Explosions ring out, music fills the air, a beautiful combination. Saraph rolls out of the way of several spectral swords before they impacted where he had been standing, an explosion ringing out and the music tuned out from his ears as it's filled with a loud ringing. Saraph looks up at the ridge and the figure hadn't moved. He had no way of possibly reaching them without using his abilities, and he wasn't about to just let his opponent know his phase two. He stared at the silhouetted figure, trying to determine what his next move would be; he wasn't given much of a chance too think before another volley of spectral swords were shot at him. Without any time to react, his natural instincts took control and his eyes flared purple as his arms threw flew up creating a quick wall of flame, disintegrating the spectral swords as they passed through. Saraph blitzed through the flame wall as it faded and was headed for a closer point of contact with his opponent, he got within range and leapt into the air just as his opponent did the same. They traded places as his opponent lands on the stone ground of the storage yard and Saraph landed on the ledge of the ridge and dived backwards off of it landing about twenty feet from the figure, who was now visible. Standing there was a young girl about the same age as Saraph, wore a purple button up coat with grey skinny jeans, and high heel boots, she was almost as tall as Saraph who was 5'11". She had grey eyes and dark blonde hair color.
The two stared at each other, Saraph was mostly unarmed save for his abilities. Silence filled the air, together they both took one step with their right foot and music began playing. A calm and melodic tone beginning to fill the air. They moved as if synchronized, took a step with their left foot, then their right, slid together their feet as they stood upright. Saraph bowed, then spun around horizontally surrounding himself in a cloak of purple flame. Landing kneeled down holding two blackened glass copies of his normal swords. While at the same time a blinding blue flash lit up the area as the girls violin transformed along with the beat of the calm and melodic tone into a silver plated rifle radiating blue energy. They stare at each other as the music begins to pick up pace, Saraph stands up, both swords to his sides. They bow to each other and the music picks again up as the girl fires her rifle, a bright flash lights up the area for a moment, the shot screeching the distance to Saraph who split the round in half watching as each half impacts. This is repeated in succession many times until Saraph finally dodges a shot throwing a sword at her as she kicks the sword up in the air firing a blinding shot and destroying the sword.
She looks back where Saraph would be, but when she looks back Saraph is gone. She catches on to what he would do just in time to be kicked in the back, she recovers from the kick with a roll and landing kneeled, she spins around aiming the rifle on his forehead while Saraph had his last remaining sword against her neck. Saraph noticed her eyes said kill, but her hands and form said stand down. They both nodded as they backed off from each other. Saraph with no warning swung the sword downward at the girl and she kicked it out of his hand, spun around and roundhouse kicked Saraph.
Completely in disarray at what would make him attack after the dance ended. He laid there, flat on the ground looking up at the night sky, "Sorry, I had no idea who you were. Are you ok?" The girl stands above Saraph who still hasn't moved, "I...I think I'm ok," the girl kneels on the ground and stares at him, "Just hold on a moment, you're bleeding around your eye." The girl pulls out some bandages from a pocket on her jacket and dabs up the blood, his right arm slowly moves to his chest. "Violet, what are you doing here?" Saraph is beginning to form his own conclusions, his eyes bleeding from where Cinder cut him and because of the stress, Violet looks at him, her face filled with worry.
"I was sent out here from Beacon to investigate what I was told would be a robbery. What are you doing here?" Violet's head tilts to the side a little. "Uh, I'm not entirely sure," Saraph sits up, realizing he couldn't tell Violet exactly why he was here, but he hated lying to her. Violet's head tilted to the other side, as she took his hands and helped him up on his feet, "We should get you back to Beacon, get you checked out." Violet's voice filled with concern and sadness. Saraph knew Violet better than anyone, and a few things he knew right now were: she hated seeing friends hurt, she hated seeing family hurt, and she felt sincerely bad for attacking him. He looked at her, "Don't worry about it, you should get those cuts checked out," she looks at her arm and sees the blood staining her purple jacket and the slices in the coat arm.
Violet looks up at Saraph and then focuses in on her hair and notices that about two finger width amount of her hair was missing and her expression grew angry. Saraph standing there quietly wondering what was going on, Violet looked from her hair to Saraph and sighed, "Really, really you had to go and do that?!" Saraph took a step back and threw his hands up, "I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional. I'll find someway to make it up to you ok?" Violet rolls her eyes and crossing her arms, "You better, because I don't think Mother would like to hear you cut my hair in dance again, remember what happened last time?" Saraph thinks for a moment remembering what did happen last time, his mother made him do her hair for a week and pay for coffee. He looked at her, "Please, don't." Violet sighs again and turns around, "Let's go." Saraph replies calmly, "I'll catch up with you later, I've got things to do." Violet begins walking away, "Suit yourself then."
As Violet disappears from sight Saraph heads over to the large crate he was sent here for, and opened the door. The door squeaked open and as moonlight filled the darkness inside the crate he saw a black obelisk standing in the middle, and a red Dust crystal sitting towards the top placed inside the obelisk. He walked inside, as his footsteps echoed inside, he grabbed the small stone and headed out. Leaving the door open and silence in the night.
Saraph hands the small red crystal to Cinder and she examines it, "I see you had some troubles getting this?" Cinder stares at the blood stain around his right eye. Saraph looks down, "No ma'am I did not, simply an accident." Cinder places the crystal in a black case and returns to Saraph. "Well congratulations, you've passed my first job test for you. Tomorrow, we see if you truly are wiling to do what it takes to have your endeavors," Cinder leaves the room as the sound of her heels echo throughout it. Saraph heads off for some long needed rest.
"So, you see that Hunter over there Saraph?" Cinder points in the direction of a Hunter not too far from them in the Emerald Forest. Saraph spots the young boy who couldn't have been older than 15 wandering around, "Yes I see him." Cinder smiles and puts a hand on her hip, "Well, your next test is simple, kill the Hunter." Saraph focused in on the Hunter at the moment missed all but the last three words of what Cinder said, "You want me to kill him, what has he done wrong?" Saraph turns back to Cinder. "Nothing. Yet." Saraph confused even more now puts a hand in a pants pocket, "So you expect me to just walk out there and kill him in cold blood?" Cinder chuckles, "Well, maybe he's warm blooded, I mean it is sunny out." Saraph blankly stares at Cinder for a few moments before looking to the Hunter then back at Cinder, "I won't do it." Cinder's expression turns cold, "Yes you will, I mean you did just consider it." Saraph crosses his arms, "I will not, and you know you can't make me either." They both stare at each other for a moment before Cinder puts out a hand, "You will kill the Hunter or I'll make you." Saraph digs his foot into the ground slightly, "I'm. Not. Doing. It." Cinder stares and him, "Then I suppose I should kill you now then? I mean you are proving to be quite useless to me." Saraph looks back at the Hunter then Cinder, "I said no." Saraph quickly draws on of his swords and swings downward towards Cinder who in response knocks the sword out oh his hand and grabs him by the throat, lifting him up slightly and throwing him to the ground, "You will do it. Also, for some assassin you have terrible planning." Saraph coughs for a moment, "Or that was the plan." Cinder still pinning him to the ground by his throat slowly closes her hand, Saraph begins coughing. He brings his right arm up as purple flame begins to emanate from him, a ball of purple flame appears in his hand and in the moment before it fires off Cinder grabs his wrist and pins it to the ground in the direction of the Hunter. She begins burning his wrist and the pain causes him to release the fire ball.
Cinder watches as the fire ball impacts and for better terms kills him, the sound of his screams reaches the two, "And well done! You've killed a Hunter!" Cinder let's go of Saraph and stands up, while Saraph coughs and gasps for air. She brushes some grass and dirt off of her dress and stares at Saraph who was getting angrier with each passing second, "One down, who knows how many more to go." Cinder chuckles and helps Saraph up then immediately throws him against a tree by the throat pinning him there, enough force to crack the bark, her tone angry and cold, "If you ever say no to a command from me again, I might just kill you. Do you understand Saraph?" Saraph stares past her, avoiding eye contact with Cinder, "Yes." Cinder still holding him there replies coldly, "Good, now time for your punishment. Or did you think you'd be spared from it?" She chuckles as her arm lights up with an amber color. Saraph knew what would happen, and he knew no way to avoid it, until he heard a familiar note, one note he knew very well, it meant Violet knew what was happening to him, which meant a very violent note was coming.
[From the author]
I wanted to thank everyone personally for the support on this fanfic, and wanted to tell you how happy I am when I see a new review was posted or someone followed/favorites it. I'm incredibly happy to see so many people are enjoying this and I hope to keep writing an enjoyable story for you all. Also my profile has links to pages where you can directly chat with me for those interested. Until a new dawn everyone and have a good day!