Last Chapter:
Even though it was only for a few days, he had something he didn't even know was missing. A home.
/
I ran. I heard growling from behind me and the fast paced rhythm of paws behind me growing louder. I ran faster. I had to get away. I soon found myself backed into a corner. I crouched down and started to cry the growls growing louder with every breath. Then it all stopped. I heard a small chorus of laughter above me. I looked up to see my best friends and brother, towering over me.
"You're so weak Topaz." Kazi said my name in a mocking tone.
"Pathetic," August and Violet muttered. The tears dripped faster down my face. I looked down and closed my eyes. When I opened them and looked up August, Kazi, and Violet were no longer there. Instead were three wolves. Pitch black, with red bloodthirsty eyes. They attacked. I screamed and curled even tighter into a ball.
I felt their cold teeth sink into my skin. Then it all went red.
Topaz woke from a nightmare, she was covered in a cold sweat and was breathing heavily. She sat up and looked around the room she could still see the shadows dancing across the walls mocking her. She was lying on a white bed with nine other just like it around the room, which blended in with the walls.
"Where am I," she said rubbing her head. The images of her and August outside came to mind and a blush was noticeable on her face. I Bet I'm still in the guild though, Topaz thought. She fell quiet when she heard footsteps echoing through the halls getting louder and louder until they were right outside the door. It swung open to reveal August, who smiled when he saw her sitting up.
"Oh hi," Topaz said taking a sigh," It's nice that the first face I see is a familiar one."
August came in and stood at the foot of the bed, "can I sit?"
"Sure," Topaz said patting the bed.
"Thanks," he said sitting down awkwardly. "It's nice to see that you are better." he looked at the floor, "I'm sorry about the other night. I didn't mean to…" he trailed off.
"Hey," Topaz said placing a hand on August shoulder," It's okay, I really appreciate you telling, 'cause you shared a secret that could get us all killed with me and so far only me, it makes me feel happy you trust me so much." she smiled.
"Thanks," he said, "for the thank you I mean. Also I thought you might want to be filled in,"
"Yeah that would be nice," Topaz said sitting up in her bed crisscross.
"We got a really nice apartment, in this building that's run by the guild, you and Violet share a room. We also went on some jobs."
"Jobs?" Topaz asked," Are those kind of like missions?"
August put his hand over her mouth. "Dragon slayers." he whispered, tapping his ear, and praying she understood.
Topaz moved his hand from her mouth," Sorry," she whispered giggling a little.
August moved his hand back to his side. Idiot, he should have told her sooner. "Yes. " he answered he knew it was paranoid, but he felt like the other members were always listening in on him. "But they are actually really easy."
"Well thats nice." Topaz smiled again.
"The members are prety including," his sad tone didn't match the words. "But that's fine" he wasn't doing this mission because he wanted to. He was doing it so that Topaz came out of it unharmed.
"Hey maybe next time you go on a job I can come," She said poking his arm.
"That sounds awesome!" he said, then he remembered "the others are, downstairs, if you're up too it we could go." he offered.
"Sure but I'm going to be a little wobbly," She said letting out a small laugh.
August stood up and offered her a hand, "you can lean on me." he said cooly.
Topaz placed her left arm over his shoulder," Don't you dare let me fall," she stood up her legs shaking.
"If i let go, you wouldn't be the only one falling." he said helping her take the first step.
"You'd probably be lying in one of those beds if you let me fall." Topaz joked," But your too nice, and your sister would be mad.' she laughed.
August blushed. With some difficulty, and a fair amount of crusting, they made it down the stairs.
Kazi was the first to spot them when they reached the bottom," Topaz he yelled running over to give her a hug.
August passed her over to Kazi. He was glad that he had his team to rely on.
"Topaz it's so nice to see you up and moving around." Wendy said, with Erza nodding in agreement behind her.
"Hey Topaz!" called an unmistakable idiot from the bar.
"Hi Natsu!" said Violet as he made his way over to them.
"Hi," Topaz said smiling at him and all her friends.
"Me and Happy were wondering if you wanted to go on a job with us tomorrow." said Natsu carefully "I wanna see some of your magic up close."
"Sure," she said grinning,"But as long as I get to bring my buddy here with me," she poked August shoulder.
"Sure," Natsu smiled " the more the the merrier."
"Thanks," Topaz said, and she tapped Kazi on the shoulder to get his attention," Can we go sit down now please."
"Oh yeah sure," Kazi said looking around for an open table.
"You can join us!" called Lucy, she was sitting with a short bluenet and a stack of books.
"Hey Topaz I'm a friend of Lu-chan, my name is Levy McGarden," she said scooting over so Topaz could sit next to her. August Kazi and Violet filled in across from them.
"Thanks for letting us sit here!" Violet said. She was getting used to the small talk that was necessary for making friends outside of the academy. She liked making friends. Guilt washed over her. No she told herself. These people aren't your friends. the y are targets. Speaking of which, now that Topaz was up, they should probably start working on the first round of assassinations. Even though she liked to pretend that it wasn't the case, they were here for a reason, and it wasn't to make friends.
"Hey Violet are you okay," Topaz asked noticing her friends dazed expression.
"um.. . fine" answered violet, "but I think I want to go back to our apartment."
Topaz's eyes lit up like fireworks," oh I wanna come with you." she said excited to see it for the first time.
"Sure," said Violet, glad she wouldn't be alone, "do you guys want to come back too?" she asked the boys.
"Yeh I'm tired," Kazi said letting out a yawn, he looked at August.
"Sounds good to me." he said getting up.
"Hey could I have help," Topaz said reaching up and grabbing onto the closest person which happened to be August.
"Oh, right, sorry," he said moving his arm under Topaz's, and guiding her too the door.
"Thanks I'm super excited to see it," Topaz said her eyes still gleaming. After exiting the guild hall they headed down a path separate from the road, in a few minutes, they could see a gate with the words Fairy hills welded at the top. Violet took the lead and soon they were standing at the door of room 65.
"Here it is!" Violet told Topaz, "you ready to see it?"
Topaz nodded," Yup."
"Welcome to our home away from home!" Violet said, opening the door. Inside was a small, but warm little set up the door opened into a living room with a beige couch and matching arm chair, in a little nook in the back left was a little kitchen tucked in side, three doors lined the wall, most likely leading to the bed and bathrooms. "You like?" asked Violet.
"Yes," Topaz said still looking around," It just feels really cozy."
"Well we won't be in it too long" said August. The last thing he wanted to do was rush Topaz right after she got better, but he didn't have a choice. They had to start planning for the completion of the mission.
"Wow way to ruin the mood." Topaz half laughed poking August again.
"Again with the poking," August said in protest.
"Yeh," Topaz said," I'm surprised you didn't say anything sooner because I have already poked you twice today before this." She poked him again.
"Must have slipped my notice…" August grumbled.
"It's not that bad," Topaz said," It doesn't bother others like it does you," she said poking Kazi as an example who didn't even notice.
"Now that we're here, we should discuss a few things." said August, even though he didn't want the moment to pass, they had to stay focused.
"What do you want to talk about," Topaz asked sitting on the couch with Kazi.
"Well in a nutshell... " August took a breath, time to get down to business. "We have to decide who to eliminate first."
"I think we should start with the dragonslayers," Topaz said," Since their power is unpredictable."
"Good idea." August said, happy that she could get her mind on to work this fast "Natsu and Gajeel should be good, also, they are the most likely to be on to us," he looked to Kazi. "What do you think?"
"Thats a good idea," Kazi nodded his head in agreement.
"Natsu invited Topaz on a job," said Violet.
"No." Topaz said," It's easier to get them both at the same time, so two of us should invite Natsu and Gajeel on a job, one that would have a risk of dying for cover"
"I want to be one of the two that come," said Violet. "Natsu is nice to me. I want to be the one to… Well you know."
"I want to go as well," Topaz said," I don't really have a good reason but."
"Thanks," violet mumbled.
"Your welcome," Topaz smiled at Violet,"I wouldn't want my friend to go alone, and it might be a good change."
"I saw some kind of mountain vulkan job this morning," said August, "The location is far away enough that no one will be the wiser."
"That seems to be the best place."Kazi said his hand on his chin.
"When are we doing this?" asked violet, the day after tomorrow?" this question was more for Topaz, Violet wanted to make sure she would be strong enough by then.
Topaz seemed to read her mind,"Yeah I'll be 100% by then."
"Good! anything else we need to go over?" asked August, looking around the room.
"Their nothing really I want to talk about," Topaz said looking around at the others.
"Alrighty then." said August, glad it was over. "I think i'm going to turn in early" he knew it was the coward's way out, but he couldn't bare to stay there anymore. "Goodnight," he said, walking into one of the rooms.
"Is he okay?" Topaz asked Violet," He just seemed so on edge lately, well more than usual like he has something else to worry about." she looked at Violet worry plastered all over her face.
"To be honest I don't know for sure, but I know that it has something to do with his magic." said violet. "I wish he would just tell us everything, I may know what his magic is, but I have no idea why he wants to keep it a secret."
Topaz looked at the floor. I bet it's what we were talking about when we went outside, she thought, it must be weighing down on him more than I thought. Because he has to keep it a secret to protect Violet.. But. I guess I didn't know how much this bothered him. Maybe I should go check on him. But then again it's not my place to worry.
"I think i'm going to go to bed to," said Violet. "All this lying takes it out of me."
"I'll join you," Topaz said getting up and following Violet through one of the doors leaving Kazi on the couch.
"Guess I'll turn in seeing as there's nothing else to do," Kazi said walking away.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Violet once the door was closed behind them.
"Yeh I have a handle on it now," Topaz said," Did I miss anything important?" She asked looking at Violet.
"Not really," violet said "we were mostly just talking to the members, finding out who was most likely to do this, or most likely to do that."
"Are you sure because I just get the vibe that August is more protective of me now and I don't know why." Topaz said with a puzzled look on her face.
"Ohh, that," violet said. "I think you do know why." she said smugly.
"You know Violet when you smirk like that you are really creepy." Topaz said walking over to one of the beds.
Violet smiled as if there was some kind of inside joke. "Shut up," she said lightly.
"Night Violet," Topaz said climbing into the bed.
"Good night." she answered and fell fast asleep.