Nicola had run, faster than he had ever run. He had made jumps that seemed impossible, taken shortcuts that weren't actually there, and at one time it seemed as if he had passed through a solid stone wall. He wasn't sure anymore. It was all a blur. But now he had run enough. He was saved, for there was no way she could have followed him here.
Slowly, like an old man with brittle bones, he sat down on the ground, and began to laugh. And laugh. He laughed for five minutes when he noticed something strange. A drop had landed on his hand. Then another, on his face. One more, in his hair. His laughter died as he realized that it had started to rain.
Through the mist, he saw a figure walking towards him. A woman with an umbrella. She wasn't in a hurry. She didn't seem capable of being in a hurry. And yet, he knew for a fact that she had been three cities away just an hour before. As she came closer, he heard her speak, a mantra or a prayer. It sounded innocent. It was the worst sound he could imagine.
"Drip, Drip, Drop."
He evaluated his options. He could run, of course. But running had brought him here. He could surrender. That would mean betraying his friends, and he wasn't sure that it would save him either. So fight it was. He began to shout
"Spider Attack!"
An arachnid appeared with a reassuring roar. Four meters long, a ton in weight, and, according to his old teacher, the power of more than a hundred horses, all at his fingertips. He pointed at his foe, and the spider started running. The lady did not seem to care.
"A spider? Juvia knows about them. If there is a spider in your shower, you just flush it away. Drip, drip, drop"
If she shouted her attack, he didn't hear it. All he saw was the giant wave of water that rushed towards the animal and swept it away as if it was made of foam. Part of him wondered why she would feel the need to take a shower, but he couldn't let that cloud his mind now. He had to think of something else.
"Double Lightning!"
The sparks shot from his hand into the woman… and connected with each other. He felt a surge of pain as the current through his body increased. It was almost too much to bear, but he was able to end it. Juvia did not seem to care. Her voice remained flat, even slightly amused, as she spoke.
"Water conducts electricity. You're shorting out. Juvia would not do that. Drip, drip, drop."
Desperation was starting to creep up on him. He shouted "Flying saucer", but the disc just sped through her body as if she wasn't even there.
"You tried that before, Nicola-san, remember? Juvia cannot be harmed that way. Just like the bats. Nicola-san knows what Juvia wants. You might want to give it to her."
He took the shield from his back and raised it in front of him. It was purely decorative, a design element in his guild armor, but it was better than nothing. Possibly.
"I am a knight of the Cross and the Snake! We may not be a legal guild, but that does not mean we abandon and betray our friends! I will fight to the end!"
"As you wish." Juvia just kept walking towards him, making no offensive gesture. Suddenly, he got cold, and he noticed that his skin became wetter. He also felt his strength leaving him.
"What are you doing?"
"You are sweating, Nicola-san. Juvia has just accelerated it. Did you know the human body is mostly water? And do you know what happens if all of that water moves at the same time?"
He felt as if something was hitting him from behind, but there was nothing. The force did not register on his skin; his entire being was pulled down. The woman remained calm and came to a stop next to him.
"Juvia has never hurt anyone just to hurt them. She has never killed anyone. Juvia did not think she ever could. Do you understand Juvia?"
He collapsed on the ground, pulled by his organs that were completely ignoring his muscles.
"But there were times when Juvia has had thoughts, dark thoughts, and dark ideas. She never thought she would do them. She would not want to do them. But you and your guild have brought Juvia closer than she likes, and closer than you will like, Nicola-san. Drip, drip, drop."
Nicola looked up. "What do you mean?"
He wasn't sure, but it seemed as if the faintest hint of a grim smile appeared on Juvia's face.
"At least half of blood is water. That's what makes it flow. Drip, drip, drop."
Panic was starting to take hold of him. He nodded.
"Excellent. Then now you will tell Juvia where she can find Gray-san."
Author's note: Why is this happening and what will happen next? I don't have the slightest idea, so I'd be happy to hear your suggestions. I'd also be happy about reviews in general!