I got a review last night that made me chuckle (actually, it was the only review I got last night so you know who you are) and I just want to let you know that all will be explained. Still, no one has bounced ideas about who the girl in italics is at me, so I'll just keep up my cryptic approach.

The girl stumbled. Lately, she'd been doing a lot of that one way or another. What had happened to her confidence, her sureness? Everything shook again, and the girl stumbled.

"Get moving, brat! Your father isn't a patient man, and a blonde bitch like you isn't going to get me fired. MOVE IT!"

Lucy cursed mildly under her breath, wishing she had her whip so she could strangle this man leading her to her father. At the same time, she mentally kicked herself for thinking such violent thoughts. Since when had she thought about killing anyone? She'd never even held a consideration for killing her father, the man who had ruined her life over and over again. The bastard behind her gave her a particularly savage kick to her lower back, and she sprawled forward, cracking her head on the marble floor. She registered horrible pain before blacking out.

The guard stared at the fallen girl, a smirk growing on his already cold face. When she didn't move, he kicked her in the ribs. His master had ordered him to weaken her spirit, and the girl was particularly easy to irritate. The magic in her cell must have been working, then. Within the next two days, she would most likely be completely rabid, incapable of rational thought or reason. What the stupid girl didn't know was that her father had given up on her a long time ago. Now, he was taking pleasure in breaking what he had cracked years ago. He grabbed the girl by the hair, excited when she shrieked.

"Does the little girl not like having her hair pulled? Too damn bad."

The guard felt a chill run up his spine, though, when the girl stopped struggling and just hung from his grasp. Wasn't it hurting her?! He put her back on her feet and released her hair, noting her unsteadiness as she regained her balance. Her head rotated slightly so she would look him in the eye, and he couldn't help the goosebumps that erupted all over his body. Her stare was feral, cold, and seemed to pierce his very soul. She smiled a twisted grin, one that seemed almost cannibalistic.

"What's wrong, bastard? Are you afraid of a blonde brat like me? You should be. I'm going to shred your skin off your face with my fingernails, then rip your windpipe out with my teeth. I'll greatly enjoy listening to you die under me. Who knows, maybe I'll be sated with just your death and I won't dismember you. Are you feeling lucky?"

Jude Heartphilia laughed at the screams that issued forth from the hallway beneath him, pleased his plan was coming to fruition. He snapped his fingers, sending a rush of men downstairs to deal with his rabid daughter. Maybe they would arrive in time to save the man's life. Probably not.

Natsu and Loke waited not-so-patiently for the doctor to arrive at the manor gates like he was supposed to very soon, according to Natsu's nose, anyway.

"So, may I ask why you have taken this as personally as you have? Lucy's problems, that is. I mean, let's be honest here, you've known her less than two months."

Natsu declined to answer, instead opting to toss a fireball between his hands in order to contain his temper. If Lucy's life wasn't at stake here, he would have hunted the damn doctor down already and burned down a couple buildings just to make himself feel better. This waiting game was killing him.

"Natsu? Are you listening to me?"

"I thought that was pretty obvious when I decided not to answer you."

"You don't need to be such a dick. I know you're worried about her. Do you think I'm not? I owe her my life both personally and on a professional level."

Loke watched as Natsu clenched his fists, clearly stoked about something more than just the waiting. From reading his body language, Loke could tell that whatever was plaguing Natsu had a strong shot of guilt attached to it. With that conclusion, Loke had it. He couldn't help the smile that filled his recently-somber features.

"Natsu, do you like Lucy?"

"I'm not listening to you, kitty. All you're doing is messing with my head."

"I'm trying to be your friend."

And Natsu knew he truly was. The spirit had been nothing but understanding and helpful since he showed up, and without him, Natsu wouldn't have a clue how to rescue Lucy. He let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, and actually faced the orange-head.

"Whether I like Lucy or not doesn't matter, but the fact is I should have been there protecting her. She gave me this life at Fairy Tail, gave me back the meaning of my life, and I couldn't protect her life. Even now, there is nothing I can do to help her."

"Excuse me, but do you two work for the Heartphilias?"

Natsu whipped his head around, eye staking in the man wearing professional attire and carrying a briefcase and a medical bag. This man was the doctor. Natsu allowed a grin to crack his guilt, and lit a fist on fire.

"No, we don't, and now, you never will either."

"Please provide your medical license as proof of identity, sir."

The doctor handed his medical bag to his assistant, popping the briefcase open smartly and producing his license.

"Welcome to Heartphilia Manor, Dr. Sadlier. Mr. Heartphilia will meet you in the drawing room shortly to brief you on the problem here. Please call should you need anything.

"Thank you."

A younger guard walked on the doctor's right side, trying not to stare at the man's strange hair color. For the life of him, he couldn't fathom why a doctor would want to have pink hair. What ever happened to professionalism? He shoved those thoughts aside, though, and escorted the two men into the drawing room, showing them to a couple chairs. The pink-haired doctor waited until the young man left the room, then gave his 'assistant' a mischievous grin. He loosened the tie around his neck a bit, feeling a little warm from all the excitement coursing through his veins. Lucy's father had no idea who he'd just welcomed into his house.

The girl sniffed. The smell of blood excited her now, and so did the sight. She absentmindedly drew curlicues in the pooling redness around her, grinning at her victory. The girl sniffed; no one could stop her.

Alright, so I blame writer's block this time around. I could not get any inspiration for this chapter, nor did I know where I was going with it until about a half hour ago. I'll try not to take that long again, but no guarantees. Please review! I would really appreciate it! Thanks!