2. Reaper and Cinder

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Reaper is walking around the meeting table of Salem's castle as Cinder quietly sits on a chair. The hallucination looks at the people present at the table.

Reaper: You know, I've been here several times over the centuries but this lot you're with, oh boy they're an interesting one.

He says sarcastically as he leans down to look at Tyrian.

Reaper: It would be nice if the psycho wasn't here, he creeps me out. Arthur and Hazel, well, they're sane at least. Hazel is cool, though I bet you wouldn't want to make him angry. Arthur Watts here, I ran into him around the time Summer died.... I'm surprised nobody blew his brains out yet.

Cinder whispers something even lower than her current normal voice can sound.

Cinder: Shut.up.

Reaper: And I thought Winter was the Ice Queen.

Cinder notices Emerald and Mercury looking out the window. She snaps her normal fingers and they both walk to Cinder's side.

Watts: Yes, yes, keep your posse in check.

Mercury grunts and makes a move toward Watts, but Emerald holds him back.

Watts: You hear that? Silence.

Hazel gives Watts an unimpressed sideways glance.

Watts: I've half a mind to thank the little girl that bested you.

Tyrian: If I were you, I'd hunt her down. *snicker* Find her and, well, she took your eye, didn't she?

Reaper: Just try it you crazy bastard.

Cinder does a sideway glance at the hallucination that only she can see and hear before she stares at Tyrian while he cackles at her. Cinder tries to speak but only manages to make quiet exhaling noises. Emerald leans in to hear her.

Watts: Pathetic. Why did you even-

There is a sound of a heavy metal door being unlatched. The doors open and everyone stands just before Salem enters. She glides alongside the table with soft footsteps before reaching the head of it.

Salem: Watts.

Watts straightens, looking toward her.

Salem: Do you find such malignance necessary?

She gestures for all to sit down.

Watts: I apologize, ma'am. I'm not particularly fond of failure.

Watts and Salem sit simultaneously.

Salem: Then I see no reason for your cruelty towards young Cinder. She's become our Fall Maiden, destroyed Beacon Tower, killed the last Reaper, and most importantly, killed dear Ozpin. So I'm curious, to what failures are you referring?

Watts: Well, the girl with the Silver Eyes.

Hazel: Yes. We've dealt with their kind before. How is it a novice was able to best one of us?

Watts: My thoughts exactly. Even without her new power, it should have been effortless.

Salem: It is because of the Maiden's power. Make no mistake, Cinder, you hold the key to our victory. But your newfound strength brings with it a crippling weakness. Which is why you will remain by my side as we continue your treatment.

Cinder is unhappy about this and lowers her head. Emerald looks at her in sympathy.

Salem: Dr. Watts, you are to take Cinder's place and meet with our informant in Mistral.

Watts: Very good.

Salem: Tyrian, I want you to continue your hunt for the Spring Maiden.

Tyrian: *laughing* Gladly.

Salem: And Hazel, I'm sending you to the leader of the White Fang. Adam Taurus has arranged the meeting. The boy continues to prove loyal. Ensure that Sienna Khan feels the same.

Hazel: As you wish.

Cinder raises a finger. Emerald fails to notice this gesture for a moment.

Emerald: Oh!

Emerald leans in to hear her.

Cinder rasps into her ear. Emerald straightens.

Salem: Speak, child.

Emerald: She wants to know... What about the girl?

Watts: *scoffs* What about her? Seems to me that this is Cinder's problem, not ours.

Reaper: heh...

Cinder slams her fist onto the table and glares at Watts, who grins at her.

Salem: That's enough. Tyrian?

Tyrian: Yes, my lady?

Salem: Spring can wait. Find the girl that did this to Cinder.

Reaper: crap...

Tyrian giggles elatedly and claps.

Salem: And bring her to me.

Tyrian freezes, groans disappointedly, pouts for a second, then looks back up at Salem with an acquiescent shrug.

Salem: Because of your efforts, Beacon has fallen. And Haven will be next.

Everyone rises.

Tyrian snickers at Cinder and points to his left eye.

Tyrian: *laughing wickedly* Eye for an eye.

Tyrian goes into an uncontrollable fit of manic laughter, while Cinder grits her teeth.

Reaper: Crazy bastard.

Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald walk out with the Reaper hallucination following them.

Mercury: *sarcastic* What a friendly bunch.

Emerald: We've been here for months and they still treat us like garbage!

Mercury: Well, except Hazel.

Reaper: Hehe, stick around kids, it'll get worse.

Cinder glares at Reaper with her good eye, which her followers notice.

Emerald: What did he say this time?

Cinder sighs and shakes her head that is wasn't important. Only Mercury and Emerald know about Reaper being in Cinder's head as they're the only people Cinder actually trusts right now with that information.

Mercury: You know, if he could only tell you how to get him out of your head this would save you the trouble of putting up with an unwanted roommate.

Reaper: I would do that only if I knew that you wouldn't kill me again as soon as I did leave. So I'll settle as your roommate Cinder.

Cinder gives a low growl.

Emerald: I think he said something that made her upset.

Mercury: He seems to like doing that.

Reaper: Oh, I do! I'm really starting to like your adoptive kids, luv.

Cinder stops and faces the hallucination.

Cinder: Shut.up!!

Mercury: He hit a nerve.

Emerald: Yep.

Cinder takes a deep breath and exhales before continuing down the hall. The three split off to their rooms and Cinder sits down on her bed while looking at her Grimm arm. Reaper sits down next to her.

Reaper: I know you hate it right now, but you'll learn to get used to that arm. Hang in there.

Cinder: Offering comforting words after annoying me for six months?

Reaper: Eh, your annoyance may entertain me but your misery doesn't.

Cinder sighs.

Cinder: That didn't stop you from making me an orphan it seems.

Reaper: I was hoping you'd bring that up.

Cinder looks at him with some anger and sadness in her eye.

Cinder: Why did you do it? Why did you murder my mother and take away any shot at a normal life?

Reaper looks to the ground for a minute before standing up and walks to a mirror. He puts his hands behind his back and turns to face her.

Reaper: You really want to know?

Cinder: Yes

Reaper: Hmm, you sure? I'll be tearing your whole life apart if I did.

Cinder: You did that before, so just tell me.

Reaper's red eyes glare at her for a moment.

Reaper: Quick question, you are, in fact, from Mistral yes?

Cinder nods.

Reaper: Okay, well, that wasn't me then.

Cinder: What??

Reaper: Going through your memories, I can safely say I was nowhere in the Kingdom of Mistral when your mother died, I was actually in Atlas. Doing a little bit of.... Err, let's just say it was some personal business. But I do know who did kill your mother.

Cinder: Who?

Reaper: I wasn't the only Reaper running around in Remnant back then. There was another that called himself Death. He's been dead for thirteen years now so don't bother hunting him down. Anyway, he most likely killed your mother because his master willed it so, for some reason.

Cinder looks to the ground, processing all this.

Cinder: But he had your hat! And he looked exactly like you!

Reaper: That's because all Reapers look alike, so alike that we have to put on something that those in the community could use to identify one another. My hat isn't exactly some one of a kind item. Most likely he got the same one I wore so the blame would be pinned on me. The guy has hates me for centuries.

Cinder: Alright, let's say I believe you, who was his master?

Reaper: Yours

Cinder looks at him with surprise and stands up.

Cinder: You're lying!!

Reaper: I'm dead, I have no reason to lie.

Cinder: Salem has been helping me become strong all these years! Why would she take me in if she had my mother killed?!

Reaper: She obviously saw something in you that made you an ideal pawn. Think about it, she must've showed up just out of the blue and offered you what you wanted, which was killing me and making you stronger. What better way to get stronger than becoming a Maiden, something she always wanted.

Cinder: Shut up...

Reaper: Salem made Death kill your mother and she turned you into a monster. She's the reason you are not living a normal life! But you still have a chance Cinder, a chance to be free.

Cinder: Just....leave me alone right now.

Reaper looks at her before nodding and he disappears into her mind. Cinder walks out of her room and goes outside and walks on the rocky surface. She sees the dark pools spawning Grimm as she walks up one of the cliff sides. She just stands there looking at the land before her hand bursts to flames and she screams in anger towards the sky.

End Part!

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