Chapter Twenty: Flames in the Night
-X779-
The day had been exhausting, to say the least, but fun none the less. Every girl within Fairy Tail came to Erza's room for the sleep over all expect Mira Jane. Which didn't really surprise Freya in the least. It was odd, though. While Mira Jane put up the front of being a devil, Freya could feel the pain emanating from the she devil. It would have been a nice opportunity to get to know the take-over mage and perhaps learn as to why Freya felt a knife twisting in her chest when she was close.
However she didn't dwell on it as she climbed into Erza's massive bed. It was too much for one person, or even a family. How Erza's kept everything spotless including her armor polished to a shine that was stored here as well was beyond her. Natsu and Happy were quite a handful for her to clean up after, but lately they have been putting forth effort to not be complete slobs.
She felt uneasy, with a growing pit in her stomach twisting. She was anxious. Anxious over what would await her once she was asleep. Would she sleep peacefully as she does with Natsu, or will she awake screaming and calling out to Natsu to chase away the night terrors? As she pulled the covers up quite snores filled with room.
Erza turned over facing Freya, she studied the nervous young girl who was trembling. Sitting up she placed her hands on Freya's forehead. "Something wrong?" She spoke quietly with a soft tender voice.
Freya shook her head. She knew that she was in a safe place, surrounded by her friends and family. It was what was missing that left her with a mixture of relentless, anxiety and fear now that the sleep over had died down coming to its conclusion. It was Natsu. His warmth of his fire. While it was wild, untamed, and destructive, she saw the beauty in his flames. The loyalty to those he loved, his willingness to protect. All those things are what fueled his flames. "Don't get me wrong, I've wanted to do something like this. It was more fun than I could have imagined…" The emotions welling up within her were overwhelming.
She had been looking forward to spend more time with her guild mates. Even her and Lisanna are closer now than they were before. However laying here with her mind not being bombarded by karaoke or dancing, her thoughts are filled with Natsu and Happy. She ached to be with them, in a similar way she ached to be with Granny once again. She missed them. It was silly in her mind, as she seen them earlier today, but in particular, she desired to be held within Natsu's arms as she fell into slumber with Happy laying above their heads. It had become her home. A place where she belonged, when before she had nowhere to go. No one to love her, or for her to love. She lived an empty existence until she had stumbled onto Granny and Natsu. The only two to pull her out of the abyss.
"You miss them, no?" Erza's face was soft, her eyes filled with an aching pain. She shared in Freya's pain, as she knew all too well the loneliness and suffering of being alone. In truth she had looked forward to the sleep over as well, as the weight of bearing those who had been taken from her was beginning to become too much. Her first family. The family she had formed with the other damned children in the tower that only showed them hell and hopelessness. She held their lives in her hands, a weight she was still not ready to bear. However, with Jellal becoming twisted and demented from his torture he had endured for her sake, she knew that the day was approaching. The day she would have to face down the man who had sheltered and saved her, to save those she loved from a life of slavery and torment.
Freya sat up remaining quite. She looked up to Erza. She was beautiful, strong, kind and fearless. While she thought of Erza as a sister now, there was still so much she did not know about the young knight. She was a tightly closed box, much like Mira Jane. However as she sat here now, Erza looked just as defeated as she was herself.
Erza pushed it all aside. She wasn't ready to face it, nor was she ready to let another know. The guild viewed her as a pillar of strength, and to reveal that she had once been a hopeless slave would shatter their moral. Especially Freya's. She knew the younger mage looked up and aspired to be much like herself. Though she didn't view herself as a role model. She was just a broken mage who somehow found the strength daily to stand tall.
They silently agreed to remain awake through the night, occasionally speaking of silly things to bring the other up, as they laid on their backs of Erza's bed.
Night had come with Natsu laying silently looking at the cloudless night sky. The stars twinkled, and his eyes found the constellation Draco that Freya had shown him. It felt so strange to him without the little girl that had come to him in the autumn next to his side. Even more so now that he remembered her. He was anxious, which in turned compelled him to go and be at her side. Though she would probably be a little irritated if he just popped up and took her back home with him, since she was looking forward to her first sleepover.
She was rediscovering the world, and while he wasn't sure what entirely happened at a sleepover, but knowing Erza it would be something crazy. With that he didn't want to steal her happiness.
"Natsu." Gildarts finally spoken, breaking Natsu out of his daze. Gildarts knew something must be bothering the fire mage as he hadn't been his normal robust self since they departed.
"Mmm?" Natsu sat up, stretching.
"What's on your mind?" Gildarts inquired the young fire mage.
"Erhmmm." Natsu mumbled. He wasn't entirely sure how to respond. Even if it was Gildarts who he had been entirely open to before, the revelation he had to himself about Freya was something he felt that needed to stay a guarded secret.
Gildarts scooted closer elbowing Natsu lightly as he chuckled. "Natsu, you sly dog! Is it about a cute girl?"
"No." He responded flatly. Of course Gildarts, the womanizer would think it was over a girl. It was for once a fairly accurate guess, as it was. He wanted to stir the conversation away from the topic of "girls" as it would undoubtedly come back to Frey.
"Is it Lisanna?" Gildarts paused for a moment. "No, I bet it's the new girl right? The one you couldn't leave alone?"
"It has nothing to do with Lisanna!" Natsu was somewhat aggregated, as before Freya came along it seemed a few tried to match make the two. It didn't help with Lisanna often saying they should get married, which was so bizarre in his mind.
"What was the new girls name again?"
"Freya." Happy sat up, with Natsu glaring at the exceed who was also chuckling at the expense of himself. "He looooovvvvesss her." Happy rolled his tongue.
He couldn't deny it. To deny it, would be one in the same as being ashamed of her and his love for his soul mate. He was far from it, and he was quite proud and thankful that him of all people had been lucky enough to have someone like Freya in his life as far as he could remembered.
Without realizing it, from that moment they met, both had been shaping one another. Pushing each other to become who they are today. It seemed in his mind it was moving so quickly, but in truth it was just his world settling back to where it had once been. It would still take some time for him to grow accustomed to being someone so important and dear to Freya and vice versa.
"Yeah, I do." He sighed calmly, a warmth of happiness rushed over him. His eyes were gentle as he smiled softly. The confession was out in the open though he wished he could have confessed his love to her first, but what was done was done.
Happy and Gildarts sat in shock for a moment as they let what had been said sink in. Happy was in particular, was shocked as he never thought Natsu would be the first to be open about his feelings. In fact, most of the time he wasn't even sure if Natsu felt that strongly for Freya. He believed that the fire mage did indeed feel something, but he had only been teasing mostly to rag on Freya. The question now was would he pick up on Freya's feelings? He thought it was quite obvious that Freya held a crush for the pink hair mage.
"I'm not ready for her to know yet." Natsu's voice was quiet and firm as his obsidian eyes fell to his blue feline companion. It would be a miracle if Happy actually kept his mouth shut. Natsu knew he was young, and would get overly excited leading the exceed to spill all the secrets he held.
Freya walked through the streets of Magnolia, with the sun only peeking up over the horizon. Dark circles under her eyes only showed she didn't even doze off during the night. She had never stayed up so late, but figured if she worked at the hospital for a few hours that once she went home, Natsu and Happy would be waiting for her. She hoped she could talk Natsu into taking a nap with her, but he wasn't exactly the type of person to take naps.
As she continued her trek towards the hospital, she pondered on Natsu's sudden change in behavior towards her. He had always been playful with her, and knew that he still viewed her as a child. She was, but wasn't. But it had crossed from being playful, to what she considered teasing. Not teasing in a cruel way, but still in the playful territory. It was his nature, a part of him.
She crossed her arms behind her, not willing to give up until she solved it. She could always ask him, but would he give her a straight answer? "Of course he would. He's always so straight forward and honest. Sometimes a little too honest. At least he's not brutally honest like Happy though."
Freya came to a stop before quickly running over to a man lying on the street in front of the hospital. She knelt down, gently placing his wrist into her hand in order to check his pulse. "Hey, are you okay?" She mentally counted the beats of his heart. As she let go, his hand wrapped around her arm, painfully squeezing it causing her to cry out. Before she knew it she was pinned to the ground face first, his crushing weight bearing down on her. She struggled trying to thrash her weight around, attempting to free herself. She began to weep from the pain of his dead weight as it was causing her ribs to crack, forming hairline fractures. She didn't know what was more painful this or the time she broke her ankle. Her body was in a constant state of repair, only for the fractures to form over top the healing.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you in pain?" The chill from the man's voice turned her blood cold as he knelt down looking into Freya's glassy eyes. "This is nothing compared to the pain my friends endured as you burned them alive." He spat into her face pressing more of his weight onto her causing her to yell in pain, but he covered her mouth muffling her screams. Suddenly a rib cracked puncturing her lungs. As blood quickly filled her lungs, her body was repairing the damage to her lung. The man removed his hand as he felt blood trickling out from the sides of her mouth. He whipped his wrist flicking the blood off. "Disgusting." He stood up and as he done so he picked her up by her hair.
Freya held onto her braid as she bite her lip, looking into his cold steel gray eyes. It didn't matter the pain she was in right now, she had to fight back. Pulling her weight onto her braid she kicked the man across the face with all of her strength, causing him to let go as he stumbled backwards. Freya hit the ground with a thud, blood dripping onto the street. Rolling over she pulled herself up holding onto her side as she stumbled running through the sleeping streets of Magnolia. As she ran, she kicked off her shoes. Without knowing where Natsu truly was, Fairy Hills would be the only hope she had of someone helping her. Now she would do anything for a bow and wished that she would have made another one when she got back from Demantur. As she stumbled through the streets leaving a blood trail she had no idea why the man was after her, nor how he got that she burned someone, much less killing them. Freya looked back and seen he was picking himself up from the street. The quick kick across his face knocked his balance off but now in the condition she was in she wouldn't be able to run much further until her body finished healing. It was getting increasingly difficult to breathe, which led her to become worry over the fact if she would drown in her own blood that filled part of her lungs.
She focused on healing the rest of her lung and turned the corner quickly. Taking a deep breath she dove into the canal swimming under a row boat. Blood seeped from her mouth flowing up as she placed her hands on the bottom of the row boat. She listened to his footsteps echoing through the street and the water as her body finished repairing the fractures in her ribs. Time slowed as she waited for him to run on by. She could only imagine he stood in confusion or was debating his next move. However, she was going to run out of breath soon and needed to think about how she was going to make it to Fairy Hills. It was the closest place that she could run to and was only a few blocks away from her current location. It was still too early in the morning and her mental search of anyone moving about outside in the streets came up empty. She prayed that someone would had been awake, so she could hide while they went and fetched someone from Fairy Hills."It's now or never."
Her breath was dangerously low and she still couldn't think of what to do next. Slowly she swam out from under the boat to the other side hoping he couldn't see her from the angle. The boat wasn't very big, and he was fairly tall. As she surfaced her eyes widen to see him standing in the boat. "How did I not hear him!?" As she tried to dive back down he kicked her across the face sending her flying across the water. "That's for earlier, you bitch!" He snarled.
Freya collided with the stone wall of the canal on the other side, sending her blood splattering in all directions. It felt as if every bone in her body snapped. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she fell over face first into the water, her blood running into the canal from her ears, eyes, nose and mouth. Not to mention from the lacerations scattered across her body from colliding with the stone wall. She could only guess her neck snapped as her whole body felt numb, which she was thankful for at the moment. She knew it was only a matter of time since not only was she bleeding out, but internally as well from her bones shattering and ripping through her body. As she gazed at the bottom of the canal her vision growing darker by the second. Her heart was shattering into a million pieces, much like her body as she thought that she would never get to see him again. Unknowing if her body could truly repair itself now, she could only guess it was the end of the line as she would die from the blood loss. It was a reality she was unwilling to accept. Perhaps before she met Natsu, when she was a no one, she could had come to terms with such a fate, but now she wanted to struggle against the current. She truly was powerless, unable to stand up and fight and protect what she loves.
She felt herself being pulled up from the water by her hair once again as she stared blankly across the street. Before her world went black she finally felt the courage to say the words out loud, even if he wouldn't be here to hear them. "I..." She choked on her blood as it spewed from her mouth. No longer able to see in front of her she needed to say the words feeling it would be her last. "Lo...ve youuu Na...ts..uuu." Her eyes closed with her body hanging limply.
"Tch." The man brought out a bag tossing her body into it pulling the draw string up. "Unfortunately, you don't die so easily." The man tossed the bag over his shoulder unaware of the flowers growing from her blood that spilled onto the streets.
Natsu busted through the front door eager to see Freya as he knew she would be back from her daily trip to the hospital. He did sleep in after all, but him and Happy both stood in the door way disappointed to see she still wasn't back yet. His eyes widen when he seen a green dress on top of the hamper covered in blood. He quickly ran over grabbing it but sigh in relief as the blood didn't have her smell. He looked at it noticing it was dried on. "Natsu?" Happy hesitatingly flew next to him, horror on his face as his thoughts took him back to when Freya laid bleeding on the ground.
"Don't worry, it's not hers. Must have happened at the hospital." He placed the piece of clothing back on top of the hamper as Happy sighed in relief. Natsu sniffed the air, noticing her scent was fading, anxiety began to creep in all around him. "She hasn't been home since yesterday. Let's go see if she's at the guild."
"Aye!"
Natsu walked through the doors sniffing the air, noting that she wasn't at the guild either. "Yo Erza!" Erza turned around in her chair holding onto a plate with a piece of strawberry cake. "Where's Freya?"
"She left early this morning to get her duties out of the way for the day." Erza took another bite of her delicious cake.
Natsu crossed his arms as the claws of the anxiety sinking into his soul. It was a feeling he wasn't use to feeling but assumed he was only feeling this way as he has been apart from her for so long. "How did she sleep?"
Erza didn't say anything for a moment thinking back to how they kept the other awake all night long. "We talked most of the night." Taking her last bite of cake she sat her plate down thinking about going home for the day to take a nap.
"Oh." Natsu felt a ting of guilt knowing she must have stayed up on purpose. He rubbed the back of his head. Thinking, he decided to stay at the guild instead of going back home as she would come here looking for him after the hospital. Erza put her hand on his shoulder shocking him, giving him a smile before walking off.
It was late in the afternoon with Natsu standing in front of the guild, arms crossed as he looked up and down the street. "She should have been here by now." The unsettling feeling from earlier just kept growing in the pit of his stomach, almost into full panic. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something was terribly wrong. Was his dragon instincts just going into full alert now that he was aware of her being his mate again? He began pacing thinking why it was taking her so long. Happy looked on with worry, never seeing Natsu so upset over Freya running late. Normally he would be inside the guild picking a fight with Gray.
Natsu stop pacing as he frazzled his hair, huffing out in frustration. "I'm going to check on her. You stay here Happy in case she comes back before I get back."
Happy nodded as he watched Natsu take off in full speed down the streets in the direction of the hospital. He thought Natsu was just over reacting but he could hardly blame him after what happened on the recent job.
As Natsu ran through the streets of Magnolia, he stopped in his tracks not too far from the hospital falling to his knees. In the middle of the stone streets was red flowers but not just any red flowers. It was her red flowers. Shaking, he reached out as he picked a flower his eyes growing wide. "Blood." His jaw clenched as the smell wafted from the flower. It was her blood, her flowers. Just like that time she scrapped her knees when she was little. A small drop of blood had hit the ground and from it a small flower bloomed. His eyes looked around noticing the trail of flowers was leading away from the hospital. He got up running as he followed the trail, when he turned the corner his eyes looked on in horror as he collapsed to the ground on his knees once again. They were everywhere on the other side of the street, growing up the canal wall. "What in the hell happened?" His eyes scanned for a bridge to run across but didn't see any nearby. He jumped into the water wading through when he saw flower growing up from underneath a boat. He grabbed the side of the small boat flipping it over staring on in shock at the flowers growing on the bottom of the boat. His grip shattered the side of the row boat as he threw it against the canal wall, breaking it into more pieces. Flames danced across his body, his eyes a bright green from his anger, his rage boiling the water around him. He turned swimming across the canal reaching the shattered wall. His eyes noticed even more flowers growing at the bottom of the canal. As his hand touched the moist wall covered in and overgrowth of glittering red flower his hand felt something sharp. Grabbing hold he pulled it up from the flowers noticing it was a creamy white and just has hard as the wall. "Bone...its fucking bone. She was thrown so fucking hard, her bones ripped through her skin." He punched the wall, causing it to crack and crumble as he roared. His hand clutched the red flower he had picked earlier, resting his head on the cool wet flowers. "I should have listened to my gut instincts. I should have known." Not giving himself a chance to lose himself in his frenzy, he had to clear his mind so he could figure where she was. She needed him now more than ever.
Climbing up he sniffed the air noticing her scent, her blood still lingered in the air. But there was another scent mixed with it. One that he noticed at the guild hall yesterday. He would have to worry about telling the guild later as he needed to follow her scent before a breeze blew the trail away. He dashed through the streets following her faint scent. His eyes would occasionally see a small red flower, with him assuming as she was being dragged away bled out little by little. "How did no one see or hear what happened?" He shook his head as he just only need to focus on finding her.
Natsu made it outside of Magnolia still following her trail, with it getting a little stronger though he hadn't seen any flowers in awhile. From what he could tell her trail was several hours old and fading. The more he thought about it, she had to been attacked on her way to the hospital from Fairy Hills. It would explain why her trail led away and back in the same direction. "She was trying to make a run for it." He just hoped he would find her. "No, I will find her. I won't stop until I do."
He had been running for most of the night, but he began to slow his pace down as his green pierced through the night. From what he could tell, it appeared to be a small fortress built into a mountain side. It's like nothing he has ever seen before. A few small towers sticking up on the side, with a smooth finished craved into the front of the mountain itself. There was a massive door, being the only entrance in. However, he could see a few small windows. He wished he would have let Happy come with him, because they could just fly up to an opening and crawl on through.
Stopping and propping himself against a tree as he tried to catch his breath. A sheen of sweat covered most of his body, with his salmon locks clinging to his forehead. He had no idea how far he was from Magnolia but who ever took her, was fairly fast which is why it made it so hard to judge his distance. Fortunately, he was just as fast and it was his lucky day nothing interfered with her scent trail. He had to be careful and think this through. He had no idea how many where inside, or where Freya was but he was certain she was inside as her scent went in that direction.
Freya groaned as she heard the sound of a flickering flame. "Natsu?" She whispered as she opened her eyes, but as she done so the reality of her situation sunk in. The room was dark, with a little light coming through under the door. Her eyes quickly adjusted, and she could see she was in a damp cold cell. "I'm alive?" The revelation shocked her more than where she was. With a snapped neck and massive blood loss she was for sure she had met her end. As she came to, she felt cold metal shackles around her neck, wrists and ankles. Slowly she moved her fingers and toes checking to see if she was paralyzed. A pain shot through her stomach, causing her to sit up. She covered her mouth as she began to gag. Shaking, a thick black substance forced it's way up from her stomach and seeped out of her mouth, onto the cold rock floor. Wiping her mouth with her hand, she inspected the mysterious liquid. "Old blood?" Her faint whispered echoed in the small cell. She furrowed her eyebrows and placed both of her hands onto her stomach but nothing happened. Feeling faint no doubt from the blood loss earlier today, she laid down on her back. The coolness actually gave her cold chills, something she doesn't experience. Running her hands over the floor, it felt like rock that had been carved and smoothed. Placing her palms down onto the smooth surface, she closed her eyes in an attempt to get a better view of where she was. Again nothing happened. Feeling a little panic settling in, she pulled her hands back and into her view, she inspected the heavy shackles weighing her down. "There's something about them that feels, odd." The more she looked, her eyes picked up on a small detail. There were engravings in the shackles and the heavy chains. "Runes?"
She could hear footsteps echoing through the corridor. Feeling panic she didn't know what she should do. Should she show no fear in the face of her captures facing them head on, or should she roll over and pretend to be asleep? It felt as if the world was crashing in on her as her anxiety steadily crept up into high gear. "What if I never see him again?" She wanted to curl into a ball, unknowing if she could make it out of this hopeless situation.
Natsu flashed through her mind, calming the raging storm within her. Using the wall, she pulled herself up sitting in the darkness with a new found determination. She would face this threat head on, she would pull through this to see and to hear him once again. Her eyes shrunk, lightly glowing yellow in the darkness. She steadied her breathing as she heard the locks being undone on her door. Suddenly it swung open revealing a womanly figure. Orange eyes pierced through Freya's yellow ones. Her eyes followed the figure walking around. She had her black hair pulled into a bun, her dark maroon robes swaying as she walked. The woman walked back over to the door way, turning to face Freya once again. Neither said a word as their nerves of steel battled one another.
"So here you are, the daughter of the dragons and death itself." She spat at Freya with contempt.
Freya remained silent her mind filled to the brim questions, unable to wrap her mind around this situation. "The daughter of death and dragons?"
"Don't worry. Until we use you to lure him here, you'll be kept alive." She paused as she turned around, peering over her shoulder. "But barely."
Freya eyes widen as fear sunk into the depths of her soul. In her desperation to protect Natsu, the facade she had put on, crumbled. "Please!" She called out, her voice echoing down through the corridors. "Don't hurt him..." Her voice began to break as she was shaking, her shackles rattling against the rock floor. Tears streaming down her face. "You can do whatever you want to me!" Freya clenched her fists against the floor, looking down as tears fell from her eyes. "I should have never found him..."
The woman's orange eyes flared as she quickly turned around, her shoes clicking across the floor. Unable to contain her emotions any longer reaching down she picked Freya up by her neck, slamming her against the stone wall. Freya hung limply her eyes still fixed onto the floor as they yellow faded from them, turning them into a void of green. She squeezed her hand, in an attempt to rob Freya of her air. "I assure you that he will meet the same fate as you and you will suffer for the transgression and sins you have committed onto others."
Something snapped inside of Freya at her words, unknowing that the woman was never talking of Natsu. Her magic began to swell pooling on the inside unable to escape as the runes acted as a dam. Brief flashes of forgotten memories of two unknown figures being killed in front of her. The thought of Natsu being taken from her was more than she could bear. His existence was precious to her. One of the few people that first showed her kindness in this world. She would not watch another life being taken in front of her again.
Her eyes flared yellow once more, reaching up she wrapped left hand below her elbow squeezing. With one swift motion she thrust her right hand to the side of the woman's arm.
A snapping sound could be heard as the woman let go screaming out from her bone being broken, and ripping through her skin. Armed with the knowledge of the human body, she clenched both of her fists delivering quick calculated jabs into the nameless woman's torso with the aim of disabling her. As the woman fell in front of Freya, she reached up with both hands grabbing the shackle around her neck, pulling outward in an attempt to free herself. The metal heaved under her strength, but none the less she still wasn't strong enough to break free of the shackles. She could hear multiple footsteps running down the corridors. No matter how much she pulled the shackle wouldn't budge.
As a man and woman stood in her doorway to her cell ready to lunge, she prepared herself. This was what Natsu had trained her to do all along. She still had no desire to kill them, even if that is what they sought after in her and Natsu. Unknowing if she could truly escape, she would fight back. As they began to charge at another figure stood in the doorway. Freya floated from ground her body twisting and contorting in directions it wasn't meant to. The dark figure held his hand out in front.
"Take Morana to the healer, I will take care of this pest."
Gritting her teeth and squinting her eyes from the pain, her chest was being forced to implode on itself.
"Impressive." He closed his hand. Freya unable to scream from her lungs collapsing and imploding. Her body fighting against the crushing force being exerted on her, rapidly healed the damage. He slammed her against the floor as she passed out from the lack of oxygen. "All in due time." His dark intentions dripping from his words as he closed the door latching the locks. How he had planned to rip her body to shreds to give her the same pain as his son felt when she disintegrated him into ash.
As much as he hated to sneak around, he wished he could just storm the place bursting the door down raining his fire down onto those who stole Freya from him. Luckily for him, there was only a few standing on guard in front of the only entrance and they didn't patrol. Glancing up he was about half way to one of the slim openings. He could hear a commotion coming from the window he was aiming to climb through. He stopped his ascent, as he listened hoping for some intel on where Freya was.
"Quickly place her on the bed!" An older feminine voice called out.
"That bitch. Who does she think she is." A manly voice sneered.
"Her arm is broken, the bone piercing the skin. Along with bruised organs." The same feminine voice calmly spoke. "Quickly get a splint ready along with morphine as we get ready to set the bones back in place."
Footsteps came running into the room. "We must prepare for the ritual as her brother just received word and is on his way. He is expected to be here in a day's time."
A voice laughed out. "Everything is proceeding as planned." The voice paused. "It is only a matter of time before the vision of this world no longer being plagued by those who have brought ruin."
A deep dark voice spoke out. "Then I will go have my fun while I can."
"You see what happened to Morana." The female spoke out in protest. "You would be wise not to toy with her."
The dark voice chuckled, his footsteps echoing out of the room. "I will not give her a moments pause as she will be in so much agony as I show her the same cruelty she showed my only son."
Natsu's jaw clenched, his grip tightening on the rock face, the jagged edges digging into his palms. A breeze blew salmon locks revealing his burning green eyes. His blood coursed through him, burning his veins. Throwing caution to the wind, with a quick thrust from his feet he stood in the slim opening of a window, his flames burning with rage. Only four remained in the room, two women and men. "Where is she?!" He jumped down from the ledge and into the room, his anger boiling. The three of them stepped away from the patients bed as Natsu came closer to them. "Where is Freya!?" His voice was deep and demanding.
One of the men drew his sword charged at Natsu who intended to take the blade. As the man drew his sword down, Natsu caught it in one hand shattering it, his flames melting the shattered pieced. Natsu grabbed the man by his crimson robes, his flames engulfing the man causing him to cry out as his skin was being scorched. "I won't ask again." A deep growl escaping from his throat.
The woman in white robes decorated with the symbol for healing froze in fear finally spoke. "Do...down in the basement. In a holding cell."
Dropping the smoking man, he dashed out of the room ignoring the rest. Flames still engulfed his body illuminating the dark corridors. As others ran out in front of him to stop him, he would push forward sending his flames in all directions. After running through corridor after corridor, he had only gone down two floors. He stopped in his tracks, his blood freezing as he heard Freya's screams echoing through the hallways. The pain steeped screeches chilled him to his bones. As he was about to make a mad dash to her a man with cold steel gray eyes stepped in front of him.
"Who the hell are you?" The man demanded.
"I should ask you the same damn thing." Natsu's flames still flickering and licking the stone walls. Smelling the air, the scent of Freya's blood coated the man standing before him. Natsu gritted his teeth not willing to hold back the new rage bursting forth, give a whole new heat to his flames. "Fire Dragon Sword Horn." Natsu launched himself at the man standing before him.
The man dodge it as Natsu flew by him. Natsu held his hands out in front of him as he collided into the stone wall, placing his feet onto the wall he launched himself again. As he got closer approaching the man, he built his magic up into his hands and began a swirling motion. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art:" The man stepped aside as Natsu had planned. With Natsu beside the man he would blow him away at point blank range. "Crimson Lotus Exploding Flame Blade!"
The rapid massive explosions engulfed the hallway sending flames in all directions blowing out the ceiling, walls and floors. As the smoke cleared out with rumble still falling Natsu stared down at the man who was still standing from the attack.
"A fire dragon slayer?" He stood in disbelief the heat causing him to sweat from all of his pores. "The mark on your shoulder, you must be Salamander of Fairy Tail?"
Natsu stood in silence trying to figure out how his attack swirled around the man of steel. His eyes scanned the muscular man who held a bleeding dragon head guild mark on the left side of his neck. His hair and eyes were a cold gray. "So you're the one that took her." The venom dripping from his words.
"It was such a pleasure seeing her in pain." The man darkly chuckled, only adding fuel to Natsu's fire. The man stood as he watched Natsu began to tremble.
He could almost see the things he had done to her in Magnolia. He could feel the pain she felt coursing through his body. Her screams and cries of intense pain ringing through the corridors. Something dark inside of him began to stir, awaken from his new found torment urging him to leave not even ash in his wake. His flames slowly changing into a deep crimson, the rock around him beginning to melt, turning molten. "One more time." The deep voice urged him. Complying, Natsu held his hands above his head forming a ball of flame. "Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!" He hurled the explosive ball in force causing it to engulf the man sending out an explosion that even pushed himself back.
Freya laid on the floor, her breaths shallow and raspy. Blood seeping from the lacerations throughout her body. Her eyes no longer holding any signs of life as she withdrew into herself. The pain of her bones being repeatedly snapped was more than her little body could stand. Just breathing ached. She couldn't even fathom why she was being treated in such a way. What did she do to deserve this? She felt the whole place tremble and shake around her, reverberating through her body.
"It seems he arrived early." The man smirked.
Clenching her fists as she felt helpless to do anything. "Did I really do what he tells me I've done?" Curling up into a ball as she had a moment of reprieve, she wept as she buried her face into the floor. Her eyes widen as she felt her body floating. Grabbing a hold of her chains in an attempt to pull herself back onto the ground. "No...I can't..." She pleaded to be put out of her misery. She thought she could endure anything as long as she had Natsu, but they were about to steal him away in front of her. The man jerked her, pulling her chains taunt.
Freya felt the same force twisting her body once more. A silent screamed escaped her lungs, as she slammed her eyes shut. Her bones were being crushed into dust this time around instead of being broken repeatedly. She silently prayed to the heavens for relief to come. Suddenly she felt heat engulf her as it swirled around the room. She fell to the floor, her chains echoing through the chamber. Gasping for breath, she looked around only able to see a blanket of darkness. Unable to move, see or hear she could only lay silently in her agony as she bled out onto the floor.
Natsu struggled against the grip the man exerted onto him with his magic. Floating in the air he had no leverage. His bright green eyes piercing through the yellow eyed man. "Freya is close. I can smell her blood. Just what the hell have they done to her?"
"Not who I was expecting." The man calmly spoke. "It seems you caused quite the fuss." He moved his body effortless through the air, bringing Natsu closer. Seeing the red tattoo on Natsu's shoulder everything became clear to him. "I take you're here for the girl?"
"You bet your ass I am." He snarled at him still struggling against his hold. The man stepped closer, getting into Natsu's face.
"You would be wise to forget about her. She is not who you believe she is. She is the daughter of the dragons and death. The harbinger of death and destruction. She has bathed in blood being responsible for countless lives lost."
"That's bullshit!" He knew Freya. He knew her better than anyone, the pain that was etched into her heart. Even now he could feel the echo of pain she was experiencing. Suffering alone, the feeling of helplessness, unable to fathom why she was even here. But even now, her soul remained kind, gentle and loving. Above all she was a person that cherish life.
"Oh? So you truly don't know?" He stood amused.
"I don't need to know the bullshit you believe in. I know who she is better than anyone." Natsu sucked in a deep breath. Being this close to Freya's tormentor he would not be able to dodge his breath.
"Fire Dragon..." Suddenly Natsu's chest began to close in, along with his throat. Before his airway was completely shut he opened his mouth. "ROAR!"
As the crimson fired singed his hair and skin, the man pushed Natsu down into the floor diverting the attack. As the crimson flames died down, he exerted his force onto Natsu not allowing him to move.
Natsu struggled to breathe and found himself unable to move. Not giving up, he sent his fire in every direction. His flames turning the rock molten around him. He felt his body levitate somehow, even within the inferno he was creating. He felt something cold latch around his ankle, his flame dying out within an instant.
What he saw him front of him was Freya laying on a bed of her own flowers, passed out. Lacerations scattered across her body that were healing slowly. Her dress torn, ragged and stained in her blood. He diverted his eyes to the cold metal around his ankle. "What the hell is this? Whatever it is, I can't use my magic anymore." With both of his hands he pulled on the metal, it bending and giving under his strength.
As he pulled, four more shackles latched around him. "I'll play with you more later. I must attend to the others from the mess you have caused."
Natsu stopped struggling against the chains and watched the man walk away. As much as he wanted to watch the man burn before him, seeing the condition Freya was in he needed to get her away first. Giving him enough time to get down the corridor out of site, he looked back at Freya. Dropping to his knees he crawled over next to her. His eyes scanned over her beaten and bruised body, he trembled with rage. Crying out of anger and frustration, he wanted to pick her up but was hesitant. Worried that her body was still repairing and would could more harm than good. Reaching out he picked her hand up in his, kneeling down in front of her face.
"Frey?" His soft whisper calling out to her. "Frey?" Listening to her heart and breathing, they were ragged and shallow. "Frey?" Remaining unresponsive, Natsu laid down next to her on his right side, still holding onto her hand. With his left hand he caressed her face. Under the glow from the heat radiating from the stone walls, her skin had a faint light golden glitter. Even in her current state, her beauty was breathing taking to him. Which only anger him more that anyone would maul his battle maiden.
Freya stiffened as a reflex from the touch but relaxed as she knew the familiar touch. Coughing, as sensations flooded through her body, only for her to realize her body was still in a pitiful state. Slowly healing the damage that had been done to her. "I can't see or hear, Natsu. But..." Tears flooded from behind her shut eyes. "I'm so sorry that you're here because of me..." She choked as her chest contracted. "Him being here must mean he was caught because of me." Freya's heart twisted in her chest, as she broke down giving into her sorrow and grief. She knew what laid ahead of them now. Natsu, her light being stolen from her. "Please, just leave me!" She opened her pale green eyes. "You have to escape from here. They..." Freya let out a wail as her heart continued to shatter. "They want to kill you in front of me!" She didn't know what else to say to convince him to make a run for it. "I don't care if they torture me, or kill me. I can endure it! As long as I know you're...as long as you're safe." She felt Natsu's hand withdraw from her, her worse fears sinking in that it must be happening.
Standing up quickly, a new fire building within him. "I'm not going anywhere without you Frey. Don't you know that? We're mates and I'm taking you back home to our family." His words falling on her deaf ears.
His eyes widen as Freya pulled herself up against the wall, shaking and trembling in her pain. Turning around, waterfalls fell from her pale eyes. "Give him back...please..." Falling down without the support of the wall, she cried out in pain as the shock sent new waves of agony through her. "Do whatever you want with me. Just...give him back to me!"
He pulled at the collar shackle, the metal screaming as it broke. Quickly he tore the others from his wrists and ankles. Running over, he pulled Freya up into a sitting position placing his hands on her shoulders to assure her that he was still there and that he was safe. Tracing his fingers across her collar bone, he wrapped his fingers around the shackle on her neck, never losing skin contact. With one quick out thrust the metal shattered in his hands.
Her hands shaking, she felt around her freed neck. Wiping her tears away she understood that Natsu had never been captured but was instead here to save her from this nightmare. Still jittering she held her wrists out in front of her so that Natsu could remove them. As he removed the weights that pulled her down, she brought her legs out in front of him.
After he removed the rest, he leaned forward he placed a kiss on her forehead. Quickly he gathered her up into his arms. Using the new found strength that awaken from Freya being taken from him, he gathered a deep breath. With Freya in his arms, fighting would be more difficult. Using his new found strength, he would make a new opening in the mountain for them to escape through, not wanting to take the chance of running into anyone.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" The deep crimson flames erupted from him spewing out in front of him, melting the stone in front of him. The mountain shook and trembled as he continued to bore a hole into the side. He darted into the glowing tunnel making his way towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Since the place wasn't deep into the mountain he didn't have to go far.
Looking around the as he stood on the ledge, the sun was beginning to rise painting the sky a deep crimson and orange. Where he had made the exit there was a steep incline. Not being able to climb down he quickly thought of all the possibilities. Clutching a passed out Freya in his arms he pooled his magic into his feet with every intention of using his magic to control his descent down the side of the mountain. Leaping from the ledge, fire shot out the soles of his shoes just as planned. However, it was more difficult than he thought it would be as he struggled to keep them stabilized. Landing, still using his fire power he sped off away from the mountain. Looking over his shoulder he saw the same man who had tortured Freya in the short time span that she was held prisoner giving chase. Laying Freya down onto the soft grass, he turned to face him head on.
Her tormentor stopped a few feet in front of Natsu. As the sun rose, it gave the man the appearance of being lit aflame.
"I misjudge you fire dragon slayer. You're much stronger than I first thought. To break the magia configuratione shackles is a feat within itself." The man's eyes fell to Freya laying behind Natsu. "Ah, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself..."
"I don't give a damn who you are." He seethed as his crimson flames licked the air around them.
"At least she was polite enough to allow me to do so." He motioned over towards Freya. "None the less, I am called Dreogan. The one that will bring the same suffering onto the maiden of death as she has done onto others."
Natsu's jaw clenched, baring his fangs. Onyx mixed in with his crimson flames, his blood was boiling. The inferno he created around him, pushed the air away creating wind. "Is there more of you, that are after her?" His green dragon eyes burning with furor. It wasn't the way of Fairy Tail, to kill others. But he felt so compelled to do so, in order to protect her. However if that's what it took to protect her, he would throw his humanity away.
"It is the way of our order, our guild to seek out the harbingers of death. We will not rest until they have met their end."
Something snapped inside of Natsu, hearing their resolve. How warped and twisted were they to think Freya of all people was a harbinger of death? If anything she was a life binder. What's more is how could another guild seek the death of Freya? Dragon scales slowly spread across his skin, his own flames reaching a new level causing the wind to swirl around him.
Natsu gritted his teeth as he began shaking in anger. "I don't know what the hell you planned to do to her, but what you have done...to my mate is enough. I will never forgive any of you." He held his hands behind him, planning to lay waste to the man and the mountain that held the fortress behind him.
Black flame scale patterns formed on his face, his once green dragon eyes turned red. His dark crimson flames, gaining a pitch black that mixed in with the crimson. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art:"
A blinding white light filled the sky, blinding Natsu. The magic he pooled into his hands still swirled, and as his vision cleared he could see a cloaked man standing before him, with his back turned towards him. The ground beneath the cloaked man was scorched from his landing, his own shadow burned into the ground from the brilliant light. The man slowly turned his head and the flames that engulfed Natsu dissipated, his red his stared into the heavens themselves.
Dusk's eyes narrowed seeing dragon scales and black curse marks etched into Natsu's skin. The demon and dragon, currently in harmony with one another, all for the sake of his sister. His eyes looked over to a bloodied and bruised Freya laying behind Natsu, his lip quivered with rage. His eyes quickly turned into his silver dragon eyes, as his gaze returned to Natsu.
"Take her, and leave."
"Like hell, I'll…"
Dusk turned, ignoring the man the behind him, that reeked of his sister's blood. "Natsu!" His voice was stern. "You're not thinking clearly!" He wasn't even mated to her yet, but he was so consumed by his enragement it was as if he was experiencing what happens when the connection to their mate is severed.
Natsu took a step forward, ready to charge at Dusk. He was standing between him, and the bastard that tortured Freya. "I don't give a damn if you are her brother, get out of my way."
Dusk knew no matter what he said, it wouldn't snap Natsu out of it. The only person that could possibly bring him back, was laying on the grass behind him, passed out from the agony she endured. "Then you only leave me with one choice." Dusk whispered. "Star Dragon Gravity."
Natsu slammed against the ground with the force of a black hole pulling him to the center of Earthland. Natsu thrashed on the ground, slowly pulling his arms closer as he began to push himself up against the overwhelming force. His flames ignited again, the black seeping more into his crimson flames.
Dusk only watched Natsu struggle for a moment before turning his attention back to the second in command of Dragon's End. "You don't even realize how far you are currently outclassed, Natsu. He was only toying not only with you but my sister. Even if you are the strongest demon Zeref brought to fruition, along with being the King of Fire Dragon's son, you simply aren't on the level you need to be."
"Are you done?" Dreogan put his hand on his hip. "You arrived much quicker than expect I must say. You must be eager to die alongside your sister."
"Your stupidity knows no bounds I see." Dusk's eyes narrowed. "Capturing my sister, and then giving me the address by courier."
Natsu finally stood up, only for him to slam against the ground once again. It took little effort for Dusk to keep the dragon slayer pinned to the ground. He would perhaps even hate him for him stealing what he believes to be his kill, but it was for the best. Since awakening to this era, his hands remained cleaned, as they should. His however were already stained with their blood. It was his duty to ensure it remained that way.
"Dusk!" Natsu growled but he could no longer fight against the force of his magic bearing down upon him. It only fueled his rage even more, to know his was with reach of the twisted bastard that brought harm to Frey.
Freya's ear's twitched as she heard Natsu scream out an unfamiliar name. Slowly she opened her eyes, but she couldn't only see a blurry mess. She groaned as she tried to reach out the figure she believed to be Natsu standing too far away. "Na…tsu." As she spoke his name, she quickly passed back out from blood loss.
The force that pinned Natsu to the ground that cracked and gave into his immense force, was instantly lifted as Dusk eyes widen, he slowly turned his head around to see she passed out again.
Natsu quickly darted over to where he had placed Freya, grabbing her fragile hand into his. "I'm here." He spoke quietly, his enragement slowly subsiding. His free hand pushed the locks of her hair that had fallen into her face away.
Dreogan shifted his weight, ready to pounce onto his first victim, planning on claiming her life. No one, especially her would escape his grasp. As he began to move, his body slammed into the ground, the ground cracked and heave, giving into his body.
Dusk's eyes widen with rage as he looked back to Dreogan. "I dare you to try." The threat was far from empty, as Dusk continued to push Dreogan's body into the earth below. The force was beginning to splinter his own bones.
Dusk slowly approached Natsu. "Take her, and get her home. Tell her nothing of me."
Natsu looked over his shoulder, the haze that had clogged his mind was slowly being lifted as the curse marks and dragon scales slowly faded from his skin.
"I know you have many questions for me, but our number one priority is her safety. Her body can no longer support her self-healing which is evident from the massive bruising rapidly appearing on her skin. She needs a healer other than herself."
Natsu bit his lip, the reality of the situation sinking in. He didn't he realize how cruel, and terrible her wounds were. He could lose her. Carefully he gathered the beaten and broken Freya into his arms. His once green eyes still steeped in red. "Are you going to…"
"Yes." Dusk spoke flatly as he stood behind Natsu looking down with worry and grief on his face. Dusk knew he was much faster than Natsu could ever hope to be, but if he took the two of them with him, he knew Dreogan would only follow them. This was the only way for his sister to have a chance at escape. "Two days from now, when the full moon is at its highest point in the sky, I will wait for you and the guild master of Fairy Tail behind the guild hall."
Natsu nodded in acknowledgment and quickly ran into the distance, carrying a dying Freya within his arms.
Dusk watched as Natsu's figure faded into the distant and he turned his attention back to Dreogan. He walked over to the hole within the earth, relinquishing his spell.
Dreogan quickly shot out of the hole, rage and anger twisted his face. "Do you have any idea what you have done!?"
Dusk looked on with furrowed brows, as he changed into his hybrid form. His form was unique compared to his mother and fathers and others than he had seen. He was more attuned with his magic that intertwined with his soul. His hybrid form, while he did gain the dragon scale armor, horns, and wings, he became astral in appearance. A blue and white hue radiated from his body, his silver eyes glowed.
"Her death will be even more agonizing than yours, and you will only be powerless as you watch me…"
Dusk held out his hand in front of him, his wings fully out stretching. "Star Dragon Starfire" A beam of deep purple and bright white engulfing the man, causing him to cry out in pain. Dusk slowly walked over to the seared and smoking man, his cold glowing silver eyes looking at one of the men that was responsible for that night. As well as the current atrocity that he brought upon his sister.
Dusk knelt down flipping the barely breathing man over. "You fear the wrong man." Zeref briefly flashed through his mind. "It's me that you, and your cult obsessed with killing my sister, should fear."
Dictionary:
Morana: Death, plague
Dreogan: Suffers
Author's Note:
Oh-mi-gee! An update! I hope it was well worth the wait! I'm sorry if there is any mistakes. I didn't have a lot of time to edit it, and if I would had took more time to edit it, then well, I'm afraid I wouldn't actually publish it. I stayed up really late polishing it, and fleshing out the rest of the chapter. This chapter over the years actually under went several versions and this is the one I am the most satisfied with. One had Freya and Natsu working together to escape her captors, and the other had Natsu completely giving into the demon within and leaving nothing but ash within his wake. As much as I loved Natsu leaving nothing behind, it didn't quite feel right and was out of place. Perhaps I could use it in the future :P . I want him to retain being a young boy for a little longer.
Again thank you so much to everyone for everything! For the support for the past two years! HOPEFULLY the next chapter won't take as long to publish! Please let me know what you guys think :)