The blood... the blood just wouldn't stop.

"Hang in there, Sun!" Blake begged, her hands pressed down on the crimson stain where Sun had been injured. His Aura was trying desperately to help her but the blood continued to gush from between his fingers. He grimaced in pain as he felt the pressure of Blake's hands on it. "Hang in there!"

She desperately turned her head, she could feel her hair sticking to the sweat that glistened on her face. She winced as she tried to move, it felt as if her shoulder had been dislocated. But she fought through the pain, if they wanted to survive this she had to fight through it.

"Yang!" But what could she tell the Huntress? That Sun was bleeding out? That he needed medical help? For Yang to please be careful? For Yang to get away from that monster? All seemed too small statements for the dire situation they found themselves in.

"Tsk" was Yang's answer, spitting blood out of her mouth although the taste of iron still lingered. Her clenched fists were raised to her face, her hair glowing as she faced her adversary. She wished she could tell Blake to run!

To get out of there!

To get help!

But Blake couldn't get away, not without leaving Sun and Velvet behind. Sun had been injured in an attempt to protect Blake and Yang from Adam. He had protected their lives but the price he had paid had left him incapacitated on the ground. Velvet was still lying on the ground beside him, her arms sprawled around her in the same positions where they had been when she'd fallen out of Sun's arms amidst his attempted escape.

They had to get out of there but there was someone who was persistently blocking their escape. The same person who had trapped them and injured them so.

Adam Taurus was walking slowly towards her, as uninjured from the battle as he had been before this confrontation. The three Huntsmen had landed blow after blow on the disfigured man but Adam had barely taken a portion of the damage they had received in return. They were all on their last feet. Yang could barely stand at this point, let alone fend him off.

Blake had to escape.

She had to get to Ruby.

She had to make sure she was alright.

She'd heard the sounds of battle echo all throughout the academy. It was impossible that a fight had not reached her sister.

She had to make sure she was alright.

She had to deal with Adam Taurus first, but she doubted she had the energy or strength left to.

All she could do now was buy time for Blake to escape.

"Have you had enough yet?" Adam taunted, his stride confident and relaxed. He knew this fight had been won. "Step aside, you've stood between Blake and I for long enough."

"Over my dead body." Yang countered. She wanted to step towards him but, if she moved she feared she'd collapse to the ground and then Blake would all that would be left to fight Adam.

"Then soon enough." Adam mused, his red eyes glowing more fiercely then before.

Yang only growled in response at the cockiness of this deformed man. How she wished she had the strength to wipe that horrible smile off his hideous face. She wished she could pummel him out of existence and leave the rest of them alone- not in peace, she doubted any of them would ever be left in peace after all the turmoil and damage he'd inflicted. But finally this ghost would leave them alone. However she could barely move, let alone win.

But she couldn't fall here.

She couldn't leave Blake alone to fight him.

Yang blinked, her attention moving past Adam. Movement. She could make out the shapes and the faces but she almost physically shook her head in disbelief. That wasn't possible. This must be her exhausted mind playing tricks on her.

"What have you done with my Bun Bun!?"

The voice echoed around the hallway, causing all to turn and look at who had arrived.

Yang looked back at Blake, her eyes widening even further.

Could she see what she could?

So it wasn't a trick?

So that also meant that what was being pointed at them was also very, very real.

"Blake!" She yelled, leaping towards the two Faunus. "Down!"

Yang didn't know if Blake had seen as she had, if she'd seen the weapon that was now being pointed at Adam Taurus. But the cat Faunus reacted without question as she pushed Sun towards the ground. The man grimaced in extreme pain as Blake pressed her body against his, producing a human shield.

Yang stumbled but spread her arms, her body falling over the two Faunus just as the sound of bullet fire erupted through the air. She felt Blakes back pressed against her chest, her body shaky rising and falling as she breathed. Under different circumstances she may have felt nervous having her body so close to hers but the thought didn't even cross her mind. Yang could feel the rush of air overhead and the shower of stone that rained over. The sound was deafening, so loud that all other sounds were drowned. When finally the bullet-fire disappeared, the thunderous stampede of her heart beat continued. Even as she raised her head, all she could hear was her own racing heart.

Coco Adel holstered her mini-gun, her expression impossible to read behind her dark sunglasses. Beside her, Yatsuhashi Daichi stood, Fulcrum held in his hands, his grip tight but his posture relaxed ready to attack the instant he was needed.

Cooly, Coco raised a slender hand to her face and lowered her glasses. Her dark eyes appeared past the rim of her glasses, her expression was both impressed and irritated as she surveyed the monstrous man that she had hoped to have thoroughly gunned down. Adam stood there, barely having moved from his original spot, virtually unhurt apart from a small number of holes in his chest where bullets had cleanly cut through to his chest. A few, thick drops of blood dripped from them, however he seemed unphased.

Yang sat up slowly, feeling both Blake and Sun under her shifting to try to see what had been the result of Coco's attack. Wide eyed, they watched as the dark drops began to swell in Adam's injuries, stretching the pale skin until they closed, leaving bright red welts in their place.

"What is that thing?" Yatsuhashi 's deep voice asked, his eyes narrowing at the mysterious man. His eyes kept darting towards Velvet who was still on the ground, unmoving. She showed no reaction to her old teammates' arrival.

Was it possible that she was…?

He let out a shaky breath, he wouldn't let himself think like that.

"I don't know." Coco admitted. "But let's cut him down and figure out what's happened to our Bun Bun."

Yatsuhashi silently nodded his head and, without another word he took a number of thunderous steps, his large blade raised over his head. Adam raised his own ebony sword, a mere toothpick in comparison to Yatasuhari's hooked great-sword. But as the silver blade made contact with the black one it was Yatsuhashi 's hand that shook as he tried to force his sword down.

Coco slid past the fighting pair, sending a series of gunfire at Adam. Yatsuhashi jumped sideways, Adam doing the same in an attempt to dodge. He spun and fainted, trying to lunge at Coco, but Yatsuhashi blocked the attack, the larger man towering over Adam.

"Velvet!" Was Coco's first word as she rolled to stop beside the rabbit Faunus. She saw blood crusted at her ear but otherwise she seemed intact. So why did she look up at the ceiling with large vacant eyes?

"We don't know what he did to her." Blake quickly explained. "Some kind of Grimm insect bit her… She's alive though."

Coco nodded her head, seeing the almost incomprehensible rise and fall of Velvet's chest. As long as she was alive, she could be helped.

"It's the same as the rest." Coco ominously said, looking away from Velvet, to look at Yatsuhashi before resting her eyes on Sun, Blake and Yang.

"The rest?" The older Huntress's words did not bode well.

"The ground floor we found a few of the teachers in the same state." She quickly explained, her eyes turning back to her fighting companion. "We left a few of the others with them and… "

"And what?" Yang insisted on trying to prepare herself for the worst.

"Scarlet, Nolan and Nebula are with them." Coco hastily started, "but we found we found a few of your teammates-alive- in the doc's office with another of these weirdos."

"Is it bad?" Sun panted, forcing himself to sit up. He had his hand pressed against his own injury, sweat trickling down the side of his neck from the strain.

"Jaune's completely out for the count." She explained, ensuring her words were clear and also struggling to remember the underclassmans' names. "Weiss and Neptune are injured but conscious. Ren's the only one there still in somewhat fighting condition but we don't know for how long, he'd been bitten by those things as well."

"They've caught the thing they were fighting, but they are in no condition to finish them off." She updated them. Although if it was anything as strong as this one, she doubted they could finish it off. The three Huntsman let out a somewhat relieved breath, this was the first update they'd had of their companions and it was a relief to hear they were all alive.

"What about Ruby and the others?" Yang hastily asked, in he remind checking off the people they knew the whereabouts and conditions of.

"We split up." Coco admitted. " Ren told us that you guys where you guys should be so Yatsuhashi and I made our way to the study room while Fox, Sage and Arslan headed for the headmaster's office."

Coco brought a single finger to her temple and tapped it gently "The instant they find them Fox'll tell us.'' The Huntress's words were insistent. She knew that Yang's younger sister was most likely somewhere in the academy. Just as they had found them alive, they would find her alive as well. They'd been given orders to protect Shade City and the majority of the other students were doing just that- twiddling their thumbs waiting for an attack that would only happen at the academy.

But Coco had been there at the battle of Beacon, as had those that had followed her against their orders. She had seen the destruction the Grimm had left in their wake. She had seen the bodies and the broken lives they'd left behind, the shattered looks in the eyes of those both older and younger than herself.

Her team had been fortunate enough to escape unscathed.

Many others had been destroyed.

She would not stand by and let what happened to Beacon happen to Shade.

She would deal with Headmaster Theodore when this was over.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Fox's voice in her head.

"Coco? We found them."

Sage carefully looked round the corner, standing on the top of the emergency staircase that led to the topmost floor of Shade Academy. It seemed deserted, all the doors closed except that of Headmaster Theodore. The large wooden door that had once stood before his office was no more. All that remained were pitiful charred shards that littered the corridor.

"Do you see anything?" Arslan hissed, her body low as she tried to look past Fox, feeling Sage's large shadow looming over her from behind.

Quiet . Was all Fox said, his lips not moving as his voice echoed in her mind, his Semblance, Telepathy, startling her. She'd hoped to become accustomed to his Semblance but It always felt as if someone who had been watching her from a distance had finally shown themselves. Sage seemed less affected by Fox's intrusion in his thoughts for he just waited patiently to continue his report.

"I can see shadows." Sage continued to explain. "I think someone has their back to us- a woman possibly? But she's got like black chords coming out of her back. She is not moving but I think I can see a body on the ground, someone struggling- so possibly captives?"

I sense six minds. Fox elaborated, closing his unseeing eyes to better concentrate. One seems mangled… with pain? Turmoil? I can't tell but it's not someone I've met before. The others are familiar…

He opened his eyes in surprise, was that Professor Ozpin? Hadn't he died during the Fall of Beacon? That's what he and the rest had been led to believe. If he had somehow survived, what was he doing in Shade Academy, now? Fox could also somewhat recognise two of the other minds present but he was not particularly familiar with them. But one he definitely recognised with ease.

"Ruby Rose." He whispered, his voice so low it was barely heard by his companions.

His consciousness brushed against hers and he could feel the Huntress's struggles increase. Sage's initial observation had been correct, they were being held captive. Fox did not like using his Semblance without the other person's consent or knowledge but this would have to count as exceptional times. He'll excuse himself once they've rescued them.

Stay calm, Ruby Rose . Fox tried to transmit the message alongside a feeling of peace and honesty.

Ruby had never experienced his Semblance before so panic that washed over him was a feasible and expected response. You do not need to speak to answer me but I'm Fox Allstair, I used to be on Team CFVY, before the Battle of Beacon.

He could sense her reluctance and surprise at hearing his voice. But her struggle against his messages had lightened slightly, allowing him to speak more easily.

If we don't speak like this they will find us. This is the only way we can try to rescue you.

Ruby Rose paused momentarily, as she continued to sense Fox's voice in her mind, remembering the upperclassman from her time in Beacon. She briefly wondered if this was how Oscar felt when he conversed with Ozpin? She didn't particularly know how she felt about this intrusion, it was like she'd been left bare for all to see. Her most private thoughts were no longer her own. But, just as Fox could sense her discomfort, she could sense his honesty. What he said was true and free of deceit. She did remember Fox from her school days but recent betrayals and revelations had left the young Huntress weary of who to trust. However she forced herself past those feelings. It had been mistrust that had brought about the fall of many of her elders, she would not follow the same path as them.

Ruby, how many adversaries are there? Fox carefully prodded, feeling her mind somewhat relax to his presence.

An image appeared behind his eyes, sent to him from the younger Huntress. Most likely she was finding it difficult to communicate with him. It had taken the members of team CVFY almost a year to become accustomed to it so he was impressed Ruby had already figured as much out. He saw an image of a strange girl in green, her eyes scarlet. Her limbs were replaced by those of Grimm and from her back, what Sage had described as chords, were actually a multitude of Grimm hands. It was these that were responsible for immobilising Ruby and the rest.

"If we severe these arms." Fox finished, after he'd explained what Ruby had shown him. " We can turn the tables in there."

"The numbers would be in our favour." Arslan nodded her head in agreement, her blond hair bobbing with the motion.

"I think Ruby has a plan." Fox divulged however he wasn't certain, she'd sent him a series of images, most of them just blank white but she seemed determined with whatever she was thinking.

"We just need to free them." Sage concluded, cracking his knuckles. Fox nodded his head in his general direction in agreement.

"We'll deal with little Miss Puffy-Skirt." Arslan concluded, standing, her shirt falling off one shoulder as she did so.

"I'll deal with the hands." Sage agreed, also standing.

We're coming, Ruby. Fox said, finally standing to join his companion.

The Necrogrimm had its back to the door. Its eyes vacant, its body unmoving. It was almost as if she had been put on standby. Oscar swayed groggily, it felt as if his head wanted to explode. He had been dangling upside down for too long. His Aura had slowed the effect but the pressure had been gradually increasing. Qrow also continued with his struggles, but the dark arms had encircled him in an inescapable cocoon. Emerald was not particularly fighting back, she'd receded into her thoughts, most likely seriously mulling over how Cinder had reacted to her information. It was impossible to read what was going on behind her green eyes.

Oscar's own eyes slowly moved away from her to stop on Ruby. She was still being pressed against the ground, her face planted into the tiles. She had stopped moving and he feared that maybe Penny's hold on her had actually suffocated the Huntress.

Ruby Rose would not go out like that . Ozpin's voice was devoid of any particular concern for his former student. But that was not saying that he was not worried. However his worries continued to revolve towards the Vault and the two Maidens that had been captured by Cinder. In all honesty, it was pitiful. Cinder could simply waltz past them, take what she wanted and they couldn't lift a finger to stop her.

A glimpse of movement behind Penny caught Oscar's attention and, with dread he anticipated Cinder's return, to come collect him and Ruby and boast of her success. However it was not Cinder that appeared.

Oscar did not know the three individuals that appeared behind the Necrogrimm however he did have a name for each face thanks to Ozpin's memories.

Arslan and Fox appeared on either side of Penny, each ready to strike her down. For a moment it seemed as if Penny had not seen them but she did not need to physically turn to know they were there. A further pair of hands emerged from her back to apprehend her assailants but, in a blur of green, they fell to the ground, squirming like worms before turning into dark dust.

Penny took a moment to sense the source of the attack- Semblance infused Light Dust. More Aura stood on either side of her as well as behind her. Her Master's orders echoed in her mind- capture Oscar Pine and Ruby Rose and keep the Fall Maiden alive. The latter had given her additional orders however they were not her primary objective.

The Necrogrimm slowly turned, analysing the situation, calculating the severity of the treath the new arrival would be. However this Necrogrimm was too new, it had yet to fully integrate with its ore so its movements were slower than the others would have been, contemplating and weighing the different orders it had been given.

During the battle her orders had been simple enough to follow.

Protect the Fall Maiden

Capture Oscar Pine and Ruby Rose.

The second objective had been achieved and she could not sense any immediate danger towering over her other ward. She did not perceive the new arrivals as real threats. Their Auroras, although greater than those of the average civilian, was not of significant level.

Penny did not perceive Fox, Sage and Arslan as threats.

So when Sage activated his Semblance, her reaction had been too slow. He pulled his hand back and, with a similar gesture as if he were tossing a frisbee, he swung his arm forward while Fox and Arslan attacked Penny once again. His semblance merged with the Light Dust he'd had clutch in his hand the pair mingled to create a number of light green crescent moons that spun like razors through the air. Each was a blur of green, leaving a trail of Aura as he controlled their speed and direction. Six were cutting through the air, through Grimm flash, releasing the monster's captives as the amputated arms fell to the ground in a trail of dark black dust.

Oscar fell to the ground, his head crashing painfully to the tiled ground and, momentarily, stars danced across his eyes. The pressure in his head slowly began to subside and he rubbed at the bruise that would definitely form by morning.

Qrow coughed as he forced himself off the ground, his hand reaching out to his sword. He clutched at the familiar metal and using it as a support, he also reached out for Ozpin's cane that had been kicked in his direction before. He threw it to its rightful owner, Oscar catching it with ease.

Emerald straightened her back, which had begun to to hurt from the position she had been forced to keep. She made herself stand, taking a step forward to steady herself as blood began to return to her legs.

Ruby felt the Grimm's grip loosen from the back of her head. She forced her head up, using her arms to lift her body like she was doing a push-up, and took the easiest breath she had taken since her capture. She tugged at the clawed hand that still gripped the back of her head. She pulled it off, along with a few strands of her own hair. The pain was insignificant compared to everything that had happened to them.

She and her friends had been captured and used as hostages to trick the headmaster and his family into leading Cinder to the Relic. The rest of her team were no were to be seen, they could have been hurt… or worse… But looking at the creature that had forced her to feel so hopeless… at the creature that donned Penny Polendina's face when it had no right to do so. It dared tarnish her name. Looking at this monster filled Ruby with an array of emotions she could not distinguish nor name- disgust? Anger? Hopeless? Loathing? Each word was darker than the other, threatening to spill out of her. But she didn't push them down, she didn't try to keep them back. Instead, she funnelled these feelings, using the power they created to finally bring an end to this deceitful creature.

The light erupted from her eyes, every emotion raw. It engulfed all in the room and streamed out of the broken window until the office glowed like a lighthouse for all of Shade city to see. For all the city to know that they were still fighting back within the academy.

The light disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared. Ruby fell forward, her palms pressing against the tiles, her breathing heavy as she grasped at these feelings. Had she done it? Had she finally been able to conjure the power of her silver eyes when she'd willed it? She wanted to lift her head, to see if she'd succeeded. The air was quiet, too quiet. Were the others too surprised by her outburst to react?

Possibly, Ruby had even surprised herself that that had worked. But it had been easy to conjure such feelings after all that had been done and said to them.

The silence was eventually broken by the sound of wood crashing to the ground, closely followed by that of crumbling rock.

"R-R-R-uby Rose…" Her name felt like gravel rolling down her spine as it broke through the air.

This voice… it sounded somewhat familiar but she couldn't put her finger on as to from where. Dreading what would await her, she slowly lifted her head, her eyes widening as she finally saw what had really stunned her companions into silence.

Penny was standing where she had when she'd initially used her Silver Ayes. A charred piece of door lay at her feet, along with a large pile of dark rock, some still vaguely resembled the taloned hands Penny had used to capture them. The Necrogrimm must have used the debris to block her attack but had only partly succeeded. The left side of her face down to her shoulder had been turned to stone. The surprised movements caused cracks to spread across the dark stone surface. Pieces of stone began to crumble at her feet, one after another with each movement, to reveal a very unexpected, a very human interior.

Ruby did not know what to expect happened to the Grimm when she turned them to stone. Ozpin had said they were pushed into a slumber. But this… this was different. Where the stone broke off, flesh was revealed. Very human flash. A single silver eye looked back at her. A silver eye filled with pain and fear. A silver eye Ruby recognised.

Petra Euryale, the Huntress of Doilier she had met barely a week prior.

"Ruby… Rose.'' The woman half growled, half begged, her remaining Grimm arm clawing at the stone that lined the area where the human and Grimm parts, like she was scratching at an inflamed scab.

Ruby's eyes opened in dreadful understanding. The core Cinder had so proudly boasted of… was a human… a human with Silver Eyes.

Cinder had spoken of her mother… of her mother having been the inspiration of the Hound and these Necrogrimm…

Was another poor silver eyed prisoner captured within the solidified Hound they'd left behind in Atlas?

Summer Rose...

She swallowed heavily, dreading where her train of thought would take her.

Had her mother….?

She couldn't even think of it.

It was impossible.

And yet standing before her stood her very fear brought to life.

Had Summer Rose met a similar faith?

Had her mother been turned into the same monster she'd vowed to hunt down?

"What is that thing!?" Yelled Emerald in horror, the first to gain her voice and ask the question that plagued all their minds. She knew of Salem's gruesome experiments, she'd seen their horrifying results, but never had she questioned how it was done. It was better not to know.

Oscar was the only one capable of prying his eyes away from the atrocious sight, he too recognised the Huntress. He saw the horror in Ruby's eyes, and he could feel it, the fear that Summer Rose may have fallen to the same faith.

Do you know something about this?

Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.

Ozpin's words did little to ease his fears and worries.

"Questions later." Growled Sage, this time reaching over his shoulder for his broadsword. "Cut it down before it can get away."

"R-R-R-Ru-ruby Rose." Petra repeated again, her eye focusing on Ruby, spluttering as a black substance dripped from her mouth.

"No!" The Huntress yelled, staggering to try to get to her feet. But she almost fell forward, Oscar just barely catching her arm before she could fall.

Ruby's surprisingly shrill voice stopped Sage and the rest from attacking but Petra shrieked, causing them all to jump back, their weapons raised and ready to strike.

"N-N-no! I w-won't…" She spat the words, each one seemed to burn at her throat. "M-must pr-protect the Fall Mai-d-den."

"What is it doing now!?" Qrow yelled over the pain filled shrieks of the Huntress of Doilier.

Petra raised her Grimm hands to her head, the one on her right grasping at the feeble strands of hair that remained.

"No!" She shrieked so loudly that, if any glass remained it would have shattered. "I don't want too…"

"What is going on?" Demanded Qrow again but, if any had the answer, they were too shocked by what followed to answer him. At the border of where the Grimm and human flesh met, a dark substance began to ooze and bubble, stretching like melting plastic. It seemed to lack any reasonable structure but, as it moved, it pulled the deathly white flesh of the Grimm over Petra's face, muffling her screams to leave behind the fangs just like those Ruby had destroyed.

Petra's human eye widened in frantic fear, her silver one meeting Ruby's, begging for help.

But what could she do?

That question continued to repeat itself, over and over. Even as that silver eye was coated over, completing the face that mimicked Penny's but clearly was not her own.

The Necrogromm stood up straighter, its glowing red eyes scanning the huntsmen before it. Its orders were clear once again.

It pinpointed its targets, Ruby Rose and Oscar Pine. It would capture them and bring them to its master. It didn't move however as this command was overtaken by the second.

Protect the Fall Maiden.

Her brother at her side was requesting aid.

Cinder Fall's life was at risk and a single Necrogrimm was not enough to protect her

Her life was in danger, like a whistle blown in a frequency only the Necrogrimm could hear. They knew the Maiden was in grave danger.

The creature shifted, the Huntsman moved in response but none had anticipated the course of action it took next- it turned and jumped out of the window.

Breathing heavily, Ruby ran towards the window and peered out, feeling her uncle do the same behind her. Darkness had begun to fall outside, the Necrogrimm merging with the shadows of the gardens. Ruby's breath hitched when she saw movement in different parts of the gardens- was it possible there were more of those creatures wearing Penny's face? The thought made her nauseous. But not as much as the fear of not knowing their next move.

It had mentioned the Fall Maiden, was that where it was heading?

The creature had not seemed phased with the concept of facing their small group alone so why had it run and disappeared as it had?

"The Vault…" Oscar breathed out, voicing the unwanted words Ozpin said to him. "They must have gone to the Vault."

At the younger teenager's words a cold dread filled sweat went down the back of her neck.

Nora had been taken to the Vault.

Had something happened to Nora?

Thank you so so much for reading! I hope you all enjoyed the update- next one will be up for the end of the week ;)