Ruby’s fingers tapped against the crown she held in her lap, her heart racing as she stayed quiet in the airship. Her eyes stayed on her scroll as she watched a few more calls from her teammates go unanswered from her. As her scroll finally went quiet, she turned it off and took a few breaths to try to steady her heart.
“Not how you thought it was going to be, was it?” Cinder asked.
“I uh… I thought it’d be easier.”
“To betray everyone that trusts you?”
“To follow what I think is truth.” Ruby let out a soft sigh and leaned back in her seat, fingers gripping around the crown. “I-I knew I was going to have to tell them eventually, but I thought… I thought I had more time. I could work both sides, make sure we know what Ozpin is planning so we can keep out of trouble and make sure no one would get hurt. But now Yang knows and I had to fight her… I dont want to fight the rest of my friends as well.”
Cinder nodded and put the airship on autopilot for a moment. “I wish I could tell you it’d get easier, but it wont.”
Ruby nodded and looked out the window to watch the world around them pass by. She was no stranger to watching everything pass by below, but it felt different than it had before. No patching up after a mission completed, no terrible jokes being made to laugh at, no complaints about the cooking or not being prepared for some unforeseen issue… just quiet. Even Cinder seemed more reserved than normal instead of flirting like she had on the way to Beacon.
Finally, Cinder spoke. “Salem probably knows your plan didnt go quite as unnoticed as you said it would.”
Ruby nodded. “What do you think she’ll do to me?”
“I’m not sure. Probably make an example of you, but since we do have the crown, I’m sure you’ll get off easier than if we didnt have it.”
“Yeah…” Ruby said in half agreement. She glanced down at the crown as her fingers ran over it once more, the desire to put it on becoming stronger the longer she held it, almost as if it was begging for her to wear it. Begging to show her the choices that lay in her future as a soft voice whispered in her ear.
“*Wear me.*”
Ruby felt Cinder’s hand on her arm, not aware that she had already started to move the relic to her head. Her arms shook as she lowered the crown back to her lap. “S-should I… not wear it?”
Cinder shook her head. “Not until after Salem has. Its our job to deliver the relics to her, not use them before her.”
Ruby nodded and put the relic into her pack as she watched the ocean turn to land as they approached Evernight Castle. No matter how many times she saw the barren, grimm infested lands, it always made her heart race in fear. Watching the grimm down below climb out of the grimm pools and make their way towards the castle… it was unnerving.
“Just make sure you hand the relic to her,” Cinder said as she brought the airship down to land.
Ruby took one final deep breath as she felt the airship land, her stomach almost in knots as she stood up. The air around her tasted stale as she made her way into the castle and towards the throne room where Salem sat. Her fingers fumbled with her pack with each step as she struggled to get the relic out.
She followed Cinder into the throne room,staying behind her and following her lead just as she normally would. Once she saw Cinder stop, she dropped to her own knee, relic in hand and near her chest as she waited to be spoken to. And yet, the world around her seemed to be quiet as she heard the faint whispering in her head once more. Ruby’s eyes went from watching Salem down to the crown until she felt her fingers leave it as it was pulled away.
“You both have done well,” Salem said as she held the relic in her hands. “And for that, you deserve a gift.”
Ruby looked up at Salem, confused as to what she meant until she felt a sting on the back of her neck as Salem placed a hand on her shoulder. Her muscles clenched as she felt something crawl under her skin. Sweat dripped down her forehead as her body felt like it was heating up. And then… the pain and heat were gone.
Salem pulled her hand away and smiled. “This will make sure you’re able to succeed with claiming the next maiden’s power to secure the next relic. But for now, rest. I’ll let you know when you’re needed again.”
Ruby nodded as she stood up, legs shaking under her weight as she nearly collapsed, only to be caught by Cinder.
“Dont worry, I’ve got you,” Cinder said.
Ruby sighed and put her arm around Cinder to keep herself balanced. “I-I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”
“Its fine. We’ll go to bed and rest. And tomorrow we’ll make sure you’re ready to fight your friends if we run into them again.”
Ruby looked away as she felt her heart sink. Her friends, her teammates… she was sure they’d understand reason if she could get just a moment to talk to them, to help them see things from her point of view. And yet, she was also certain that they would become her enemies whether they understood or not.