Just want to take a moment to thank all of you who have read, reviewed, favorited, and followed my story. It seriously means a lot. Also, I want yo dedicate this chapter to my beloved cat, Maggie. She was my baby from when I was only three until recently. She lived to be 16. You were an awesome kitty Maggie RIP baby.

Chapter Twenty Five

"You're really stupid sometimes, you know that?" Selene crossed her arms as she looked at me.

I glared at the witch. "What are you doing in my dreams now? Here to tell me how I should've killed him?" I sat on the ground of my dream, crossing my own arms.

She sighed. "Fool. You may not be a witch but there had to have been some clue you could see."

"What are you talking about?"

"The spell they cast on your room was indeed a love spell...but love spells only truly work if there is already something between the two. It just, how do you say, gave you a push?" Her eyes softened as she looked down at me. "Daughter... the love you and the shinobi have is real. It is not artificial."

I looked away from the witch's piercing eyes. "Shut up...you don't know anything..."

"Ha. You're also very stubborn." I glanced back up at her to see a smirk on her face. "Well I'll be back soon. Need to take care of a few things."

"You're dead, what could you possibly have to take care of?"

She shrugged. "Oh you know this and that. You'll thank me later." And Selene vanished, forcing me to wake up...

...I bolted forward, fully awake in less than a second. Adrenaline rushed through me and sweat poured down my skin. Putting a hand to my forehead, I breathed slowly, trying to calm myself down. When I brought the hand back down to my side, I felt someone next to me. I didn't need to look to know it was Jin...maybe Selene was right...

"You sure they can't hear us?"

"They're all out cold. That incense the witch gave us to burn worked very well. Now, what does Lord Valen wish of us to do with them?"

"The harpy is to be brought to him. The rest will stay in the dungeon for now."

My eyes widened. Was Valen going to kill me...?

"Do you think she's going to die?" one of them asked my question.

"Who knows."

"When are we to bring her to him?"

"Now," a new voice answered.

Foot steps started moving towards our cell, so I closed my eyes and relaxed as best I could. Hopefully they would think I'm asleep. The door slid open and the foot steps were getting closer and closer.

"Wake up, girl!" A sharp kick to my ribs made me open my eyes, looking up at the Grey guards. "Lord Valen wishes to see you. Come on." One of them yanked me up by the shoulder and held me still as another put shackles around my wrists. I felt all my power drain, leaving me weak and defenseless.

A guard chuckled. "Surprised? These shackles are carved of stone from the lowest point in all of the worlds. Winged beasts like yourself are completely useless against them."

I didn't respond, keeping my head low, hair shadowing my eyes. They took me all over the damn place until finally we stopped in front of a large set of doors that I swear I had never seen before.

One of the guards knocked once and the doors slowly swung open, revealing a sort of throne room. Valen sat at the opposite end of the room in a tall throne made of bone. He had strange symbols painted on his pale skin in violet ink and he wore a fur robe that looked it would just sweep the floor when he stood. And lastly, his face held a smirk. One of victory. One that said, "I've won."

"Bring her!" He commanded, his voice commanding. I kept my head hung as the guards brought me to him. They stopped me about ten feet away from the throne and left my side to stand next to Valen. "Well? Are you not going to bow to the newest Lord of Grey?"

I remained silent, knowing if I opened my mouth he wouldn't hesitate to kill me right then and there. I still had a few things I wanted to say before that...

"I said BOW!" He screamed and struck me with lightning from his palm causing me to fall on my knees. The electricity spread through my body, making me feel like I was going to explode from the inside out. I bit my lip to keep from screaming in agony. I wouldn't give him the pleasure of hearing me scream. "Ah, that's better," Valen said. "Tell me, Lucinda...why should I keep you alive?"

What? Did he really think I was that weak? That I was going to beg for my life? Fuck. Him.

"I'm not going to beg for mercy if that's what you're wanting from me," I finally spoke, looking up just enough for one of my eyes to look through my hair.

He grit his teeth. "How dare you speak to me that way?" Another bolt of lightning shot from his hand and landed between my eyes. I now bit my lip hard enough for blood to slide down my chin.

"I really don't care what you do to me at this point. Kill me. Gut me. Eat me. Destroy me. Mutilate my body. I. Do. Not. Care." Now I raised my head fully. "Do what you wish with me."

Valen slowly stood from his throne to walk over to me. He looked down at me and I looked him in the eyes as he said, "Have it your way. I won't kill you just yet though, harpy." He turned to look at one of the guards. "Take her to the sub-dungeon. Torture her. Do what you wish with her."

"Yes, milord," the guard answered and immediately grabbed me by the elbow and started leading me out of the room.

"Valen," I said, wanting to say one last thing. "No matter what you or any of these guards do...I will not be broken."

"Hmph. We'll just see about that, harpy."

Ominious POV

Jin woke with a start and immediately felt for Lucy only to find nothing next to him. "Lucy?" He called, not getting an answe're of any kind. Switching to his nose, her scent wasn't strong anywhere in the cell...where was she?!

"Mmm...Jin? What's wrong?" Yukina asked groggily from her spot on the floor.

"Lucy's missin'!"

"What? Where could she have gone in this place?!"

"I don' know! Touya! Wake up already!" Jin yelled, waking Touya as well.

"What do you want?"

"Lucy isn't here," Yukina said.

Touya sighed. "They've probably taken her somewhere."

"Then we gotta get out o' here!" Jin said, starting to panic. Despite what she had last said to him, he was still in love with the girl and wouldn't just give up on her.

"But how are we going to do that...?" Yukina wondered.

Even though Touya was the smartest of the three, even he wasn't sure of what to do. This cell was heavily charmed and bewitched to keep in demons of any kind.

"You guys aren't very smart are you?" A small voice interrupted.

"Um, hello?" Jin called out, eyes still adjusting to the dark.

"Hello! I'm Cabbage!" Another voice spoke.

"Cabbage, shut up," the other voice spoke again.

"I'm just trying to be nice..."

"Who are you?" Yukina asked.

A cough filled the air. "I am the great Carrot!" He spoke with pride. "And that's my younger brother Cabbage," he said the last part dully.

"Hello!" Cabbage said again cheerily. "We're the gnomes of Grey's gardens."

"And what are two garden gnomes doing in the dungeons?" Touya inquired.

Carrot spoke this time. "We're here to help. We'll side with Lucy over that damn thunder demon any day."

"And you guys seem nicer."

"Cabbage, I said be quiet!"

"How are ya goin' to help us?" Jin asked eagerly once he knew they were on their side.

Carrot thought for a moment before saying, "Let's see..." He inspected the walls of the cell before yelling, "Cabbage! Help me get rid of these charms!" They both got to work and started pulling off the seals like they were normal pieces of paper.

Lucy's POV

They were torturing me. They tore off and severed my wings repeatedly since they always grew back. I was forced to drink acid, one of my eyes had been gouged out and lacerations covered my naked body.

All of this...and I still didn't care. I didn't cry or scream. I completely retreated into my subconscious. Soon they would kill me, and I wouldn't care.