Ruby gazed upon the familiar path to the Festung der Schatten. She'd taken it at speed in pursuit of Jet the last time she'd travelled this way before, but now, perched on Jet's back, she was able to see the pillar-like structures of ice upon the side of the path. She shivered, and it wasn't just because of the cold of night.
She was really going along with it. Jet would become… what? What would he become?
"Jet?" she asked, breaking an insubstantial silence permeated by the rushing of wind and sleet. "What will we do once we meet Deus?"
"You remember I mentioned the Darkening Ritual of Deus?" At Ruby's nod, which he saw over his shoulder, he continued. "It's almost like marriage. We embrace the dark power together. I'm known as the Heir, and you are the Fulcrum."
"I'm the fulcrum?" Ruby asked confusedly.
"You're what keeps me on Remnant." Jet explained. "Your power increases in strength. You're faster, stronger, lighter, everything."
"That… sounds good." Ruby said after a pause. "And the Heir?"
"As the Heir, I get the full boost. I become invulnerable. I also only use the lance and shield weapon that we saw on Flux. That weapon can harm her." Jet said. "But I need to be careful. If you die, or fall unconscious, I die or faint too."
"You die too?!" Ruby asked. "What happens if you die?"
"I can't die. I will be immortal. But don't worry." Jet reassured. "I won't let you die. I cannot be defeated. I'll keep you safe."
Ruby watched as the silhouette of the castle grew closer and closer. Only death would part them. If she truly went through with this, Jet would never leave her life. He'd stay with her, her immortal protector. No worry of losing him through the uncertain life of a hunter.
Completely safe.
Jet gazed up at the gates of the Festung der Shatten. Like before, it was unguarded. That probably meant that no-one else was here. That was good. Jet didn't want to meet anyone else here.
He felt Ruby shift beside him, and put and arm around his lover. No matter what, he'd protect Ruby with everything he had.
"Jet?" Ruby caught his attention, and he turned his head to find her face close to his own. He resisted the urge to kiss her, damn her cuteness, because of the serious voice she gave.
"Yes, sweetheart?" he asked.
"Will we be able to go back to Beacon? After this?" Ruby asked, tilting her head to the fortress before them.
"Of course." Jet replied reassuringly. "Our plan is this; we unlock my powers and then return to Beacon. We keep this a secret until Flux reveals herself, and then we take her out."
"Why would we keep it a secret?" Ruby asked.
"Because this is a crime, what we're doing." Jet explained, seeing Ruby's eyes widen. "Collaborating with the powers of darkness is a crime similar to what I committed back when I lost control of myself. That's why."
"Oh." was Ruby's only reply. Jet gave her a hug in response, and they opened the heavy wooden doors together.
They stepped into the entrance hall, which save for two lit torches on brackets, was eerily dark. Cold stone floors met grey brick walls, and nothing, save a tattered red carpet which branched to rooms on the left and right in addition to a door in front of them, was visible.
Except their company.
As Jet strode into the center of the room, Ruby closely following, clutching his arm, he heard them. Growling beowolves surrounded them. The room was lit but their red eyes glowing with malice. They were only just out of arms' reach, but there were too many to take on alone.
"J-j-j-j-et?" Ruby stuttered behind him as he came to a halt. A sole beowolf neared them, this one larger than Jet had ever seen before. He put his arm around the clearly frightened Ruby and held her close as the mega-beowolf neared them.
There was silence as it too came to a halt.
"Cease, creature of darkness." Jet said in a booming voice that echoed throughout the hall, reaching the hundreds of creatures before them, surrounding them. "I know of your master, and I seek an audience with him." He unfurled his wings to their fullest span. "I am of your blood, and she is of my kin. Begone, lest your master be displeased."
The Grimm were motionless. Jet remained still. Only Ruby continued to shudder as she buried her face in Jet's chest, and he held her as the beowolf that challenged him now approached again, but much more cautiously.
Jet knew what he had to do.
He let go of Ruby and pinched the skin on the top of his right hand, and began to peel towards his arm. A layer of fabricated skin came off, revealing a purple cut that glowed in the darkness. It was in the shape of a rose, and he presented it to the Beowolf, who sniffed at it, then gave a howl, which was mirrored by the others.
Slowly, the horde retreated, and Jet kept his vigil from any more challenges until they were alone. He then unpinned Ruby and looked into her wide eyes.
"We're safe here. Come on." Jet insisted.
"Sorry." Ruby said as he made to walk foreward, but Jet turned back.
"What's wrong? You were right to be scared." Jet said.
Before Ruby replied, a voice emanated from around them, as if coming from the shadows of the castle themselves, a deep, growling voice.
"YOU RETURN, HEIR, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND BOND REQUIRED."
"Deus!" Jet called out to the voice. "I come for the honour of becoming one of your true children!"
"SO YOU HAVE. ENTER THE ALTER IN FRONT OF YOU." Deus replied, and the door in front of them opened of its own accord.
A dark altar met their eyes, and a single, humanoid figure standing atop it. It reminded Ruby of… no, it couldn't be…
"Shade?" she asked.
"WHO IS THIS SHADE?" Deus asked.
He was exactly the same as the shadow person that Ruby had met in the prison. The figure, the robes, the deep red glowing eyes, everything!
"Shade is the name of that form." Jet answered. "I assume you plucked it from my memories?"
"YOU WERE SURPRISINGLY… ALLOWING." Deus growled.
"Consider it a gift. As I understand, it is normally difficult for you to take form from a memory." Jet replied, as they closed with the god. Ruby saw that they were now crossing a stone bridge, and looked down to see a dark abyss with no visible bottom. The only light came from candles at the altar.
"THAT IS UNIMPORTANT, HEIR. YOU WISH FOR THE POWER THAT IS YOURS, YES?" Deus demanded, as they stood before him.
"Yes. I have all that you asked for." Jet replied.
"YET YOUR FULCRUM SEEMS FEARFUL. TELL ME, HUMAN GIRL," Deus addressed Ruby as they reached him, Jet's footsteps echoing along the cavern, "DO YOU TRULY WISH TO CLAIM THIS POWER AND BE BONDED TO HIM?"
Jet turned to Ruby. She had a downcast look on her face. This was it. The moment of truth. Ruby would stand by his side as the partner of an Angel of Darkness, and be bonded to one of her worst enemies imaginable. Yet it would also be him, and they'd need this power in order to defeat Flux when she makes her attempt to control him.
"Ruby, this is your choice." Jet said, bringing her attention to him. "The bond between us won't change if you refuse. You'll still be my sweetheart no matter what happens."
This gave Ruby pause, and Jet waited. Deus was completely focussed on her as well.
"I don't want this." Ruby replied. "Truthfully, I don't."
"WHY DID YOU COME, IF YOU HAD APPREHENSIONS?" Deus asked. Ruby looked at the shadow directly in the eyes, and Jet felt his heart race.
"Because I love Jet." she replied. "And because I know we need this power. The enemy we have is too powerful for us alone." Her eyes turned to Jet. "Jet needs to be as powerful as we can make him to stand a chance, and to protect me and everyone that I love, including him. So please," she turned to Deus and knelt before the dark god, "give us the strength we need!"
There was silence. Then, Deus laughed, a booming, barking laugh. The shadow convulsed slightly, and the red eyes became horizontal slits as the deity expressed his mirth.
"NOBILITY. SUCH A RARE TRAIT AMONGST THOSE THAT SEEK MY AID." Deus' voice resonated within Jet's mind as he chuckled. "I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU BETTER GRATIFIED FOR THE LIGHT."
"The light is frail." Jet responded, turning Deus' gaze unto himself. "Too weak to be any use in battle. The strength lies with the darkness. With your children. We recognise that."
"MY SISTER THINKS DIFFERENT. BUT THIS MATTERS LITTLE." Deus growled. "HAVE YOU AN ESTABLISHED TITLE ALREADY FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP?"
"The Roses of Darkness." Both Jet and Ruby replied at once.
"FITTING BY YOUR NAMES AND RINGS." Deus commented. "NOW! HEIR AND FULCRUM. ARE YOU READY?"
"We are." Jet and Ruby both spoke in unison. Jet felt a sizzling pain in the palm of his right hand, and looked to see a circular cut forming on his palm. Hearing Ruby cry out, Jet knew the same was happening to her.
"DO YOU, JET XIAO ROSE, CLAIM YOUR RIGHTFUL STATUS AS AN ANGEL OF DARKNESS, AND OF MY KIN?" Deus asked.
"I do." Jet replied, turning back to the Grimm.
"AND DO YOU, RUBY ROSE, VOW TO BECOME THE FULCRUM OF THIS NEW ANGEL?"
There was silence as Ruby considered all of the things she'd be throwing away if she did this. Her team, beacon, her family… but this must be done. If they stood any chance of defeating Flux, then it must come to pass, for the sake of those she would abandon eventually.
She knew that she and Jet would eventually be branded as outcasts from society for uniting with the Grimm, but if truth be told, she didn't need them. Nothing mattered too much, as long as she stayed by Jet's side.
"I do."
To be concluded…