Hide and Seek.
By:LemonSherbert
Chapter 2: Tests.
I do not own fairy Tail, as it is the work of Hiro Mashima, anyway, enjoy and don't forget to review.
Levy jogged to keep up with Gajeels angry strides, his large studded boots thumping hard against the wood floor like his foot would go through it at some point. She kept hold of Lily as they searched for the old man, they had already scoured the whole bottom floor and were now heading down the hallway of the first floor. Gajeel threw open doors, only finding empty rooms that clearly hadn't been used in a long while while Levy held his bag and her own trying to keep up with him.
"That fucker, he's gonna pay for taking my magic... I swear I'll fucking kill him!" Gajeel growled as he kept going down the hall and Levy looked down at Lily who shrugged at her. The agreed it would be best to stay out his way for now and just let him take his anger out on doors as they tried to think of explanations for what was going on.
"Maybe... these are just precautions to make sure we don't steal anything..." Lily said and Levy nodded, it seemed reasonable but then why would he disappear like that, surely he'd want to keep an eye on them.
"Could be... but what if he has nothing to do with this... what if it's an illusion and somebody else has tricked us into coming here..." Levy explained and Lily also nodded, they just couldn't think why someone would do that to them. Gajeel got right to the end of the hall where a large, bay window was, letting them see the small town below the mansion, being consumed by the rain.
"This is bullshit!" Gajeel snarled, picking up a draw, Levy watched his muscles flex in awe as he threw it against the window, it shattered against the glass and Gajeel stood taking deep breaths and staring out the window. "It's my fault you two are in this mess... I'm sorry..." he said in a low voice and Levy blinked up at him, a little taken aback by his sudden guilt and she stepped forwards. Her small, creamy hand laid against his scarred arm and she smiled up at him as he looked down at sheepishly.
"It isn't your fault, you didn't know this was going to happen and... there's no one I'd rather be stuck with than you a-and Lily of course!" She squeaked, feeling a little embarrassed and he smiled down at her in amusement.
"Are you trying to flirt with me shrimp?" He teased and she felt her cheeks burn as she stepped back and shook her head.
"N-no... don't be so silly, let's just... get out of here!" She huffed, puffing out her cheeks and he let out a deep laugh as he reached out and ruffled her hair.
"Oh, well your cheeks say different sweat heart!" He smirked and she looked away, heading to the opposite side of the hallway and she could feel his eyes on her while Lily chuckled in her arms. "Wait for me shorty, no point running away if we're stuck together!" He laughed and Levy shook her head, trying not to smile at his jokes and she felt his hand on her shoulder, so big and... cold. This made her shiver and she turned around to see that old, pale face inches away from hers. She screamed almost loud enough to bring the house down and she attempted to dive back but his grip was like iron and he tightly pulled her to his chest. The old man turned to face Gajeel who was on his knees on the floor, he looked tired and pissed off as his head lolled up to glare at the old man.
"Who would think, such a strong dragon slayer would be taken down by a mere old man..." he smirked and Gajeel growled, sweat dripped down the side of his head as his shaking body struggled to stand up. Levy watched, unable to even move as Gajeel pulled himself up, his body swaying and his breathing was ragged.
"Take your... fucking hands off of... her!" He snarled and Levy felt like her heart was breaking as she tried to move towards him but the old man was way stronger than he looked.
"Ah-ah, missy... your friend here, he's going to do a series of tests for me... to show me the strength of dragon slayers" He said and tightened his grip on her shoulder, making her whimper in pain as she almost collapsed in pain. It was like he was about to break her shoulder, Lily saw this and jumped out of her arms, he bounced on her other shoulder to hit the man but he merely swatted him like a fly.
"Lily!" Levy and Gajeel both called out as the exceed flew sideways, the man was so strong that he almost collapsed the wall, he was hit with so much force. Her golden eyes brimmed with tears as he fell down the wall, unmoving and clearly hurt. Gajeel grunted as he stepped forwards, his whole body shaking as he struggled to get towards Lily.
"I'm impressed, even with my pain spell you seem to be able to move relatively well... shall we see what happens when we up the strength of it...?" The old man cackled and Levy's eyes grew wide as he thrust out a bony hand, a black mist flew out of his fingertips, engulfing the large dragon slayer. Levy cried out as he hit the floor, groaning and holding his ribs, he looked so hurt and she watched as tears of pain filled his eyes but he kept moving, crawling towards his hurt best friend. "My, my... you can withstand so much pain even still..." came the evil mans voice and Gajeel let out a broken gasp, all of a sudden he seemed to relax and the man grinned down at Levy. "Your lover is very strong... I've freed him but now comes the real tests" he said ominously and Levy gulped, staring into his green, doll like eyes. Levy watched thankfully as Gajeel picked up Lily in his arms, he was still breathing and Gajeel gently took off his tunic, wrapping the small cat inside it.
"You're going to pay for that!" Gajeel snarled, his voice all but dripping with poison and the man just chuckled, sending shivers down Levys spine.
"Well... my friend, we shall see but for now, let's play a game... one I like to call hide and seek... each round I'm going to take away four of your senses and let you keep one, with this one, you will have to track down your damsel in distress... you will have twenty minutes each round but once your twenty minutes are up and you haven't found her... I'll use the pain spell on her. You've felt it, imagine this mundane little mage being put through that agony... every round you lose I'll give you your hearing and sight and you'll be forced to watch her as she's engulfed in pain..." he smirked. Levy's heart began to race and she stared at Gajeel who snarled as he placed Lily on the floor, making sure he wasn't going to be hurt and he stood up, cracking his knuckles.
"And then what, after these tests... you're going to let us go?" Gajeel asked, his voice dangerously low and angry as his red eyes narrowed on the man.
"Not quite, I'll give you your magic back but you have to then face me, if you can win, I'll set you free, if not then I'll take every ounce of your magic until you eventually die... dragon slayers have a lot of magic, imagine that inside of me..." the man grinned and Gajeel snarled.
"You have a deal old man... but know, once I win, I'm going to kill you for hurting us!" Gajeel snapped and Levy stared at him as he gave her a small smile and she nodded. A silent promise that he'd find her, it made her a little more at ease and the man stepped towards Gajeel, still holding her...