Author's Notes:

Hello there, and welcome to my second RWBY fan fiction story. In the event that you didn't see it on my profile page, The Depths of VNUS is a work centering around my very own original characters. It can be considered a change to the standard O.C.-centered story seen on the site for at least one good reason – the characters featured are on the antagonist side of things rather than the protagonist. It will also feature possible events that Roman, Cinder and their respective henchmen could be conducting during the events of the canon universe. Hopefully, this will prove to be an entertaining spin to the ordinary.

Enjoy this teaser.

"So, I take it you're her, then?"

Cinder's eyes, cool and composed as they always had been, swept the darkened area for any sign of her target. Even as the girl's voice echoed around her, the form had yet to be sighted out. The only proof of her presence was the multitude of bodies strewn across the ground. "Just what do you mean by that?" She questioned, humoring her prey for the time being.

"The leader of these weaklings." The red-clad woman allowed herself to feel a mild dose of surprise at the ice coating the girl's words. "I assumed such, considering you just waltzed in here like you owned the place. How couldn't I, seeing you approach me so haughtily even after seeing what I did to your little mutts?"

That choice of words made Cinder chuckle in both amusement and mockery. "You mean this particular bunch? They're nothing to me if they allowed themselves to get killed by the likes of you. You'll also find that unlike them, I'm not so easy to dispose of."

"Is that a fact?" The girl's voice asked, demonstrating her own brand of amusement.

"I don't know." Cinder answered, smirking as she curled her fingers in preparation. Her hazel eyes briefly flashed in a physical gesture of alertness. "Maybe you'll get to find out for yourself... that is, if you manage to survive."

The girl let out a short and sharp laugh. "Oh, you've got quite the stones, you old prune! I'll have to give you at least that much. At the very least, you've earned the right to hear my name."

"And that would be?" Cinder inquired.

"Viola Carabosse. You would do well to remember it," The pause in the words was an unspoken catalyst. A light blue mist began to envelop the area, further preventing the eyes from gaining purchase on the environment. Once she felt the poison that was her opponent's murderous desire, Cinder reflexively tensed up in anticipation of an attack. The closing statement from her enemy solidified the event of a battle. "Because it's going to be the only thing you'll take with you to the afterlife!"

What followed that statement was the cross-shaped tip of a Yari spear as it was thrust towards the fire woman's back.

"I don't see why you're being so resistant to this, kid." Although Roman was doing a good job of keeping a casual and professional attitude towards the situation, he couldn't help the slightest hint of irritation out of his voice. He paced in front of the table, idly swinging his cane aroud "I mean, from where I'm standing, you have nowhere else to go. Your master's up and left you to die, no one else would dare to take you in after what you've done, and you don't have much to lose—"

"Aside from myself?" The boy snarled, glaring at the crime boss with angry eyes. His sharp tone caused the older man to stop and look at him in mild surprise. "I already learned the hard way the consequences of swearing loyalty to anyone else other than yourself. I know how you slime balls work, Torchwick. You lead your little minions out on a string as long as you want to, and then when you don't need them anymore, you dispose of them in any way you think is best. I have nothing to gain by joining you."

A slow smirk came across Roman's face, much to the boy's chagrin. "Au contraire, Nessie," He answered, causing his verbal target's frown to deepen. "You have quite a lot to gain by joining me. Your former master gave me that much before those White Fang went to town on him. Maybe I should've told them to leave him intact so that he'd at least have a little last heart-to-heart with his most prized servant, but-"

"Wait a minute, what?!" Green and slitted eyes widened to join a shocked vocalization of shock and disbelief. It was something that made Roman chuckle in amusement.

"Yeah." He said casually, turning to face "Nessie". While one hand held the hook of his cane, the other moved to grasp the shaft in the matter of a lecturing professor. "Didn't you hear about that, kid? Your old boss wasn't exactly known for good treatment of his servants – something I'm sure you're pretty much aware of. So not too long before I found you, I tracked him and gave out his coordinates. Long story short, he's very much dead now. While normally this means that we've effectively liberated you completely from your chains-"

He cut himself off, abruptly raising the butt of his cane to point at a rising and furious Nessie. The targeting reticle flipped into place, locking onto its target with an aim perfect at the distance the two were from each other. His action caused the young man to freeze up, although he still kept defiance in both expression and stance. The crime boss continued to speak as casually as he had been. "It also means that I've effectively ruined every one of your plans. Isn't that right, my friend?"

"I should kill you." Nessie seethed, one of his hands eagerly grasping the hilt of his katana. "I should kill you right now and-"

"And what?" Even noting his step closer to hostility, Roman did not waver. "Add gain yet another useless dead body? I think we both know you want better than that." He lowered his cane, flipping the reticle back into a holstered position and giving a knowing smirk. "And fortunately for you, I am a very generous person. I can give you what your master wouldn't. I can fulfill that greatest desire of yours, the one you held onto even as the geezer stripped everything else away. But whether or not that happens is up to what you're up to. So I'd think carefully about your next choice of words and action if I were you, kid."

As he saw the conflict blooming within those green and snake-like eyes, Roman's smirk grew wider. He had the boy right where he wanted him.

The blonde gave a small grunt of exertion as he looked down at his prey, smiling in a cruel fashion as he watched her struggle against him. His fingers tightened their hold, increasing the pressure on her neck and rewarding him with more frantic and pained gags. "Still fighting, sweetie?" He asked her in rhetoric. "By all means, keep it up. All it's doing its making me more eager to see the light disappear from your eyes."

He paused to think about his words, his smile slowly fading away as he lost himself. But the pressure on the girl's throat didn't relent in the slightest, and her writhing didn't get any closer to the precious thing known as oxygen. It was only after a few seconds that he slowly leaned down so that they were staring at each other eye to eye. "Or maybe you don't want that." He said, tilting his head to the side slightly. "It's always so hard to tell with you women, and it's been quite a while since I've had a time of pleasure." His smile returned when he saw fear flashing within her crimson eyes. "How about it? What's say I choke you silly, turn you around and put one right up your-"

He wouldn't get to finish that sentence.

A flying knee smashed into the side of his face, sending his world on its head. His hands involuntarily let go of his victim, who immediately took a greedy gasp of air. His body was sent tumbling and skidding across the ground before coming to a standstill a few meters away. His assailant straightened his pose and settled into a fighting stance, although his posture was somewhat off courtesy of exhaustion. The victim slowly sat herself up, looking at her savior and rubbing at her neck. "Seriously thought I was a goner..." She breathed. "Thanks for the save, Mercury."

"No problem." Although his tone was as loose as always, there was a subtle dose of venom that now coated Mercury's tired voice. His gray eyes glared at Umbro as he struggled to stand back up from the blow dealt. "But now that I heard that little tidbit, I'm about to do more than just that. Cinder said to bring this guy back alive." A small smirk appeared on his face. "But she didn't say not to break whatever we wanted before we did. Can you still fight?"

Emerald gave a small grunt as she hefted herself up, immediately following the movements of her assailant. "Yeah..." She muttered, moving over to pick up her twin blades. "Just give me a moment..."

As Umbro stood up, his tongue detected a taste of iron within his mouth. As he glared at Mercury, he turned his head slightly to the side and spit. However, he turned a shocked gaze to the contents that exited his mouth – more specifically, a gob of blood and a tooth. His lips abruptly curled into a furious snarl, and he swung an outraged glare towards Mercury. His fists clenched and raised to a more threatening position, and his form was outlined by the veins with a bright orange-red color. "Kid," He snarled. "That's one action you're not going to live to regret!"

"Try me." Mercury said coolly, bracing himself for the imminent assault. His partner flanked him, her knives readied in preparation. "That is, if you got what it takes."

Without hesitation, a scream and fists full of artificial flames, the blonde threw himself at his opponents once more.

"Almost there, thank Dust..." The driver sighed, resisting the urge to let her head fall on the steering wheel. "Then I can go back home!"

"You sound rather tired." Her gray-haired passenger commented, her voice soft and quiet. Crimson eyes looked over with a mixture of timidness and curiosity. "Have you been driving people places most of the day? If you don't mind me asking."

"Hit it right on the mark." The Faunus commended, giving a weak smirk but keeping her eyes on the shifting road. "I've been hauling people from point A to point B to point C and back again. The boss's got me running ragged! Come to think of it, the majority of this White Fang stuff has been taking the life out of me. I think I'm gonna swing around for an early retirement, get back to my husband and son. Dust knows they're worried."

Sylvia's ears perked up at this. "You've got a family? But how come you're working with the White Fang?"

The driver gave a light shrug and a weak smile as she slowed down to a short line of cars in front of a red stoplight. "It pays the bills. Although they're a bit too famous for their own good, they make quite a bit of money. Besides, it's not exactly easy for a Faunus like me to get a job, if you hadn't noticed already." The response earned Sylvia's slight frown, along with an understanding nod.

"Well, I'm sure you're looking forward to it. I bet that your family's going to be so happy to see you after so much hard work."

"Oh, you don't even know the half of it!" The driver's smile turned more enthusiastic at the thought. She turned her attention forward again when the light turned, continuing her drive towards their mutual destination. "But, enough about me. You're here because you were called in, right? Must have some skills on you to get into this line of business."

"Oh!" Briefly taken aback by the switch of topic, Sylvia looked down nervously at the shotgun-submachine gun hybrid on her lap. "Well, I'd like to say I'm competent enough." She said softly, giving a weak smile of her own. "But I don't know what she might say. I'm not sure if I'm going to meet her expectations. What if I'm rejected? What if she doesn't think my skills are enough?"

By this point in time, the car stopped in what appeared to be an abandoned garage. The driver looked at her passenger in sympathy and encouragement as she slowed to a stop, reaching to place a hand on the timid girl's shoulder. "Relax, kid. Just be honest, remain confident and you'll make it. If she's impressed by what she's seen up to this point, I'm sure you'll have no trouble coming aboard. Now get out there and show her what you're made of."

"Thank you..." With a bit of that mentioned confidence flashing through her eyes, Sylvia gave the driver a grateful nod. She opened the car door, pushing it open and letting it swing aside. As she stepped out, the driver turned back to the road and waited patiently for the door to close. But she would turn her attention back when the girl spoke up again.

"Oh, and just so we're clear..."

What she didn't expect was for the barrel of the gun to be pointed at her, its wielder supporting a blank expression on her face.

"Your family's going to be joining you soon enough."

The sounds of fired pistol rounds and shattered glass followed soon after.