Chapter 1

Adam Taurus

It was cold and dark. Adam couldn't decide it was more cold or more dark. He tried very, very hard not to think about how much he was bleeding. His clothes vere soaked in red and he himself was drowning in freezing water.

Yup, that was no doubt the last moment of Adam Taurus' consciousness.

But to his very surprise, he didn't die. In fact, he was totally fine, apart of ripped clothes, wetness everywhere and his awfully hurt pride. To be honest, his pride was so bruised he didn't notice something that was headed straight at him.

„What the..." - Adam murmured, realizing it was a towel. A dry towel.

„Dry up. Don't mind the blood; I made most of it disappear. I hate blood."

Judging by the voice, the person disapproving of basic human fluid was a girl. A young woman, Adam thought.

BLAKE

„I really don't like to repeat myself, too." - the girl said and Adam snapped out of his thoughts for a second.

The first thing she noticed about her were the young lady's eyes. The right eye was dark blue, almost navy. The second had bright, red color to it. She was standing in front of him with her arms crossed.

And she had his weapon.

„Give it back to me." - demanded Adam.

„No way in hell."

She was stubborn, no doubt.

„Give it back or I'll kill you."

The girl dropped his weapon and set her foot on it. She leaned to him and suddenly her pupils disappeared.

„Drop this tone or I'll alter your mind to the worst things that has ever happened to you."- she replied with no real change in her voice.

„Hand my Wilt and Blush to me, please."

„You won't be seeing your weapon in a very, very long time."

Now he noticed a bloodred flower in her dark-pink, short hair. She sat along him and raised her pale hand to touch his face. He catched it midair and forced the lady to the ground.

And suddenly he screamed. An arrow of pain pierced through his mind. Not of physical pain. More like…

„Altering. This is my semblance. „ - the girl said - „I can make you think of everything I wish. I'm not sure you get the grip of your current situation."

The pain stopped and she tilted her head slightly to the left, blinked and her pupils appeared again.

„I'm all ears." - said Adam, trembling a little.

Schnee Dust Company

The girl frowned and blinked again. At once, Adam felt something strange inside his brain, but this time it was pleasant.

„Stop messing with my mind." he said rubbing his forehead „Who are you?"

The girl placed herself on the ground next to him.

„My name is Ceres."

„Why are you helping me?"

He needed information.

„I am not helping you." - Ceres corrected him, scratching behind her one short braid that was not very matching to her looking - „I am helping myself."

Adam calculated his chances of getting Wilt and Bush back and decided not to. The pain that human caused in his delicate brain was too much even for him. For Adam fucking Taurus.

Ugh.

„Congratulations, you abusive asshole, you just won one way ticket to your personal hell." - she smiled cheerfully - „Make yourself comfortable. And for gods' sake, dry yourself up."

„I'm afraid I can't help you, girl. I have my own business to attend." - Adam stood up.

„I told you my name was Ceres." - the girl's tone was cold - „And I'm afraid you're not going anywhere. I just patched you up, you ungrateful..."

„I appreciate the effort. But I'm not staying. I need to..."

„You need to sit down and listen to me!" - Ceres raised her voice a little - „Besides, you have nowhere to go. The kids are sure you're dead so it's better to not show them otherwise. And you...you let them to beat you up so spectacularly."

Adam tighten his lips.

„Are you with Cinder Fall?" he asked and before he managed to get an answer she stood up quickly and bit her lower lip.

„The Grimm!"

Adam tried to stand up too but Ceres stopped him.

„They are heading towards the city." she said „I guess your friends are fighting them."

„How do you know that?"

She smiled a little.

„I have some tricks hidden up my sleeves. Let's go."