"Do you know who that is?" Salem inquired as she walked past Cinnamon, her back turned to the other women within the room.
Cinnamon closed her eyes to avoid looking upward. She focused intently on keeping her facial expression as neutral as she could, well aware that an eye was upon her from above.
"…Cinder Fall, if I had to guess?" she tried. "The woman who served as the White Fang contact for Adam, before I took over."
"Correct. It would seem that you have eyes in unexpected places, Cinnamon," Salem praised. Immediately afterward, her eyes narrowed as she fixed them upon the door to the room. "Unfortunately for you, I have far more."
Before Cinnamon could react, a long, sinewy arm of jet black rocketed up from the floor and closed its boney fingers around her neck. The limb wrenched her down to her knees before three others sprouted from the dark pool upon the ground. Another hand clenched around her throat as the others seized her wrists, holding her to the floor in a bent position. Cinnamon gasped for breath as she watched Salem's long, flowing dress move back into her line of sight. She barely managed to tilt her head upward enough to see the woman's face, which was locked into an unreadable expression.
"…do you know why Cinder is currently playing the part of a rather morbid chandelier, rather than serving a more useful purpose?" Salem asked, her tone dripping with a false sweetness.
"N-no," Cinnamon admitted, the effort of choking out the few words enough to feel painful within her throat.
"It's very simple," Salem began. "Your contemporary up there made the very fatal mistake of failing to carry out a task for me, despite having ample resources. I also have it on good authority that her interests are not fully aligned with mine, and that she is in need of a reminder of our goals. Should I find that you ever place your aspirations before my own… you will not receive the warning that Cinder is enduring now. She is your first, and only warning. Am I quite clear?"
The claws around Cinnamon's neck relaxed for a moment, allowing her room to breathe in and speak.
"Crystal," the woman answered before the fingers tightened their grip to levels even harsher than they had been before.
"Good. Though, I do have a few questions for you. Questions such as why you, the new leader of the White Fang, have given a boat to our enemies to grant them transport to Mantle. They almost managed to slip away from Haven unseen… but not quite," Salem boasted.
Again, the claws relaxed ever so slightly.
"…necessary to make a bid for power," Cinnamon choked out. "Temporary… allies. Needed Adam to chase them… so I could step in…"
"I see," Salem replied coldly. "And if they trusted you enough to be 'temporary allies' and use your transportation… I would assume you know what they're up to, as well?"
Cinnamon hesitated and kept her eyes upon the floor as the claws around her neck relaxed again. Without warning, the dark limbs all retracted back into the floor, and Cinnamon found herself rising into a standing position against her will, encompassed by a deep purple glow. The dark magic locked her in place when her eyes were at the level of Salem's own. The soulless black and red orbs seemed to stare through her as the large doors opened behind her, and a young, unfamiliar feminine voice cried out in horror.
"Cinder!"
"Don't," the voice of a stern male replied, silencing the first speaker.
Salem merely held Cinnamon's gaze, her neutral expression twisting to one of anger.
"You hesitated. You know something," the woman accused, her eyes narrowing. "Tell me what they're planning, and where the rest of them are. I saw only a handful of our targets upon that boat, Cinnamon. If you lie to me… you will watch as I exterminate every faunus from this world, knowing that the downfall of your entire species came from the tip of your tongue."
Cinnamon swallowed hard before beginning to speak immediately, her mind racing and trying to determine the best course of action mid-sentence.
"…Sun Wukong, Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao Long, Jaune Arc, and Ilia Amitola are headed for Atlas. They needed my help, and I provided it to them to avoid raising suspicion. They're going to Ironwood to provide aid."
"Aid?" Salem asked. "How incredibly… nonspecific."
Cinnamon's muscles tightened as the aura suspending her in midair seemed to heat up. Unfamiliar figures accompanied by Tyrian made their way into the room on either side of her, though she kept her focus upon Salem as she gritted her teeth.
"They're headed for Atlas to warn Ironwood about what happened at Haven. The five of them want to work with him to lock down the Relic of Creation even tighter. Meanwhile, Ruby Rose, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, Sage Ayana, and Oscar Pine are headed for Patch, to recruit Taiyang Xiao Long and Raven Branwen to their cause," Cinnamon continued.
"…Raven Branwen fled to Patch?" Salem asked, her eyes momentarily wide before they narrowed once again. "Yes, of course she did. You're proving useful. Do continue."
"Blake Belladonna, Kali Belladonna, Qrow Branwen, and Neptune Vasilias are in Kuo Kuana, working to rebuild," Cinnamon finished. "A contingent of the White Fang are there as well, ready to turn on them at my command."
"Tyrian provided me much the same information," Salem replied coldly as Cinnamon was returned to the floor. Just as the woman began to relax slightly, Salem clenched her fist, and Cinnamon let out a cry of agony. "But there is one thing you neglected to mention. One of those parties is carrying the Relic of Knowledge with them. Which is it?"
Cinnamon's breathing quickened as she tried to focus through the pain of the searing magical energy around her. With each passing second, the pain intensified, until she thought she might pass out or quite literally ignite. She hissed as she fought an internal battle, trying desperately to decide how to answer before it became too late.
"…Ruby… Rose," she hissed, her teeth clenched so tightly that she was afraid they might snap. "Ruby has the relic!"
All at once, the ethereal fire seemed to fade away, and Cinnamon collapsed upon the ground once again. She gasped for air as Salem walked past her and out of sight.
"Correct. I've seen it through the eyes of my children. Had you answered incorrectly… you would be joining Cinder."
Cinnamon said nothing as she pulled herself back up to a standing position and turned, looking around the room as she tried to catch her breath. Hazel Rainart, Arthur Watts, Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai, and Scarlet David had joined the gathering alongside Tyrian. All but the faunus looked either disturbed or wore an expertly practiced poker face. Salem herself looked delighted as she moved to block the doorway and turned to face her entourage, before clasping her hands in front of herself and putting on another honeyed tone.
"…our objectives are clear," the woman began. "The Relic of Knowledge must be intercepted as quickly as possible, and James Ironwood must be dealt with. If he has the sense to call upon Vacuo for aid after learning of the events at Haven… we may be unable to take Atlas. You will be split into two parties to accomplish those objectives. Tyrian, Hazel, and Mercury- you will be headed for Vale. Arthur, Emerald, Scarlet, and Cinnamon- you will handle Atlas. Further instructions will be given upon your arrival. Am I clear?"
All present offered some form of assent, save one.
"…Emerald?" Salem asked.
The green-haired woman continued to stare up at Cinder, who returned her gaze silently.
"Emerald."
"Yes!" the teen quickly acknowledged as she finally turned to face Salem, her face full of worry. "Yes, of course. My apologies."
"Good," Salem said threateningly. "Go and make preparations with your teams. You depart shortly."
Cinnamon hurriedly joined the others as they made their way out of the room, only for the doors to shut harshly behind her. Salem remained very still just behind the large portal, before beginning to walk nearer to the center of the room as Cinder was lowered back toward the ground and the tendrils within her flesh retracted.
"…young Cinder," Salem began softly. "All that power, and still, you bring nothing but disappointment."
"…s-sorry…" the woman answered in a raspy, shuddering voice as she finally touched the ground. She immediately collapsed as her ankles gave out beneath her, depositing her in a heap at Salem's feet.
"I care little for your apologies," the taller woman warned as she bent to Cinder's eye level. "Far, far too much has been given to you to simply throw you away now… though it is tempting. You have much to accomplish to earn back my favor."
Cinder coughed, the sound dry and rattling.
"…anything. Either team," she said slowly. "I'm ready."
Salem merely smirked and shook her head.
"Oh, you will not be joining either task force. You and I are going to embark on a slightly different, somewhat delayed venture," Salem informed. "Give me your right arm."
Cinder lifted the limb as instructed, the length shaky and covered in blood from the wound in her shoulder. She watched as Salem's bone-white fingers interlaced with her own, only to clench down around the back of her palm.
"Stay still. This may… sting."
Sun's face paled as he continued to watch the horrific scene unfolding before him. Despite his posture of reclining upon the couch, his entire body felt tense, and his tail flicked nervously. Another snip rang out through the living room, and Sun winced instinctively as he locked eyes with Weiss. The girl mouthed a panicked 'What do I do?' to him from her place in the kitchen, and Sun merely shrugged and shook his head.
"Ooh! That one tickled a bit!" Jaune said as he shivered. Another lock of hair tumbled down onto his bare chest from up above. "How's it looking?"
"Great," Sun answered all too quickly. "Really… really great. It's… yeah, I think this was a good idea. It's definitely… new."
"Trying my best," Weiss said nervously as she walked around to Jaune's left side and made another strategic snip at the boy's hair. She winced as she watched Jaune's hairline become somehow more uneven. One look at Sun's widening eyes told her that it was exactly as big of a misstep as she had feared. "I will say, Ilia's hair was… much easier to work with. Keep in mind, she… had to touch it up herself, afterward. I really only did the basic cutting and styling…"
"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine!" Jaune dismissed as he closed his eyes once again. "I trust you, and I mean, come on. Ilia's hair is great short, so I'm sure you'll strike lightning twice. Maybe you missed your true calling as a stylist, Weiss!"
Weiss laughed lightly, sounding a bit more panicked than mirthful as she ran a comb through her friend's hair.
"Yes, maybe…"
"So, uh… when were you planning on talking to Corsac?" Sun asked, already fearing the answer.
"Right after this, probably," Jaune replied. "I'm feeling pretty good, so I want to ride this high and use it to my advantage."
"Is that really such a good idea?" Weiss asked as she finally set her scissors down and eyed the hair products assembled upon the kitchen counter. "I… maybe you should sleep on it, at least? Maybe let me touch this up tomorrow morning, after we see it on a new day…?"
"No, no, it's all good. Are we done?"
"No!" Weiss answered immediately. "I… let me try to… t-to… ah, style it for you? Please?"
"Weiss…" Sun said in a wary tone as he looked over Jaune's freshly cut hair.
"Let her do her thing, man," Jaune cut in with a shrug. "Maybe she can do yours next!"
"I'm growing it out," Sun lied as he watched Weiss rub some gel upon her palms before beginning to run it through Jaune's hair. "Eventually, though, I'll… yeah, maybe."
"…I think I'm done with hair after this," Weiss protested as she began to improvise, working segments of Jaune's hair into little spikes. "Best not to tempt fate, and all…"
"Yeah, we're doing enough of that lately without taking additional risks," Sun added as he stood from the couch and stretched, unable to take his eyes off of Jaune's coif.
"And… done…" Weiss said defeatedly. She stepped back from Jaune while chewing her lower lip, only for the boy to blink several times.
"Really? Can I go see it now?" he asked excitedly.
"…if you insist," Weiss replied hesitantly.
Sun merely continued to stare as Jaune stood up and took the towel down from around his neck. His teammate's hair had been butchered into an incredibly unfitting, terribly sculpted arrangement of uneven, messy spikes that resembled a field of stunted bananas. Sun wiped a hand down his face, feeling numb as he watched Jaune walk his way into the bathroom. Weiss held her breath, bracing her hands on either side of Jaune's kitchen stool and looking ashamed of herself as her entire face paled.
"…I love it!"
Sun and Weiss exchanged a horrified look between themselves before both looked elsewhere in the room as Jaune returned.
"It's perfect!" Jaune praised as she shot Weiss a smile and grabbed his shirt from over the back of the couch. "Seriously- how can you be so good at everything you do?"
Weiss laughed lightly, her face suddenly bright red after losing all color only seconds before. She offered an exaggerated shrug before turning her back to Jaune and beginning to clean up the various bottles and implements on the countertop.
"I… well, you know me," she insisted. "I'm just glad you like it…"
"Yeah, hold on," Sun said as he took out his scroll. "Lemme take a picture real quick?"
"Sure!" Jaune answered before posing proudly. Sun snapped a photo and stuffed his scroll back into his pocket as Weiss gave him a mortified look. "I'm gonna go talk to Corsac. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck," Weiss called, looking nervous. She watched Jaune make his way out the door before immediately turning to Sun and letting out a defeated sigh. "It's awful, isn't it?"
"Terrible," Sun affirmed. "But… at least he likes it?"
"I feel so bad, though," Weiss admitted. "I tried. I really did…"
"I know," Sun acknowledged as he began to tap at his scroll. "But we need to just roll with it, now. We can't tell him how bad it is…"
"We can't," Weiss agreed. "Why did you take a picture, exactly…?"
"I'm sending it to Ilia," Sun answered. "She needs to get it out of her system now, so she doesn't crush him first thing tomorrow morning."
Weiss stared for a moment before slowly nodding.
"…good call…"
Author's Note:
This chapter may have the most conflicting tones between two scenes that I've ever written.
Just a heads up- I may end up needing to take next week off, which I never do. A family member is in the hospital with Covid and not doing well. Depending on how things go, I may not have the time or energy to do an update, but I'm certainly going to try. If I can't, I'll put a note in my profile. Sorry in advance.
-RD