I don't own RWBY

Ruby started training again, her defiant attitude coming back full force. She was strong, powerful, and nothing would ever change that again. Blocking the sword coming for her face she didn't hesitate to kick her opponent away. Even without her aura, she was a force to be reckoned with. Silver eyes narrowed she gripped her dagger tightly the hairpin Cinder made for her held in her other hand. Bending her knees she met Cinder's amber eyes challengingly before lunging.

Salem watched from the balcony overlooking the training area. This change in her captive wasn't something she'd calculated. She'd assumed Ruby would eventually wither and fall apart. Somehow the girl had regained her hope. If the girl had her aura she doubted Cinder would be holding back, yet even now Ruby didn't care about her lack of aura. Instead, the girl charged in using her natural speed to avoid or redirect Cinders attacks. Narrowing her eyes Salem tapped her hand against the railing. How could she get things back on track?

Ruby was supposed to slowly break, instead, she'd hardened. Like a diamond. It seemed the girl's name was fitting after all. Curling her fingers around the railing she glared down at the girl. Why did every one of Ozpin's chosen warriors have to be difficult? Was the man's brainwashing that good? Then again her own warriors were no weaklings. Even if some of them had changed sides when she wasn't looking. Shifting her gaze to her Fall Maiden she tightened her grip the metal railing bending in her hands.

Feeling Salem's gaze the woman over extended giving Ruby an opening. Ducking under Cinder's swing Ruby rolled kicking out behind her to hit the other woman's knees. Stumbling Cinder couldn't spin in time to counter Ruby's next attack. Gabbing the woman's hair, Ruby pressed the sharpened edge of her dagger against Cinder's neck.

"Dead," she whispered her body pressing against the other woman's. Heart pounding Cinder shuddered at the dark tone. There was no playfulness in her voice. It was dark and cold. When she was released she put as much distance as she could between them. Touching her neck she stared at the girl.

Ruby glared up at Salem daring her to step into the ring. Her silver eyes were darkened with anger and hate. Smirking the woman pushed away from the balcony vanishing from sight. Sheathing her dagger Ruby took a deep calming breath. Shaking she tried to calm down.

"Are you okay," Cinder asked staying firmly in place. Watching the girl closely she could see the moment when Ruby calmed. It was also the moment she met the other woman's eyes. She could see the darkness lurking behind the silver orbs. Knew that one false move might cost Salem her head. Ruby was unraveling just not in the way Salem wanted.

"Sorry if I scared you," Ruby said softly remembering the fear she'd seen in the woman's eyes. She hadn't meant to lose control. All the enjoyment she'd felt when she used to fight was gone. From now on she couldn't play with her opponents not when it might cost her another friend. She'd also began scheming again. Luckily Dakota wasn't there to tattle about her shower schemes. Her plan at Haven while logically a success costed them too much. She'd failed Cardin. That could never happen again.

As such, she needed someone to make plans based on her decisions. She was a warrior, not a strategist. All of her generals fought beside her because she convinced them that they could win. Technically they had, yet it didn't feel like a victory. She'd become a prisoner while her people were scattered.

But that was the thing about scattered pieces. They could be put back together. Salem wanted to break her under the nightmares and pressure. She was a diabolical woman worthy of respect. Just like Ozpin however, she underestimated what it would take to win. Salem was part grimm, Ruby didn't know how but she could feel it. All she needed was one chance.

"What now," the woman asked her eyes meeting Ruby's. She didn't acknowledge the apology nor accept it. With a frown, the girl looked down at the bracelet on her wrist. Loki hadn't agreed to help her yet she'd read the intent in his eyes. All she needed to do was find him. The only issue was that she didn't know where he landed. The death god hadn't gotten a chance to tell them before she was pulled away. For now, she was on her own.

"I'll make my move when Tyrian returns," she said locking eyes with the older woman. Her vendetta against Tyrian was well known and having her flee after killing him would be believable. She couldn't wait to feel his blood coat her hands. She wanted him to suffer for what he did just as much as he wanted her to.

(Tyrian)

He hadn't spoken to her since she tried to kill him, not that he was angry. It would be hypocritical of him to be angry with her. She only wanted to be free and he was the one caging her. He liked to think that she came willingly but they both knew she didn't. Despite not physically forcing her he'd hunted her down until she agreed.

Repeating his words over and over again in his head he didn't know what to do. She'd looked so vulnerable when he made his promise, and he hadn't thought about it beforehand. He wasn't a fool when Cora was done opening the winter vault, Salem was going to kill her. They both knew it. So why had he made that promise? He couldn't save her, could he?

Things were so much easier when he was sent to kill people, then he didn't have to get attached to them. Speaking of attachment, why did he care so much about Cora? She was beautiful he knew that, yet also damaged in a way that would have broken most people. His Rabbit was skittish yet she'd been smart enough to elude him for almost a week. Even then she'd fought beside him when the grimm attacked, she hadn't flinched away when he kissed her either.

Confused he tried to stifle the emotions that he'd hidden so long ago. He couldn't allow himself to care for her, not when Salem might give him the order to kill her with his own hands. The thought of his hands being covered in her blood was disgusting. To never see her eyes change from brown to gold would destroy him. Snarling he rubbed his eyes.

He loved her eyes, they were the only ones he'd found that changed colors the way his did. Loving what he did, meant he never questioned his orders. He'd loved killing that indigo eyed boy, and taunting Ruby about it had made him smile. Violence and betrayal were in his nature, there was no other way to describe him.

The kindness he showed her was foreign even to him. She'd tried to kill him and the thought of hurting her never even crossed his mind. There was something wrong with him. Salem was his goddess yet he was thinking of defying her to save someone he just met. Okay, so he knew everything about Cora from her favorite food to how she fought. He knew about her daughter, cute kid, but that solved none of his issues.

Hunting her to get information wasn't supposed to lead to him loving the color of her hair. He shouldn't care about her. He should be distancing himself from her to make killing her easier. So why then when they first met did he offer her a deal. He wasn't supposed to. Salem had only told him to bring the maiden back alive. When she'd fallen back at the inn he'd wanted to help her. The way she babbled when nervous was adorable, her voice was soft like her hair.

Pressing his fingers against his forehead he groaned. He was going insane, not that he already wasn't. Knowing he was crazy didn't prepare him for this though. It was supposed to be simple. Hunt down the maiden and bring her back. Instead, he'd gotten attached to her. The situation reminded him of a lion getting attached to a sheep. She was prey, but he wanted her to be something more.

That was the issue. He wanted something outside of Salem's goals. He desired something for himself. It was wrong! He was supposed to be an obedient attack dog. A soldier for her cause, not someone who cared. And know he'd given his word to protect her. Hiding his face in his hand he listened to the sound of the shower running. The small inn they'd stopped in only a day away from the military base, had very thin walls and he could hear her humming as she showered. The sound was nice, soothing even, and that was the issue.

He wanted to be around her, even if it was to see her eyes light up in fear. Maybe he could keep her as a pet. Cinder had pets. Yet her pets weren't Maiden's capable of wielding more power than an Atlassian missile. He'd never let him keep her. So he should stop caring and walk away. Nothing he could do would save her from Salem, but he'd given his word. Even psychopaths kept their word. Or that might just be him. He still wouldn't break it though. The worse part he'd given his word to fight for Salem's cause too. Despair circledthroughh his mind, what was he supposed to do now?