A Grimm Huntsman

Chapter 27

-Harry-

Briefcase of Lien in hand, Harry walked through the twisting tunnels to once again reach the underground poker room. As he walked, he wondered which of the people he'd cleared out before had pushed to get Junior to have him return; knowing there was no other reason for the man to be so insistent and even willing to fund the game for him. Inside, he saw the same four as last time as he expected but there was a fifth member now, an absolutely massive man who looked like he could take Hagrid in a fist fight. "Ah, Dragon Boy." The thief smirked, shuffling a deck of cards with rapid movements, "Glad to see you made it."

"Of course, I needed an actual challenge after the pathetic fight down at the docks." Harry shrugged, knowing word of that fight would have spread, especially to the criminal underworld, and would rather have these people warry of him than confident they could take him in a fight.

"I heard of that fight." The giant spoke up, his voice as deep as Harry expected it to be "And if you're as good as I've heard I might have to spart with you myself at some point."

"And you are?" Harry was curious as he didn't recognize the man at all.

"My names Rainart." The giant nodded, "I used to be a Huntsmen."

"Used to?" Harry raised an eyebrow as he took his seat, noting the eight-foot-tall walking mountain of muscle didn't seem to have a crippling injury that would stop them from fighting.

"I don't take orders from the lying bastards so willing to use and throw me away anymore." Hazel's gaze showed a long story that Harry knew he shouldn't prod at. Thinking of his own past with the Ministry and the sheeple of the Wizarding world he gave a nod of understanding and let the thief deal him in.

-Salem-

Reclining in her throne, Salem watched as seekers floated over to the different thrones at her council table. One by one, each Seeker began projecting the images of the four fully fledged members of her council for this meeting, planning to start including the newer recruits to these meetings once she was sure they were established enough in her operations to actually have anything of worth to say. "Report." She ordered, eyes on Tyrian as she spoke.

"Mistress, I-" Cinder began speaking before Salem snapped her fingers loudly, the woman going quiet instantly.

"Cinder, I was speaking to Tyrian, not to you." Salem's gaze was cold as she stared down the Fall Maiden candidate who she could tell had her fist clenched in frustration but possessed enough self-preservation to avoid speaking out of turn again. For the moment at any rate.

"Oh, great goddess!" Tyrian cackled happily, bowing so low his projection's face went partially through the table. "I have made progress on finding those items you tasked me to collect. I have only found a portion of them so far, but I swear to find them all! Nothing shall stop me from carrying out your will my lady!"

"If I may?" Hazel's deep baritone pipped in as she nodded to him, respecting that Hazel actually deferred to her authority "If you're seeking a list of items then I might be able to help with that. I've acquired several contacts in the business of gathering information as well as 'acquisitions'. If you have any issue Tyrian, then let me know and I can have them look into it."

"This is my mission from the goddess!" Tyrian protested wide eyed, clearly not wanting to lose his chance to please her.

"It would just be finding where they are if you wish to get them yourself," Hazel shrugged calmly "not to mention the sooner you finish the sooner you can do more jobs for our Mistress."

"…I shall email a list." Tyrian decided, sitting down with a happy nod.

"And you Doctor?" Salem turned to Watts, not giving Cinder a chance to try and go next, intending for the rebellious child to go last.

"Everything in Atlas is going smoothly." Watts nodded as he stroked his, admittedly impressive, mustache "I have Merlot set up in an old lab that was abandoned during the great war and forgotten about during the creation of Atlas. As for young Whitley he's handling the duties of controlling the Schnee Dust Company well. Relishing them if I'm to be exact, although I have been doing what I can to help minimize the load until he gets used to it. While I'm here do you wish for me to begin searching for the Winter Maiden Freya?"

"Yes Doctor." She was pleased by his initiative and going out of his way to ensure her plans succeeded.

"Hazel?" turning to her current favorite amongst the council, Salem kept her amusement to herself at Cinder's obvious indignation at being left for last.

"I've made contact with the target as ordered my lady." Hazel bowed his head respectfully towards her "I'm working to gain his trust carefully, so he does not suspect anything. This first interaction went well, and I feel confident it is a stable enough ground to approach him again should I 'randomly' run into him around Vale."

"And for the matter of finding recruits?" She was curious what sort of progress Hazel would have for her on that front.

"I already have Roman Torchwick and his assistant Neapolitan as I mentioned before," Hazel listed off "the two Faunus from the White Fang, Perry and Deery, have joined as well. Earlier today Junior, the Bear of Vale, also agreed to work for you which includes his Nieces the Malachite Twins, and the Red Axe Gang. Sadly, I've had minimal time to recruit amongst the huntsmen students of the area due to needing to relocate as my old base was burnt down. Would you happen to know anything about that Cinder?"

"How dare you accuse me you useless oaf!" Cinder snarled, eyes blazing angrily as Salem took a moment to actually study her, seeing how frazzled and unkempt she looked.

"I never levied any accusations." Hazel's voice was level, but Salem could tell he was starting to enjoy getting under Cinder's skin "I merely asked if you'd heard anything as I know you were based nearby there as well. It is interesting though how that was where your mind went to first."

"I should have brought popcorn." Watts muttered amused, the doctor not hiding his disdain for Cinder, as usual.

"You worthless little-!" Cinder's imminent insult to Hazel was cut off by her own form suddenly writhing and screaming in pain.

"…Mistress, if I ever begin to offend you enough to warrant such action, please let me know so I can quickly rediscover my self-preservation instinct." Watts gulped loudly at the sound of Cinder's agonized screaming.

"That was not me." Salem frowned as Cinder forced herself back into whatever chair she was projecting from, "Cinder, what just happened?"

"I don't know." Cinder panted, eyes filled with pain "It's been happening on and off over the last few days. It will happen a few time-" she began screaming again which lasted around a minute as it had before "...times." Cinder coughed out, her throat sounding raw from screaming. "And these repeating attacks occur throughout the day." Salem was left to ponder this as Cinder went into a screaming fit another three times.

"Is there anything else you know of these fits?" Salem demanded, wondering if it was something Ozpin was doing.

"The Grimm parasite you gifted me to take the Maiden's power is screaming too." Salem panted, her unkempt appearance making sense now.

"You said it was still connected to the Fall Maiden correct?" Hazel questioned, the man's eyes flitting about as he worked to piece together what was going on.

"I am the Fall Maiden." Cinder glared at Hazel, the gaze lessened by her still spasming form.

"You used a Grimm to take the power from the Fall Maiden, you're nothing more than a thief like Roman, albeit a less successful one." Hazel brushed her declaration off "But if the powers of the Maiden are still connecting her to you through the parasite then it's possible that Ozpin is having my target using his silver flames on her in an attempt to revive the Fall Maiden and this is the result."

"So, he's already fully inducted into Ozpin's inner circle?" Salem frowned displeased, having hoped to recruit a man whose semblance was to become one of her Grimm. If he was close enough, she wanted to at least find out if she could control him like the other soulless creatures left behind by the god of Darkness.

"Maybe not." Hazel shook his head "Ozpin could have just said that the Fall Maiden was an injured huntress and they were hoping the Potter boy's semblance could heal her. And even if he was brought on it would not be the end of the matter as others have left Ozpin's service before, such as the bandit Queen Branwen. He showed no recognition of me, so I believe we are safe on that front for now."

"Then you need to kill him or keep him from using his semblance on that pretender again." Cinder seethed.

"Or you could have done your job correctly to begin with." Hazel retorted "At any rate, if I move to fast it will tip off Potter and drive him away or alert Ozpin and his inner circle, most of whom are in Vale, which would also be quite…problematic. We might have to cut losses with the Fall Maiden's power for now and remove it from Cinder to return to the Maiden in Ozpin's employ. If Cinder wishes for that power, she could continue with her plan and try to take it the old-fashioned way."