Hey guys! Here I am with a brand new chapter for you guys to read. Also, I have to mention that we are nearing the end of the Gwain Arc, but don't worry this doesn't mean the end of the story is coming soon. Actually, I have already somethings planned for the next Arc and since I don't want to spoil everything, I won't say what I have in stored. But, I can assure you that Ruby's dad will show up to try and take her daughter back home by any means necessary.
A Shattered Life
Chapter 17: Dark Love
The town of Gwain was littered with bodies, wounded soldiers and carnage. Red, grey and pink were the new colors of what was once a quiet, beautiful settlement, which had now become the stage of a devastating war between the loyal soldiers that serve the Casterwill family and the traitors that decided to follow Solomon in his mad quest for power. The air which would normally be vibrant with the sound of work, trade and craftsmanship was changed to a thick scent of death and decay across the streets.
Two sides fight each other for their masters, but at this point is clear the loyalists are losing the war. With Lord Aiden dead and Geo's disappearance, they have no leader to tell them what to do or how to stop Solomon's forces from advancing deep into the town's center. The remaining soldiers are doing their best to hold the line while others evacuate civilians to a safe area where they can use the transport ships to leave town. But on their way they saw the corpses of those who fell on the battlefield, many of them were recognized immediately as friends and family, leaving most people with broken hearts and tears running down their cheeks.
With the rush of victory coursing through Solomon's soldiers, the winning side fights even harder and with more tenacity. Some have succumbed to panic and are no longer capable of moving, let alone defending themselves, while others seem to be fairly unaffected by the terrors around them. Fortunately, there is a place that isn't being affected by these horrible events and that's the castle since it was conquered quite easily by Cinder and her allies.
A single soldier rushed throughout the hallway to reach the throne room as fast as possible, he placed both hands on the two large doors and pushed them forward in order to enter the room. When he got inside he saw a young woman wearing a red dress accompanied with a masked man and both of them were closing a small chest filled with gold and jewels inside. "Miss Cinder I bring news from the frontlines." Said Lieutenant Cross has he took a knee near Cinder, showing respect. "Several sections of Gwain belong to us but those Mirage Knights are taking out most of our heavy artillery, not to mention the number of men that have died fighting against them. But that's not all, the Genesis cannons have been disabled has you asked." He informed.
Cinder smiled. "I'm glad to hear that Lieutenant. Now, I want you to take a small squad out there and search for General Avala and that annoying medical officer, I think her name was Sunny." She ordered. "Those two women must be brought to me alive. Do you understand?" Cinder approached the man. "Because if anything bad happens to them, I can assure you that you will suffer a slow and painful death."
"U-Understood!" Cross was scared as he knew what fate awaits him if he fails his new mission. "I'll find them at once, I give you my word." He left the throne room in a hurry.
Then the masked man looked at Cinder with a confused expression as he found her orders to be quite strange. "Why do you want those two alive? They are our enemies in case you have forgotten, we should destroy them quickly before they gather the remaining loyalists and march here." He said with a serious tone.
"Relax Hydrox, our forces have almost complete control of this settlement so there's nothing to worry about for now." She replied with a calm attitude. "Also, I plan to use Avala and Sunny to make my dear Prince tell me where he's hiding the relic that his father gave him." Cinder walked to the throne and ran her hand gently along the chair. "Only the powerful can sit on a magnificent throne like this one. That weakling Solomon doesn't deserve to be called King, his own troops are only fighting for him because he promised them a lot of money and women, they have no true loyalty to him." She then took a seat. "And instead of being out there in the frontlines killing his enemies with his blade, he decides to stay and hide in the palace like a crying child. He couldn't even defeat my Geo in a fair duel."
"Indeed, Solomon is a pathetic man, he doesn't have what it takes to be a King, he should be eliminated at once." He sided with his Mistress. "I believe if someone was to become ruler of this town that person should be you Cinder. You are strong and ambitious, it wouldn't take long for you to rally everyone to serve beneath your feet."
"Hahaha! You flatter me, but we both know we can't disobey Salem's orders without suffering the consequences. No, I will leave Solomon to rule this puny settlement has he see's fit." Cinder replied. "Besides, I already have my prize, and I plan to use him very shortly."
Hydrox chuckled. "Are you talking about the boy? What makes you think he will do what you say?"
"Geo doesn't have a choice really, and in case you don't know, I am a very persuasive girl when I'm not wearing any clothes." She smiled mischievously, then she took notice of the large number of chests that were spread around and though about keeping them for herself. "Not trying to change the subject but, I want you to take the gold that was promised to me and leave it on my ship."
"I will do as you command my Lady." Hydrox bowed his head. "But may I ask why?" He was intrigued.
"I have my reasons and I don't feel like sharing them with you at the moment." She said. "Now, Salem will arrive to Gwain in five days with her creepy associates. We must use that precious time and make sure this place is secured by then and prepare a fantastic banquet in her honor for when she gets here."
"Of course." Hydrox replied. "And to be honest, I share your feelings of distaste about some of Salem's so called agents, specially that annoying Faunus with the scorpion tail." He clenched his fist in anger with just the mere thought of Tyrian in his mind. "I swear one of these days I will silence that filthy creature forever."
Suddenly, a woman entered the throne room, her blade was dripping blood on the floor. Her silver straight hair hangs clumsily over a fresh, menacing face. Beady brown eyes, set elegantly within their sockets, looking directly at her new Mistress. Fire has left a mark reaching from the right side of the forehead, running towards her upper lip and ending just under her right eye. "Pardon for my intrusion, but I have completed the assignment you gave me Cinder. All prisoners have been executed like you ordered, except for Lord Geo."
"Good work Mithra, I knew you were the perfect person for the job. With those pathetic low lives dead we can use those cages to store the weapon caches we stole during the raid at Vale's military outpost." Cinder's lips cracked a smile, as she rose up from the throne and made her way down to the soldier. "You will be handsomely rewarded for your actions when this war is over, but now I want you to take me to Geo, I wish to see how my favorite pet is doing."
Mithra nodded. "Follow me, I'll lead you to him my Lady."
Cinder followed her, but on their way to the dungeons she noticed a large flag above the entrance. The flag was made up of a cross diving a background in two larger and two smaller squares in blue, light brown, silver and purple. Gwain's emblem consisted of two angel wings surrounded by four spear-points, the emblem is part of the standard flag and thus shown all the time. "Such a terrible design." She snapped her fingers together, and the flag was burned to nothing. "Much better, those colors were awful to look at." Said Cinder.
After that, they continued their way down a couple of stairs passing by two guards that were carrying the body of a recently executed prisoner. "Sorry for the mess Lady Cinder, but we are still cleaning up the place."
"There's no need for apologies." She replied.
"Well, here we are." The soldier pointed at the cage where Geo was being held prisoner. "Do you want me to stay here and stand guard while you are inside?" Mithra asked.
"No." Cinder answered. "You can go back up and rest, I'm not planning to leave so soon."
"Has you wish." Mithra left, leaving Cinder by herself.
She unlocked the metal door and walked in. "Time to check how my Prince is doing." Cinder closed the door behind her, she then approached the young boy who was chained to the wall, his body was covered with cuts and bruises. "I'm sorry for hurting you earlier my pet, but I had to knock you out before you could cause more trouble for me and my associates."
"L-Leave me alone." Lord Geo replied has he got up.
"Now, now, don't talk to me like that my dear Geo, you know I don't tolerate disrespect." She ran her hand along his face. "Haha! You certainly are cute, not to mention brave and strong." Cinder then pushed him against the wall and pressed her breasts against his chest, making Geo gain a slight red color on his cheeks has he could feel how soft Cinder's goods were, and he also had a good view of her cleavage. "Getting turned on are we? You are such a pervert boy." She teased.
"Why are you doing this Cinder? Why are you working for that bastard Solomon?"
"Hahaha!" Cinder laughed. "You are funny, but in fact it's the other way around, Solomon works for me and I work for my Mistress Salem." She replied. "Now why am I doing this you ask? Well, I want to be strong, I want to be feared, and most of all, I want revenge."
After hearing that particular word, Geo looked at her eyes and saw a burning determination behind them but also a lot of pain. "...I understand that feeling, but what you are doing isn't right." He replied. "There are many innocents out there that are dying because of your selfish desires, I know that we have only met a few days ago but I can see in your eyes that you are not a bad person. So please, stop this madness."
"...You don't know what I have been through." Cinder stared at the boy's purple eyes as certain memories of her past began to appear. "I will kill every Faunus that crosses my path, those filthy animals are going to be exterminated from existence." Pure hatred was all she could feel for the Faunus. "You have no idea what they did to me, what they made do to...pleasure them."
"...Cinder."
"But enough talking about painful memories." She placed her hands on Geo's belt, causing him to blush even harder, but when she was about to remove it. Someone called for her and the voice was quite familiar to Cinder. "Haha! I suppose we will have fun next time, so don't you dare forget about me, or how my breasts felt touching your chest. Maybe, I will let you touch them next time." Cinder kissed him on the cheek before leaving.
I think most guys would do anything to be in this position but I have no idea what she's planning to do to me, so I better play along...for now.