Chapter 32: Burning the Candle
"How are you here?" Cinder said through gritted teeth.
Ruby eyed Cinder. "You didn't hear? Lord Ozzy and I have reached somewhat of a… mutual agreement. We both want you dead, and in exchange for me doing him that little favor, he's shown me things. Given me things. Things you wouldn't believe are real."
Cinder trembled. Her fear of the Reaper had been strong ever since she took her eye, but now she felt worry unlike any other time before. She was not nearly as afraid of what Ruby would do to her as she was about this unforeseen complication ruining their plans. The Reaper threatened more than just their lives now.
As Cinder gripped her blades tighter and prepared for a fight, she saw motion out of the corner of her eye. She heard Emerald gasp as, in her peripheral vision, Roman walked past his friends and closer to the Reaper, his head low, almost shaded by his bowler hat. Ruby raised her eyebrow as he approached.
"Eh?" she wondered aloud. "I remember you from the tower. I don't think we've been properly introduced. What's your name, handsome?"
"Roman," he muttered. The tone he spoke in made even his allies' stomachs sink.
"Nice to meet you," Ruby said facetiously. "Are you going to try and bargain? Offer yourself? Or just be the first?"
"No, that's not it," Roman said. "I'm going to kill you."
There was a moment of near-silence, only filled by the labored breathing of the chained girl and the distant sounds of combat. It was broken when Ruby started giggling. Then she started laughing. It was high-pitched, wicked laughter.
"You're gonna what?" Ruby said between guffaws. "I don't think you reali-"
Suddenly, with a bang, the top of Roman's cane fired forward. The sharp sound startled everyone. The cane top rocketed the short distance and directly into Ruby's face, striking her with an audible crunch. She staggered backwards with a high-pitched yelp, grabbing at the point of impact. The chain rattled loudly as she moved, making her captive groan.
Cinder, Adam, Emerald, and Mercury stared at Roman with disbelief. They glanced at Ruby, then back at him. He had not even flinched. A metal cable connected the cane top with the rest of the weapon, and with a click of a button, Roman recalled it. It zipped back and clicked into place.
Ruby peeled her hand away from her face, noting the blood covering her palm and dripping down her face. Her upper lip was cut, and her nose was crooked.
"You fucking bastard!" Ruby screamed. "I think you broke my godsdamned nose!"
"Consider it a small preview of what I'm going to do to you," Roman growled. He lifted his head slightly so Ruby could see the hate in his eyes. "How I'm going to make you pay."
Ruby stared at Roman for a moment, looking dumbfounded. Then, to everyone's surprise, her blood-covered lips turned up into a smile. Her eyes widened again.
"Make me pay? I see… this is revenge, isn't it?" she said, wincing from the pain as she gripped her nose.
"I had one thing, and you've taken it from me," Roman said.
Ruby grinned. "Not something, but someone, I'll bet." Her eyes lit up. "You mean that little ice cream bitch, don't you?"
There was a blur where Roman once stood. Cinder's shocked eye turned to see him rushing Ruby, his cane ready.
"Roman, no!" she cried.
Ruby lifted her scythe and blocked his swing. Their weapons clashed as they pressed against each other. With her free hand, Ruby quickly removed the chain from Yang's collar.
"Yang," she mused, "sic 'em."
Yang felt her body tense as her mind went blank. Her mouth started salivating. Her tiredness and weakness vanished as she stood up and screamed a deafening screech, then charged at Roman, gnashing her teeth.
"No!" Emerald cried, charging up. She leaned down and slammed her right shoulder into Yang's gut, throwing the both of them away from Ruby and Roman. Yang flailed as she rose back to her feet, screaming at Emerald.
"Come on!" Cinder shouted, waving to her allies. "Adam! Merc! Help Roman! I'll help Emerald!" Her team obeyed, with Adam drawing his blade as he and Mercury flanked towards Ruby. She giggled and threw Roman off, then spun her scythe and put herself on the defensive.
Cinder ran to Emerald, and the two of them faced Yang. Cinder remembered the last time they had fought.
"Watch out," Cinder said to Emerald. "She's crazy strong, and she bites. Don't let her get that chance."
Before Emerald could reply, Yang screeched and charged at the source of the noise. Cinder stabbed forward, but as if her eyes were still intact, the maniac dodged them and lunged. Cinder raised her leg, stopping Yang mere inches from her face. Yang snapped and bit at the air. Cinder kicked, pushing Yang back to the ground. She quickly rose back up.
Emerald pointed her gun and pointed it at Yang. Yang smelled the metal in the air, and heard the click of the gun. She dove down as Emerald began firing, so quickly and suddenly that Emerald missed three of her panicked shots. Yang, still knelt down, lunged at Emerald's legs, her teeth sinking into one of her shins. Emerald screamed and tried to hit Yang with the butt of her gun, but Yang released her grip and attacked her hand. She bit at Emerald's fingers. Emerald managed to recoil fast enough to avoid injury, but Yang bit down on the barrel of the gun. She yanked her head, wrenching the weapon from Emerald's hand. She spat it out, sending it clattering across the floor.
"Oh no!" Emerald said.
Cinder ran up and slashed. Yang heard her approach and ducked down again, but was not quick enough to avoid gashes being made across her back. She did not even react to them. Emerald tried to dive for her gun, but Yang stood between her and her weapon.
"Emerald!" Cinder called, tossing one of her swords. Emerald reached out and caught it, gipping it with both hands.
Yang screeched and ran at Cinder. Both she and Emerald began swinging their swords at her, with Yang ducking and evading each strike. Emerald managed to cut her arm, but Yang just kept fighting.
Ruby laughed as she blocked Adam's swings, retaliating with a massive horizontal slice that sent him leaping backwards to avoid being killed. Mercury kicked at her, but Ruby blocked with her blade, each one absorbing the impact. She swung her scythe at him. He dodged the blade, but the staff coming back around swept his legs and made him fall to the ground. Roman yelled as he charged forward, swinging his cane. Ruby jumped back to avoid a swing, then began blocking his frantic and quickened attacks.
"Kill for kill, eye for eye," Roman huffed as he and Ruby dueled. "You took what mattered most to me in the whole world. You set me back to nothing, and now you'll pay the price."
Ruby grinned. "You know how many people I've taken? You're not special. Well, you did manage to break my nose. Your little girlfriend managed to do that too."
"Her name," Roman growled, "is NEOPOLITAN!" He reached down and hooked Ruby's ankle with his cane, then yanked. Ruby grunted as she fell onto her back, minding the sharp scythe in her hands. She saw Roman ready a strike, along with Adam preparing to stab and Mercury raising his foot to stomp on her. She rolled out of the way, her blade pressing almost uncomfortably close against her chest, just in time for each attack to hit the ground.
Ruby jumped back to her feet and slashed at Roman, who blocked it but was sent skidding back from the impact. Mercury leapt up and performed an axe kick. Ruby swung her blade up to knock him out of position, but it still made contact with the back of her head. Due to her interference, the kick did not knock her back to the floor, but her upper half jerked down and back up again, making her cry out in pain. She stumbled back, wincing from the pain in her head and ribs. Mercury attacked again, jumping up and kicking in the air, but Ruby managed to block him. As he fell back to the ground, Ruby slashed at his left leg. There was a loud metallic clang as Ruby struck the joint, along with a mechanical zapping. Mercury cried out as he lost balance and crashed to the ground, his prosthetic leg severed off.
"Metal legs?" Ruby said, almost sounding disappointed. "That's cheating." She rose her blade up and brought it down at Mercury.
Adam rushed forward, tackling into Ruby's side. She grunted loudly as he took her to the ground. They both staggered as they got back up, gripping their respective weapons. Ruby was the first to attack, swinging her blade rapidly at Adam. He blocked each swing, but the power behind the blows made him step back with each block. Ruby swung at his legs, but Adam jumped the blade and stabbed forward. The blade slashed at Ruby's arm, cutting her black shirt. She gasped as she recoiled, glancing over and seeing a bleeding gash and torn fabric. She huffed and retaliated, swinging the scythe blade. Though Adam dodged, she stabbed with the other pointed end, cutting his cheek right below his mask. Adam grunted and placed his hand on the wound, his skin still sensitive from the burn earlier. Ruby attempted to take the opening, stabbing at his midsection with the scythe blade. However, there was a bang and her attack halted just before making contact. She growled in frustration as she looked down and saw the head of a cane hooked around her blade, pulling it back. He whirled her head around to see Roman, who had caught her weapon with his own centimeters away from impaling Adam. Adam hurried out of the way as Ruby freed her weapon and spun it like a saw blade, rushing Roman.
Emerald could not understand how someone with no eyes and no arms, and who looked to be in a malnourished, miserable state, was so athletic, strong, and fierce. Every swing and slash that she or Cinder made the maniac either dodged or tanked with little reaction. She had bleeding cuts on her skin, but none seemed to so much as phase her.
Yang dropped to the ground, kicking and sweeping both Cinder and Emerald's legs. As they fell, she pounced and tackled on top of Cinder. Cinder held up her sword, but Yang pressed against the flat edge, leaning over the sharp part just to chomp at Cinder's face. Cinder could see the blood on her chest from where the bladed edge was making contact, but she did not slow. She grew closer and closer with each thrash, chomping at Cinder. Cinder turned her good eye away from the gnashing teeth until she felt a tug. Yang bit down on Cinder's eyepatch and was pulling and writhing. Cinder tried to hold her head back, but felt it being pulled up. Then she heard a tearing close to her ear. The strand of the eyepatch ripped and came apart. She felt air rush to the area as her missing eye was uncovered. Yang was thrown backwards, carrying the cloth patch in her mouth as she collapsed to the ground on her back. She groaned as she spat the fabric out and began kicking to get back to her feet.
However, Emerald got up first and delivered a kick to Yang's gut. The blow was so powerful it took the girl off the ground and sent her rolling. This one she reacted to, wheezing among her strained growls. She rose back up and screeched, though bending over in pain.
Emerald thought it was time to put this girl out of her misery. She gripped the blade and ran forward, swinging at Yang's neck. Yang, however, heard her footsteps and rushed her. Emerald did not even have time to react as Yang dipped her head underneath Emerald's chin, then swung it up. Emerald yelped as the top of Yang's head slammed into her lower jaw, clattering her teeth and making her bite the inside of her own cheek. Her skull rattled as she stumbled back, her head thrown upwards and her neck hurting from the sudden strain. Yang did not give Emerald time to recover, charging into her gut head-first and tackling her to the ground. Emerald started to cry out, but was silenced as the air was knocked out of her from her back thudding on the ground. She exhaled an agonized wheeze as Yang knelt on top of her, screamed, and then bit down on her shoulder. Emerald, despite having Yang's full weight on top of her, let out a scream of agony and horror as Yang's teeth dug into her, ripping at flesh and skin.
"Emerald! No!" Cinder yelled, jumping up and running at Yang. Yang released her grip to turn and screech at Cinder, only to receive a kick to her face that threw her off of Emerald. She skidded on the ground, bleeding and starting to struggle to get back up.
Cinder looked down to Emerald. She was gripping her bleeding shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks. Cinder reached down with her free hand, and Emerald took it. Cinder helped Emerald off of the ground. Emerald winced and, between sobs, looked at her wound. It was a pair of crescent-shaped holes in her flesh, bleeding profusely. Emerald cried as she tightened her grip, the pain stinging.
"Give me the other sword," Cinder said.
"You still need me," Emerald said, trying to hold back tears.
"I need you alive," Cinder commanded. "Get the bag. Roman put bandages in there. Wrap up your shoulder and get out of here."
"But Cinder-" Emerald started.
"No buts," Cinder interrupted. "I won't let you fight like this, and it's important that that bag get out so we can use it later. As soon as the coast is clear, you make a break for it. That's an order."
Emerald looked into Cinder's eye, and reluctantly nodded. She turned, still gripping her shoulder, and ran to scoop up the bag on the floor.
Yang screamed and Cinder turned back to face her, both swords now in her hands. She took a stance, noticing Yang was slowing, but still incredibly angry and incredibly dangerous.
Ruby dodged Adam's sword swing, then spun her blade around. It spun like a fan, whirling at Adam. His sword was pulled aside when he tried to block, allowing Ruby the opportunity to cock back an arm and punch him in the stomach. He grunted as he staggered back. She swung again. Adam dodged backwards, but the scythe blade slashed at his chest, tearing his shirt and cutting him across his pectorals. He grunted and stumbled back as Ruby rushed in for a finishing blow.
Roman let out a war cry as he held his cane horizontally and rammed Ruby with it, knocking her away. She once again turned her focus to him, slashing and swinging at his defense.
"You've got spirit, lover boy, but the real world doesn't care about your need for vengeance!" Ruby yelled as she attacked, taking a moment to spit out blood that had seeped into her mouth. "The real world is cold! You want to be with your girl so bad? Then lie down and die with her! As for me, I'll do what I do best: torture, steal, kill and survive!"
"Shut up!" Roman yelled, swinging his cane. The top caught Ruby's scythe handle and pulled it down. Roman unhooked his weapon and slammed Ruby in the side of the head with it. She yelped as she lurched over, almost falling over. She gripped her head and felt herself become dizzy and disoriented. She blinked her eyes, her vision blurring. However, as her vision cleared, she saw Emerald. She was standing up, bloody bandages wrapped around her shoulder, and grabbing a large bag. She ran over and helped Mercury up, wrapping his arm around the back of her neck and carrying him as she hurried for the door.
"Oh no you don't!" Ruby yelled, stumbling to block her path. She was slow, however, and missed her scythe swing. Emerald dodged it. She carried Mercury out the heavy door and out of Ruby's sight.
Yang charged Cinder. Cinder crossed her swords in front of her, blades pointed forward. There was a chance the maniac would throw herself on the blades. Unfortunately for Cinder, Yang instead bobbed up and down before snapping at one of Cinder's arms. Cinder managed to pull it out of the way, then bash Yang's cheek with the hilt of one of her blades. As Yang staggered, Yang saw Emerald's gun nearby. She kicked Yang to the side, then ran for it. Yang hollered and gave chase. Just before reaching it, Cinder felt a force strike her back as Yang tackled her to the ground, making her drop a sword. Cinder had just enough time to roll onto her back before Yang leapt on top of her, chomping at the air and kicking her legs. She snapped at Cinder's face, but Cinder reached out and grabbed Yang's cheek, holding her back from biting at her face. Cinder dropped the other sword and reached with her free hand to the gun. It brushed against her fingertips. Cinder strained, stretching as far as she could go. Yang thrashed, scooting her up farther. The gun clattered as Cinder wrapped her middle finger around the trigger guard. She grunted and pulled the weapon to her. She wrestled Yang's flailing body off one of her legs, then raised it to Yang's gut and kicked her off. Grabbing her sword with her other hand, Cinder got back up and pointed the gun at Yang. She screamed and dove at Cinder, who pulled the trigger.
There was a loud bang. Yang jumped at Cinder, and the bullet hit her in her leg. Yang screamed, this time not with fury or madness, but in pain. As desperately as Cinder had been fighting for her life, she could not help but feel sad hearing it. It was a tormented, hurting scream, as if clarity and sanity had come back in the moment of agony. Yang fell from the air, collapsing to the ground and kicking her bleeding leg. She growled and squirmed at Cinder, occasionally whimpering.
"I'm sorry," Cinder said.
Ruby heard a gunshot and turned to see it. Yang had been shot, and was lying uselessly on the ground. The other rebel, the one called Cinder, stood with a sword and a gun in her hands. Ruby attempted to attack, but was still too dizzy to do anything. She sneered. Her mouth dipped into a frown. She gritted her teeth as she tasted her own blood dripping from her nose and upper lip.
"No," she snarled, spitting blood and saliva. "No, no!" She stood up straight, gripping her scythe. Cinder saw the Reaper and turned to face her. Cinder's eye widened. The Reaper's eyes had changed. They were glowing. Wisps of what looked like shimmering silver mist came off of them. They pulsed with light, flickering like metallic flames in the air.
"I'm not letting you get away. Not anymore. Not again!" Ruby roared. "You've humiliated me for the last time. You wanna see what I can do? We'll you're about to!" Her eyes pulsed again, brighter than they had been before.
"I want every Grimm in the city here right now!" Ruby screamed, more to herself than to her opponents. "We'll see how they and their little friends outside survive then!"
"Grimm?" Cinder wondered aloud.
"All the Grimm!" Ruby yelled. "Every! Single! One! Come to me, NOW!"
The night was cold and frightening. It was too dark to see much of anything. Salem was lost and confused, whimpering and breathing heavily.
"A simple spark…" she mumbled.
She had heard faint sounds in the distance. They were explosive, violent sounds, but her weak and broken mind could only recognize them as sounds made by other people, so she staggered towards that direction.
"… hearts of the weary…" she continued.
Her body was weak and tired. She was hungry. She did not understand.
"… a smaller, more honest soul…" Salem said.
Suddenly, something passed over her. It was not something physical. It was more like a feeling, or a force. She felt it in her head, and it hurt unlike anything she remembered. She cried out, falling to her knees and gripping her head. She whined and mewled in pain, but it only got worse. She screamed again, falling to her side and laying crying on the ground. She was so afraid, so confused, so alone. The pain just grew stronger and stronger. She felt her body ache and spasm. She rolled onto her back, clutching her head and squeezing her eyes closed, almost shattering her teeth from clenching them so hard. It felt like something within her was being pulled from within.
Suddenly, her chest heaved. She feebly looked down to see what looked like a hole in it, perfectly round and completely dark. It was like a hole in her very being, far beyond even her body, and had all the pain of having her chest ripped open. She wailed and cried, not even having the strength to writhe and squirm anymore. She lay rigid, weeping as agony filled her body and soul.
Then, without warning, something erupted from the hole in her chest. A black mass, with barbed tentacles thrashing and twisting around its form. A single red eye glowed on top of boney white plates. It flew up into the night air, then crashed down to the dirt. Salem inhaled sharply, glancing down at her chest to see the hole gone, as if it were illusion. Exhausted, she collapsed, her body going limp and her eyes closing. She passed out.
Her reprieve was short. Salem groaned as her eyes opened. The creature, the Grimm, could be seen flying off in the direction Salem had been going. Her breathing slowed. Her head hurt. She moaned. Colorful sparks flickered at her pale fingertips. She winced as she sat up, feeling ready to puke. Instead, she turned her head towards Beacon Fortress.
"Cinder?" Salem said.