User blog comment:Zathronas/Speculative Author - Cinder is not the Main Antagonist/@comment-3387274-20160203035046

It's pretty apparent Cinder is merely the obvious spearhead at this point.

A friend of mine speculated that the contingency plan if she dies is for her to transfer the Fall power to another yet unknown woman. We also considered the possibility of it being Emerald, but that seems less likely to me for various reasons.

it should be noted that Cinder's apparent personal stake in the venture, becoming strong, feared, and powerful, seems distinctly different from what the unknown villain wants "We will take what is ours". At the same time, "Ours" suggests a far stronger connection between them and Cinder than merely a mutually benneficial deal.