Ruby skipped alongside her teammates, behind Amber, who, despite being 5 years her senior, was only a couple inches taller than her.

"So, Amber? How do you know Roman is out of prison? I mean, I didn't hear any news about him escaping." Ruby asked.

"Exactly. Our friend Mr. Ironwood is working very hard to keep things under wraps, but he's not perfect. There are ways to find things out." Amber said with a smirk. He had thrown on an onyx coat, which, unbuttoned, flapped behind him in a manner not unlike Ruby's cloak. So mysterious. I wonder how Yang found him in the first place. Ruby thought, still following Amber. He pulled out his scroll. Tapping a few times on it, he raised it to his ear.

"Hello, Mr. Ozpin? Yes, is it okay if I check out a Bullhead for an, um...mission? Yes, I know, it's just...actually, maybe you would understand if I said I was with a certain team RWBY...of course. Thanks." Amber returned the scroll to his pocket. "Alright, is everyone ready? We can go now, if you'd like." All three girls were astonished.

"How did you do that?" asked Ruby. "I thought you needed a teacher to be able to..."

"Ozpin and I have an...agreement...of sorts. Also, third year students can check out a Bullhead on their own for a mission with their team." Amber responded.

"What happened to your team?" asked Ruby.

"I never had one, never will. Again, that agreement. I'd...rather not delve too deeply into my personal life. How much am I getting paid for this?" Amber asked, looking at Yang.

"Nothing, if you know what's good for you," she growled. Amber raised his hands in defense.

"Okay, sorry, forget what I said." He returned his eyes to the ground, shaking his head slightly. "So where's your fourth teammate?" he asked Ruby.

"Weiss? She had a presentation, she'll meet us at the Bullhead." Ruby quipped. Amber nodded.

"Alright then, let's go." He said.

Amber was strapped in the cockpit, Weiss beside him, doing a pre-flight check. Weiss insisted she be the co-pilot because

"If some dolt crashes the Bullhead and I couldn't help, I will only blame myself," she stated.

Amber's odd black rifle was strapped to the back of his seat. He looked much more at home in front of a screen, instead of holding a weapon. Tapping a few controls, he turned in his seat, saying,

"All right, we're ready to go. Strap in, and we'll be off." Team RWBY needed no further instruction. Amber fired up the engines, starting a whine, then a low hum, then a roar, as the craft strained against gravity, defying common sense, and rose into the air. As the spires of Beacon shrank away from them, Weiss asked Amber through a headset,

"My team didn't tell me much about you. Where's your team? How did you find all this out?"

Amber smirked, merely responding with, "First, I've never had a team. Second, a true craftsman doesn't reveal his skills." Weiss crossed her arms in frustration.

"Whatever that's supposed to mean," she said, sulking. Soon, the houses of Vale City were below them, and Amber flew over to the marked location on the map. Finding an empty courtyard a short distance away, he touched the craft down, unstrapping and grabbing his weapon.

"All right, we can go through this building to the roof, where you can see what's going on better." the short man said, hitting a button and opening the doors. Sure enough, a dilapidated warehouse stood next to them, overlooking the docking area. The doors weren't even locked. As the girls ascended the stairs to the roof, Amber stayed behind.

"I'll guard the entrance, let you know if anything's up." he said, grasping his rifle. Ruby didn't look convinced, but a nod from Yang told her to trust Amber. The four girls left.

Amber stamped his feet, chain-backed gauntlets grasping his rifle. I dunno why I did this. Don't let them get close, they won't understand. They never do. But Ozpin let me go. That has to mean something. Maybe they could... Amber's thoughts trailed off as he heard voices.

"It landed over here! I'm telling you, it wasn't supposed to!" Obviously White Fang cronies. Amber steeled himself for the inevitable. The footsteps grew closer. Ah, screw it, thought Amber, busting through the rotting doors and swinging the stock of his rifle at the nearest figure with a yell. To his surprise, it connected, and a man dropped like a stone, unconscious. Amber looked at his opponents. Only 4? Probably a piece of cake for an actual Huntsman, but not so much for me... the nearest Faunus took a swing at him with a katana. Amber sidestepped and deflected the blow with his rifle. Pulling the stock to his shoulder, he squeezed the trigger, then dropped and rolled as a swing from a hammer came from his left. A viscous kick caught him in the shoulder, but Amber managed to hang onto his weapon.

"Use your words! Use your words!" he yelled, frantically blocking their attacks. Not all of them, however. A few cuts and bruises were already being healed by his aura. Amber felt the power flow through him, drawing his aura through him like blood through a cut. Slashing with his bayonet, Amber caught one man on his arm, dropping his sword.

"We need backup!" called one of the cronies. Maybe if I can get these guys before the rest come, I can contact team RWBY, thought Amber. As if to drive the point home, a dozen more White Fang member rounded the corner, some with wicked-looking blades or clubs, some with guns. Riflemen dropped to their knees, pulling the trigger. Amber felt something punch his chest harder than a truck. He dropped like a stone. Putting one hand to his heart, Amber took it away, and it was covered in blood. I can still live. I've fought it for so long but...a kick to the head put Amber in the fetal position on the cold pavement. Amber reached inside himself: and there it was, that raging sea of primal energy. Amber didn't hold back, plunging into it until it filled him, that taint, that filth. He wanted to scream in ecstasy and vomit at the same time. Yes, yes...

Blake put the binoculars down.

"There's a patrol coming back there," she said, concern in her voice.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, he's been at Beacon for three years!" reassured Yang.

"We need backup!" the cry for help brought Blake to pick up the binoculars again.

"Yang..." the Faunus said, frustration entering her voice. Yang looked at her sister. Ruby nodded.

"All right! Let's go help Amber!" Ruby shouted. Weiss exploded into motion, activating a glyph under her feet and launching over the lip of the building. Blake converted the Gambol Shroud into whip mode and swung away. Yang merely jumped off the roof with a cry of elation. Ruby semblance-dashed down to the doors, which were already open. She heard commotion, looking down the street...

Ruby saw a scene of utter bedlam. Dozens of White Fang soldiers fought against her friends. They were protecting...Amber? The small man was thrashing about on the pavement, back arched painfully, hands grasping at nothing. Ruby fought her way to her team, where they were discussing a plan.

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know!"

"So much blood..." The soldiers, sensing an opening, rushed team RWBY, pushing them back. Amber was left behind them. One soldier feinted at Ruby, holding a scimitar. Dodging and weaving, looking for a gap in her defenses, he suddenly jerked, blood blooming on his shirt. Amber had got up, impaling the soldier with his rifle. Dropping his weapon, he sank to his knees, vomiting profusely. Then, something...shifted. Amber's black eyes looked at Ruby, and she saw fear. Amber began to change. Hunching over, team RWBY and the White Fang watched a monstrosity unfold before them. Amber's skin, pale from the time he spent inside, turned black as night. His body bulged, growing, writhing, shifting. Hands clutched at the air, turning to wicked black claws. Ram's horns burst from his head. Amber, no, not Amber, some...beast, stood. Eyes glowing likes the fires of hell, it reached out into the air, and a sword appeared in it's hand. The blade was jagged, serrated, looking more like a steak knife than a sword. Whatever Amber had turned into wheeled on team RWBY. When it spoke, Ruby's head hurt, and she felt sick.

"RUN." the beast spat, turning on the White Fang, who were rapidly backing up. Team RWBY needed no further instruction, taking cover behind the nearest corner. Ruby heard black words being spoken, so foul, so terrible, she could not describe. She emptied her stomach on the pavement, clamping her hands over her ears. Looking at her team, she saw they had done the same. The screams of the White Fang still got through, however. Ruby looked around the corner, then promptly ducked back around. A body hit the wall opposite them at bone-crushing speed. Looking at the broken body of the soldier, it seemed as if the beast had torn it in a rage, bloody gashes crossing the body at all angles. His back was definitely broken. His eyes stared into the abyss. Ruby retched, but there was nothing left in her.

Amber tore into the White Fang with glee, welcoming their blows like old lovers. He sang in the Black Tongue, striking down those who were weak enough to succumb. Grabbing one soldier by the neck, Amber looked into his pitiful, helpless eyes. Reaching into the Ether, Amber could feel the soldier's weak soul compared to his raging one. Still, he needed sustenance. Liquid shadow poured from the pair, enveloping the alleyway. When it cleared, there was nothing there, except Amber, who searched for more Prey. What about the females? Yes, they would do nice, strong Aura, full of vitality. Amber stalked towards his Prey.

Ruby could hear It approaching. Looking to her teammates for help, she found Yang, whose eyes merely narrowed. Cocking back Ember Celica, Yang flared her aura and jumped at the beast, who was rounding the corner. Her punch caught it square in the face, flinging him back into the brick wall, which shook under the impact. Yang raised her fists again, ready for a fight. The beast looked at the four girls, all in their fighting stance. It's hellish eyes swept over them. Then, reaching a decision, the beast sprouted hideous bat's wings and took to the sky. Ruby aimed her scythe at it, but Yang laid a hand on her weapon.

"It's ok sis," she reassured.

"Are you sure?"

"No." Ruby conceded the point and lowered her weapon. The four girls began walking back to the bullhead.

"What was that?" asked Ruby, voice shaking. "Was it the Devil? Was it a Grimm?" Her silver eyes quested among her teammates for answers. Weiss crossed herself, merely saying,

"Blütmagie." she whispered.

"What?" asked Ruby.

"Blood magic. You three aren't mages, you couldn't feel that, that...wrongness." Weiss shuddered. "Back in Atlas, I read about blood magic. These crazy people think sacrifices and pledges to the devil can give them powers, can make them a shade. A shade was someone not human, but not all evil. It was somewhere in between. I think we just saw someone more on the side of evil and not a whole lot of human." The girls reached the bullhead. Weiss entered the cockpit. Nobody asked if they should wait. Weiss fired up the engines, rising above the roofs of Vale City, and jetted back towards Beacon. Halfway along the trip, a thud sounded on the roof. Weiss didn't look back, but Yang opened the doors of the bullhead.

"Thanks," said Amber, swinging inside. All three girls were pointing their weapons at him before he could dust himself off. "Look, I understand there could be some questions-" he was cut off by Ruby.

"Amber, what happened to you?" she asked in a small voice.

"Yeah, uh, let's just get back to Beacon...I'll explain there." the small man said, entering the cockpit. "Hey Weiss." Weiss didn't react, merely ignored him, crossing herself again. "Oh c'mon, you know that doesn't work. I can still touch you, see? Boop." Amber poked her arm. Still silence. "Okay, I see how it is," he laughed, plopping into the co-pilot seat.

Amber sat on the couch, arms behind his head, feet on the table. Team RWBY stood in front of him, looking less than amused. Amber laughed.

"Okay, let's start with..."

A/N: I love cliffhangers. Fav/Follow/Review. Leave details if you have criticism, I can't get better if you don't tell me what I'm doing wrong!