The Wolf, The Lion, and The Dragon - (Vol.4)

Ch.1 The Next Step

3rd Pov

In a dark and desolate land made up of the red ground, purple crystals, and a red and black clouded sky, Grimm of all kinds are seen rising from a black pool of goo. Mercury and Emerald's face are reflected in a window, watching from inside a high building. Emerald has her hand to her mouth while Mercury seems slightly disgusted. Mercury and Emerald retreated from the window as soon as they heard the snap of a finger.

At the centre of the large windowed room is a long purple, crystal table. Four people sit at the table with seven chairs. One of them is Cinder.

A man with a short black and grey hair, wearing a grey overcoat with yellow linings, a yellow dress shirt and a black necktie is sitting across from Cinder, looking at his Scroll.

To Cinder's right is a somewhat psychotic man dressed in a white sleeveless jacket with leather belts strapped to it. He sits in a crouch casually on his chair, resting his arms on his knees.

Across from is another man, a large and muscular, with short brown hair, a beard and hazel eyes. His arms are crossed, and he looks asleep.

Cinder sits quietly, while Mercury and Emerald move to her side. Emerald nudges Mercury out of her way so that she can be directly next to Cinder.

Man with Gray Hair: "Yes, yes, keep your posse in check."

Mercury grunts and makes a move towards the man, but Emerald holds him back.

Man with Gray Hair: "You hear that? Silence."

Hazel gives Watts an unimpressed sideways glance.

Man with Gray Hair: "I've half a mind to thank the little girl that bested you."

Psychotic man: "If I were you, I'd hunt her down. Find her and, well, she took your eye, didn't she?"

Cinder only stares at the psychotic man while he cackles at her. Cinder tries to speak but only manages to make quiet exhaling noises. Emerald leans in to hear her.

Man with Gray Hair: "Pathetic. Why did you even-"

There is then a sound of a heavy metal door being unlatched. The doors open and everyone stands just before a woman dressed in a long black dress enters, followed by a girl in her late teens, dressed completely in a long dark cloak, her hair and face partially covered by the hood, her high-heeled boots thumping against the floor. The woman glides alongside the table with soft footsteps before reaching the head of it, jewels jangling from her hair. Salem stops, facing away from them and toward a candle and crystal display, with the girl stopping and standing beside the purplish crystal throne.

Salem: "Watts."

The man with the grey hair, apparently named Watts, straightens, looking toward her. Then, the woman turns to face them.

Salem: "Do you find such malignance necessary?"

She then gestures for all to sit down, but the girl in the dark cloak just stood where she is.

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

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

Watts: "Well, the girl with the Silver Eyes."

Muscular Man: "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."