I'm really sorry about how long it took me to post this chapter. Writing has been quite the rollercoaster, but I hoped to have this done sooner. I didn't, and I apologize.

13. Soon to Crumble

Looking at his boss sitting across the table from him, Mercury wondered what went inside her head. As long as he had been serving her, he still could barely hope to understand the intricacies of her mind. He didn't fancy himself a smart man, far from it, he knew his place and didn't dare stray in the slightest, but Cinder was a puzzling person nonetheless.

She loved power, that much was clear. Not theoretical power, the ability to decide and control others, but the act itself, the feeling of holding someone's life in their hands and squeezing it to make them twitch. It wasn't truly a question of sadism, despite pleasure playing a definitive part, because it wasn't the pain itself she enjoyed, just the surge of power it entailed. One would think that was the extent of the flame sorceress' personality, but that was the front that most people saw, right before they met their swift and painful demise. He knew there was more to it, although he couldn't quite put his finger on what.

There was an ever-burning blaze in her eyes, the fires stoked by her intense character, but even those embers flickered and swayed with the wind, and sometimes he would catch a glimpse of rage and spite where none was to be expected. A prisoner's pleas, or a soldier's willingness for sacrifice, small thing that start a pyre inside the woman and drive away her cold semblance in exchange for a burning bringer of death. He couldn't understand why she did it, what was about those things that set her off so much.

He knew better than to ask, of course, but he suspected it had to do with the past. It always had to do with the past, just like his own issues. He had lived through complicated upbringings, a life full of pain, not all of it his.

Having been practically born with a knife in hand, his father had wanted to make him the best fighter there was. He had been made to train ever since he could walk, exercised each day until his muscles gave out in agony. If his father was in a good mood, he'd get rewarded with a meal. If he was feeling afoul, which happened increasingly often because of the drinking, he would get a thrashing and be left starving.

Much like an animal conceived from inside a cage, he hadn't thought to escape. He hadn't even considered fighting back, not for years. Instead, he believed the violence and the pain to be his fault, that if he tried hard enough, it would stop. But then, with the passing of time, he understood. He understood that his father was nothing but a vile man, who didn't want a child, he wanted a weapon. He understood, while looking at his guardian's mangled and bloodied corpse, that he was just the same. Vile, twisted, a monster. And, honestly, he didn't mind.

He had become a powerful fighter, and a ruthless killer. He had no home left to return to, not after torturing and killing the man, and burning their house down. All he had was the road, and the knife on his belt. Who would dare to face the most skilled assassin in the country? Who would be capable to hurt him like his father had? No, instead he could hurt others as he pleased. Life was unfair, and it was about time people understood that.

Evidently, Cinder knew all of that. He had no doubt that was why she had picked him, just like that was the reason she had picked Emerald. He hadn't been too fond of his old partner, but he actually somewhat missed her. Her foolishness was, at the very least, entertaining to watch.

His introspection was interrupted, as the raven-haired woman took a sip of her herbal brew – which seemed to be so hot it released a pillar of smoke towards the ceiling – and set it down on the plate.

"You're staring an awful lot, Mercury. Are you thinking again? You know how I feel about you thinking." There was no malice in her tone, nor was it demanding. She knew he'd comply without requiring intimidation.

Mercury blinked in confusion, and lowered his gaze down to the table, from which he picked up a piece of bread and chewed on it. It was hard, almost stale, but he knew he didn't deserve better. It was good enough that she allowed to sit at the table.

"Dogs aren't supposed to think. They just obey."

That was what he was, a dog. Her guard dog, making sure no one disturbed her. Her hunting dog, finding and collecting the poor souls she required for her experiments. Her lap dog, that sat when she told him to, and jumped when she willed it. He knew his place, and he was fine with it. After all, it was better than being a son.

"Well, since you're feeling intellectual today, tell me: why do you work for me?"

And once again, there she was acting strange. He didn't understand the point of asking such a question. Was it a measurement of loyalty, or a display of dominance? Mercury had no idea, so he tried to answer non-chalantly.

"I don't have anything better to do."

"So you would betray me if you found something better to do?"

He almost choked on the bread.

"As if. You'd reduce me to ashes if I did."

"So you're afraid of me?"

"Yes." He didn't think twice before answering, and his word were dry and emotionless.

"Good." Her lips curled into a twisted smile. "Maybe you're not so dumb after all."

Cinder leaned seductively towards him, and he thanked all the gods that there was still a table between them. In that position, her low cut was hardly doing anything to cover her voluptuous chest, and Mercury was using all his concentration to keep his gaze on her face.

"What if I told you I'm just doing this for someone else, and there's a puppeteer pulling my strings just like I pull yours?"

He snorted loudly. "Yeah right, someone powerful enough to control you. And I'm a three-legged wyvern."

The witch chuckled at his response, and return to her normal graceful position atop her chair.

"Aren't you a good, trusting little dog. Bark for me, Mercury."

He opened his mouth to obey, but she interrupted.

"Maybe later. Right now I have other uses for you."

"What do you need."

"Fetch me Weiss Schnee. It's about time we found a replacement for Emerald."

"What? You can't be-" His displeasure was met by flaming eyes that demanded compliance. "Yes, ma'am. I'll go right away."

He stood up and exited the room, navigating that house he knew so well towards the dungeon. He didn't want another partner, much less that arrogant white-haired sorceress. She would only be a nuisance, and he doubted she'd be willing to properly take orders. Well, at least he'd get to see Cinder train and discipline her. He had a feeling he'd enjoy watching that one scream.

After descending into the darkness of the prison, he unlocked the door and entered with plenty of ruckus. He wanted all of them to know he had arrived, fear was the main key to keeping well-behaved prisoners. If they thought no harm was approaching their way, they would soon begin harboring thoughts of mutiny. Not that he'd mind a little brawl, in fact he was itching for one of them to get brave, so he could take out some of his built-up frustrations.

Locating the one he was after, he walked up to her and grabbed her by the wrist and forced her to stand. She resisted, but the time imprisoned had already taken most of the spirit out of her.

"Hey! Where are we going?"

"Boss wants to see you."

He ignored her other questions, and dragged her upstairs, pulling her arm roughly. When they reached the designated room, he pulled the door open and pushed her inside, the sudden impact making her trip and fall on the wooden floor. Making no motion to help her up, he walked up to a corner and leaned against the wall, eager to watch the show.

Cinder was sitting down in the middle of the room, her slender legs crossed over one another, waiting for the other woman to get up. As soon as it happened, she began.

"Hello there, Weiss. I see prison has made more agreeable."

The ivory magician scoffed with spite. "What do you want from me? Are you finally going to kill me?"

Mercury prayed the answer would be yes, but he was disappointed.

"Oh my dear, but on the contrary. You're here because I want to make you an offer."

At that, Weiss laughed mockingly, despite the ever-present frown on her face. "Whatever you are selling, I'm not interested."

Cinder's dark lips contorted, and she got up from her chair.

"Are you sure? And here I was, hoping we could help one another." She took small steps, forcing the younger witch to back away.

"Help one another? What, you expect me to work for you? After you imprisoned me and my sister, left us to starve in that dark cell?" There was a mixture of anger and confusion in those blue irises, a feeling he could relate to. He didn't understand why Cinder wanted that woman's help, or why she thought Weiss would agree, but he wanted nothing more. It was commonplace for recruitment meetings to end in blood. He could still remember the last time, a petty ginger boy who thought he was good enough to make demands of the sorceress. He had begged between sobs in the end, and the pathetic display was worth having to clean up what was left of him.

"That's exactly what I expect. You will work for me, and do as I command."

"I would rather die than serve you."

"Then you will. You, your sister, even that marble girl just for good measure. There will be nothing left of you to find, and the world will forget your very existence." Cinder's tone was growing impatient, and the fire in her eyes was beginning to pour out, lending a blazing aura to her whole body.

"You wouldn't have brought us all the way here if you wanted to kill us. You need me. You need my power. And that's why you won't lay a finger on either of us."

"NEED?" The flame witch let out a deranged cackle. "You think I NEED you?"

She held on to her sides as laughter ravaged her. Mercury had never seen her act in such a manner in all his years of service. It wasn't the calculating woman he remembered, always plotting the world's downfall. It was different, it was... insanity.

"Why would I need a cockroach like you? I could destroy you with a flick of a wrist right here right, now." She once again walked forward, forcing Weiss against a wall.

"That's the funny thing about needing someone. You can always find someone else to take their place. For example..." She waved her arm in the air, drawing an intricate pattern.

Mercury couldn't quite place his finger on what, but something felt wrong about that whole ordeal. Cinder was behaving out-of-control, like a wild beast on a crazed rampage. He only understood the situation when the burning sensation began emanating from inside his body.

"...I need Mercury to do my bidding..."

The heat underneath his skin became more intense, pain seething in every bone and muscle. He screamed, the agony impossible to bear.

"...but that doesn't make him untouchable."

As his blood boiled even further, the pain drove consciousness to start drifting away, and he fell on the floor. The steaming liquid, never ceasing to grow hotter, began burning his insides, destroying him from within. He gasped frantically, for the sweet feel of the cool air outside, but his throat filled with nothing but dark red blood. His failing lungs gave out, scorched by the temperature, and he slowly suffocated, resting lifeless atop the floorboards.

"Do you understand?"

Penny was alone.

She had known loneliness deeply within her lifespan, her days as a cursed statue in that garden of solitude were still firmly imprinted into her memory. She had known the pain of having no one, yet the feeling assaulting her was different, and infinitely worse. Company was not all that had been taken away from her, but also hope, friendship, happiness. She had nothing left. She was empty.

Together with Weiss Schnee, the witch who had once betrayed them, she had been able to call for help, but there was no solace to be found in that fact. She wished Ruby wasn't coming, running off once again to her rescue. How many times had the huntress risked all for her sake? How long would it be until that eagerness to help got her hurt, or killed? What was there even to save? After all, she was just a foolish statue that had dreamed of being human. For a while she had managed to delude herself that she truly was a girl, a living and thinking creature made of flesh. Now, the ever growing marble skin reminded her once again: she wasn't a person. She was just another monster, pretending to be something she was not. How could she be human if she could no longer touch, feel warmth and cold, or even joy. There was only emptiness inside her, hollow stone that was soon to crumble.

Even if Ruby made it, and somehow managed to defeat those who kept her captive, it would be too late. She was beyond the point of return, almost nothing left of her former human-like self. She had no idea how long she'd been in that prison, but it had been long enough for the disease to enter its final stage. Her legs were entirely of stone, so far gone that she couldn't move them anymore, and her arms were just about at that point, only a thread keeping them barely functional. She couldn't use her hands, and the only way of moving was to drag herself around. Her torso had been taken over halfway already, only further hindering her mobility. Her throat felt harsh and parched, no doubt festering as well. The worst of all, however, was her head. It had begun by the tips of her hair, slowly gaining a white hue. Then it had festered until the roots, and into her skull. Now, it had turned to stone all but the right side of her face, from the chin to the brow. The infected eye had stopped working, rendered only into a white surface, and she dreaded to think of the day that would happen to the remaining one. She could speak, although with great effort, but was incapable of even smile. Not that there was a reason to.

When Ruby made it, it wouldn't matter anymore. She would be nigh-dead, and she did not desire that sight on her friend. Her one and only friend, the one she cared about more than anyone in the world. Was she really her friend, or was that only another one of her delusions? She didn't know, but it mattered not. They had seen the last of each other.

She kept sitting down on the floor, amidst the darkness of the dungeon, and waited for death to claim her. It was taking long, but it had to be close now. There was no fear in that wait, just resignation. Anything would be better than the limbo she currently inhabited.

Time passed - she didn't care how much - but death didn't come for Penny. Instead, Weiss Schnee did.

"Can you stand? Cinder wants to see you."

The redhead shook her head, and was met by a weary sigh. Weiss crouched in front of her and grabbed her arms, lifting her up and dragging her out of the cell. Penny groaned from the sting in her strained muscles, and Weiss looked at her guiltily.

"I'm so sorry."

"No, you're not." She put all she had left in that accusation. After all the Schnee had done, she wouldn't stand for letting her excuse her actions.

Once atop the stairway, they passed through the door to the outside, making Penny wonder why they were moving away from it. She had no hopes of surviving, but the white witch did, and it was odd how someone with such a professed lust for power wasn't at least trying to break free from Cinder tyrannical grip.

When Weiss opened the door, she struggled to distinguish what lied inside the room, as most of it was to her left, the territory of her stone eye. However, it didn't take a genius to figure out the mastermind would be there, and that was exactly what transpired once she was set down on a chair. Unlike before, the wooden contraption didn't crack and break under her weight. To her mind, that was almost even funny. Even in returning to marble, she wasn't regaining the strength and power she used to have before. That was the price for her arrogance, thinking she could fly so close to the sun, but now her wings had burnt and she was plunging to her demise.

"So? How are you doing?" Cinder's voice was calm, almost amicable.

Penny grimaced at her, or at least tried to the best of her abilities.

"Not well, I see. Does it hurt?"

"No."

"Good, good. Are you ready to talk now?"

She stared directly into the sorceress's' eyes, and offered no response.

"How are you alive? What kind of magic was used for it?" The dark-haired woman spoke with hunger dripping in every word, yearning for the secrets she believed the sickly girl to possess.

"Maybe you should ask her." Penny turned her head to gesture towards Weiss, who was standing behind her. She couldn't see the young witch's reaction, but there was clearly a trade of glances between the magic-wielders.

"I'm not talking about how you turned... human." Something about how Cinder pronounced that word ticked her off, it sounded almost scornful. "I mean how you came to be. It's clearly not natural to be able to create life, even for us. I want to know how it was done."

"I told you before. I don't know. Father vaguely explained it to me but that was too long ago."

Cinder was evidently displeased by the answer received, her lips once again twisting monstrously.

"Maybe I should just get it out of you by force. A little pain might help you remember."

The ginger almost jumped in her seat, startled by the threat. The infection threatening to take her life was insidious, but it wasn't causing physical pain. Torture would take that very last comfort away; it was far too cruel.

"Weiss, do you mind doing th-" The puppeteer never finished that sentence, interrupted by a thunderous sound coming from just outside the room.

The sound echoed again, and nearby wall suddenly collapsed, the impact sending Penny tumbling on the floor. She swore there was a red blur coming in through the newly created opening, but she was just... so... tired...

"Ru...by?"

Penny lost consciousness.

Mercury's perspective was really fun to write. Penny's... not so much. And I ended up cutting some of the worst parts, be thankful for that. This chapter was originally way, way darker.

As always, leave a review if you can. I love hearing from you guys. And I'll try to take less time for the next. I'll try...