3rd POV

Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury stood in the warehouse that they used with Torchwick and the White Fang to organize their plan. She had finished informing him of Emerald and Mercury's encounter with the Kurgan and his killing of Tukson.

"So the Headhunter of Vale came in the middle of the day and cut his head off in front of you both?" Torchwick asked the two. "For him to beat you to the catch and smack you arounds sounds rather embarrassing. On the plus side Tukson's dead so we no longer need to worry about that."

"He said he's coming here tonight," Emerald said.

"And you said you didn't tell him where we are," replied Cinder.

"Exactly," Torchwick said. "I find it hard to believe he'd find us with nothing to go on." "Actually it's not that difficult," a scratchy voice said causing everyone present to turn to the warehouse entrance.

The Kurgan entered with guns pointed at him from the White Fang members guarding the interior. "You just have to follow the Faunus," he said with a smile. "Tukson was with the White Fang and you were hunting him for trying to leave. Why would you do that if you weren't involved somehow? All of this and more led here where my new friends are."

"So you're the infamous Headhunter of Vale," Torchwick said scanning the Kurgan. "You definitely look the part. Do you have a name?"

"Viktor Krueger," the Immortal said. "But everyone calls me the Kurgan." His eyes left Torchwick and turned to Cinder. "I take it you're the one in charge?"

"I am Cinder Fall," she said.

"Salem takes them young these days," the Kurgan said with a grin.

"So what my associates say is true," said Cinder. "You serve our mistress."

"I serve no one," the Kurgan said as he showed them the tattoo on his left hand confirming his connection to Salem. "She and I have known each other for many years, and we've both left our mark on the other. She asked me to help you prepare for your attack on Beacon. I had declined when she contacted me weeks ago, but since I came across those two…"

"You were interesting in seeing our operation," Torchwick said finishing the Kurgan's statement. "I can't blame you wanting to see. The world's going to change with what we do. I understand Cinder's mistress recommended you, but I'm curious to what you have to offer us if you join. Any other skills than mass beheadings?"

The Kurgan started to chuckle. "I have over three thousand years combat experience," he stated. "Plus many centuries experience in rape, murder, and mayhem." He smiled seeing the looks of shock on their faces. "Oh, I forgot to mention I can't die. I'd demonstrate now but seeing Tukson run me through today should be proof enough." His eyes turned to Emerald. "Well Green?"

Emerald remembered that moment in the store. "That stab wound should have killed you," she said. "No even aura could repair damage like that, but it healed as if nothing happened."

"It's what I like about being immortal," the Kurgan said. "No matter how much your men shoot me I could just get back up and kill them all."

Torchwick and the others were greatly disturbed by what the Kurgan had told them. "Well," Torchwick began trying to regain his composure. "By the sound of it you're overqualified to help us."

"What Roman is trying to say is that we'd be honored to have you," Cinder said causing Emerald and Mercury to look at her with concern.

"Thank you," the Kurgan said. "However, there is something I want you to do for me in return." He began to walk toward Cinder causing Torchwick, Emerald, and Mercury to tense up in case the Immortal tried something. When he was in front of her he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a photograph handing it to Cinder. "His name is (Y/N) (L/N)," he said. "He's an antique dealer here in Vale. I know where to find him during the day, but I want to know where he is at night."

"May I ask what you want with him?" Cinder questioned the Kurgan looking at the photo.

"His head," the Kurgan answered. "I just want your lackeys to find him. I'll take care of the rest. My Scroll number's on the back."

"Well Kurgan, Emerald and Mercury can take care of that," Cinder said flipping the photo to see the Scroll number. "We're glad to have you."

The Kurgan laughed. "I'm sure we'll have lots of fun," the Immortal said. He crept closer to Cinder to where his mouth was next to her ear. "I know you're a maiden," he whispered. "I can sense the magic inside of you. Why else would you be in charge? Do you think because you have that power it means that she cares about you?"

Cinder knew that the Kurgan was referring to Salem. "It's because of her I have this power," she whispered back. "For that I'm forever grateful." Chills went down her spine as the Kurgan chuckled.

"That will be your undoing," the Kurgan replied. He took a step back. "Forgive me, dear maiden," he said raising his scratchy voice. "For I am but a worm." The Immortal bent over and took Cinder's hand bringing it to his face. He looked up at her with a smile as he ran his tongue up the back of her hand. He laughed as she tried to break his grip only for him to cast her hand away and walk to the warehouse exit. He stopped and brought his hands together with a loud clap turning everyone's attention on him. "I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!" the Kurgan shouted. He turned to face Cinder and the others. "IT'S BETTER TO BURN OUT THAN TO FADE AWAY!" he cried as he spun in a circle. He threw punches in their direction grunting as he did. The Kurgan started to laugh again as he left the warehouse. His cackle could still be heard after he was gone.

"Cinder that guy's insane," Emerald said. "We can't trust him."

"You let me worry about him," said Cinder. "For now you get a head start on finding this antique dealer." She handed the photo to Emerald.

"You know Emerald's right," Mercury said.

"And I said I'll worry about it," Cinder repeated herself. "Now get going, both of you."

Torchwick came up to Cinder as Emerald and Mercury left. "They've both got a got a point."

"People call you insane Torchwick," Cinder said. "This Kurgan is a savage in every sense of the word. And if my mistress asked him for help then he's even more dangerous than he appears. Exactly what we need for Phase 2."

The Next Night…

(Y/N) POV

I sat on my couch cleaning my blade with the television on. I had decided not to go out tonight as a reward to myself for a sale I had made today. With how the Gathering was going it may have been my last chance to relax. Then the news came on with Anchorwoman Lisa Lavender on the screen.

"The Headhunter of Vale has struck again, and this time they have struck closer to home," Lisa said as a picture of Tukson appeared on the screen. "Like many before him the owner of Tukson's World of Books was found in his store beheaded yesterday. There are members of the Faunus community that believe this may be a copycat killer due to Mr. Tukson being the first Faunus on the Headhunter's killing spree." She continued reporting detailing other controversies involving the recent killing.

I had met Tukson shortly after the Great War. He was the pupil of a good friend who most certainly was aware of what had happened. I figure I'll go look for him tomorrow to pay my condolences. With luck he'll still be alive.

Meanwhile at Beacon…

Yang POV

I was lying in bed being kept awake from my thoughts of recent events. Five more beheading happened between the terms with the Faunus bookstore owner being number six. Blake was pretty shaken up when she heard about it, and worrying about it along with Torchwick and the White Fang didn't help matters. The Faunus Tukson was somehow involved in what both (L/N) and Kurgan were a part of. It was difficult to believe that he was killed at the same time I was enjoying a food fight during the lunch period. We had agreed to investigate Torchwick and the White Fang tomorrow, but after hearing about Tukson I felt it may be necessary to look into the beheading cases again as well. But we decided not to due to Sun and Neptune now being involved in our current investigation. The fewer people that knew what we knew about the beheadings the better. I had finally closed my eyes and drifted to sleep. I would need it for tomorrow.