Emerald knew that Cinder didn't owe her anything more than the life she'd already saved. The one and only time she'd tried to assert herself, Cinder had struck her and reminded Emerald not to forget her place.
She should've known then that nothing would change between them. But instead she allowed herself to believe Cinder was right. Cinder saved Emerald's life, thus Emerald's life belonged to Cinder. She would share in the spoils of Cinder's eventual victory, and she needed nothing more.
On long, cold nights traveling together she turned to Cinder for warmth and comfort, and Cinder indulged her. Some nights Cinder sought her out, and she felt such joy in thinking Cinder returned some portion of her feelings, that she sought more from Emerald than loyalty and devotion... then morning would come and Cinder would be gone from her bed.
She should've known then Cinder's interests in her were fleeting; that she just wanted a warm body to help her make it through the night... that what she thought was affection was just a way for Cinder to pass the time.
At Beacon, when Cinder entrusted Emerald with important tasks, she believed their bond was strengthening. Cinder may have spent more time doting on Mercury -even dancing with him rather than Emerald when presented with an opportunity- but Emerald allowed herself to believe that was a necessary use of her time to ensure the loyalty of another neither of them fully trusted.
She should've known then Cinder would never fully trust her either... that she was too damaged by the trials of her life to ever love completely without condition. Emerald tried to rationalize it; she tried to believe that... somehow things could change. Once Cinder was complete, once she had the full powers of the Maidens, once she acquired the relics, once there were no more enemies to fight.
She should've known when Cinder was brought low during the Fall of Beacon, just after her moment of triumph. She should've known then whatever spoils she may have earned for her loyalty, Emerald would guide Cinder to victory on a foundation of fire and blood. And when she and Mercury took Cinder from Beacon fighting against the Grimm -the very weapons they brought to ensure their victory- she should've known that whatever Cinder did for her would cost far more than her life.
She should've known then 'love' wasn't something Cinder felt. But Emerald kept telling herself she understood it... once.
Emerald stood by her side all throughout her recovery. She watched Cinder's beauty fade after being maimed; she saw Cinder willingly bind herself further to the Grimm, becoming a monster solely to reclaim... not even her power, but the feeling of power, the security of her confidence now shaken.
She should've known then she made a mistake. Yet all Emerald could think about was how Cinder kept her promise and saved Emerald's life.
Emerald told herself the other lives didn't matter. Her life mattered. Cinder's life mattered. So long as they were alive, so long as they were together...
Cinder would win. Emerald never once doubted it, even when she saw Cinder brought low. Eventually Cinder would triumph and when there were no more lives to extinguish, when she finally had no more need for ambition and hatred... she'd remember what it was to feel love.
She should've known it wouldn't be tonight.
Emerald was barely staying conscious. Her Aura was flickering as she expended her Semblance past her limit.
Cinder snapped her fingers again. Emerald concentrated, trying to will her Aura to expend one more time.
To make an illusion, to put her enemy before her remaining eye.
To give Cinder the chance to vent her frustration and let her hatred burn...
She should've known she alone wasn't enough. Because when Cinder finished scorching the empty castle floor -while believing she saw Ruby Rose burn- Cinder didn't care about any life bu the one she desperately needed to extinguish.
When Cinder snapped her fingers yet again, Mercury tried to intervene. Emerald was surprised he tried to stand up for her -no doubt because he was out of his depth after meeting those on a similar level to Cinder herself and needed what few allies he had- but she waved him off and did as Cinder bid, even as Emerald fell to one knee from the effort needed to sustain her illusions.
She should've...
She did.
She did know.
She should've known sooner.
Cinder snapped her fingers again. Emerald did as she was bid, even as she felt her Aura failing her...
The Battle of Haven
Ruby spun Crescent Rose to deflect the shots Emerald rained on her. "Why are you doing this?!" she demanded, "Salem's-"
It wasn't the first time someone asked her. It was the first time Emerald had to stop and remind herself.
"I don't care about Salem!" Emerald defiantly declared. "But I owe Cinder everything!"
She hoped that convinced the silver-eyed brat.
She hoped she convinced herself.
Cornered, with even the mighty Hazel exhausted, Emerald was still defiant in facing down the Beacon students and their drunk of a teacher. "It's not over! Cinder will come back, she'll have the Relic, and she'll stop all of you!"
Emerald sincerely believed that.
Emerald knew Cinder's victory was inevitable.
And when Cinder triumphed and she saw her disciples had served her faithfully and well, when she saw Emerald had fought valiantly for her...
"...she won't let us down."
Emerald heard the elevator. She turned towards it, knowing her savior had finally...
Knowing her love had...
Knowing...
Emerald felt the tears come the moment she saw the blonde mane emerge from the vault. She felt despair encroach the moment the elevator finished moving back into place.
Shedding tears for someone who never loved her... someone who never meant to... someone...
Emerald fell to her knees, sobbing. Mercury muttered to her: "Emerald, get up. We need to go."
He was trying to help.
There was no longer any reason to help her.
"Emerald..." Mercury hissed.
She had nothing waiting for her, wherever she ran to. No reason to hope that... anything would...
She should've known.