Demon's Kiss

Rating: T/M

Series: RWBY

Pairings:

Volume 1: Spring

Volume Theme: "Smile"

Summary:

One knows nothing of his past. One desired strength. One is plagued by a dark secret. One wanted to change their fate. Four souls find themselves as teammates in hopes of writing their own stories. Alone, they were capable. Together, they are unstoppable. Little did they know, things were about to change drastically as a result. May the brothers and Oum have mercy on Remnant, because a dark entity wants what's hers.

Set one year prior to the main story.

Chapter 1: First Steps

Barren wasteland; No sign of life or hope could be found in the misty desert region.

The only noise for miles was the cawing of birds as a young Faunus wandered the land. The callous earth soon crunched under the calf-length boots of a little boy, no older than 10. The air was chilling, carrying the scent of death and despair. Confusion washed over the face of the young male as his heterochromatic eyes shot in all directions, finding no end in sight to the wilderness.

The sky above was a bloody hue, another symbol that spelled 'beware'. This constant remained until he looked back to the area before him, noticing the rocky terrain and enormous purple crystals sprouting from the ground. While it was a welcomed change of shade, it did little to comfort him. Pointed ears twitched as another sound tore through the sky. Apprehensive eyes then blinked only to find several holes adorning the landscape. Canine ears splayed back as the black surface began to bubble and stir right before him, freezing the pup where he stood.

The whimpering boy trembled as white claws emerged from the bubbling ooze, pulling itself out. Those sickly yellow eyes soon began to scour the realm that would be its new home. It was then joined by its brethren, more beowolf breaking through the tar-like substances as each eyed the boy. His tail tucked between his legs as each of the beasts began stalking near him.

Do you fear them, child? a soft maternal tone hovered as brief as the icy wind.

The boy's lip quivered as he tried futilely to utter even a single syllable. The sharpened claws of the monsters screeched like nails on a chalkboard. Step by step, they drew nearer.

Do not cower. the motherly voice spoke again. Make them fear you; bow down.

"I-I... can't."

Will you give into death?

"I don't want to die!"

The monstrosities soon broke out into a full sprint, their leader, and Alpha led the charge. Within seconds, they were all lept at him, their massive bodies eclipsing the heavens, their ravenous jaws opened wide to feast on the small meal. Everything went dark. His only senses available were the sounds and feeling of agony from the various gnawing fangs piercing his body. The air was now smothering until he heard the woman's voice break through the painful void.

Then fight!

"I can't!"

Survive!

"Please! Help Me!" the young Faunus wailed.

Live!

At that moment, the pain ceased, giving way to a slow burn from the boy's inside. A low growl escaped his lips as his fear suddenly morphed into desperation. A surging heat continued to flow through his body as, once again, the darkness took over. A series of howls and anguish filled the air as the birds above watched the spot soon gave way to thick black ash ascending.

The beowolf's carcass soon faded completely, leaving only an exhausted vulpine child. Whatever he'd done, it was enough to keep his life intact. He remained there, slowly peeking out from the armadillo position warily. There were gone. The wasteland had been replaced with a murky-grey void.

"H-Hello?" his timid voice echoed.

You're pathetic...

The boy turned around to protect himself from whatever answered his call. The harsh male tone had taken residence where the tender woman abided previously. What he found was something that petrified his very soul. Glowing crimson orbs stared back at him. The pools of hatred and spite were environed by pitch-black scleras. The little boy felt what little resolve he possessed crumble completely as the visual menace drew closer to its prey.

Atsura...

"L-Leave me a-alone..." the fox staggered back.

Atsura!

"Go away!"

"Atsura!"

The boy shot upright in a panic, each gasp for air heavy and exhausting. He looked around the room, taking in his surroundings in an attempt to try and compose himself as he noticed the gleaming hue of pink slipping through a crack in his curtains. "It was just a dream," he surmised, a ghost of a smile beginning to form as he steadied his breathing.

Soon, a knock was heard outside, pulling his attention.

"Atsura, if you don't wake up for breakfast, you'll be going to Beacon with an empty stomach."

"I-I'll be down in a few, Delilah!" he called back.

"Get a move on and don't forget your acceptance letter."

He heard her footsteps begin to fade down the hall before returning his focus to his thoughts. His mind immediately brought him back to the nightmare; It seemed so real. Checking his arms, Atsura could feel tiny tingles down his limbs. Steadily, his breathing began to slow down. Letting out a soft sigh, the vulpine ripped the covers off of himself.

Gathering as much of his energy as he could, Atsura tossed his legs over the side of the bed before making the long trudge to the bathroom. He went through his morning routine before returning to his closet. His dark hair clung to his body, drying into its wild look as he grabbed his clothes. A long ash-grey sleeveless hooded avant tailcoat with aquamarine trim along the edges of the shoulder areas and hood of the coat. Black pants were tucked into matching toeless boots as his tail fit perfectly under the jacket. Underneath the coat, he wore a sleeveless grey compression shirt.

Once he was all dressed, Atsura tied this hair into a wolf's tail, letting the front of his mane remain messy and chaotic. He grabbed everything he needs before heading downstairs, finding his senses greeted by the wonderful scent of bacon and eggs. Sadly, most of the breakfast foods were already gone, much to the foxes chagrin.

"It's about time you came down," Atsura's sister greeted from the table, a strip of bacon hanging from her lips. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to finish primping."

"Shut up, Delilah..." he groaned in between bites of the scrambled eggs.

This only made the young woman's smile grow wider as she watched the boy begrudgingly eat his portion. Her own tail, that of a tiger's, swayed playfully as she finished her own plate.

"Don't be mad, little brother. I saved you enough to tide you over."

Atsura rolled his eyes at the young woman though it was not without a small grin of his own. This was their nature as siblings to poke fun at one another and this moment was no different. As they concluded their meal, the pair washed their dishes before running a final rundown of the house. When they were satisfied, the two grabbed their belongings and headed out to the village of Menagerie.

As they traversed the streets of the isle, Atsura was content with the fact that each area was practically empty. They'd find a few of the shopkeepers preparing their stalls for the day, but the walk was devoid of the congested entropy that was well known of the island. The sun continued its ascension, kissing the land with a delicate touch of warmth, perfectly combining with the gentle breezes kiss.

"So, are you ready, Atsu?"

"Don't call me that..." he snarled, exposing his canines.

Delilah knew that he hated that nickname, chuckling gently at his outburst. Though he was sixteen, Atsura still had his childish triggers, some of which she enjoyed flipping at times.

"You'd think you'd stop being embarrassed. Still, you don't have to return to the house?" Her smile dropped slightly, showing her more earnest side. "Once we set off, we won't be coming back for a while.

"I know... I really just wished that mom could've been here to see us off."

Delilah spared a glance toward the younger male, empathy flashing in her eyes. She felt disappointment and rejection in his blighted posture. She hated it when he was like this, but she also understood why. Given their different traits, it didn't take a genius to realize the truth. He was a fox and she wielded tiger traits. They weren't biological siblings. She knew that this would eat away at Atsura, it always did.

So, being the person she was, Delilah placed a hand on his shoulder. Confused, he attempted to ask if something was wrong, finding himself pulled into a tight hug. Wide heterochromias spelled the shock surging through Atsura. He'd close his eyes slowly, savoring the affectionate display despite his initial surprise.

"You know I love you right?" he heard her whisper. "...and I know she does too."

"But..."

"Mom is... complicated. I'm sure she wished she could be here too. She's just working to build up the White Fang to better our lives in Remnant."

"Not that excuse again."

Delilah scoffed lightly at the taunting tone but she wasn't surprised. Atsura was old enough to know the truth of the woman and he was sure to make that known. Ever since Ghira Belladonna stepped down as the leader of the White Fang, their mother promptly took control of the organization. This certainly put a strain on her duties as a parent, but 'the betterment of the Faunus' came first in her eyes.

It was an admirable notion yet, it didn't matter to the pair. All of the money and gifts didn't matter when all one desired was their presence.

With a sigh, Atsura pulled away. He put on a smile as a sign of gratitude before thanking his big sister and heading toward the boat. This didn't sit well with Delilah. Still, there was nothing she could do for the time being except silently cursing the root cause for his depressing shift. As she followed behind her sibling, the young tigress could only hope that this new chapter of their lives would spell a positive change going forward.

Several hours passed and the sun had finally completed its descent upon the main platforms. It stood on the edge of a cliffside where a majestic river flowed below its face, painting a trail throughout the kingdom of Vale. Once it docked, the students on board exited the airship and headed down the long pathway that led through the main square. Both Atsura and Delilah looked on in awe at the massive castle that overlooked the campus. Several spires flanked each side of the building, adding to the pageantry of the light grey fortress.

"We're definitely not in Menegarie anymore," Delilah muttered with her brother nodding in agreement.

They didn't have much time to marvel at the scenery though. Given their late arrival, the two pressed onward with their belongings and weapons in hand. As they passed a group of girls whispering amongst themselves, Atsura picked up traces of their conversation, murmurs about him and his sister's heritage namely.

"I still can't believe they let their kind here at Beacon..." one girl frowned.

"I know. You'd think they'd at least put a leash and muzzle on the filthy creatures." another blond girl with a formal accent added.

He paid it little mind, though he cut his gaze momentarily, flashing a warning at the prissy girls. However, before he could respond another voice entered the conversation.

"You know it's not polite to speak ill of people you don't know."

The trio of girls, as well as Atsura, turned toward the source of the sensually taunting voice. A young woman with fair skin woman and ashen-black hair that covered her left bright amber eyes, smirked amusingly. She wore a dark-red, off-the-shoulders, v-neck mini dress with yellow designs. There is a blue feather-like accessory on her right hip, at the top of an open portion of her dress. The dress ends in an upside-down triangular tail in the back, ending just above the knees.

In short, she was absolutely gorgeous in the eyes of the fox Faunus. However, the three girls didn't appear all too impressed.

"...And who might you be?" one of the snobbish girls challenged.

"Me?" the girl placed a hand over her chest dramatically. "I'm nobody special. I was just on my way to our intended destination when I came across three stuck up Atlas brats shooting their mouths off."

The blond girl narrowed her eyes in anger at the tame insult.

"How dare you?!" she stomped. "I have half a mind to-"

"That's still 50% more than I gave you credit for. I thought you rich kids only come here as a vacation. Judging by how you're dressed, you couldn't possibly be here to be huntresses. The shopping district is the other way if you're lost."

"Why you...!"

"Is there a problem?" Everyone turned, finding themselves approached by one of the security guards.

This thankfully put an end to the conversation as the three rich girls scurried off with a huff. It mattered little though as neither Atsura or the mystery girl made a fuss about what'd just occurred. Instead, after confirming with the officer that everything was alright, the two were directed toward their destination.

Delilah took notice of this and grinned smugly, having watched the scene unfold from a distance. While she wanted nothing more than to give those brats a piece of her mind, she also knew that it wouldn't have done any good for Atsura if she'd gotten involved. On top of that, with this new girl stepping in, this meant that her adoptive sibling could possibly make his first friend. Preferably, she chose to focus on their destination. She recalled hearing the voice of the vice-head mistress, Glynda Goodwitch, instructing them all to head to the amphitheater once they landed.

Their group entered the massive auditorium, filling the spacious room nearly to capacity. On the stage, a man with grey hair stood at attention behind a microphone stand, staring at the students with a mix of intrigue and disinterest. It was clear that that there was far more to him than meet the eye, but only to those who truly paid attention. She didn't have to ask of his identity, she knew all too well who he was.

"Professor Ozpin..."

The man tapped the microphone a couple of times, the feedback ringing throughout the auditorium.

"I'll... keep this brief," he commenced. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge; to hone your craft and acquire new skills... and when you've finished, you plan to dedicate your lives to the protection of the people." Ozpin pushed glasses closer to his face. "But, I look amongst you and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."

The headmaster then took his leave, leaving his assistant to chime in.

"You are to gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow you will begin initiation. Be prepared. You are dismissed."

As the crowd began to disperse, Delilah found her brother, talking to the same girl from earlier. Unlike before, she had a rather pleasant demeanor that opposed her previously superior attitude before. Still, seeing the two just casually chatting with one another dispelled her

"That was it?" Atsura asked, a little underwhelmed by the announcement.

"It was rather morbid if I'm being honest."

Atsura nodded in agreement, though it didn't stop the evidence of a grin from revealing themselves on his face. They continued to discuss the short statement before he finally noticed his sister approaching. Her golden orbs flashed mischievously, causing his ears to splay back in worry; he knew that his sister was up to something.

"Hello, Atsu..."

Time stood still for the vulpine at the mention of his accursed nickname as a horrified mask appeared. If embarrassment had a tier system, his would be at the very top as the fox prayed that Oum would allow the earth to swallow him whole. Of all the times for Delilah to tease him, she would choose now... His dark skin gave way to a heated pink hue that surfaced on his cheeks before preparing to rage on the older girl only to hear a soft giggled.

"Atsu..." the girl smirked softly. "I like it."

"Y-You do?" both siblings replied incredulously, each exchanging a look at the other.

She nodded. "It's cute."

Hearing this Atsura quickly recovered his composure. He let out his own chuckle before thanking the girl.

"Well, I guess it isn't so bad..."

"Anyway, I'm Delilah Khan. Atsura's sister."

"Cinder Fall. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. By the way, thanks for standing up for my idiot brother earlier." Cinder's smile grew. "Not many people are willing to help out a Faunus these days so, I truly appreciate you doing that."

"It was nothing. I couldn't pass up the chance to humble some stuck up Atlesians."

They all shared a laugh as they departed the amphitheater. They'd learn a bit about each other as they drew near the ballroom, leaving only Ozpin and Glynda to look on with differing compositions. Resting on his cane, the headmaster had returned with a mug of his favorite brew while the woman checked her large scroll. She tapped away on the screen until she found the information she was seeking.

Three pictures appeared, showcasing the trio who'd just departed the auditorium.

"Atsura & Delilah Khan..." she recited the sibling's names with prudence. "Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever understand that brain of yours, Oz."

"Dear Glynda, I think it best if you'd stopped trying."

Despite the amusement in his tone, the huntress was not in a joking mood.

"I'm serious. I don't know if it's sensible to have the children of Sienna Khan in our school."

"I disagree..." he took another sip of his coffee. "You noticed it, didn't you?"

Glynda Goodwitch raised an eyebrow at her superior before checking back on her scroll. A wealth of information gave her enough to search through but, it was something that was hiding in plain sight that eluded her. Ozpin figured it out though, evident by his confident smirk. He knew exactly what he was doing by admitting the two.

"What about this Cinder girl?" she turned her attention to the files of the raven-haired girl. "Perhaps you would be kind enough to elaborate your reasoning for bringing her here personally?"

That's why his grin faded, his lips dropping until they were a straight line. His eyes closed gently as he contemplated the inquiry of one of his closest allies. He didn't answer her right away, rather he'd take his leave while sipping from his mug once more. Glynda nearly blew a gasket but stopped short when he lifted the mug high in the air.

"Would you rather SHE get the girl?"

Author's Note(s):

Here it is! Chapter one of "Demon's Kiss" and I'm excited to get to work on this story. After working on RWBY: Shadow's of Destiny, I had another idea for a story with Cinder in an alternate timeline/verse. Unlike "Shadows of Destiny", there are going to subtle and big changes aplenty. In this story, Cinder was found by Ozpin rather than Salem and is a bit younger than her counterpart in the main RWBY canon. Also, I intentionally left out the final member of the team on purpose but, he'll be introduced in the next chapter.

I will continue to write for "Shadows of Destiny" but, I'm dealing with some writer's block at the moment. If I can't figure out what to do, I'll at least post an epilogue and start afresh narrative for what comes next after volume 7's conclusion. In the meantime, I'll be working on this story and trying to keep myself active.

Lastly, I hope that any of my stories can help distract you guys from this pandemic that's affecting us all. I truly hope and pray that you all are staying healthy and practicing social distancing if you're not infected. Wash your hands and be careful however best you can. I know that there are a lot of cases reported but, there are a lot more people recovering than there are passing away.

We will get through this. I appreciate you all who've supported my previous RWBY fic and I hope that you all enjoy this one as well.

Have a good night everyone!