The REDS of war

Volume Eight Chapter One

Cinder Fall scrapes the claws of her Grimm hand against an airship seat in a slow rhythmic similar to the rhythm she used to scrub the floors back. Neopolitan is sitting in the seat, piloting the airship. A crash rattles the pair as standing on the ship is a girl with purple hair, Ambrose who looks down to Cinder with a half-glare before rolling her eyes at the woman. She pokes a finger behind them and Cinder pops her head out to look behind them seeing a person with wings flying behind them. Thunder rumbles, and red lightning illuminates the dark clouds ahead, revealing Monstra. Focused on the whale, Cinder moves to her right to stand between the pilot's and co-pilot's seats.

"There."

Neo looks at Cinder and then at the whale with a frown. The airship flies past Manticores and Teryxes, soon arriving at a landing bay within the whale's flesh. She lands the ship on the platform furthest to the left.

The pair exit the ship and Ambrose jumps down in front of Cinder with a frown. "You're supposed to be dead." Ambrose says.

"I'm not am I?" Cinder says smugly.

"I wish you were." Ambrose admits bluntly.

Another person lands their wings prominently showing as Dim along with Scarlet land on the same spot as them, Scarlet standing behind Dim as the wings made of his blood retract into his body. "Damn it, Cinder." He says as he stares at her. "You're supposed to be dead."

"I'm a lot harder to kill than being stabbed in the back." Cinder says glaring at Dim.

"Correction, in the heart. Or well, that's where I was aiming."

Some time later, Neo, Ambrose, and Cinder walk up a set of bone stairs, Dim and Scarlett follow behind the trio to a large chamber. In the middle of this chamber, Salem is sitting on a throne made of bone. Neo stops and stares with her mouth slightly open, before walking forward to stand beside Ambrose and Cinder. She watches as Cinder kneels and places her right hand to her chest while Ambrose genuflects in Salem's presence. Dim stands with his hands in his pockets as Scarlet stands behind him eyes wide.

"My queen." Cinder says.

Salem stands from her throne and turns to face Cinder. "Cinder." Salem slowly descends the steps of the platform on which her throne rests. "When I chose you as my vessel for the Maidens, I put my trust in you. So, I trust that you wouldn't possibly return to me empty-handed."

Cinder holds out the Relic of Knowledge. "The Relic of Knowledge. I took it right from under Ironwood's nose."

Upon hearing this, Neo blinks her eyes rapidly in disbelief and looks at Cinder with an indignant expression. She then crosses her arms and glares. Dim rolls his eyes as he stands next to Ambrose with Scarlet behind them.

Tyrian Callows' voice then draws her attention. "Outsmarting the general speaks less to your intellect and... more to his." Tyrian steps out from the shadows behind Cinder while Salem takes the Lamp. He begins walking across the room.

Dim chuckles gathering everyone's attention. "It speaks volumes about Watts and you then." He comments.

Tyrian grumbles but ignores Dim instead focusing on Cinder again. "After all, you were outsmarted by those children first."

Cinder rolls her eyes. "And according to radio chatter, that same general and his forces outsmarted you. A shame Watts never made it back."

"I'm afraid the doctor was a necessary sacrifice." Tyrian points his tail at Neo. "I do hope this little one doesn't become another."

"It could have been worse. You could have killed Qrow."

Tyrian raises an eyebrow. "How would that be worse?" He asks curiously.