The Knights of Grimm - Act 4 - Whispers of Arkhonex

Chapter 88 - ... the Storm

Ruby

The massive armoured rig drove across the decimated remains of Arkhonex. The wheels were gigantic, and the tires were so thick that they could withstand any punishment. The pistons and suspension creaked as they drove, bumping off the destroyed and flattened houses beneath them. Ruby stood atop the roof of the Rig, resting her hands against the hand railing where the mounted machine gun was placed. She stared ahead, then glanced to her side where she could see the rest of the massive convoy of Rigs.

There were roughly twenty-seven Rigs, all of which were packed with weapons and soldiers. The rest of the convoy comprised of many trucks and cars, tanks and quadbikes and motorcycles. The Drift of Wandering Star slowly flew overhead, the deep roar of its engines echoed across the Ruins of Arkhonex. His fleet was in formation behind him, using the clouds as cover as they ascended.

Ruby turned when she heard the voice of Kassius calling through her scroll. "Hey, Knucklehead. Apparently, we're riding on 8!" Kassius joked, chuckling as he stood there. "We'll see you at the Heart of Rage."

"We'll see you there, Kas. Good luck." Ruby responded as she stood there, she turned and saw the Witches of the Restless Marshlands were aboard their Rig, alongside Oscar and Qrow. The Three Witches approached whilst the Undertaker remained in the corner with its huge weaponised Shovel was stabbed down into the metal ground, waiting for its next collection of orders. Ruby and her team approached the Witches, in particular – Ruby and Blake.

"I... We... owe you a great deal for everything you have done. For everyone, you cured them and now you're helping us here... hell that wasn't even part of the arrangement at first. But you didn't even say you were done – you just decided to join us. Thank you, to the bottom of my heart, thank you." Ruby said to the Sorceress, the Alchemist and the Enchantress. The Enchantress leant against the wall with her arms crossed whilst the Alchemist sat down with her bag of many freshly made potions.

"You needn't thank us. The three of us are hardly saints, but seeing how all of you treated us as if we belonged? Well that was a feeling we had not experienced since before Arkhonex fell. It was... nice... to feel like we were part of a society again. Plus – it's time that we avenge all these fallen souls. If killing Salem... and hopefully killing Umbra... can bring these lost souls peace? Then that is worth it." The Sorceress explained, gently placing her hand upon Ruby's shoulder.

"Thank you." Ruby said again, a beautiful smile on her face. The Witches prepared as they looked around the destroyed city that surrounded them all. Ruby sat down and she rested Crescent Rose upon her lap. Oscar looked at her and he walked over to her side, crouching down.

She cleaned some of the dirt from the scratched red paint. Ruby glanced at her boyfriend as he looked at her. "Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Are you? I mean... we both know what we are heading back towards..." Oscar softly asked her, it was a touchy subject for both sides. Ruby had indeed suffered more than he did, Tyrian seemed to enjoy hurting her a lot more than he did Oscar. Perhaps part of it was due to the fact she cut off his tail? Either way, he regretted it at the end of his story when he fell to his death. But Oscar had his scars too from when Tyrian beat and cut him with those blades of his.

Tyrian had been dead for five years now... yet despite all that... it was still unnerving to go back there. And they knew that they were going to have to see those cells once again. But Ruby was ready to face it – she had to be – there was no room for error anymore. They had to kill Salem once and for all if they could hope to stand a chance against Vir Nominis Umbra.

"I know... I'll admit I am scared to go back there... I can't imagine what it will be like to see it again... how my mind will take it." Ruby sighed, closing her eyes. It had been a while since she saw Roman or Tyrian in her mind, but she knew that this place was going to set her condition off in an awfully bad way. But she was ready, finally ready to face her past, and punch it square in the face.