Well, hello, it's been a bit!

I am off of my break having actually found some motivation to write this story, which is good. Got that project that I wanted to focus on moving forward, though not at all finished. I definitely underestimated just how long it would take.

Regardless, here's the next chapter of Cinderella. I hope you all enjoy it!


Start Chapter 16


Okay, Cinder had been right.

Flying over civilization on the back of a Nevermore isn't exactly Plan A material.

"They're gaining on us!"

"Oh god we're gonna die!"

"Nora, please stop yelling!"

"WE'RE GONNA DIE!"

"Ren, calm Nora down!"

"I am trying!"

"I am trying to focus here!"

"That makes two of us!"

Jaune vomits off the side of the Nevermore.

A shell the size of a person whizzes by them, exploding about 50 meters in front of them in a hail of fire and death.

Jaune vomits again for good measure.

"Would someone help me return fire!?" Emerald yells, grunting in exertion as she loads what has to be her third set of clips into her sickle-guns. "Because a lot of you are sitting on your asses and doing nothing right now!"

"In my defense," Pyrrha raises her hand a bit sheepishly. "I was helping. I didn't exactly have time to grab more ammo while imprisoned, nor while we fled for our lives."

Emerald's face scrunches up.

"Alright, that's a fair excuse." She turns. "And the rest of you!?"

"Out of ammo!" Nora shouts.

"Out of ammo." Ren says, sighing, and gripping his head. "And… still seeing double."

"You!?" Emerald says, turning towards Jaune as another round flies by them, barely avoided by Cinder's deft hand at the… wheel? It doesn't feel appropriate to say wheel, but Jaune can't really conjure up any other word.

"I use a sword?"

Emerald's glare doesn't seem to see this as acceptable.

"And I'm also sort of uh…" He groans out, feeling his stomach writhe as the Nevermore continues to execute evasive maneuvers. "Out of commission at the moment?"

Emerald lets out a horrid groan as her guns click helplessly, also out of ammo. "Mercury!?"

"My feet are out of ammo."

"I hate you all."

"All of you, shut up!" Cinder growls as she veers them hard to the right. "We'll be over the Grimmlands in thirty seconds, they won't be able to follow us any further!"

They in this case refers to the giant Atlesian battleship that's been hounding them for the past twenty or so minutes, apparently having been set up near the Grimmlands to await their potential arrival by Ironwood.

Who's, apparently, not taking his loss to Jaune lying down.

Jaune pretends like he doesn't cheer up a bit whenever he thinks that.

The gunship behind them fires off another shot, and just as Jaune's absolutely, completely sure they're dead, a massive shadow falls over them all.

The shot is intercepted by a colossal black creature, similar in size and scope to the wyvern that'd assaulted Beacon, but somehow larger. It is… Jaune does not think he can entirely describe the thing as any one type of being. More an amalgam, or chimera.

It tanks the blow of Atlas' battleship like it is nothing, and lets out a bellowing roar so loud that Jaune is sure it will knock them from the air itself. That it doesn't is a miracle, though he can't help feeling bad for Ren, who, after somehow managing to hold himself together for over three days while they'd flown across nearly all of Remnant, breaks. He turns around and heaves off the side of their Nevermore, making a rather wretched noise as he does so.

The Atlesian battleship, wisely, seems to see that it's not going to be taking its prey today. Likewise, the chimera guarding them appears to understand that shepherding them is a priority over trying to destroy the ship in front of them, and so both remain in their positions as Jaune and the rest of their little band are carried away, even deeper into the violet realm of the Grimmlands.

And that's the first thing Jaune notices, really. The color. It is all intense shades of red, and purple. Bright and warm and yet somehow dead. The entire place radiates…

The only word Jaune can think of is grim.

And he supposes that makes sense.

"Evernight is not far." Cinder speaks into the air, seemingly relieved to have made it out of their little encounter unscathed. "We shall touch down unto the docks. At which point my… mistress will likely require a rather thorough explanation as to why it is you've all been brought with me."

Cinder looks back rather pointedly at him, and her lip momentarily quivers, before she manages to bring it under control, taking a deep breath.

"Let me do the talking."

Jaune just nods, not thinking himself fully prepared to have a conversation with, apparently, the Queen of the Grimm just yet.

It's only another fifteen or so minutes until Jaune spots it, leaning off to the side, he is able to identify a towering structure off in the distance, with massive spires, windows, and an overall look that seems to jump straight out of one of Jaune's fantasy books.

It is a castle exactly fit for an evil queen; he cannot help thinking.

The Nevermore seems to know where it is it's landing, for Cinder takes her hands away from the proverbial reins as it circles the castle, almost like a living airship, and touches down with a few great flaps of its heavy wings.

Cinder dismounts first, and then Emerald and Mercury. Jaune picks up on something there, looking at their stances. Emerald and Mercury might seem to be acting tough, but they stand far more reservedly than his soulmate does.

Neither, he guesses, have ever actually been here before.

That, at least, makes Jaune feel somewhat better. It is not just them who will be undergoing what he imagines will be a rather intense grilling from the Queen of the Grimm.

Still, it is not her who comes to greet them. No, it is a rather gangly man, with a trench coat overtop a tight white outfit that seems almost strapped to him. He is smiling, though, to Jaune's dismay, it is not the look of someone pleased to see someone, or, at least, it is not that in an innocent manner.

Whoever this is, he is someone to be watchful of. Jaune can identify that instantly. This is only further reinforced by the tiniest of sparks coursing through his link to Cinder. A minute, almost accidental emotion, as if Cinder has done her very best to clamp down on it, and yet has failed regardless.

"Well, well," The man speaks, and his cantor is that of a showman, atop a stage, reciting the lines of a play. "The prodigal daughter returns, and down an arm and an eye!"

Jaune feels Cinder's anger course through their link unfettered, and without thinking, he reaches his hand across the small gap between them, and places a hand on her shoulder. This has the intended effect of calming Cinder down, her shoulders untensing somewhat, but…

"Oh?" The newest arrival seems to take a great deal of interest in that. "What's this? Cinder Fall backing down? I must be missing something; I wasn't aware this…" The man smirked. "Strapping young lad had you tied to a leash."

If the previous statement had been enough to anger Cinder, this one infuriates her. Enough so that Cinder pushes herself off of Jaune's steadying hand, and is about half a second from seemingly coming to blows with the now rather excited looking man–

"Enough."

A chill runs down Jaune's spine almost instantly upon that voice echoing out across the landing pad. It stops every single one of them, even Cinder and the man who'd been antagonizing her. All of them gaze up at where the sound has come from, and Jaune feels a real, genuine fear course through his heart at what he sees.

A woman is walking down the staircase towards them, or… no, she is not walking. She floats, but in a mimicry of walking. Her body undulates up and down as if stepping, but it is a fabrication, a lie.

Still, that only manages to grab Jaune's attention for a few moments. Her features do next. Pale white skin, almost ghostly, with black and red veins running down her body. Her eyes are a dark, brooding red, and they cause the same primal fear response inside of him that being this close to a Grimm would.

Jaune, idly, wonders if that is exactly who this is.

Of course, Cinder has told them of Salem, of her mistress, of the Evil Queen of the Grimmlands, but…

Seeing her is different. It is real.

Far too much so in Jaune's opinion.

"Tyrian, you would do well not to antagonize poor Cinder. She has only just returned to us."

The man, apparently named Tyrian, bows his head. "Of course, my goddess."

"And Cinder…" Salem pauses for a moment as she gazes at all of them, and Jaune's not entirely sure if he's correct or not, but he thinks he sees the faintest bit of intrigue in the woman's eyes. "I did not realize that when Watts said you would be bringing a few people back with you, you meant six."

"…It was not entirely my intention." Cinder speaks up, and Jaune doesn't really know if he should say anything, given the whole… even Queen of the Grimm thing, but he almost wants to stand up for Cinder, say that really, it's his fault she'd brought so many people.

Before he can, however, Salem is waving her hand uncaringly. "Well, it's fine. I'm always saying that Evernight feels a tad too lonely, wouldn't you agree, Tyrian?"

It is clear the man doesn't agree, and Jaune's getting a feeling he's also not entirely there in the head, but he simply nods his head towards Salem. "As you say."

Salem hums amusedly.

"Well, for now, let us not stand around in the middle of the landing pad. Cinder, I trust that you can see these… new additions to the extra rooms?"

Jaune's not entirely sure he wants to be given a room at all here, in the middle of the Grimmlands, surrounded on all sides by death and decay, but then again, having a room does sound a bit better than being left to fend for himself outside, so…

"I will."

"Mm. We will reconvene in thirty minutes in the dining hall." Salem actually smiles, though it seems in mockery of any real expression. "Oh, it truly has been a while since the dining hall was full. I look forward to talking more then."

And then the woman is gone in a wisp of black shadow. Jaune's not entirely sure if she's simply disappeared, or if he'd somehow missed her leaving, but even so, the effect is enough to send one final chill through his body, bringing him to shudder.

Tyrian gives them all one final glance, and briefly, Jaune notices that his eyes linger on his form. He's not entirely sure why that would be, but the man tilts his head to the side, almost like a dog would when investigating something that had interested it. Another few seconds pass by before he smirks, and turns around, walking back inside of the castle as well.

Cinder stays put for a moment, and all of them hang on her word. Finally, after his soulmate lets out a rather shaky breath, she turns back towards them.

"Follow behind me. Do not make any unnecessary comments. When we make it to your chambers, I will explain further."

They all nod as Cinder begins to lead them up the stairs. To their credit, Jaune feels like his team has taken a lot of this in stride. They'd had even less preparation time than he had. At least he'd been talking to Cinder for a few weeks while she'd been incarcerated. They'd simply had to take his word for a lot of this.

He's not sure he'd have been able to do that in their shoes.

The halls of Evernight remind Jaune of an old, abandoned house he and his sisters had discovered on the edge of Domremy's – the town he'd grown up in – borders. His sisters had dared him to go in alone, and so he had.

He still remembers a lot of it – probably because it'd been harrowing enough for his eight- or nine-year-old self to be left a bit scarred. He remembers the way that every corner had been marked with cobwebs. He remembers the way that the wooden walls had been almost entirely eaten away by termites. The way that rats and other small animals had taken up residence.

But mostly, he remembers the silence.

The ominous, endless silence of a place that housed nothing. It had been unnerving in an almost inexplicable way. The way that silence had combined with the stale, dust-filled air. The way that it had further added onto the already dreadful time he'd been having. It'd made the world feel…

Simply still.

And then, of course, his sisters had been waiting around a corner to scare him, and he'd damn near pissed himself in fear. They'd laughed at him all the way home, and he'd had to sit there and grumble.

Saphron hadn't let his sisters hear the end of that, so at least he'd gotten some vengeance.

But the basic principle applies to the halls of Evernight as well. There are no spiders, or termites, or rats. Because no living thing could survive out here. But there is that same stillness. That same staleness present in the air that he breathes in. It is cold and dry. The entire place seems that way, without a drop of moisture present.

And yet, somehow, people live here. And this place smells of nothing at all, only age and decay. It does not, pointedly, smell like a bunch of people who haven't showered in decades. So that, at least, lends some credibility to there being water of some kind – and however that's been managed, Jaune's almost curious to find out.

His thoughts are cut off as Cinder stops suddenly, before taking them down a fork in a path, to a place more dimly lit than many of the halls they'd walked within before. And then, finally, she comes to a halt, gesturing towards the few rooms that seem to connect to the hall they're within.

"They're all bare at the moment." Cinder explains as she has them each take to a room. "Not even a cot. I assume Salem will have something brought up for you."

"You assume?" Ren asks, sounding a bit haggard, and the one who, most out of all of them, really needs a bed to sleep on.

Actually, strike that, they all need a bed to sleep on. Jaune isn't alone in not entirely wanting to sleep on the floor.

"Salem has quite the collection of things buried away here." Cinder explains. "She's been alive longer than we can comprehend. Her current inner circle is perhaps the smallest she's carried. I imagine she has quite a few extra beds from times gone by."

"And if she doesn't?" Nora speaks out this time, and Jaune winces as he sees a look of annoyance on Cinder's face.

"Then she doesn't." The woman snaps. "I'm not entirely sure what you want me to tell you."

Jaune steps in around there, holding a hand out to calm both parties before anything can spill over. Tensions are, rather understandably, running high. They have just walked into what is quite possibly the oldest and most sinister building on Remnant, filled to the brim with a rogue's gallery of villains, and complete with an evil queen.

Both Nora and Ren, and Cinder herself, seem to calm as he steps between them, and it is helped slightly that Emerald, Mercury, and Pyrrha have put up no fuss at all. Hell, the former two have already begun setting up their sparse belongings.

And so, the rest of them follow suit. Jaune's not entirely sure how much time they have left before Salem will expect them, nor is he entirely sure if he's supposed to be keeping track, or if he should bring his sword with him when they do go to… dinner?

It may not be dinner. Perhaps they're simply meeting in the dining hall.

It's not too terribly long after he decides that he probably shouldn't bring his sword that Cinder's voice calls out to each of them, saying it's time to go, and they all follow behind her once more, none of them knowing where to go on their own.

"Study the routes," Cinder says as she takes a series of turns and halls that make Jaune's head spin. "I'm not always going to be able to walk you everywhere."

They all nod, though Jaune watches the way that Ren bristles somewhat, evidently unhappy with the brisk way that Cinder's addressing them. Jaune himself can tell the reason why, at least, though he feels Cinder probably wouldn't be too terribly happy with him if he communicated it to the group.

She's nervous.

More than that, Jaune thinks, she's scared. Frightened of just what it is that Salem might do, or any of her other associates. He can also tell through their link that Cinder is not at all used to be being scared, especially not for someone else's sake.

She hates it. Hates that feeling. That much, at least, is clear.

It is not long until she has stopped them in front of a great set of double doors, and, upon taking a deep breath, gestures for Jaune to step beside her.

He knows why, even if she will not voice it. She lacks a second arm to push the doors open herself, and she is far too proud to admit to it. But through their link, he can feel her shame, and he tries to reassure her with a small smile as he places his hands against the left, and she against the right doors.

They groan open, far lighter than Jaune had expected, and open up to a rather impressive looking room. Grand windows, ornately designed, mark the walls every meter or so, and in the center, a table that stretches a good five or so meters itself is already occupied by four figures, Salem, the man they'd met earlier, Tyrian, and two others.

One of them, Jaune knows is a man named Watts, though which… well, he doesn't know that. Still, the others name – whichever that is – remains a mystery to him.

"Ah, Cinder. And her guests. Take a seat, all of you."

They do as commanded, mostly because Jaune feels like holding up the Queen of the Grimm would be a rather foolish idea.

As they sit down, Jaune finally allows his mind to pay heed to the last little bit that's drawn his attention.

To Jaune's stomach's relief, it is, in fact, dinner.

And a rather decadent feast, at that. A rather ravishing set of pork cuts, a variety of greens, and just a grand assortment of filling food. Jaune partakes greedily, not even taking the time to consider that such might be considered rude, given that Salem has not given any order for them to begin eating.

Luckily, Cinder does not stop him, instead, she scoops food onto her own plate, and that seems to be signal enough for the others to follow suit.

About twenty minutes later, once they've all polished off their plates – and it is in that moment that Jaune truly realizes what it is like to eat food again, after having subsisted across the last three days atop a Nevermore on ration bars – Salem speaks again.

"Now, I believe I shall ask you to recount your tale, dear Cinder." She says, turning towards his soulmate. "You possess half the flame of the Fall Maiden in your breast. The other half," Salem gestures towards Pyrrha. "Sits beside you. So, I suppose I should congratulate you in some ways. And yet, at the same time, you are down both an eye and arm, and in possession of four more youths than you originally said you'd be bringing. You also lack the Relic of Choice." Jaune has no idea what that is, though he gathers it's important through context. "I ask you explain."

Jaune can tell through their shared link that Cinder does not particularly want to share the whole truth with Salem. She is hesitant to share anything about him, and he can't deny that makes him feel just a tad warmer, that the woman would, if she could, stand between him and Salem herself

Still, it's also clear she cannot stand against Salem. Jaune hasn't managed to get the full picture out of his soulmate, but he's gathered enough to know that Salem is nigh-on impossible to defeat. A veritable force of nature.

She is a certainty more than she is a person. A simply fact of life.

So, he sends a bit of encouragement through their link, trying to urge the girl to say the truth.

Cinder seems hesitant, but eventually she nods her head subtly. Jaune likes to think it's subtle enough that only he and she notice, but…

There's something in Salem's eyes then. Something that tells him she's onto something.

He wishes he knew what.

And so, Cinder explains.

"All went according to the plan that I sent you, up until the Fall of Beacon had already commenced. I broke in to kill Amber, and did so." Then, Jaune finds himself surprised. "Nothing of note occurred until I made my way up to the roof. I fought off Pyrrha Nikos," She gestures to the woman sitting in one of the chairs beside her, who awkwardly – and for once, Jaune feels that is justified – waves towards Salem. "And was eventually assaulted by one Ruby Rose. Her eyes glowed a gleaming white, and the pieces and parts of me that were Grimm were quite literally melted from within me."

Salem does not seem entirely surprised, though there is a certain look in her eye that Jaune does not find himself liking one bit.

She is… disappointed.

"And what occurred during the multiple weeks that you were out of contact?"

"I was incarcerated in a makeshift Atlesian compound on Beacon's grounds." Cinder explains. "They planned my execution, but I utilized the agents I'd gained during my time at Beacon to aid in my escape."

Cinder says this while gesturing towards them, and though Jaune is remiss to be referred to as a traitor to Beacon, if that's their story, then he's not going to stray from it.

Especially when he can't help feeling like lying to the Queen of the Grimm is not going to be quite that easy.

"And so, you brought them here?" Salem speaks, clearly not at all convinced.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I… they are allies." Cinder seems confused by the very nature of the question.

"Allies, are they? You managed to turn a team of Beacon students against their own school? Convinced them to betray everything they'd ever known in a semester? To work with the Queen of the Grimm? The veritable boogeyman?"

Cinder says nothing. Jaune senses it is because she already knows that she has lost. She simply does not know how.

"Will you tell me who this boy is, Cinder?"

Cinder hesitates once again.

"…His name is Jaune Arc. He is–"

"Your soulmate."

Both Cinder and Jaune gape at the woman, and if Jaune had somehow missed the power absolutely radiating from Salem earlier, then he would've seen it now. She eyes them with an amused air, not at all the stern and taciturn master of evil that Jaune had expected.

Or… it is like she pretends to be this aloof, uncaring woman. Above it all in every way. But there is a certain haunting dread that creeps down his back whenever the woman looks his way. Like the very walls are closing down around him.

Even her smiles seem like a threat.

"You… knew?" Jaune speaks out under his breath, feeling a bit dumb with the way Salem actually huffs in response.

"Of course. I knew the moment the two of you stepped off that Nevermore. Soulmates are not at all a new phenomenon; I'll have you know. They are a rather ancient fragment, much like semblances, and aura, of the brother gods' magic."

This, Jaune can tell, is new information to almost everyone in the room. There's two who don't seem shocked – Tyrian and the mustache guy, who Jaune is beginning to believe is Watts. The former, Jaune believes doesn't particularly care for the revelation, or had perhaps known of it. Though the latter seems to be hiding his reactions, doing his best to reveal nothing of how he feels.

Jaune mentally notes that this man is not to be taken lightly, nor to be trusted. Not unless Cinder gives him express advice otherwise.

And somehow, with the way she's talked about the man, Jaune doubts she will.

"I am an expert on magics, nay, the expert on magics. I saw the bond that the two of you shared as brightly as that blonde hair on this boy's head. The same for those two," She gestures towards Ren and Nora. "And the last three as well, though it is clear their connections are not at all nearby. Regardless, Cinder, believe me when I say that I do not care for being lied to."

Cinder ducks her head somewhat, though raises it a second later – Jaune can feel her pride waging war with her fear. "My apologies, I only–"

"You only wished to protect the boy, believe me, I know." Salem rolls her eyes. "And you have done quite well. But dinner is finished, I'm afraid. I ask that you all clear out, save one."

Jaune feels like he knows what's coming, even before the woman's finger rises up off of her lap, and comes to rest pointed directly towards him.

"Jaune Arc," The Queen of the Grimm commands, saying his name with a lilt of amusement.

"I wish to have a chat with you. Alone."


End Chapter 16


Do I feel kind of bad about cliff-hangering you all after a month break? Yeah.

But also no. I think it's a bit funny.

Next chapter will come out a week from now, though this story may go to Bi-Weekly at some point, depending on how I'm feeling about it, or perhaps until After Happily Ever After (My newest story) Finishes, which wouldn't be too long.

Anyways, see you all next week!