Content warning for (vague) descriptions of a dead body. Enjoy!
"So, you're telling me that the two of you that the two of you assisted Cinder in her pursuit of the Winter Maiden, after I specifically ordered her not to do so?"
"Yes, ma'am." Emerald resists the urge to shiver under the weight of Salem's intense gaze. Next to her, Neo is as quiet and unreadable as ever, seemingly unconcerned with the fury of the immortal woman . For once, Emerald finds herself envying her silence.
"And on top of your disobedience, you fools also managed to allow the power of the Fall Maiden to be snatched from our grasp, correct?"
Cinder. This time, Emerald can barely bring herself to nod in response, overwhelmed by the shot of pain at the reminder that the only person who had ever cared for her was dead now. It still doesn't feel real at all—probably the only reason she's able to answer Salem's questions instead of collapsing into a sobbing mess on the floor. That, and over the past few months while Cinder wasn't here, Emerald has been forced to learn how to suppress her emotions in order to spare herself from the immortal witch's wrath.
Thus why she's able to stand here and answer questions while outwardly appearing calm and composed, while internally she's falling apart.
"I see." If Salem feels any grief at the loss of Cinder, it doesn't show. Instead, she seems to be almost boiling over with poorly concealed rage, thinly veiled by a surface layer of annoyance. She sighs. "I had hoped that Cinder, like the rest of you, had learned her lesson about the consequences of putting her desires above mine. Evidently she had not, and she ended up paying for her disobedience with her life."
She finally lifts her gaze from where it rests on Emerald and Neo, casting her eyes imperiously around the rest of the small semi-circle gathered around her. Emerald finally allows herself to take a deep breath. "Let this once again be a reminder to you, all of you, of what will inevitably happen if you should choose to disobey your orders and pursue your own desires in place of mine. All of you are replaceable, and you will be replaced if you are incapable of doing what I ask." She pauses for a brief moment, letting the silence hang heavily over them, as though daring any of them to disagree. "This is your only and final warning. Do you understand?"
The responses to her speech—or more realistically, threat—range from solemn nods to enthusiastic cheering (only from Tyrian, unsurprisingly). "Good," she replies smiling at their display of loyalty and obedience. "Now, the loss of the powers of the Fall Maiden may seem like an insurmountable obstacle, but really it is nothing more than a minor setback. I have spoken with Dr. Watts, who has informed me that the puppet masquerading as the Winter Maiden is still easily within our grasp if we move quickly. From there, gaining access to the Staff of Creation should be easily done."
The strange Grimm sitting next to her makes a strange sound, almost like a moan. "Yes dear," she murmurs, stoking the top of its head. "It won't be long now." She turns to the rest of the group, raising her voice as she addresses them. "But for now, let's pay General Ironwood a visit, and give the people of his kingdom a glimpse of what the future of this planet will look like."
Lost in thought, Emerald doesn't even notice when she's the only one left in the room. She's only jolted out of her reverie when Mercury tugs on her arm, allowing her to flee the room before she attracted Salem's attention. But her inner turmoil remains as she makes her way back to her quarters.
She'd been a sobbing wreck on the way back from Amity Tower, cradling Cinder's body and hoping against hope that she'd wake up at any moment and scold Emerald for getting tear stains all over her clothes. That maybe she was just knocked out and she would be fine once she'd had a chance to recover. That maybe this was just a bad dream and Emerald would wake up soon to see that Cinder was fine.
But none of that happened. Cinder had remained cold and stiff and lifeless. And it seems like Emerald is the only one who cares or even remembers. Because Cinder was apparently replaceable.
Just like the rest of them.
Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you liked it.