original, with filter

content: moodboard

character/ship: arkos on fire | jaune x pyrrha x cinder [rwby]

theme: general character themes

requested by: me

OMIGOSH. I LOVE THIS! THANK YOU! <3

Convalescence (CH 3)

Summary: Now that Salem has been sealed away, Cinder is working to redeem herself and to heal from her past. With Jaune’s help, she’s managed to change her ways and become the new Protector of Argus with Pyrrha by her side as the partner who shares her body. However, healing takes time and how can Cinder focus on peace when the past keeps rearing its ugly head?

Word Count: 4K

Rating: Teen

Warnings: PTSD, trauma, mentions of psychological abuse

AN:  Thank you for all the faves and story watches everyone and I apologize for the wait for the third chapter.

Keep reading

Arkos on Fire Vamp AU sketches.

Cinder ignores Salem's orders and doesn't slaughter Ozpin's best soldier. Instead she lords her powers over the human and takes her. Of course, Salem is not gonna be pleased... especially when Pyrrha's human soulmate shows up to the coven demanding answers.

(Cinder’s POV)

Salem was furious. Never before had one of her children disobeyed her orders so... flagrantly.

“Cinder,” Salem purred, “Would you mind explaining to me why Ozpin’s best solider is still alive?”

The others fidgeted. There was going to be blood here, and not the fun kind.

Cinder smiled, “Because in two nights, she’ll be ours.”

Silence reigned.

Finally, Salem spoke. “Cinder, never would I have expected you to undertake an act of stupidity this colossal.”

Cinder was left flabbergasted. “But, Mistress, I-“

Salem continued as if Cinder hadn’t spoken, “There was a reason I said ‘slaughter’ and not turn, Cinder. Pyrrha Nikos has a soul mate. You know what that means? It means he will not rest until he saves her.”

(Jaune’s POV)

“They’re... in there.” Pyrrha gasped.

Jaune gulped. He was about to march alone into a literal hive of vampires and demand that one of them release his beloved.

“Alright, I’m going in. Stay out of sight, if I don’t make-“

“I’m going with you, Jaune.” Pyrrha said through gritted teeth.

“Absolutely not, Pyrrha. You’re in no shape to fight, plus as soon as Cinder sees you, she’ll be on you like ugly on a Boarbatusk. I’m not risking that.” Jaune declared.

Pyrrha nodded weakly. “Okay, Jaune. If there’s anything good about this, it’s forced you to come into your own as a hunter.”

Jaune chuckled, “Necessity is the mother of invention, right?” His expression became somber. “I’m going in. No matter what happens tonight, I love you, Pyrrha.”

“I love you, too, Jaune. Be safe.”

He nodded, kissed her on her forehead, drew his weapon, and began what very well could be his death march.

It’s time, he thought, time to announce myself.

He drew his weapon, assumed his stance, then yelled. “WHERE IS CINDER?”

(Cinder's POV)

"S-So what?!" Cinder snapped, jutting her right arm out at Salem. "What does it matter if some loser human seeks us out? I can kill him or add him to the collection-"

Salem cut her off with a cold glare. A tugging inside of Cinder's soul suddenly compelled her to stop talking. It was like chains were tightening unbearably around her heart.

"You fed on another. Did you never consider why I had it so you would only feed upon me?" Salem asked, though it wasn't really a question.

Cinder tensed. "I... I..."

Salem shook her head, her fingers slinking up Cinder's wrist. "You foolish girl... you've introduced another to our bond. You think she will long for you and seek you out?" Her fingertips rose to Cinder's neck, lowering her coloe to scrape at the bite on Cinder's neck. "Or is it the other way around?"

Cinder's eyes widened. The last few hours, her mind had been racing with thoughts of the crimson-haired girl. She had chalked it up to Pyrrha's beauty. Her divinity of being Ozpin's special chosen one and nothing else. But no... it was there. The longing... she wanted to return to Pyrrha. To lie beside her and caress her... maybe to protect her.

"The bond... goes both ways?!" Cinder spat out, her hand shaking until Salem gripped it.

"Unless you have power over it." Salem tightened her grip, pulling Cinder ever so close to her. She jerked Cinder's arm in such a way to elicit a cry from her helpless thrall. "Why did you do this, Cinder?"

"I... I didn't-" The thrall's voice gasped out.

"Am I not enough? Don't you love your Mistress any longer? After I've given you everything..." Salem hissed, wrenching Cinder closer. "Maybe you've forgotten our love. Our bond."

Cinder let out a squeal of pain, but she did not dare to draw away. Instead she bowed her head in shame, leaving her neck and bite exposed.

"Maybe...I need to remind you of our love, girl." And Salem sank her fangs into her thrall's neck, sending a wave of screams from the girl throughout the coven's hideout.

---

(Jaune's POV)

His battle cry had echoed throughout the lair, but when he arrived, the knight found a sight he wasn't quite expecting.

He immediately raised his sword, his heart pounding with anticipation. "I... I'm looking for Cinder."

Before him was a large throne surrounded by hundreds of purple and black candles. Upon it sat the woman of anyone's nightmares. Her skin was pale and sickly, etched with veins. Her eyes were red and haunting, now narrowed on him but they paid him little heed. And in Salem's lap was the girl he was looking for, the girl who had bestowed this curse upon Pyrrha. But something was wrong.

Cinder wasn't responsive to the blonde's sudden intrusion. Her head was bent in against Salem's breast like a child seeking comfort against its mother. Two long lines of crimson trailed from two bite marks underneath a collar on her neck. Salem supported her by keeping a hand at the small of her back. But for all purposes, Cinder looked... weak. Like a wisp of a creature if nothing else.

Jaune lowered his sword, his eyes filled with the strange image before him. As he drank the moment in, trying to decide what to do, Salem spoke instead.

Her fingers were entwined with Cinder's dark locks, stroking her subject's head almost passive aggressively. "You came here to reclaim your lover's soul?" Salem said, her voice sending a tremble up Jaune's spine.

Jaune gritted his teeth, hardening his heart. He gripped his sword again. "That's right. I-"

Salem ignored him. "You shall have it. I care not for any soldier of Ozpin. I'd much rather have them slaughtered to weigh on his conscience," she said. Her other hand worked its thumb up Cinder's neck, removing the blood trails from her pale skin.

Jaune tilted his head. "I don't understand. You'll let Pyrrha go?"

"In a way," Salem responded. "Her blood taints my bond and love with my thrall here and now she must pay the price for that."

Jaune let his eyes trail to Cinder, who was still unresponsive to his presence. "What's happened to her?" Not that he should care.

"It is as I said. I need to remove the taint of that filthy soldier girl from my thrall's heart. When one of my own disobeys me, they must be starved and drained for three days." Salem's tongue caressed her bottom lip. "On the edge of nothing, she will remember her true place and we can only hope, her bond for this girl of yours will shatter."

Ugh this posted to my other blog. How annoying...

Thank you, @ownagemaster13 for inspiring me. <3

(But wait, there’s more)

“Pyrrha isn’t filthy.” Jaune said.

Gods dammit why did I say that? Jaune screamed at himself, I need to get out and get Pyrrha home! Why the hell am I still...

Salem fixed her gaze on him once more. “It takes a person of either great courage or great stupidity to talk back to me after I have granted mercy. Which are you?”

Jaune smiled in spite of the situation he found himself in. “Little bit of both, I reckon.”

Salem tilted her head as she regarded the hunter. “I have precious little patience left today, young man. I would not try it any further if I were you.”

Jaune gulped. “I’ll just... ah... be going then.”

Salem stood, laid Cinder on the floor, and spoke. “Savor the time you have left with her...” Salem disappeared from Jaune’s vision, and her next words were whispered in his ear, “For the next time, I will not allow any mistskes.”

Jaune’s blood ran cold. Her intent was clear. She was going to have Pyrrha killed. Violently. Jaune could feel his anger and fear rising in equal measure.

Somehow, Jaune found his voice, “I won’t let you. It’s our destiny to be together, and I won’t let you, or any other vampire destroy that.” Jaune winced. He had probably just signed his death wish.

Salem reappeared by Cinder, picking her up in some approximation of a bridal carry. “We shall see.”

-scene break-

Pyrrha watched the entrance to the lair with uncertainty. It had been too long, Jaune needed her, she knew it! As she was about to head in...

Jaune emerged, a grim look on his face.

“Jaune? What happened in there?” Pyrrha asked.

“I’ll tell you on the way back home.” Jaune stated, “We shouldn’t linger.”

Finally, Jaune began to tell the tale. “I had an... audience with Salem.”

Pyrrha was dumbfounded. “You WHAT?”

Jaune nodded and began to relate the tale. How Cinder had apparently disobeyed Salem when she gave Pyrrha the curse, how Salem had effectively given him back Pyrrha’s soul without even a speck of a protest, and...

“So,” Pyrrha said. “She’ll send her minions after me again, but this time because I... tainted her and Cinder’s bond?”

“Load of crap if you ask me,” Jaune said. “It’s not like Cinder gave you a choice. She’d send them either way. She really does not like anything to do with Ozpin.”

Pyrrha mulled that over for a while, then asked another question. “Oh, what about-“

“The actual bond?” Jaune finished, “It should be gone in three days, but based on how she worded it, there might be a chance that it’ll hang on.”

Pyrrha was quiet for a while, before she spoke again. “We need to tell Ozpin.”

Jaune nodded. “Yeah, we do.”

Unpleasant cries filled the lair of Evernight Castle throughout the day, but most of the inhabitants paid no mind to them due to Salem's orders. Cinder was to be isolated to her room after being drained and not allowed any contact with blood or nourishment until the 72 hours had passed. Once the three days would be over, Cinder would be allowed to drink from Salem and reignite the passion of their bond, but until then, the starved girl was left to scream in her room, her nails shredding her bed sheets to relieve her stress.

"There really is no way to shut her up, is there?" Dr. Watts groaned. He was the thinnest of the vampires and one who treasured his sleep during the day. "Should she even act so pitiful when she brought this upon herself?"

"Ohh," purred Tyrian, a vampire hanging from one of the rafters above their meeting hall. "I rather like listening to her cries. She cries for our Goddess and therefore, what else could be more beautiful?"

Sitting in the middle of Salem's long table was a much taller, huskier man, one with considerably gentle eyes for a vampire. Between Watts and Tyrian, he gave a hefty sigh. Hazel was no fan of torture and that's what this was in his opinion. Cinder was going to scream herself hoarse if she kept this up any longer, so he rose to take his leave.

"I'll get her to stop," Hazel said, dusting his massive coat off.

"Oh, please do," Watts urged, rubbing his temples as though to soothe a migraine.

--

It was clear that the goal of starving Cinder was to weaken her bond with the girl she had bitten, but the first 24 hours were filled with nothing but a longing for Ozpin's warrior. In between the screams and fits, Cinder flopped on her bed in some sort of fever dream of her and Pyrrha together, laced and entwined with each other. All Cinder could think about was the moment she felt Pyrrha's pulse sing out when she bit into her flesh.

Cinder shot her one eye open, panting hysterically. She sat up on the bed, trying to collect herself as large steps approached her room. Was it Salem? She had to be presentable despite her continuous fits. Every so often, more so at night, Salem would drift into her room and caress her thrall. She would whisper a soothing lullaby, hold Cinder close to her neck, and let Cinder nuzzle into her. It was a method of teasing and reaffirming Cinder's lust for her Master rather than some girl of Ozpin's. A way of re-teaching their love and promise.

But even with that, Cinder would close her eyes and imagine running her fingers through those crimson locks, her one working arm tightening Pyrrha into a possessive embrace.

And for that, she was thankful that when the door opened, it was not Salem who entered. It was Hazel. Cinder gritted her teeth and looked away in shame. Hazel always provoked some sort of guilt from her, real or otherwise.

Hazel sighed to her, drifting to her bed to sit down beside her. "You shouldn't have disobeyed our Master. When she said to kill, she meant it, Cinder."

Cinder scoffed in reply, rolling her eye. She already knew this, damn it!

Hazel continued on, "Our Master loves you. She does not want anything to damage your bond." His large hand took Cinder's much smaller one. "It is the bond that will destroy Ozpin and hand us Vale. Salem already had to consider your destruction when that holy water was splashed upon you."

Cinder lowered her head, the way her flesh burned in that moment still fresh in her mind. A plucky huntress had gotten lucky and shot a bullet of holy water at her. Salem worked diligently to make sure she had healed... but Cinder never really would.

Hazel shook his head. "And now you ran off and desecrated that bond. You nearly destroyed it."

"I didn't know-!" Cinder tried to interject, but Hazel raised his hand.

"That's never an excuse!" Hazel shot back. "You do as you're told! For your safety..." His voice had trailed off, this time more somber. His arm moved around Cinder's shoulders, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Cinder was ultimately silenced by the motion, hoping the quiet would pass for an apology. Ever since she had been turned into Salem's right hand, every vampire in Evernight had wanted a piece of her. Only Hazel proved to be her ally even if she was never clear on why. A soft spot? Perhaps.

Hazel was rubbing her back in small circular motions as he told her to collect herself. They were going to go outside the castle since the sun had just set.

"Why? I'm so hungry and I..."

Hazel helped her to her feet, gently leading her to the door. "As long as we do not feed you, you are caged without bars. I think some fresh air will help your nerves."

--

Pyrrha and Jaune had sought out Ozpin at the tall green tower in Vale. It stood high above the city like a guardian, a lookout stationed to watch for Salem's forces. Ozpin had an office there but he was often about on the front lines of their city to protect the citizens whenever an attack reared its ugly head.

Despite the emergency, Ozpin was gone when they arrived at the tower. Jaune insisted on finding him but Professor Goodwytch stated that even she did not know of his current whereabouts or business. Jaune shot Pyrrha a look. That wasn't good. And the bite could only be seen to by Ozpin. Who else would understand?

As they entered the apartment Pyrrha lived in, Jaune noted that they would just have to try for Ozpin in the morning. Pyrrha nodded and they both nervously said their goodbyes for the night. They had three days, right?

"I'm going to get a hold of Saph," Jaune said with a hopeful smile. "She might have some advice on this stuff."

"If you think it will help," Pyrrha said, her hands behind her back. "Thank you, Jaune." She pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek and pulled away.

They said their goodbyes and Pyrrha turned in for the night, sinking down on her bed over the covers. The day felt so warped. Like a week instead of just 24 hours. When she closed her eyes, she wanted to see Jaune there in her mind. His warm smile...

Instead she got black lipstick covered lips and a shimmer golden stare. Her heart felt like it stopped and the bite on her neck pulsed something awful. "Cinder..." She softly uttered. "Why did you do this to me?" She wanted Jaune. She wanted to dream about Jaune but her heart was leashed and being tugged towards a woman who greedily drank from her neck.

Pyrrha rolled around her bed, wincing. It was like she could feel Cinder's cries for her. She wanted to join her... to be close. To have those fangs brush the soft skin of her neck again.

Flushing, Pyrrha gave a frustrated yell and sat up. She was clearly not getting any sleep that night, so what could a little jog around the training grounds hurt? It was still under Ozpin's protected territory...

She laced up her boots, made sure to take her weapon and left her apartment out into the warm autumn night. Wherever her heart ached to lead her, she would go. Just a little closer. What could it hurt?

(Had to continue this one. Took me a while to figure something out but threw some Hazel and Cinder bonding in there.)

(Cinder’s POV)

Hazel had been right, the night air was helping. Unfortunately, it was offset by the apparent fact that Pyrrha was coming to her, still so far away, but moving closer all the same.

Even with the combined calming influence of the night air and Hazel, the... the desire to be close to the crimson haired warrior, to feel her pulse sing to her again...

It was intoxicating. How did Salem keep this under control?

Cinder screwed her good eye shut and willed herself to stay under control. The raw desire abated, but she was left with something else.

Images of another of Ozpin’s soldiers floated through her via the bond. A boy, his blonde hair loose and wild on his head, his blue eyes both full of courage and fear in equal measure.

The worst part was that Cinder could feel how Pyrrha felt about this boy. She couldn’t quite put a name to the emotions, but whatever it was...

Cinder wanted it.

Hazel, for his part, had noticed that something was wrong. “Cinder? What’s-“

“Something’s wrong,” Cinder cut him off, “I need to talk to Salem. Now.”

(Pyrrha’s POV)

A jog had sounded like a great idea at the time.

Turns out it had been a terrible idea, since the faster her heart beat the more the bite pulsed.

That wasn’t even the worst part. Every step she took that brought her closer to Cinder gave her feelings that before she had only associated with Jaune, and every step she took that took her further away, felt like agony.

NO! Jaune is the one who holds my heart, Cinder. You might have it on a leash, but you will never lay claim to it.

She did the only thing that had brought her any semblance of peace during this ordeal. She closed her eyes and thought of Jaune. His blonde hair that she loved to run her hands through, his eyes, blue as the ocean, which she could easily get lost in for hours...

And so it went. As Pyrrha remembered all the things she loved about Jaune, the pulsing from the bite on her neck faded. It didn’t disappear, but it became... manageable. To the point where she could fight if she needed to.

Which she would.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” A cold voice said.

Pyrrha whirled around to see two figures. The first, a young man with grey hair and grey eyes, with no visible weapons. His only other defining feature the metal boots her wore. The second, a woman, shorter than the man, with green hair and red eyes. She carried two wicked looking blades.

The woman smiled, revealing her fangs. “Salem sends her regards.”

Then, before anyone else could make a move, a voice that Pyrrha would forever cherish thundered over the quiet of the night.

“DON’T YOU TOUCH HER!”

(Jaune’s POV, 20 minutes earlier)

“NO!”

Jaune woke from his restless sleep with a yell. He could remember in vivid detail the nightmare that had woke him.

Salem had him in chains, and was killing Pyrrha in front of him. Slowly. He woke up after Salem threw Pyrrha’s head at his feet.

He knew from experience with other nightmares that he wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep for a long time, so he decided not to be idle. Sleepless nights were when he seemed to do his best training anyways. He gathered his armor and weapon, and headed down to the training grounds. He was halfway there when it hit.

Something didn’t feel right... something... bad was happening.

Jaune had learned early on in his career as a hunter to always trust these hunches. The one he had now told him that Pyrrha was at the training grounds, and in danger.

He ran.

When he arrived, there stood Pyrrha and...

Two others, one with weapons drawn.

No!

He roared with all the force of a hurricane, “DON’T YOU TOUCH HER!”

(Decided to continue this to get some urges off the plate. I can't help but to love the vampire AU after all... even if we do need to shorten this up eventually. Hmmm....)

As expected, Hazel had not taken Cinder to Salem. Instead he had brought her back to her room and urged her back towards her torn up bed. 

"Do you not listen?! Take me to Salem!" Cinder feverishly spat, flexing her claws at Hazel. It was more for show than anything else as she would never attack her only ally in Salem's guard. Still, her mood was not to be tested. 

Hazel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You may have more favor than the average human thrall with Salem, but this does not mean you can march around Evernight as a spoiled princess." 

"She's my mate! Am I not allowed to contend with my mate-?!" 

Hazel lost his slight hunch, standing up straight to make himself seem considerably larger. His fists clenched and a piercing glare told Cinder that it was in her best interest to back down and do as she was told. Or… perhaps she needed a different approach. 

Cinder softened her gaze and shrunk back towards the bed. "I'm not trying to disobey… I'm not," she uttered, sitting down. If she showed some semblance of cooperation to Hazel, perhaps he would give up the macho act. "I just need to talk to her." 

Hazel released his fist, but still shook his head with a sigh. Then he placed a solemn hand on Cinder's shoulder. "Even still, her words are absolute. We can only reintroduce you to Salem when your need for her bond is at its peak. Otherwise… the option to see you is in her hands and I suspect that will only be in the case of emergencies or to test your loyalty." 

As expected. Cinder huffed and turned her head to the side, preferring to have an icy staring contest with the wall rather than look at her jailer any longer. 

"Rest, Cinder," Hazel said firmly, but with a hint of encouragement in his tone. "Before you know it, this pain will end and your bond with Salem will be restored." 

Cinder gave a small grunt in response, listening to Hazel's steps retreating her room. The door closed behind him and the young vampire heard a small click that suggested that the entrance was now locked. Perfect. 

Well… that was what windows were for, wasn't it? Cinder slumped back onto her bed and tried to shut her eye. Hazel's words were like a broken record in her head, but she knew somewhere at her core that he was right. She had wanted to see Salem to ask why she was also experiencing feelings for that blonde imbecile wrapped around Pyrrha's finger, but even bringing that up would just anger Salem. Probably. Most likely. 

"What am I doing?" She muttered to herself. Even now, she could hear Pyrrha's pulse ringing in her ear. It was a steady enough beat that Cinder found she could rest like this and just concentrate. Her mind darted back and forth between the crimson-haired warrior and then her blonde companion. 

Cinder snorted in disgust. As though Jaune Arc could ever amount to anything. While he took her to be unconscious during his incident with Salem, she could actually somewhat make out the conversation between him and her Master. He was practically trembling in his boots when he challenged Salem and talked back to her. She could feel his fear… and it was only by Salem's good graces that he was allowed to leave. 

A sudden pang of dread washed over Cinder and she bolted upright. Pyrrha's pulse… it was racing. Cinder swallowed, pushing her head against the cool tiles on the wall to drown the feeling out. But she could feel it. Pyrrha's heart was pounding fast, calling out through the bleak, quasi-bond that Salem aimed to break. And yet, it was so loud that Cinder couldn't ignore it. She wanted to. 

Salem would have a field day if she knew what Cinder was thinking. But the thrall didn't care. This was Salem's fault anyways! Why didn't she just kill Pyrrha and that blonde idiot? Then Cinder wouldn't be feeling such pain! Was this all just some sort of cruel test of loyalty? 

Cinder did not have time to dwell on it. She was already on her feet, stumbling to the window like a baby deer that just started to walk. She panted, looking once more at the door as if expecting Hazel to burst through and catch her. Nothing. 

Then she leapt from the window and curled around the rocky surface of the fortress to keep from being spotted by the night guards. 

---

"Awww, check it out," barked Mercury in amusement. "The human wants to pretend it has a spine." 

The mint-haired thief merely groaned in response to her partner's joke and turned back to Jaune, keeping her chained weapon swinging. "Keep focused. Salem wants the girl dead." 

And so did Emerald if she was honest. As much as it sucked to pine for Cinder in Salem's grasp, Cinder was still close enough for her to do so. Adding Pyrrha into the mix qas a complication nobody asked for. 

"Yeah, yeah...but that doesn't mean we can't make this fun, right?" Mercury shot back, a grin spreading on his face. 

Jaune gripped his sword, stepping before Pyrrha. He panted, slight relief washing over him that he had arrived just in time to block Emerald's first attack. 

Pyrrha stepped forward, clicking the spear at her side. Even in the haze of madness that her feelings had led her through, she still made sure to never leave home without a weapon. The spear doubled in its size and Pyrrha took to Jaune's right side in order to aid him. 

"Salem must be a low sort to consider sending you in her place to do her dirty work," Pyrrha said, focusing on warding off Mercury. 

"Oh, don't make this personal," said Emerald, her red eyes resting on Jaune. "We just can't have Ozpin's kind messing up Salem's plans." 

"Cinder bit me, not the other way around!" Pyrrha challenged. "Seems to me that she isn't happy with Salem. And trust me…" She tapped the bite mark on her neck, flashing it to Emerald. "I definitely know." 

Emerald hissed, then sped off at Jaune. Part of her was already raring to attack Pyrrha for her insolence, but slicing the blonde up like sushi would make for a more pleasurable conquest. 

Jaune parried her chained blade, activating his shield to thrust the blow back. But Emerald's force was strong, nearly knocking him clean off his feet. Before he could counter, a sharp kick to his stomach sent him flying straight into a nearby tree. 

"Watch your sides now," said Mercury, cracking his knuckles. "You just… you know… have so many openings!" 

Emerald grinned, nodding to her partner. "I'll keep the blonde busy. Keep his girlfriend out of my way!" 

"You got it." Mercury launched into the air, directing a swift kick down at Pyrrha. 

Pyrrha swiftly drew back, keeping her spear at the ready. "I'll give you one more chance," she gasped out, meeting the metal of Mercury's leg with her own weapon. She managed to put some oomph into her counter, driving Mercury off his balance. Mercury skidded back, shoving his foot back to keep from stumbling in the dirt. 

Mercury frowned but Pyrrha held firm, keeping her spear trained on him. Now she was on the offense. "One chance. Take your partner and run back to Salem before this gets out of control-" 

Jaune suddenly flew by her, a cry of pain leaving his lips after Emerald had savagely delivered a jab of her gun to his chest. "Ngh…" He coughed up a bit of red. 

Mercury glanced at Jaune, then shrugged. "Aw… you know, I think I'll take my chances." He smirked, rejoining Emerald at her side. 

"That's enough," a cold voice called from the trees surrounding the training grounds. 

All four heads turned to see Cinder emerge (more like stumble) from the brush, her arm holding her side as though she was injured. Upon seeing their leader, Emerald and Mercury immediately lowered their weapon and hurried to her. 

"Cinder!" 

"Boss…" Mercury uttered in amazement.

Before Emerald could reach out for Cinder, her hand was immediately slapped away by the irritable thrall. 

"C… Cinder…" Emerald dipped her head, shaking a bit. Cinder could truly be a monster when she was angry… but why was she here? Mercury moved up as if to comfort Emerald, but drew away when he caught Cinder's glare as well. 

"Leave," said Cinder simply. 

Both of her subordinates lifted their heads. "But boss," started Mercury. "You can't just-" 

Emerald chimed in. Damn the consequences. "Salem isn't going to accept this-!" 

Cinder recoiled on both of them, taking out her claws as if to rip across Emerald's throat. "I repeat. LEAVE." 

Mercury and Emerald did not need to be told again. The mercenary vampire already took his leave back into the forest while Emerald gave a long and distraught last glance to Cinder before trailing slowly behind him as well. 

Cinder watched them leave in silence, then she fell to her knees. It had taken everything out of her just to come this far into Ozpin's territory. She was exhausted and so very, very hungry. And the source of her pain was just two feet before her. 

Jaune and Pyrrha stood in front of the vampire, observing her. Before Jaune could reach for his sword, Pyrrha placed her hand on his. "Wait. She can't do anything. She's on the cusp of collapsing by now." 

Jaune blinked, rubbing some blood from his lips. "Really?" When he did glance at the vampire, she was taking ragged breaths and trying to keep her head upright. 

Pyrrha nodded. "It seems she came all this way just to save us." 

Cinder scoffed at such a notion. "No. I came to...ungh…" 

"Try and put me out of your mind," finished Pyrrha. In a sense, she felt she had some sort of mysterious power over the vampire despite how the bond took its toll on her as well. 

Cinder only stared at the dirt. 

Pyrrha gave another nod at Jaune. "It's the bond. Our bond. She can't stop thinking about me." 

Jaune looked back to Cinder, noticing the tremble running through her body. "I thought you were bonded to Salem. What about her?" 

"I love Salem," said Cinder. Her vision was starting to fuzz again. She was so very hungry that she had begun to experience a sharp pain in her stomach. "I love Salem…" 

Pyrrha shook her head and knelt to Cinder. "And yet, you ran away. It seems to me your bond with her just isn't strong enough. You're going to pay for that." 

Jaune looked startled. But it made sense. "Pyrrha, do you want me to kill her?" 

Pyrrha sighed, then shook her head. "No. Definitely not. I…" She turned back to Cinder, allowing the vampire to falter against her chest. "She bit me. But I can't hate her. And perhaps a vampire like her will come in handy for our battle against Salem's forces. We've been on the losing side for so long." 

"My bond with Salem may be weak, but it's still there!" Cinder growled, trying to pull away. She stumbled away from Pyrrha, landing in the dirt. She drove her fist into the ground, letting the pain work its way up her arm. This was pathetic…

"And Salem is using it to hurt you for disobeying," said Jaune, with a sudden seriousness in his tone. "I was there, you know? I saw what she was doing to you. She's controlling you." 

Cinder tried to ignore him, but she couldn't do much of anything. She wanted to lie there and go to sleep with little worry for the sun that would burn her alive. Why did she leave Salem? How did she even come this far? At this point, it all felt like a dreamy blur in her mind. 

Jaune's eyes softened from his glare as a sudden idea came to him. One that would benefit them and cut Cinder away from her circumstances. "You ran away to be independent of Salem. But you can't do that with your bond still connected like this." He undid his collar, exposing his neck. 

Cinder muttered something about not knowing what he was talking about, but Jaune spoke over her. "Cinder, feed on me. Forge a bond with me and it'll sever you away from Salem's control." 

Cinder stopped muttering and lifted her head up wearily. "What?!" She sputtered. Pyrrha, too, gazed at him uneasily. "I can't… I won't…" Her eye rested on the naked skin on Jaune's jugular. 

"You can," said Jaune. "And you'll finally get to eat." 

Convalescence (CH 2)

Summary: Now that Salem has been sealed away, Cinder is working to redeem herself and to heal from her past. With Jaune’s help, she’s managed to change her ways and become the new Protector of Argus with Pyrrha by her side as the partner who shares her body. However, healing takes time and how can Cinder focus on peace when the past keeps rearing its ugly head?

Word Count: 5K

Rating: Teen

Warnings: PTSD, trauma, mentions of psychological abuse

AN:  Thank you for all the support on the initial chapter! This is my first fic posted in such a long time, so it totally took me by surprise.

Keep reading

Convalescence (CH 2)

Summary: Now that Salem has been sealed away, Cinder is working to redeem herself and to heal from her past. With Jaune’s help, she’s managed to change her ways and become the new Protector of Argus with Pyrrha by her side as the partner who shares her body. However, healing takes time and how can Cinder focus on peace when the past keeps rearing its ugly head?

Word Count: 5K

Rating: Teen

Warnings: PTSD, trauma, mentions of psychological abuse

AN:  Thank you for all the support on the initial chapter! This is my first fic posted in such a long time, so it totally took me by surprise.

Keep reading

Summary: Salem was dealt with and now Cinder has to adapt to her new life. Closely guarded by her so called soulmate Pyrrha Nikos, she is coerced to amputate her Grimm arm in order to appease the masses. Yet the act renders her sick beyond belief and Pyrrha is forced to make a hard choice. [Fallenverse AU]

Pairing: Salem x Cinder x Pyrrha

Genre: Angst; Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: 2k

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Manipulation, Sickness

Author‘s Note: Writing request from @hoepunkausta ^^

The last time Cinder had been sick, she had hidden herself away. Showing any kind of weakness that was due to her body’s very own incompetence was beyond disgusting to her, but this time it was different. This fever was beyond anything she had ever to endure. Everything hurt, was aching with cold and exhaustion…and yet she felt like burning up.

She tried burrowing herself into her pillows, but it didn’t help.

A painful moan escaped her lips, as she struggled to breathe in deeply.

Why had she ever agreed to this stupid amputation in the first place?

This is your chance at freedom, Cinder…

Think of it as a fresh start.

Pathetic.

They both knew it had been an ultimatum for trying to rehabilitate her.

Now she was here, back in Mantle…and oh how she wished she could just burn it to the ground after all.

She whimpered pitifully, as she tried to curl up into a ball, thinking back to a time when being sick hadn’t been that bad.

When someone had hugged her close and kissed her forehead just right…had kept her warm and safe…secure…

‘I want to go home.’

“Cinder, you didn’t even touch your food.”

The concerned voice sounded way too grating to her poor ears.

Pyrrha just couldn’t leave her alone, could she?

Hovering over her like some sort of overprotective nurse, advocating for her freedom at every step and making her decide on how Cinder wanted to live her life now.

She should have killed her on top of Beacon tower…she should have…and yet…at the last moment her fingers had slipped, missing her heart and letting the redhead survive her onslaught.

Not that Ruby Rose had cared for that, blasting her with those godforsaken eyes.

Ultimately it didn’t matter now…now that everything was over…that Salem was…

Whatever may happen, don’t forget, you hold the key to our victory.

A sudden cool touch on her forehead ripped her from her sluggish thoughts, making her groan a bit.

“Your fever rose again.”

‘You don’t say.’

Cinder wasn’t really in the mood to think too much. It was hard and exhausting…and Pyrrha’s presence made her head spin even worse.

Her right arm wound tightly around her midsection.

Her orders had been clear.

‘Stay alive!’

How disappointed Salem would be if she saw her right now.

She whimpered quietly when Pyrrha withdrew her hand. Another sigh sounded through the otherwise silent room.

“Cinder…please”, the maiden could hear her plead, “you need to eat something.

Drowsily Cinder turned her head and immediately cursed herself for doing so.

The honesty behind the redhead’s emerald green eyes was overwhelming.

‘Destiny…’

It’s what tied them together.

An unbreakable bond predetermined before both of them were even alive.

Cinder hated it. The power it had over her.

She knew Pyrrha felt it as well. This pull.

That was probably even the reason she tried to rehabilitate the maiden in the first place.

It was disgusting really!

She didn’t need some heroic savior, especially if she came with a blonde dimwit who wanted to play Huntsman.

Yet…the dark haired girl couldn’t help but to answer, her voice sounding raspy and weak even to her own ears.

“I’m not…hungry…”

Well…that wasn’t entirely the truth, but she was in no mood to explain to Pyrrha that she hadn’t been able to contain any food she brought her inside.

She’d rather not eat at all than throwing it up all over again.

That had never happened when Sa-

‘No!

Don’t go there!

I need to endure this!’

“Cinder!”

Oh by the gods!

Why did this girl refuse to take a hint and leave already?

Cinder groaned again. This time more from the pain than any real annoyance.

She just wanted to be left alone and be able to sleep.

Instead, she found Pyrrha sitting on the edge of her bed, taking the bowl of soup the maiden had ignored into her hands, stirring it quietly with a stern expression on her face.

“You need your strength”, the redhead said firmly, holding a spoonful of the warm substance under her nose, as her eyes softened and her tone became almost pleading, adding a soft: “Please”, at the end.

The smell of the soup was overwhelmingly strong and made Cinder’s stomach churn unpleasantly.

Her eye widened comically, as she had to abruptly sit up, the horridly sweet taste in her mouth making her nauseous. Heaving heavily, she did her best to fight against this horrible feeling, ignoring Pyrrha’s panicked expression, who had jumped from the bed in a hurry.

The spoon hit the floor with a loud clang, only accompanied by the sound of retching when the dark haired girl vomited the rest of the meal she had been forced to eat last.

Tears shot into Cinder’s eye.

It hurt so much…

She just wanted it to end already…

A hand rubbing her back helped to ease the cramps wrecking her body, allowing her to catch her breath.

“I will get the doctor to check on you tomorrow.”

It was probably meant to show how much the redhead cared about her, but it did nothing to quell the sudden horror that gripped Cinder’s hard like a tightly wound snake.

Ripping herself away she stumbled backwards, glaring at the persistent girl that dared to call herself her destiny.

“I- I’m fine…”, she wheezed out in between gasps.

This outburst had cost her way too much of her remaining energy. Drained, she wavered back to the bed, almost immediately curling up under the blanket again.

She felt hot…feverish.

Her eye so heavy that she couldn’t keep it open any longer.

“Salem”

With that Cinder had fallen into a restless sleep, drifting in and out of consciousness, sometimes shivering madly from the cold, sometimes from the heat, sometimes even from…very weird shaky motions rattling through her body as if she was being carried far far away, but what really roused her from her slumber was a…familiar smell.

A feeling of…warmth.

Of…

‘Home?’

Her golden eye flew open.

Through her blurry vision she was able to make out…nothing?

Or to be accurate, she seemed to be buried against someone, obscuring her view, making it appear just as dark.

It was strange. Cinder should be panicking right now.

Who knows who got a hold of her and where she was hauled off to?

But…something about this felt…comfortable.

Even her fever seemed to have gotten down a bit, making everything so much more bearable.

“Is she going to be okay?”

The voice was rather muffled, but she was still able to recognize it as Pyrrha’s.

Did she drag her to a doctor after all?

A pang of fear rushed through her body, making her shiver violently.

She couldn’t-

They couldn’t find out…

“Maybe you should have asked yourself that before separating her from an integral part of her body.”

Cinder froze.

It couldn’t be…

There was no way…

“This horrendous arm you gave her had to go.

It was making her sick!”

Pyrrha sounded beyond mad at this point, but the dark haired girl was still too shaken, subtly straightening her back to make sure she hadn’t imagined the other voice in the…room?

“Are you so sure about that?”, the other person sighed, an action that Cinder could feel very well through her whole, tired body, along with a familiar hand caressing her dark hair.

“In the end it does not matter. The damage has already been done.”

The maiden’s heart skipped a beat.

Shifting against the person holding her, she entangled her right hand into black, soft fabric, possibly alerting them to her, but she didn’t care.

She needed to know.

To see…

“What are you even talking abou-?”

“Hush!”

The hold on Cinder’s hair slackened, as she was coaxed out of the deep embrace, finally laying eyes on the one she craved in her dreams above all else.

“How are you feeling, Firefly?”

‘Firefly…’

It had been so long since she last had heard that nickname.

“Am…am I…dreaming?”

Cinder’s voice was raspy and almost inaudible and yet lying in the arms of her beloved master was making that fact completely irrelevant.

“Cinder, you’re awake!

I’ve been so worried.”

She heard Pyrrha’s words, the relief in them almost palpable, but she couldn’t stop staring in disbelief at the person sharing the bed with her.

“Salem?”

All of Salem’s followers had been separated, not allowed any kind of contact between them, let alone knowing what had happened to their master…outside from being aware that she still had to be alive.

It was all part of their punishment and rehabilitation.

But here she was, Salem, her master, her…

With a knowing smile, Salem placed a hand against her cheek, caressing it lovingly.

“I was told you were being unwell, Firefly.”

Cinder’s hand flew to her stomach almost on its own accord, the redhead’s presence all but forgotten for the moment.

The more her consciousness returned to her, the more she also felt the addled pain it brought along, the burning of her eye and what was left of her left arm, the pounding in her head, the overall aching and sore throat…

“My arm”, the maiden managed to croak out, clinging to Salem for dear life, “they took my arm and they will take it too.”

Her voice became more and more frantic, as her mind began to paint gruesome pictures.

“They don’t care.

They’ll never understand.

We have to protect our-”

With a gentle finger on her lips, Salem stopped her jumbled chatter, making her roll on her back with a soft nudge. Turning her head to Pyrrha, she motioned at something Cinder couldn’t quite make out.

To be honest…now that she stared at the ceiling…she didn’t even know where she was.

A nagging part inside her chided her for not paying closer attention to the details around her so she could use that knowledge at a later time, but she was way too drained.

“Hand me that vial, girl.”

Hesitating shortly, the redhead did as she was told, stepping closer to the bed to give Salem what she asked for. She seemed rather uncomfortable to be here, her gaze flitting from Cinder to the vial and back again with very apparent concern in her eyes.

Did Pyrrha bring her here?

If so…how?

‘And why?’

Before Cinder had the chance to voice her questions the now opened vial was placed against her mouth.

“Drink, child, this will make your pain more endurable.

It will combat your fever and give you back your strength.”

Pulling herself up with her right hand, the maiden gulped the liquid down to its very last drop.

It strangely tasted like simple water, nothing special about it…and yet she immediately felt somewhat better. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Pyrrha narrowing her emerald green ones.

It was curious how contrasting they were to Salem’s.

Warmth flooded through her body, as pain ebbed away, making her sigh out loud contently.

She sank back against the pillows she had been laying on the whole time, robbing towards her master, seeking her warmth.

Salem would be able to fix this. Her trust in her was absolute.

She understood them, her, like no one else could.

Her vision clouded, as sleep tried to claim her once more.

Do you believe in destiny?

Red hair and green eyes flashed through her inner eye.

Pyrrha…

The invincible girl…who tried so hard to give her another chance at life…

Her soulmate…

She would never admit it, but…she felt safe in the redhead’s presence.

Cinder reached tiredly for Pyrrha’s hand, tugging on it weakly.

Following her wordless invitation, Pyrrha crawled onto the bed as well, running her thumb over the back of the dark haired girl’s hand carefully.

Managing a weak smile; Cinder whispered a breathless:

“Thank you.”

Before drifting off into a light sleep.

She only heard snippets of the following conversation, as she slipped away completely.

“What did you____?

And how? Did ____ ____ the consequences?

Was it even____?”

“I believe that is quite irrelevant, isn’t it?

We all know what will happen if the secret is revealed.

The real question is…what will you do about it, Pyrrha Nikos?”

Arkos on Fire Vamp AU sketches.

Cinder ignores Salem's orders and doesn't slaughter Ozpin's best soldier. Instead she lords her powers over the human and takes her. Of course, Salem is not gonna be pleased... especially when Pyrrha's human soulmate shows up to the coven demanding answers.

(Cinder’s POV)

Salem was furious. Never before had one of her children disobeyed her orders so... flagrantly.

“Cinder,” Salem purred, “Would you mind explaining to me why Ozpin’s best solider is still alive?”

The others fidgeted. There was going to be blood here, and not the fun kind.

Cinder smiled, “Because in two nights, she’ll be ours.”

Silence reigned.

Finally, Salem spoke. “Cinder, never would I have expected you to undertake an act of stupidity this colossal.”

Cinder was left flabbergasted. “But, Mistress, I-“

Salem continued as if Cinder hadn’t spoken, “There was a reason I said ‘slaughter’ and not turn, Cinder. Pyrrha Nikos has a soul mate. You know what that means? It means he will not rest until he saves her.”

(Jaune’s POV)

“They’re... in there.” Pyrrha gasped.

Jaune gulped. He was about to march alone into a literal hive of vampires and demand that one of them release his beloved.

“Alright, I’m going in. Stay out of sight, if I don’t make-“

“I’m going with you, Jaune.” Pyrrha said through gritted teeth.

“Absolutely not, Pyrrha. You’re in no shape to fight, plus as soon as Cinder sees you, she’ll be on you like ugly on a Boarbatusk. I’m not risking that.” Jaune declared.

Pyrrha nodded weakly. “Okay, Jaune. If there’s anything good about this, it’s forced you to come into your own as a hunter.”

Jaune chuckled, “Necessity is the mother of invention, right?” His expression became somber. “I’m going in. No matter what happens tonight, I love you, Pyrrha.”

“I love you, too, Jaune. Be safe.”

He nodded, kissed her on her forehead, drew his weapon, and began what very well could be his death march.

It’s time, he thought, time to announce myself.

He drew his weapon, assumed his stance, then yelled. “WHERE IS CINDER?”

(Cinder's POV)

"S-So what?!" Cinder snapped, jutting her right arm out at Salem. "What does it matter if some loser human seeks us out? I can kill him or add him to the collection-"

Salem cut her off with a cold glare. A tugging inside of Cinder's soul suddenly compelled her to stop talking. It was like chains were tightening unbearably around her heart.

"You fed on another. Did you never consider why I had it so you would only feed upon me?" Salem asked, though it wasn't really a question.

Cinder tensed. "I... I..."

Salem shook her head, her fingers slinking up Cinder's wrist. "You foolish girl... you've introduced another to our bond. You think she will long for you and seek you out?" Her fingertips rose to Cinder's neck, lowering her coloe to scrape at the bite on Cinder's neck. "Or is it the other way around?"

Cinder's eyes widened. The last few hours, her mind had been racing with thoughts of the crimson-haired girl. She had chalked it up to Pyrrha's beauty. Her divinity of being Ozpin's special chosen one and nothing else. But no... it was there. The longing... she wanted to return to Pyrrha. To lie beside her and caress her... maybe to protect her.

"The bond... goes both ways?!" Cinder spat out, her hand shaking until Salem gripped it.

"Unless you have power over it." Salem tightened her grip, pulling Cinder ever so close to her. She jerked Cinder's arm in such a way to elicit a cry from her helpless thrall. "Why did you do this, Cinder?"

"I... I didn't-" The thrall's voice gasped out.

"Am I not enough? Don't you love your Mistress any longer? After I've given you everything..." Salem hissed, wrenching Cinder closer. "Maybe you've forgotten our love. Our bond."

Cinder let out a squeal of pain, but she did not dare to draw away. Instead she bowed her head in shame, leaving her neck and bite exposed.

"Maybe...I need to remind you of our love, girl." And Salem sank her fangs into her thrall's neck, sending a wave of screams from the girl throughout the coven's hideout.

---

(Jaune's POV)

His battle cry had echoed throughout the lair, but when he arrived, the knight found a sight he wasn't quite expecting.

He immediately raised his sword, his heart pounding with anticipation. "I... I'm looking for Cinder."

Before him was a large throne surrounded by hundreds of purple and black candles. Upon it sat the woman of anyone's nightmares. Her skin was pale and sickly, etched with veins. Her eyes were red and haunting, now narrowed on him but they paid him little heed. And in Salem's lap was the girl he was looking for, the girl who had bestowed this curse upon Pyrrha. But something was wrong.

Cinder wasn't responsive to the blonde's sudden intrusion. Her head was bent in against Salem's breast like a child seeking comfort against its mother. Two long lines of crimson trailed from two bite marks underneath a collar on her neck. Salem supported her by keeping a hand at the small of her back. But for all purposes, Cinder looked... weak. Like a wisp of a creature if nothing else.

Jaune lowered his sword, his eyes filled with the strange image before him. As he drank the moment in, trying to decide what to do, Salem spoke instead.

Her fingers were entwined with Cinder's dark locks, stroking her subject's head almost passive aggressively. "You came here to reclaim your lover's soul?" Salem said, her voice sending a tremble up Jaune's spine.

Jaune gritted his teeth, hardening his heart. He gripped his sword again. "That's right. I-"

Salem ignored him. "You shall have it. I care not for any soldier of Ozpin. I'd much rather have them slaughtered to weigh on his conscience," she said. Her other hand worked its thumb up Cinder's neck, removing the blood trails from her pale skin.

Jaune tilted his head. "I don't understand. You'll let Pyrrha go?"

"In a way," Salem responded. "Her blood taints my bond and love with my thrall here and now she must pay the price for that."

Jaune let his eyes trail to Cinder, who was still unresponsive to his presence. "What's happened to her?" Not that he should care.

"It is as I said. I need to remove the taint of that filthy soldier girl from my thrall's heart. When one of my own disobeys me, they must be starved and drained for three days." Salem's tongue caressed her bottom lip. "On the edge of nothing, she will remember her true place and we can only hope, her bond for this girl of yours will shatter."

Pyrrha voice: *chuckling* Jaune, you should run... I have not sold her on the idea of "us" yet.

Just a doodle this morning in the middle of working on a commission.

Cinder: Um... Salem. This is my boyfriend, Jaune... and our girlfriend, Pyrrha. O///O She also lives inside me.

Salem: ....Go to your room.

Watts: Psychological analyses for everyone involved!

Destiny

Pyrrha x Cinder ficlet

-

Cinder sighed softly as Pyrrha’s fingers ran through the back of her hair, her other arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her close. With every kiss Cinder found herself caring less and less about anything other than Pyrrha and the way she felt against her own body.

Pyrrha parted from Cinder’s lips and trailed kisses down her neck and across her collar bone, every kiss felt like fire against Cinder’s skin and she couldn’t help but just sit back and let Pyrrha explore her.

i couldn’t stop thinking about @secret-cinder‘s post about cinder being smaller than pyrrha….

this is some sort of au i guess??