Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows
Rating: T/M
Series: RWBY
Pairing:
Volume 3: Fall
Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series.
(Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.
Chapter 18
[Argus]
Victorian-style houses built close together.
A streetcar system.
Hilly terrain.
A very large suspension bridge.
This was the city of Argus, a port town bustling with a natural harbor for commerce purposes. It was, in simple terms, the perfect balance of Mistralian and Atlesian culture. It was quiet and peaceful as the members of Team JNPR and AZRE rode on the hovering transit system through the lit streets, each member abuzz with the beauty and tranquility of the city.
All but one...
A pair of violet eyes viewed the happy-go-lucky scene with veiled derision. While the others were amazed by the gorgeous architecture and subtle refinements, Atsura viewed this place as a form of hell. To him, there was no joy found in this town; nothing but a veiled farce showcased for the world's comfort. It was like Mistral only, Argus hid its true nature well.
Lost in thought, he failed to notice two pairs of orbs staring at him, sensing his uneasiness.
Roxanne and Pyrrha could feel the general uneasiness of the fox and each figured what the reason could be. Looking around, Roxanne noticed that while the environment was rather peaceful, there was a huge lack of faunus present. This would correlate with her partner's words about how the city wasn't as innocent as many would make it out to be.
The latter of the two, Pyrrha, gathered that her friend and lover dreaded coming back to this place due to his past. He often stressed to her during their journey how he preferred the Kingdom of Vale over Mistral, specifically the city of Argus.
She tried to comfort the faunus but that would prove very difficult. Just like Aganju, Pyrrha had her own issues to deal with, namely her increased fanbase. Every time she'd try to show support to Aganju, someone who recognized her would immediately beg for an autograph or bombard the poor girl with often personal questions pertaining to her time at Beacon.
Though he wasn't angry with the girl in the least, there was a general apathy to the foxes' attitude. Rather than step in aggressively, he would just allow it to happen without so much as a passing glance. The only time he shifted his attitude was when an insensitive question about Penny Polindina caught his ears, but he was stopped when he noticed the ram shaking her head.
"So, where are we going to be staying?" Nora asked impatiently, clearing not enjoying the excessive additions on the trolley.
"Thankfully, I was able to contact my sister before we took off. She said it was okay for us to crash at her place." Jaune apprehensively answered.
At that moment, the transit car came to a halt, with a lone blond woman carrying a sleepy baby in her arms. Her shiny blue eyes shined brightly upon seeing her brother. As they exited the vehicle, everyone was happy that
"It's so good to see you all!" she excitedly hugged the taller Arc who reluctantly returned the gesture. "Come along out of the cold. My wife and I have dinner waiting for you all."
"Thanks, Saph..."
"Actually, I will have to decline..." Everyone turned to see a remorseful Pyrrha looking back at them. "I have to go visit my mother; it has been quite a while since I've seen her. I may convince her to open her door for a few of us afterward."
"Not a problem, Pyrrha. We can catch up later."
However, while most of the group vocally agreed, there was a noticeable absence of a certain vulpine. It was only when Pyrrha mentioned her mother that the gang finally noticed that he was missing.
"Where'd he go?"
"I don't know... He was here just a few minutes ago." Roxie noted.
"Nora and I can go with Pyrrha. Maybe we'll find him along the way?"
The suggestion from Ren was enough for the group to form a solid game-plan. Roxanne and Jaune chose to check the western end of the city while Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha headed to the east side. With everything set, the two trios set out, each concerned for their friend; some more than others.
Black toe-less boots clopped on the cobblestone street, leisurely trudging toward somewhere. The violet eyes of Aganju stared straight ahead, trying to ignore the whispers of Argus' citizens as his tail swayed gently underneath the tail split of his jacket. It didn't matter much as his sensitive canine auricles picked up every hushed inquiry.
"I didn't know they still allowed faunus to be huntsmen." One woman mentioned after noticing the compact weapon on his back.
"After the attack of the White Fang, they all should be locked up." another condescendingly remarked.
"Stay away from it, sweetheart."
That last comment made Aganju's skin crawl, his eyes flickering crimson before taking a deep breath. Once he was sure that his emotions were sufficiently in check, he spared a glance at the owner of the voice. He found an older gentleman and what appeared to be either his daughter or granddaughter. The little girl seemed to look at him with wonder filling her opal orbs while the male held nothing less than contempt in his eyes. It reminded him of an unfortunate truth of his past:
Hatred was taught, not birthed.
No sooner did that lesson emerge in his mind did the awe in the child's eyes shift into fear; another soul doomed to judge and ridicule that which they didn't understand. He pushed past the painful memories, flashing a sympathetic smile until the pair left. His chest hitched as he felt the grin, jerking the muscles in this face.
Show them how you smile...
It's only for a while.
Take what you need, leave them to bleed.
Let them know bitter while your revenge is sweet.
He remembered hearing those words from Ilia before their departure. They were a testament to what her parents told her before they passed away in the Dust mines. Remembering this, the forced toothy smile soon gave way to a softer, more comfortable grin.
A single bitter tear trailed down his face as he pressed onward, not stopping until he reached his destination:
Sanctum Academy.
Almost two years had passed since his departure from the combat school and yet, here he stood. His gaze darkened at the defenseless building responsible for much of his misfortunes. Sure, there were some bright spots, but just like most of his life, there were far more painful memories at this place. Ridicule and bullying proved to be powerful motivators though, as it fueled the fox to take his life into his own hands, along with the assistance of Professor Ozpin.
That day...
That day was one that no amount of negativity could ruin the moment when the headmaster arrived and offered him a place at Beacon. It was the best decision Aganju made and he would hold no regrets about it, even with the fall that came after.
He resisted the urge to chuckle at the experiences and journeys made during his time at the academy.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" he turned around, wiping away the lone trail only to find a woman approaching him. Shock filled the violet eyes of Aganju. Green eyes looked back through square glasses. Her hair fell just inches from her shoulders and there were just the faintest hints of lines that revealed she was experienced in life. "Sanctum is a magnificent school."
Veering away, he nodded at her statement.
"In a way, it is... It has its faults too."
"That is true. Sanctum does have its fair share of problems. But, I believe that even in the worst of things, there's always a light that shines through."
"I guess with Pyrrha Nikos back, you'd be right," the foxes' voice trailed. "It's only a matter of time before the entire city is abuzz with her return."
He turned to find the woman staring back at him with a puzzling gaze.
Discerning her confusion, Aganju turned back to face the building that held so many memories. The unknown person, however, continued to ponder his words as if they were a riddle to be solved. Slowly, her mouth lifted into a ghost of a smile before looking at the vulpine in front of her. Her green gems widened in realization. She traced his features, only stopping when her gaze rested on something all too familiar.
"So, she made it out of Beacon safely..."
"What?"
Aganju didn't frown, but something close to intrigue danced behind his optics. The woman regarded this, approaching him with gentle hands cupping his face. The young man flinched but, strangely, he didn't pull away; a surprise to himself. He wouldn't dare move as the woman studied him before finally smiling brightly with the smile only a mother could give.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize it from the start. That's her scarf!"
"Her?" he blinked, feeling his face grow flush.
The woman giggled softly while pulling away from the faunus.
"My daughter, Pyrrha."
"D-Daughter?!" he swallowed hard. "You're Pyrrha's mom?"
"Calliope Nikos..." she bowed respectfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora walked down the street dejectedly. After nearly half an hour of searching, there was no sign of Aganju on their side of town. Of the trio, Pyrrha was the most worried. Her woes became apparent to the pair, both hating to see their friend and teammate in such a state.
"It's going to be alright, Pyrrha..." Nora placed a hand on the spartan's shoulders.
"Let's head back and see if your mom has returned. I'm sure she's been hoping to see you after all of this time." Ren added.
While the prospect of seeing her mother again did lift her spirits a bit, it wasn't enough to lift her mood completely. Someone she cared about disappeared and she, unnecessarily, felt partial to blame.
"I know but..."
"No buts!" Nora jumped in front of her. Her hands were on her hips and she was giving the girl a challenging glare. "Aganju's tough. Wherever he's gone, I doubt he'd be in trouble. Plus... He'd probably call if something was wrong, right? Ren has moments like that as well."
Looking up to the taller male, Pyrrha watched as Ren averted his eyes, signifying the truth behind his energetic girlfriend statement.
"Very well. I guess we should try and see if my mother's at home now."
"Good idea."
The three turned a corner, heading toward the Nikos residence.
When they reached the house, the three saw that the lights were now on inside the home but, none made an attempt to reach the front door right away. Nora and Ren waited for Pyrrha, but she looked as if she was full of anxiety. Her chest reverberated from her heart pounding against her ribs as she just stood there.
She wanted nothing more than to cross over the steps and see her mother greet her at the door. So, why wouldn't her body move? What was keeping her from actually doing what she sought out to do?
Guilt?
Shame?
Doubt?
Whatever it was, Pyrrha needn't to worry about it as two hands rested on either of her shoulders. This gave Pyrrha the strength to push past her concerns and head to the door. Afraid she could give in to trepidation, she knocked on the door repeatedly until the door suddenly opened, revealing not her mother, but a young man with twitching black ears and shocked eyes.
"A-Agan?"
"H-Hi, Pyrrha..." he apprehensively waved.
Before he could explain himself, Aganju felt two arms wrap around his neck as Pyrrha rushed at him, knocking the vulpine on his back. There were no tears, no crying, just relief as Pyrrha buried her face into his chest. Outside, Nora & Ren watched the sweet moment only for the former to notice shuffling from behind the couple.
"Who's at the door, Aganju?" a motherly voice called from behind the downed couple.
The faunus pulled away softly from Pyrrha, shifting his head to the older woman. Calliope couldn't believe her eyes as the pair untangled themselves from one another. There before her stood her daughter was standing there in the flesh. Neither held back their tears as they rushed to embrace each other.
Praising Oum, the mother-daughter duo took the chance to officially reunite. Both held onto one another, finally registering the warmth and presence of their homecoming. Gone were any reservations as Aganju, Ren, and Nora looked on with tender smiles. The feel-good moment didn't last long for the trio though as Nora turned to the vulpine, punching him in the arm, earning a silent growl from him.
"What was that for?!" he hissed lowly, rubbing his sore arm.
"That's for making us worry about you!" she pointed at him menacingly. "Next time, just bring her pancakes and syrup if you want to get a girl's attention."
"Nora? That only works for you..." Ren eyed his girlfriend playfully.
"Hush..."
Everyone began laughing at the annoyed hammer wielder.
[Evernight Castle]
Crimson eyes slowly opened, a slow-burning ire aimed at the kneeling forms of her targets.
The unfortunate victims of her gaze each held their own form of negativity that kept their eyes glued to the floor. Mercury felt weighed down by humiliation for having failed in their mission. Hazel felt disappointed, yet his face remains solid as he was prepared to do whatever it took to spare the two children from Salem's wrath. Lastly, there was Emerald whose fear and shock held her down like chains.
Salem could practically taste their abrogating feeling(s) at this point, yet her face never broke from the unreadable expression. The only sign of her wrath was the piercing glare she directed at the unfortunate souls. Watts and Tyrian sat on either side of the meeting table, awaiting the inevitable tearing down. The latter's wicked grin was completely absent, as was Watts's normally smug grin.
There was no time for pettiness in the face of serious matters.
"I would like you to explain to me how it is you failed so spectacularly."
Disheartened, Hazel Reinhart lifted his head, still refusing to meet the dark gaze of the pale woman.
"The faunus militia split our forces-"
"Stop..." Salem exclaimed darkly, like a mother silencing her child. She pressed her hands together, feeling her irritability beginning to take hold of her composure. What little bit of courage the burly man had instantly waned as he sighed in submission under her matriarchal glower. "Let me rephrase the question. Who is responsible for your defeat?"
Hazel cut his eyes to both Mercury & Emerald, the latter looking like she would pass out at any moment. Despite his willingness to cut down anyone necessary, he was no monster. He knew the reason for their defeat but, given her association to the teens, he surmised to do the honorable thing.
"I take full responsibility..."
"But that wouldn't be fair now, would it?!" Salem erupted, effortlessly flipping the massive table over onto a whimpering Tyrian. Her eyes glowed with a steady rage as she started toward the three. Both of the younger members stood with horror while Hazel tried to maintain his cool. "We all know who's truly to blame!"
"I don't know what-"
Having enough of his pathetic attempts to cover for the culprit, Salem extended her hand toward him. Soon the ground began to glow beneath the hulking giant. She then twisted her palm upward, summoning many Grimm arms that reached out to grab Hazel. Clenching her fist, the tendrils overpowered him, smothering her face and silencing him for the time being.
As he grunted, fighting to breathe, Salem directed her attention to none other than Emerald. The shivering girl still wouldn't even look in the matriarch's direction. She could feel those hellish eyes blazing her soul as the woman's presence drew closer. Even with the outburst now subsided, the sheer demonic force of Salem made the girl wish that she'd been captured by police back at Haven.
"Emerald?" She felt her blood freeze under the eerie calm of Salem's tone. She wanted nothing more than to come up with an excuse to give, but her mind could only a blank. She stood there petrified as the Grimm Mistress approached her. The dynamic of dominance was more evident when Salem was only an inch or two away. "I want you to tell me whose fault this was... Now!"
"C-Cinder! We failed because of Cinder!" she confessed, feeling humiliated at her immediate admission.
"That's right," Salem placed a hand on the shaky girl's shoulder, literally feeling the essence of Emerald's fear radiating off of her. "I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation until she redeems herself."
Those within the chamber exchanged looks aside from the fading Hazel. Mercury and Emerald looked to Salem with awe at the implication made.
"She's... alive?"
"You're joking! How could you possibly know that?" Watts interrupted.
"Are you questioning our divine savior?" Tyrian challenged.
"I-" The former Atlesian scientist stammered over his words before crossing gazes with the woman. He cleared his throat, hoping to save face. "Of course not. Forgive me..."
"It's important not to lose sight of what drives us. Love. Justice. Reverence. But, the moment you put your desires before my own, they will be lost to you," Finally, Salem flexed her hand, causing the shadows to relinquish their hold on Hazel. As he wasted little time intaking sweet oxygen into his lungs, Salem continued. "This isn't a threat; this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found through me."
A slightly disoriented Hazel staggered back to his feet, nodding. Tyrian looked on in wonder of Salem's sovereignty. Watts dusted his jacket off, standing tall once again as their leader faced them once again. She spared a moment to stare out as a few nevermore Grimm flew around before sighing to herself.
"...And so, we must press on..."
She proceeded to push forward with the next step of their plan; the sword of Vacuo that currently resided under Shade Academy.
"Ma'am. I have more to report."
Everyone turned to Hazel, picking up the blatant trepidation in his voice. Not one to be disrupted, Salem gave a silent warning in the form of the Grimm's hands appearing once more. The husky man trembled but didn't fold under the pressure. Her glare was more of caution than outright danger.
"Qrow and the children are taking the lamp to Atlas..."
Tyrian started chuckling. "Not if I can help it!"
"...and they're being led... by Ozpin."
The room fell silent. Nobody dared to even move as all eyes flashed between each other. A worried Watts tried to explain the heavy ramifications of the development, ignoring the obvious threat mere feet away. Mercury noticed however as the windows surrounding them began to crack. Little by little, the small cracks soon grew louder, pulling everyone's attention to a furious Salem.
No longer was her gaze locked on anyone but rather, she was in contemplation. Her blood boiled as she processed the news of her former lover and enemy having reincarnated so soon. This was not only unforeseen but also unacceptable. Unknown to the others, Salem felt nothing but animosity for whatever being sought to spite her with this. She was now shrouded by dark energy as her anger increased.
"Leave..."
Tyrian tried desperately to appease the one he considered his queen only to have his explanation shut down when she eyed him, daring him to proceed. Thankfully, the demented Faunus heeded the warning, shrinking away to the only exit provided. Watts followed suit with Hazel leading the youth out. Whatever was about to happen, he knew that they didn't deserve to feel her wrath on any level.
"Let's go."
As he huddled them out, the doors slowly closed behind them all, leaving Emerald to gaze deep into the bloody orbs of Salem. When the entrance sealed fully, she backed away just before hearing a blood-curdling screech. As she shuffled away, every fiber of her beginning to crumble when Hazel rested his hand on her shoulder.
"You don't want to stick around when she comes out..." he urged. Though his voice was gruff, there was obvious concern in his tone.
Emerald picked up on the subtly veiled caring nature, rushing into him. Shocked at the sudden outburst, Hazel didn't bother to pull her away. She sobbed quietly, every ounce of her repressed emotions pouring out as she clung to Hazel's robe. He looked around, seeing that the others were no longer around. Hazel then wrapped his large arms around the distressed Emerald.
When they separated, she wiped the tears from her face.
"Thank you..." she sniffed.
"Don't worry about it," Hazel turned to walk away. He stopped short to turned his gaze back to the girl, understanding, and sympathy shining for but a moment. "She's has a point, though..."
"What do you mean?"
"Salem said not to lose sight of what drives us. The question is: What drives you, Emerald?"
"That's easy. Without Cinder-"
"No," Hazel interrupted softly. "Before Cinder came into your life? What drove you to live this life? Who drives you to fight?"
Emerald paused, uncertain of what to say. Hazel didn't press the matter, leaving Emerald Sustrai to ponder his words. While she knew Cinder to be her saving grace, she did have a life, crappy as it may have been, before her. Now with Cinder in exile, Emerald was alone, just like before.
Sure, she had Mercury, but, Emerald could tell that the former assassin was feeling more and more at home. Watts always seemed to rub her the wrong way with his arrogant nature. Tyrian? She shook off that thought; no amount of loneliness was worth being isolated with that monster. Hazel was really the only person to treat her with respect without fear being added to the mix.
He was like that big brother figure she never had; that realization wracked her mind as she walked away sticking close to Hazel.
[Mistral]
Amber eyes fluttered open slowly as a soft groan escaped. Cinder looked around, seeing that she was no longer in her hotel room. Closer inspection revealed that she was no longer in Mistral but back in Vale. In front of her was an injured Pyrrha Nikos struggling to even kneel. She had her bow and arrow aimed at the wounded warrior yet, she couldn't fathom why she was reliving this moment.
"Do you believe in destiny?" the girl glared at her weakly.
"Yes..."
Cinder recalled those words and what would come next. Blinking, she saw the form of the Faunus boy who nearly killed her. Those burning crimson eyes peering into her soul reminded her of the sheer terror that gripped her very soul. The crazed look of delight reminded her of that monster, Tyrian as she struggled to defend herself. His shrill laughter froze her heart, giving the demon an opening to swat her down.
Moving in to kill her, Cinder could do nothing other than lifting her arm in a futile attempt to block the finishing blow.
However, the woman felt nothing but a cool breeze surround her, forcing her to open her eyes. This time, only her right eye would provide vision as she found herself falling. She then remembered this moment; losing to Raven Branwen after being tricked into believing that Vernal was the spring maiden. A lengthy battle ensued but, all that mattered was one thing.
She lost.
Darkness once again enveloped her. She felt weightless as her body became swallowed in the abyss. No matter what side Cinder looked in, there was nothing visible other than herself. Surprisingly, the void felt serene, lulling the scarred woman into a state she hadn't felt in so long.
Where am I?
"Mommy!" a child-like voice shattered Cinder's reflection. "Mommy! Help me!"
"Get that abomination out of here!"
Eyes shot open, exposing the root of the break. Cinder could once again see through both eyes clearly but, she cursed her ability to do so when she noticed the scene before her. Amber could make out the sounds of two people arguing from behind a door.
"She's our daughter! You can't just pretend that she doesn't exist!"
"I can if it means the protection and growth of this empire!" She heard a pompous voice remark. "Ever since she was born, you've done nothing but leech off of me for more money."
"It's called hush money; an agreement we came to in exchange for my silence about your 'personal exploits'. You're lucky I don't go to the Mantle Gazette about this!"
"You wouldn't!" the man's tone held a thinly veiled warning.
"One call is all it'll take." Cinder heard her mother's confident tone. "All I'm asking is for the money to send her to Atlas Academy."
Cinder sat on a bench outside of the room, staring at the ground. She learned about the truth of things early on. She was unplanned, the by-product of an affair between her poverty-stricken mother and some nobleman she'd never had the chance to meet in person. This was the first time she'd actually been even remotely close to even hear his voice.
Sitting in a dingy scarlet dress, the teenage Cinder gripped the dirty material as the argument continued. She'd peer down either side of the long corridor, grateful that there was nobody around to see her pathetic position. Hearing the blatant rejection reverberating from within the study, she wanted nothing more than to break down and cry, something that any child would be welcomed to do.
Unfortunately, she wasn't afforded such luxuries in this life.
She hated being so weak, incapable of supporting herself. Anger instead took the place of sorrow over the years for Cinder, no longer caring about whether or not her mother would successfully gain the funds necessary to gain entrance into the elite academy. In truth, it was only by the woman's desperate insistence that Cinder even agreed to this nonsense.
"Fine. I'll transfer the funds tomorrow. After that, I don't want to see or hear from either of you again. Am I clear?!"
She didn't hear a word but it appeared that the two had come to an agreement.
Good riddance... She leaned against the wall, more than ready to leave this environment of arrogance and greed. The stench of upscale bourbon was no stranger to Cinder's nose, making her stomach wrench. Was there anything good about this place?
"Ahem..." Cinder suddenly looked up to see a balding man standing in front of her. He had a gentle smile partially covered by a single digit that signaled silence. He bowed politely to the teen, holding a tray of cookies in his other hand. "Compliments of the young lady."
Raising an eyebrow, Cinder cautiously took a few of the sweet-smelling treats then looked over to see a girl around her age standing regally. Though her face held no discernable expression, there was a look in her light-blue eyes that made her relax, if only a little bit. Empathy, an understanding of the complications of one's life in conjunction with their own.
"Thank you..." she averted her gaze, hoping to hide the few seconds of vulnerability.
"My pleasure," he smiled only to blink several times. Cinder eyed the suspicious behavior only to see them turn red. "You deserve it after dealing with the sour geezer."
The sudden change from polite to blunt actually made Cinder crack a smile. His eyes shifted again this time nearly matching her own, leaving her with amazement as she ate the sweets.
"Stay strong, my dear. You're only as strong as the reason you fight for."
Uncertain of what he meant by that, the older man smile warmly before returning to the white-haired girl. Watching them leave, Cinder pondered his words only to have her thoughts broken by the abrupt opening of the study's door. Seeing her mother, Cinder found herself being drug through the many hallways by her now irate mother.
"Mom, what's going on?" she asked.
The woman said nothing.
"Mom?"
Still nothing.
"Mom!"
Her world had grown dark, leaving the child all alone. Scared, she looked in all directions for any sign of direction only to find nothing but the abyss surrounding her. She cried out with tears starting to spill from her eyes.
"Anyone?..." she sniffled.
"Ella?"
The young Cinder spun on her heels to the voice. Her amber eyes widened in glee at the sight of a small boy with black hair and dark grey fox ears and tail. Compared to her, he was a bit shorter than the girl as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Aggy! I'm so happy to see you again..." she sighed gleefully.
"I missed you too..."
"Promise you'll never leave me again!" she hiccupped. "I don't ever want to lose you!"
"Then, why did you leave me to die, 'Cinder'?"
Her eyes shot open. Gone was the high-pitch tone, replaced with a cold and deeper range. Slowly, Cinder felt that chill push her back, revealing her old friend in his current incarnation. Round and wide violet eyes gave way to narrow crimson orbs. Even worse, those red eyes were soon enveloped by a dark sludge, creating a wave of fear to emerge in the woman's heart.
"I... I didn't-"
"You abandoned me!" he snarled, silencing any explanation that she may have attempted to conjure. "We promised to stand by each other, but you broke that as soon as you were given a way out, right? After that, I didn't matter... You let them come between us; all for power."
"W-We were young! It was a mistake!"
Was it a mistake when you tried to kill his little girlfriend?
"What?"
Suddenly the world around her grew dark again, leaving Cinder alone with her thoughts.
Don't play coy... We both know why you were ready to kill the Nikos girl.
"I did it because she was a threat..." she fired back, though her usual venom was lacking.
Please...! You were at Beacon for weeks and you saw their interactions. They were like two peas in a pod and fit ate away at you. The sultry voice that sounded much like her old self giggled amusingly. Face it, once you realized who he was, you just couldn't accept the fact that the 'pathetic' pup had grown up and moved on, could you? Blinded by your jealousy, you tried to separate them... But, all you got for your efforts was a beatdown and a missing eye...
Once more, fear crept its way around Cinder's heart as she suddenly lost vision in her left eye. She could still feel the woman's hand clutching her wrist but, it was no longer the woman who raised her. Ash-black hair slowly shifted to grew, then white. Eyes that once mirrored her own gave way to bloody orbs glaring back at her.
"Salem?"
"I thought you were the girl who wanted power?!"
Cinder suddenly woke up, a cold sweat adorning her face. In a panic, she sat up and scouted the area only to be greeted by the interior of the room she'd been staying in for the past week. It wasn't enough though. She looked to her left arm, seeing that it was still wrapped up; still that of a Grimm. She never thought that she'd feel such relief from seeing it, but it was so.
"...just a nightmare..."
She exhaled only to jump at the sudden vibrations on the desk near her bed. When she finally settled down, Cinder found that it was her scroll lighting up. Reaching for it, she discovered a message had been delivered.
Info found. Ready when you are.
-Spider's Web.
She knew exactly what this meant, wasting little time on getting dressed. Departing the hotel, Cinder took but a moment to thank Oum for the rain letting up before setting out for the tavern. Whatever the news was, she'd take it and move onward from there. Still, she couldn't shake off the influence of the dream. Why now? She'd always known that the purpose of the unconscious illusions was to serve a purpose, yet she wasn't able to figure that out.
In fact, the main thing she remembered was the words of the portly servant; his smiling face and shifty personality bringing an amused grin. The only other thing of note was the image of Salem replacing her mother's and her taunting of Cinder's bid for power. Somewhere in her soul, she felt a connection between the two in her life.
One mentions strength.
The other warned about it.
Was she blinded by her constant thirst for power?
Perhaps.
Would she stop in her hunt for it?
No.
"Maybe..." she muttered to herself. "...I should evaluate what's brought me here before I take the next step?"
It seemed like a logical direction to go in; With no allies at the moment, Cinder couldn't manipulate anyone to do her bidding. However, there were far more possibilities than just using brute force. She'd learned that from the witch herself. But, before she would fully dissect her next move, there was still the matter of gaining the info she paid for.
A matter that would establish Cinder's purpose.