Note: If you couldn't tell by now, Aldia is heavily based on Russia when it was still the USSR. That's why the elves speak in Russian.
The reason being that Sasha's character is Russian (Sasha being a Russian name). The only reason she was from Vacuo in the first story was because her design was based off the Gerudo from the Zelda games, and I didn't know the novels existed, so I didn't know if Shade had a Headmaster yet (if he was named in them, still haven't read them.). Vacuo, in my writing, was based more off the Middle East in terms of architecture and the Black Stars.
In the second story, we already had Verde being from Atlas, so it didn't feel right having Sasha come from Mantle or Solitas as a whole. With the third story being in a world I created, I could finally use Sasha's Russian ancestry in full.
...
Rojo's quill stopped when he looked up. A slave was staring at him, her eyes wide. The pervert smirked, ceasing his paperwork. "Need something?"
The slave shook her head, averting her gaze from the monster. "N-no, Master... Th-there are s-strange men asking t-to see you..."
Rojo wasn't expecting visitors. He didn't plan to have any company, either. He waved his hand, picking up his quill and returning to work. "Tell them to fuck off. I'm busy."
"B-but-"
Rojo fired a dangerous smirk in her direction, the whites of his teeth gleaming in the sunlight that sifted through the curtains of his office.
"If you don't do as you're told, you know what'll happen, right?"
The slave trembled, nodding her head. Hurriedly she closed the door, her bare feet slapping against the tiled floor as she ran. She didn't dare to look back. She didn't want to run the risk of meeting his eyes if he decided to watch her leave.
This girl was only eleven years old, and had been abducted from her parents at the age of three. When she turned five, she watched Rojo kill her parents in front of her. And even with that atrocity, it wasn't the worst thing he'd done. She knew first hand what the muscular Cardinal was capable of, and knew it was better to do as she was told. If she did, then the risk of him taking advantage of her decreased. With fear clouding her mind, she pushed her way through the door, meeting the eyes of the hooded men. She bowed her head, fully prepared to be kicked down.
"I-I am very sorry... But Master Rojo does not wish to see visitors..."
The hooded men whispered amongst each other, their faces shrouded under the darkness of their hoods. Until all went silent, when the only one without the hood stepped from the crowd, his smile stretching ear to ear and his calm yellow eyes staring down at her.
"... Oh la la... But it is of utmost importance," Jack cooed softly. The girl shivered as he stepped closer, her back pressing against the wall. Jack knelt down in front of her, flashing something shiny from his pocket. A syringe, filled with a black, viscous tar-like ooze. "... Perhaps a little message should be sent, non?"
Her breath caught in her throat when Jack pressed against her chest, pinning the child to the door. She couldn't fight back when she felt the needle prick her skin, the Blood oozing into her body when he pressed down the button. Jack's smile widened, his yellow eyes flickering with amusement. "Just like mademoiselle Verde, in the Second Timeline..."
The pain was almost instant. The moment Jack released her, the slave's hand clapped over her neck. Her eyes watered, a gagging noise escaping from the depths of her throat when she felt the sour taste building up in the back of her throat.
Jack took a step back, dropping the empty syringe on the ground, crushing the glass under his boot. "You do not have very much time left, mom ami," he cooed in his soft voice. "You'll turn into one of them, soon enough... Maybe monsieur Rojo could help..."
Something hot trickled down her face. Her hand brushed her cheek, terror gripping her chest when she saw red. Her eyes were bleeding. With a choked cry, she threw the door open and staggered down the halls. Jack sighed, holding up his hand.
"Restez ici, tout le monde," he ordered calmly. And with his smile widening, he followed after the slave. She'd lead him right to Rojo's office, and he couldn't wait to see the expression the Cardinal would give.
Jack was completely aware of the Timelines, and he fully intended to use the knowledge as he saw fit.
The slave child stumbled down the halls, trying to get away from the Ripper. Her hand trailed against the wall for support, coughing with the sickness the Blood brought. Her lungs burned with each cough, her head growing hotter and hotter, until it felt like her brain would melt. Her face burned, her skin growing pale. Blood dripped from her eyes and her nose, leaving a trail. Jack knelt down, trailing his finger through the small pools. He suckled on his fingertip, ecstasy flickering in his calm eyes.
Slop, slop...
The slave looked back at her hand, a gurgled shriek escaping her quivering lips. Her arm was changing. It was melting, turning into something else. She pushed her legs harder, blood squirting from beneath her toenails with each ragged, desperate breath. Her legs expanded, the flesh growing over the nails of her toes. With nowhere for the blood to go, it swelled in her feet like grotesque balloons, threatening to pop at any second.
She couldn't see out of her right eye. With an intense pain that nearly brought her to her knees, her eye melted from her skull. Behind her, Jack chuckled.
"Mademoiselle... Verde made one miscalculation in her experiments," he cooed. "The Blessed can vary. It doesn't matter, so long as you have it. But taking it in different ways yields different results..."
She could see Rojo's door. Just a little closer. Her arm melted into her stomach, her intestines unravelling inside her body to coil around her organs, constricting them like a serpent. With a pained, watery yelp, her teeth began to quiver in her gums. They were moving.
"You see," Jack continued. "The First of the Blessed, monsieur Vao, consumed the Blood orally... It leaves him looking human, but inside his head he is among the Blessed... Physical mutation, however... You turn into one of them... It depends on how much you take... The younger they are, the less Blood it takes to become Blessed by the Dark God... Verde thought that as long as you have it in your body, you'll transform."
Her fingers melted together like a mitten when she grabbed the door handle, struggling to turn it. She could feel the syringe pressing into where her neck used to be. From the eyes that grew on her back, she could see Jack slowly pressing the button.
The Blood seeped into her destroyed body, slowly becoming... Addicting. Wheezing, she pushed the door open.
Rojo groaned, rubbing his face with his big hands. "Oh for the love of... What no..." He trailed off when he looked up, his jaw falling open in utter horror. He didn't know what he was looking at. It was impossible to describe.
The fleshy, pulsating thing trembled and quivered, dozens of eyes staring back at him. And from its three mouths, it spoke in a gravelly, wet voice. Yet it was familiar; the thing used to be the slave who he had spoken to only moments ago.
"M-Maaaashter," it hissed. "Heeelb meee..."
Rojo shakily stood from his chair, his mind going blank. He always thought of himself as brave. But this wasn't even something he saw in his worst nightmares. This was worse. He could feel himself losing control over his own body as he backed away, his legs trembling underneath his weight. The dark stain trailed down his leg, his voice shaking when he started to speak.
"G... Get away from me..."
The thing moved deeper into the room, skeletal limbs protruding from the twisted, abhorrent abomination. Rojo shrivelled against the wall, his mind slowly beginning to fracture.
What was he looking at? Just what the hell was he looking at? It was unnatural. It was wrong. It's existence was wrong. Everything about it shouldn't have existed.
"Maaashter..." It breathed. "Heeelb meee... It hurrrrts..."
"Get the hell away from me!"
Rojo lifted his desk, crushing the thing with all his strength. He could hear the malformed bones snapping, juice leaking from the creature when he beat it flat. He beat it until his desk was in pieces, punched it until knuckles split and bled. Breathing shakily, he pressed against the wall.
It still moved.
It wouldn't die. It moved closer, its bones snapping when it reached out for him. With a trembling hand, he reached out for a candle, the hot wax burning his palms. He threw it at the abomination, setting it ablaze. The awful shriek stung his eardrums, dragging him into madness.
"It hurrrrts... It hurrrrttsss!"
Even on fire, the thing wouldn't die. Rojo sunk to his knees, blood trickling from his nose. The flaming thing reached out for him, closer, closer...
Slash.
Its limbs landed on the ground as the blade flashed through the air, the thing howling in its eternal torment. Jack stood between the thing and Rojo, his smile as wide as ever. The Darkness built up around him, slowly tearing it to bloody pieces until nothing was left. Until the last pieces stopped moving. Jack sighed, seemingly a bit disappointed. He turned back to the Cardinal, the muscular priest shivering where he sat.
"It would be a shame if it killed you, mon ami," he cooed. Rojo retreated from Jack's hand when the Ripper reached for him, watching in horror as the hooded figures slowly filed into the room, blocking the exits. Jack's eyes gleamed, flickering with excitement.
"... After all, we have plans..."
Rojo was always scared of Jack. He was a lunatic. A deranged, sociopathic serial killer who feasted on human flesh, capable of evading the guards for years, killing them without any effort by means that could never be explained nor discovered by normal means. That fear more than tripled at the sight of what he did to the slave.
"S... Stay away... Stay away," Rojo hissed. His voice trembled, lacking the authority and confidence it once held. He was begging now. But Jack's smile widened, his teeth glistening.
"Non, non... Without my help, you'll die just like you did in the Second Timeline..."
Rojo had no idea what he was talking about. And he didn't have time to ask when one of the hooded men drove the cracked piece of his desk into the side of his head, his vision fading away in an instant. The Cardinal slumped to the floor, the world spinning around him.
Jack sighed, holding out the vial in front of him, staring into the black Blood. "Emmenez-le chez moi. Nous allons continuer notre expérimentation..."
The hooded men obeyed his order, seizing the Cardinal's arms and lifting him off the ground. Jack knew they wouldn't be hindered. They were used to operating in the shadows, after all. He watched as they dragged the Cardinal from his office, his smile widening.
"Oh la la... How hilarious," he snickered to himself. His knife scraped against what was left of the abomination, the Blood staining the blade black. "I wonder if mademoiselle Salem thought the Cult wouldn't exist with her becoming human again..."
Jack sighed as he left the office, closing the door behind him. It wouldn't matter. It wouldn't matter at all.
...
The snow fell around them, soft and gentle as they walked through the streets of Aldia. It was the first time Salem was allowed outside of the hospital, but not the first time she had actually been out. She lagged behind the others, keeping to herself.
The adventurers had wanted to celebrate her recovery with a small party amongst themselves to welcome her back - that's where they were going now; to a small tavern that Ozpin had found.
But Salem knew better after her talk with Pyrrha. It was only to cheer her up. They were worried she was suicidal - she had become a liability. Even now, she could see the worried glances cast in her direction. She pulled her hood further down her head, staring at the ground. Yin slowed his pace until Salem caught up with him, patting her back like a friend.
"Hey. Something wrong?"
Salem still didn't feel like talking about it. She didn't want to burden anyone anymore than she already had. She didn't want anyone to worry. Besides, if they knew half of what she did, would they even want to help her? Ozpin was the only one who knew, and he still had moments where he didn't completely trust her.
"No, I'm fine," she lied through her teeth. "Just go on ahead. Have fun."
Yin gave a small smirk, shrugging his shoulders like a goofball. "It isn't fun if everyone isn't in on it," he argued lightly. "C'mon, we're still going to get Sasha back and find Vao, right?"
He was optimistic. That made Salem feel only a bit better. In truth, she had begun to doubt they'd be successful. Even if they encountered Sasha, she'd likely be angry with Yin. And then there was Vao. Even the goblins, who had the best chance of knowing his location, only knew the direction he went. He had covered his tracks, and disappeared completely. Would they ever find him? And if they did, how would he react?
... Salem knew that answer very well. Vao was a thief. He didn't like having responsibility, and had no goals other than to have fun with his life. But when his heart was set on something, he'd give it everything he had. And right now, his heart was set on protecting Verde from the Church, protecting Tim and Chuck from being executed. If they found him, there was no doubt it was going to be in a fight. And as stupid as Vao was, he excelled at fighting. Combat had been the only reason he managed to get into Beacon in the First and Second Timeline, after all.
"... Do you really think that?"
Yin's smile fell. "... What do you mean?"
Salem stopped, letting the others walk ahead. It was just her and Yin now. With a sigh, she turned to look down at him. "Do you really think we'll find Vao? In this city controlled by the Church, do you really think anyone will know where he is? Or even who he is? He's never been to Aldia..."
From Yin's reaction, she knew he had thought about it a few times, but never formulated a plan. "... I was thinking we could just walk west... We'd have to find him eventually-"
"Just walk west?" Salem echoed. "The world isn't small. Walking west won't lead us directly to him, especially if he's been in hiding for eight years..."
"But-"
"Even if we do find him," Salem interrupted. "He'll try to kill us all. You know that, right? Out of everyone, he'd be the least happy to see you. Him and Verde both..."
"Verde is sensible," Yin argued. "If we can talk to her, then she can help us reach out to Vao-"
"And how do you expect to even reach her?" Salem interrupted again. "Vao is protecting her. We're going to run into him first."
Yin didn't reply. He knew Salem was right. Fighting Vao was unavoidable. He didn't want to reply. With a small shake of his head, he walked forward. "Nevermind... Sorry for bothering you..."
Salem took a moment to herself before following after him. Was this reality that she was seeing? That in the end, everything would go wrong? Even if they continued fighting, what would happen at the end? The Gods were unstoppable. Salem felt like the biggest fool; there was no fixing the past. The First Vao had been living proof of that; even though Yin dove into his Reality and killed the Blood that plagued him, it had only been temporary. It flowed through his veins, infecting him again. Drove him mad, turned him into something he wasn't. That was permanent, like the First Yin's PTSD and trauma. The Second Timeline, where Yin lost his limbs. That was permanent.
The dark truth is sometimes things can't be fixed, no matter how hard you try. Once something is done, it's there forever. Marked in history, sometimes never able to be solved.
The tavern wasn't as cold as it was outside, but it was still chilly. They still needed to wear their outside clothes to stay warm. Among the patrons, they were the only humans. Aside from Pip and the goblins, that is. It was all elves, something to be expected in their city.
Most had scars. Others just drank quietly. It wasn't difficult to tell that the majority of them were former slaves who had escaped from their owners.
They found an empty table to sit at, the chairs creaking under their weight. Ozpin sighed, having been the only one not to take a seat. "... I'll get us some drinks. Do you guys want anything?"
Beer seemed to be the unanimous decision. The only ones not allowed to drink were Pip and Salem; the harpy being eight and the princess having just gotten out of the hospital. They were getting water. The knight nodded, stepping away towards the bar, where a green-haired elf with large glasses was pouring vodka for an elf.
Yin cast a few glances in Salem's direction, but he didn't say anything. He wasn't really in the mood to talk. Pock and Pyrrha chatted quietly, while Pip just gazed around the bar. And even with that gazing, he didn't notice the two figures tucked into a booth, nestled deep in the corner.
Adam and Ruby watched silently, the doll maker's hands clutching her newest doll tightly. The Executioner just silently sipped from his mug, turning to the pale girl.
"... You've been quiet," he muttered. "You usually tell me all about how you found your doll."
Ruby looked up blankly. "... Did you want to hear the story?"
"Not really. You're fucked in the head," Adam growled. "Just making an observation."
Ruby looked down at the table, taking a puff from her cigarette. "... I have a lot on my mind at this moment," she said softly. Adam raised a brow.
"You can think of things other than dolls?"
Ruby didn't know if she should feel insulted or not. But nonetheless, she shook her head. "... It's about something I saw the other day."
Adam snorted, his lips curling into a disgusted grin. "What, your latest victim?"
"No," Ruby replied. "It was very brief, but when I was out for a walk yesterday... I could have sworn I saw Yin."
"He's right over there, numbnuts."
Ruby shook her head again. "Not that one. A younger one, talking to an older Yin. He was smoking cigarettes, too. There were two women with them, too. One with rabbit ears, and one who looked like my aunt, but she was blind."
That didn't make much sense to the elf. Ruby could see that. With a sigh, she gently brushed her doll's hair with a comb. "... They were saying odd things. They were looking for 'that schizo'. The blind woman called them something else but her voice was too quiet for me to hear. Have you heard anything about that?"
Adam shrugged. "Doesn't involve me, I don't care," he growled. He paused, thinking to himself. "... Thinking of weird things, there's been talk around town..."
"I have not heard any chatter."
"Because you're human," Adam pointed out. "Your kind isn't liked here. I hear things because I'm an elf."
Ruby slowly nodded. "... I see."
Adam leaned against the table, finishing off his drink. "... There's been a lot of rumors about something lurking outside the city for the past few months," he continued. "It comes and goes, but whatever it is, it's hungry. It eats the villagers..."
"Some manner of monster, perhaps?"
"No," Adam mumbled. "They say it looks human."
...
Rojo's eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the darkness. He tried to sit up, but the metal shackle around his forehead rattled, keeping him against the steel bed. His eyes went wide, his arms attempting to pull the metal band away. But those were shackled, too. His ankles were shackled. His waist was shackled. There was no leeway for them; they were bolted to the metal.
"Unf?"
When he tried to call out, his voice was muffled by the cloth that gagged his mouth. Panic was beginning to settle in, struggling against the restraints. And as he rocked back and forth, a face appeared from the darkness.
A pale, sickly face from under a black hood, their eyes blazing with madness. The woman's voice was silvery, snake-like.
"Hi..."
Rojo felt shaken to his core. The Cultist stood up straight when a door opened, light spilling into the dark room. From where Rojo lay, he could see the silhouette standing in the frame, his yellow eyes gleaming in the darkness, almost as if they were glowing. His teeth sparkled, his lips curled into his wide, unforgettable smile. He stood in complete silence, staring right at Rojo.
Jack finally moved, stepping down the stairs into the dark cellar. The door closed shut, the madman looming over Rojo like a predator hunting its prey.
"Oh la la... You woke up before I could come," he cooed. "... Bonjour, monsieur..."
Rojo struggled against his restraints again, trying to grab the skinny man's throat. But they held him tight, digging into his wrists. Jack looked around at the cultists, holding his arms out as if he was introducing them.
"Monsieur, I do not think you've ever met my other friends," he said softly. "How very rude of me... Je suis désolé..."
Rojo looked at the cultists, a cold shiver running down his spine. Men and women of all ages stared back at him, the same light that flickered in Jack's eyes sparkling in theirs. They were all batshit crazy. Jack turned back to the Cardinal, leaning down until their noses almost touched.
"Monsieur... What I do here... It is only to protect you," he whispered into his ear. "I have seen the Second Timeline, mon ami... Team FRSB uses their wits. Even though you had a Semblance back then, they still worked around it..."
What was he talking about? Rojo knew Jack was insane, but at this point his lunacy was startling. Rojo didn't get a chance to finish his thoughts when Jack held up the vial, his fingers pulling away the gag.
"I wonder if they'll get around this...?" Jack murmured. "It's so exciting, is it not? The suspense... It's killing me, monsieur..."
Rojo sucked his teeth, launching the spit straight into his face. Jack didn't flinch. The Ripper stared at him silently, not bothering to wipe it away.
"... How very rude," he cooed. "I have been nothing but polite... Poor manners should be corrected with consequences."
Rojo's eyes went wide when the knife plunged into his left arm, a shrill scream erupting from his lungs. One of the cultists passed Jack a handkerchief, the Ripper using it to clean his face. The Cardinal stared at the knife left behind, blood pooling on the steel bed. Whenever he moved, he could feel the blade scraping against his bones.
"T-take it out! Take it out!"
Jack ignored him, pulling open a drawer to a cabinet, sifting through it calmly. The cultists stood over him, their faces twisted with fury. Rojo flinched, blood squirting from his bicep with each movement as they spat on him. They only stopped when Jack returned, a thumbscrew in his hand. Rojo let out a shrill whimper when he watched the Ripper fasten it to his thumb, tightening the torture device to the appendage.
"Monsieur... I do not like it when people spit it in my face," he said softly. "Every time you scream... I'll twist once."
Rojo gritted his teeth when Jack grabbed the knife's handle, yanking it free. The pain was unstoppable, Rojo's lips parting in a shriek. In an instant, he bit his tongue. Jack was smiling down at him, filling his mind with horror.
"N-no, stop! Stop!"
"One twist..."
Creaaak...
Rojo's mind went blank when the screw pressed against his thumbnail, threatening to pull it away from the bed. Rojo didn't dare thrash around now. If he moved, the thumbscrew would make him scream. He bit his tongue harder, the coppery taste of his own blood filling his mouth. He could feel the cultists grabbing the sides of his mouth, pinching until his jaws had opened enough for Jack.
The vial glistened in the candlelight, the serial killer's smile widening as he twisted the cork out with a loud pop, tilting the glass to the Cardinal's lips.
The taste was horrible. Rojo had never tasted something so bitter, so sour in his life. He choked and gagged, forced to gulp it down to avoid choking on the Blood. And when Jack pulled the empty glass away, the headaches came. Intense, like he was just struck with a brick.
"U-uhnn..."
Jack set the vial down, never taking his eyes away from Rojo. And finally, the pain set in. It was worse than the knife. It burned at the edges of his mind like a wildfire, tearing at his Soul.
"O-ow... Ow, ow!"
Jack's grin widened. "Is that a scream, monsieur?"
Rojo felt his blood run cold, shaking his head desperately. "No! It wasn't! I was saying 'ow'! Stop! Plea-"
Creeaaakk...
The screw dug deeper, blood trickling from his thumb. Rojo gasped and choked, his vision becoming bleary through his tears. One of the cultists leaned down, locking eyes with him.
"Please? I wonder how many kids begged you to stop..."
Rojo remembered the cultist. It was one of his former slaves that had vanished. This particular slave, he took her daughter from her arms. He made her watch the things he did to her daughter. The woman grinned down at him, looking up at Jack. "Can I turn it next, sir? Can I?"
Jack shrugged. "He hasn't screamed yet, mademoise-"
CRACK!
Rojo's voice reached new heights when the hammer smashed into his knee, cracking through the caps. One of the cultists had bludgeoned him, the bloody hammer dripping red, staining the table. Jack stared in silence, his smile never leaving his face. "... Oh la la... I suppose you can, mademoiselle."
Froth bubbled at his lips, desperately pleading with the cultist. "Your daughter is still alive! I'll give her back!" He screamed. "I promise! Just sto-"
"That isn't the point," the cultist snapped hysterically. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for a chance like this!"
CREAAA- RIIIP!
Rojo wailed when the cultist turned the screw, his thumbnail slowly tearing from the bed. His thumb burned and seared white-hot with agony, the Cardinal thrashing around against his restraints. The nail was still attached to his thumb, the nerves that hadn't been torn off still clinging desperately. Jack chuckled darkly, his eyes flickering with his own madness.
"Oh, monsieur... I am enjoying myself a lot. But the next dose of Blood won't come for a while. If we gave you more now, then you might just go mad," he cooed. "So to pass the time, my friends will just have to keep you entertained."
Rojo stared up at the cultists, tears trickling down his face, pooling at the sides of his head. Humans, elves, and even orcs. There was no discrimination in this Cult; they all wanted to hurt him. And not just him - he could see it in their eyes. They had done this before, to countless people in their twisted rituals. Even innocent people. Jack patted his stomach, sighing softly. "... I am hungry. Do keep him alive while I am away... Killing him would be against the Dark God's plan..."
Rojo watched as Jack started to make his way towards the door, screaming after him.
"No! Don't go! Jack!" He wailed. "Just give me more of that Blood crap! Don't leave me alone!"
Jack stopped in the doorway, his silhouette turning halfway towards the Cardinal. His lips curled again, his smile twisted and sick.
"... Please do treat everyone nicely," he snickered. Rojo watched as the door closed behind the Ripper, leaving him alone with them.
The Cult loomed over him, their laughter filling the dark cellar. And soon, Rojo's screams joined the horrible, ceaseless cacophony.
...
The chatter of the bar was far quieter than Faralda, but it was still there. Of course, it was in a language none of them understood. They had been sitting in silence for a few hours now, with no sign of Sasha. Some celebration, Salem thought begrudgingly. She really wished her water was wine; at least then she wouldn't be bored out of her mind.
In this town, there was really nothing to do but drink and wait to die. That was the general atmosphere, anyway. It wasn't until Pyrrha's head perked up that their attention was taken. "Look!"
They followed the goblin's gaze, their eyes stopping on the hulking figure that pushed into the tavern. Her plate armor rattled with each thunderous step she took, her muscles bulging under her armor. Her tanned face was filled with anger, her green eyes glaring right at them. Yin stood from his seat, holding out his hands defensively. "S-Sasha-"
"СУКА BLYAT."
With a loud clap Yin fell into the table, a dark red handprint blemishing his face. With an odd gurgle, he slumped down to the floor. Sasha had knocked him out with a slap. The giant turned to the others, folding her massive arms across her chest. If she looked ripped before, she looked more like a bodybuilder now.
"Что ты здесь делаешь?"
None of them understood a word she was saying. Everyone looked to Pip, hoping he had inherited his father's strange ability to understand languages he never encountered. But the harpy looked just as lost as his friends, crouching near his uncle. Sasha's brow furrowed in confusion, staring at the harpy. She was clearly trying to connect the dots between him and Vao. Or maybe she thought Pip was Vao. Ozpin stood up from his seat, approaching the giant.
"Sasha, perhaps we could cha-"
Before he could get close, another elf stepped between him and Sasha, his arms folded across his chest. Salem stopped for a moment. There was no doubt he was related to Sasha. The tall elf cleared her throat, visibly struggling to remember their language.
"What... What are you doing here?" She growled.
Pyrrha stood up, trying to diffuse the situation. Sasha was heated, and with her size none of them wanted to fist fight her. Especially after she just knocked a grown man out cold with a slap.
"We come to find you! We no fight!"
Sasha didn't look too pleased, giving Yin a nudge with her foot. "Not looking for a fight, but you bring this religious douche?"
They knew she wouldn't be happy. Salem stepped forward, praying for her life that Sasha wouldn't deck her. She didn't want to wake up in the hospital again. "L-listen, we're trying to get the party back together-"
Sasha just started laughing. "Nah, I don't think so."
"But-"
"Not happening," Sasha snickered. "I'm happy here. Kind of. Not really. I hate it here. But even this place is better than living with an abusive shitass."
"Abusive?" Pip asked. Sasha looked back down at the harpy, pointing a finger at him.
"Who the hell is this chick?"
"I'm Pip! I'm looking for my dad with my Uncle Yin!"
Sasha's face fell to confusion, struggling to piece it all together. And finally, she groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Oh, that horny little..." She glared at Ozpin. "Is that... Seriously Vao's kid?"
Everyone only nodded silently. Pip, on the other hand, was ecstatic. "You know my dad? Do you know where he is!?"
"Dead."
Pip's face fell, silence falling upon the tavern. Yin, who had only been waking up, stared at Sasha, his face a ghostly pale.
"He... W-what?" Salem stammered quietly. Sasha just smirked, pacing around them.
"... C'mon, guys. You really think he's still out there?" She snickered. "It's been what, eight years now?"
"You don't know that," Pock growled. Sasha shrugged.
"You're right. I don't. But I'm a realist; even if he was alive, he's probably become paranoid. He's being hunted like a dog, with the entire world out for his blood. Thanks for that, Yin."
The deacon was silent. As much as they didn't want to admit it, Sasha was right. Vao wouldn't be the same anymore. The giant elf sighed, glaring down at them. "... I heard a rumor going around town. That you guys are criminals."
"C... Criminals...?" Pyrrha echoed.
"Not you three. But the humans, yeah. Got the news last week that there's a bounty on your heads because you did something that pissed off the Pope," Sasha explained. "... What are you doing?"
They were silent. Criminals. That word echoed in their minds; it shouldn't have been surprising. The Church wouldn't just let them walk free. Sasha groaned, rubbing her temples. She was done. She approached the bar, whispering something to Oobleck. The bartender nodded and filled a bag with a few bottles, passing it off and watching as she left. It was only then that it dawned on them.
Sasha wouldn't be easy to convince.
...
The snow crunched under her black boots, the girl clutching her head. The Executioner followed, frowning at her.
"The hell is wrong with you?" He growled. Ruby didn't respond to Adam. She only shakily lit another cigarette, breathing in the smoke.
"My head... Hurts today," she muttered. Adam scoffed.
"Probably a nicotine withdrawal. Smoking is nasty anyway."
Ruby didn't respond, breathing in the smoke. She continued walking, her boots crunching against the snowy streets. Adam followed, kicking at the snow every now and again.
"... So are we just going to follow them around, or are we going to deal with them?" He asked after a long moment. "If they're as big of a problem as His Holiness says, I'd rather we just kill them off now."
"... Jack prefers that we follow for now," Ruby answered quietly. "... And I agree. If they can lead us to Vao... I can turn them both into dolls, erase their imperfections, and create a perfect world..."
Adam rolled his eyes. "Yeah... Almost forgot you're a total nut," he muttered. "No one's seen or even heard about that rat for years. They don't have the resources that we do, and the Church still can't locate him or that filthy witch. What chance do a group of outlaws have of finding him?"
Ruby shrugged her shoulders lightly, inhaling another drag of her cigarette. "... It is just a feeling... Perhaps it is fate... Perhaps it is just blind hope. Who knows, really."
Adam felt cranky when they stepped into the hotel, a scowl stuck to his lips as he followed her into the inn, and upstairs to their room. He didn't like waiting. Not one bit. Ruby sat on her bed, clutching her doll tightly. And after a few moments, she gave it a sniff. Her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"... She's beginning to decay," she muttered. "... I am going to find a new doll. Goodbye, for now."
"Good riddance," Adam muttered under his breath. "Creepy ass kid..."
Ruby ignored his comment as she walked down the halls. Or perhaps she just didn't care. And when she stepped out into the evening air, the snow sticking to the bottoms of her boots, her eyes scanned the nearly empty streets for any signs of life. Not many of the elves were out at this time. It was... Less than ideal.
Her head was nearly devoid of thought; empty and barren. She didn't make a sound as she crept to the side of the hospital, lumping the snow together to stand on and peer through the windows. Inside, she could see the doctors performing a check-up on Salem's condition before bed. Ruby decided it was best to get away from the glass before she was seen.
Moving to the next, she kicked over a barrel, her boots making the stiff and frozen wood creak. Using her fingernail, she scratched off a small piece of the frost, leaning close to peer through.
This was more interesting to Ruby. Inside, Yin was chatting with the others, his face turned away from the window. The harpy bounced up and down, but Ruby couldn't hear what he was saying through the glass. She frowned, pressing her ear against the side of the window, hidden by the curtain. She still couldn't hear. Was he telling Yin about seeing her? Ruby hoped not. She wasn't supposed to be found. In fact, Jack specifically asked that she stay hidden. Were they discussing Pip's father?
She sighed, looking around the wall. A small vent was nearby; if she stood on her toes, she could reach. But she was too big to fit through. It wouldn't be a problem for Ruby, however.
Roll, roll...
Glancing around as she pushed the barrel over the snow, she made certain that no one was around. Turning the barrel upright and stepping on it, she tugged at the vent. It was frozen to the wall. With a frown, she reached into the frills of her dress and drew her scissors, gently scratching the razor sharp blade against the ice.
Skrtch. Skrtch. Skrtch.
Slowly, she could feel the vent coming loose. The screws rusted from the moisture, they crumbled with a hard push, the vent cover popping off. She let it fall into the snow, peering down the cold shaft. She was willing to bet it led to every room, a way to filter out the sick air of the hospital's patients. Slipping her scissors back into her dress's frills, she held up her doll, pushing it into the vent.
"Aurellie... Be a good girl now. Find Yin. Be sure to tell me everything," she whispered. "... Go now, if you would..."
If anyone had been watching, they'd have thought she was not right in the head. Which... Wasn't far off the mark.
The doll's arm twitched, the handmade toy's head swiveling around. Ruby reached her hand into the vent and helped it to its feet, guiding it in the direction she wanted. The doll's thin legs tapped gently inside the vent, Ruby dropping into a sitting position on the barrel, kicking her legs through the air as she waited.
Aurellie moved down the vents, its small hand trailing against the side to guide it through the darkness. Ruby's craftsmanship was beginning to show in this doll; Aurellie was one of her latest creations. The eyes, made from rounded marble, were able to move around in its head. While the majority of it was made from wood, it still had the... Extra additions that Ruby always added. Those extra additions being from the people she would find.
Aurellie stopped when the light spilled through the slits of a vent cover, peering through. Ozpin was making hot cocoa, relaxing with one of the nurses. It wasn't interesting, but Aurellie watched anyway. After all, Ozpin was close to Yin. But after ten minutes, it became obvious that it wasn't anything related to the information that Ruby wanted. It was just Ozpin learning more about Aldia.
Aurellie wandered down the vents, wondering to herself if her wooden feet could be heard clicking against the metal.
The next room wasn't very far away. When Aurellie peeked through the vents, she could see Yin at last. The doll crouched down, leaning forward to hear better.
"It couldn't be my dad! That lady didn't act like Nan said at all!"
Aurellie paused. Yin was shaking his head lightly.
"I never said it was your father, just... That lady looked a lot like him... I almost thought it was him for a second..." Yin sighed, pointing at his nephew's wing. "Back to my original question; how's that? Is it feeling better?"
The harpy nodded. "It's alright, mate. The spot where it broke gets itchy sometimes... And where the lady stabbed me doesn't hurt anymore..." Worry crossed Pip's small face. "Wot about you? You didn't wake up until a week after me... I think... It might've been longer... Uh..."
"Don't overthink it, kiddo," Yin chuckled. "You'll fry your brain again. I'm fine... And when we find your dad, we'll figure out who that lady is from Salem, alright?"
"Right-o!"
The pair stood up, making their way out of the door. Aurellie stood to her wooden feet, her stiff fingers scratching at the underside of her chin thoughtfully.
A lady that looked like Vao? Ruby wasn't tracking on that. For a moment, the doll wondered if they could have meant Raven. But they would've said the woman's name. And besides, even though Vao and Raven looked similar, Raven had two key differences from her son. The only other one who was close enough was Yang, but her hair wasn't black and her eyes were lilac.
And while Ruby didn't like Yin very much, he wasn't an idiot. He'd know the difference between his aunt and his half-brother. It wasn't a mistake he'd make.
The doll poked her head from the vent shaft, tapping against the metal. Ruby looked up, holding out her hands to catch Aurellie as she fell. The pale, expressionless doll maker stared into her marble eyes quietly, holding her close.
"... I am happy you're safe," she whispered. "What did you find?"
The doll stood in her hands, swinging its arms in a small dance. Without any internal organs that functioned, it was a means of communication that only her creator understood. Ruby hummed quietly.
"... A strange woman...? Are you absolutely certain it wasn't Dear Aunt Raven? The harpy is not intelligent..."
The doll shook her head, swaying her hips in another dance. Ruby nodded.
"... Thank you, Aurellie... I will be more aware of this... Woman... Was there anything else?"
The doll shook her head. Ruby gave her a gentle smile, gently pushing the wooden toy onto her shoulder, the doll clutching gently to her dress. In the darkness of the rising moon, they moved silently through the snow, Ruby's boots crunching against the snow.
And just behind the dumpster she had been stalking from, Raven's hand was clamped over her mouth. When she first saw Ruby stalking the side of the hospital, she fully intended on confronting the doll maker to figure out what she was doing this far north. But that plan crumbled to dust when she saw her doll move, as if it had been alive. From what Raven knew, Ruby couldn't use magic. She wasn't a spellcaster or a healer, like Yin. There wasn't a possible way she could have made that doll move so freely. She could only say one thing to herself in a shaky, confused whisper.
"... What the fuck did I just see...?"
...
Rojo rocked back and forth violently as the Blood seared through his body, his gag drenched in spit and vomit. Jack hovered over him, chatting away with the cultists. The steel bed he was bound to scraped and scratched at the stone floor, his chest heaving up and down.
"Sir, will the Blood have the same effect as... The First?"
Jack shook his head, his smile widening. "Non, non. Monsieur Rojo is aware of the Blood; it won't go that far. And besides, the First of the Blessed was taking much larger amounts for almost eleven years, straight from a source of Blood... Because none of us are an abomination, we can't recreate him. Nor does anyone have his Darkness, aside from myself. By the way, mademoiselle, have you heard any news of him?"
"Which one?" Another cultist asked curiously. "The First, or the one from the current Timeline?"
"Both. Preferably the First; I have been very eager to meet him..."
The cultists shook their heads, the woman Jack had been initially speaking to piping up. "Well... The one from this Timeline still hasn't been heard from... Our contacts within the Church of Light haven't learned anything," she said softly. "But there has been a rumor of a Boogeyman of sorts... Adventurers have been found, mutilated and devoured beyond recognition... Even a patrol of thirty-two knights fell, their armor ripped open like sardine cans... These were knights trained by Sir Glenroy himself..."
Jack clapped his hands together softly, chuckling to himself. "This is good news, mademoiselle... We might meet him, the First to be Blessed by our Dark God..."
Rojo had long stopped thinking about their words. They were all batshit. Jack leaned over the Cardinal, his lips twitching as his smile grew on his otherwise perfectly calm face.
"... I wonder if he'll attack? Given that he knows of the Blood's existence now, does he communicate with it? I am growing very excited..."
Rojo felt dizzy. His vision was fading in and out. He knew Jack was bad news the day he first met the Ripper, when Iris had called them to meet him for the first time. Ever since he saw that smile, he knew Jack was dangerous. The Ripper sighed contently, turning to the Cultists.
"... I have not heard from Dear Sister Ruby in a long while," he said softly. "... Is she okay? Has she been found out?"
The Cult didn't have the answer. When he was met with silence, Jack sat against the bed, sitting on Rojo's busted leg. He ignored the Cardinal's pained shrieks, instead shifting his behind to get more comfortable. The serial killer scratched the small hairs on his chin, humming thoughtfully.
"Maintenant que j'y pense... She told me she scared Yin... If he sees her, he would no doubt be very suspicious... Especially with her alignment to the Church..." He looked back up, his yellow eyes focusing on the youngest Cultist - an elf, one he had bought from the black market. Despite being recognized by society as a slave, Jack never treated her like one. That was one of the many reasons he was respected by the Cult; he treated everyone equally. "... Mademoiselle, you are from Aldia. Have you heard from any of our family?"
"Yes, sir!" The teenager exclaimed. "I got a letter this morning, in fact. Miss Ruby has told the members stationed in Aldia not to intervene for now. But Yin and Salem have been sighted in the city; they said that they were attacked by a nonhuman of sorts. That knight, Ozpin, is missing an arm, and Salem had bite marks... Do you think it could be the First?"
Jack's smile widened again, drumming his fingers on the steel bed before sinking his full weight into Rojo's knee. The Cardinal nearly blacked out from the searing agony, his eyes going bloodshot.
"It very well could be... Has he been sighted? A description, perhaps?"
The elf shook her head, her smile falling under her hood. "No, sir... The rumor only says it was a nonhuman..."
Jack sighed again, almost sounding disappointed. "... That is not very pleasing... I would have made the journey if you were able to give me a description... I still very much want to at least look, but I can't leave our friend without confirmation..."
One of the Cultist's hands shot up, a sickly looking man - well, sickly in terms of the Cultists. They all looked like they hadn't seen the sun in years. "I could search, sir! It would be an honor to meet the First!"
Jack stared at him blankly, his eyes clouded with thought. "... Monsieur, I am very happy to hear your eagerness... But he's a very dangerous man. You could die and end up his next meal," he warned. "After what Salem forced the Cult to do to him in the First Timeline, before he became her weapon... He might not take too kindly to seeing anyone... Will you still undertake the task?"
"Of course sir!" The man nearly screamed. "Even if I am eaten, it would be nothing but flattering that he would find me fitting for consumption!"
These people were worse than Rojo thought. From what he gathered from the bits and pieces he could manage to pick up through the pain, they were willing to let themselves be eaten by... Whoever this cannibal was. Jack turned back to the Cardinal, waving another vial.
"... It has been a moment, monsieur... It's time for your next dose..."
...
The snow glowed in the morning sun, the light creeping through the curtains. Pyrrha's eyes opened groggily, a dazed and confused expression on her green face. Sitting up in her bed, she ran her fingers through her red hair, groaning from the aching sensation. Pock was lying face down on the floor, an empty bottle of vodka clutched loosely in her hand. Pyrrha visibly struggled to remember what happened.
She remembered drinking with Pock when they got back to the hospital, and then... Not much else. But hey, at least she was in a hospital. They had to have aspirin, right?
No. This was Aldia. The economy sucked, and healthcare was terrible. The hospital couldn't afford aspirin. Luckily, Pyrrha had a solution.
A glass of water, and then more alcohol. At least it would numb the headache a bit. With water in one hand and vodka in the other, Pyrrha downed it with ease, letting out a happy sigh as she hopped off her bed, stretching her arms before kicking the door open gently with her foot.
The halls had nurses and doctors slumped against the walls; in typical elven fashion, they had been drinking too. To hell with work, Pyrrha supposed. Aldia was filled with people waiting to die - alcohol was just a way to pass time. Aldia was really sad, now that she thought about it.
Down the halls, she stopped at Ozpin's door, pushing it open. The knight was sitting in his bed, sobbing quietly. Pyrrha was immediately concerned.
"Ozzy? You okey?"
The knight jumped out of his skin at the sudden sound of her voice, quickly shaking his head. "I... I met a really nice woman last night," he croaked. "And we started drinking... We were getting close... And then when I undressed, she laughed..."
Pyrrha nodded. "Oh, becos you have nothing there."
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT OUT LOUD!?"
Pyrrha had let the intrusive thoughts win. Shouting a quick apology, she left the poor man to himself. Pyrrha continued on her way, poking her head into Yin and Pip's room. The harpy was still snoring away in his bed, but Yin was reading a book. Or at least trying to - he didn't understand the language.
"Good morning!" Pyrrha greeted cheerfully. Yin looked up from the pages, giving a friendly wave.
"Morning," he called. He turned back to his book, furrowing his brow. "... I'm starting to understand how Vao feels... I can't understand a word in this thing..."
"What it about?"
"I... I actually have no idea," Yin muttered. "A nurse gave it to me. She didn't speak human, but she understood when I said 'book' and gave me this after a few questions. Her face was really red and she kept pressing a finger to her lips. She actually reminded me of Blake, one of Vao's friends, whenever she would read one of her favorite books. She would never tell anyone what it was."
Pyrrha didn't feel like crushing Yin's expectations by telling him that he was reading something dirty. Even if he was a douche in the past, he was trying to get better. Saying her goodbyes, Pyrrha took another sip of her vodka as she made her way down the halls, knocking on Salem's door.
There was no answer. Pyrrha knocked again.
... Still no answer. Pyrrha frowned, resting her hand against the knob. And with a twist of her wrist, she gently opened the door.
Salem's bed was empty, her gear missing. Pyrrha stepped into the room, her head swivelling around. "... Salem? You here?" She called softly. "I got dizzy-drink. Just don't tell Ozpin, he'll yell at me."
But just as last time, there was no answer. Pyrrha peeked under the bed, worry beginning to settle in when she saw nothing but empty space. A cool breeze blew on her back; Salem's room was colder than usual. And standing up, Pyrrha continued her search, opening the closet. But all she found were dusty boxes and hospital uniforms. They didn't look like they had been touched in a while.
It was only when a second breeze blew against the back of her neck that she turned to the window.
The open window.
With a cry of shock, Pyrrha darted towards the hole, pushing the curtains aside and poking her head out. Just below, there were footprints in the snow.
Pyrrha raced back to Yin's room, kicking the door open. The healer groaned, letting the book fall to his lap. "I heard you knock on Salem's door! Pip and I are men, you should knock!"
Pyrrha ignored his complaints, staring at him blankly. "Yin? Did Salem say she leaving?"
His blonde eyebrows furrowed in confusion, closing the book and setting it on the nightstand. "... No? Why? Is she not in her room?"
Pyrrha shook her head slowly. "... No? I... Be right back. Sorry."
Yin called after her as she left, the goblin running down the halls and bursting out of the door and into the snow. Running around the hospital's corner, she could see the footprints clearly. It didn't look like Salem had taken the road. They led to the alleys, towards the city's edge. In a manner of moments, Yin had already caught up to her, adjusting his clothes.
"Wait! What's going on? Where's Salem?" He demanded. Pyrrha only beckoned for him to follow, her eyes never leaving the trail.
Their boots crunched through the snow as they traversed the alleys, a few elves stumbling about in the early hours of the morning. None of them were coherent enough for conversation. All they had were Salem's footprints leading them closer to the city walls, and finally to the gate. An elf stood duty at the wooden frame, struggling to stay awake. Pyrrha clapped her hands together, startling the guard.
"... Что?" he growled groggily.
"Um... Lady... You see her? You speak human?"
The elf didn't look like he had a clue what she was saying. The language barrier was getting in the way at the wrong time. He raised a brow at Yin, shrugging his shoulders.
"Была ли здесь женщина?"
The pair nearly cried out at the new voice, turning and looking up to see Sasha standing behind them. For someone as big as she was, she was stealthy. The guard scowled. "Я вижу много людей. Быть конкретной."
"Она человек."
The guard nodded, pointing outside the gate. "Она прошла здесь два часа назад."
Sasha groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "... Let's go," she growled. Yin and Pyrrha shared a worried look before following the tomboy, the deacon finally speaking when they were out of earshot.
"... Why are you here?" He asked in confusion. "I... Thought you were still angry..."
"I am," Sasha muttered. "I really hate looking at your face. Kinda want to bust your teeth so far down your throat you shit them out. But I saw Salem a few hours ago by herself while I was shovelling snow off my porch. Then I saw you at the gate, and figured she didn't come back. You're really scaring off the people who try to be there for you, huh?"
"He not bad anymore!" Pyrrha protested. Yin was grateful that she was defending him. "He kind to everyone-"
"Yeah, like I'm gonna believe that," Sasha growled. "I'll never forget the awful shit he said to Verde. Right now, I think he's no better than the scumbags in the Church."
Pyrrha paused, turning her head towards the healer. Realization hit him like a brick to the skull. While Vao had told the goblins that he was bad news and aligned with the Church, he never told them about what triggered their fight. Pyrrha and Pock had no idea that Yin bullied Verde for being molested. And if they found out, he highly doubted Pyrrha would defend him, or even be willing to work alongside him. Silently, he shook his head, trying to push the terrible memory to the back of his mind.
Sasha sighed, pushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "... I still consider Salem one of my friends. She was way nicer than you," she growled. "... That's why I'm here. She looked down in the dumps yesterday, and I just want to make sure she didn't go and off herself."
"Sh-she wouldn't do that!" Yin shouted. But Sasha only chuckled darkly.
"You need one serious reality check, dude."
They didn't say anything after that. They only walked deeper, deeper into the snowy forest.
...
Boots crunched against the snow, her rapier rattling at her side when she trembled from the cold. Glancing back at the sky, she turned to keep the rising sun to her left. She wasn't sure just how far north Aldia was, but if she kept walking south she'd find the grassy plains eventually.
After seeing everyone beginning to recover, Salem finally acted on her plan. Her thoughts had grown worse throughout the night; not only was she seen as a burden, but another attack was imminent if she stayed with everyone. He was after her. And while the next encounter could be a friendlier face, it wasn't a chance she was willing to take. If that raving lunatic was going to kill anyone, it would be just her.
Dark thoughts clouded her mind, making the world seem more monochrome than the snow around her.
The last encounter with Vao had shaken her. He believed she was behind the Timelines, of his life repeating. And even if he was oblivious to what happened in the Second and Third Timeline, it didn't take much to set him off to begin with. Salem knew that from first-hand experience.
If it hadn't been for the sudden appearance of the Second Timeline heroes... Everyone would have died. Without her magic, without the power that the Blood had given her, Salem knew that she wouldn't win a man-to-woman fight against him. Even without his magic or Semblance, his fighting style was far too unpredictable.
... She felt nothing but guilt. Whereas Yin already had it bad, she did worse to Vao in the First Timeline. Letting Tyrian do as he pleased, torturing him when he failed to meet her ridiculous standard during his training, and stopping him from outright killing himself to get away from what the Blood was doing to his body. Lying to him, promising the one thing he had always wanted - a normal, happy life where he could properly get to know the innocent woman who had gouged his eye out while under the same parasitic force as him. The woman he murdered, and held her in his arms up to her last breath, finally realizing she had wanted a second chance. A chance he had stolen using his own hands.
She wondered if Vao realized she never intended for Summer to die. The plan had originally been for him to kill Pyrrha; that was why Cinder gave him her bow. But after he missed every shot because he didn't know how to use it, the plan had changed in an instant. She figured it wouldn't matter. At the end of the day, Salem's involvement had led to Summer's death, and Vao's insanity.
Deeper and deeper, into the monochrome forest. She had enough. Vao was going to kill her eventually, and she knew it. And she was planning to let him; let him get his revenge. She couldn't be around anyone when it happened.
Salem wasn't willing to let anyone else pay the price for something that was her fault, and hers alone.
Or would she just finish the job herself? She was terrified of Vao - with her newfound mortality, she had learned to fear things. And if she did it herself, maybe the attacks would stop? Twist could then continue peacefully, something Remnant had never been able to do.
With those dark thoughts clouding her mind, she was unaware.
Unaware of the hooded figures in the trees, following her from a distance.