Please enjoy, and constructive criticism is appreciated. (I do not own RWBY, but I do own all the OCs except three, Nick and Isabel, which belong to my real life friend, although I did design them; and Shade, who belongs to my online friend The Burning Ruler)

Blood of Grimm: Chapter 10

Valke stands up, grabbing Selyn's hand, then looks at Salem. "Now what?"

"Now, you belong to me. You can't disobey my orders, but you will have the same behavior and personality otherwise. You will stay in the same room as your dear girlfriend." She turns and waves them away. Connor and Selyn lead Valke to a nearby series of caves carved into a cliff face. Inside is a labyrinth of hallways and doors, the walls polished and smooth and are dotted with odd glowing crystals, bright enough to light the caverns, but not as bright as electric lights. They stop at a door.

Connor gestures down the hall a few feet. "That's my room. Call if you need me." He walks away, entering said room.

Selyn opens the door and enters, Valke close behind her. Inside is a fairly spacious room. There is a single bed against the far wall, facing a TV with several game systems, old and new. A large bookshelf is to the side of that, and next to it is a desk with a multitude of papers, pens, and pencils, as well as a CD player and a large collection of CDs. A microphone and various audio recording equipment lies in that corner. A closet is open on the opposite wall, revealing a collection of Lolita style dresses, along with a few normal clothes. Next to the bed in the same side is a bathroom.

Selyn walks over to the open closet and hangs her hooded cloak up, revealing that she is wearing a light blue shirt and jeans, along with leather bracers that hold her folded up weapons.

Valke walks over to the TV and begins inspecting the games, spotting all of the ones he'd had in Mistral. "They really did their research."

Selyn walks over. "This are all the stuff you left in Mistral, plus some. By the way, I can't believe you left it all there." She pokes him in the stomach.

"I just wanted to get away from that place. Too many bad memories. I had enough with the ring." He holds up his left hand. "I have yours, by the way, but it's at Beacon, so I won't be retrieving it for a while."

Selyn opens her mouth to speak, but is interrupted by a venomous voice from the door. "Get away from him, mutt!"

Selyn looks alarmed and angry. Valke turns around and goes into shock, but recovers immediately. Suddenly, the soulless-eyed girl made sense. "Hello mother." He turns to Selyn. "Go out into the hall and stay there until she goes away. Don't look at her eyes." Selyn does so, closing the door behind her.

Valke looks at his mother. Her hair is long and black, save for her characteristic red stripe along the left side. Her face looks to be in the late forties, and has light wrinkles. Her skin is pale and around her neck is a large, rough scar. She is wearing a long, black dress with white stripes in odd, flowing patterns. She might be attractive to some. He glares at her venomously.

She sighs. "I don't understand what you see in that half-bre-"

"DON'T finish that sentence. I'm a half-breed too and you know it. Father's a human that you slept with for fun. Besides, I love her and she loves me! Which is more than I can say about you and father!"

She slaps him. "How dare you. I loved your father. Then he ran from me, and you as well. He abandoned us, a coward afraid of his own child!"

"Because you're a clingy psychopathic woman who suddenly told a man that you bear his child!"

The fight is about to come to blows when Connor bursts in. "ENOUGH!" He looks at Valke. "Calm down. She's not worth arguing with. And you, Altaea! Leave now. Valke needs time to rest. He did just come back from the underworld."

Scowling, Altaea leaves. "This isn't over yet." She stomps out, and Selyn re-enters the room after a second.

Breathing slowly, Valke sits on the bed. "I absolutely despise her! She won't leave me alone even after we're both dead!" Selyn sits down next to him, laying her head on his shoulder.

A few minutes later, Valke has calmed down enough that he isn't about to smash a wall. Connor returns to his room, saying that he was going to take a nap. Valke tells Selyn his life story after she died, and afterwards they play videogames, like the good days. They fall asleep late at night, both happy despite the circumstances.

The next day, Selyn and Valke wake up and prepare for the day. Selyn then leads Valke to where they eat, an expansive hall that functions as a meeting place and a cafeteria, and is filled with Reapers, White Fang, and other criminals. The food is surprisingly good. Connor meets up with them and they have a conversation.

"Connor, anyone else from the village here?"

"No. Only you, Altaea, and I."

"Nobody else was useful to Salem?"

"Probably. Well, if we help her, she says she can revive the rest of them."

"Changing subjects, why do you look as though you never died? I mean, both of you seem to have aged normally."

Selyn answers. "I asked, and Salem said something to do about the soul aging even in death, and the body being built around the soul. I don't know much more than that. On the bright side, I can fight now, as you experienced. Sorry if I hurt you by the way. I didn't mean to cause you any serious damage."

"It's alright. I'm… relatively fine now, aren't I?"

After a slight pause, Selyn wonders: "Your mother… why shouldn't I look at her eyes?"

"Her Reaper ability. Every Reaper has a personal ability. While not unique, there's little chance of encountering two living Reapers with the same power. Hers is instant hypnosis. Like Shin no Ippo from Rurouni Kenshin, except only a very small handful of people can fight back. Mine is to take the aspects of Grimm while in human form by drinking the blood only I can extract from them, and Connor's is to be able to change his human form, which is why he has blond hair."

After this, they go back to their rooms, playing some more videogames. Unfortunately, Cinder and her group had destroyed the Cross Continental Transmit Tower in Vale, so they had no communication or way to watch videos and such.

A week passes until Salem calls Valke for a mission. He finds her at the same place she always seems to be at, staring off into nothingness. "Hello Valke. Enjoying your life here?"

"You try really hard to impress. It's actually not that bad, other than the view out here."

Salem chuckles. "Well, you'll get to see grass soon enough. You're going to raid a specific Atlas research facility and bring me the results of the 'Ghoul' project. Break in if you need to."

Valke bows. "Very well. I'll set off right now." He returns to the caves and retrieves his temporary new weapons: a silenced, short-barreled P90 submachine gun with a laser aiming module, and a long, wavy kris knife. As he passes by his and Selyn's room, he kisses her. "I'm of on a mission from Salem. I'll be back in a week or so."

"Just like old times, huh? Except now we're fighting for the other side."

"Yup." He laughs as he leaves, realizing the irony of his new life.

Two days later, Valke is walking along a lone forest path when he sees a lit up complex ahead. It's concrete, with heavy steel doors, surrounded by barbed wire and Atlas Knights and a Paladin. He silently drops the first two Knights before the other ones are alerted to his presence. He dispatches the Knight quickly, and turns to face the Paladin. Rolling past its initial swipe, he slashes at the back of its left knee, severing the wires exposed there. He turns and fires at the right knee as well, disabling movement. He climbs onto its shoulder and slashes at the underarm area, where more wires are exposed. Slashing at the wrist of the arm about to grab him, he swings to the other shoulder, repeating the process. He then hangs in front of the mech's cockpit, releasing a lightning fast chain of left and right slashes, tearing through the light armor. He stabs at an angle, breaking open the door, relieved to find it unmanned. He jumps off, firing the P90's low caliber, high velocity rounds into the machinery, causing the inside to explode, permanently disabling the mech's AI. He enters the compound, searching the labs stealthily.

One of the labs he passes by is full of scientists. "Wilde pulled another DNA specialist yesterday."

"Again? We're losing all the talent to that mysterious project of his. I have half a mind to complain to the old man."

"Wilde's here? Interesting. Does that mean Sara's here? I was told she left Vale…" His mind made up, he sets off to find Wilde's office.

General Thomas Wilde is an old man, about age seventy, with graying hair, a wrinkled face, and reading glasses over wise aquamarine eyes. Despite his age, he appears to be fit, and still spars with some of the on-site soldiers. He is currently doing paperwork in his office when someone knocks on his door. "Enter."

He is surprised to see Valke walk in. "Hello General." Valke takes the seat across the desk.

"… Are you here to kill me?"

Valke laughs. "No. I have no wish to do so, and I promised Sara I wouldn't anyway. By the way, how is she? Is she here?"

Wilde looks surprised. "Sara? She said she was going to stay in Vale. Last minute decision."

Valke looks concerned. "Sir, she left Vale on an Atlas airship five days ago."

"What? Where could she have gone?" Suddenly, a creature resembling a white Reaper drops from the ceiling. The robes are shorter and black, with the same blood-like patterns. It has no armor, and its left hand is a curved blade formed by the fingers. Its hair is an eerily familiar pink.

"A Ghoul? What's it doing he-" It lunges forward, stabbing Wilde in the abdomen. He tumbles to the ground, and Valke shoots the Ghoul, blasting it off Wilde. He vaults over the desk, stabbing the Ghouls in the neck. It dissolves into white dust. Wilde stands up.

"Luckily you stopped it before any major damage could be done. Thank you."

"Sir, I have a few questions. Did you send troops after me this past year? And what are Ghouls? They're why I'm here."

"No, I didn't send troops after you. I don't have reason to do so, and I don't have any real authority over troops regularly anyways. And Ghouls are a secret project that is supposed to make Reaper DNA more feral."

"Well, that Ghoul had awfully familiar hair."

"Sara? But Lucas wouldn't…"

"Lucas?"

"Lucas Wilde. He's my son. He's been obsessed with Reapers after he had Reaper blood transfused into his body. He was in a fatal accident at age twenty, and he only had a chance that way. It changed him physically and slowed down the physical aging process."

"How many people had Reaper blood transmitted to them?"

"Five or six. Mostly scientists working on the Reaper project and volunteers near death."

"Where's the Ghoul lab?"

"Down the hall to the right, take the last left, then the second right. Another right, then the third left. It's the door at the end of the corridor on the right."

"Thank you. You should make your way to a medical doctor. You're still bleeding quite a bit, and you're not young anymore." Valke leaves, dashing through the hallways, following Wilde's directions. He comes upon a large reinforced door and kicks it open using his Aura.

Inside is a dark lab with several chambers containing growing Reapers. Music from the band Breaking Benjamin is playing, and restrained to the far wall is Sara, unconscious. Valke approaches her but is interrupted by more Ghoul from the ceiling. They circle him, their movements sloppy. "You're so sloppy and confused, you're like children."

Sara is drugged and half-unconscious, but can hear music from the band her foster brother likes. (Evil Angel by Breaking Benjamin.) She fights through the stupor, and manages to open her eyes. She sees Valke fighting several white creatures. He rolls under a high cut, slashing at the attacker's knees, disabling it. Turning and blocking an overhead swing, he fires a couple bursts at the new assailant, reducing it to particles. The third one lunges at him, but he grabs its shoulder, flipping over it. Driving his dagger into its neck, he severs it using the broad blade. The injured one repairs its knees and stands up. Valke punches it and kicks its head, breaking the neck and killing it instantly.

Sheathing the knife, Valke runs to Sara and releases her. She collapses onto the floor and he leans her against the wall. "Valke? We thought… you had died."

He smiles. "I did, but I'm back now. We need to get you away from here, but you need to be able to move first. We'll wait a few minutes."

About fifteen minutes later, Sara manages to rise to her feet, stumbling towards Valke, who catches her and leans her on him. Suddenly, a gunshot is heard and a laser flies past them, hitting a nearby console. Releasing Sara, Valke turns to the threat.

A man in his twenties is in the doorway, dressed in a white military uniform with general's rank. His hands are in black fingerless glove and his right hand holds golden machete with an extremely long-barreled Desert Eagle semiautomatic handgun along the blade's spine, a joint at the back of the slide. The grip is black, with a 'D' style hand-guard and a sharpened pommel. Valke looks at his face and stops, stunned. His hair is medium length and light brown, save for one part covering his right eye. His left eye is cold and calculating, colored aquamarine. His face is angular and sharp.

Sara speaks. "Lucas…? Why?"

A cold, analytical voice, brimming with hatred. "Quiet brat. I've always hated you. You and father. He was always a way on missions or pampering you. He never spent time with me, his blood child." He sneers.

Sara looks absolutely broken, betrayed by her foster brother who she had trusted. Lucas aims at Sara when Valke laughs suddenly. He unleashes a rather odd revelation: "I guess it runs in the family… father."

"What are you talking about monster?"

"Don't you remember Altaea? She toyed with you after all."

Lucas' eyes narrow. "Oh, her. She told me you would die."

"Of course she would. She hates you more than she hates me. She blames you for running away. I don't. She's a psychopath, through and through."

"And I've tried being certain twice. Once five years ago, once this past year."

"You sent all those soldiers?! Well, now I hate you, too!" Valke dashes in, clashing blades with his father. A very fitting song is playing. "Well, at least we have similar taste in music."

"So it would seem. And it's very fitting."

"Sara, help me kill this traitor."

"No, help me kill this aberration of nature."

Simultaneously, they say: "We dance with a devil!" (Play Dance with the Devil by Breaking Benjamin.)

The two dart around the room, barely a blur to the human eye. Neither can land a hit on the other, and by unspoken agreement, neither uses his gun. Sara watches, conflicted. Who to help, nephew or brother, monster or general, savior or captor?

Sara makes a split second decision and tackles Lucas, holding him. Valke uses the opportunity to stab him in the chest and kick him away. Grabbing Sara, he dashes wildly to Wilde's office. (Pun not intended.)

"Stay in here, don't let anyone but Wilde senior in. He's the only one you can trust. Stay safe, Aunt Sara. Say thanks to grandpa. Wow that sounds weird." He turns to leave and looks back one last time. "I'm sorry. You made a hard decision. Thank you." He slips out and exits the research facility.

Back at the Ghoul lab, a woman walks in and looks at Lucas. "You can stop acting now dear."

Lucas opens his eyes and gets up. "Hello sweetie."

Altaea smiles and kisses Lucas. "We fooled him for sure. You go into hiding, I'll report to Salem." Lucas nods and walks out, taking off his ruined shirt and jacket, revealing numerous black scars all over his torso. He brushes aside his hair, revealing a red Reaper eye. He blinks and a flash of light appears. He is gone, not a trace of him other than his clothes and the ruined lab in sight.

Hello, Valkerix here with some more author's notes and facts. (Sorry for the shorter chapter.)

First, Altaea: Honestly, I had a fight with my mom and vented it here. Her name is based off Altair from AC. I learned Valke is an African language for falcon, so I thought it would be funny, cause supposedly Altair means eagle? I'm too lazy to confirm that though.

Ghouls and Sara: Originally, Sara was going to be a Reaper, but a second phase one where they lacked the feral side and were easier to control, with altered physical characteristics. I changed this because I didn't like the story I was making. So I changed it to Ghouls that don't have a human side and made the first wave of them using Sara's DNA.

Wilde family: I didn't want to make Wilde Sr. a bad guy, so I gave him a son. I came up with the idea of Sara's abduction and Valke being Lucas' son listening to songs, which is how I make most scenes. Lucas' weapon is based off Haken Browning's, from Super Robot Taisen OGSaga, weapons, particularly his revolver laser cannon, and I also just wanted to give him a snobby, overdone weapon. By the way, Lucas is actually about late thirties, early forties, but Reaper blood slows aging. Oh, and Sara doesn't know Lucas got promoted to general.

So, this is the last chapter until Volume 4 comes out. I'm probably going to start an SAO fic since my real life friends all seem to have watched it.