BLCK

I

The mansion was on fire. I turned and ran, through the dense, twisted forest surrounding my home. The people there hadn't seen me, their white fanged masks turned away to regard the flames. But I had seen my family. Their flame-blackened corpses were sprawled in front of the house, their mouths agape in an endless scream of agony, despair and terror. I fought my way through the branches and leaves, the thick, lush undergrowth barring my passage. And then I met her. A pretty woman, I suppose, leather armour around her legs, arms and body. This was coupled with a blood-red combat skirt with gold patterns threaded onto it. She held a bow- and it was aimed directly at me.
This was Cinder Fall.
She nodded at me, her ebony ponytail bouncing with the slight movement. The acrid smoke was still prevalent here, though not as thick as before, it surrounded her, granting her an air of mystique. "And who might you be, little boy?"
With a sudden darting motion, I had grappled into her and began to sob into her clothes, the terror and guilt of running finally catching up with my six-year-old brain. "There, there, don't be upset, little boy, what's your name?"
"B-Brutus," I gasped, "I'm Brutus Maul, please, help me, my family, they..." I broke out into tears once more, and felt her warm arms encircle me. "Oh, don't cry, love, I'm here now." I burrowed deeper into her embrace, seeking some solace from the horrors I had witnessed. She then cupped my face in her hands and I saw her eyes widen in surprise as hers met mine. It was always the same, always some curiosity or suspicion at my unusual eyes. "You have silver eyes," she breathed. And indeed I did, and still do, it made me an outcast from my family, little did I know it only granted me more power.
"Come with me, little one, let's get you to someplace safe..."
***
"My lady Salem, I have something to show you, this is Brutus Maul, my protege and bodyguard, I have trained him as well as I possibly can, and hope he can only be useful to you. Come in, Brutus."
I strode in through the door, my twin daggers sheathed at me sides, for the past two years, I had stayed with Cinder, learning and improving, as she taught me how to kill, to steal, to lie. I wore black leather armour, not unlike Cinders, which was specifically tailored for me. I met Cinders golden irises with my own silver, and she nodded, ever so slightly, but it was enough. As I stood before the cloaked woman, I heard her gasp, "He has silver eyes."
"Indeed, my lady."
"Well done, Cinder, I would see you promoted for this." I couldn't help but be happy for her, it was all she talked about, Salem this, Salem that, promotion, promotion, promotion. I hoped she was as overjoyed as I. As I glanced over, I saw my confirmation; she was trying to keep a straight face, she really was, but I could see she was happy, so I was too.
"You are dismissed Cinder."
Cinder only? I then felt my stomach drop into a pit, I was alone. With Salem. I involuntarily gulped, this was not good. If anything I had heard about her was true, then I could end up in deep trouble here. I almost ran, almost. "Little boy, Maul, was it? How would you like some elite training in every form of fighting technique known to man?" I stared at the hooded figure, then, with a massive grin, I replied," yes!" I would be able to beat Cinder, and I could show her my new skills, that would be awesome. "Then let us begin." And so my training began.
***
I sprinted through the forest, my job was to put as much distance between myself and the Faunus Tyrion as I could in ten minutes, I had so far managed eleven kilometres and seven hundred and thirty six metres. I skidded to a stop as I heard crying. I crept through the undergrowth, before finally coming across a pretty young girl about my age, with short black hair, she wore a simple red dress, and her legs were bare. I crept closer, this girl had nothing to do with me, and yet I felt drawn to her, some unseen force creating a sense of familiarity between myself and her. I then decided secrecy would frighten her and instead stepped out into the open. As I did so, her head snapped up and ours eyes met. Suddenly the forest leaves were still and the wind held its breath, whilst the suns heat reduced in intensity. We stared at each other for what could have been anything between a few seconds or a few millennia.
Then simultaneously, " you have silver eyes."
And indeed we did. I was at first shocked, before becoming overjoyed, here was another of my kind! Another with silver eyes! How wonderful! But she was crying, and that was far from excellent.
"Are you okay?" I ventured, before mentally reprimanding myself, of course she wasn't. I changed tact, "what's wrong?" I tried.
"M-my mum... she's... she's gone!" At this she draped herself across me and I fought to hold her up, her sobbing audible, though muffled, from my leather padded shoulder. "What's your name?" I slowly set her down on a tree.
"R-Ruby..." then her quivering lip straightened and she stared up at me, suddenly serious,"Ruby Rose." She continued with finality.
Taken aback, I replied, "why the change in demeanour?"
She lowered her head as she replied, "... dad says I have to be strong...but it's hard..."
"I remember what it was like to lose my family...I'm sorry," crouching down beside her I continued," but we have to be strong, and keep pushing on, because you and I know that's what your mother would want, we are our parents legacy, while we live, ours parents live on..." I tensed as I heard a familiar sound in the bushes behind me," but hey, I'll come visit you again maybe?"
At this, Ruby seemed to brighten a little, "I'd like that," came the tinny reply, " before you leave, what did your parents do?"
"Huntsmen."
"Are you going to be a huntsman too?"
"Are you?"
"Of course! I don't know which weapon I should choose though, and I go to signal in a few months time..,"
"How about a scythe?"
"A scythe?"
"Yes, they say scythe-users are legendary fighters, I think you could do it."
" fine!" She jumped up, "but only if you do too." She Seemed rather serious.
"Of course. Now, I have to go- see you again, here maybe?"
"Okay!"
Little did I know we never meet under these circumstances again.
"Got a little crush, have we? Can't have that, little weapon, can't have that..." Tyrion broke into maniacal laughter, " guess I'll have to inform lady Salem about this, the distraction will have to be removed, of course, but I'm sure you'll get over-" he never finished his sentence, as he was pinned to the floor, his tail trapped safely beneath him. "Alongside fighting, lady Salem taught me torture, I could teach you pain. make you scream. You will beg for it to end. And. It. Shall. Not. Test me, little Faunus, and you shall see the hatred I bear for your species become manifold. Harm a hair on that girls head, and you shall lose your sanity from my attentions. Am I clear? "
"Y-yes, I-i get it- please don't." He screwed his eyes shut, and turned away.
"That's up to you, Tyrion. Now come, we go home." And so we did, summoning a portal, we stepped through and into the conference hall containing Salem and her generals, I nodded and smiled at Cinder who returned the gesture before nodding politely to Leoheart, the sleeper agent placed within atlas. I grinned mirthlessly at the other one who's name I never bothered to memorise, and finally walked over to stand on the right of Salems throne on which she sat. As Tyrion took his place, he smirked at me, before turning to Salem.
"The boys got a girlfriend."
"Bastard!" I roared and launched myself at him, before being slammed against the wall by the other, and leohearts sword held against my neck, Cinder remained seated, her face impassive. Salem twitched, "kill her."
"As you wish."
And he left.