Chapter 32

Interlude: Salem

Sitting alone in her dining hall with only a Seer for company as she waited, Salem couldn't quite keep the smile from her face.

'Such fire you have dear Cobalt.' she hummed internally. The aura blocking her from reaching through their connection was as solid as ever, the boy was ever so careful not to let it drop so low. Intelligent of him she supposed, if ever so redundant in the end. It only delayed the inevitable.

Still, blocked off or not, it wasn't very hard for her to measure his growth and track his movements. That fire of his would take him far, but he really should learn not to be so reckless. He was quite lucky she'd forced the Hydra into rest. He was not quite ready to face such an opponent, even after impressing her by attaining the incredibly rare and vaunted form of a Manticore King, she'd half expected him to take on the form of a Sea Feilong after she witnessed him defeat one days back.

But no, he'd reached an even greater form and impressed her once again. 'Still, I do hope he remembers to be grateful for all my effort in the future.' the Grimm Queen mused. Forcing the Hydra into a sleep was quite troublesome. Draconian Grimm were the most prideful of all, and that pride only grew as they aged. The Hydra was a composition of ten draconian Grimm of high tiers, nine of them being Sea Feilong, and the beast was ancient in comparison to most Grimm. Why, over five hundred years old she believed at this point.

Currently, it seemed that he was heading back towards Mistril, after spending a few days scouring the desert lands of Menagerie for powerful Grimm to feast upon.

It was, not ideal. Cinder was needed for the plan of forcing Raven Branwen into working with them for now. and she was needed for gaining the Relic of Choice.

It would seem that she needed to find an opponent that could keep Cobalt busy while things went down. There was still a month or so until the plan to retrieve the Relic of Knowledge was to proceed. With how fast Cobalt was growing, by then Cinder might not be his match at all, even with the powers of the Maiden.

Salem smothered a devious smile as the doors to the dining room wound open and dear little Cinder and her little entourage entered. 'It's about time I let her know about him anyway..he may just serve as some motivation for the pathetic girl to get her act together.'

"My lady." Cinder dipped her head in acknowledgement. Salem found it amusing how easy it was to see the scathing resentment in her remaining eye for having to merely bow her head in greeting.

Salem waved her hand, motioning for them to take a seat. The boy and the girl didn't even make a sound, so terrified of her as they were. Salem's eyes lingered on the dusky skinned, mint haired girl. Emerald she believed her name was. She was a pretty thing, exotic too. Unlike the mass of ugly scarring Cinder had become, this one might be worth keeping around as a gift for dear Cobalt. Why, wouldn't it be a sweet revenge on one who helped kill him to have her serve on her knees as a little pet to take out his lusts upon any time he desired?

She'd gladly hand over Cinder to the same fate once she was done with her. But well, that seductive beauty Salem had instilled in the girl she picked up had been seared away by the silver eyed brat. And not to mention, she'd be long dead once dear Cobalt was done with her.

Emerald caught her look and flinched, looking away like a mouse. How pathetically amusing, Salem almost laughed at the skittishness of a girl who willingly helped orchestrate the death of thousands and the near fall of a nation.

"..May I ask why you called us here my lady?" Cinder spoke up, breaking the silence after a few moments.

"Oh I just wanted to show you all something Cinder dear." Salem replied idly. She waved her hand and the Seer beside her levitated up upon the table and began broadcasting an image of Cobalt's new form as he sprinted through the desert, towering above even massive rock plateaus.

"Woah, check the size of that thing." The boy, Mercury couldn't contain himself and had to comment. Such a jester he was. Maybe she could dress him up like one, put little bells on him and have him dance like a monkey for Cobalt? She'd often had jesters over the years and found great amusement and stress relief in beating them.

Cinder narrowed her eyes lightly at the image, "..A Manticore King?..Very very rare, I know..but why show this to me?" the former beauty and current Fall Maiden asked.

"Hmm?" Salem tilted her head to the side and smiled in an amused fashion, "Oh it's not a very big thing Cinder dear. It's just you and your subordinates here killed a boy by the name of Cobalt during your time in Beacon. And somehow, he has taken over one of my Grimm. And in the span of time since Beacon fell, has already ascended so far in his rage at you three. Why, even with his aura blocking my connection to him, I can still feel the burning rage and desire to murder you all he has."

Emerald locked up and froze, while Cinder's sole eye widened in horror.

"Holy shit." Mercury yelped, summing up the situation for all three of them quite well indeed Salem believed.

..Yes, he'd probably make a fine court jester..or pet monkey. Either or really.

But, Salem's eyes found themselves on the green haired girl, Emerald. Odd, why did she have tears budding in the corner of her eyes. The girl hastily looked away and wiped her eyes to clear them, and it all happened in the span of just a few seconds. But Salem knew what she saw.