In the Shadows

Blake's peered through night, keeping her eyes and ears open for any sign of the chameleon. Unfortunately, that was hard enough for a normal person, and when it came to Ilia…

"Blake." Speak of the devil. Blake glanced up as Ilia approached form the shadows, hands up, drawing as the cat drew weapon.

"Why did you call me out here?" Blake demanded. Ilia stared at the ground for a time, as her teeth clenched.

"I'm sorry." That confused the cat for a time, before she heard a sound in the darkness, and knew what that meant.

"Are you?" was all she said, before Blake was suddenly tackled by three different people, including a bat and a spider. She recognized them from the White Fang as Yuma and Trifa. Blake was knocked to the ground, dropping Gambol Shroud in the process; before she could recover, she was caught in Trifa's web, trapping her.

"Not bad, Sister Ilia," Yuma said, tossing Ilia Lighting Lash.

"Ilia!" Blake snapped, "What're you doing? This won't get you anywhere! This won't get anyone anywhere!"

"That's where you're wrong," Ilia answered.

"My father won't stand for this! Neither will the Council of Elders." Ilia sucked in her breath, a she briefly turned a light blue, before she exhaled slightly.

"The Council won't be an issue after tonight," she finally said. A chill ran down Blake's spine upon hearing that.

"Ilia…," she said, "You're not…"

"I'm doing what has to be done!" Ilia snapped, as she turned bright red, "There are two kinds of humans: those who hate us, and those who stand by and let them hurt us. You know what stops them? Hurting them back, that's what. I don't like doing it…" She turned away slightly.

"I really don't," she said, as tears started to pool in her eyes, "I don't like the fact that there are children out there who don't have their parents because of me. But it's gotten us results."

"Indeed," Blake said, narrowing his eyes, "And then what?"

"What?"

"And then what?" Blake repeated, "Where does this all stop for you? When the all the humans are our slaves, or when they're all dead? Will you be satisfied then?" Ilia's teeth clenched, her grip on her weapon tightened, and she started to shake ever so slightly.

"I won't let that happen," she said, "When it's done, I'll find human children who've lost their parents. I'll raise them, protect them, teach them a better way…" Blake could see it in her eyes, Ilia was just trying to convince herself. Blake had seen that look before, albeit much closer to home.

"But it doesn't matter in the end," Ilia then said, "What I'm doing is for the good of the Faunus!"

"And killing me is for the good of the Faunus?"

"No, you're going to Mistral, to join up with Adam" the chameleon answered, shaking her head slightly, "But as for your family…." Those words hit Blake like a bag of bricks.

"No," she whispered, "No! No! You can't do this! This isn't you!"

"Yes it is!" Ilia snapped, "You just never bothered to really notice! You spent all that time fawning over Adam! I…." That was when she turned a shade pink.

"There was a time I wished you'd look at me the way you did to him," she then said. Blake blinked in surprise, before she looked down. Now that she mentioned it, it was somewhat of a surprise she hadn't noticed it earlier.

"But too bad things aren't always that easy," she said, glaring at Blake, "Yuma, let's go! You two, get her to the docks." As Yuma took the air, and Ilia returned to the shadows, the other two tried to haul Blake to her feet.

"Let's go, traitor!" Trifa ordered, but Blake wasn't paying attention. She had only one thought in her mind: save her family. With that, the magic flowed through her body for the first time in months, as her Aura began to build.

"What the…," Trifa tried to say, before there a burst of black energy, which knocked both the assailants away and through a building or two; as the dust faded, it showed her arms had turned into wings. She opened her eyes, which had turned from felid to reptilian. Using the hands on her wing elbows, she then pulled out her scroll.

"Sun!" she said into it, "Meet me back at my place immediately!" Not bothering to wait for his response, she hung up, opened her wings, and took to the air; sh would've tried and call her parents, but had a suspicion that it was too late. Darkness watched as she did; if he had a mouth, he would've been smiling at her.

(in the chambers of the Council of Elders)

Slate paced through the halls of the Council, as he waited; waited for confirmation that it was done. It had been ten minutes since he met the girl, and she hadn't come back. He was now standing outside the door to the Council's inner chamber. He had to be careful to avoid stepping in the blood of the guards who framed the doors.

Finally, he heard a knock, and entered the room, which was a large round area with a fire pit in the center surrounded by chairs and sofas, and was greeted by quite the sight. Four out of five of the Elders were lying sprawled on the floor, beside their pooling blood. And yet, no signs of a struggle, like the assassin had just walked in and cut them all down without issue. Sitting on the arm of one of the chairs, spinning one of her hair pins through her fingers was Bai Suzhen, with her dress somehow completely devoid of blood.

"Mhmm. My, my," Slate said as he overlooked her handiwork, "You truly are effective."

"I told them, they'd never see me coming," Bai said, "One got away, though. The old tortoise."

"No matter, was a crippled old fool, no threat to us. Will inform Corsac and Fennec of your actions," Slate said, "They will be quite pleased."

"So what do you plan on doing when this is all done?" Bai inquired, as she stuck her pin back in her hair, and rose to her feet, "You plan on making yourself the Chieftain?"

"Chieftain?" Slate answered, "Oh no, no, will continue service for Lord Taurus. Let him choose new chieftain himself. Am only interested in well being of Faunus. Lord Taurus is…"

"Stow it," Bai interrupted.

"Mhmm?"

"First off, I couldn't care less about the Faunus; they made it clear they couldn't care less about me. Second, I've been around enough people like you to see through this charade. So I'll ask again, what now?" For a moment, Slate was silent, before he straightened up slightly, as his smile turned much colder.

"Only ever interested in power, never in ruling," he said, "Power does not come from ruling, comes from favor with those who rule. People like those in the White Fang short-sighted, blinded by hate, makes easy to predict, easy to manipulate. Will let him become a king if he wants, while I continue to serve him. That is true way to true power." Bai arched her eyebrow as her tail swished as she stood up.

"You know you may be wasted on a madman like him," she said, "What if I told you there was a woman who could get far broader use out of your talents than hardheads like Taurus."

"Grateful, yes, but must decline," Slate answered, "Am right where need to be."

"Suit yourself," Bai said, as she walked past Slate, "Now, if you don't mind, that was only part one." Slate watched her pass, before he walked over and pulled Orrin off his seat.

"Hmmm, could get used to this," Slate mused as he settled into the chair, and pulled out his Scroll. It didn't take long for Fennec's face to appear on it.

"It's done," Slate declared.

"Very good," the fox said, "It is a shame it had come to this. You will receive new instructions soon."

"Ready and eager," the vulture answered, with a smile, "Always glad to serve cause."

(on the outskirts of Mistral)

"I'm surprised she actually made an effort regarding this," Cornell said, as he rolled his shoulders, stretching his membrane, "I was starting to think the Chancellor had her completely under control."

"I'm not," Roy said, as he leaned on a tree, "Sooner or later kids rebel."

"Just wish it could've been another day," Cherry said, "I hate working this late." Four out of the five Imperial Guard were standing in the forests not far from Mistral. Surrounding them were the bodies of the four huntsmen Lin had requested, and everyone one of them was dead.

"The brat should've listened to Lionheart," Cherry said, as he made sure one of his victims was actually dead, "Could've saved us a bunch of trouble."

"Don't act like you didn't enjoy this," Cornell said, as she leaned back on a nearby rock

"Yeah," Cherry admitting, with a sigh, "I did."

"It's done," Carmine said, as she stood off to the side, speaking into her Scroll.

"Very good," Watts said, "A shame that it came to this. I really believed that Leonardo would be able to keep the girl under control."

"The brat's starting to grow a spine," Carmine said with a scowl as she and the others came around the raptor.

"Typical humans," Roy said, rolling his eyes, "Brief spurts of bravery spliced into intervals of consistent cowardice."

"Oh please," Watts said, rolling his eyes, "It's always the same with you Faunus."

"Well maybe if you humans would take the damn hint….," Carmine said.

"Irregardless, you will have what you want," Watts said, "But there is another matter, it concerns the Empress."

"The brat?" Cornell asked, "You said you were arranging her death? She's still alive."

"A failure that is being dealt with, be assured," Watts answered, "So, if I may, would you be willing to do it yourselves?" The group exchanged glances.

"You have no idea how long we've been waiting for an offer like that," Carmine said, her lips curving into a smile. Watts then nodded, as he cut the link.

"What about Rowan?" Cherry asked.

"Rowan is a Faunus first, and a guardsman second," Cornell answered, "He will stand with us in the time."

"And if he doesn't?"

"He will," Cornell said, "He'll have to."

Note: How many horrible acts have been committed throughout history with the justification that it's for the good of one group?

So the Guard are bad guys, or at least 4 out of 5 of them are. I'll go more into that in the retrospective.

Aside from that scene at the ned, this was mostly devoted to things building in Menagerie. I'm anticipating the next couple chapters being Blake-centric, though there may be some scenes of other characters sprinkled in for the sake of expanding things. Bai seems to be a pretty dangerous individual, and I imagine things will only get worse from here.

Be sure to review.