaming by The Jashinist and Peeves if you haven't already read it. I also really like Fallen Rosepetals by BAYBAY841. Both are extremely good and well written. I hope my story can live up to your expectations.

Kassie: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

cipher111996: Haha, I'm glad you find it interesting and intriguing. I'm trying to keep it from being boring, though I do have to set some things up for plot reasons.