Chapter 30: Evacuating The Dance Floor

The election was changed, as Watts and Tyrian went into action. Tyrian made the killing happen during Robyn's election, and Watts made it where Jacques was the winner. Now it was time for the banquet at the Schnee manor for the newly elected council member.

"I have an idea." Ruby said as she looks at her team, JNR and Oscar.

"And what might that be?" Jaune asked. "Jacques already one the election thanks to false footage of Penny, and we know it's Tyrian who did it. And now he's going to have a banquet declaring he won."

Yang nods in agreement. "True."

"Listen, we can go to the manor and attend the banquet but we need to find out who made that fake footage." Ruby said. "While we're at it....we'll have to tell Ironwood about Salem...and Scarlet."

"Leave that to me." Oscar said.

Ruby nodded. "The others are going to be staying here at the academy though." She glanced over to Blake. "If your brother and the others find out anything while here, they can let us know."

Blake nods. "Alright, let's get going then. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can prove Penny is innocent."

RWBY, RNJ and Oscar left the dorm room of Atlas academy, making their way out of the academy and headed towards the Schnee manor. Little did they know, Scarlet was at the manor plotting a plan. Krystal was also there at the manor since her job was done. There was going to be free food, she didn't care if she had to wait to hunt down Scarlet right away.

Once RWBY and the others arrived at the manor, Weiss glanced around as she noticed Klein wasn't around. Whitley came down the stairs as he noticed her, he also noticed Weiss' team and friends.

Scarlet had followed him as she stood there waiting to strike. Weiss noticed Whitley as she walked over to her brother. "Where's Klein?"

"Oh? You didn't hear?" Whitley asked cocking an eyebrow up. "Well of course you wouldn't...you weren't here, he was fired. Farther fired him, because he found out what happened."

"What?" Weiss asked. "But...that's."

"Not fair? Wrong? Unforgivable?" Whitley asked. "I know, but he would be here still...if he didn't help a certain someone leave."

Weiss scoffed, she looked away. Jaune had an idea to get Whitley away from Weiss, so she could go up the stairs, Oscar was already gone as he went to look for Ironwood.

~~~

Nora played her cards right as there was now a mess on Whitley's outfit, the Schnee was traumatized as he looked down at the mess. Weiss held back a giggle but all that was going to change, Krystal glanced around as she picked different foods off the table unaware of what was going to happen.

Scarlet watched Whitley approach her, he turned to walk past Scarlet but was stopped. Scarlet grabbed Whitley's arm as she grinned. Everyone's eyes were drawn to what was going on expect for Krystal who was stuffing her face.

"Unhand me maid." Whitley said.

Scarlet tilts her head. "Ara ara, why should I unhand you?"

Ruby's eyes widen hearing the voice, she glanced over to her team as she quickly glances around for Winter or Penny, but she didn't see them. "Oh no...she's here..."

Whitley was confused on who Scarlet was, he didn't know who she was. Which made her job a lot easier, Scarlet took her disguise off as she reached into a bag that was sitting on one of the steps.

"Let go of my brother!" Weiss shouted.

Scarlet snickered as she pulled Adam's mask out of the bag, her eyes adverted towards RWBY as she saw Blake's face. "You know what this is...don't you pussy cat?" She still held onto Whitley as she puts the mask on.

"N-No....how?" Blake asked shaking.

Scarlet snickered again. "I killed him, and I killed the Fang." She pulled Whitley close to her. "This is my reward. To haunt your dreams...to be your nightmare."

Whitley struggled to break his arm free from Scarlet's grasp. "Who are you?!"

"Let him go!" Ruby yelled. "Scarlet, listen to me. You don't have to kill people, you don't have to be evil. Join us, help us stop Salem..."

Krystal turned her head to see Scarlet on the stairs, she glanced at the wanted poster and then at Scarlet, gulping down the food she had in her mouth she nodded confirming the target. "That's her alright."

Scarlet thinks for a moment as she looks at Ruby's puppy dog eyes she was making. "Hmm...me? Change? Oh, why was I so blinded...fuck that shit!" She licked her lips as she kissed Whitley on the lips before pulling away and yanked his arm off.

Weiss' eyes widen, her teeth gritted as she clinched her fist. Everyone watching covered their mouths as some of them had passed out, Whitley was screaming in pain. His arm was ripped off, the screaming echoed through the entire Schnee manor as it reached Willow Schnee, and the council meeting.

"Oops, did I break your brother?" Scarlet asked with a laugh, she tossed Whitley's arm aside as she gripped his neck next choking him as she slammed him against the wall. "How does it feel? Watching someone close to you die."

"LET HIM GO!" Weiss yelled dashing towards her.

Scarlet grins as she threw Whitley down, she spun around and round house kicked Weiss. "Ara ara, and what are you all going to do about it? Yang's shaking, Blake's frozen with fear, and poor little Ruby...terrified of her clone." She grins as she steps on Whitley's back breaking his spine as she picked him up once more. "Where's daddy, where's mommy? Are they not going to come help you and your sister? Oh that's right. Jacques is too busy."

~~~

Oscar came dashing into the main room of the manor as his eyes widen seeing what was going on. Winter and Penny followed behind, while Jacques had also came but was silent.

Scarlet stabbed Whitley through the chest with her arm, she grabbed his beating heart and squeezed it tightly. "Oh what fun, killing a family member in front of the eyes of the Schnee's and everyone here in the manor."

Whitley's eyes started to fade as the light in them were slowly going away. Winter growled as she dashes over to save him, Scarlet snickered as she glared at Winter, she yanked her arm out of Whitley's body and tossed him down.

"I'll kill you!" Winter yelled.

Willow came out of her room as she covered her mouth, she dropped to her knees as she saw Whitley's dead body. Tears went down her face as Weiss slowly got up, her arm was dislocated as she winched in pain.

Jacques was silent, he just watched his son die in front of his own eyes. He didn't want this, he didn't want any of this. "Ironwood. Get your men to arrest her!"

Scarlet jumped out of the way of Winter's attacks as she stood on the floor behind RWBY, everyone had evacuated the manor. Krystal threw her cup down as she pulled her twin katanas out turning them into their double barrel shotgun forms. "Scarlet Rose, you're wanted dead or alive. The bounty on your head is mine."

Scarlet turned to look at the new comer as she tilts her head. "Who the hell are you? Doesn't matter who, I think it's time I take my leave. As a reward, allow me to show you something..." Her shoulder blades squirmed and wiggled.

Everyone's eyes widen, Nevermore wings had ripped through Scarlet's shoulders as they were drenched in her blood. Scarlet laughed as she flaps her wings dry, she held her arms out to her side as she looks at Ruby and the others. "My very being towers above all... All things... The whole universe!"

"You're just as sick as the others, killing for pleasure." Oscar said.

Scarlet glared at him before looking at everyone, she flapped her wings as she flew into the air. "You all should be honored, a fallen angel has bestowed herself to you all." She shot a hole in the ceiling with Black Rose as she flew out of it. "Let this be a warning to you all, I will return to murder every last one of you...and Ruby, I Will... Never Be A Memory."

Everyone watched her fly away, as no one was paying any mind to the other maid who was Neo. She had walked off while they were distracted. Ironwood looked at Ruby and the others, clearly he wanted answers now.

"Who was that girl?" Ironwood asked.

Qrow was in the room as well, but he was on the sidelines quiet, he glanced at Ironwood. "You should sit down for this.."

Ironwood sat down, as well as Winter, Penny and the council. Robyn was there too, as she was curious.

"That...thing, is a abomination." Qrow said. "A clone of Ruby.."

"A clone?" Winter asked. "How?"

"Salem." Oscar said. "That's how, from our knowledge..it's likely Salem hired Merlot to create a clone Ruby, to who we just saw. Scarlet Rose."

Jacques clinched his fist. "That's nonsense! Cloning is against the law."

"Not if you know who to ask." Qrow said leaning against the wall. "Scarlet's part Grimm too."

"Which explains the Nevermore wings." Robyn said.

"That's not all." Ruby said looking down.

Ironwood cocks an eyebrow up. "What do you mean?"

Oscar looked at him. "We used the relic to find out how to stop Salem, but...she can't be killed." He looked over to Winter and the others. "Salem's immortal, meaning Scarlet is immortal as well."

Ironwood scoffed. "And you're just now telling us?"

"There was a lot on our minds okay?" Yang asked. "We need to prepare for Salem's invasion..if Scarlet's here already that means Salem's forces are on their way as well."

"Damn it!" Jacques yelled. "She was just a distraction.."

~~~

Neo had reported back to Cinder, however Scarlet was also with her when she went back to where Cinder was at.

"Hello Cinder." Scarlet said with a red glow in her Grimm eye. "Neo was telling me you didn't tell her about me."

Cinder grits her teeth. "You, why are you here?"

Scarlet snickered. "Why? Isn't it obvious?" She walked around Cinder as she took the mask off. "Salem's coming with an army of Grimm, she wants the relic Ruby and her friends have."

Neo nodded to what Scarlet said about the relic, Cinder looked at them both. "Do you know of a plan?"

"Plan?" Scarlet asked. "Who needs a plan to take the relic, when I could use my semblance to get it..I'm just toying with my prey. Besides...I'm not just here for the relic.."

Cinder looks at Scarlet more. "What do you mean, not just here for that?"

Scarlet snickered as glares at Cinder licking her lips. "Oh, wouldn't you love to know Cinder..." She glances at Neo for a bit. "Neo, find out who's going to keep the relic of knowledge. If you manage to take it, you will be reward."

Neo smirked as she nods her head, she left leaving Cinder alone with Scarlet. Cinder wasn't aware of what was in store for her, Scarlet was the only one who knew what was going to happen.