Hey, you alive?

Yang groaned. She could barely stand up on her feet and those disgusting foul creatures that looked like a mass of living black oil kept coming at her.

"Shut up …," Yang said to the voice inside her head. "Just … go away, will ya?"

I could help you.

"I don't need your help …"

Yang dodged one incoming slash from the black creature. She countered with a punch to its head, if it was indeed a head. It staggered and moved back, but didn't seem to be injured.

You doesn't seem … capable of defeating them.

The black creature approached Yang again, this time carefully. It was as if this creature had its own intelligence and they were planning their moves. Maybe they weren't that intelligent, but combine with what looked like very high durability and the ability to shapeshift, this creature was no easy opponent for Yang.

Yang's stamina had depleted after a long fight. She didn't even have the energy to reply the voice in the back of her head.

I have an idea on how to fight them.

Well, how about you tell me and I'll decide whether I'd go with your idea or not? Yang replied.

No need for such thing. Let's switch place.

Switch place? Yang was following the black creature movement with her eyes. It was difficult to make a guess about your opponent movement if your opponent didn't have any eyes or faces or whatever body parts with similar function.

Yes. Let me have your body and I'll kill all of them in no time.

This was the first time he (it was a male voice) asked straightforward for a swap. What usually happened was that voice tried to deceive Yang into a fit of mindless rage.

No, Yang refused.

Eventhough I'll tell you about your special power I could only use?

No need any special power.

Oh. Shame. I thought you care for your sister.

What? Ruby has no business with you—

But she has business with you. I remember you promise her that you're going to protect her no matter what. You can't fulfill that promise if you died.

Yang growled. The black creature had formed thin tentacles, with blade like form on each of them. A quick slash came. She jumped to her left and was forced to run circling the room when the creature chained its first attack with more slashes.

So? How is—

"Deal!" Yang crouched, dodging another slash aimed for her head. The creature's bladed tentacle cut Yang's golden hair. Yang could feel burning anger crawling on her spine and lodging inside her head. "Go ahead and get me out of this damned place!"

The voice hummed, saying nothing, but Yang could imagine he was smiling and held back his satisfied laugh.

-x-

Ruby was watching the Whitefang Castle again this morning on top of the tower, when a messenger bird arrived, crashing on Ruby's head with such accuracy it couldn't be an accident. The annoying bird held out a small package tied on one of its claws.

"Grrrr! Bad bird! If you're not the Investigator's bird, I'm going to eat you!"

Seemingly understand Ruby's threat, the bird flapped its wing, distancing itself from Ruby. It saw Ruby's half-eaten biscuit (her not-finished-yet-breakfast) nearby and snatched it away.

"YOU! HOW DARE YOU?!" Ruby stomped her feet, had to try not to grab her rifle and shot the bird down. "BAD! BIRD!"

"Ruby? Is … everything okay?" Penny peeked from the door.

Ruby wanted to say "no", but she took a deep breath and swallowed that answer. "A bird sent this, for … err …" She squinted. The handwriting was skewed and thin, with many loops and curves. It was difficult to read. "Investigator Adel … I guess."

"Oh, she did say about a package last night. Can I have it?"

"Sure." Ruby handed over the goods. She couldn't help not wondering about the content of the package and why it arrived at times like this. They probably would withdraw soon enough. With their current condition, Ruby didn't think Investigator Adel would try to go to Whitefang Castle again.

That meant … Investigator Adel had given up on Yang.

"Ruby?"

"Yes?"

"Inspector Adel promised she wouldn't leave Yang." Penny held Ruby's hands, looking straight into her eyes. There was determination on those green eyes. "Even if she would, I wouldn't let her. You can have my words, Ruby."

Ruby blinked, dumbfounded, couldn't find any good reply for that statement. Instead, she asked, "Why …?"

"Because we're friends," Penny said. "And friends help each other, right?"

The "friendship statement" was something cliche, but Ruby—even though she had made more friends than her life in the Kingdom by now—still found it precious. Unable to hold back her tears, the red-haired girl hugged Penny.

"Ruby?"

"Thank you, Penny …"

"You're welcome."

-x-

Adam was nowhere to be found today. So was Lord Whitefang. With the absence of the two most important figures in the castle, Blake took her chance to scale the vicinity.

It wasn't easy to escape from the castle. There was barely any steps to climb on the wall (the exact reason why Sun needed to use ladder to sneak out of the castle). The distance between the windows in the castle and the outer wall was out of Blake's jump. The highest tower might help her reaching the wall, with a severe cost of a broken leg or two. Not the best deal Blake would take.

The main gate could be opened easily from the inside. It was probably the only exit available in case Sun's rope ladder wasn't in its place (Lord Whitefang and Adam didn't seem to know the whereabouts of this ladder, because it was still there the last time Blake checked it).

The night came. Blake reluctantly went to the main hall as Velvet told her yesterday. Velvet was already there, but so was Sun. To Blake's surprise, Velvet and Sun were in a heated argument.

"You told me sneaking out of the castle is a dangerous stunt, but now you propose something insane like this?" Sun threw his arms above. "Really, Velvet? Did you hit your head or what?"

"I'm serious about this and I didn't hit my head on anything," Velvet retorted.

"I don't understand why do you think this is super important—oh, hi there, Blake!"

Blake crossed her arms. "We better move now."

"You drag her into this? You're out of your mind, Velvet … Please don't do this."

"I have my own business down there," Blake said. "We both have our own purpose."

"Oh … 'kay." Sun pinched the bridge of his nose. "You both are out of your mind."

Blake nodded at Velvet. The bunny-eared girl patted Sun on the shoulder and said, "I'll see you later, Sun."

Sun shook his head in his last resort of showing disagreement, but said nothing.

The basement was located deep underground; no wonder Velvet and Sun didn't hear the commotion on the castle ground above. Blake felt something wasn't right halfway down. It was her gut feeling telling her to turn around and go back to the surface, but she already made a deal with Velvet. She had to know what became of her friends if any of them were dragged by the artificial creatures.

Hopefully, they were okay.

Although deep inside, Blake prepared herself for the worst.

The stairs ended in a narrow corridor and for the first time from the moment they took the stairs Blake realized Velvet didn't bring lamps or such to light their way. It wasn't dark. There was a faint light came from the steps and several spots on the hallway wall emitted bluish light.

"Another alchemy feat by Lord Whitefang," Velvet explained. Her ears twitched. "Wait … I think I hear something."

Blake listened. Her hearing might not be as good as Velvet's but she did hear a faint, careful, footsteps on the stairs.

The footsteps stopped.

Blake reached for her blade.

"... Guys? Uh, it's me. Don't be alarmed."

"Sun!" Velvet hissed, looked relieved and shocked at the same time. "Why are you here?"

The monkey-boy showed himself. He brought a pair of modified pistols. "Well, I'm not feeling good letting you go down here. So ... Here I am! The Incredible Sun Wukong at your service!"

Blake rolled her eyes. She wouldn't care less whether Sun helped them or not. She plan to run at the slightest sign of danger.

"I've got this one." Velvet took out a key from her pocket.

"You stole Lord Whitefang's key?"

"I duplicate it."

"How?" Sun looks confused.

"I memorize the shape and made a mold from it." Velvet inserted her key to the keyhole. It slipped in without any difficulties. "Lord Whitefang sometimes entrusted his key to me whenever he's busy and wants me to draw his specimen."

"If you can duplicate a key by remembering its shape, why do you need me?" Blake frowned.

"I never got the key to the 'other room' on my hand. I can't memorize things I never see or hold into."

Blake squinted her eyes, seeing the key Velvet holding, "I have to tell you once again that I can only handle common keys. Not a custom made one like that."

"Yes. Worry not. The lock to the forbidden part is normal one."

"I will say it once again, Velvet: this is a bad idea," Sun said.

The door clicked open. Sun shrugged, knowing his attempt to make Velvet change her mind was useless.

The room behind the door almost looked like a dungeon rather than a workshop or laboratory. There were long wooden table with papers, parchment, and books.

On the other side of the room there was a cell, with thick iron bars that could hold down a wild bear inside. There were also metal cages in various size.

Another table had faint blood scent, but unlike a butchery table, it was relatively clean from blood.

The most interesting thing in this room was the drawings and sketches pasted on the wall near the first table. Blake could tell how similar those drawings with the real one even though she didn't compare them with the real example.

"Are these your works?" Blake asked.

Velvet nodded, looked a little happy and proud at the same time.

"They're good."

"Thank you."

"You made Velvet blushing." Sun cackled.

Blake kneeled in front the door. As Velvet said, the door was secured with a normal lock, something Blake could handle. Blake inserted two thin metal rods and started working. Ruby made the lockpicker using scrapped metal and following Blake's instruction closely without asking any question what those were for; previously, Blake had to use a crappy makeshift one that prone to break while she picking the lock.

Click.

The long corridor behind the door was dark. Blake squinted her eyes, trying to figure out any potential danger inside. There wasn't any. It was only a corridor that splitted into two at the end.

"Is it always dark like this?" Blake asked.

"I'm not sure …"

"Here." Sun withheld a lantern. "Think we can make it back before Lord Whitefang come back? It's the lantern he usually bring in there. He probably notice it if it's not in its place."

"Let's haste then."

Velvet entered first, followed by Blake who quietly readied her weapon, and then Sun. They closed the door but not locking it.

"What's this odor?" Sun coughed. "Something's burned here?"

Blake sniffed the air. Sun was right. There was strange, unpleasant smell in the air, which Blake couldn't recognize. "Chemicals?"

Intuitively, Blake headed to the right, but Velvet—who was walking in front of them—headed left. Blake had no choice but to follow her.

The passageway led to another set of stairs. The odd chemical odors wasn't too strong here. Instead, Blake heard a soft hum, a mechanical one.

Sun made a nervous whimper behind Blake.

The stairs ended in another room. Blue-greenish light dimmed the interior with an unsettling feeling.

Blake gripped the handle of her blade. Her stomach felt like being churned from inside.

There were two rows of glass tubes with a size big enough to contain an adult. Each of them were filled with blue-greenish liquid. Part of the machinery which covered the top of the tube emanated a dim light; that explained the strange shadow and silhouette inside the room.

"What is this?" Sun's eyes widened in horror. "What are those? Are they human?"

"Previously human." Blake gritted her teeth, disturbed by the scene in front of her.

The "creatures" trapped inside the glass were humans with visible animal traits—horns, claws, antlers, tail, animal ears. Most of them looked like teenagers, a few were adults, but there were also babies. About half of them looked badly deformed.

Velvet walked toward the nearest one. Her face showed a mix of astonishment and terror. She read the label on the tube.

"'Subject-02, F, 2x'."

"Velvet," Sun's voice was trembling. He stood in front of a tube furthest behind. "Velvet, this is … this is Marlowe, right?"

"An acquaintance of yours?" Blake had numbed herself by now in her attempt not to lose her chill and left this place.

"A tightrope walker from the circus," Sun replied. "He fell during a training and unable to walk after the accident. He left the circus not long after that."

"This …" Velvet looked shocked. "Yes. This is … Marlowe."

Blake read the label at the bottom of the huge glass jar: "Subject-07, M, 19". Curious because she saw lack of animal trait on this Marlowe guy, Blake looked from the rear side of the container.

Something gruesome had been done to Marlowe's back. There were abnormal spike and bones along his spine. A visible scar and stitches were around the spikes. So many of them, Blake couldn't help not thinking this man had been ripped apart and then sewn together again.

Blake didn't ask anything to Velvet nor Sun. She knew both of them had already put up things together: their past might be a lie. They weren't born with animal traits because of mutation. They were created to be like now. Probably from one of these vats.

Even though Blake had a similar condition, she knew very well how did she get hers and it was obviously not from inside glass vats.

Blake's ears twitched.

There was a noise from outside, from around where the passage branched. It wasn't someone's step, it wasn't walking step.

At least, if it was something that walked, Blake doubt it was human or human enough.

"Velvet," Blake tapped the bunny-eared girl's shoulder, "do you hear that?"

"Y-yes."

The noise was getting closer.

"I think it's time to leave."

Velvet took another glance at the glass vats, unsure.

"Is someone coming?" Sun readied his weapon.

"Not sure if it's 'someone'," Blake unsheathed her blade. "Come on, we still have a chance to esc—"

And then a roar echoed throughout the room.

"Velvet," Sun whimpered, "please!"

Velvet bit her lips and nodded. Sun took the lead. He walked in the front with his gun held ready to shoot anything came on his sight.

A yellow blaze flashed in front of them. Sun yelped. Gunshot echoed. The lantern Velvet held was swinging around in her hand, not helping in figuring out the creature.

"Velvet! Sun! Move!" Blake shouted. There was a space between the creature and the wall, if Velvet and Sun could move quick enough, they could sneak through the creature. "Now!"

"But—"

The creature lunged on Sun. The blonde boy fell down. Velvet kicked the creature as hard as she could and somehow managed to force it moved away from Sun.

Sun aimed his gun again, ready to shoot, when Blake realized something.

BANG!

The creature collapsed. It groaned and growled, clawing the wall. Now it had stopped moving, Blake could have a better look on it.

Its mane glowed with a furious yellow, looked like a fire. Its eyes were red. Its right hand was bigger and thicker with long claws on each finger. But it had human-like features and its clothes ….

"Yang?"

The creature responded to Blake's call. It looked at Blake. There was almost no trace of humanity in its face. Blake felt as if she faced a badly deformed bear rather than a human.

"Yang?" Blake called again. "Yang, is that you?"

"I'll shoot if it try to maul anyone," Sun warned.

"Yang." Blake stared at the red eyes. If there was sanity left inside of the creature, Blake couldn't see it in its eyes.

The creature breathed heavily. Blake twitched when the creature touched her with its right hand that was nowhere normal. Her instinct told every single muscle in her body to run, but Blake stayed.

Is this what happened when Yang lost her temper? Blake thought. It's not just madness but it also transforms her like this?

"Yang?"

"Are you sure it's your friend?" Sun whispered. "It doesn't seem to respond you."

The creature let out a low grunt. It blinked and when it opens its eyes, the red eyes had changed into a soft purple, the color Blake knew very well.

It was Yang.

"B … Bla … ke?"

"Yes." Blake nodded. "Yes. It's me."

And she was collapsed on Blake. Blake knew Yang was heavy due to all of her muscles, but all those weight were still surprised her, making Blake fell down.

"Is it dead?"

"She is still breathing." Blake touched the side of Yang's neck. "We have to tend her wound."

"Girls, aren't you two push the limit too far here?" Sun disagreed, but helped Blake carried the unconscious Yang. "This is going to get us into so much trouble."

"Now you understand how Velvet felt every time you sneak out of the castle to join the circus."

Sun groaned.

Their trip back to the next room was slow. Really slow. Sun tried to carry Yang on his back, but after a few steps, he staggered and struggled not to stumble. In the end, he put Yang down and carried her together with Blake.

"Well." A voice echoed through the dark hallway before they reached the workshop. The door on the other end slipped opened. "What do we have here?"

Blake shivered.

Adam Taurus stood at the door. His tall stature and dark attire made him looked intimidating. The longsword he held in one hand was ready to be drawn and cut anything in his way.

None of them moved an inch from their place. Everyone fell silence.

"I—" Velvet squeaked. "I'm sorry—I …"

"We—we just checked things out!" Sun blurted. He awkwardly tried to put a grin on his face. "You k-know? We heard something's not right down here and, yeah, we decided to check them out. Just for safety! Better safe than sorry, right?"

Adam wasn't amused. "You're not supposed to open the workshop without the key."

Blake caught a glimpse of someone behind Adam. It seemed it was Lord Whitefang, waiting for Adam's resolution for this problem at hand.

"We've got you an interesting specimen, Lord Whitefang!" Blake suddenly said.

The figure behind Adam turned around and approached the taller man from behind.

"Blake! What're you doin'?" Sun spoke through the corner of his lips. "You said this is your friend! Why the specimen—?"

"Sun, I know what I do."

"W-well—"

"We found her creeping out from the room on the right." Blake continued. "Based on your story, there shouldn't be anything leave the room alive, right?"

Lord Whitefang showed an interest. He whispered something to Adam, who replied with a reluctant nod.

-x-

Ruby tried her best to understand what Investigator Adel and Fox had been discussed in the last hour. Basically, they were talking about the next step they should take regarding the Whitefang—Ruby understood up to that point—but then Investigator Adel talked about "jurisdiction", followed with so many words unknown to Ruby.

"Territory," Weiss answered Ruby's question about what was "jurisdiction area". "I'm sure you're way more familiar with the word 'territory' than 'jurisdiction'."

Ruby nodded. She couldn't help not getting excited because Weiss seemed to understand her level of knowledge and would explain further whenever Ruby was at lost (although, Weiss didn't look too eager to do so).

"So, what about it?" Ruby asked. "What's with the castle is still in 'our territory'."

"That means despite of the castle owner's status, he has to respect the law upheld in the City."

"But doesn't a lord has his own law?"

"Only if he is appointed to lead at least a small town. I did not see any small town around this Lord Whitefang's vicinity, so I believe Investigator Adel has a very good point to force the City's law to the questionable lord."

"How are we going to do that?" Ruby took a glance at Yatsuhashi, who was lying on the other side of the room. He awoke this morning, but still couldn't do much due to his injuries.

"That's exactly why Fox wanted for us to return to the City and consult the Magisters." Weiss frowned. "Which Investigator Adel doesn't agree and … it seems she has something she believes she could use to turn the table."

Ruby listened to Investigator Adel and Fox again. They didn't use too many confusing words now.

"Just in case you don't know, Fox, I've sent a message to the Magisters and asked their assistance." Investigator Adel crossed her arms, challenging Fox to object her.

"Any assistance they're going to send won't arrive in two days." Fox shook his head. "At the fastest pace, they probably arrive in one day, but it won't be faster except if they send a dragon to assist us."

"We don't have any dragon."

"Yes, we don't have any."

"However," Investigator Adel took out a crystal bottle from her pouch, "we have a werewolf with us and Mag—Doctor Oobleck has agreed to send 'a little help'."

Fox raised his eyebrows, inquiring explanation.

Ruby caught Penny's expression turned somber the moment Investigator Adel showed the bottle to Fox. It didn't need much effort for Ruby to guess what was inside the crystal bottle based on how Investigator mentioned "werewolf" and Penny's change.

"Is that the potion from the Ripper?" Ruby asked. She almost sounded like growling. "The one that forced me shape shifting into wolf form despite it's not full moon …?"

"Coco." Fox looked surprised. "This is not acceptable. Doctor must have done something to that potion and it isn't tested yet, am I right? I know how the doctor works. I'm once an Investigator like you."

"Will you hear my explanation first?" Investigator Adel scowled.

"She wouldn't change her mind." Yatsuhashi said. His voice was lethargic. "At least, she could give us explanation."

Fox sighed. "Fine. Go ahead."

"Doctor made a few adjustment based from the sample he retrieved from the Ripper. He's successful, nevertheless the result caused disagreement among the Magisters themselves." Investigator Adel slowly rolled the bottle on her palm. "This version would make its user to gain their senses, power, and speed like a werewolf without turning them into their wolf form."

"But you haven't tested it, have you?" Weiss asked. She managed to keep herself calm, but there was a clear irritation in her tone.

"The stronger, original version of this potion had been tested, if it counts."

"You have been talking without showing any slightest concern to the one I believe you want her to make use of the potion," Weiss snarled. "Please, show her some respect and ask for her permission."

Ruby didn't expect Weiss to defend her.

Fox mumbled ("She's right, of course.") and moved away, leaning on the wall near where Yatsuhashi was laying down. Penny fidgeted and locked her gaze on the floor.

"You probably already know that you have every rights to refuse my suggestion." Investigator Adel pushed her glasses. "On the other hand, everything I've planned depends on your decision."

Ruby bit her lips.

"Is your plan including saving Yang?"

"Yes." Even though Ruby's keen senses couldn't smell lies, she knew Investigator Adel meant what she said. "I swear I will bring her back, dead or alive."

Ruby stared at the crystal bottle on Investigator's hand and bit her lips again.

"Please, tell me about your plan."

But at that point, Ruby already made her decision.

Author's Note:

Hello there.

I don't know how to apologize for the lack of updates for almost a year. I've been occupied by works (I take freelance works beside full-time one, but now the freelance ones has settled down). Despite of that reason, I'm still not supposed to absent from writing and continuing what I've started. Really sorry about this.

Anyway, as always, thank you very much for reading! :D