Vampire Cinder has fought a long, storied rivalry with Huntress Ruby Rose. Their final battle comes, with the eternally young and beautiful Cinder meeting an old, weary Ruby with grey hairs and wrinkles. "Your eyes are as pretty as the day we first met."
Ruby gripped the hilt of her scythe as she made her way closer to the cottage shack rumored to house Cinder. The sun had already started to set, what little light was left made the grey in her hair shine a faint silver. After all these years, she finally had a way to stop Cinder. And she was certain today was going to be the last time she’d have to meet her.
As she reached the door, she kicked it down, thankful that her strength hadnt faded with age. But as she walked in, she was met with glowing amber eyes with red rings around the pupil staring at her from the shadows.
“You could’ve just knocked,” Cinder spoke softly as she stepped out from the shadows and towards the edge of the light, a smile crossing her lips. “Your eyes are still just as pretty as the first time we met.”
Ruby moved her scythe, blade facing Cinder as she readied herself for a fight. “I’ve come to end this.”
Cinder let out a laugh and sat down on her couch. “As you’ve said for years, and yet, here we are, meeting once again. What makes you think this time would be any different?”
Ruby tightened the grip on her scythe and took a step closer to the unintimidated vampire. Her breathing started to slow as she felt her heart race. And yet, nothing she did seemed to phase the vampire in front of her. “I finally have what I need to defeat you.”
“Let me guess, another cross?” Cinder asked as she reached for a nearby wine glass. “Or maybe you have holy water with you. Oh, I know, your blade is made of silver now.”
“I know now that you’re a vampire because of the grimm inside you.”
A frown crossed Cinder’s lips while she grabbed a wine bottle from the rack. “I see. So what, you’re going to blast me with your eyes this time?”
Ruby lowered her scythe, silver eyes still glued to the vampire as she watched her remain unintimidated. And yet, something felt… off. In years past, Cinder would be gloating about keeping the upperhand, for Ruby walking into a trap. And yet, she seemed to not care about any of that. “You’re… not worried.”
“Maybe I want a drink before we get into this fight again.” Cinder poured herself a glass of wine, and then a second before offering it to Ruby. “Join me?”
“How do I know you’re not trying to poison me?” Ruby asked.
Cinder sat the glass down and took a sip from her own. “Suit yourself.”
Ruby folded her weapon up and sat down across from Cinder, still keeping watch over her. She had been in this fight with Cinder for longer than she wanted to count, and yet, this was the first time Cinder hadnt made a move against her. No attempts to turn her, stab her, lead her into a trap, just a pair of wine glasses and what looked to be one of the last bottles of wine that Cinder had.
“Once you’re finished with me, what do you intend to do next?” Cinder asked as she swirled the wine in her glass. “Move on to the next monster? Or do you plan to settle down finally.”
“Why do you care to know?” Ruby reached for the glass in front of her and sniffed it. “You’ll be dead.”
“Just because we’re rivals doesnt mean I cant care about your wellbeing. Your heart, it hasnt stopped racing since you’ve walked in here. You dont have much longer either, do you?”
Ruby looked away. “I’ll be fine-”
“But you wont. Your silver eyes, I know they’re destroying your sight and your heart. How many more times can you use them before you destroy yourself in the process? Dont you have anyone to live for?”
Ruby could only sit in silence at the question. Years ago, she could’ve answered with a resounding yes. But now, her family and friends were just a memory and graves that she visited when she could. When she looked at Cinder, all she could see was pity in the vampire’s eyes.
“You dont, do you?” Cinder more said than asked. “I know how that feels.”
“Again, why do you care?” Ruby finally took a sip of her wine, still not used to the bitter taste. “I’m here to kill you, arent I?”
“Yes, but that doesnt mean you’ll succeed.”
In a flash of an eye, Ruby felt Cinder’s fangs against her neck, unsure of when the vampire had moved. The hand she’d normally use to grab her scythe had been pinned to the couch and she could barely move.
Cinder pulled her fangs away and whispered to Ruby. “I’m still in my prime and you’ve aged well past yours. Using your eyes will be sure to kill us both, and then there’ll be nothing left. No stories of either of us, no one to remember us, just two rivals faded into obscure legend by the few traces we left. Is that really what you want? Or are you just looking for a way to punish yourself?”
Ruby closed her eyes. “If you’re going to kill me, do it.” All she could do was stay still as she felt Cinder’s fangs brush against her neck once more, only to pull away.
“I have no intent to kill you. In fact, I… I’m ready for this rivalry of ours to end.”
Ruby opened her eyes. “I-I dont understand.”
Cinder moved back to her seat and picked up her wine glass. “There’s nothing more for me to gain with it. Turning you or killing you when you were younger would’ve gotten you out of my way, but now… Salem’s gone, vampires are starting to become more accepted and there are other ways to get blood now besides just abducting people to feed from… So, I leave us with a choice: either we both die, or we both get to live out the rest of our lives atoning for what we’ve done.”
Ruby nodded and stood up, her hand reaching for her scythe. She unfolded it one last time, staring at the blade and then at Cinder. She could end it all now, be done with everything. No more Cinder, she’d certainly die, but then again she would die anyway. It was all down to her choice.
And yet, all she could do was drop the scythe onto the coffee table in front of her and start to walk out. “We’re done.”
“You’re not going to finish your wine?” Cinder asked.
“I’m not a fan of the stuff.”
“Then maybe I’ll find you next time we can get something to eat together.”
Ruby paused at the door of the cottage and sighed. “I thought you didnt get anything out of eating.”
“I dont, but I want to make sure that I see you again,” Cinder answered back. “You still deserve someone at your side until its your time to pass.”
“Fine,” Ruby said, waving her off. “Just make sure you dont give me a reason to regret this.”
