Author's Note: Okay, I might have lied a little. But technically I said that the story of Team RWBY was over, not that A Red Stained Remnant was, so I was still kinda telling the truth. After this one it's really over though. For real this time. Enjoy. :D
Myrka
The manacles were cold on my wrists and ankles and the chains clanked together with every jostle of the truck. I cast a disgusted look towards the cabin of the vehicle. Could these fools not even drive properly? It felt like they were driving over every potholed road in Vale and back again, just to make the trip more uncomfortable.
The truck shook more violently than usual, enough to send me crashing onto my side. I would have fallen on my side, had the manacles chained to the wall not held me upright. I felt the cold steel cut into my skin and warmth spread down my hand. Now the bastards had me bleeding.
I growled insults and curses under my breath as I pulled myself upright. Did Ozpin have to send me to prison with the two least competent truck drivers in Vale? And I was so close too, so close to winning. If it hadn't been for those four brats… That red one had proved a nuisance and I'd spent most of the journey from Beacon plotting all the ways I'd pay back that yellow one for all she'd done.
Aura shock? Me! With aura shock! I'd never felt so insulted in my life, that a brat like that would be able to best me. When next I saw her… she'd wish I'd killed her the first time.
I was sent tipping to the side once more as the truck skidded to a sudden stop. I heard the escort car behind it skid to a halt as well as I picked myself up. What were those idiots doing? I heard the doors of the cabin open and the drivers climb out.
A scream went up outside and someone shouted to take cover. Gunshots went off all around the truck. I swung my head around manically, and pointlessly. No one opened the door. I had to depend on the plating on the truck to protect me. Bullets dented the steel behind me and I flinched in terror. I couldn't use my aura; if any of those made it through the side of the truck, I was dead.
Was this my end then? Such an undignified way to meet my death: gunned down in chains. I took a deep breath and centred myself. At the least, I could face it with as much dignity as I could muster. I wouldn't face it quivering in fear.
The screams and gunshots cut off suddenly and the air was filled with a deafening silence. I heard footsteps outside the door to the back of the truck and I closed my eyes. A key turned in the lock and I heard the door open. I opened my eyes and turned towards the light streaming in the door. I had to squint; the light was blinding after all my time in the dark truck.
"Hurry up and kill me, if that's what you're after." I said with all the pride I could muster. "I'll not cower at your feet."
"Myrka?" A familiar female voice called out.
"Ao?" I gaped in shock as my eyes adjusted to the light. Ao was standing half in the door of the truck, looking concerned.
"Myrka!" she cried out my name in joy at seeing that I was alright and rushed into the truck. I still didn't know what to say, so I just gaped down at her as she began fitting a key into each of the manacles.
A shadow passed over her as she unlocked my feet and moved on to my hands. I looked up and saw a strange, red and black haired youth wearing a mask over the top of his face. He had what appeared to be horn jutting out of his hair.
"Is this him?" the youth asked in a gravelly voice.
"Yes, this is him." Ao answered, without turning to look at him.
The youth cast his gaze over me, a gaze I met stoically.
"Who's he?" I asked Ao.
"Adam," he answered. "Adam Taurus. And you had better be worth my time." Anger swelled up in me at Adam's words. How dare he, a child, question my worth? But, despite the anger, I realised something.
"What do you think I'm worth to you?" I asked him. "Who are you?"
"I'm no one. And you're not worth anything to me. I couldn't care less if you rotted in a cell 'til the end of your days."
"Stop asking questions, Myrka." Ao hissed in my ear. "Just follow me, you'll be fine." I met Ao's gaze. The genuine concern and pleading look in her eyes made me nod in acquiescence. She clearly knew more of what was going on here, I'd trust her judgement.
Once the manacles were removed, I got to my feet and appraised Adam properly. He was standing before me, with his arms crossed. I rubbed at the wrists and spun my hands, loosening up the joints. Adam sneered and hopped out of the truck. I noticed the ninjato at his hip and pursed my lips in thought. He looked like he knew how to handle it too. There was no way I would be able to overpower him, especially without my aura.
I followed him out of the truck and was immediately glad that I had decided against trying to attack Adam. There was a squad of about thirty people—Faunus, I realised— bearing swords and firearms, waiting outside for us. I noticed the emblem on the back of one of them and looked at Ao questioningly.
"The White Fang?" I whispered to her. "Why are they helping us?"
"It's not the White Fang," she whispered back. "It's who they work for. You'll find out."
She walked to the front of the group, joining Adam. He said something to her and gestured for his men to get in their vehicles. All of the Faunus rushed to their various cars and trucks, and Adam led me to one of them and told me to get in. I clambered into the back seat, while Adam and Ao got into the front. Adam moved the car forward and we made our through the streets of Vale at high speed.
He took a long winding route, no doubt trying to lose any potential pursuit. I felt sorry for anyone who'd thought to follow us, because I lost track of where we were within minutes. It wasn't until half an hour that we pulled up outside an abandoned looking warehouse.
I climbed out of the car and looked around, trying to figure out where we were. Adam shoved me from behind towards to warehouse.
"In," he said. "She's waiting." Ao joined me, and we approached the warehouse together. Adam got back in the driver's seat of the car and sped off.
"She?" I asked.
"I can't tell you, I'm sorry." Ao muttered.
I looked at her in disbelief. What did she mean she couldn't tell me? But the look of fear on her face made me give in. Clearly someone was threatening her. But if so, why were they helping us?
We entered the dimly lit warehouse and encountered an orange-haired man in a white suit and bowler hat. He looked up as we walked in and took a long drag on the cigar between his teeth.
"Oh good, you're here." He said as he picked up a cane that was leaning against a table and began to lead us further into the warehouse. "She'll be very pleased."
Who is this 'she'? I kept asking myself that as we walked down a long, dark corridor. As soon as the man opened a door for me and I crossed the threshold, my question was answered. I realised why Ao had been too scared to answer me. I hadn't met anyone in the underworld who'd met this woman and survived to talk about it, but tales of her got out somehow.
"Ah, Myrka Vald, how good of you to join us." the woman said. She was sitting on a raised chair, with her legs crossed. It looked like a throne, and didn't look out of place at all. "Do you know who I am?" I swallowed nervously before answering.
"Cinder Fall,"
"Oh, very good." She said with a predatory smile. "That will make things go a little smoother. Now, approach me."
I shared a quick, fearful look with Ao before hurrying to do her bidding.
"Kneel," she commanded, giving me no choice but to obey. I knelt at the foot of her throne and heard the clink of her glass shoes as she descended the stairs towards me.
I felt her fingers wrap into my hair and grip it firmly.
"Brace yourself," she said. Before I had a chance to react, or brace myself at all, a surge of burning agony tore through my body. I let out a scream and fell to the ground. Cinder followed me down, keeping her grip firm. My screams grew louder and higher as the pain intensified until I blacked out.
I came to after what felt like a second, but I couldn't feel the pain anymore. And Cinder wasn't holding my hair. I heard Ao call out my name and felt her as she knelt at my side.
"Are you alright?" she asked. I nodded, unable to speak between my gasps for breath. "What did you do!?" Ao cried. I grabbed at her wrist, trying to calm her down. She was usually more timid than I was, but if my well-being was on the line, there was no one alive she wouldn't start a fight with.
But Cinder just laughed from her retaken seat on her throne.
"I did him no harm," she said. "In fact, I think you'll find him grateful for what I did." Grateful? Why would I be grateful?
My eyes widened as I realised that I could feel the presence of Grimm around us. I could feel them. That meant my semblance was working. I tried to activate my aura, something I'd tried and failed earlier in the day. I felt my aura surround me with no struggle at all. She'd fixed me. Cinder had repaired my aura.
"I… Thank you," I gasped to her. I picked myself up and got on one knee. Cinder chuckled once again.
"Now, now," she said. "Don't think I did this for free. I expect some compensation for my efforts."
"What can I do?" I asked. I looked up and met her gaze. "I'll do whatever I can to repay you."
"Excellent," she said with another predatory smile. Flames burned in her eyes as she continued. "I have big plans for you Myrka. All I ask is a little cooperation."