Chapter 10 - When The Rain Drop Shatters
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Juvia brushed her blue tresses this mornings revelations were a bit straighter in her mind, she hadn't exactly wrapped her head around the idea but accepted it all the none. Her father might just be crazy but there was no way she was going to help him, not one bit. A knock on her door signalled it must be time for dinner.
"Juvia is just coming!" She called from the bathroom as the door clicked open.
"Our Master requests your presence for dinner." The velvety voice spoke, the one hooded figure Juvia never actually got the chance to lay eyes on.
"Juvia accepts." Juvia held her hands out as the rope and blindfold were put in place, she couldn't go hungry and maybe she would get the chance to see her mother tonight, after all she couldn't go hungry either.
The trip to the house or mansion, judging by the size of the dining room it was probably a mansion; felt shorter this evening but Juvia imagined that was just because her mind was preoccupied. The smell of food greeted her again as she stepped across the threshold and the blindfold and rope were removed but only once she was in the dining room, the lilac haired lady stood by the doors as Juvias father sat in his normal seat. Juvia walked over without an invitation and took a seat herself, tucking her dress coat underneath her and adjusting her fur hat. Before she could speak dinner arrived and was set out on the table, bowls of vegetables; roasted beetroots, parsnips, carrots and broccoli, trays of potatoes - sweet and normal, meats, fish and gravy boats were placed in front of her. Juvia liked food but if Natsu was here he would be in heaven, it would seem her father had a feast for every meal.
"Do you have a feast for every meal?" Juvia questioned, how much of it would go to waste?
"Not every meal. I don't know what you like to eat so I ask my chef to prepare a selection." He sounded almost fatherly.
"Juvia doesn't think that's necessary and can give you a list of everything she doesn't like to make it easier." The watermage pursed her lips.
"That's very kind of you." Jimquin poured them both of a glass of wine next to their glasses of water.
"Is mother not dining with us tonight? Surely she is hungry to." Juvias navy eyes searched his for any trace of lies.
"Not tonight, she wanted to eat alone in her quarters." He paused to tuck a napkin into the top of his crisp white shirt. "I think she is still bitter about the means in which she got here." Juvia watched as he spooned beetroots and parsnips onto his plate before passing them over to her.
"Juvia imagines you are probably right." The watermage believed him, she was annoyed herself. They ate their meal in silence and Juvias eyes nearly popped out her head at the cake that came out after, a triple layer chocolate sponge, thick chocolate ganache between the sponge layers, covered in chocolate butter cream frosting topped with chocolate malt balls. Digging into the chocolate cake with lavish Juvia began to think about what her father had said this morning about trying to awaken her dark magic, he hadn't asked yet but Juvia was sure he hadn't forgotten.
The watermage ate her cake slowly hoping to put off the inevitable but her plate still seemed to empty too quickly. Once the plates were taken Jimquin set his brown eyes back on her, they seemed to harden and Juvia knew the question and argument were coming.
"So Juvia, I am going to ask you again now you have had time to think about what I asked of you this morning, after all I would rather I didn't have to lock you away before you complied." There was no gentleness in his voice now.
"Juvia has already told you she won't." She gripped the glass in her hand tightly. "Fairy Tail will come looking for her, they expect her back by now." The water mage smiled smugly at this fact relaxing her grip on the glass slightly.
"Well I have something that might change your mind." He now smiled smugly at her, Juvias heart pounding in her chest. Jimquin clicked a power button on a remote as a picture appeared on a projector, it was of a cell but not hers. The watermages eyes widened at the person on the screen, her cheeks flushed scarlet, the blood pounding in her ears. No it couldn't be? Gray-sama?! Why, how did they have him?
"How! Why do you have Gray-sama?" Juvia roared, the glass in her hand smashing as bits of it embedding itself in her skin causing red spots to appear in the palm of her hand as she pushed herself away from the table with such force she sent the chair she was sat on crashing into the wall behind her, she could feel her magic tingling viciously through her veins.
Jimquin just smirked at her reaction. "We found him walking the streets of Rhodonia, he must've been looking for you."
Gray-sama was looking for Juvia? Normally this sort of information would send her into a romantic fantasy but not now. Oh Gray-sama, how could you be so stupid to follow Juvia here… why did you follow Juvia here… She clutched at her dress coat her navy eyes swimming with emotions. "Juvia has a condition." The words she spoke were cold and Juvia made yet another heart wrenching decision.
"You let Gray-sama go unharmed, tell him it was mix up. And release Juvias mother, give her money to rebuild her house and garden." The watermages eyes never left her fathers as she put forward her proposal.
Jimquin snarled. "Your mother belongs here!" He growled slamming his fist down on the table, his cheeks growing red now to.
"Those are Juvias conditions. Then she will join you." Juvias voice was not at all strong like she intended it to be, instead it was small and laced with sadness.
What seemed like an eternity passed, the room thick with tension before Jimquin came to a decision. "Fine I accept your terms. But you should know that your mother will come back to protect you anyway, mothers always do." He smiled triumphantly, he had won and now his plan would be set in motion.
Gray awoke groggily, his head was pounding and as he reached around the back of head his to his raven hair he could feel the dried blood matting. Just great! I let my guard down and now I'm being held captive by Mavis knows who! Gray punched the hard stone floor in frustration as realisation hit him. What if I've been taken by the same people who are after Juvia? She could be close by. Gray felt at little at ease but also a little worried, what if she'd been captured for days, why and what would they have done with her? A painful image planted itself in Grays mind, Juvia shackled up to a wall, eyes shut covered in cuts and bruises. The icemage shook his head, the idea was ridiculous, she was only looking for her father not some mafia gang. Standing up Gray decided to look around the cell for a weakness or way out, he tested all the walls but they were old solid brick, he checked the floor to see if there was some kind of tunnel maybe underneath it but there was nothing, he couldn't even hear a single sound just deafening silence. Juvia… Gray shut his eyes clenching his fists, he had to find a way out.
Juvia didn't sleep well at all that night, she had left the room quickly after her father had agreed to her terms stating that they would begin her 'training' first thing in the morning. The watermage had tossed and turned in her bed her thoughts running wild, she had turned her back on Fairy Tail and Gray-sama again, but it was to keep them safe, it was for their good, she would miss them terribly, her heart ached at the thought of never feeling that happy again, that carefree.
Memories of her and team Natsu in the tower of heaven flashed into her mind, how Gray-sama had said he wouldn't mind her joining the guild, how her heart had sung with happiness, when Gray-sama had taught her how to eat caramade franks which she was hopeless at, when he saved her at Tenrou, the unison raid at the Grand Magic Games, the pool table they had been given on a mission, her chats with Lisanna and Gajeel, she'd miss seeing Levy and Gajeel finally getting together, Lucy scolding Natsu, Erza being fierce, Mira always smiling but most importantly her mundane times with Gray-sama, the walks around town, the random easy missions and the way her heart beat out of control when they were close. Tears rolled down her cheeks, she was either going to wield dark magic which would surely impact her behaviour, alter her emotions some way; or become crazy from the process, either way she was doomed to lead a miserable life once again a life of rain and despair.
Deciding to stop moping, not knowing the time, Juvia got up going about her morning process. The watermage started by making her bed straightening it out meticulously it looked almost ironed, plumping her pillows until they were full and fluffy again before walking over to the little bathroom, she didn't know if she would care about the little things after today so she wanted to spend extra time on everything. Juvia made her way to the sink and brushed her teeth before slipped the pink nightie off her cream skin onto the little square eggshell blue mat in front of the shower cubicle and climbed into the steaming hot shower. Sighing in relief Juvia relished the feel of the hot water pounding into her muscles forcing them to relax and unwind warming her to her core she felt almost human, almost like she was back at Fairy Hills. Tilting her head up Juvia allowed the rays of water to wash over her face feeling like they were washing away her worries with it, the steam from the water was filling the enclosed cubicle it was otherworldly like all Juvia would have to do was walk through the mist to freedom. Realising she was lapsing into a fantasy, bending down Juvia could just about see the bottle of shampoo and a bottle of conditioner on the edge, quickly applying the shampoo allowing it to lather and sit in her hair away from the shower rays for a minute she inhaled but no scent came to her, she missed the smell of her lavender shampoo it was so soothing, but this shampoo held no such remedy. Deciding it was time to wash it out Juvia turned the head back to where she was standing washing out the shampoo, her hair feeling a bit dry from the product. Twisting the head away again so it faced the wall the watermage picked up the conditioner and worked it through her hair enjoying the silky feel as it untangled her hair and she washed her body with the shower gel.
When Juvia finally stepped back out the shower she grabbed the yellow towel off the hook on the door, the soft fabric felt comforting as she wrapped it around her body plus another small one around her head the watermage had picked the softest ones she could find for today. Juvia towel dried her hair quickly and made her way into the main room and changed into another one of her navy dress coats, this one she hadn't worn yet, it was super warm as it had a thick fleece lining, the buttons were gold in colour and shaped into butterflies, the belt around the middle was the usual dark brown, the buckle gold to match the buttons, butterfly patterns were stitched around the side and on her shoulders was a thick shawl which again had been sewn into the dress coat for maximum warmth. Juvia slipped on her thigh high boots she had only brought the browns one with her before wrapping her hair into another towel to dry.
Juvia busied herself with seeing what had been placed in her drawers and what had been taken, she had all her clothes, a bento which she wished she'd known when she first arrived and some lavender shampoo and conditioner which made the watermage pout, she could've had the shower she'd wanted if she'd have checked out the drawers properly. Once satisfied her hair was dry enough Juvia ran a brush through it before putting on the fur trimmed hat except she added the butterfly clip to it she had worn before the start of Grand Magic Games in Crocus.
Juvia sat down on a wooden chair next to the chest of drawers crossing her right leg over her left surely it wouldn't be long now until they called for her? Chewing the inside of her cheek nervously sure enough the knock came and Juvia stood a little to quickly her sense firing on high alert.
"Juvi-Juvia is ready." She stammered as her heart pounded in her chest and anxiety scrambled her brain making her throat feel like it was collapsing in on itself. The door clicked open and Juvias eyes were transfixed on the cloaked figure who walked through the door, their hood was down and Juvia immediately recognised the light brown of his hair and the eyes she'd seen before the cloak hood had come down, the eyes who had stalked and delivered her messages in Magnolia before she had set off on this journey.
"The master is very excited to start so let's not keep him waiting." He made his way over so quickly surprising the watermage, he moved as fluidly as the wind.
Juvia didn't say a word as the blindfold and rope were fastened, she couldn't, she felt sad, anxious and hopeless, the emotions were choking back her words and breath. Without another word they both made there way out the cell, the metal door clanging shut behind them, Juvia expected the stairs but none came, she felt dizzy from the sudden left turn they took before descending stairs the watermage didn't think they could go any further underground. Heavy doors shut behind her, the hinges groaning in protest, the smell of damp and mould hung thickly in the air, the blindfold and rope were removed and as Juvias eyes adjusted she saw that she was in a dark room lit with few lamps at the edges, at the back of the room was another door, a robust metal looking door, bright white light seeped from underneath it like the gates to heaven.
"Juvia, good morning." Her fathers now familiar voice floated towards her almost graciously. "I've had some breakfast brought here for you so we can get going with the treatment, after all you will need some strength. He gestured to a small table with a bowl and a variety of cereals on it, the cereal was certainly different to yesterdays over the top breakfast. "It's simple and light as the process it strenuous." He sounding almost caring as Juvia took a seat and made herself a small bowl, she wasn't really hungry but she to knew she would need as much strength as she could muster. Her father had said treatment but yesterday he had called it training, but what difference did it make now? Either way she had made her bed and now must lie in it.
Finishing the last of cereal, the watermage stood up looking her father in the eye. "Are you ready Juvia?" He asked nonchalantly. Already making his way towards the metal door at the back of the room.
"Yes father, let's get it over with." Juvia spoke, her fists balling, her heart pounding with every step, her muscles tensing as her body screamed at her to turn and run, to fight, to find another way, but Juvia was out of time, out of options, if she fought her mother wouldn't be safe, neither would Gray-sama, as strong as Fairy Tail was, she had been taken down so easily, Juvia had no idea how many strong wizards were under her fathers influence. If she tried to run or fight she didn't want to think of the consequences when she was caught. Finally the door loomed over her, the white light which seemed to heavenly to start with was now painfully bright burning into her eyes. In the room computers and people dressed in white lab coats typing furiously were stationed to her left and on the right was huge tank full of a purple liquid which bubbled angrily at her.
"Is the machine ready?" Jimquin was speaking to a male with blonde hair and a clipboard in his hand next to the machine, Juvia looked back behind her at the door, fear striking her heart. What is Juvia doing?! Her mind screamed but before she could act strong arms on each arm yanked her towards the machine.
"Your Gray-sama-" He spat the sama. "Will be released as soon as you are submerged into the tank." Juvia eyes grew wide, Gray-sama is still being held captive. A mask over mouth supplying oxygen made her bre breathing become easier. Next a dome was fitted onto her head, sticking to her scalp in various places, she could have sworn there were tiny needles in it. A brace like body harness was fitted around her torso, rods going down her legs to the arches of feet, without warning Juvia was winched up and into the purple substance which was thicker than water and had a strange feeling, a lid was closed on top of the machine and Juvia closed her eyes, needles pricked into her skin all around causing her to squirm in pain, she felt the purple liquid against her skin. Squeezing her eyes tighter she steeled herself for more pain. Gray-sama…. Live for Juvia… smile for Juvia… Juvia will always love you… Faint voices were heard outside the tank as shocks went through her body making her convulse, growing stronger with every second, Juvia at first felt pain, raw pain as every cell in her body was being targeted, the needles felt deeper and she was sure the purple substance must be going into her as her blood came out. After the pain came anger, what if her father didn't keep his promise and hurt Gray-sama anyway? What if she didn't care after this process? The watermages anger intensified, the shocking feeling dulled, a great energy burned inside her.
Gray grunted as he fired his ice magic at the hinges on the door of his cell, if he could freeze them enough he might be able to shatter them and bust out of here. Pouring more energy into his attack Gray was caught off guard when the door opened and 3 cloaked figures entered the room closing the door again behind them.
"Chilly in here." One of them commented.
"You're free to go." Another one spoke.
"We got mixed up, you're not who we're after. It was hard to tell in the dark." The voices sounded light hearted.
A mix up? "A mix up eh." Gray thought. It could be possible. He was led out the cell onto the street of Rhodonia Village, the sky was overcast, a light drizzle coated the village. Gray tuned back to the hooded figures. "Wait, do you know this girl?" He pulled out the picture
"Nope, never seen her. Your girlfriend?"
Gray stared at them blushing. "Uh, no… she's a friend. Tell me one more thing. Do you know a Ray Bashfield?" His dark eyes raked over them.
"Never heard of him." Gray felt they answered a little to quickly.
"You know there's a storm coming, you should probably get going." Another one of them urged him to go.
Gray grumbled before turning to leave his feet sloshing in the puddles as he walked, so what if a storm was coming he wasn't going to give up, he would find Juvia even if it was the last thing he did… he missed her, her smile, the way she was so blatant about her feelings for him, it always made him feel warm and fuzzy on the inside even if on the outside he didn't show it. Gray shifted the tote bag on his shoulder, which he was grateful they returned to him, plushie and all, he wouldn't admit how fond of the thing he was. Gray would scour this street once more before moving onto the surrounding outskirts of the town, maybe there were some secluded houses out there? Either way it was going to take longer than he would've liked. But first, a call to the master to check in. Popping the crystal out the tote bag, he waited for the screen to clear but instead of the masters face he got… Natsu….
"Natsu! What the hell! Why do you have the masters lacrima?!" Gray shouted at the dragon slayer, raising his fist.
"Hey Frosty! Nice to see you to!" Natsu scowled at Grays unwelcome. "It's so not fair that you rushed off on some secret mission with Juvia!" Natsu whined as an "They loooove each other" was heard from Happy in the background, Grays cheeks warming. "I wanna come!" The pink haired wizard pouted now.
So Natsu doesn't know the real reason yet. "Yeah well, you're help isn't needed! Not with the damage you caused on the last mission flame for brains!" Gray defended.
"NATSU!" A voice boomed, the masters. "What are you doing with my lacrima?!" The master could be seen now making his way over.
"Aw crap! Gotta go Frosty, see you if you need back up!" Natsu sprung off as the master threw a punch at him with a giant fist causing Gray to sweat drop.
"Ah Gray." He was calm now as he spoke to Gray, but his brows still stayed furrowed. "How is it going?"
"Uh good, I don't think she is in this part of town, so I'm going to check another part." He lied scratching his neck nervously, he had searched most of it.
"Hm, well keep me posted Gray, I don't want you running into trouble on your own out there." The Master stroked his moustache.
"Yes Master I will." The lacrima cut off and Gray put it in his tote bag as he set off once again.
A/N: So what will be the outcome of Juvia' 'treatment' will she be the same with heightened powers? or how dark will she become? Will Gray get there in time to save her? Find out soon! Prepare for a heart wrenching few chapters next!
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