Blake's hand still hurt. Aura or not, slapping Adam's face repetitively and with great force would hurt eventually. She would have gone feral when Adam made to fight back if it wasn't for those sea creatures pulling them apart and moving both of them in separate rooms. However, their new rooms were still next to each other and thusly, Blake only had to raise her voice just so Adam could hear.
"See where all this violence takes you, Adam?" Blake was running purely on emotions. Her mind could barely register anything as her heart threw out whatever it felt like. The image of that door slamming on her mother was the only thing that her mind focused on. "Now look where we are: locked up as prisoners in my own home!"
"As if you are any different, Blake!" Adam retorted. "Don't even pretend that you weren't guilty of the same crimes that I committed. And no, leaving behind the White Fang—your White Fang, mind you—doesn't suddenly absolve you of all the crimes that you willfully committed! I did what I had to do for faunus everywhere!"
"And how does attacking Beacon, an academy for huntsmen help with faunus everywhere? They hate us, Adam! And I don't blame them. They despise the faunus."
"They know that we are serious!"
"Oh." Blake backed away from the wall. But her mockery didn't end there. "Well, excuse me for being so ignorant. I wasn't aware that attacking the one institution that actually helps faunus is actually helpful. Really stupid of me."
"I had no choice!"
"Choice? Choice?" Blake began to growl her words. "That suddenly makes it all better! Big, strong, and edgy Adam Taurus brought down like he's nothing more than a mere animal. Honestly, that Caster should have kept you in a leash."
"You would rather have me domesticated?" Adam started to growl himself.
"I'd rather have you put down like an animal, you bull! My mom would still be alive if you weren't here!"
"As if my being dead would bring back Ka—"
"Don't you even dare say her name! You don't have the right to say her name!"
"Why don't you get over here and make me! Or is your time prancing around in school dances and playing heroine made you slip, my love?"
"Why don't you get here yourself! Good luck with the guards outside."
"Typical." Blake could imagine Adam rolling his eyes. "When push comes to shove, you would rather run away with ears drooped down."
"Typical of you too. Always charging headfirst all because you wanted the glory for yourself. You don't care about the faunus; you just want to get back at the humans because of your poor sob story!"
Further meaningless words were flung at each other until both of their voices got hoarse and their throats hurt. They weren't given any water and Blake just had to endure the irritating pain from screaming out her heart. No tears were falling down her face. Her back was against the opposite wall from where she had just screamed.
She had been useless. Blake had been incapable of saving her own mother. Her. Kali's daughter, a trained huntress, and one who had experienced the hardships that White Fang members would during their raids, was incapable of saving those most precious to her. She could only watch and beg that Sanson got to Kali in time and Blake nearly tore herself apart going against the monster's constriction as the door slammed shut on Kali.
Bad things kept happening to her. No matter where she went. Trouble and misfortune kept creeping their way into her life and harmed those precious to her. Now, it had taken a life.
I'm a parasite, she thought. I'm a parasite. Is my semblance actually bad luck? Or is my very existence the cause behind all this? Be careful around me. Black cats are bringers of bad luck, after all!
Poisoning thoughts plagued Blake's mind as she curled into a ball. She was even ignorant of the comings and goings of the sea creatures just outside her prison room. Every trouble that had ever befallen her even before Beacon made her question whether those things could have been avoided had she never been there.
Would she rather be alone? With no one else around, that would mean that no one else has to get hurt. That is a good thing, isn't it? Her eyes scanned the room. It focused on the sheets of the bed. It wouldn't be enough. There isn't enough for a knot.
Blake's head bumped the floor but she didn't know this. Her eyes lost their lives as she stared blankly at nothing. Not even drool pooled around her face. The light's presence in her room was lessening as the sun set. Were things noisy outside? She didn't know; she couldn't hear. There was only that buzzing noise that filled her head. Her fingers moved as though they were still scraping that ground where the door had descended.
Eventually, Blake's eyes closed. She did not sleep. She only had a façade of sleep. When those eyes had awoken again, night had already veiled their skies.
Everything was quiet. There was no mourning nor was there any wailing. These sea creatures roamed the streets were bringing back any sense of life that Kuo Kuana had been sorely lacking in the past days. Yet, there was no greater sense of death than wherever these things walked. There was an occasional disturbance here and there but most of those were nothing more than stray animals. Blake would have found it strange that there were no Grimm coming here. But part of her suspected that Caster had a hand in that. There was no chance that Caster did not.
Blake's ears picked up sounds that were nearing her room. It stopped and the door to Adam's room had been opened. Adam must have made to protest but he was cut off. Blake felt the vibration of violence from her room as Adam must have been punished in some way for his attempt at escape earlier. Blake only lay there, waiting for her turn.
The punishment lasted for some minutes before the vibrations and noises from that room stopped. The footsteps began again and passed her. She was being ignored. Blake couldn't even chuckle bitterly. She couldn't laugh at the cruel prank played on her, being left out like that. However, knowing who it was that would be punished next, Blake at least mustered enough strength to tighten her hand into a fist as the vibrations, though weaker, began again.
There was much greater resistance there. Both Adam and Sanson were being broken down until they were ready for whatever Caster had in mind for them. As for Caster's mind for Blake, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that it had been enough for Sun to act out that led to all this.
It's not your fault, Sun. She could almost hear him blame himself. Had he stayed quiet and left it alone, perhaps they would have managed to escape. Yet, Blake didn't have it in her to blame him. Sun had stood by her side thus far and never once left her alone except for that investigation that he and Sanson went on. I can't let you get hurt. Not because of me.
The vibrations she felt kept going. Lighter they may be, but Blake was certain that it had been far more intense than what was given to Adam. At least Sanson put up a better fight. Adam just backed down and took it without so much as raising his sword. Where had his sword gone anyway? Blake never once saw it by his side.
Like it matters. It really didn't. Adam would still have backed down eventually. Whether that was a tactical retreat or he had been forcefully subjugated was anyone's guess. Considering what he looked like when he was brought here, Blake guessed that the latter was more likely.
Finally, the footsteps were loudening again and stopped just outside her own room. Blake didn't bother to sit back up as Caster stepped into the room. That manic grin of his would have made anyone afraid. Those dangerous eyes analyzed their target as the door closed behind him with a click.
"Tired?" Caster asked. His voice oozed with sadistic delight. "Losing one's mother must have been quite the grueling task."
A burning fire reignited in Blake. Adam didn't have any right to say Kali's name but Caster had no right to even reference her at all. She may have stood up with a grogginess to her muscles but her fist flew as true as it could. Caster raised only his hand and held it in place.
The tentacle monsters stood behind Caster. Not a single one of them had any voices to them and yet Blake could hear their laughter at Blake's failed resistance. They were eagerly waiting for their master's orders with one already being the excited one with its tentacle creeping into her room.
Caster raised his other hand. "Leave us."
Blake swore that she could hear those creatures giggling amongst themselves as they left.
"You crave death," Caster spoke again. "I see it in your eyes."
"What of it?"
"Only that it is beautiful to look at. My Master has those same eyes, you know. That same desire for death and the end. Ah." Caster let go of Blake as he hugged himself. He wriggled like a worm. "How I only wish to be there with you, my Master! Your death will be my most beautiful artwork yet!"
Blake's face contorted with disgust. For someone who was so devoted to his Master. There was a lust behind that desire for death.
Caster must have noticed it because he said, "it isn't quite that, my dear. My Master cannot be killed. There had been many attempts. Most, perhaps, were by others that came before me. But she? She always comes back. Oh, how she comes back!"
An immortal? Blake would have called it a fairy tale. But this Servant business was also strange enough that Blake didn't question it. As far as she knows, this was among the other things about those Servants that Sanson is a part of.
"For someone who likes killing," Blake commented. "You don't seem bothered at all that she is immortal."
"Indeed," Caster agreed. "Were it any other circumstance, I would have been angry. But my Master is different! She desires death and has tasked me to finding it. Me! Oh it as thought I was gifted a never ending canvas. Every thought and method have I tried, all for it to see her brought back! Every art and technique of death could I study and practice. And I do not need to fear about running out of beautiful models!"
Caster raised his arms outwardly. His head raised up high to the heavens, giving praise to whatever demented god that he worships.
"Everything at my disposal. Pushing the limits of my imaginations, what more could I ask?"
Blake's face was gently touched.
"Right now, I wish to enact them with you, my bride-to-be."
"I will never be your bride!" Blake pushed the hand away.
Caster only chuckled. "Then you could never see your dear Kali again."
"Excuse me?" Blake's voice rose in heat.
"Only my brides enter my Forbidden Red Room."
"My mother was—is happily married and you killed her right in front of her own husband!"
"And?" Caster raised an eyebrow.
Blake threw another fist at Caster. He only grabbed her by the wrist and slammed Blake against the wall. His bulging and oily eyes made it impossibly tempting to poke out. His breathing killed much of Blake's sense of smell and the rhythm of it made Blake almost cry out. Only her stubborn defiance kept her mouth shut.
Then, Caster let her go. He made some distance between them as he vibrated in place. His breathing only rapidly increased until he finished by himself. Blake felt like vomiting what little she still had inside of her.
"Not yet." Caster shook his head. "Not yet, my dear. Far too many. Enemy Servants still live and we will not let any of them get to our Master first. Salem. Oh Salem! Salem, my Master! You will be my final bride!"
Caster's moans turned to cackling. Blake tried to bury herself into the wall behind her as she backed away as much as she could. Never mind that Adam Taurus was on the other side. He was honestly preferable than Caster. She would have gone for Sanson but Caster had to be standing between judging from the vibrations earlier.
Blake couldn't do anything about Caster. His obsessions of death and murder were the only things keeping her alive, ironically. He desired death. He desired to be the bringer of death and destruction. He found joy and ecstasy in others craving for their end. A deranged dog that would do anything to please their master.
There was a knock on the door. Had Caster been an owl faunus, Blake was certain that his features would have that neck of his. His head turned with a terrible crack and yet no bone broke.
"So," Caster said. "The other Companion has finally arrived. It took them long enough."
Companion? The Cat? Blake wondered. Didn't the Cat and Assassin leave?
Caster's coat flew in the wind as he showed off his nobility when he turned to leave the room. Just before he left, Caster said to Blake, "another time. You still cling to life as you are. It doesn't have the same effect on me as it did before. If only you were an immortal like my Master. Now isn't that a thought? Master could use a companion."
The door opened and shut once again, leaving Blake alone. It was one way for life to return to her at least. Blake spent the next few minutes just catching her breath. Without realizing it until it hurt, she had been scratching the wrist that Caster had grabbed. That part of her skin where Caster's breath had touched were also red. She had burned through her aura. She was cleaning herself of that filthy feeling that still remained. Blake felt herself unclean.
In a rare and almost nostalgic moment, Adam Taurus voiced concern. "Blake?"
"It's fine," she replied. "Caster didn't do anything."
"Are you certain?" There was some frustration in that voice of his. The Adam she knew never liked it when she kept her injuries secret. "You cannot hide the sounds Caster made with those moans and breath, Blake. These rooms aren't soundproof."
"He's deranged, Adam," Blake assured him. "I think you know him better than I do."
"I do," Adam's voice had a hint of graveness to it. "There's a reason that Sienna isn't here."
Blake was quiet for a minute. Then, she guessed it. "She was a bride."
"Just before Ka—she was."
"What is it with Caster and brides?"
Adam then explained to Blake; he even mentioned of this Hazel Rainart, the man who had been with Caster. Blake didn't give any attention to Hazel that she had forgotten that there was another man with Caster. She couldn't even remember if he had been there earlier as well.
"Why?" Blake asked. It was the only thing that she had in mind after everything that had been told to her. "Why tell me this?"
"Because these deaths all serve a purpose," Adam said. "That spellbook of Caster had something in it—a Servant perhaps—that seemed, to me, to be fighting to break free. If anything were to happen to me, someone needs to lead the White Fang."
"As if I would want to go back out there." Blake wasn't leader material at all.
"Then pass this to someone who will."
"When did you suddenly change and grow a heart?"
"I cared for you once, Blake. Do not think so low of me as to simply toss it all aside. I don't know that… monster that much but can you blame me? All I heard was his moaning and you barely making any form of resistance."
Blake stayed quiet. "I'm not forgiving you for this. With what you did to Yang."
She heard him scoff. "As if I care what it is that you see in her now. You aren't the same anymore. There are worse things now."
/-/
Sanson was groaning in pain. As much as he was certain that Caster's moans were more for that sick pleasure of inflicting torment, there was no denying that Sanson found himself wanting to rush out anyway and see to it that Caster lost his head. Even if it would be the last thing that Sanson would do in this life, he wouldn't want to fail Kali any more than he already had.
As it stands, he was flat on the floor. Unable to move nor raise a muscle, there had to be some kind of paralyzing poison that went into his body that made him stop moving. The potency of it was great that Sanson couldn't use one of his own healing skills to cleanse himself of that debilitation. All he could do was pray that Blake was as safe as she could be while the effects wear off.
"Oh she's doing well enough, alright," the voice of the Cat had come from behind. "I could vouch on that. A few bruises here and there and personal space being violated but I can assure you it didn't go too far in that direction."
"What are you doing here?" asked Sanson. He couldn't turn his head around just yet.
"Well, Assassin has already left if that's what you're thinking. Her Master is more than capable of doing that. Not so much for me however. I'm still stuck here. But when I saw those ships, I thought that perhaps you wouldn't mind if I stowed away in one of them. Imagine my surprise to see the first signs of fire."
Curious Cat moved to a place where Sanson could see them.
Sanson felt a paw on his back. Then, a feeling of healing refreshment came to wash over him. The soreness of his body faded and he felt himself lighter than leaves.
"What?" Sanson asked.
"Noble Phantasm," Curious Cat answered. "If there is one thing that anyone would know of me, and one I am definitely happy that Lewis put in his book, it is that my purpose is my defining trait. I look for those in pain and given them a Piece of my Heart. Normally, they would be going to the Ever After Tree but this is close enough. I've repurposed your body to its original state before you were struck with the poison."
Sanson soon sat back up. Moving his arms and legs, he could not deny the renewed feeling that enveloped him.
"How did you get past all the guards?" Sanson asked. It would should have been impossible for Curious Cat without some kind of presence concealment. They weren't an Assassin.
"Oh it shouldn't be too much of a surprise," Cat brushed off the question. "I know people enough. An Inherent Insight that lets me guess the mannerisms of my target. These… sea creatures? Never heard of them, I can tell you that much, and for once, I am not that curious about them. Shocking, isn't it? Now where was I? Oh, right. Combine that with my inquisitive nature, and it's simply a case of finding what it is that makes them tick."
Sanson's eyes narrowed. A kind gesture, certainly. But there had to be a catch to it.
"Ah, of course. The deal." Cat knew what he was thinking. "I shouldn't be surprised, considering our last meeting. But I am serious that I do need a way out of this place and though it seems that you might come along as well, I am quite certain that Caster isn't exactly going to let either of us just leave without so much as offering us a place in that fancy book that he carries with him. What is it anyway?"
If nothing else, it would be better that Salem didn't have another Servant at their beck and call. "It is his Master's spellbook. A means of gathering all souls to summon Grimm. It could also do the same for Servants."
Despite not having any visible hair. Curious Cat's form spiked at the implication. Self-modification, it had to be. Sanson knew the tales enough to guess that much.
Outside, the Cthnonians continued their watch and their rounds and though there was some concern that Sanson could guess, they were mostly unbothered by it all and these demons continued on as they were. The Cthnonians could easily replace their numbers.
Sanson scanned his area. He couldn't check the door lest the Cthnonians roaming the halls would notice that the effects of whatever poison that had gotten to him had gone.
He sat back down while Cat was being a cat. Licking their conveniently existent fur, Cat was nothing more than a mere distraction for the most part. Sanson wasn't certain of what he should do at the moment but he was certain that whatever choice he would make; he would have to be certain that Caster does not leave Menagerie alive. He had to, for Kali's sake.
"But first," Sanson thought out loud. "I would have to make sure that Blake and Ghira leave Kuo Kuana."
"Who?" Cat asked, breaking Sanson's thoughts.
"The people," Sanson corrected. "They need to escape. More souls for Caster if more stayed behind."
"Ah," Cat understood. There was silence as Cat moved towards the windows. "Well I think that gathering them all in one place is certainly the easy part."
Sanson, being curious himself, got closer to the windows.
The people of Menagerie, White Fang and civilian, were being gathered some ways outside the Belladonna household. Any noise was snuffed out as most of them had something that muffled their voices. They could not be heard though their eyes were screaming for help. Caster stepped to the front of them and analyzed those that were put before him. Those White Fang that had fought back were the only ones brought to him. Sanson could see that Ghira was there.
By Caster's side was Blake and Adam. While Ghira and Sun tried to reach out to Blake, the Cthnonians held those two back. Sanson himself wanted to jump in anyway if it wasn't for the Cat pulling him by his coat.
Caster spoke to them with a raised voice but Sanson couldn't hope to understand it from his position. He had to keep his head low lest any of the Cthnonians spotted him. The faunus were all focused on Caster with none of them noticing his being recovered.
The gestures Cater made were exaggerated and full of showmanship. He displayed Salem's spellbook for all of them to see. Most were confused about the presentation but none reserved their fear and anxiety.
Then, Caster revealed to them all just what it was that the book does. The White Fang there were especially terrified as their fellows were sucked into the spellbook. Their banshee screams of panic lasted only a minute as their very souls were devoured by the spellbook. Afterwards, for about a minute of silence, Caster opened the book and those same White Fang members were brought back but with one changed state: they had been turned to Grimm.
White skin with blood-red veins and eyes. They were like copies of Assassin. Menagerie all panicked in their place and the only solace that Sanson could give Ghira and Blake was that Kali would never be among them; she suffered a different fate in that Red Room.
Caster continued to parade the Faunus-Turned-Grimm like they were his beloved newborns. Sanson could see the tears fly out Caster's face as he bounced about with twisted jubilation that no one else shared in his sentiment.
"Quite a faker, don't you think?" Cat just proved to be the only exception. At least, they didn't have the same joy.
"How are you even taking all this?" Sanson wanted to smack the Cat.
"Eh." Cat shrugged their shoulders. "I'm an inquisitive mind; it's my nature to be curious. Morbidly curious counts. Caster classing after all. I'm just glad it wasn't any of these Outer Gods that the Grail graciously gifted us all."
Sanson continued to observe Caster and his actions. Thankfully, Caster didn't make any further examples out of the other faunus. Blake and Adam were certainly made to watch, Blake especially. Looking out onto the sea, there were a few ships and boats left that could ferry them. Sanson doubts that there is anyone with enough experience with sea travel but that can be arranged. If he had to, Sanson could carry those more capable and distribute them across ships.
"So," Cat asked. "Am I safe in assuming that you're thinking of an alliance? A truce?"
Sanson looked towards Cat. Given the recent alliance that Cat had made with Assassin, it would be foolish of Sanson to take it. There was no doubt that Cat wanted something out of this. Whether that was for selfish reasons or for Assassin's Master was not his to guess.
"What do you want?" Sanson asked first. He needed to know.
"If it isn't obvious already, I want a ship out of here." Cat nodded so nonchalantly, it was as though they didn't just try to claw Sanson at one point. "Our dear god of light isn't exactly generous, only letting Assassin be the one to travel wherever she's needed."
Sanson's eyes narrowed. However, having more than one Servant is certainly better than having one. Plus, that would mean that Sun and the others could focus more on getting the faunus out while Sanson and Cat dealt with the Cthonians. The only things that held them back was that neither of them were directly combat-oriented. Neither was Caster but he had these familiars to do the fighting for him.
"Oh," Cat said. "Don't worry too much about that."
Confusion painted Sanson's face as Cat casually elongated themselves without much strain or struggle and opened the door as the paw modified itself into hands. Sanson was beginning to wonder if it was Self-Modification, Shapeshift, or a combination of the two. Either way, Cat's utility was a definite boon for any team.
Cat scanned the hallways outside and after a little scuffle, came back with one of the Cthnonians. Sanson, on instinct, drew his weapon, expecting an attack.
His grip loosened as the Cthnonian made no move to attack him nor Cat. If anything, Cat's commands were being listened to as the Cthnonian closed the door.
"I said that I could repurpose a body," Cat said. "Healing is but a by-product really. Think of it as them getting a new purpose for the time being. These things are surprisingly easy, I would say. Can't say for Grimm since I haven't tried any."
An idea then came to Sanson's mind. Desperate of him, perhaps. But Companions weren't chosen at random. "Could you do the same for those faunus?"
"Free them from their Grimm hold?" Cat tilted their head. "Perhaps. I can't resurrect the dead if they are." Cat looked away. "There's no guarantee that it would still be them if I did."
Sanson still hesitated for a moment. There had to be limitations for such a useful ability. But he had a duty to get the faunus out. He had a duty to get Kali's family out.
"Alright," Sanson said. He extended a hand. "If it's alright with you, Cat. I would like to ask for your help."
"Wonderful!" Cat took the hand and shook it enthusiastically. "Let's get an army of our own then, shall we?"
/-/
These Cthonians were the simplest part of repurposing. The peculiar pointlessness that oozed out of these creatures made them easy targets for it. Cat would admit that it was an odd feeling doing so. Every time they use their Noble Phantasm, a Piece of my Heart, there was a moment that Cat could feel what these creatures could feel. There wasn't any. These things have no purpose, no reason for existing.
Cat shivered at the cold indifference that these things radiate. They didn't like it at all. Things being there simply because they are? A ridiculous concept. If things simply are, then what is the point? Was that the point? That comment about those Outer Gods had truth to them.
At least, Cat thought. At least here you creatures have some kind of higher calling.
The Cthnonians that both Cat and Sanson gathered were increasing. It was still smaller compared to the familiars that Caster had summoned but such numbers were directly being inversed. Cat may not have any familiars of their own but familiars weren't the only things that Cat could take over.
Sanson cut through the Cthnonian who resisted. A shame that that one couldn't be added to their roster but any subtraction to Caster's numbers were welcome. Poor Sanson was mumbling to himself and thinking that Cat couldn't hear him. Humanoids might struggle to hear perhaps but Cat could always make themselves more sensitive to hearing.
He was concerned about the Belladonna family, was he? This Kali Belladonna must certainly be important to him. These Ghira, Blake, and Sun people were also significant people to him. Cat smiled but kept it hidden from Sanson.
"Well," Cat began. "I think that this is all that we could gather, no?"
Sanson still hesitated. But he eventually agreed. "I'll handle Caster directly if need be. Focus on the Cthonians."
"Of course."
The thing about Cat's Noble Phantasm is that it repurposes the body of the target and for a moment, Cat gets a glimpse of what it is that aches the person's heart. It was useful as any other circumstance would require the target to give consent. Without it, breaking someone would be impossible, especially if they were of strong mental fortitude, be it due to stoicism or arrogance. It was one of the reasons that Cat never got a chance with a dear Rusted Knight.
But with this one? They'll see soon enough.
AN: "Piece of my Heart" is arguably the most difficult for me to come up with. Everyone else was approached with clear and direct combat applications. For Cat, I had to think less DPS and more support, basically.
Lastly, right now, I'm a bit iffy on Self-Modification/Shapeshift but I'm putting them out there anyway. Inherent Insight on the other hand is due to the simple fact that Cat's curiosity is mainly compared to Sherlock Holmes. I would argue lower ranking but I'm not confident on how much lower.