CHAPTER 4

Thirst

I was still. So incredibly still.

My muscles worked but I had no desire to move them. The world around me was very dark. I wondered how long I'd been staring at the ceiling. Probably many hours.

The liquid that vampire… that beast forced into me was still leaking out. Every time I made a slight movement, I would feel more of it seep out. It was disgusting. I was disgusting.

I was so disgusting.

Not very many emotions had passed my mind. Actually, I tried to make my mind completely empty of any thought. I was afraid of her. Of that demon that was now haunting my brain. Fear was probably the most prominent emotion I was feeling, but even then, it was very dull.

In all honesty, it was very hard to come to terms with everything. So I just sort of… shut down. I was almost no better than corpse. But at least if I were dead, I wouldn't have to feel anything at all.

Natsu was in the room as well. But he was just as still as I was. Kneeled across from that golden chest beside the desk. All he did was stare at it. He'd probably been stuck there just as long as I'd been stuck on this floor.

My eyes shifted a bit and I looked a bit behind me where the corner of the futons was visible.

He didn't even rape me on the bed.

It was like two wild animals. Or perhaps he just didn't see me as a person. Just a dirty mutt he could hump till he was satisfied.

And before I knew it, it was morning.

My dead eyes reflected the rising sun from outside.

"Excuse me." A small voice lightly yelled form behind the sliding door. I didn't move nor even take the time to look toward it. I didn't want to move at all. "Young Master and Mistress, I have brought you a change of clothes."

"Bring it in." Natsu announced, seemingly shutting the chest from the loud click!

I heard the door slide open and immediately a gasp left the intruder's lips. Who could blame her. I was laying in the middle of the room with nothing covering my now horribly tainted flower. Blood and semen were leaking out of it. Life was draining out of me every moment I continued breathing.

I probably looked disgusting.

No, actually, not probably.

I knew just how absolutely revolting I looked. Cause I felt it too.

The small voice spoke once more, "Y-young Master… should I…" She seemed very concerned.

Natsu was silent for a moment before responding, "Wash it."

Wash it. Ha. Had been reduced so low that I was no longer worth recognizing as a human?

No, because I wasn't even human was I?

I didn't know what the fuck I was.

After a few moments went by, I felt very small fingers start gripping at my arms in an attempt to lift me up. My eyes moved toward the source, the action seemingly making them jump. Standing above me was a very young girl, no older than 7, dressed in a yukata.

Everyone around here seemed to wear one.

And red eyes.

This small… this small innocent girl was one of the beasts too.

You know, I had a choice. I could prevent further mortification of this poor adolescent, cover myself up, and march out of there. I could show this pink-haired rapist he could not break me.

But I didn't.

I just laid there.

I never knew how fragile I was.

Was this all it took to shatter me into a state of nothingness?

Pathetic. The voice hummed.

I sucked in a sharp breath and felt my body spasm at the demon's reappearance. My body came to an upright sit as I desperately tried to subdue the voice's grip on my mind.

"M-mistress!" The blue-haired child nearly squealed.

I didn't look up. The innocence in her youthful gaze made me feel guilty. It made me feel dirty. "I got it." I barely managed to say through my dry throat.

"What?" The girl clearly hadn't heard my barely audible claim as she continued to place her aiding hands onto me.

"I got it!" I shouted this time. The power of my voice seemed to make the kid freeze. A look of shock and slight fear hid in her eyes.

Good.

Be afraid, I thought.

Don't touch me. Don't look at me. Don't talk to me. That's what I wanted. To be completely invisible. If not forever than just for right now. Just let me be invisible.

It was quiet for a while.

Until, I finally rose to my knees. I grimaced as his juice slid down my thigh. It made me sick. My arms were weak and wobbly and the same could be said about the rest of my body. But I continued to move.

Using the wall, I got to my feet.

"Mistress! Please…" The small voice pleaded, "Let me help you."

"Help me?" I scoffed, my bare back turned to her concerned expression. "Where were you yesterday when I was begging for it?"

Quiet.

Absolutely quiet.

What did I expect as a response from a 7 year old? An answer? Advice? Damn, I really did lose my mind.

Then suddenly… I really did begin to lose it.

I could feel something. A tingle, a heat, something along those lines. It made my skin crawl and body twitch. I don't know how to explain it but it was as I was feeling the heat of two different beings. Not Natsu nor the brat. But something different.

They both had different smells. One of a sweet scent and another with a quiet blossoming fragrance. I could almost picture them in my head. This feeling, this smell… it painted a picture more vivid than words.

Knock knock!
"Lucy…" A familiar voice smoke, muffled by the blocking shoji. "… It's me Levy."

My eyes widened.

That smell.

That feeling.

How did I know… How did I know it was her?

And…

"I brought Mira with me." The bluenette said with hesitation, "We started a bath for you."

The other scent. The other feeling… presence.

I let out a scream and fell to the floor, gripping onto my head. I didn't understand. Not at all. It felt like I could smell anything… bread being baked 2 miles away in a bakery filled with what seemed to be 5 people. The perfume of a woman walking 5 blocks down with her foully-scented mutt.

Every person in the complex.

All of their smells… it entered my nose like a merciless typhoon.

My fingers covered it desperately. It was overwhelming. Far too much. As though someone dunked thousands of heavy colognes right onto my nostrils. Burning, stinking, horrible!

"Mistress!" The girl shouted as I convulsed on the ground.

I heard the sliding door open and two gasps.

I could only imagine what I looked like. Probably something along the lines of a heavily induced meth-addict. Naked, bruised, broken, writhing in confusion and pain.

A cloth seemed to covered my bare body and I looked up at the feeling, Levy's red gaze immediately meeting mine. We both backed away from each other.

"Red…?" Levy blinked in disbelief. "Her eyes are red." She said to Mira.

The siver-haired monster smiled kindly, "Looks like you are starting to get comfortable already."

Red? Her… did she mean mine?

My eyes were red?

I didn't speak. I just looked at them with absolute fear. Like a trembling rabbit.

"Cute." Mira giggled at my mortified state. She stood up and looked to Natsu who was seated across from the chest. "The least you could do is help clean your mate up. It's your mess after all."

The pink-haired molester didn't look at her and didn't even bat an eye towards my way. "That thing is notmy mate."

A sigh left her lips but she didn't argue back. The two girls simply leaned forward and helped my limp body to a stand. I didn't move. I let them do the work. Maybe they would drop me and leave me for dead. Or better yet, dump me outside. Leave it to the crows to rip me apart.

Mira held me up by the hip, my movements forced to copy hers. My back was curled over like vulture. Levy covered me with a blanket but it just fell off as I made no attempt to hold it up. The bluenette stood by my side, holding the cloth so my naked body could be covered. But for what? So she could protect my shame?

There was no way I could feel more shameful.

My body was tainted.

My mind was tainted.

I was tainted.

What was the use of covering it up? Let the world see just how disgusting I was.

My eyes were dead. They were open but I didn't process the sight. I didn't want to feel. See. Move. Touch. Taste… anything.

It seemed the duo led me to a bathroom.

Before I knew it, my skin was touching a burning heat swirling inside the rose-scented bath water. They dropped me gently into the tub and Levy had to lean me up against the edge so I wouldn't slide down and drown.

Mira grabbed onto a bar of soap as my bluenette friend… scratch that… ex-friend poured a bottle of shampoo onto my hand. The two started moving the materials over my body and hair.

Levy pulled my hair up, lathering it in soap. That's when she saw the bite mark buried deep in my neck. It was already healing. Her movements stopped for a moment and I could tell she felt guilty. But why? Because she used to be my friend or because I "forced" her like that crimson-haired beast said?

I didn't look too much into it. There were a lot of things that didn't make sense and I had no desire to waste my time trying to find answers. All I wanted to do now was sleep. Sleep forever.

You give up so easily. The voice returned and my whole body tightened up. All it took was a little rough sex and biting to make you lose your will to live. She laughed. It was a deep and mocking laugh. Human emotions are so fragile.

"Shut up!" I screamed, causing my two bathers to back up instantly. My knees bent up to my chest as my hands rubbed my arms. "Please shut up. Please… Please…" I shivered, losing my mind.

I'm not leaving. She hummed. I could feel her fingers on me even though there was nothing visible in reality. I could feel her presence. Her powerful presence. Was an effect of the bite? To feel even a ghost… a… a demon's presence? Their power?

To answer your question, yes. It's just a small effect of turning into a vampire. She snickered. Though, never in history has a human turned into a vampire with a bite. Only stories. You seem to be changing the rules all on your own hm?

"V-vampire?" I shook my head in disbelief. Instantly I turned and saw both Levy and Mira staring at me with bewildered eyes. With red bewildered eyes. Did she mean… I was… one of these… monsters?

Well you are the only one who can hear me. So it seems so. She hummed lightly into my ear. As though she was standing right next to me. Instantly my palm slammed over the ear and I turned, seeing no enchanting demon. Only a mirror. With a reflection that horrified me.

The first thing I saw was the color red. Then I saw the shape of my eyes. The placid color of my skin. And the bite that was swelled against my neck. And I couldn't look away. I felt sick. My entire body shriveled up in cold sweat. I felt numb with a bunch of tingles spread over my body.

My eyes slowly turned to Levy. Terrified. Mortified. "… What happened to me?"

Mira walked in front of Levy, her face calm, collected. "We don't know." The silverette stared down at me. She had a kind face but her eyes told no lies. I could see just how dark her soul was through them. "We don't really know what you are. But for now, the only information we are certain of is you're not human. You're Natsu's mate. That's all that's necessary to know."

"My eyes are red!" I screamed at her, angry now. Unable to settle in one emotion. "What did that… what did you… what did she… do to me?"

You're acting pretty oblivious.

You know exactly what happened.

You know exactly what you are.

You're one of those red-eyed freaks you seem to fear so much.

Don't believe me? The seductive whisper spoke into my ear. Look into the mirror oncemore. Look at it again and again until you can accept the truth.

Or don't.

The woman laughed. This was a game to her. I was a toy and nothing more. It seemed… I was a toy to just about everyone.

Either way, I felt her soft and dangerous fingers slide down my chest, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and neck. I could feel her weight against me. Leaning over me. Her face right beside me. If I closed my eyes, she was right there. I'll be right here until this vulnerable mind of yours decides to let me free.

"...ucy!" A voice seemed to chime my mind back to its reality.

I was panting, shaking violently. My eyes blinked for a moment, blinking hard as though I had something in them, and then I shook away that terrible voice. "Lucy!" What seemed to be Levy's voice shouted at me. It took me a moment to fully realize her hands were on my shoulders and Mira was standing there silently with soap and shampoo in her hand.

"... I want to go home." Immediately I gripped onto Levy's wrist so she couldn't turn away this time. "Let me go home. Please." I stared at her. Deeply. Levy was no longer much of a friend to me, or as much as I convinced herself she was. I told myself she was the one I could trust. But, no... she was just the one I could manipulate. "You could sneak me out. You could Levy... please..."

The bluenette was caught in a frozen position of which I could see her physically trying to fight her instinct to follow my order. This was a strange moment for me. It felt natural to look into these eyes and see them as not the eyes of someone who'd been far prettier than me and far more popular than me for my whole life; but rather, of someone who just in the eyes of nature was just so much less.

This tingle I got from this involuntary manuplation was so easy. As though I'd been doing it my whole life. I felt like I knew exactly what to do with my body... with my words... and my eyes.

You're good.

The voice taunted. I could tell those words were not as sincere as they sounded.

Or should I say I... am spectacular.

I could feel her finger tracing down the middle of my breasts. I could. As if she was real, as if she wasn't some delmon haunting me in only my mind.

Say... wasn't Levy your best friend?

She chuckled.

You're using her. Wouldn't you say you're settling into your vampire skin almost too well?

Instantly, I let go of Levy and blinked back whatever high I was feeling in that moment. Slowly, I looked down and rubbed my arms. "... I don't want this..." I brought my legs to my chest and buried my face into my knees. "... Please Levy."

"She's here." Laxus entered the room, barely paying even the slightest amount of decency to me and my naked body. His sudden appearance snapped the bluenette back into her vampiric duty. Mira put down the soap and turned to to me, her hands extending toward me. Quickly, I slapped her hands back and slid into the farthest corner of the tub.

"No!" I shouted, echoing the entire bathroom with my irrelevant cries. "Let me go home!"

"No." Mira responded back in a much softer voice. She tilted her head, "Now, what?"

I looked down to my hand that had the cursed marking permanently attached to it. How stupid was I? To think something like this was simply a rash of some sort. I was so stupid!

Looks like little miss suicidal has finally perked up a bit.

Raising your voice like that. My, what terrible manners.

She hummed.

This voice... It was starting to become normal. Not yet but ever so slowly, every time she appeared... it just became a little less abnormal. For a moment, I wondered what I should do. Respond or ignore. Perhaps this demon... girl... thing would grow bored and-

Oh no, no, no. There is no way I could simply... leave.

Have you forgotten?

I felt her breaths. The vibration of her voice... right inside my ear.

You have taken my body.

I felt her fingers around my throat. And squeeze. Squeezing hard like... like she really wanted to kill me.

And I intend on getting it back.

I gasped for air as my mind slipped out of the trip. My fingers rubbed my neck, still feeling her powerful hold throbbing around it. As I looked up, my body stiffened immediately.

The three stared at me. All they seemed to do here was just stare and stare. Who could blame them? I was pretty fucking mental after all. But that's not what caused all the blood in my veins to drain. No. It was the sight of him.

His pink head of hair.

And his eyes that held nothing for me. Nothing.

And maybe that was worse than just blatant hate. No, these eyes held just a void. As though my existence was nothing less than a nuisance. As though I barely existed at all.

"Get out." He scolded at me, "Now."

N-no. No!

That's what I wanted to shout but the man scared me. Perhaps even beyond that. I hated him with every fiber of my being. But just looking at him set off a part of myself I did not want to explore. One of the deepest desires that my body had never felt before meeting this bastard's gaze, it was set aflame. And I was terrified this fire would never go out.

It would only grow bigger,

"What..." I shook my head, tears slipping from my eyes, "... What did you do?"

"I took what was mine." Natsu said, closing his eyes. "Get her out of there. Ultear doesn't like to wait."

Without any hesitation, Mira and Levy's hands were on me. Their grips were strong. Stronger than a human's, possibly stronger than even the strongest human's. But what was I supposed to expect? They weren't human.

None of them... not even... me.

They dried me with a towel. Even dressed me. And I stood there glaring.

You know, I never knew what true anger felt like. Granted, I never got close enough to anyone to actually feel that emotion. But I felt it now. Not a raging anger but an empty one. The one that settles in your stomach, that is locked there because you know, no matter what you do, you're trapped. Forever.

My body was fitted into a yukata - not like they had many wardrobe options. And before I knew it, I was being lead into the hallway.

One thing that was strange was, nobody was rough with me. At least not when ordered. Their touches were gentle. Their voices were gentle. I knew... I knew that it was all underlying with threat. I knew very well they could probably cut off my limbs in seconds. But they treated me like I was a superior.

Why?

But that was one out of the many questions I probably would never have answered.

They opened the sliding door and I was shocked to see they did not bring me to a room but rather the outdoors. To the cherry blossom trees and the lake. For a moment, I actually felt relaxed at the sight. Something about this place... touched the deepest part of my soul.

Igneel was standing across from us, talking to a beautiful noriette woman dressed in the most elegant robes and jewelry. She was lovely.

"Priestess," Natsu's voice vibrated behind me, causing me to flinch violently. "Let's begin."

As soon as the woman looked over to us, I got a shock from the sheer hostility in her eyes. But they weren't directed to me, rather to my supposed "mate."

"I hear you got promoted boy." She said in a chillingly smooth voice as she swayed to us. The woman got close to Natsu, "It's a shame such a formidable clan has to rely on such shit."

I lifted my brows at the cursing coming from what was supposed to be a "holy" mouth. I looked to Natsu who didn't seem even the slightest bit fazed by her. But still, I was amused.

The woman who I assumed was Ultear moved away from him, losing interest. "Now who's the strange one?"

All eyes immediately directed toward me. The strange one, huh? Me. If I was strange even to these, what were supposed to be fictional, monsters then god help me.

God can't help you.

The girl snickered.

We're all descendants of the Devil.

I was chilled.

Very chilled.

The Priestess's gaze met mine and naturally, I took a step back. But she only got closer. Her figners gripped onto my chin and I shut my eyes tight. I could feel her examining me. I felt like a freak.

Hell, I was a freak.

"Open your eyes." She commanded. I obeyed and I saw her eyebrows lift. "What a lovely red." Her finger ran lightly underneath my right lid. "There's only one clan I've ever seen with such outstanding beauty." She turned around with a sigh and removed a necklace with a huge crimson gem. "So your confusion is whether or not this child truly holds the blood of a Heartfilia, hm?" She looked to Natsu with a taunting grin, "Or perhaps your one and only dear Heartfilia princess."

"Shut your mouth." Natsu hissed through his teeth.

"I am the one helping you." Ultear hummed, running her hand over the red gem, causing it to glow. My eyes widened in amazement. "My kindness is not free. And certainly won't stand for your bratty mouth."

Igneel glared at Natsu. "I apologize." The man said with a kind smile. "My son has yet to settle fully as the clan head."

"I wouldn't worry." Ultear spoke, "The boy has not completed the ritual yet."

All bodies seemed to erupt in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?" Natsu asked, clearly irritated. When isn't he?

Ultear removed her gloves, "The exchange did not produce a result." She looked to Natsu, "Tell me, your power is the same, is it not? And her," She looked at me, "She hasn't even the slightest amount of power radiating off of her right now. It takes two halves to make a whole. And what we have right her is a half and a blank slate."

I shook my head. So... what he did to me last night... it meant absolutely nothing?

"H-He raped me!" I shouted, almost in a plea for help. "And now I'm... I have red eyes! And I tasted him." I grabbed onto my head, nearly hysterical. "... What the hell... Somebody... tell me what is happening to me."

Ultear looked at me, "I am not sure." She stood in front of me, "But I will try to find out, if you would let me."

I stared at her. Tears in my eyes. Jesus christ, I was so weak. One moment I was silent. The next I was screaming and I was crying. Humans... Vampires... what the ever the fuck I was... things like me are cowards. But what was I to do?

My body may be changing but my mind... it was still as human as it was yesterday.

Ultear pressed my shoulder and lightly forced me into a kneel. She stared at me and brought up the necklace, pressing he gem against my forehead. She closed her eyes and I could almost feel her seeping into me. A strange feeling yet, incredibly warm.

I felt the warmth travel around my mind. Every portion of it.

You shouldn't do that. The demon appeared. Right in front of me. Right in that bloody dark room. But she didn't have that beautiful face from before. It was shadowed over. As though she was trying to hide her identity from the intruding Priestess. She can't help you.

The only one who can release the chains...

She held up her hands that were dangling with restraints. The source of them was far away, faded in the darkness.

Is you.

Suddenly, the demon was flung backwards into the shadowed area, disappearing in the abyss.

I let out a scream and my body was jolted back. Ultear flung back, apparently shocked by the same exact wave of pain. She stood, panting. The necklace was steaming.

I stared.

What... just happened.

Everyone was clearly wondering the same exact thing.

Ultear rubbed her wrist, "Well..." She let out a long breath to calm herself. "You're certainly far more than what meets the eye."

"What happened?" Natsu asked impatiently.

"How do I put this simply?" Ultear wrapped the necklace around herself and started pulling back on her gloves. "There's a lock. And even as powerful as I am, not even I can create a key for something that complex."

"And so you are going to leave with only that?" Natsu scoffed, "I told you, you should have summoned the Sabertooth clan. A priestess of her stature only wastes time."

"Listen," She looked directly at me. "You hear her, right?"

I widened my eyes. Her. "Yes!" I shouted as though I'd been waiting for this question.

Ultear nodded slowly and looked down to the pond, "You are not human. That is something you're probably already aware of." She looked back up to me, "You're something in-between. This lock is what is separating you from the truth. From yourself, really. What you are is not a reincarnation nor a demon. You are not real."

"Not... real..." I shook my head in disbelief, "... What... what is that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me." Ultear pulled on her hood, "Whatever spell or curse has been placed on you was done with power beyond mine. It's a lock and it does not want to let you free. For reasons I do not know."

"Why is she human one moment," Levy spoke out, "But now is changing?"

Ultear licked her lips, "It's the first time I've seen this but," She looked at me and lifted my chin, viewing the bite Natsu sunk into me last night. "I think Natsu's bite is actually changing her into one of you."

Wroooong. The voice chuckled.

"She said-" I stopped myself before i blurted something absolutely insane. No. No Ultear knew about the girl didn't she? Couldn't I... "She said you're wrong."

Ultear did not change her gaze in confusion in my words. Actually, it seemed she knew exactly who I was talking about. "Or perhaps, you were never a human in the first place." She pet my head, "The mind is a dimension of its own. If you force it enough, it could ultimately reverse everything in your body." Ultear seemed to narrow onto this theory, "And in turn, making the world reverse on you too."

Ding, ding. Wow she really is too good.

She snickered.

You didn't really think the whole world rejected your existence just because of an unlucky roll in life?

In fact the world wasn't the one rejecting you...

You're the one rejecting the world.

The realization dropped a heavy metal in my stomach. And as quickly as I was enlightened, the same sharp sting from before shot up my spine. I hunched over in pain and grunted. My fingers clutched the ground, the air being sucked out of my lungs.

Oh god I felt like I was one second from finding out something.

I didn't know what. But it was a heavy sense of nostalgia. Like a memory... trying to break out of this cage. But like Ultear said. Whatever lock was in my mind was intent on never letting me find out.

Never is a strong word.

You've already broken it a bit.

She hummed as the pain continued to surge through my mind mercilessly.

I'm proof enough.

But if you need more, try looking into a mirror.

Or perhaps... try biting an apple.

She snickered darkly.

You'll find that Natsu is much more appetizing now.

Instantly, I bolted up from the statement. No.

No, no, no, no, no, no,nononononoono.

I stumbled onto my feet and ran into the house. I sniffed the air. Sniffed it. Like an animal. Desperate as I tried to find a form of food. But all I could smell was an overwhelming sweetness. And everytime I followed it, it lead my eyes right back to Natsu.

No.

No way.

I started rubbing my nose in an attempt to get rid of this sinfully delicious scent. Seriously, I'd never smelled anything so good-

Hell!

To your left there is a garden fruit if you are so intent on proving me wrong.

I ran out the side door and was led to another area outside where a more foul smell met my nose. It was citrus but far more sour and revolting than I remember this smell being. I saw the garden was dressed with trees that dropped peaches and bushes that held oranges.

Without hesitation, I grabbed onto the peach and bit into it hard.

Just the taste of it, the feeling of it on my tongue made me hurl over and hack it up.

I stared at it, tryin to make sure this was a peach.

Maybe... maybe soemthing was wrong with it?

I grabbed onto the orange and bit into it too.

Even worse.

The sourness was like a flame that set my whole tongue on fire. Swallow it made my stomach nearly explode, causing the substance to come flying right back out my throat.

I stared. And I stared.

And a tear slid down my face.

And I stared some more.

My knees grew weak and before i knew it, I was sitting on the ground, leaned up against the wall with the peach in one hand and the orange in the other. Covered in my own blood-filled vomit.

I looked down.

You're only hurting yourself.

Accepting it is easy.

She covered her fingers over the peach. I looked down and for a moment, I saw pool of blood. Quickly, I flung the fruit away and curled up against the wall in trembling fear.

You're a vampire.

You know it now.

Her hands trailed down my chest, embracing me as though she were comforting me.

All you need to do is accept me.

And accept that you cannot exist in this world.

You... were never meant to be in this world.

The world doesn't want you.

Just as much as this stubborn body of yours doesn't want it.

"No..." I sobbed as her nails lightly scrapped my stomach and my arms. "I can't..." I started to rock, "Ican'tIcan'tIcan'tIcan'tIcan't... I..."

I could never... accept it.

Yes. I know. It's been a while.

Well, I just seem to be giving more questions than answers. Well good. At least you know how it feels to be Lucy. I really just love torturing her in my stories - whoops?

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. It'll get less complicated, the more you try to piece it together and read. Till next time then.

Also, Soft Storm is not over, there's still at least 5-6 chapters left.

That is all.

~Lovex1