RWBY: Son of Salem

Marek's POV

"Weiss!" Jaune rushed to her side as Mist walked away from me, joining Raven and the other girl.

A surge of anger rushed through me as I watched Weiss' motionless body.

I got to my feet, ready to lunge at Mist but felt a sharp pain rush through my shoulder as Emerald shot me again.

She smirked as she aimed at my head, pulling the trigger seconds later.

I ducked under the bullet, getting on all fours, before lunging at Emerald.

I pounced on her, pinning her to the ground. I raised my hand but before I could finish her, Mercury slammed into my side.

Sliding to my feet, I glared at the two, ready for any attack.

"How are you still standing?!" Emerald asked. "You shouldn't be breathing!"

I barred my teeth as I dug my claws into the ground. "Let's just finish him." Mercury said. He went for an attack but before he reached me, Yang slammed into him.

Emerald tried to help him but I quickly rushed her, swiping her leg out from under her and lifting my foot into the air, slamming my heel into her chest.

I got on top of her and gripped the collar of her shirt, punching her again and again. Her aura broke as I sunk my claws into her shoulder.

"That's enough!" Ren yelled as he rushed over to me. "She's down!"

I glanced at him before turning back to Emerald, raising my hand for the finishing blow.

As I brought my claw down, Ren pushed me off of her.

"You don't need to kill her!" he told me as I turned to face him.

Ren's POV

Marek got on all fours as he glared at me. He dug his claws into the ground and I quickly pulled out my weapons, readying myself.

"I'm not your enemy." I told him.

He pounced and I quickly ducked under him, turning to face him as he landed.

"You need to calm down."

He growled before rushing me in a zig-zag. It was hard to keep up with him, he was moving too fast.

I readied my weapons as he lunged at me, swiping my shoulder as he passed by.

"Marek!" Nora yelled. "What are you doing?!"

He stopped moving to glance at all of us, his eyes landing on me. He crouched down and rushed me at lightning speed.

As he reached me, Nora hit his side with her hammer, knocking him into the wall.

Marek's POV

"You need to calm down!" Ren shouted.

I barred my teeth as I ripped myself out of the wall, landing on my feet.

Emerald's POV

I readied my weapons as Yang took her stance.

She ran at me and I quickly slid to the side, ready to hit her but stumbled forward as something hit my back.

I glanced behind me to see that Ren guy had been thrown into me by Marek.

I felt a dark aura surround Marek, causing me to, instinctively, back away.

He turned to face me, his teeth barred.

"W-what are you?!" I took a step back as he crouched down on all fours.

He lunged at me but Mercury managed to kick him back before continuing his fight with Yang.

"What kind of monster are you?!" I yelled at him.

He grinned at me, sending a chill down my spine, before rushing towards me.

Marek's POV

As I reached Emerald, someone knocked me over, pinning me to the ground.

"Calm down, kid!" Qrow said as I struggled under his hold.

"Get. Off. Me!" I growled as I pushed back, standing up straight and throwing Qrow off my back.

I turned to the drunk readying my claws. "Kid, what are you doing?!"

I crouched down and lunged at him, only to be sent over him as he blocked my swing.

"Kid!"

Ruby's POV

I slowly sat up, holding my head.

"Ruby!" Pyrrha rushed to my side and helped me stand up.

"What's...happened?" I asked, groggily. "Wait! Marek, is he...?"

"He's..." Pyrrha stopped. "Weiss is injured...it's not looking too good."

"What?!" I glanced over to see Jaune kneeling over Weiss, his arms glowing. "Weiss."

Pyrrha helped me walk over and kneel down next to Weiss.

"What happened?!"

"Mist did this!" Jaune replied. "I'm trying to help as best I can."

I lifted his hands to see her wound had closed. "Whatever you're doing, don't stop."

"I won't."

I glanced behind me when I hears Qrow yell.

Marek was on all fours, attacking Qrow without letting up.

"He needs help." Pyrrha told me. "Go, we can take care of Weiss."

I nodded as I turned around and ran to help Qrow.

Marek broke through Qrow's defense and was about to deliver a fatal blow.

I rushed towards them and jumped in front of Qrow.

Marek's POV

I was about to cut Qrow's neck but Ruby jumped in the way.

I managed to avoid hurting her, cutting her cheek a bit, as I stopped in my tracks.

She slowly opened her eyes. "Marek?"

"Ruby...I-" I was cut off as Qrow wrapped his arm around my neck, squeezing slightly.

"You need to calm down!" he told me as I started to lose consciousness.

My eyes slowly closed as he laid me on the ground.

Ruby's POV

"Why was he trying to hurt you?" I asked Qrow.

"I...don't know." he replied. "He just lost it. Started attacking everyone that stood in his way."

"What?!" I looked down at him. "Why?!"

"It was right after you were knocked out," Qrow replied. "and Weiss was injured."

I slowly reached towards Marek and softly shook him awake. He slowly opened his eyes and sat up, holding his head.

"What...happened?" he asked.

"You don't remember?" Qrow asked.

"Remember what?" Marek slowly stood up.

"Don't worry about it." Qrow replied. "How are you feeling?"

He glanced down at his side. "I'm...not bleeding so...I guess, good?"

"Hm."

"Mist, Raven and Vernal went down into the vault." I told him.

"For the relic."

"Yeah." Qrow pulled out his sword.

"Think you guys can distract them?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Marek's POV

"Good." I ran towards the entrance of the vault and jumped down, rolling to my feet as I hit the ground.

I stood up and saw Raven had been frozen in ice and Vernal had a dagger sticking out of her chest as Mist gripped her throat.

"W-what is this?!" Mist asked. "Where's the power?!"

Raven burst out of the ice. "You won't find it!" she growled. "Because Vernal isn't the Spring maiden." she took off her mask and threw it to the ground. "I am!"

End of chapter 32