"You're late."
"And who are you supposed to be, human?"
"Hazel Rainart." The bigger man grunted. He looked rather antsy. He had a square-shaped bag on his back. It had to be a cooler of sorts for Adam could see visible mists that must have been too cold to have on one's skin. Yet, Hazel didn't appear bothered by the frostbite.
Adam Taurus scoffed. For someone so obviously larger, he was rather nervous himself. Good. Everyone should fear him. No. Every human should be nervous around the faunus. Born with the so obviously superior traits, it is them who should be bowing down to him. Adam Taurus was simply correcting this error. He was correcting this mistake.
"If you even have enough time, maybe you'll even get to her in time." Hazel's eyes narrowed.
"Her? Who are you referring to, human?"
"Your leader, Sienna Khan. If you care enough about the White Fang, you would be hurrying to her by now."
"And why should I? I had just delivered a terrible blow against Beacon. All of Remnant now knows just how serious the White Fang are. If anything, it is she who should be bowing down to me."
"Because Caster is currently with her. And I know him enough to know that neither of us could do anything about him once he fancies a woman enough to take as another bride."
"Another human? One who thinks himself a romantic? Why should I concern myself with a human's love life?"
Besides, this is Sienna Khan. The chances of her even becoming fond enough of a human to consider such an option is impossible. She wouldn't settle down with a faunus, much too focused on her goals for the White Fang. On those grounds, both he and her could get along.
"Because he isn't human. Caster could never be human and I've seen my fair share of inhuman abominations."
The two, along with the White Fang members behind Adam, made their way to the building, unconcerned about Hazel's warnings. It was a hideout, hidden away from the rest of the kingdoms and it is their base of operations while here in Mistral. Sienna Khan had been operating here for the past few years. While Menagerie was considered to be their stronghold, the one here in Mistral proved itself to be comparable. In time perhaps, Mistral may just be the new capital of a new faunus world.
Adam took his time as he looked around him. Namely, he looked towards the White Fang members that were stationed here. Rather than stand in awe or respect, they were cowering in fear. They were not even doing whatever duties Sienna Khan would have assigned them. Adam may have his disagreements with Sienna, but he will respect her drive to keep the cogs moving. Faunus will have their day and they must work hard and constant to make sure that it would come.
Everyone else froze in place as an ecstatic laughter was heard echoing across the hideout. Adam will not deny that for a moment, the hairs on his body stood stiff. He shook his head. What reason did he have to fear?
He did not miss Hazel's widening eyes. "No." Hazel sighed. Defeat painted his voice. "Caster has got to her already."
"If Sienna Khan bows down to some human, then she has no right to rule," said the White Fang member behind Adam.
"I told you." Hazel looked to them indignantly. "Caster is no human and no; he isn't faunus either."
Hazel's step quickened to a jog. The rest of the White Fang ran in the opposite direction as they sought for places to hide. Camaraderie was had as they hid their fellows. Only Adam and the members with him did not run. But they, except Adam himself, drew their weapons as they followed suit. Adam himself kept to his walk but increased his pace, being left behind.
They stopped for a moment as they reached the doors. It was of simple design, made of wood and had the banner of the White Fang draping over it. Adam soon enough caught up with the others.
Hazel opened the doors with sounding force. The other White Fang members rushed in expecting a fight. Adam wasn't too hasty; he still believes that it is a mere human. Strong, perhaps, but nothing more than a human. The sight in front of them was not what Adam had anticipated when he had entered.
All around him, the White Fang cowered, women especially. At the other end of the room, laying on the lap of some human, was Sienna. Her face turned away from them. The human that held her had his hand on her face in intimate closeness. So this was Caster, then? Adam's focus was on Caster that he never noticed that Sienna Khan was still.
"Oh Hazel," he said as he entered the room. "You just missed the consummation of my latest marriage."
"You brought enough with you, Caster," Hazel said. There was a hint of fear in his voice. He shook the box on his back. "This was unnecessary. She didn't have to."
"Unnecessary?" Caster tilted his head. "I think otherwise." He then noticed Adam's presence. "And you? You must be Cinder's new workhorse."
"I do not serve any human." Adam's voice seethed at the insult. His hand was already on his hilt. "Sienna!" he called out. "Is this what you have become? Is this what you have—"
Adam never had a chance to complete it. Caster raised his hands and let Sienna's lifeless body roll down. Her face, twisted in permanent agony, greeted him as the White Fang with him gasped. The others only looked away, some screaming and others praying that they won't be next. He, on the other hand, could only stare at the state that Sienna was and what that would mean.
Here was Sienna Khan, struck down by the human-looking Caster who had the most inhuman of grins. He enjoyed the thrill of his latest kill and was enthralled by the image of dominating over those he deems lesser. Adam will admit that this man had worse air about him that even Jacques Schnee or any other SDC official. Caster had struck down the leader of the White Fang. Adam didn't even need to hide himself nor his intentions.
"Now," Caster said. "That is no way to speak to my latest bride. We had just come from my Forbidden Red Room."
Adam's eyes narrowed as it stared back at Sienna's lifeless ones. He then looked up and saw Caster's twisted grin. He noticed the sword at his side, the bloodstained hands, and even the lonely trail that dripped down from Caster's lips. A demented man who thought himself above all reproach and free to do whatever he pleased. Just like any other enemy that the White Fang had fought. Caster must have believed himself disciplining the animals for their transgression.
"Now then." Caster stood from the seat of power. He walked around the room, causing every other White Fang member to look away and shrink as far back as they could. "With my latest union with your leader, I believe that we should be moving out soon."
"Who are you to decide what the White Fang does?" Adam questioned. His thumb flicked, freeing the blade from the sheathe ever so slightly.
"Why the new lord of the White Fang, of course! Didn't you hear me? We just got married!"
"Lord? And what are we? Your humble servants?"
"Adam Taurus," Hazel said. He had his arms raised, as if wanting to hold Adam back. "Stop. Talking. Do not engage. If you do not care about the lives of your fellow White Fang, at least think of your own!"
Caster only cackled. "It would seem that Cinder took quite the stubborn beast of burden! She certainly needs a few tips if she wishes to truly discipline those under her employ! I would have gladly given her a proper lecture in my Red Room! But alas! As a fellow Master, my Lady has plans for such a feisty one."
Drawing his sword, Adam Taurus dashed towards Caster. He is not a beast of burden. He is not anyone's slave. He will free the faunus. Once he would avenge Sienna Khan, he will be hailed as a true hero of faunus everywhere. There can be no doubt of that. All he had to do was cut down this human and he will be the true leader of the White Fang. He will lead all faunus to that future that they deserve. He will have his retribution.
"Adam!" Hazel cried out. The man tried to stop Adam. "Don't!"
Caster barely reacted. He only moved to face Adam and had his own hand on his sword. His teeth bared as his lips stretched until they touched Caster's ears.
Adam scoffed. No matter how quick Caster may be, Adam's semblance will be able to take whatever hit that will be delivered and Adam will only counter it back. Using their powers against them, Adam had felled many SDC machines and Atlas soldiers.
Caster drew his sword. He was quick. Adam readied himself for the clash. The two drew their blades. It was decided in an exchange most singular.
The next thing he knew, Adam was on the ground, pieces of metal were scattered. Afterwards, he noticed that Caster's sword was pointed upwards. Adam quickly grabbed his sword and paused when he realized that those shards of metal were from his old sword. Caster had broken through his own aura and semblance by sheer strength alone.
White Fang members screamed and the women in particular begged not to be chosen. Before Adam could move, he felt something wrapping around his ankles, keeping him in place. He was being wrapped by tentacles. Those with him who hadn't backed down in fear tried to aid him only to be held in place by another set of tentacles. The tentacles themselves came from the ground. Dark-violet pools served as portals of sort that allowed these tendrils to rise and move.
Adam looked to Caster, the man was the one controlling these tentacles. The pools moved as they pleased, bringing with them the tentacles and thusly, those the tendrils have ensnared. They felt slimy and the clothes on Adam were being drenched. There was a terrible scent of rot that was destroying his nostrils, smell of the ocean. Slimy mucus made Adam slippery but the tightness of those tendrils ensured that he wasn't moving anywhere. He was being pulled closer towards Caster and raised so that they met eye-to-eye.
Caster chuckled. "You need some discipline, sir Taurus, and you need to learn to respect your leaders." He then turned to Hazel. "Are these all the White Fang members that we could muster? I don't think that Master's spellbook would be satisfied with just these. There isn't even a Servant among them."
Adam turned to see Hazel stiffen his own jaw. Then, Hazel said, "there is… Menagerie." He looked away. "It is a settlement given to the faunus after the Great War, practically ignored by the rest of the kingdoms."
"Excellent! Then, none shall be missed!" Caster practically sang. "Prepare the ships! Let's go home, my faunus!"
The White Fang that had already cowered in fear did as they were told. None of them looked in Adam's direction with the only times that they did was because they were trying to avoid Caster. Adam was kept close to Caster by these tentacles. Nothing else was happening but the constant slithering of those tendril had practically covered Adam in a disgusting layer of mucus.
Adam Taurus was personally brought to his own prison cell by Caster. While there, those who had enough willpower or desperation to resist were dealt with. It wasn't swift not because of the resistance but rather because Caster so clearly thrived on such resistance. Caster had welcomed any challenge and attempt to free Adam. Those battle cries and screams that Adam could hear a distance had lasted long. He himself had been numb to hearing those from all the battles that he himself had fought in. But hearing Caster's cackling was something that didn't sit well with Adam.
He looked at his blade again. Broken and shattered as though it were nothing but fragile glass. He was certain that he had enforced it with aura, strengthened it with his semblance. Adam had destroyed many Atlas machineries with just this sword. How had it broken so easily?
"I warned you that Caster isn't human." Hazel was here too? He wasn't a prisoner though so it wasn't quite the same. That didn't stop the man from acting like he had just escaped. Hazel kept looking over his own shoulders.
"What is he, then?" Adam asked. It had taken time, but he eventually got most of mucus out. He still practically had a thin layer on his person.
Hazel looked around him. "Listen closely. After this, you will not be the same."
Adam Taurus sat down and listened to everything that Hazel had said. From this evil and immortal queen called Salem to the nature of Caster's existence and this Grail War. What grated Adam the most was the reminders of his place in all of this. He had fought hard to never be a pawn in someone else's plan only for him to realize that he wasn't even a chess piece worth keeping for long. He was only being kept as an example for faunus everywhere.
After some time, Adam had been cleaned of his mucus with wrists being tied and his neck collared. Caster had one of the other members do it and they were all too terrified to resist. Adam had heard them repeatedly apologizing when they did. The collar was one of the same ones that the White Fang used on their prisoners; it was of the same design that they themselves received when they were enslaved to serve the worst of the SDC. It was meant to give the human prisoners a taste of their own medicine and have them treated the same way the faunus were, like animals. Now, Adam Taurus, glorious warrior of the White Fang, was in those same chains. He was the only one among them while the others were given a false illusion of freedom. Caster's hideous stare made them all freeze.
From the sounds all around him, all of the supplies were being gathered for transportation for their voyage. It was taking a few hours as they had to load them on the carts. The road that they would travel was too rough for any vehicle.
Those White Fang that had surrendered did so with much fear that they all bowed their heads in such shameful humility that Adam felt tempted to call them domesticated. However, Caster's demented demeanor made even the most elitist of Atlas' human supremacists a preferable option. Adam would rather wipe the muddy boots of Jacques Schnee than listen to Caster's talks of grandeur.
Adam was made to walk as the White Fang were moving out. Their base's supplies had been drained as everything was being carried to the ships. Caster, for all his degeneracy, had an astute grasp of logistics that even Sienna Khan would have wanted in her White Fang. Of course, getting anyone to follow Caster was a case of not wanting to be at the end of his blade. For the women in the White Fang, there was the added fear of being Caster's next bride.
Caster was someone of noble birth, that much had been clear to Adam Taurus. Caster's ramblings and speech was formal and had a taste for the finer things in life. Fine drinks, cloth, and even artwork, there was a strange and almost humane to his speech whose only sin was the ignorance of the masses and he possessed that attitude of disgust towards the lower class that any other individual of rank was had.
It is during topics of death that Caster's relatively finer nobility morphs into a depraved fascination and fanaticism to these acts of evil. A connoisseur of the many ways one could create a corpse, even the most sadistic of people would experience nausea just listening to Caster's sermon towards the acts of killing.
What concerned Adam the most was the presence of still beating hearts, contained in some icebox. Caster ate those and drank the blood.
"Ah!" Caster exclaimed in pleasure that made the hairs of everyone nearby stand. "What a beautiful and generous Master I have! Generous is she to have given me means to feed even without her presence! And she only claims death as her reward! I, Bluebeard, shall proclaim you as my final bride! Nay. I declare thee as the perfect bride!"
Hazel Rainart, who held the icebox as he walked by Caster's side, never got used to seeing it up close. All the other members of the White Fang were fortunate that Caster was physically distant from the rest. None of them looked in Caster's direction but they could nothing about the sounds; the bastard made sure that they could hear the sloppy slurping he made as he drank what liquid poured out of those hearts.
Caster looked around him as the ships were close to ready. The White Fang movements, while full of haste, had a slowness to them. It was less sabotage and more to keep themselves hidden. Mistral's huntsmen and huntresses may have reduced numbers but that didn't mean that there were none. There were still a few and if they were discovered, Adam wasn't sure if he should warn his fellows or the huntsmen for the mistake that they would make.
"There is another," Caster said suddenly. "A cautious one, this time."
"Enemy Servants?" Hazel asked.
"The very same." Caster nodded. "But are they true? Or are they Companion? There is only one I feel and they are keeping their distance. Far enough to leave as they please but close enough to observe with clarity."
Near the oceans, there was a dock that wasn't legally recognized by Mistral's governing bodies. It was poorly built, nothing more than means to get in the ships and out. As the supplies were being brought there, Caster would occasionally glance back towards the roads that they had just come from. Kept hidden from the rest, the road travelled here was rough, barely used outside of themselves and those of other criminals, and obstructed by much foliage.
Caster kept his watch to the back. Despite having his own back to them, not a single member of the White Fang was willing to take this chance for retribution. Consumed and paralyzed by fear, most of them believed that it was an invitation to attack to give Caster a reason to torment them. That inhuman thing had an air about him that disgusted everyone. What goodness that he had was twisted into this evil.
His hands held the book tight. Caster had called it a spellbook. The cover of it had an three-dimensional image of a human's face if that human had been molded by the Grimm. Occasionally, Adam swore that book would shake and vibrate like something was held prisoner inside of it.
Caster whispered words to the book. Adam couldn't hear them. Those whose faunus traits were their ears only moved away further. Adam could see the hairs on their skin stood straight with fine points.
"Why don't you come out!" Caster cried out. "You and I are Servants here, let us talk like proper individuals."
There was no response. Adam focused his attention towards the general direction that Caster was looking and speaking. Caster must have been more deluded than he thought. There was no one else there, not at that distance. For Caster to see anyone, he would have been able to tell at so far a distance. Not even faunus' traits pertaining to eyesight would allow them to see that far.
Then, Adam heard a swift whistling noise. The rustling of trees and leaves as something was darting towards them rapidly increased in volume. All White Fang members were startled when an arrow had landed just in front of Caster's feet.
Caster could only chuckle. He then raised his voice. "An Archer, then! Mistral's Companion is an Archer! You wish to maintain your distance? So be it! I shall come for you later!"
He turned around and proceeded for the ships. Caster commanded that Adam be brought to his own personal chambers as an entertainer. Adam heard that same whistling again. This time, Caster's sword blocked the arrow. It wasn't aimed directly for Caster but rather at the chains that bound Adam as prisoner.
"Tut, tut." Caster shook his head and waved his finger. "It is not right to steal another's cattle, Archer! Unless you are one of the Throne's many thieves! Tell me, Archer! Are you a thief?"
There was no response, not one that anyone could hear. Adam doubts that even this Archer could have heard Caster. What were with these names? Were these codes of a sort? Why address them in such matters?
Another attempt had been made on Adam's chains. Still did Caster block them.
"Very well. I have heard your message loud and clear." Caster bowed. "You have made your choice then. Perhaps you will have the privilege of being the next chapter of this spellbook. Join Evernight's Companion Saber you shall."
The spellbook was raised high in the air. It continued to struggle and vibrate, desperately trying to break free.
Adam's eyes narrowed on that spellbook. Whatever it was, it contained something that he could use.
Caster's personal bedchambers on the ships, fittingly enough, were the captain's quarters. The most lavish part on all the ships, it was the highest possible quality that it could get and given to someone whose noble taste has been made clear.
"Primitive," Caster commented. "Lacking in space. Severe lack of art. For a place that celebrates artistic expression and positivity to repel the superior creatures of Grimm, your standards for art is rather lacking. The only thing worth mentioning is your coat of arms and even then, it is only because it was in the image of the superior species that it is so."
"Humans called us faunus monsters," Adam replied. "We embraced the image because they branded us as such when they should not."
"On that we can agree, dear Adam. The Grimm are far superior and should not be compared to the likes of you. I wouldn't even compare them to the humans. In time, perhaps, your kind will actually be half as beautiful as the Grimm."
Adam made to fight back only held because his chains kept him in place. The faunus were treated as monsters and Caster dared to think that his brethren were less than even that? That Adam himself was less preferable than Grimm?
Caster sat on the bedside. "It will have to do." He then turned to address Adam. "Quite the aggression you possess. Even at the loss of your fangs, you continue to bite. Impressive. I see why Cinder Fall recruited you."
Every once in a while, Caster would engage in small talk. Much of it was just him rambling about the art of killing. He had rambled so much about it that Adam felt like he could write a paper on that, if he had ever been a student. If it wasn't about death, Caster was doing gods know what with the room. Something about another workshop?
No matter where Caster walked, even while chained to his location, Adam could guess where he was. One only needs to follow the sudden gasps and screams at the sight of him. There were still those who begged for mercy. Adam honed his hearing just to remember their voices. If Caster ever comes back to this room, a red trail from his lips could be seen and Adam soon realized that some of the voices that he had learned to identify would be the last he would ever hear, most of them were women. There were a few men but Adam was certain that they were fortunate enough to only stain the sword.
A knock on the door was heard and Hazel Rainart came inside. The larger and bulkier man looks so small with shoulders slumped, face sunken and shaking. He looked to Adam with disdain. "You should have come earlier. More of them would have survived."
"They all fought the good fight," Adam defended. "From the moment they joined, they knew that death would come for them."
"How many of them knew that it would be this way? Forced to become someone's else so-called bride? Turned to pawns to someone else's game where their lives are mere numbers on a sheet of paper."
Hazel knelt down so that their eyes met.
"You and I only have a short time left on this world. I suggest you spend it wisely."
Caster never did return to the quarters. He had left Adam to sleep on the floors like he was an animal. The cold and hard floors rocked back and forth as the waves continued to sway the ships that he would rather rest by sitting. The spellbook was on Caster's person at all times and he couldn't even reach it if he had wanted to.
The times that Caster would return it was always to check on Adam. Caressing the book in front of him, Adam had a feeling that he was being broken. Whatever that spellbook was, Caster had plans for Adam and that spellbook. Caster never did anything with it; he just kept it in Adam's presence.
From his little glances, he could tell that there was something inherently wrong with the book. There was a strange allure to it that stuck in his mind even as he tried to think of something else. The temptation to just take that book for himself was undeniably a curiosity on his part. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he could see crimson orbs that were most definitely the eyes of the face that made the book's cover. They were looking at him, drawing him further towards it.
Still, there was something pushing him back. The book contained something that wasn't part of it. A resisting force that never stopped trying. At times, Adam could have sword he had heard the ringing sound of a sword being swung. The book's cover would occasionally appear damaged as though it had been cut only to be repaired another time.
What made the voyage rather strange for Adam was the severe lack of Grimm. For the negativity generated by Caster alone, the absence of the Grimm made Adam question it. Then again, he had been told the supposed truth by Hazel. Even if that was true, it should have been impossible for all the Grimm to ignore them all.
Adam's hands traced the handle of his broken blade. He didn't even have the sheath with him. Broken easily, even if he were to escape, Adam will need another blade to replace the old one. The swinging noises from the book rung back in his mind.
He still wasn't given permission to move. Having nothing else to do, Adam decided to think. He had already been doing ever since the voyage began, but he couldn't do anything else but sleep or eat. Had he any need for personal comforts, only then was given the luxury. Always in chains and the road he was always made a spectacle as he was being paraded in front of the White Fang on his way to his destination. Humiliated, he could have taken the one in the private quarters but Caster wanted to break him. No. Caster wanted to break the White Fang.
Adam was unkempt. His hairs were growing and his presentation was getting worse. He was looking less like a White Fang member and more like a prisoner punished with hard labor. Each time, the spellbook was in his sight. Caster made it so that the spellbook was clear to him, drawing him, seducing him. Yet, something always severed that attraction.
He shook his head. Caster was frustrated too. Whenever those slashing noises were heard, Caster's had that sour face that lasted only a moment.
"Still resisting?" Caster whispered. He thought that Adam couldn't hear. With the amount of time he had spent doing nothing else but think, Adam was also honing his senses. "Quite the fighter, aren't we?"
Adam's eyes narrowed behind his mask.
He continued to endure Caster's attempt at breaking him and while that was still a long way to go, Caster only smiled wider, taking pleasure at the time. Either was serving Caster's purposes. Have Adam break early and the White Fang would follow suit in fear. If Adam resisted, that gives more opportunities to show him off for public humiliation. The White Fang had already begun to look away from him. There is no taking leadership for them now.
The one benefit that could be had of this was that Caster doesn't focus as much on the women as he used to. He still does and occasionally scares them as though he had made his choice for his next bride. But it was clear that Caster preferred those who would resist him. Nearly every member of the White Fang was cowering at the sight of him.
"It is a shame that you are a man," said Caster. "But alas, I do not take grooms to my Red Room."
"Such a shame, indeed." Adam feigned his sadness poorly.
/-/
As the seafaring vessels went farther and farther, Mistral's Companion Archer slowly stepped out into the open. Chiron may have had faith in himself in dealing with Caster, but he could not promise the lives that would be lost if he did engage. He really shouldn't have involved himself at all. But to some extent, he had limited future sight. He could not see too far but could take guesses based on information that he had gathered. In regards to Caster, he felt himself compelled to make certain, considering those that have been taken as these so-called brides.
"I promise you, Mrs. Nikos," Chiron said. "No harm will come to your daughter. As her mentor, I will guarantee that."
He turned around, he could see the airship making their way towards the capital. They wouldn't make it that far; even at full tank, that bullhead wouldn't be able to make it. He chuckled to himself.
"But first, let us see what you can do, Pyrrha's Servant."
AN: Playing to Pyrrha's allusion to Achilles, we have Chiron. Moving forward though, I might have to look into this "Achilles on Skyros" bit. Apparently, that is where Achilles dressed and lived as a woman under the name of, you guessed it, Pyrrha.
Also, Bluebeard having tentacles in his battle animations and his preferences for women... I remember the first time I learned of those tags. Never thought I would go back to them as reference. There are much worse and I hate that I know that are even worse than the ones I know exist.