Three hours, and nothing. Not a single message on his scroll, not a word from her, and she was nowhere in sight. He warned her, he was so sure she finally understood. He thought she had seen sense. Guess he was wrong.

Didn't stop him from worrying though. He'd taken to pacing around his room, for the past hour, checking his scroll every few minutes to make sure he didn't miss anything. Everything else was ready, everything he needed packed in a bag on his bed, ready to go. He should have left already, he told her he wasn't going to wait.

But here he was, still pacing. Still waiting. Why? It was her own fault if she wanted to stay. He had given her an out. And she had apparently chosen to ignore him. Idiot. Someone else was given a similar choice, once, a voice told him. They chose wrong then, too. You know why.

Mercury scowled. He didn't have time for this now. Trudging up ancient history wasn't good for anything but putting him in a bad mood. And he had enough of that as it was.

He groaned, running a hand through his hair while he waited. He probably shouldn't have said anything today. It was impulsive. At least wait a little longer, let her realize on her own what would happen if she stayed.

Things had come to a head today. Months and months of dealing with Cinder, with the familiarity of it all, had finally taken its toll. For weeks now he had been thinking about leaving, slowly realizing with each passing day, that it was becoming a matter of when, not if.

Emerald was the main reason he wanted to leave in the first place. Every day, without fail, running to Cinder like a dog, looking for any possible way she could be of some use. Every time Cinder threw a fit, she was there first, ready with an excuse for her precious, perfect Cinder. She's under a lot of stress, she would tell him, or She's in too much pain.

Mercury scoffed. He didn't complain as much as Cinder did when he lost his legs. And he didn't get the luxury to recover like she did. The Bandages were still bloody from where his father had makeshift prosthetics attached, when he decided he had enough and finally killed the bastard.

It's what Emerald should do, he thought. Just kill her and be done with it. I'd even help her if she asked for it. What surprised him was that he meant it. If it meant Emerald would stop chasing after her, he'd help her off the bitch.

But she never would. She couldn't even leave the crazy woman, even when he gave her an out as simple as this. He was sure she knew where it would lead, but even with that, Emerald had still made the choice to stay with Cinder.

So why the hell was he still waiting?

I can't any longer. It was too late. He gave her a chance, and she missed it. He made up his mind.

Mercury grabbed his bag off his bed, and raced out his door before he could change his mind, not missing a beat. He walked at a brisk pace, not quite running, but clearly in a hurry. It was a pathetically simple plan all things considered. All he had to do was steal the bullhead they had arrived here on, and get as far the hell away from here as he could.

And thanks to Watts often needing him and Emerald to haul some technical crap from the landing pad to his lab, Mercury knew exactly where the platform that the bullhead was stored on could be found.

So it turned out that he may have had a misguided notion of what the word "exactly" meant.

To be fair, it wasn't his fault! This whole damn castle all looked the same. The rooms, the hallways, the seer floating around everywhere, the stupid thing was a maze all on its own! He'd been lost for nearly half an hour now, and he was no closer to his destination.

He groaned in frustration. It didn't matter. Sooner or later, he'd make his way to the platform. It's just that it would probably be for the best if it was sooner, rather than later.

He was sweating, now. He didn't have time to waste running around hoping for the best. What if Emerald ratted him out? He didn't think that she would, but he had never been the best at the whole "reading people" thing. That was her and Cinder's job, making friends with the Beacon brats. He was there to make sure that the people who needed to die, did so. How that translated into him fighting in a tournament for kids, he still didn't understand.

He turned a corner and was abruptly brought face to face with what he had been searching for. Oh, he thought. That was underwhelming. There in front of him, was the platform which held the bullhead. No door, no guard, no seer in sight, nothing was stopping him from getting on and leaving. He'd already wasted enough time as it was.

Still…he stood there for a while longer, staring at the bullhead. Something began slowly building up in him, and he grew angry with himself as he realized exactly why he couldn't bring himself to leave just yet.

He turned away from the bullhead with a huff, striding with a purpose back through the halls of the castle. He kept track in his head, of the way back. Didn't want to get lost again after all, and he doubted Emerald would know the way. Annoying brat who doesn't know what's good for her, he thought bitterly. Making me head back for you. I could be gone by now, you know! But you just can't take care of yourself, you need someone else to go and do it for you.

He growled as he walked. He didn't have a choice in the matter. You do. You just can't bring yourself to leave well enough alone. Not when little Emerald reminds you SO much of yourself.

Mercury once again tried shoving the uncomfortable thought out of his head. There was a truth there, somewhere, but it couldn't just be that. It couldn't. That just didn't make any sense. Since when did he care how other people lived their lives?

Since when did he care about other people at all?

He didn't. Obviously. But Emerald had a useful semblance, and there was no point letting someone useful throw their life away needlessly, when she could still help him. That was all. Never mind the fact you don't give a damn about semblances, haven't since your old man ripped yours out of you.

Mercury sighed. Sometimes, he really hated himself. Honestly, who knew he could be so annoying? Is this what a conscience was?

He hated it.

Emerald was going to kill Mercury when she finally found him.

She had rushed from her chambers straight to his after making sure her wound was treated for now. Only, she found nothing but an empty room noticeably devoid of…well, anything. He must have already packed everything away.

But he said he'd wait for her, why the hell wouldn't he be in his room? Although…it was kinda late. She spent a while waiting for Cinder to return. He must have left just before she had arrived. Did he think she refused his offer? Did he already leave? If he took the Bullhead, that was the only way out of this place gone before she had a chance to get out.

No, she told herself. He was still here. He had to be. She just had to find him, that's all. And if he wasn't? If he had already gone? Well, she'll figure that out when the time came. No use worrying about it now and distracting herself. She had to focus.

"And just where are you in such a rush to get to?" Emerald stopped in her tracks as a sickeningly delighted voice spoke up from behind her. This is why you should have been paying attention, you idiot.

Slowly turning around brought her face to face with the unwelcome sight of Tyrian Callows.

Emerald had to put up with a lot since joining up with Cinder. Between the failed ambush on the fall maiden (and the horrific way Cinder had ripped her powers from her),the fall of Beacon, and coming to Everninght castle, she had faced more things that horrified her than she thought she would ever have to in her life. All for Cinder. But none of them unsettled her the way Tyrian did.

She's been scared, sure. Terrified. Seeing that…parasite rip the fall maidens powers out of her was one of the more…memorable moments in her life. Even if she knew the plan ahead of time, knowing something and being there to watch as she screamed for her life was something else entirely.

Cinder, of course, could terrify anyone when she was angry. Even Mercury managed to shut up whenever he realized she was really pissed. Salem went without saying. Emerald still didn't understand everything about her, and she hoped she never did.

Hell, Mercury could scare her at times. She grew up a thief, an orphan, she was never someone who killed before. Mercury, on the other hand, seemed to relish in it at times. Or at the very least, he was certainly comfortable with killing. Of course, now she had enough blood on her hands to where it rarely gave her pause anymore, but she was never as unbothered by it as Mercury seemed to be.

Tyrian, though? He treated murder like a religion, and Salem as his goddess. Quite literally, too. He seemed to take some sick pleasure out of saying exactly the wrong thing, at the wrong time, constantly poking and prodding Cinder over her failure. He scared her, yes. But more than that, he made her uncomfortable. Like some disease wriggling it's way into her. He managed to make her squirm in discomfort whenever he was around, and he seemed to find it hilarious.

And now, he had chosen once again to show up, at the worst possible time, in the worst possible place.

"Well? Surely there must be some sort of reason for you to be traipsing around the halls you normally seem so desperate to stay out of." His expression suggested that he very much hoped there was no such reason. "You always seem to spend as little time in the hallways as you can. Almost as if you were afraid to stay out." He mused.

She tried her best to ignore him, choosing instead to answer the first part of his question. "I'm just…looking around for Mercury. That's all." There. Weren't the best lies supposed to have a grain of truth in them? That wasn't even really a lie!

"You've been "looking around" for ten minutes." Tyrian teased.

"You've been following me?" Emerald sputtered. Did he have any idea what she was planning? How the hell did she not notice him? Brothers, what if he does know something? There was absolutely no way she stood a chance against Tyrian. For that matter, the only person in the entire castle she knew she could take was Watts. Maybe Mercury, if she could surprise him with her semblance.

"But of course!" He exclaimed, offended she would even suggest otherwise. "Whatever was I to do, upon finding one of my comrades so out of sorts? I simply had to ensure nothing untoward came to pass." Uh huh. That's why he followed her. Totally. "You seemed so upset, I'd hate for you to do something rash."

He leaned in closer, and she suddenly became very aware of his stinger rising over his shoulder. "Did our resident Maiden see fit to lash out at you?" He asked, eyeing her shoulder with a grin. "A pity. Ever so eager to please, as well. I imagine her rejection of your aid pained you a good deal more than whatever wound you bear."

She lost whatever remained of her composure, and growled. "Shut the hell up, already! You have no idea what you're talking about! Why would you even think that's what happened?"

"But what else could it be?" He asked innocently. "I can see it now, clear as day. The ever dutiful Emerald, desperate to help her master in her time of need! And yet, Cinder Fall, always prideful, striking you down for daring to be so presumptuous! Tell me, do I have the right of it?"

She refused to answer. He didn't deserve an answer. Besides, it wasn't really a question, anyways. Not when he clearly already knew the answer. "Well, I'm fine. Not going to do anything rash, whatever you mean by that, I just need to find Mercury. So you can run off now, and go bow before a cardboard cutout of Salem, or whatever it is you do."

Tyrian frowned. "These halls are hallowed, you know," He warned quietly. "You should speak of our Goddess with more respect. For she, is our true master, and the one to whom we owe all."

Emerald winced. Great, she just had to go and mock the crazy. It's fine, she could still save this. "Right, yeah, I get that. I just meant-"

Tyrian interrupted her, slowly inching forwards. He had stopped smiling "I think that you do intend to do something rash, Miss Sustrai. You and Mister Black both, otherwise he would not have left his room with a packed bag. I think you intend to abandon our little Maiden, and by extension our Goddess."

Emerald froze, a sense of terror creeping up her spine. "I…You're insane, you don't know what you're talking about…You…" She took a step back, only to find herself up against a wall. Mercury, she thought, heart beating a mile a minute. For the love of every god ever worshiped, please be long gone from here. Tyrians stinger lunged forward and Emerald shut her eyes, letting out a shriek.

She heard a thunk to the left of her head, and her heart stopped. A moment passed, and then another, and Emerald came to a sudden epiphany. I'm still alive, she realized. She cracked an eye open, and was met with the sight of Tyrian once again grinning like the madman he was.

"And I also think, that it will make for a delightful surprise for Miss Fall to learn that her dear, dear subordinates have suddenly found themselves faint of heart, unable to carry on with such senseless slaughter." He backed up, pulling his stinger out of the wall, and gesturing down the hall.

"You're…letting me go?" She asked hesitantly. This had to be some sort of trap. There was a seer right around the corner, or Cinder was listening in, or, or something. "Why?"

"Did I not just say? It will make for such a wonderful surprise." His eyes flashed darkly. "But more than that, think of how interesting things will become! What shall the two of you do? What will you accomplish? Will you join the doomed party of the young rose, and throw your lot in with them? Or will you perhaps attempt to lie low, and let events unfold as they may, staying far away? Either way, Cinder will be sure to hunt you down, but will you be prepared? And when will she find the time? Will she be willing to wait, and regain her strength, or shall she rush off headfirst in a blind rage? Oh I simply cannot wait to see what comes of this! How could I not let you go?" Tyrian was practically jumping for joy.

Emerald shook her head. Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask. "But why? We're betraying Salem too, shouldn't you try to…stop us?" Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why the hell did you ask questions, he was gonna let us go! But, he didn't look like he just realized he was making a mistake. He just looked…confused.

"Why ever would I do that?" He asked, clearly puzzled.

Emerald struggled to find the words. What the hell was going on? "So we don't…disrupt her plans?"

Tyrian stared at her for a few more moments, before snorting. A snort turned into a chuckle, and suddenly the scorpion faunus was breaking out into hysterics. "You two…disrupt her plans!" Tyrian doubled over, clutching his stomach. "You cannot be serious! My, this day continues to surprise me!" Tyrian straightened up, wiping a tear from his eye. "Miss Sustrai, make no mistake, there is nothing you or Mister Black could possibly do to stop her. I doubt you could manage to even inconvenience her, and certainly not without aligning yourself with the enemy, and I don't believe they would be very receptive to any offers from you or Mister Black. I am allowing you to leave simply because it would be most entertaining. Of course, if you wish to stay…" He trailed off, and a smile crept across his face.

She took the hint. She also took off running, as hard as she could. "Farewell, Miss Sustrai, and be sure to give my regards to Mister Black!" Tyrian called out as she ran. "I look forward to seeing the two of you again, and I expect great things!"

Emerald ignored him. Tyrian knew. He knew, and even if he said nothing, someone else might find out too. She had to find Mercury, assuming he was still here, and she had to find him fast. So, she ran.

Brothers, she was going to kill him if he already left.

Mercury was regretting ever offering to take Emerald with him in the first place. Why the hell had he even bothered? He certainly didn't need her, or her semblance. And it was turning out to be a lot more trouble than it was worth, running around chasing after her like a chicken with its head cut off.

He was about ready to call it quits and head back to the Bullhead. No, you aren't.

Thankfully, he was at least spared the misery of yet another argument with himself, when something crashed into him, dragging him to the ground, head crashing to the cold floor of the castle.

A yelp of pain told him it was a person, which was alarming, and relieving all at once. Relieving, because it wasn't some Grimm trying to maul him to pieces for whatever reason, and alarming because there were very few people in this castle, none of which he particularly wanted to run into just now, with the exception of Emerald.

Mercury groaned, rising to his feet and clutching his head. A hand found itself on his back, steadying him. "Mercury?" Emerald asked softly., while his head swam.

His focus visioned, and he smirked when he realized who it was, crossing his arms. Found you, he thought smugly. At least he hadn't been wasting his time. "Fancy seeing you here. Thought you were planning on staying with Cinder, weren't you? Or did you decide to take me up on my offer after…after all." He faltered, and his smirk left his face as his eyes settled on her arm. Specifically, the bloody bandages wrapped around it.

"Cinder did that." He spoke coldly. It wasn't a question. I told you Emerald, I warned you, so many times. Not my fault you don't have any sense in that damn head of yours.

Emerald winced, and seemed to shrink. "I…you were right, Mercury. I…need to leave, for a while. Cinder…she doesn't need me right now." She seemed nervous, shifting uncomfortably, unconsciously grabbing her arm. "There, happy? Can we go now?"

Mercury frowned. He wasn't trying to make her nervous. Whatever. Gloating can wait. They needed to leave. "We could have gone hours ago." He pointed out. She winced again, and Mercury sighed. "But yeah, sure, we can leave. Just got to get back to the Bullhead. You have everything you need?"

Emerald paused, then nodded. "I didn't have anything to pack. Just my weapons, really, and I have them with me." Huh. A girl after his own heart. All he bothered packing were some medical supplies, and a bit of food and water. At least he wouldn't have to deal with her dragging around luggage.

He picked his bag up off the floor, and the two of them set off. He'd been keeping track of what turns he had made ever since he found the bullhead, so thankfully they wouldn't be wandering around hoping to run into it again. That would have been a fantastic way to start out.

He found his way back soon enough…and he found something else there as well. Someone else. Great, he thought. This day just keeps getting better and better.

"Watts!" He called out cheerfully. "Just who I was looking for!" Atlesian bastard. Watts was loading some kind of fancy looking crap onto the bullhead, and it looked pretty clear he wasn't planning on staying, if the large suitcase was anything to go by.

Their resident genius made a show of loudly sighing, before turning to face them. "Wonderful. Cinder's lackeys, come to bother me, just before I finally get a chance to not have to deal with you anymore. What do you want, children?"

Shit. I didn't think this far. He had mostly just been trying to get his attention before he left. In hindsight, there wasn't really any point, he obviously was still in the middle of loading the bullhead. Thankfully, Emerald had always been a fast thinker.

"Cinder sent us!" She blurted. Mercury resisted the urge to scream at the girl. Why the hell is it always Cinder with you? Watts won't care about her. Hell, he's probably more likely not to listen. "She needs…a medical examination! The Grimm inside her is struggling with the Maiden powers. Salem wanted to ensure she wouldn't come to harm."

His eyes narrowed. "Curious. And why would she send you to retrieve me, when she had just ordered my departure? I'm not leaving just to get away from you rats, you know, it's simply one of the perks."

"It's a recent development." Emerald sputtered. Damnit, she was spiraling. "Cinder just got back from a private meeting with Salem, I'm sure you heard about it." Mercury was surprised. That…actually was a good point. It was technically the truth, after all. And Watts definitely would have heard about it. Gossip really shouldn't have been able to spread so fast in a castle this large, with so few people, but it did. Salem made sense, what with the Seer's constantly floating around. Watts though? Mercury was betting on tiny robots. Had to be.

"So I have." Watts agreed, crossing his arms. "And yet, that does not explain why Salem would have me handle some kind of examination on Cinder. I am most certainly not a medical doctor, I am a scientist."

Emerald paled, but she didn't give. "So? Maybe she wants you to see if you can whip something up to help the parasite coexist with the Maiden powers, or maybe she just wants you to give Cinder a massage. I don't know. I don't question orders, Watts."

It was all Mercury could do to stop himself from bursting out laughing. Oh, that's too rich! She was absolutely right, though. Everyone in the castle knew Emerald was the perfect little errand girl for Cinder, always willing to do whatever she could for her. And here she was, using that fact to lie through her teeth to get Watts away so she and Mercury could steal the Bullhead and run away.

He was almost proud of her. They grow up so fast, he mused, smirking.

Watts rolled his eyes. "Cinder will have to remain uncomfortable for a while. I must pay a visit to our friend in Haven, and ensure he remains firmly aware of precisely which side he has chosen."

"You'll disobey Salem's order's?" Emerald challenged. Mercury once again fought off the urge to snort at her boldness.

Watts uncrossed his arms, annoyance flashing across his face. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I believe I will. See, I don't believe these are Salem's orders. If there were a potential problem with Cinder, that I would be needed in order to deal with, I believe I would have been informed. I think you're lying, using Salem as an excuse so I can waste my time just because you're worried something may happen to that arrogant brat you call your boss."

He wasn't quite right. They didn't really care what happened to Cinder right now, or at least Mercury didn't, but he had clued into the fact that they were lying to him. That…was bad. "Go ask Salem yourself, then." Emerald dared him. Mercury frowned. He understood what she was trying to do. If Watts called her bluff, he'd have to leave and speak with Salem, giving them time to steal the bullhead. Problem was, Salem would realize they were leaving, and send Grimm after them. And they needed as much of a head start as they could get.

"I believe I shall." Watts huffed. Only, he didn't take a step. He pulled out a scroll, and the screen showed a camera, moving through the halls of the castle. Tiny robots, Mercury grinned. Called it. Wait. That was bad. That meant he didn't have to leave to speak with Salem.

Emerald realized her mistake as well. "H-Hey, listen, just go to Cinder, and you can figure it out between yourselves. There really isn't any need to make this a bigger deal than it is." Yeah, this wasn't going anywhere. Mercury slid around Watts while he was focused on the screen. He mimed taking aim at the back of the good doctor's head, and kicked his leg up at an angle, slamming his boot right on target.

Watts crumpled to the ground, and Emerald looked on, mouth hanging open. Mercury shrugged. "What? That was taking too long, and he was about to call our bluff. And I don't think you want Salem finding out we left until the two of us are long gone." He cracked a smile. "Besides, I've been wanting to do that since we met the asshole. Bet you have, too."

Emerald looked down at the unconscious form of Watts, and paused, thinking for a moment. She nudged his side with her foot, before lifting it up and slamming down on one of his hands. A sickening crunch filled his ears, and Mercury whistled. "Unnecessary, but definitely deserved. Let's get going, though. Roughing him up is one thing, but we kill him and Salem suddenly goes from seeing us leaving as minor distraction for her to deal with later, to something a lot more important. Watts actually matters to her plans, unlike us."

Emerald snorted. "Never thought I'd hear you of all people try to convince me not to kill someone.'

"Neither did I." Mercury agreed. "Must be the end of the world or something."

For the first time that night, Emerald smiled. "Right, so do we need to get rid of Watts' crap?"

Mercury shook his head. "Don't bother. Just help me get the bullhead ready to go as fast as possible. Don't bother wasting time trying to unload unless it won't fit."

Emerald nodded and the two of them got to work. It didn't take but ten minutes when all was said and done, to get the bullhead up and running. Mercury piloted the craft, while Emerald rearranged some of the lab equipment to make more room on the ship. They left without incident, no Grimm chasing after them. No one must have noticed something was wrong.

And, Mercury realized, a grin spreading across his face, No one will. Even if someone did notice them in the Bullhead, Watts was supposed to be leaving anyway. They were home free until either Watts woke up, or someone wandered into the landing pad.

As the hours passed, and they got further and further away from Evernight, and from Salem, the landscape below them became more familiar. More alive.

And as the excitement died down, and the adrenaline rush left him, Mercury suddenly found himself very aware of the situation he and Emerald had placed themselves in. They had just betrayed the single most dangerous person on Remnant, with no allies, and no idea what they were going to do.

Mercury closed his eyes for a moment, before he shrugged. We'll figure it out. We usually do. Besides, better to deal with this than suffer with Cinder. If nothing else, they can at least say they made this one choice for themselves.

Mercury smiled. He liked that. The idea that this was something they chose for themselves. His entire life his decisions were made by other people for him. His father, Cinder, even Salem for a short while. And he was fine with that. He never really cared, one way or another. Even when he finally killed his old man, that wasn't so much a conscious decision to choose, as it was him just trying to get the pain to stop.

He liked choosing for himself. He liked it a lot. Mercury frowned. But what the hell do I do now?

Chapter two! This one was a lot of fun, I had a blast writing Tyrian. And poor Watts, rightfully calling M&EM out on their bullshit, only to wind up with a broken hand for his troubles. I'm sure he'll find a way to blame Cinder.

Right, so a bit of an update. I have had a lot of things going on in my personal life, which I'm not getting into, but the end result is I now live with like seven other people for the next couple months because of someone else being an idiot.

I also live in the living room, meaning I have zero privacy, and it's hard to focus. Thankfully, I've adjusted pretty well, and I can still comfortably finish a chapter a week, and even a bit extra. So, there isn't going to be any real change for you guys, it just means I probably won't be able to do two a week like I was doing before I started posting.

Thank you all for reading, and please, leave a review, or a comment. And remember, I crosspost on Ao3!

Next Chapter: Tuesday, March 5th