Jude's POV
Today's the day - the day of Layla's funeral. I never imagined that our future would ever be like this, I had thought in the past that, the way we'd leave this world was, together. We'd hold hands as we lay in our death bed, smiling wrinkly smiles, I would lean down and place a gentle kiss on her forehead before she sleeps forever, I would then, join her in our peaceful slumber. The scenario that I had always hoped would be our final moments together was spent, holding hands, in each others' arms, dreaming a dreamless dream, until we breathed our last breaths, together. However, right at this moment, I'm staring down at my beloved's face, the rise and fall of her chest was no longer present, the dusted rosiness in her cheeks wasn't over her countenance; she's deathly pale with only a thin line as her lips, she wasn't smiling. What I'd give to see her smiling, blushing and breathing once more. As tragic as it is, I know that, even if I walked all over the world twice or thrice, I would never be able to get her back.
Tears accumulated upon the surface of my eyes but I held them back, with Lucy already crying and sniffling beside me, her trembling small hand clenching within mine as she placed a small bouquet of lilies within Layla's overlapping, pale hands; I had to stay strong, for her. Although, I know that tonight, I won't be able to sleep and would completely ignore my work, the death of my wife is more important to me then pieces of paper that are worth nothing without words.
The ceremony drawled on. It was the longest, most depressing day of my life. The reality of everything came so suddenly, for such a long time, I had been in a daze - kept within the bright side of life for far too long - shielded from the darkness by my beloved. Now that she's gone, the gloom that I've been secluded from, has come to haunt me. It's all too unexpected, too impetuous, too unforgiving. It enrages me to be slapped with the face with the fact that it took Layla's death to make me recall how cruel and ruthless this world is. All I have now is Lucy, my only daughter, I can't let anyone take her away from me. No, especially not the same way Layla was taken from my life. I'd be a failure as a father, I'm already an incompetent as a husband. I couldn't protect Layla and if i can't protect Lucy, what is my self worth?
It finally came to the burial of Layla and I could only stare down at the grave as dirt was shovelled onto the coffin, filling up the rectangular hole. Hours past as many relatives, friends and loved ones exchanged silent words of grief with me as well as each other. People began to leave, one by one but Lucy and I stayed, along with a pink haired boy. I was grateful that Natsu was here. He had managed to calm Lucy down, settling her crying and sobbing into gentle sniffles and soft whimpers. There was only that, which took the silence in the air as company as I was still staying strong for her, knowing that if I started to break down, she'd join me as well. Tonight, I'll make sure she's tucked into bed before I have some time alone.
"Jude..." a voice uttered as a hand was placed on my shoulder, turning, I met the ash grey eyes of Tatiana. She was one of the bridesmaids in mine and Layla's wedding, I've seen her around a fair amount of times but I've been busy with work to properly have a conversation with her, the only rare words we exchange are warm greetings and the occasional 'how are you?'s. It isn't as though we don't like each other, we're just too busy, she has her own family and I have mine. Though, she tended to come by whenever she had free time and wanted to sped it with Layla. Over a cup of tea and biscuits, they'd talk for hours and Lucy would drop by to join them. Lucy adores her as if she's her own aunt when she actually isn't and is only Layla's childhood best friends.
"Tatiana..." I scanned her frame and caught sight of her husband, standing behind her, holding her hand, "You're leaving?"
"Yes..." she concluded, glancing over at Lucy, who was attempting to giggle (but failing) at the silly faces Natsu was making, before looking back at me with furrowed brows. I nodded glumly and was about to turn back and gaze at Layla's grave once more but was stopped by Tatiana's voice, "Jude, I suggest you get inside before it starts to rain. The clouds are gathering," I slowly shook my head, holding my breath to hold the tears back, I don't want to leave yet, it's still too early for me to leave.
"I can't leave her yet...even if it rains, I can't..-" her hand moved up and cupped my cheek, giving me a sympathetic look.
"I know it's hard but she wouldn't want you catching a cold. She'd just blame herself." you ground my teeth together, pulling away from her.
"She wouldn't have to blame herself if I had been more careful that day!"
"It couldn't be avoided Jude, you know that. Even if you saw it, she would've still thrown herself in front of you. She loved you very dearly and that's why she did what she did." I looked down, biting my lip. With every moment, it became harder and harder to hold back the tears. Tatiana embraced my torso, giving me a light squeeze before pulling away and turning around, her light blue hair sweeping the air, as she walked off with her husband, who had also given me the same look of condolence. Ever since the moment that Layla's eyes fluttered close forever, I had an ever present melancholy look on my face, it can't go away because the person that could take it all disappear with a simple smile is no longer here. My Layla..gone! And it's all my fault!
Facing down and staring at Layla's grave stone again, I clenched my hands into fists so hard my knuckles turned deathly white. I didn't care if I was digging my nails into my palm, the stinging pain would numb into nothing, unlike this feeling of loss that I'm sure would always be present from now on. I feel helpless, just staring down at her grave, I can't believe she's gone and I couldn't do anything about it. Its frustrating and irritating yet, tragically sorrowful. I stood there for, who knows how long, until small drops of wetness dripped onto my hair, and shoulders. Looking up, a drop of rain fell into my eyes, which I easily blinked away. Rain. How suitable for my pitiful situation, at least now, I'd be able to disguise my tears. Once the raindrops collectively became a down pour, I finally let it go and cried the tears I had been refraining from letting go for the past agonising days and several hours, making sure that I didn't sob so as not to alarm my only daughter.
"P-papa.." I felt a tug on my sleeve and looked down to meet the brown eyes of my daughter, they were swollen by the tears, she's never cried this much, it saddens me more.
"Yes Lucy?" I made sure that my voice didn't crack, which, thankfully, it didn't.
"I-It's raining and it's cold." nodding, I picked her up as I held onto Natsu's small hand and walked over to the limo, parked not too far away. Once we were settled inside, I made sure that Lucy and Natsu both had their seat belts on before telling the chauffeur to take us back to the mansion.
The drive home was spent in silence. Usually if Layla were still alive, there'd be a merry buzz in the moderate room of the limo, even if it was raining. However, now that she's gone, a deafening silence, coated with solemn despair, hung upon the thick air. I had Lucy cuddled up at my right side as Natsu sat on my left. It was a long ride home and soon they ended up sleeping, curled up on either side of me. A sad smile weakly tugged at my lips but the heftiness of the depression in my chest brought that into a frown. With a sigh, I leaned back, nestling in the leather seat of the limo, letting my eyes drift close before slipping into a slumber.
"Jude, my darling." there she was, the lady of my earth, standing before me. A smile was etched upon her pink lips as her beauty and lovely personality radiated off her like the comforting rays of the sun.
"Layla, you're alive." I felt tears surface as I reached forward to touch her delicate hands, only to have mine go straight through hers. Eyes wide, I clenched my hand with the other, staring in disbelief at my lover's hand.
"I'm sorry I had to leave so soon." a soft rush of warmth caressed my cheek as she had reached out to tenderly cup it in her faint hands.
"Th-this can't be...don't tell me I'm dreaming! I want to hold you! Please, let me hold you...in my arms." I sobbed pathetically. Falling to my knees before sobbing uncontrollably into both my hands. Moments passed and I was surrounded by a consoling warmth. Blinking my eyes open, as they were clenched shut with salty tears lining my, only moments ago, I saw honey blonde hair flowing like a river. This image is one that I'm very familiar with, I see it every day, every time my love pulls me into her arms, in a loving embrace.
"Everything will be okay. I'm not fully gone. I'm still here, right beside you. I'll watch over you and Lucy forever and always. Because I love you both...so so much." faintly, I felt her once familiar soft, thin lips press against mine to which I responded by kissing back, yearning for her touch to remain longer, however, that small amount of bliss only lingered for several moments and I was then encased in darkness.
Layla was no longer by my side. There was only darkness, nothing was present other then my existence. I continued to stare at the abyss motionless as I contemplated over what's happened and the reasons behind it all but once I had only began thinking about the possibilities, a scene flickered to light, before my eyes.
There I stood, looking young and youthful. I can already tell my age. I was in my mid twenties and I can recall that that was the time when I was struggling with beginning the Heartfilia corporation. I had fallen into a great deal of debt and I had myself trapped in a hole that I couldn't claw myself out of. In desperate need of help, I did something unforgivable...It...it's all coming back to me now.
"I take it that you're the mage mafia family of-"
"Cut the introductions. What do you want us to do? We'll give you a price." three tall hooded figures dressed in a opaque black cloaks stood before the young me, their hoods shadowed their facial features, excluding their lips
"I need you to take down the opposing company that threatens mine."
"You want us to go on a Massacre?" they asked, their lips stretching up into a smirk under the dim light that was able to illuminate the bottom half of their face.
"No, do something other then that. Spread rumours and make those rumours come true. I need you to be the ones that ring their downfall." they briefly turned to each other, exchanged curt nods before turning back to face the young me. "So, is it a deal?"
"It'll be a deal as long as we get the price."
"Anything." the past me uttered. How careless me. What had made me come to such a desperate conclusion to my past problems?
"Give us 45% of your company's earnings."
"It's a deal then." I watched as the shaking of hands was made and the scene faded to present a blur of images of the cause for the ruin of the opposing institution, allowing mine to rise to the top. Finally, I was able to the bread bringing father my small family needed. The kaleidoscope of images soon passed before my eyes were yet again met with another encounter of three similar figures.
"Here is your payment. You did a good job, well done." the young me presented a moderately sized bag of jewels to the hooded men, only to have them push it away.
"We change our minds about that payment."
"Oh?" the past me raised a brow, as did I. This memory had completely faded from my mind and it's just now that I'm finally recalling it.
"We heard that you have a daughter now."
"What does my daughter have to do with the payment?" there was a raise in my past self's voice.
"She is the payment now Mr Heartfilia."
"No! Your price has gone too high! I'm not paying it! Just take the jewels and leave!"
"We can't do that. You see, we want to make our family stronger and join with another. Unfortunately, our family is mostly composed of men so we need your daughter."
"Why not take a random girl from the streets! Not my Lucy!"
"Lucy. What a lovely name for a beautiful little girl."
"Shut up and answer my question!" they huffed.
"Fine. We can't basically take any random girl. We need one with status so that the opposing family is satisfied. Since your company has gone into power, you're daughter is perfect."
"No! I won't allow it! Stay away or else!"
"Or else what?" they challenged.
"You don't want to know..." there was a growl in my voice as I countered their statement. The scene also faded and there was, again, a kaleidoscope of more scenes followed. I had brought the entire mage mafia family down, getting them executed but I wasn't too sure if all of them was fully killed as the men that killed my Layla were a lot like the ones that were involved in my past. Beforehand, I had foolishly believed that they were all truly gone. Now I know that that is no longer the case. Just as I thought my horrible past would fade away. There, I saw it. The same horrific image that haunts me and will surely haunt me until the day I die. The image of Layla, my love, dying in my arms as I helplessly did nothing to save her.
"Sir?" came a voice, bringing me back to reality from the subconscious torment that I had placed myself in. "We're at the mansion now."
Looking down, I saw Lucy and Natsu still asleep at my side. My eyes focused on Lucy, the only family I have with me. I have to protect her no matter what. Those men were still out there and I will not rest until they are found and killed.
I'm so sorry this was quite short but I will be posting another chapter soon. I hope that you enjoyed reading this one. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it as well.