Chapter 14

Webs of Lies

Ozpin surveyed the city atop one of high towered roof. He had being waiting for one other person for some odd minutes. For those few minutes, Ozpin had been thinking about what to tell Qrow in regards to his niece. While the headmaster of Beacon trusted the girl to hold off the Lord of Terror, he must still take measures in case of a worst case scenario. What he didn't need was the shapeshifting drunk to get in the way. He had been thinking about what to say to Qrow, for all the silver haired man needed was for Qrow to understand. Ozpin wouldn't ask for his help, but to at least get out of the way, should Ruby be lost to them, when Diablo takes her place.

A black bird swooped by, cawing at the bespectacled man. "Took you long enough." Ozpin said.

"What? I came as fast as I could. Wind was against me." Qrow said, waving his hand through the air, "Hard to get anywhere when I'm fight the air current as a four and half pound bird." Ozpin only sighed, and composed himself for what he was about to tell his companion.

"Qrow, I call you here because there something important to discuss." he started.

"This about Fall's murderer?" Qrow asked, "Because I'm curious as to why they haven't done anything yet. You think someone with that power would be out setting cities and towns aflame."

"As strange as that is, there something you should know about Ruby Rose." Ozpin said, immediately catching Qrow's attention. "Tell me Qrow, how do you think Ruby was able to control fire and lightning, have enhanced strength, along with her super speed Semblance?" the silver haired man asked, continuing to gaze out into the Vale cityscape.

"I... don't know exactly." Qrow said, taking out his flask, getting one very bad feeling about this talk, and if he was going listen to whatever Ozpin was going to say, he needed to take the edge off things. After taking a swig, he kept the flask in his hand just in case. "Tai and I just thought it had to do with her Slayer heritage. Summer never developed her full abilities, but Ruby is special."

"Yes, she is." Ozpin replied, "However, not in the way you think, and I dread the day her Slayer abilities actually do develop." Qrow was confused, as it was obviously plaster on his face.

"What are you talking about, Oz? What do you mean 'actually do they develop?'" Qrow questioned, "Are you telling me that those powers have nothing to do with that, and that you are afraid when they surface? Then how is it that she can do all that? What are you afraid of Ozpin?"

The headmaster of Beacon sighed, continuing to look out into the crisp, blue sky, above the pillars of concrete, steel, and glass. "Qrow, what I am about to say to you may sound ludicrous, but what I say is the truth. There is also something that I have to tell you about Ruby Rose that you will not like."

The flask began to crumple in Qrow's hand, "What is happening to Ruby? Damn it Ozpin, turn around and tell me what's going on." the dark haired man asked dangerously.

"She is host to a powerful, ancient being of absolute evil." Ozpin responded without missing a beat, "And I don't know how long she can hold him at bay. It could be years, months, weeks, or could happen tomorrow." he then turned, and face his companion, a look of hard dread in his eyes.

"Qrow, there may come a time when we must kill Ruby Rose."

/

The first thing Ruby notice when she finally came to was the terrible headache. She put a cold hand to her head trying to alleviate the pain to little success. Ruby opened her eyes, only to shut them when they came to contact with the bright fluorescent lights. She groaned, which caught the attention of the other occupant of the room.

"You're awake." Ruby heard, turning toward the voice to see Doctor Nightingale. The older woman closed the cabinets above her head, only allowing a brief glimpse to its contents, and it didn't look like medical supplies or tools. After lock the storage space, she walked over to Ruby's bedside. "How are you feeling Miss Rose?" If the good doctor was examining the young host, instead of a nurse, then classes are over and done. This does not bode well.

"Like I fought a Goliath and lost." Ruby said, rubbing her temple with a hand. It then occurred to her that she could have examined her while she was unconscious. Does she know about her... 'Deformations?' "Dr. Nightingale, did you examine me while I was passed out?"

"Don't worry Miss Rose," the medical professional said with a smile, "I don't examine patients without their consent, unless it is an absolute emergency, like an unknown fungal infection, but that's a story for another time. Besides, from what Mr. Arc had told me, you seemed to have a bad stomach ache, especially with the mess you made in the hall." the dark haired Doctor laughed to herself, "The janitor wasn't happy about that." she commented.

'She is lying!' A thought rang in the young huntress in training's head, 'She knows what I am! She must die!' Ruby just shut her eyes and tried to push those thoughts into the back of her mind.

To distract herself, she called upon the earlier memories, the near rending of her skin, the red smoke that came from inside her, her trying to convince Jaune, only for him to knock her out with a magical, electric charge, and now she was here hours later. The reminiscing came to a halt when the older woman spoke again.

"There are some antacid tablets and a glass of water on the stand next to you. Just tell me if you need anything else." The doctor said, while grabbing a clipboard and jotting down some notes. Ruby put the tablets in the glass, and immediately began to drink without waiting for the antacid tablets to dissolve fully, opting to shallow it all in one go.

"I think I'll just head back to my team now, Doctor Nightingale." Ruby called out, sitting up. She had to do something about all of this. Jaune believed the lies of the Lord of Hatred, and she was becoming a demon herself. She can't wait for Ozpin to return. Ruby has to do something now.

"Hm." The good doctor sounded, "Are you sure you are alright, Ms. Rose?"

"Yeah, can't have them worrying too much about me. Thanks for the medicine, Doctor." the young girl said, rising out from bed.

"I do hope this isn't bravado, Miss Rose." Nightingale sighed, looking away from patient to her desk, scribbling down something that was probably unrelated. "Too many times I've hear 'I'm fine' from prideful Hunters." She continued, doing an exaggerated gruff voice when she said the two words.

"Don't worry, doc. I promise this isn't just a show." Ruby replied, as she exited the room. "Thanks for healing me up. After she rounded a corner, she used her semblance to quickly get back to her team's room. She burst through the door, startling the other from their activities.

"Ruby!" Yang called out, setting aside the nearly torn magazine. "What happened? We got a notice that you were sick and that you were taken to Doctor Nightingale's office."

"Now's not the time." Ruby replied, shutting the door behind her, "I'm... Uh... I'm getting worse." she said, looking down to her feet.

"Seriously?!" Weiss incredulously shouted. "How much worse could this get?"

"I'm turning into what Diablo is." Ruby stated.

Blake raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, we know that, what with the spikes, scales, and tail."

"No, mentally. My thoughts are becoming... Demonic." Ruby said, the poison whispering in her mind. 'Why am I telling them this? It could be the final straw, and they will kill me.'

Was it really her traitorous thoughts, or her own?

"That really doesn't sound good." Yang said, unsure what to say. She was losing her sister more, and the blonde haired girl doesn't know what to do.

"Yeah, and there's still Jaune to deal with." Ruby replied, only to meet with curious and exasperated looks. "I seriously didn't tell you about this?" Ruby sighed, "Alright, Jaune has Diablo's oldest brother, Mephisto. He's the Lord of Hate, and he is lying to Jaune, making him believe that they were heroes, and that Ozpin was a villain. If we don't convince him, or restrain him, nothing good could come out of it." Ruby briefed.

"Exactly how many of Diablo's kind are there?" Blake asked, wanting to know whether or not there's some secret army that her leader failed to mention.

"Seven. I only know that Mesphisto is here. I don't know about the other five." Ruby said, "However, Imperius is here. He's golden angel we saw the other day. I don't know if more are coming in. Or if there are more already here." Ruby explained further.

Blake then looked to Weiss. "Don't say it."

Weiss, however was confused. "Don't say what?"

"'How much worse could this get?' You say that and it gets worse." Blake commented. Weiss grumbled in response.

"Look it doesn't matter, we have to figure this out. I'm not waiting for Ozpin to come back." Ruby, as she started to formulate a plan. "We need to find out what we can, and I don't care if it's just myths or stories. It's better than nothing." Ruby said.

"As much as I love to take the proactive approach, how can we be sure that we would find anything?" Yang questioned, "You said it yourself Ruby, these beings came from another world. What could we find that would apply to them?"

Ruby thought it over before coming up with an answer. "Ozpin had a book in his office that came from Sanctuary. He said that he found it. Then Imperius came even though it was after Diablo and his kind did. This means that the spell, the Hanus portal leads here, and that it was used before." Ruby said, explaining her revelation.

Blake then spoke next, "So this would mean that someone must know something. It could be in the legends and myths that have been told, or it could be somewhere within the missing parts of our history."

"It's better than nothing. Even if it's a long shot, it's better that just sitting on our hands." Yang said, as she started to put on her boots. The other two following suit. While they were getting ready, they heard a knock on the looked to each other, wonder who that could be, before Ruby opened it. Pyrrha stood looking absolutely frazzled and worried.

"Have you seen Jaune?" The redhead asked, skipping the pleasantries.

"I haven't seen him since before..." Ruby trailed off before she could that she was electrocuted by him, "I passed out earlier. Why? What happened."

"I don't know." Pyrrha said as she started to explain, her voice growing more befuddled with each sentence, "Jaune's been acting weird after he dropped you off at the Doctor's office. Then he skipped our last class, and when we came back to our dorm, there was this note saying that he has to get away from the academy. That we should not trust Ozpin." Pyrrha concluded. "What does he mean by that?

"I don't know." Ruby lied, "But we'll help you find Jaune. You know where he might be heading?" There's no way Ruby is dragging more in this maddening situation, but if Jaune is loose, there's no telling what Mephisto might do.

"No, I have no idea. Ren and Nora are searching the school and asking around if anyone had seen him. They'll text me if they got something."

"Give us a moment, and we'll join you." Ruby said, giving the fellow redhead a smile.

Pyrrha smiled in return, "Thanks Ruby, you're a good friend." Ruby shut the door softly after that. Those word stabbed at her heart. Lying to concerned friend, while having ulterior motives for finding the runaway Prime Evil host. It's not getting any easier.

"Well this just got worse." Blake commented. Weissed huffed indignantly.

"So you get to say it now?"

/

Jaune continued to walk, he was already just a mile from the city having ran the six from the school. His conquense felt heavy just up and leaving his team like that, and leaving them to be lied to be the vile scholar, Deckard Cain. The blonde sighed as he turned around to see the tall structures of the academy in the distance. Maybe he could go back, convince the others of the threat, then they can take down Cain together.

Mephisto, listening in on his host thoughts quickly shot down such ideas, "No my boy, you are not strong enough to face such a foe. Not to mention that Dialon and his charge must have awoke by not. They will only tell Cain side of the story. They will be turned against you." The Lord of Hate said, "Even that girl you seem to fancy."

Jaune just sighed again. He was no fool, he knew of Pyrrha's affections for him, and while he wanted to return them, Gramps said that he had to focus, that it was not time for such pursuits. Jaune thought that after they had graduated that they could be together. Now, that just seems like a faraway hope. "So much for being a Hunter. Eh, Gramps?" Jaune said as he continued down the road, sling the few possessions he has on him over his shoulder.

"It is just a title. You don't need the say of old fools to be Hunter, boy." Mephisto retorted. While getting a formal training from the academy had been the plan, this can be remedied. It may take longer, but he will wait for the fool to ripen with his guidance. While that whore his host favored had been a distraction, and completely separate to his plans, Mephisto would have let the boy be with her, perhaps have a child or two.

It would have been much sweeter to murder each and everyone them, when he took control. Watching as their father and husband drained the blood from their bodies, and watch them rot. All while Jaune watched. Ah well, the demon lord suppose that could still happen. Maybe the red harlet will join them, or the boy will find someone else to fill his accursed, bleeding heart. Either or would be fine to the old devil.

"I suppose you're right Gramps." Jaune said, though he didn't seem to mean it.

"Do not fret, boy, with my guidance we will fell the villain and expose what he is to the world." Mephisto said as he fed the young lad his poisonous words, "You will be a hero."

/

Imperius was full of righteous anger. He had been humiliated, his pride bruised, but it will not happen again. The Angel of Wrath will not underestimate his enemy again. This time, whether taking the skin of a mortal or a towering demon, Imperius will treat this like the battles of the Eternal Conflict. Against Diablo and his kind there can only be blood for blood.

Exiting the cave where he had been tending to his wounds, Imperius stepped out in the gaze of the falling sun. The golden armored Archangel took to the skies, fiery wings spread behind him, golden halo hovering above his helmet, and flew toward the city he last faced his nemesis. This time there will be no mistake, this time Diablo will die by his spear.

/

"Is everything ready for our presentation?" A voice asked from behind a wood and paper screen, as the owner put on and fixed his clothes. Today was a special day after all.

"Yessir, the volunteers are ready, and we already have potential new recruits coming in. Adam is being his usual moody self." Roman Torchwick said, standing at the other end of the room. The foppish man would like for one his cigars, but his teacher had denied him that small pleasure. He will not defy the person would had taught him such wondrous and deadly tricks and spells. While he had impressed the leader of the White Fang, he would not teach him unless he Roman offered something in return. The trade continue to haunt him, but the power to raise the dead and summon beast he never knew before had made it a good trade.

If only she would stop glaring at him.

The Faunus stepped out from panels, dressed in a black suit, finishing up straightening his orange tie. It match his triangular ears that emitted from his greying auburn hair, and white tipped fox tail. "Good. Have a few more men attached to security. I don't want any surprises Torchwick or there will be trouble. And don't worry about Adam, he will do what he is told."

He may have worn the skin of a person, but from one conman to another, he could not truly hide what he was behind those purple eyes of his. Roman was an amatur compaired to this figure. This demon was truly the greatest liar and con artist. To trick all these poor saps into believe he will help them when he is making them his subjects, his slaves who would throw their lives away for a stolen cause.

"It will be done, Lord Belial." Roman said, bowing to the Lord of Lies.

/

I'm not dead! I have no excuse for you. So yeah, surprise. In other news, guess who got a TV Tropes page? This guy! It is such an honor! I thank any and all Tropers who add and edit it.

Until Next Time, My Friends