Chapter 13: Horror of the Eclipse

"A deal?" Scarlet asked while looking at Muzan, she didn't want to make any deals with him. But she also wanted to know how her mother was alive, once again. "If this has to do with what you said about Salem being alive, spill it. I might take it into consideration then, what kind of deal are you talking about Muzan?"

Muzan smirked as he dropped Scarlet, he looked at her for a moment as he turned around. "You take care of Tanjiro and his annoying friends, and in return I will tell you what I know... in fact, I could tell you know so you can get a bit.... triggered."

Scarlet scoffed as she stood up and glared at Muzan once he had turned his head to the side. "Tell me, I know there's no possible way for my mother to be alive again. I killed her, what did Queen do?"

Muzan chuckled a bit. "Someone wants their juicy treat don't they? Fine I'll get straight to the point then, but you still have to agree to this deal."

"Tch, fine. I accept." Scarlet gritted her teeth as she waited for Muzan to spill the beans.

"Good, that being said." Muzan spoke as he turned around to face Scarlet once more. "Queen said that she pulled Salem out from a different timeline, one where you don't exist. In fact, she even said she told Salem everything she knew." He slowly walked over to Scarlet as he leaned in near her ear. "And surprise, she's in Queen's world. Something you might be familiar with."

Scarlet growled as she balled her fist tightly. "That bitch! She brought my mother to Tengu City!?" It felt like a needle was poking at Scarlet's nerves. It was clear she was pissed off, but yet she also felt fear brewing in the pit of her stomach. Sure Tohka and the other spirits haven't dealt with Salem before, but she wasn't worried about them. She was more worried for Kurumi and Marigold, Scarlet knew the terror and power her mother held over Remnant. Ozpin and everyone feared Salem, just by mentioning her name would send chills down a huntsman's spine.

"That's exactly what she said, now I'm going to get between family affairs. But it sounds like you truly don't care for your mother." Muzan said as he walked past Scarlet. "Is she that terrifying? The thought of my own flesh and blood killing me for a reason would piss me off, but you're a different story."

Scarlet turned her head as she looked to see where Muzan was going. "Yes, my mother was the reason humanity in my world struggled. I was created from her DNA , like your fellow demons who are created by your blood. I was made to be the downfall of Remnant's hope and faith. I was a pawn, while she was the master mind behind closed doors."

Muzan stopped walking as he glanced over to Scarlet. "Is that so? Well then, I believe it's time you kept your part of the deal. Take care of Tanjiro and his friends, and if you manage to kill bring them to me dead or alive. I will throw in a small bonus and hand Queen over to you, that way you could do whatever you want. Of course, I can't make any promises on if she'll still be around or not."

Scarlet scoffed. "She'll likely be gone by the time I'm done." With that all said, the Grimm girl walked off and headed back to where Tanjiro and the others were at.

~~~

The demons had backed away into the shadows, almost as if Muzan had ordered them to retreat. Tanjiro and the others were confused at what was going on, the eclipse was still going on, which seemed unusual for a solar eclipse.

"Something isn't right." Inosuke said as he glanced around. "Why did they all just suddenly leave like that?"

Zenitsu was scared out of his mind again, he didn't know what was going on either. If only he was asleep he'd be less scared and fighting at his best. Shinobu and Tanjiro glanced around as red glowing eyes could be seen in the darkness approaching them, it was Scarlet of course. But within a quick blink of an eye the group was separated from each other, Scarlet had grabbed both Zenitsu and Inosuke by their faces and threw them into the sky. As for Shinobu and Tanjiro, Scarlet had gut punched the Hashira hard which sent her spiraling through the air.

Scarlet had thrown Tanjiro over to an abandoned house as he crashed through with Nezuko's box coming off of his back, the box tumbled and shook as it slid across the ground before falling over onto the door. Tranjiro lied on the floor as he slowly got up, he glanced around carefully as he. "Nezuko you okay?" He didn't hear or feel anything behind him as he took notice that the box was gone. "Nezuko?!"

Tanjiro glanced around more to see if he could find out where Nezuko and her box went too, but he heard footsteps approaching. He needed to find a place to hide at, but it was too dark to see anything. Luckily he had noticed a table that was knocked over, he jumped behind it and stayed low. Scarlet walked in, her Grimm eyes glowed a crimson blood red in the darkness. That was the only thing that was seen, nothing else was. Tanjiro slowly peeked his head up as he saw Scarlet's gaze scanning around the room, he ducked down and remembered what she had told him.

"I know you're in here." Scarlet spoke as she scanned around. "There's no use in hiding, did you forget I can sniff your scent out?" She started to slowly walk around, the darkness of the eclipse stayed making the whole area seem like a scene from a horror movie. Scarlet's glowing red Grimm eyes stood out in the darkness making it more creepy.

Tanjiro covered his mouth and steadied his breathing to keep his heart beat at a steady pace as well. He wasn't sure if Scarlet was listening for any sounds or not, but he wanted to at least get the element of surprise on her.

Scarlet's footsteps stop as she turned her head to the side, she heard Inosuke and Zenitsu come crashing down to the ground outside. But Inosuke jumped up and ran straight towards Scarlet. He was swinging his swords blindly at her. The Grimm girl smirked as she cocked her leg up and kicked him in the gut, sending him flying through the air. He collided with Zenitsu right as he was getting up. "Stay down both of you, you're already defeated. You know you can't win."

Nezuko's box shook as she heard what was going on outside of her box, she was trying to flip it over onto its backside so she could kick the door open. Scarlet noticed as she smirked and walked over to the box, she sat down on it as she crossed her legs. This was making it harder for Nezuko to move the box, of course she could just put all of her demon strength into pushing it over but she didn't want to tire herself out.

"I guess I'll just have to bully you into coming out Tanjiro, we both know Nezuko is strong. She could easily flip her box over and have me be knocked off of it, but what would happen if I took matters into my own hands?" Scarlet asked as she glanced down at the box and smirked. She tapped her fingers on the box and wondered what would Tanjiro would do. "You can either keep hiding, or I can make a demon stew out of your sister and gobble her up."

~~~

Tanjiro went flying out as he used his sword to stop himself from skidding across the ground. Scarlet grinned as she kicked Nezuko's box out, and stepped on it with her right foot. Inosuke, Zenitsu and Shinobu joined Tanjiro as they all stood their ground, Scarlet scoffed as she noticed.

"Why are you doing this? Aren't you supposed to be helping us stop Muzan from making anymore demons?" Inosuke asked, which was a shocker really. He was just curious as much as Zenitsu was.

"Shut your mouth boy." Scarlet said with a hiss. "I'm doing my own thing and I don't need you all to get in my way." She pointed Black Rose at them all and grinned. "This will be a fine dinner course for me, of course I could just spare you and go for her instead." She glanced over to Shinobu.

A leaf fell from a tree as it slowly hit the ground, Scarlet watched as they all rushed at her like a pack of wolves. She ducked and slid between their legs, she then jumped up and grabbed Shinobu's arm and pulled her back and kicked her in the side.

Shinobu gasped for air as she nearly vomited after getting a gut punch from Scarlet after the side kick, she swung her sword down and tried to cut into Scarlet's arm. The Grimm girl knew the blade would make contact with her and poison her, but she was quicker on her feet. She blocked with Black Rose and then she snapped Shinobu's wrist breaking her bones in the process.

"Ahhhh!" Shinobu yelled in pain as her wrist was snapped in half, almost to the point that her bone came poking out of her hand.

The battle between them went on for hours, plus it didn't help when they couldn't really see Scarlet in the darkness. But the eclipse was slowly starting to go away as the sun was starting to peek again. By the time that had happened, Scarlet had all of them on the ground. She grinned as she grabbed Shinobu by the throat and pulled her sword away from her, she tossed her sword to the side.

"Now then." Scarlet said as she was about to devour Shinobu, but Muzan appeared in the shadows behind her.

"I hope you're not planning on eating her, that wasn't our agreement." Muzan spoke and grabbed the Hashira from Scarlet. "Tanjiro and the others will be dealt with."

Scarlet scoffed as she turned around to face Muzan. "Now it's time for you to hold your end of the agreement." She crossed her arms as she waited for him to throw Queen at her, but Queen stood a few feet from her.

"Looking for me?" Queen asked with a smirk, she cut open a tear in space and time as she jumped through.

Scarlet growled as she picked Hero up who was just watching what had unfolded before his eyes. She jumped through as she chased after Queen once more, but she wasn't too sure where exactly she was going. Nor did she know what Queen had planned.