What Might've Been

Chapter 3

Rei Kaida belongs to Manimatsu

Jenni's POV

"52.....53...." I said to myself counting my steps as I walked through another endless hallway in Salem's castle. Everything about this domain seemed endless and there seemed to be no escape. Which I suppose was the point, Salem obviously didn't want any of her victims....pardon me....associates to run away.

Cinder was in the middle of one of her treatments which meant I was alone. Which also meant I was extremely bored. I didn't want to stay in my room, in there I felt truly like a prisoner. At least in the halls I could control where I was going. Even if it was just in circles.

"Hey. Alone again?" A voice spoke up.

I turned, "Hello Rei."

Rei Kaida was one of Salem's associates. A snake Faunus who, like me, had his life altered due to the White Fang. It was something both of his had in common and we both tried our hardest not to let the pain show.

He always had a very cold and not friendly demeanor to him but I understood why. I mean having your parents murdered right in front of you would screw anyone up mentally. I had also heard rumors that Salem also messed with his mind after failing a mission but I didn't know whether or not it was true.

Rei looked out the window and in the glowing crimson ligh I could see his eyes were puffy and he had tear streaks on his face. It wasn't uncommon for me to hear Rei breaking down in his room. But no matter how many times I tried to console him he brushed it off as if nothing was wrong.

"How's Cinder?" The snake Faunus finally spoke up.

"Fine. I suppose. She still can't speak very well and she's still getting upset easily," I said.

"Well wouldn't you if you went through something like she did?!" Rei snapped.

I took a step back, "Well...y-yeah I would."

Rei sighed and I could see a fresh layer of tears in his eyes. I knew he had feelings for Cinder and it broke his heart to see her like this. But just like me he felt powerless when it came to trying to help her.

"Is she getting treatment?" He asked.

I nodded.

Rei actually bared his fangs at this but then composed himself, "well maybe I'll go check up on her after then."

With that he turned on his heel and walked away. I sighed and decided to wait with Mercury and Emerald for Cinder to be finished with her treatment.

Meanwhile Cinder was sitting at Salem's table. The said witch was using her magic to heal the fall maiden's arm. Cinder was gasping in pain as she felt the magic compelling the Grimm bug to take over more of her body. She could hear bits of her arm bones snap and break as Salem's treatment began to grimmmify her arm. The process was slow and extremely painful.

As I watched from the corner I had no idea what was going on but I saw Salem looking at Cinder with a sick little smile on her face.

I noticed Cinder tense up and try to move her arm away.

The Grimm queen continued to curl her fingers sending the magic through Cinder's arm, "Do you feel it? Don't fight it, girl. It can sense your trepidation. You must make it dread you."

Suddenly behind me I heard a soft clicking sound. Emerald and I turned to see Salem's Seer Grimm gliding toward us. Emerald, Mercury, and I all stepped back as the thing continued across the floor.

Cinder even looked terrified as the Grimm approached her left side. The head of the monster began glowing and Salem leaned closer as if trying to hear what it was saying.

She then raised her black eyes up at the terrified raven haired young woman, "Cinder, I am going to ask you this one more time, and I expect a clear answer. Did you kill Ozpin?"

Cinder looked at me and raised her right arm to call me over to speak for her. I was about to walk over there when Salem slammed her hands on the table and her eyes flashed red, "No! I want to hear you say it."

Cinder tried to speak but all that came out was a squeak. Then after a few times she finally spoke in an extremely hoarse voice, "y-yes."

Salem stares at her before looking back at the Seer, "Reinforce our numbers at Beacon. The Relic is there."

The Grimm lingered by her side for a moment more before gliding out of the room. As it passed me and the others we stood back once again.

Salem looked up at us, "leave us. You're presence is not needed here."

"But Sa-uh your grace. Couldn't we stay here and watch Cinder get her treatment?"

Salem's eyes glowed again and with a wave of her arm the door slammed shut.

Cinder looked upset as this happened.

Salem stared at her, "you're fighting the treatment. If you want the power of the maidens this is how it must be done."

Cinder looked at the ground, she didn't want the powers, not if it was turning her into a monster. Killing one maiden was already hard even if the witch was controlling her. Would this treatment take away her whole ability to fight back? It terrified Cinder to think about, hence why she was so adamant on making sure Salem couldn't control her.

"If you want to resist that's fine. But I would hate to think of what would happen to your friend Jennifer if this treatment wasn't completed."

Cinder looked horrified and shook her head.

Salem's eyes glowed again, "Cinder you're useful to me. That wolf Faunus is not. And you know how I feel about useless things."

Cinder nodded.

"Then are you going to finish your treatments?" Salem asked again.

Cinder looked hesitant but slowly she nodded.

Salem cupped her chin in her hand, her black nails digging into her face slightly, "so glad you're seeing things my way."