Levy wasn't all too certain on what was taking Gajeel so long to come back, but Levy understood how careful Natsu had to be. Lisanna had explained that they were keeping her arrival under wraps to avoid the murderer hearing, and evening had come and gone before Natsu came up again, pencils and papers in his impatient fingers.
Ignoring the pain in her mouth and the aching bruises at her throat, Levy reached for the pencil and paper he'd found and went to work, writing as hastily as she could. She remembered her quills - her beloved quills with which she'd underlined quotes in books - and then forced her mind past such a petty matter.
Lucy, she thought and hastily drew a map on one page, making sure to number houses and circling the two or three that she thought Simon was in. She set the page aside and Natsu grabbed it, studying it.
She held up a hand to stop him from running off, and when he looked up, she began to hastily write, ignoring the way Lisanna was trying not to read over her shoulder. She'd tell more to everyone later. Natsu needed the information now.
His name is Simon, she wrote, He's a nullification mage that may actually have been considered S-Class if he were in a guild, and he can use a little of requip magic. I'm pretty sure he could nullify even Laxus' magic. I doubt he's as physically strong as you or Gajeel, but he's strong enough to kidnap Lucy and I at the same time. He's been using Lucy's whip. She scrambled to think of anything else. Amber eyes. He has amber eyes. Don't just walk past him, no matter how normal you think he is. The girls are in the basement of his house. They're cuffed to walls. Besides Lucy and I, there were three others: Ayako, the Lamia Scale mage, Maria, and Athena. You can't forget them in your rush to get Lucy. Maria and Athena aren't mages.
When she was done, Levy handed it to him. Natsu quickly read through and gave a curt nod. "I'll check the basement if I find his place. Do you know any easier ways to see past the things he hides?"
Levy narrowed her eyes and grabbed the paper back.
When she pushed it back into his hands, he read, The only way you can truly see everything is if you've been hidden as well, I think. He kills one girl each day after playing some kind of game in the evening, Natsu.
"If he thought you were dead," Natsu said slowly, and she flinched at the way he put it, "Then you were the one for last night. Tonight-" He scowled. Lucy.
She furrowed her brow and wrote, Not necessarily. If Lucy is still alive...he might have beaten her, but she could still technically have lived with the pattern he runs with. The loser of the game is killed. Natsu, there's a huge disadvantage, but…
"You thought she was dead though," he argued, and he grimaced at his own words. Why was he arguing with this? He tried to not let that hope gain too much ground in his chest, but Levy forced a gentle smile to her face and shakily touched his cheek.
Lucy was alive.
He leaped to his feet. "Fuck what Gramps said about not including Erza and Gray," he spat suddenly. "We're going out and we're finding Lucy. Levy-"
She waved him off and gave him a thumbs up to tell him she was fine with him telling them. Her eyes were blazing as she met his gaze. He was pretty sure her eyes said, Make him suffer, but he wasn't entirely sure.
He flashed Levy one last look of gratitude, and then froze when the door opened and in stepped Gajeel.
Natsu made a strangled sound in the back of his throat, and Lisanna gaped, too, before smiling to herself. Levy stared at the iron mage in shock and then promptly burst into both tears and laughter, earning a glare from Gajeel though his crimson eyes glittered with relief.
Lisanna made her way out the door as Natsu finally just shook his head and left, resting her fingers on his arm briefly. "I think it's a very nice haircut, Gajeel," Lisanna said honestly, smiling warmly before leaving the room.
Levy sniffled, trying not to cringe in pain as her laughter brushed over her tongue and made it ache and burn. She reached for her paper and pencil and wrote out a note that she handed to him, her hazel eyes twinkling and that terrified haunted look nowhere in sight.
"'You look great. Thank you,'" Gajeel recited aloud and then snorted. "Woman, don't compliment me before I give you a lecture"
She arched a brow, waiting.
"Don't go bein' all miserable about your damn hair," he told her. "'Cause the fact that you're here to be miserable about it is more important."
Tears gathered in the blue-haired woman's eyes, and she gave a little laugh, her gaze warm as she cupped her hands over her mouth to try and hide the smile that felt as if it was tearing her mouth apart. A choked sound suddenly escaped her and she began to sob. Gajeel grunted and hesitantly moved over, uncertain of what to do as she suddenly shuddered in pain.
"Let me look," he demanded. "I know the witch took a look earlier and said it would heal, but I wanna see so I can lecture ya about that, too."
She only shook her head. She didn't want anyone to see the hideous scarring within her mouth, remembering how Porlyusica had said that it would never go away. With shaking hands, she took his hand. He let her, seeming to flush as she suddenly brought his knuckles to her lips and just barely brushed her blistered mouth over them.
He stiffened a little, but didn't dare move. And when she dropped her head, still clutching his hand, to rest her forehead against his gently curled knuckles, he only smiled a little, trying his damn hardest to hide the relief that flooded through him that she was alive as his free hand lifted to tug thoughtfully on a short piece of black hair.
Natsu flew down the stairs, his onyx eyes blazing as he searched for his team. He found them speaking quietly with Juvia and practically tackled Erza, grabbing Gray by the collar of his shirt. Both squawked and gave him furious looks, but Natsu laid a dark look on Juvia, said, "Tell no one that we are gone," and proceeded to drag them to the back of the guildhall. He pulled both out through a backdoor that only Mirajane used on a regular basis and then released them, clutching his head when Erza smacked him furiously over the back of his head.
"Natsu Dragneel!" she hissed, glaring viciously.
"That hurt," he muttered, and then shook his head, immediately glaring back. "We have to leave. Now. Lucy's life is at stake. I'll explain on the way."
Erza looked uncertain, aware that they weren't supposed to do anything without Makarov's permission, but Gray nodded curtly. He recognized the look in Natsu's eyes; Natsu never would have risked Erza's rage in such a way without reason.
Natsu looked at a piece of paper and then shoved it into his pocket, tugging his scarf away from his mouth. "Come on, the sun's already going down and Levy said he kills at dusk."
"What?" Erza's lips parted as he took off at a spring. She took off after him, dressed in no armor. It gave her far more freedom as she and Gray raced along behind him. "What do you mean 'Levy said'-"
"Gajeel found Levy last night, 'caught the bastard in the middle of trying to throttle her." Natsu raced around a corner, grimacing at just how empty the streets were. "She woke up early this morning, while we were all sleeping, and I thought Lucy was dead at first, but Levy thought she might still have a chance."
"Okay," Gray said, choosing not to question why they'd spent all day unaware that Levy was alive and home. "Then we know where Lucy is?"
Now he hesitated. "Not exactly. Levy knew the few houses that might be his."
"But it's better than nothing," Erza said firmly. "We have reason to search houses now. Did she describe the man we're looking for?"
"Amber eyes," was all Natsu replied, sprinting over a bridge that led over the canal. "He has amber eyes." He shoved a hand into his pocket as he ran, fisting his fingers tightly around Lucy's keys. They seemed to warm beneath his touch, one even burning him.
Hold on just a bit longer, Lucy, Natsu pleaded as they began to reach the outskirts of Magnolia.
I'm coming!
Lucy felt numb, her heart broken as Ayako stood protectively in front of her. She wanted to order Ayako aside, but she ached and hurt. Too much to talk. She felt feverish and hot, too, and she guessed that her wounds were going to be infected soon if they weren't already. How fast did infection set in? she wondered.
Simon looked entirely amused by Ayako as she stood before Lucy. "Move. Or I'll let you die before her. She lost. You know the rules, Miss Ayako."
Ayako's hands shook. "Don't touch Lucy, you bastard. You've already tormented her long enough."
His lips twitched, and then drew downward; Simon was growing angry.
Suddenly, her whip cracked and Ayako screamed in agonizing pain. She dropped to her knees, curled into a ball and cradling her face. Blood began to drip between her fingers and Lucy felt sick at the sight.
She felt sick period, actually. Sick and numb and ready for this to be over.
My Spirits, she thought dully, wondering what had happened to them. Had Natsu found them and taken care of them for her? Would they be found and taken care of? Would they go to Yukino? Or would they end up in some cruel person's hands?
Lucy screamed when the whip cracked over her back, splitting the mess of skin even more. How she even had flesh left...how she even had the energy to feel anything or scream, she wasn't sure.
Suddenly, Ayako was kicked aside. She sobbed hysterically, clutching her face. Lucy struggled to move away, ignoring the way her sweat-slicked skin was sticky and covered with dirt and grime. She ignored the agony it brought her back to move.
"For the first time, I regret having cut your hair," Simon mused, suddenly kicking her. Lucy wheezed, blood touching her tongue. She rolled with the blow and then screamed again as the tender flesh came into contact with the hard unforgiving stone floor.
"I could have dragged you by it. This'll work, I guess." Lucy cried out as his hands descended, grabbing her and hoisting her up without pity. "Can't kill you here...I don't like the smell of decay that death brings, you see. It's why I've been taking you all elsewhere to do the deed. You must understand, Miss Heartfilia, I don't enjoy the killing, but I see it as a necessary evil. Women are all cruel and heartless. They all play with the hearts of men and then rip them to pieces. I'm saving your partner from what he thinks is affection. In reality, you're trying to crush him and steal his soul."
Lucy found herself struggling to stay conscious. "You're insane," she managed to get out. "More than insane. I love Natsu. He's my partner and...and more. He'll burn...he'll turn you...t-to ash. I r-regret...that...I won't…" She couldn't bring herself to finish, the pain ripping through her.
I regret that I won't be able to watch you turn into ash, Lucy thought and then knew nothing more.
Did you guys like what Gajeel did with his hair? Was excited to write that out when I did. XD
I've had a good day. Got permission to take my bully to school for a presentation, so. I'm going to wheel her in a wagon down the hallway. I'm excited.
To the guest who wanted more information on how I see nullification magic...I see the magic as something that erases. Depending on how strong the mage is, they can erase something's presence. In regards to making something invisible, they merely take away the person or object physical presence. So the thing is still there, but others just skim over it without noticing. They take no notice that there's something right in front of them.
Thanks to reviewers (BrennaCoris, JadeOccelot, HollyNinetales, ThatOneFriend-3, Guest #1, Moon Stone Tiger Lily, PinkFireandGoldenStars, quite-a-riot, FireDragonPhia, BakaFangirl, TwinDragons0268, FairyRains, Typhlosion8, RandomAnimerNerd, Lucie, FlameDragonHime, and TheAliceHuntt!) as well as those who favorited and followed!