The Nether was a charming place, if you considered corpse like trees and a persistent ominous ankle high mist as charming features. Jaune was not enthused to be in the place, he considered looked like a goth's wet dream. Yet here he was. He had not yet heard back from Laura about the chance of any bite victims being out and about in the re-populating city. But he wasn't going to take the chance of not being prepared.

Neo had lucked out in her an Amber's scout of the ruins beyond the newly arising defensive wall. It had been a looted Dust Store. The interments and apparatus used in mixing dust was identical to what Jaune's primer into alchemy listed. Mortar and pestle, various sized beakers, and even a bunsen burner. It was in short a miracle they had found the items; let alone intact.

So here he was in another realm, curtesy of some assistance from Index. In his right hand he had his alchemy book open to the ingredient list, with helpful pictures. His left was currently busy pulling up grave weed from around the roots of a very dead looking thorn bush. He was lucky that the salve he was going to attempt had very few other worldly reagents. The grave weed being the most prolific and abundant. The second was less so; Blood Thorn. That item would take some searching for.

Following Index's advice Jaune stayed on the broken cobblestone path. He had no idea who had build the decaying path; and part of him was loath to meet them if they still existed upon this plane. This was a place of death. A transit point between the natural world and the rewards of an afterlife. In the distance he could catch glimpses of of ghostly forms. he hazarded a guess that it was those who had yet to accept their passing. Unable to move on they wandered this realm, and oft times the natural world as well.

Being a realm of death and decay he was well aware, even without Index's warnings that this was the home to the Shade, the shadow, the will 'o wisp, and similar beings that would and did prey on the souls of the departed. He gave a silent wish each time he spotted a translucent humanoid form in the distances that they would find their peace and move on before the predators of this world took notice of them.

Onward Jaune travelled. His eyes searching for the next item on his list, and a few additional things Index had impressed on him to gather. In his gathering of the Grave Weed he had found a few deathless caps; a useful mushroom like growth, in addition to a grave weed seed pod. His studies had told him several of the other realm reagents could be cultivated in the natural world, and his had decided to give it a try. Anything to prevent him having to make multiple trips into these desolate, and disturbing places.

The minutes dragged on as he continued his search along the damaged path. It felt like he had been exposed to this place for hours when he finally found his target, and some unwelcoming residents. The twisted humanoid like shadow hissed at his presence and appeared to take an aggressive stance. Dropping his book Jaune rushed to unholster his rune caster. Even in this realm, unlike some others; his talismans would works, as would his spells if he attempted to incant them.

The shadow moved forward, passing through the blood thorn bush as it it wasn't there. Jaune levelled his weapon. A single shot was all it took to cause the beast to dissolve away; leaving Jaune free to harvest from the thorn covered bush. Sucking on his injured fingers every few seconds as he pulled the wilted leave covered branches free; he considered his next actions. Of course he would have to follow the path back to the portal, but after that he needed to make a choice. Working on the cure; in case it was needed; or check out the family Laura had asked him to help.

Picking up the dropped book, he stuffed the well worn volume into his jacket pocket. Turning around and heading back the way he came he considered his options. It had been a few days since his and Laura's meeting; and still no word back about if there had been any bite victims. It could mean a couple things, one that there are no bites, or two no one has reported any bites. Though if he added in that lack of similar 'Zombie People' reports on the news, chances are they dodged an epidemic bullet. On the other hand that family she had spoken of needed help now. They were in trouble, and by how Laura talked it sounded like he was their only recourse.

By the time he reached the portal he had made up his mind. he would organize the ingredients, and then move on to see that family. Maybe he could get Neo to come along; seeing as all she was doing currently was sitting in the largest room; the one she claimed when buying the homes, practicing her spirit orb manipulation. If she did accompany him, at least he'd have someone there he could count on to step in and help if things went too far south. Though the chances were pretty even that she would just end up being there for nothing.

/=/

Neo was doing exactly what Jaune had thought. She was seated cross legged in her chosen room; a set of five spirit orbs slowly rotating above and around he head while in her outstretched left palm she was attempting to summon a sixth. Open on the floor beside her was the book Index had instructed her to study, and a furniture catalogue.

While the couch was loads more comfortable to sleep on than the floor; she was in the mood for an actual bed. As she continued to practice her mind wandered. She was puzzled at this new feeling she had. It appeared not long after her purchase. It was almost as if she was content or happy about it. It had cost tens of thousands of lien to do, yet she felt good. She had owned things before, many things, expensive things; but she had taken those; this was the first real time she had purchased something. The first time she had actually owned something. The house was her's; and yes she was sharing it with Jaune; but still it was her house. She hadn't stolen it, she had bought it.

Ceasing her practice, she turned her attention to the catalogue. Furniture was still a commodity that had not filtered through with the return of regular cargo shipments. Yet it did not stop her from browsing. She wanted to own more things, she had the funds. Lucky as it was that the banks had backed up everything at the onset of the attack; or she would have lost more money than she was prepared to consider. With that aside she wanted to own more, she was even willing to let Jaune pick out somethings; maybe even Amber.

She thought back to the office that had been their home for the last many weeks. She missed her couch, but knew it would be impossible for her to transport it here. The smaller supplies she was able to carry, and for some reason people only needed to touch her in order to be affected by her teleport. Inanimate objects however needed more than a simple touch, she need to be carrying them. It made no sense to her, it was just how things where. So that left her, and Jaune sleeping on the floors of their respective rooms.

Pulling out her scroll she checked her account balance. It was amazing what bank managers would do to have large sums of money kept in their institutions. She had a couple of accounts, with more than she was willing to let Jaune know about; and not one of the managers of those banks had asked a simple question or batted an eye when she made her first deposit. Of course Roman had laundered the money for her. She still didn't understand how that worked, but it had. She was certain that if she wanted to she wouldn't need to do anything ever again in her lifetime in regards to earning lien.

Yet maybe it was her nearly constant exposure to the blonde goofball? She was set for life, but a part of her still wanted to do something. To be of use. To master her new abilities. In the case of her abilities if that required her helping Jaune, to help others she saw no fault in that. As long as she was near him, she would grow in her understanding of their strange new world. She would grow stronger; stronger than she could have ever been while working with Roman.

Her thoughts faltered when she thought of him. He was, or rather had been very important to her. He still was in a way. few are the days when something didn't reminder her of him, and the adventures and schemes they had shared. It had taken sometime, and even now she would think back and feel the anger at Red and Cinder for taking him from her; but those emotions felt hollow. She missed Roman, but he was gone, moved on as Jaune would say; or at least she hoped he had. She shivered thinking of one of those things getting hold of his astral form, no she shook the thought from her head. Even in passing Roman would never have let something like that get ahold of him.

Below her she heard the scuffing of boots about concrete. Jaune had returned from his little trip. Rising she picked up her book and placed it upon the small pile of her personal affects in the corner of her room. Returning to the centre of the room she picked up her catalogue. Rolling it up and stuffing it under her left arm she walked out of the room and downstairs to the basement to see what Jaune had accomplished.

/=/

Laura was frustrated. She always got that way when dealing with paperwork, and this time was no exception. She must have read through at least a dozen other reports from officers who had been at the incident, and those that had been sent out to patrol right afterwards. There was the standard report, then eye witness notes, and transcripts. In short she was trying to sift through a mountain of paperwork; all the while wishing that the VPD reporting system was back up and running.

At least so far, throughout all of her searching there were no reports of bite victims. That was good news; at least if what Jaune had said was the complete truth. She had little reason to doubt him, and chided herself for doing so now. The kid had been upfront with her, at least once she impressed on him that she knew him from the park. incident; but after that if she asked he answered. She even doubted if the poor boy could even lie to save his own life.

Setting aside another report she sighed. And looked down; a smile crossed her weary features. One final report and she was done with this needle in a haystack search. She stopped from opening the manila coloured folder, with a slight hitch in her breath. Murphy's Law; she thought. If there was a bite it would be in the last place she looked, or in this case the last report she would read. Taking a steadying breath she opened it and started to read.

It was a simple and quick report, only a couple pages of the standard VPD report form. Apparently this officer had been sent to check out the reopening hospital and local doctors; just incase there had been injuries caused by the 'Zombie Man' prior to his altercation with the police.

"Nothing." she sighed. "Nothing is good."

/=/

Jaune was in the middle of organizing things in the new workroom while Neo watched from her seat on the stairs; when his scroll chimed signalling a received text message. Stopping, he pulled it out of his pocket and thumbed the app to open it.

"No bites." He read aloud for Neo's sake, as she from her seat wouldn't be able to read it over his shoulder. "That's good."

His fingers tapped over the on screen keyboard like someone who was never comfortable with the less tactile feel of a screen to an actual keyboard. Sending his reply he looked up and nodded to Neo.

"One last thing to worry about."

"So what now?"

"We go and check out that family she asked me to help."

"We?"

"Yeah, I figured you'd want to come along. Maybe help?"

"You're the one who knows about that stuff; I don't." she replied, "How would I be of any help?"

"I don't know."

"Then why should I come along. Take Amber."

"I can't take Amber, she's not someone who should be seen by everyone."

"If they could even see her."

"Ah, maybe; but I don't want to risk it."

"So what would I do?"

"I don't know." He replied, "I don't even know at this point if we would be of any help."

"So it could be a wasted trip."

"Possibly."

"Nope. Think I'll stay home." Neo smiled as she said that. Stay home, in her home. She liked the sound of that.

"You sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay than." He responded his tone sounding a little down. "Guess just me then."

"Take Amber."

"I don't want anyone seeing her."

"She can hide."

"I know she can, but that is not the point."

"Yes it is. She can hide, and she could help if it gets out of hand." Neo countered before continuing, "Besides if it's nothing she can keep you company there and back."

"She could, but it would be safer . . ."

"Safer?"

"What do you think she would do, IF it looked like I was in trouble?"

"Use her powers."

"Right. Her powers . . ."

"Only works if she's outside, at least the lightning part."

"She is better off here . . . Where is she?"

"Around somewhere, I would guess."

/=/

Amber was beside herself with the speed and height she was flying at. All this time she had been hanging close to Jaune, her creator, and in some respects her master; but right now she was enjoying the freedom of the wide open sky. She had been hanging around the new base, but grew tired of the closed up rooms, and chasing the few flies that were inside.

Her stomach grumbled signalling to her that she had missed a feeding, but she ignored it. She was having too much fun buzzing past the birds, and the odd small Nevermore. She stalled in mid flight and wheeled around. Nevermore, that's a grimm; she didn't like grimm, or at least that was the thought that rocketed through her head. She hovered for a few moments trying to catch sight of the target of her anger.

She allowed her fingers to morph, becoming a set of razor thin blade like claws as she searched for her quarry. She didn't fully understand why this feeling of absolute rage was welling up inside her. She just needed to release it. Spotting the small grimm bird she pushed with her wings and blitzed her way towards it. There was no sound aside from the buzz of her wings as she ripped through the air like a bullet. A grimm seeking bullet.

The creature of the dark didn't even notice her approach until it was too late. She flashed past it, slicing clean through its right wing; sending it into a death spiral to the ground. She stopped and hovered in the air to watch as the creature of children's nightmares impacted the ground far below and dissolved into that fine black mist all slain grimm become.

The feeling slowly abated and Amber turned her attention inward. She was puzzled; as this feeling of absolute rage had never taken before. Not even when Jaune had faced off against that geist. She had been calm and collected, but now just by flying past a single grimm, a tiny one in comparison to what her memories told her; she had been incited to almost a berserker level of anger. It made not sense, and the more she tried to figure it out, the more confused about it she became.

Another grumble of her stomach and she let the thoughts wander away. She was hungry, and getting hungrier. Turning she flitted off at a lazy pace towards their new home. She needed to feed, and the best food was always Jaune's blood. At least in her opinion it was.

/=/

Amber arrived home just as Jaune was finishing up his discussion with Neo. Jaune had been packing at the same time, stuffing his satchel with the exorcism book, the ring of sigils and a couple other odds and ends Index had supplied him after his discussion with her about his encounter with a the rage demon.

"I'll head out in the morning." Jaune informed the pair as Amber landed on Neo's left shoulder. "Think I'll be gone a couple hours, less if there's nothing I can help with."

"Hungry." Was Amber's addition to the conversation.

"Here." Jaune held up his finger and Amber quickly moved to his shoulder to drink her fill of his blood. Jaune hissed as she bit him, and followed it with a sigh while wondering if he'd ever get used to that part of their feeding ritual.

"And what if they do need your help?"

"I doubt it. Chances of there being two instances of attempted possession I would think are few to none."

"What did Index say about it?"

"Just to go prepared."

"Are you?"

"As far as I can tell."

"So if they need your help? If it is a possession?"

"Then I'll let you know." He replied before adding, "It would be better if you did come along. Might learn something."

"We already discussed this. Not interested. Take Amber."

"Don't want to." She responded before being asked, or Jaune could even reply.

"Okay. Guess I'm solo this time."

/=/

The home he was to visit was a few kilometres from the house that Neo had purchased for them. As he approached he took note on how on the outside it appeared to be almost identical to their home; actually aside from the colour it was the same. Walking up to the front door he knocked. He heard someone approach and stepped back as the door was opened up just enough for the individual he heard approach to look out at him.

"Hi, my name is Jaune."

"What do you want?" The voice was husky, and deep.

"I was sent to see if I can help."

"Sent?"

"Yes. Laura?"

"The police officer?"

"Yes."

The door closed, and Jaune could hear the door chain being worked. A moment later the door swung open enough for him to enter. The individual standing just behind the door.

"Come in."

"Thank you." Jaune responded as he stepped forward and over the threshold. As soon as he was inside the door was shut and the locks set. Jaune didn't turn around, or even look around, he just stood there and waited. He would let the person who opened the door direct the meeting.

"The name is Jacob." The man said as he stepped into Jaune's view. He was shorter than Jaune but only by a hand. His hair was grey and he appeared to not have shaved in several days. His eyes bore a exhausted look. "Follow me."

Jaune just nodded and fell in step behind the man as he lead him towards the back bedroom. As he walked through the house Jaune took a quick glance around. The place was furnished. It even had pictures decorating the walls. Jaune figured Jacob and his family must be the original owners of the property. By the looks of it, they might not have even left like so many other had in the days following the fall. returning his attention to Jacob, Jaune stopped as the man paused outside the back bedroom.

"He's inside here." Jacob informed him, "His mother is with him."

"What's his name?"

"Samuel."

"Alright." Jaune spoke his hand reaching into his satchel for the ring of sigils. "Let's see if there is anything I can do."

"I hope so, we're at our wits end. Doctors can't find anything wrong, but we know he's not himself. Something is wrong with my son."

Jaune just nodded as Jacob opened the door and then stepped aside to allow Jaune to enter. The room was cold, too cold. Jaune could see his breath in the air, and he wondered why the temperature difference was only in this room. Inside he found a grey haired homely looking woman. She was kneeling as if to pray. A black shawl draped over her head and shoulders. The symbol fo the brother of light clasped in her hands. Jaune said nothing and took the time to take in the rest of the room.

Samuel was seated, in fact he was bound to the sturdy looking wooden arm chair; a cruel grin decorating his cracked lips. Jaune moved forward pulling out the ring. As he got closer he could smell the young man. There was a sickly sweet odour detectable under the smell of sweat and deification. Watching the young man as he closed Jaune could almost swear he saw what could only be described as madness in his eyes. The young man said nothing an only let his grin deepen as he watched Jaune approach.

Getting with in almost arms reach the stench was more pronounced as was the temperature difference. Samuel had obviously been restrained for several hours possible even a day; or at least Jaune assumed that upon seeing the abraded skin on his wrists. His parents must have been terrified to do this to their son.

Turning slightly Jaune cast a sideways glance to the young man's mother who had not moved from her position. Her eyes were closed, and her lips moving; speaking silent words. Jaune had hoped this was all going to be for nothing, but now he knew he was here to help. The situation was different enough for him to toss out the idle thought that it was another rage demon. The smells, and localized cold told him this was something different. Different enough that he doubted the mirror tactic would work.

Lifting up the ring of sigils he began to go through them one by one, allowing the light from the hallway to cast a shadow upon Samuel's forehead. Half way through the ring he received a response by way of a pained hiss from the young man. Looking at the symbol Jaune was unfamiliar enough with it, to not want to hazard a guess as to what was inhabiting the young man. Stepping back he kept the sigil isolated and his eyes on the now glaring, and snarling man.

"Can you . . ."

"Help?" Jaune responded, "I might be able to but I need to check something first."

"You're leaving?"

"No, I brought what I need. Ask you wife to leave the room and lock the door." Jaune replied as he finished backing out and headed down the hallway towards the kitchen dining area. Pulling out the small black book Index had given him he began to search. Unlike his codex this tome did not open to what you sought; you actually had to look through the pages to find information. With the sigil laid on the table before him, he flipped through the pages attempting to match it to an entry in the book.

Behind him her heard the door close and lock click. Lifting his head he saw Jacob escorting the woman to the second bedroom. They were talking but too low for him to overhear. returning to his search he flipped page after page until he found the entry.

"Decay." Jaune spoke to himself as he digested the words below the image of the sigil he had used. "As the entity takes more and more control the host begins to waste away, and upon the moment of complete possession dies. Dependant upon the original health of the victim this period of consumption can take days to months."

Jaune flipped the page looking for the best method to remove the other worldly being from Samuel's body.

"Once dead the entity causes the body of the host to further rot in a rapid fashion until nothing remains but skin covered bones. At this point the entity will vacate the host, using the body as an anchor to remain in our realm until it finds another suitable person to possess." Jaune flipped the page to the next, "The requirements that allow for possession are unknown but may have something to do with a weakness in the immune system, as it appears this being prefers to attached itself to those who are already sick in some serious fashion. This theory, as there are document cases of the being inhabiting perfectly healthy individuals."

Jaune rubbed his face as he continued to read aloud to himself looking for an answer. He was needed here. Behind him he could hear Jacob approach, as he turned to silently read the potential signs of infestation by the entity. Most matched what Jaune had just witnessed. From the room a low stomach turning laugh, followed by rapidly spoken gibberish that felt foul to their ears.

"I need to cleanse him." Jaune spoke up finally having found what he had been looking for.

"Cleanse?"

"I need to immerse him in clean water." Jaune turned to Jacob. "In fact I have to hold him under water to wash away the filth of this think trying to take him over."

"Under water?"

"Your tube." Jaune's mind was whirling with possible ways to accomplish his goal, "Fill it with water, now, quickly."

"The tub?"

"Yes the tub. Please?"

"If . . . If you are sure it will help."

"It will I promise you."

Jacob walked off and a few second later Jaune could hear the water running. Now he needed to figure out how to do what the book was telling him. There was no way he was going to risk untying the young man. He had seen the fear in Jacob's eyes, and guessed the look would have been the same with Samuel's mother. So the restraints had to remain, but the book said complete immersion, so that meant his whole body.

"The shower." Jaune spoke aloud again to himself, "I'll hold him under and run the shower to cover any parts that remained above the surface." Jaune's hands began to shake. He would have to hold Samuel under the water, possibly drowning him while his father watched. "I'll have to get him out of the room."

Picking up the sigil Jaune made his way to the bathroom to find Jacob was in fact filling the tub with water. Testing it, jaune was impressed that the man had thought of making it warm. At least Samuel wont be thrashing about because of ice water, Jaune thought.

"I'll need to to help me bring him in here, and then you'll need to leave."

"No."

"No, to what part?"

"No, I'm not leaving. I'll stay."

"I can't do this while you're in here with me." Jaune tried to sound reassuring, "This will be disturbing, and I need to know you wont interrupt what I need to do. I'm going to save your son, but I have to do it alone."

Jaune was at this point wishing Neo had accompanied him. He could have used her help; as he watched Samuel's father cross his arms.

"No, I'm going to watch. I'm going to help, this is MY son."

"Listen," Jaune was getting desperate, "I NEED to hold him under the water until this thing leaves his body. Do you understand that?"

"Under?"

"Yes, under the water."

"You'll drown him!"

"No, I wont, but he'll act like I am."

"How can you be sure you wont?"

"I'm sure, I've done this before." Jaune lied, his heart thumping in his chest, "I need to be alone so you don't over react. So you don't interfere."

"I don't . . ."

"I know you don't like it. I don't like doing this, but it has to be this way. Please believe me, please understand I want to help, not hurt your son."

"I want to stay."

"I know you do, but I can't do it with you in here with me."

/=/

Samuel thrashed and attempted to wrench his arms free of his bonds while Jaune held him under the water's surface. The decay sigil firmly pressed into his chest. Water from the shower cascaded over his back and neck as the young man thrashed and strained. He was leaning his full weight upon the young man while behind him the bathroom door shock under the assault of Jacob, as he tried to break his way through the solid wooden door.

Jaune had shoved the gentleman backwards after he had helped him place the chair into the water filled tub. Slamming and locking the door Jaune did what he needed to do. This was disturbing to himself, let alone anyone who could have been watching; especially someone who loved the young man. Jaune watched with panic rising as the man's struggles grew weaker. As his mouth opened and he gulped water. Samuel was drowning, and it was Jaune who was causing it.

The wall clock in the bathroom ticked and could see a sickly green film flow from the young man's eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Jaune's eye widened as the splashing water hung in the air. Everything stopped as if someone had hit pause on the scene. The second stretched on; and Jaune was sure he was the only one to notice. Suddenly the clock ticked, the water fell and with a shallow thump the tub burst apart in large chunks.

Jaune was knocked aside, his hold on Samuel broken as the water and green film sloshed all about the floor. It was then the door burst open and the enraged form of Jacob started to step through. With the remains of the chair scattered about him Samuel gasped, sputtered and coughed, more of the green film splashing out onto the water covered floor. Jacob stopped mid step his eyes wide at the chaos filling the small room.

"Return from whence you came!" Jaune shouted as he drove the sigil down into the collecting pool of green syrup like filth.

As Samuel continued to gag and cough, Jacob stood and stared wide eyed as the mass that Jaune attacked hissed, bubbled and frothed. A second of two later it ended. The green mess bleaching to white and breaking apart in the water as if flowed towards the snapped off tub drain. Samuel's fit lessened and Jacob ignoring Jaune moved to his son's side.