Chapter 10: Acts of Apparent Antagonism
I think it'll be better if I separated the paragraphs like that from now on…so you'll be able to read and understand them clearly. Ahem, just a heads up, there'll be just ONE swear word in this chapter. JUST ONE. As usual, I would really appreciate reviews from my dear readers as well as those who put my story on story alert…! XD It'll be great encouragement and reward for me. I would not want to keep all my lovely readers waiting for this chapter! Well, on to chapter number 10~
A white glue-like substance was curled around an unsuspecting Hibiki's neck in a vice-like grip. The twenty-year-old was struggling to free himself as he clawed futilely at his neck. He could not breathe as it constricted, cutting of his oxygen supply.
"HIBIKI!" Eve and Ren shouted. They moved forward but were blocked by Lewis's clones.
"LET HIM GO!" Laxus commanded. He had managed to escape from the smoke by using Lightning Body Transformation.
The other mage smirked and licked his lips hungrily. "Why should I? His magic adds a lasting flavor to my palate."
"YOU LEECHY BASTARD!" Vannessa snarled furiously. She flew straight at him, her swords outstretched in her hands. "TWIN SWORDS OF ETERNAL SHADOWS!"
A huge black streak of magic materialized as the two swords sliced through the air in a cross-like motion.
"I knew those swords were meant for some other purpose…" Lewis sneered and was intelligent enough as he jerked Hibiki over in front of him, acting as a physical shield for himself.
"NO! IT'S HEADED STRAIGHT FOR HIM!" Eve yelled out.
"In this situation, he can't block it!" Ren exclaimed.
Without thinking, Vannessa took off towards her own unleashed magic and flung herself bodily into it.
"VANNESSA!" both Eve and Ren cried out.
Sharp pain swelled throughout her body as she fought against it, using her willpower and strength. Her wings shimmered for a moment before it disappeared. It was without a doubt she was failing albeit slowing it down.
"You don't learn, do you?" Laxus demanded.
Lewis looked at him, innocently. "Learn what, may I ask?"
Just then, a huge golden magic circle appeared in the air above them and the twenty-two-year-old sneered, "That I consider them as my allies. I bring thou upon FAIRY LAW!"
Without warning, Laxus unleashed the powerful magic as a beam of golden light enveloped Vannessa, Hibiki and Lewis. Vannessa closed her eyes as a warm glow caressed her, dispelling the magic from attacking her body. It was a wonderful sensation.
"Lucifer's Hand!" Lewis conjured the wraithlike hand again, in an attempt to absorb the magic but it vaporized almost instantly.
Her eyes flew open when she heard Lewis's screams.
"Impure magic like yours is just disgraceful," Laxus scoffed.
With Lewis down, the white substance on Hibiki's neck disappeared and he sank down to the ground weakly.
"Hibiki!" both Eve and Ren ran over to help their fallen comrade.
Laxus went over to a damaged Vannessa. He kneeled down. "Hey brat, you okay?" he demanded with a steely undertone.
The nineteen-year-old smiled faintly at him. "Do I look like I'm okay?"
She slowly pushed herself up, wobbling slightly. He smirked. "Ya' look dandy to me."
Vannessa scowled at him in response. Just then, the other three mages hobbled over to them, with Hibiki's weight shared between the other two.
"We've destroyed some lacrimas and I'm sure the remainder must have been caught in that blast," Ren said, referring to Laxus's Fairy Law. "And that idiot is out for the count."
"Is Hibiki going to be alright?" Vannessa asked, looking upset. "I'm so sorry I brought you all into this mess."
"I'm going to be fine, princess," he winked at her. "Don't you worry about me." He put an unsteady hand on her cheek lightly. Vannessa looked at him but did not pull away. "Go on to Fairy Tail, now, Vannessa…" he murmured softly. "I'm sure you've seen what our guild is about."
Ren smiled at her, nodding in agreement. "We'll be here if you ever need us, Vannessa."
Eve looked up at her and grinned lopsidedly. "Vannessa-chan, we'll still treat you as a member of Blue Pegasus even if you choose not to join us."
"Now that we're done here, let's get going and send this parasite vamp back to where he belongs," Laxus declared as he threw the unconscious man over his shoulder roughly.
"To jail," Vannessa added with satisfaction.
It's all over now…
However, she felt something in her stomach. She could not begin to describe it. After all, the girl knew that she had used her magic.
The beginning to an end…is near.
The chief was pleasantly surprised when he saw the five of them and duly rewarded them with 1,000,000 jewels each.
"Damn it! I should have just gone on this quest a day earlier!" Laxus muttered to himself. "Those 5,000,000 jewels would have been easily mine!"
Vannessa was the only one who showed obvious delight when she was presented with the money. In any case, it was her first time receiving something after she had done something. She elbowed Laxus painfully in the ribs. "At least, we're being paid for this. You should be grateful!" she hissed.
Laxus muttered something crude under his breath about getting more jewels and walked off after he had pocketed the money. Vannessa's eyes widened and she hastily stuffed her own share into her bag. "WAIT FOR ME!" she yelled out after Laxus's retreating back.
She knew that he heard her but he just did not bother to.
"Thank you for everything!" Vannessa grinned at the three other mages as she waved them farewell. "Sayonara!"
Then squaring her shoulders, she hurried after Laxus. "I SAID WAIT FOR ME, LAXUS!"
"For some reason, I don't think I will see her again," Ren suddenly spoke up miserably as he gazed thoughtfully at the girl.
"I sure hope we do though," Eve told him.
"Oh, we will alright…just not now," Hibiki answered as he stared intently at the Dragon Slayer.
But soon…
Vannessa Scott, the Dark Dragon Slayer…
"Why wasn't I told of this arrangement?" Laxus demanded, glowering at Vannessa.
She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Well, you apparently weren't listening to me."
His eyes narrowed. "I'm in no mood for games, Vannessa."
"Well, that's good to hear cause' neither am I," she retorted, trying her best to keep up with the blonde mage's long strides. He stopped so abruptly that Vannessa crashed into him. She massaged her forehead and stepped back just as he whirled around.
"Vannessa, I'm being serious. Why I supposed to take you to Fairy Tail?"
The Dragon Slayer peered past his shoulder and took a look around their surroundings. "I don't see any Fairy Tail mages around here to take me there," she answered flatly, aggravating him even further.
"Well neither do I, so go find your own way there brat," he snapped and walked away.
Vannessa stuck her tongue out at his back and continued to tag along behind him. "Who was the one who told me to join that guild in the first place?" she sang out.
"That was just a suggestion!" Laxus called back. "Geez, you don't have to take it literally."
The Dragon Slayer made a rude face but kept following him for the next few hours in silence. Honestly, she did not get why he was acting this way.
Even the members of Blue Pegasus Guild don't even come close…
It was getting dark soon and the atmosphere was getting chilly as the temperature dropped.
"Laxus," Vannessa called out. "We should find a place to settle down for the night."
The twenty-two-year-old snorted in reply. "You can camp here if you want to."
She tried to play nice. "But it's dangerous for a girl to sleep out in the wilderness alone," she told him sweetly.
The mage ignored her 'Miss Nice Girl' act. "You can pretty much handle the Three Men and those Vulcans on your own so I think you'll do fine in the wilderness."
The nineteen-year-old bristled at this. "Arrogant baka!" she hissed at him. "You can't even participate in a 'Mr. Nice Guy' contest because you have none of the ideal traits at all!"
Laxus smirked. "I heard that."
Vannessa's eyes widened and she frowned at him but did not answer.
Finally, the two of them reached an inn. He stopped and reeled around. He glared down at her. Vannessa blinked up at him innocently.
"WHY are you following me?" he demanded.
She tiptoed and peered over his shoulders, paying no attention to him entirely. "Are you planning to stay here? Looks good to me."
The twenty-two-year-old let out a loud sigh and rolled his eyes. "Do whatever you want. Geez! Why do I have to land up with a brat like you?" he grumbled before heading inside.
"Well, cause' it's your lucky day!" the Dragon Slayer grinned at his back.
"Welcome to my inn. How may I assist, sir?" a woman asked, the moment Laxus stepped inside.
"I'd like a room," he answered brusquely, apparently still annoyed as he tossed a bag of jewels onto the table. "One night will be adequate."
Vannessa rolled her eyes.
Doesn't he ever say please at all…?
"I'm assuming that it'll be the both of you since we have only one room available at the moment," the innkeeper told him. "Will that be alright?"
"No!", "Yes!" both of them said at the exact same time and turned to each other, glaring heatedly.
The older woman looked at Vannessa and then turned to Laxus. "Alright, I'll take that as a 'yes'." She placed a single tarnished bronze key onto the table and pushed it towards them.
"Well then, I'll just take my leave now," she continued as she took the money and disappeared behind a curtained back room, leaving the two mages behind, continuing their aggressive staring match.
"Man, this sucks big time!" Laxus muttered to himself as he kicked the door open. Before he could do anything, Vannessa hurried past him and threw herself onto the bed (there was only one bed available, mind you). The twenty-two-year-old gawked at her.
"I'll take the bed, thanks!" the Dragon Slayer shot him a childish smile. "Have to protect my backbone."
Recovering from his initial surprise, the older mage glared at her as he slammed the door shut behind him. Laxus stalked up to her and tossed his bag down onto the bed. Without another word, he swept her up into his arms effortlessly like he did Lewis, went over to the couch and roughly depositing her on it. Then he marched back to the bed and sat down. "You'll sleep there, brat!"
The nineteen-year-old frowned at him disdainfully. "What about 'ladies first'?" she questioned his gentleman manners.
Laxus raised an eyebrow at her as he placed a cigarette between his lips. "Yeah? Well, I've never heard of 'ladies first' so it's your loss."
The girl however, was clearly unconvinced by his answer. She strode over to him and put her hands on her hips. "That's not a credible answer."
The mage glanced at her before closing his eyes and leaned back against the wall. He lighted a cigarette and took a long drag, savoring it before intentionally exhaling out a puff of smoke at a fuming Vannessa. "Besides, my body is much bigger than that branched body of yours. A couch would fit ya' perfectly. AND I paid for this room; I didn't see you putting your contribution to it."
She scowled when she realised that Laxus had a point. The girl waved the smoke away from further infiltrating her too sensitive nose. "That's disgusting!"
She snatched the cigarette from his lips and threw it outside the window.
"Hey!" Laxus protested, sitting up. "That happens to be the last one I've got!"
Vannessa matched his glower with her own one, refusing to back down. "I read somewhere that cigarettes do nothing but cause addiction and harm to your wellbeing."
The twenty-two-year-old sighed heavily and stood up. "Heck, why do I even bother…do whatever you want, I'm going to grab myself a beer at the bar." Without a backward glance, he swept past her and left the room.
Vannessa stuck her tongue out at him just as the door slammed close yet again, making her flinch at the loud bang.
"I've never heard of 'ladies first' so it's your loss," she mimicked him and shot a well aimed kick at the bed. "Well, I've never heard of such poppycock. Stupid Laxus!"
She headed over to the couch and sat down in a huff. "Who does he think he is?" she muttered crossly to no one in particular. She took the cushion and started directing punches on the poor thing until she grew worn out and drifted off to sleep.