For as adamant about his skill as Qrow was there were times when he finally had to admit he'd been outplayed. He took a moment to stop and breath, and as he cast one last glance at his surroundings he let out a quiet swear followed by a growl.
Slippery little rat...
The 'spy' as was dubbed had given him the slip, and considering nobody would even see them as anything remotely interesting enough to watch over had him suspecting that Salem may have been involved. Qrow was doubly set on finding his contact as soon as possible, although that would depend on the contact themselves.
Best he could do was go to the scheduled meeting point.
The scraggly huntsmen was about to take off when some hushed whispers and murmurs caught his ear. As quiet as he could Qrow pressed himself against the alleyway wall and crouched low. He wanted to stay out of sight as the words were rapidly closing in. With eyes zapping about in a rushed search for any type of cover he noticed the mass amounts of trash and discarded cloth that littered the damp filth covered area.
Why me? Qrow sucked up his mild amount of disgust - having dealt with far worse decisions before - and set to work gathering the horrid bits of repulsive garbage. laying flat across the ground he practically bathed himself in what equated to top-side sewage. Hoping his plan would work he stilled just as the voices drew near.
"All I'm saying is we need to keep a better grip on this. One slip of the tongue and they'll be all over us."
"We know that, everybody knows that." A man sighed. "Look, so long as everybody pays they said the Grimm won't cause no trouble."
"And you really believe that?" Another more spastic man squeaked. "You saw those things, they look almost human man!"
"Shut it! Do you want them to hear you?" The first hushed threateningly. "Remember what happened with Lily's place? Poor gal ain't got no chance of coming back from that one."
"I know I know, but she was right wasn't she?" The first spoke again in a hushed tone. "Those things aren't like the Grimm we hear about all the time. I think she was onto something when she suggested they might be something else."
"She's an ex-huntress, I've no doubt she's onto something, but it doesn't matter. Everyone knows those things are being controlled, why do you think paying that fee gives us any safety at all? They let 'em loose when we fail to pay, simple as that, and I don't want to give them a reason to suddenly change that. Keep a lid on it and let it pass, I'm sure they'll be gone just as soon as they came."
"I hope you're right."
Qrow waited exactly two minutes before rising from the waste, all the while his mind was racing - even as he brushed as much filth off as he could.
I knew something was up. He let out another sigh at what he was sure would be another massive headache. Just my luck, more shit to add to the list.
Like it or not he knew something had to be done, the meeting place could be potentially compromised if the trouble sprinkled around was left alone. Of course dealing with such a trouble would be tedious at best, and downright deadly at worst. The first thing to come to mind was the kids, and as much as he wanted to keep them out of it he knew he wouldn't be able to deal with the problem alone; they'd find a way into it anyway and he was determined to at least keep an eye over them as they did so. He would be checking out the woman known as Lily later, but at the moment he needed to get back to the kids.
He had an itch something big was going on in Mistral.
.
.
"Dead?... What do you mean dead?!" Yang growled as Lil'Miss leveled a closed gaze.
"It is as I just said, but to understand you must first know that his death was no mere accident."
"You're saying he was murdered." Ren assumed as the woman displayed a quick smirk.
"Quick to catch on, you children are full of surprises. Yes, and believe it or not he wasn't the first." A chill set in over all as Lil'Miss swept her eyes across each of them. "For the past few months hunters have been mysteriously disappearing. The headmaster would send them out on missions and they would never return. At first I myself considered getting in touch with him later on to figure out why he didn't send more than a handful each time; it was obvious something was out there, and yet the headmaster continued on as if nothing were wrong."
"But they're hunters though." Ruby spoke up as the woman focused on her. "Killing Grimm is their specialty. Didn't anyone at least get word back?"
"Unfortunately no, and that was precisely what bothered me. Information is my business, and when something shows up that I don't know that's when I stretch out." The woman held up her hand, with both index and middle fingers raised. "It's been two days since his death was made public, but I suspect he'd been dead for a while."
"Hold up." Yang interrupted. "Only two days?"
"Strange right? and to make matters worse a few days ago a new gang suddenly showed up, doing the usual slop of offering 'protection' as most newer groups do. This time however they bragged they had ways of making people pay."
"Why though?" Ren asked as he scrunched his brows in thought. "Wouldn't that just invite the authorities?"
"It did, in fact, do just that." The woman presented a jaded scowl. "And just like that they saw fit to show off what it was exactly that they meant."
"Did they have hunters?" Ruby asked as Lil'Miss laughed lightly.
"The opposite in fact." The laugh died completely. "They had Grimm."
"Like what happened in Amity." Yang let out, only to be moderately set off when the woman shook her head.
"No, nothing even remotely similar to that." Lil'Miss scowled deeper than before. "These ones... they were different, unlike anything I've ever seen." Her eyes settled on Pyrrha. "Or at least that was the case."
The pale champion took a moment to register the gaze she'd received before she spoke.
"Let me guess, just like me, only covered in the same plating as other normal Grimm."
"An astute answer... almost too perfect even." The woman's eyes narrowed. "And what do you know of these Grimm?" The woman's eyes hardened as Pyrrha chuckled slightly.
"Of the Grimm you spoke of; nothing. However this isn't the first time we've seen something matching that description, or... maybe it's better to say someone instead."
"Interesting. You imply there's a person who matches such an appearance, other than yourself that is?"
"Once upon a time." Pyrrha's face fell into one of apathy. "But he's gone now."
"Ah, well my condolences for that, in all honesty I never expected that type of answer." Lil'Miss gave a polite bow towards Pyrrha who waved it off.
"It's nothing. There's no use in worrying over painful memories, especially when things seem to be getting worse every day."
"I suppose that's one way of looking at it. Although I must ask: by chance, are there others like this person, or even you in that case?"
"You mean others who appear Grimm?" Pyrrha hardened a look as her eyes wandered over her own body. "I don't think so. He was the first person I'd ever who looked like that, and even now it was because of him I look the way I do now." Pyrrha's eyes softened as she clenched her fists. "I'd be dead if it wasn't for him."
"So he was the only one... this is troublesome." Lil'Miss sighed. "And what of you Qrow? know of any others like that?"
"No, but it's entirely possible." The man's voice startled the others as all eyes shot to him.
"Uncle Qrow?! When did you get back?!" Ruby all but shouted as the man flinched. A small whistle quieted them.
"Indoor voices please, we don't want to disturb everyone else at the inn." Lil'Miss spoke with a clap of her hands before turning turning back to Qrow. "You've been lingering on the windowsill for the past few minutes, anything to add?"
"All I'm saying is that there's a possibility that our recently lost friend wasn't the only one of his kind. World's a big place, and if one of 'em exist then I'm certain more do as well. That answer your question?" Qrow's voice was as cocky as ever, and yet Ruby felt like there was something else in there; a certain edge she couldn't quite shake off.
"I suppose it does." The woman brushed at her overcoat. "Well then, I'll leave you to your own devices, do remember though that I'm always around should you find yourselves seeking some answers... for a price that is." She turned and stopped. "Although it might interest you to know that I'll be offering a reward to anyone who can put a stop to our newest inconvenience. That is all, take care."
She left, and with her departure a sense of worry settled in. Ruby being the first to act looked up to Qrow as he stepped in from the window, shutting it and pulling back the blinds before he wandered over to take a spot just before them.
"What... was that?" Yang asked as everyone focused on the man who they hoped had at least some form of answer. Qrow in turn sighed as he let himself relax on the drawer he leaned against.
"That, kids, is what one of my friends looks like."
"You two are friends?" Nora asked as Qrow let out a quick laugh.
"Not in the slightest. What I mean is she's one of my allies... technically."
"I don't like that 'technically'." Yang spouted as Qrow rolled his eyes.
"Lil'Miss there is an information broker. Her whole thing is that she gives info to whoever pays. Her whole trade revolves around knowing anything and everything about Mistral and it's underground."
"So she's spying on everyone." Ruby's eyes widened as she frantically looked around. "Does that mean there are cameras everywhere?! Do I need to check the bathrooms?!"
"Easy there squirt." Qrow told as he let out a breath. "It's not that simple. Think of it this way: she has friends who tell her things, and those friends have friends of their own who do the same, and then those friends have friends, and so on."
"She sends out a question, and eventually it finds it's way back to her." Ren stated. "People think they're talking with friends and relatives, but one of those friends gets friendly with another group and whatever was talked about, no matter how private, gets out."
"Right on the money pretty-boy." Qrow said as he looked over them all. "So long as you don't speak about anything, she usually won't ever try to take anything, unless of course she finds a buyer first."
"So we're safe then." Jaune let out a breath, only to suck it back in as Qrow audibly sighed. "We're not, are we?"
"No, she suspects we know something, and to an extent she's right."
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked as Qrow leveled her and everyone else a hard look.
"Listen closely, what we say here doesn't leave this room understand."
"A little ominous don't 'cha think?" Yang piped up with a light chuckle, which quickly died as the man wore a stern look. "Okay, so we're really getting into something. This... isn't going to be nice, is it?"
"No." Qrow stated as his face darkened. "Honestly I wanted to tell you when we had my contact present, but it looks like we don't have that luxury. I wasn't lying when I said there might be more out there, but to understand that I need to tell you the truth, the real truth about how I know, along with what we as hunters are truly fighting against."
"Isn't it the Grimm." Nora asked as Qrow plastered a dark smirk across his lips.
"In a way yes, but the headmasters as well as a select few know what we're really up against." Qrow sighed for a second, just long enough for Pyrrha to let her voice be heard.
"Is it related to V?"
"More than you know. It all starts with a woman named Salem."
.
.
Blake was horrified.
After the whole ordeal with the White Fang and Fennec's insatiable desire to fulfill his vengeance against humanity she'd hoped things would begin to look up. In a way it did for a second: They'd defeated the group, prevented the execution from going through, and saved Weiss all the while putting a stop to Fennec's schemes to boot.
Sienna being stabbed wasn't part of the plan. More than ever Blake found herself experiencing more care towards her former employer since she'd been a part of them. Sienna had been one for action - at least as far as she could remember - and the very fact that she would risk everything to save what she must have viewed as a life-long foe was telling in it's own right.
Unfortunately the woman would never get to see her efforts through.
It hurt, more than she expected, witnessing Sienna being pierced through the chest, so much so that Blake couldn't hold back the flow of raw panic that thrashed throughout her veins. However there was something stronger than that panic which ruled her, something so undoubtedly powerful that even her grief at watching the formerly misguided leader's death had no hold against. A newfound jab of pure emotion which rocketed through every inch of her body.
Terror couldn't ever begin to describe it.
The way Fennec twitched; the way his body swayed in the grasp of the horrendous monster which stood behind him; it was a sight which brought nothing but tears to the girl. It stood, dauntingly silent and stoic in it's demeanor as Fennec chocked up blood and bile, all while small fragments of speech managed to crawl from his lips.
It didn't matter; the thing threw him aside as if he were nothing but a small scrap of worthless garbage clinging to it's hand. It stood there, unmoving, and with an aura of raw force. It's commanding presence was more than enough to halt Blake in any movements she would have otherwise made.
Her eyes shot to Weiss who mimicked her own state, pale and frozen in place. Could she have summoned the beast in her panic, at the fear and worry of watching her savior die right in front of her? It was entirely possible with her semblance, and yet as Blake looked on she noticed Weiss had not made any moves, and subsequently the monster that stood before them had no signs or glyphs around it.
The Grimm arrived on it's own, and despite their previous victory Blake could almost physically feel it's power. She understood then and there that if they were to get into a fight with it they would die. What shocked the Faunus girl most of all however was the form it took; something that should have been impossible.
"V... V is... is that you?" Weiss croaked out. She was the first to break the silence as the thing merely remained where it stood, but Blake could see it's eyes shift.
Weiss called it almost perfectly; the thing was almost a spitting copy of their recently lost friend, and that itself had scared her to an extent. Blake could see how Weiss shuddered on the spot, with a mix of pain and confusion playing across her form. The Faunus girl wanted to believe her friend, she oh so hoped it to be true, but deep down her sensibilities won out.
That thing couldn't be V, and with that she wondered just what it was. Yet she had not a moment to think before it began to move.
.
.
Weiss watched as he approached, observing how he swayed with each step as if in a trance. The bone plating coated his entire body this time and not a speck of attire could be seen. However Weiss noticed that his appearance had changed from before.
Gone was the bleached white of his armor, now taking on a darker almost ashy grey. The smoke that leaked from between each individual joint and opening between the plates now held a sort of violet hue to it, which appeared to balance just on the edge of it's usual black. His iris's were as stark as ever, but the crimson flames they'd grown so used to had molded a detestable dark purple; just a slip brighter than the smoke flowing off him and appearing almost venomous.
V was dead however, and yet her body screamed it was him as a seething pain pressed against her neck. Weiss didn't need to look to know that her mark was responding to his approach. Her eyes locked with his, and as the terror shot through each and every limb she couldn't break away. His body was his, his power was his, but the beast behind those eyes...
It was different.
He stopped before her, and his head lowered as if to observe her whole. A small prick of shame poked from her heart as she realized her pitiful exposed form, and his eyes trailing across her sent a wave of despair at the realization of just how pathetic she must have appeared. All the strength and drive she felt before deflated as she huddled slightly in on herself. Her hands moved to cover her body, and as she moved the shame only doubled at a new realization, one that trailed down her left leg.
At some point during the previous fight her bladder had released it's contents which only added to the mix of blood and other filth that glazed her. Just how low had she fallen to be put in such a state? The elegant and dignified Schnee heiress, proud and powerful, was reduced to a naked slobbery mess of blood, piss, and grime.
Weiss never got time to dwell on it as he started off again, only this time she gained a newfound sense of dread. He observed her, gazed at her wounds and state, and started off towards a particular woman, all the while a swell of death radiated from him strong enough that she almost lost the contents of her stomach. Panic tore across every inch of her as Weiss realized just what he intended to do.
He was headed towards the Faunus woman they held captive, and he was intent to kill. But something was wrong, Weiss didn't know why but she felt that if he were to kill the woman... no, to kill any of them...
Her very soul quivered.
Weiss moved with nothing but the small hope that she might be able to do something.
.
.
I'd never felt so much painfully seething apathy before, not since the day I burned Angela's murderer.
Fennec took her from me, he'd taken away the one person who'd known the truth and still chose to aid me, the one who'd shown she could change. When Sienna dropped I felt something click and all feeling left me. The hatred was gone, the worry and pain were gone, and all that remained was a sense of purpose.
He would die; that was all there was to it. It wasn't a threat or a swear of vengeance, but a fact; a simple part of nature. Flowers blossomed, birds flew, and Fennec dies; it was just the way of things.
He struggled of course, flailing desperately as I drove my claws into his chest just barely grazing his heart. He wouldn't die instantly, no, I needed to see him struggle and cling desperately to life. However he was only one of two, and so I tossed his body aside, but not before feeling the breeze of energy flow from him into me. It screamed out soundlessly in a futile attempt to escape, but it burned all the same.
Just like before.
It came back to me, that feeling from so long ago, that understanding of natural purpose that only showed itself on the fateful night of my revenge. But Angela was gone, and so too was Sienna. No rage consumed me however; no emotions at all actually. It felt like my very soul was at ease, and it gave me a sense of peace I'd never experience before. It was pure, as if this emotionless void was what I was truly meant to be.
I made my way to Weiss who shivered on the spot. The girl looked horrible, coated in muck and wounds, and as her eyes locked with me I could see the fear in them. I could practically smell her terror as it expelled from her like a subtle fragrance. It was sweet and almost syrupy with the way it clung to her. I wanted to take it in; to taste it; to experience it's wonderous secrets and joys. I wished for nothing more than to allow my lust for fear to go wild.
Another scent stole my attention however, one that was much less pleasurable than Weiss. It was stained in horror like all others, but this fear was cocooned in a shell of guilt. I saw her, Magenta, held down and restrained by Blake and Sun. Her eyes bore terror, and her soul regret. I could feel the shame she held close, desperately trying to keep it locked away.
I decided I would set it free.
I made for her, intent to sever the small string of life which bound her soul and body together, and yet I felt something. A small tug pulled my arm back, and as I faced it I saw Weiss gripping tightly. It was a small subtle action with no real intent behind it, but her eyes...
They did something to me.
The fear held within them, it wasn't sweet.
No... no that's wrong... fear isn't supposed to be sweet.
What was going on? Something wasn't right... I wasn't supposed to like it. It hit me then, the pain and the grief. My eyes wandered over to Sienna who lay motionless on the ground. Blood was all around her, and her chest never moved. I could feel it; the soulless husk that lay there. Sienna was gone, and no matter what I did, what I tried, or who I killed...
She wasn't coming back.
Like that the feelings came back, and the pain filled and spilled out as I felt my armour dissipate. I fell to my knees hard, all the while refusing to look away from Sienna's corpse. I'd failed again, just as before, and this time it was clear for all to see. I didn't know what to do, what I could do to ever come close to making it up to the woman. She put her trust in me, her hopes in me, she'd given me every ounce of drive she had, and in the end it cost her everything.
It was strange, there was nobody to kill for revenge, sure there was Fennec, but he was already dead. The Fang were also an option, but they merely did what they were told, rallied on by those with triumphant words. Maybe there was Adam, but he only cared about his revenge on humanity.
Heh... It was funny in a way. Sienna's death didn't hurt as much as Angela, or even as much as when I though Pyrrha died. Maybe I was getting used to losing people all the time; it was the only thing I could think of to explain the lack of sorrow.
"V... is it really you?" I'd recognised the voice as Blake's, and stood before turning to face her.
I saw her along with Sun who sported wounds similar to Weiss, and in their grip was Magenta. Just like that my rage returned. I made for her, hand curled in to fists intent on breaking every bone in her vile body. She was responsible, she had to be, otherwise who was? Yet I was stopped again as Weiss stood between us with arms outstretched to block my path. Her eyes cried out how tired she was, and her posture painted how little energy she had left.
"Please, no more... no more killing today, no more death." I wanted to argue, to push her aside and finish off Magenta once and for all, but the air Weiss gave off stopped me. A small snarl escaped my lips, and even so I relented.
"Fine." Her face showed relief as she went limp. I was about to move to her when Sun beat me there. He held her close as her breathing steadied and a relaxed look masked the filth that marred her.
Looking past the two I saw another woman had taken to holding Magenta's other side in place of Sun, one who regarded me with fear. Yet Blake's words broke through the air and took everyone's attention.
"Let's just get home for today, we'll talk then."
I nodded carefully and watched how Blake and the other woman flipped Magenta to tie her hands with something. The two started back, followed by Sun who nodded to me and held Weiss to his chest.
I looked down at my hands and flexed them, wondering just how I had lost myself so completely. All I knew was that I saw Sienna drop, I saw her die, and just like that my senses died along with her. But the others brought me back, and even seeing the state I was in Weiss had taken the chance to reach out to me.
It was so strange as I thought of it. I was just as nude as Weiss and Sun, only I lacked the wounds and scars they held, yet for some reason it felt as though they were cleaner than I.
I shook my head and trailed after them; I'd had enough fighting for one day.
Author's note
...
Late again, mostly due to a messed up work schedule, but at least we got this one out. Not going to say much this time, make of the chapter how you see fit.
Until next time.