CHAPTER 37

I woke up the sound of rain on the roof. I turned my head, Natsu was still asleep beside me. He only had the sheet covering him. The other blankets covering me. Wait, when did I put the blankets on? It was probaly Natsu. I moved the blankets so they covered us both. He mumbled something then he rolled over draping his arm over my body. I sighed, now I was trapped. I glanced over at the window, I let out a small gasp. A letter was taped to the window. I looked back at Natsu he was still asleep. I gave him a sad smile, gently removed his arm and got out of bed. Slipping back into my clothes. I opened the window and removed the note.

Sea Viper

It's seems that Gerald s dead. You were supposed to complete the Decade Quest! Natsu Dragneel is not dead! You bring shame to the your name! Kill him or I will. Your predacious cat Fozana died because of your failure.

In my own hand,

Alric Batrou

"No, not Alric Batrou." I muttered. "He's the one who killed Fozana!"

I turned around, Natsu was still asleep. I put the letter on the bedside table, and quietly sitting on the edge of the bed. Alric was the one who hired Reginald Kapri to shoot Fozana. I felt a tear run down my face. What am I going do?

"I have to find him. It's the only way to be free." I said clenching my fist.

"Eyrx are you okay?" Natsu asked, sitting up. I said nothing handing him the letter, wiping away a tear.

I quietly sobbed as Natsu read the letter. When he was finished, he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against him. He kissed my cheek.

"Natsu I will find Alric and make him pay. I will personally see to his death. He forgets what I was like all those years ago." I vowed.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm in this too." Natsu said.

I turned to him, kissing him on the cheek. "I know that's why you are the main part in my plan."

"What plan?" He asked.

"Oh you'll see my love." I said resting my head on his chest.

I glanced at the clock it was only 5 in the evening. Plenty of time. I sat up and ran a hand over his muscular chest.

"You get dressed, I'll meet you outside." I said. I stood up and began to walk away. His hand grabbing my wrist stopped me.

"Eyrx don't carried away with this. Torturing him will not make Fozana come back." Natsu said. I've been with him long enough to know he was concerned.

I didn't turn around, relaxed in his hold. "Gerald and Alric used to torture me together. They made me scream and have nightmares. They ripped my childhood innocence from me. I was only seven and yet they laughed. It is also why I'm afraid of heights. You don't understand what it's like to fear by closing your eyes and fearing a nightmare. This is more my sake instead of Fozana, all I want to know that Alric will suffer before he dies." I tried to remove my wrist from his grasp, but he had my wrist in a vice grip. That is when I lost it. I turned back to Natsu burying my face in his chest.

"Oh Natsu, this is driving me insane! Usually I've been able to hold my emotions." I said between sobs. Natsu cradled my head in hands. I gripped his biceps.

"I'm a wreck! Some emotionally deranged kid." I muttered.

"Eyrx stop please, I don't to like to see you cry." Natsu replied.

"So why?" I asked.

"Why what?" He asked.

"Why are you still with me? I have way too much baggage." I said.

Natsu sat down on the bed, pulling me onto his lap.

"Because you keep me sane." He said, then he kissed me on the lips. "Your're handsome." He kissed me again. "You're smart." Another kiss. "You're strong." Another kiss. "Your're beautiful." Another kiss.

I looked into his green eyes. Trying to hold back a laugh. "Beautiful? But I'm a guy. You don't really call guys beautiful."

Natsu laughed, kissing me again. "I do."

I wiped away my tears. "Thanks for that. I guess I really needed that."

"That's what I'm here for, to provide emotinal support and fish for Happy." He said with a smile.

"True. That cat would go crazy without fish." I chuckled. I rested my head against his shoulder. "Natsu?"

"Yea?"

"You're still naked."

"Oh,"

I laughed. "It was so hard to concentrate when we were fighting Taurtous. I should have given you that blanket."

I sighed rolled over in bed. I couldn't sleep. Between Natsu's light snoring and the letter from Alric. Natsu had his back to me. At least he stopped snoring.

I got out of bed, putting my pajama pants back on, heading to the kitchen. I reached into the cabinet, grabbing a glass.

"Well we meet again Sea Viper." A man's voice said, from across the kitchen. I put the glass on the counter, slowly turning around. I flicked on the light, Alric was sitting at the table, a gun pointed at me.

I smirked. "I'm suprised it took you this long to confront me. Those damn letters were getting annoying."

"I see you haven't killed him." Alric said calmly. "But befriended him."

"You finally noticed? Good job." I let out short laugh. "When you put that letter on the window you would probaly seen us together."

"Your sarcasm doesn't hide you're fear very well, Sea Viper." Alric healed at me.

I picked up the glass again, and poured some water from the fridge in.

"So you must know that Serpents Shard is no longer active. Unless you've lived under a rock for the past ten years. I mean it looks like you have." I looked him up and down. I took a sip of water.

"Obivoulsy I noticed. But now I work for a different guild that took over all the jobs that were in progress during the fall of Serpents Shard." Alric snapped.

"So my job is still active." I said.

"Yes," He replied.

I took another sip of water. "You must be bloody stupid to think that I would ever think about finishing that job. Natsu is the love of my life."

"Even if you kill me, they will send another." Alric said.

"And what? Try to convince me to kill my boyfriend?" I asked.

"No, they will kill him. The group I represent is called the Dark Crescents." He said.

I let out a snort. "The Dark Crescents! That wimpy guild is nothing!"

"They were nothing eleven years ago. But now with the fall of Serpents Shard, Oracion Seis, Grimoire Heart and now Tarturous. They are the top guild."

"Where are they?"

Alric let out a dark laugh. "Why in hell would I tell you?"

"So they are weak then." I said.

Alric was silent.

"Oh come on Alric! You would never join a weak guild. That's not in your character."

"And what is my character? If you know me so much?" Alric sneered.

"The kind of character that tourtures little boys." Natsu said, stepping from the shadows.

Alric lost his smile.

"You really should be scared of Eyrx. He killed Lord Mard Geer single handly. And Riviori." Natsu responded.

Alric's face lost all color, he licked his lips. I jumped at him, my hand wrapped around his throat, pushing him against the wall.

"You scum!" I punched him in the face. He brought his leg up, kicking me off him. I jumped back to my feet. Natsu grabbed Alric by the neck and threw him outside. I was on him in an instant. Water tied his wrists and legs together. His feet dangling above the ground. Water wrapped around his chest. It began to tighten.

"Do you remember what you did to me?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Pity, because I sure do. Now let's cut off the feeling in your legs." Using the water in his blood I stopped it flow, his legs were useless.

I smiled at his discomfort. Then I restored the feeling, dropping him to the ground. He grunted in pain. I kicked him in the ribs.

"You don't get to show pain Alric! Isn't that what you told me."

"You ungrateful brat! I created you! Through me torture I created Sea Viper!" Alric yelled.

I formed the water whip, slashing him across the face. He screamed.

"I will make you suffer!" I yelled, "Water Soul!"

Alric screamed in pain, feeling his blood boil.

"Tell me where the Dark Crescents are, and I will end your pain." I asked.

"They aren't real! It was a bluff to not make you kill me!" He yelled.

"You selfish bastard." I cursed, clenching my fist. With a final scream, Alric Batrou was dead. I fell to my knees. Natsu walked over to me, putting an arm around me.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

I nodded. "Could you, deal with the body? I need to lay down."

He kissed me on the cheek as I passed.

I fell onto the bed, my arms spread out. I drifted off to sleep.