Chapter 7

"Mom.." Layla tried calling out but all that came out was a squeak. "Your thirsty" she said looking around for anything that might hold water but couldn't find anything. "Damn, this creep going to let us die here" she thought irate. "Natsu" she muttered longingly. She sat back against the wall, straining to keep herself awake. "I don't even know what time it is" "I'm going to guess around midnight or something" said Layla. Chuckling, Lucy answered

"That would explain why my eyes feel so tired then" "Agreed" said Layla trying to hold in a yawn. "Don't bother Layla, your tired baby, you should try to get some sleep. I'm sure that workout you did earlier isn't helping. That used your energy too" Lucy insisted. Shaking her head, in as clear voice as she could muster she said "no mom. I'm not leaving you alone in here. Sure, I'll lose some sleep but I don't care."

Putting a hand on her shoulder, Lucy gave her a warm smile and said "that's nice baby girl and I appreciate but you need your sleep. We don't know how long we are going to be stuck here and you need to save your strength" "But mom" Lucy put a finger to her lips silencing her shaking her head lightly.

Knowing it was no use, she submitted and put her head down on Lucy's lap as Lucy ran her hand through her hair. "Mom?" "Hmm?" "I know this isn't the place…but can u …sing me a song pppplease?" "Of course, baby girl" she said gently seeing the fear Layla wasn't saying in her eyes. Closing her eyes, she began to sing until Layla was asleep.

"Try to have some good dreams baby" she whispered blinking her eyes hard trying to shake off the exhausted feeling. "I..need..to..stay..awake" she told herself. Feeling herself start to drift off, the door opened waking her up. "Oh, still awake are you?, good" he said enthused signaling the guards to open the door.

They piled in wrenching Lucy and Layla waking her up. "MOM" she screamed as they pulled her away and chained her up. "STOP! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING" She screeched at them as they chained her up. James casually walked in completely unphased by her screaming.

" I told you your husband was going to give me the mafia" he said humorous. "Do your worst you fucker!. There's nothing you can do to me that hasn't already been done. I assure you and Natsu knows that so there isn't a damn thing you can do to me. So sorry for screwing up for plans" she said cocky and unafraid. "He will never hand over the mafia and let me tell you that you will regret taking a single step into our house because when he finds us, your place will burn" "I never said I was doing anything to you" he said making Lucy's heart skip a beat.

Her eyes widened in fear as she looked over at Layla with an equally scared face. "No..No..NO!" she yelled trying to get to Layla, but the chains wouldn't reach. "DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ME, JUST LEAVE HER ALONE!, PLEASE!" she shrieked as James walked over with a syringe while Layla struggled to get lose.

"Hold out her arm" he ordered. "What are you putting into her!" He smiled a wicked smile leaning down to Layla's arm.

She shook as he took the syringe and injected it into her then released her. Crying, she tried desperately to reach Lucy's hand, but the chains wouldn't reach."Moom" "What the hell did you do to her! TELL ME" " I injected her with a poison to which there is no antidote. I'd say she has about six hours before she is in trouble. See if your husband neglects giving me the mafia now..if he wants to spend his daughter's remaining hours with her." He said cleverly taking his leave.

"YOU BASTARD!, YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ANOTHER" "I have no daughter, and I will do whatever it takes to get what I want" he said in a tone that was cruel and unfeeling leaving the two of them alone.

"Mm,mmoommm" her voice, worried and full of fear as tears started to form streaming down her cheeks. Wanting nothing more than to hold her, in a comforting voice said "He will find us baby, he will find us, he will find us" she repeated over and over trying to comfort Layla and convince herself. "NATSU" she pleaded mentally.

Natsu with Sting and Rogue came to the house. "Hey, you alright now? Since you freaking sucker punched me" Gray asked bitterly. "No, I won't be alright until I get them back" he said slamming his fist into a door loudly. "Natsu" they all echoed.

"This is exactly like fucking eight years ago. I leave and something happens. Damn it, I'm such an idiot" "Natsu, that was a different situation and they weren't taken. Also, you couldn't have known he was coming to come here." "Oh, really Jellal!. I couldn't have seen that coming huh?. IM A MAFIA LEADER, I SHOULD HAVE! IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID" he shouted. "FUCK!" he cursed himself pounding his fist into the wall again. "Natsu, stop!" Surprising everyone, Sting walked over and grabbed his fist.

Looking Natsu dead in the face, he said "Natsu, this isn't on you, you hear me. You told me the same thing when we met, now I'm telling you. You've cracked because you have got way too much on your plate and your brain can only think so many things at once. Not predicting this is completely understanding. "Sting." "Natsu, shut up and listen. You too Eitherious. Both of you love Lucy and Layla. Now you just need to focus, get your head on straight and find where this fucker keeps his base. Once we know that, we can think of a plan and go after them. I vow to you that we will get them back. Do you hear me?" Natsu saw and heard the sincerity in Sting's eyes.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and removed his hand from the hole he didn't realize he made as he grimaced in pain. "Jeeze Natsu" said Jellal looking at his bloody knuckles. "Yeah…might have overdone it"

"You think, you damn hothead, someone go get the first aid kit..now!" ordered Jellal. Lily went running upstairs to a closet and pulled out the first aid kit and ran back down. "Here it is" she said handing it to him. "Thanks Lily" he said with a smile. Taking a seat, he flexed his fingers. "You ready Natsu?" "Just do it" he said. Nodding, Jellal poured the alcohol on it making Natsu cringe clenching his teeth. "There, done" announced Jellal as Gray wrapped his wound. "Damn that shit hurts" "It's what you get for you punching a wall dumbass"

"Oh shut it Gray, you too Sting, I hear you laughing" he said annoyed. "What do you want to do now Natsu? We are all waiting for your orders." "I can't order you two, you aren't part of my mafia."

"We are in your territory, whether we are in the base or not. We are visitors so far as we are concerned, you are the overall commander here" stated Sting. "In that case, welcome temporarily to the Magnolia Mafia, next we need too, ah, hold up" he said grabbing his phone and answering it. He froze seeing Lucy and Layla on the screen.

"Where are they you piece of shit" he growled. "Hand your mafia over and you'll know" "Never!" "Oh..i wouldn't say that just yet" he boasted bringing the camera closer to Layla sweating profusely on the ground. . "Dda..daddy" she said longingly. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTER!" "Hahaha. I injected her with a poison. She's not feeling much of anything right now besides feeling really hot and sweating but in another six hours, it will be a different story, who knows how long she will last after. I will call back in six hours and you can tell me whether u want to spend the remaining hours of your daughter's life with her or if the last thing she sees is you crying for her." He laughed hanging up the call.

"That..ssson..off a bitch.." "Natsu…" "I'M GOING TO SNAP HIS NECK! AHHHHHHHHH" he yelled maliciously raising his hand to throw his phone before Tristan jumped up grabbing his arm pulling it down. "Natsu! Stop man. That's your only way to contact him, you throw your phone, your screwed" Gray explained trying to reason "GET THE FUCK OFF ME! NOW" he yelled as Tristan shivered seeing the wild-eyed rage in his eyes. Letting go, he stuttered "E…E.,Eitherious"

Putting his shoulders back, he stood up and with a dark look said "that's right kid. The next time you grab my arm like that, I'll break it" "Eitherious, he's just a kid. He kept you from doing something stupid and throwing your phone so you should thank him for that." "No" he replied flatly. " We have get ready for a fight. There's no fucking way he's getting my mafia and I'm getting my family back. One way or another. I am not letting my daughter die" Turning swiftly, he grabbed Tristan's shirt lifting him up from the floor as everyone reacted and went to move forward when Natsu held out a hand stopping them.

Obediently, they all stepped back and gave them space where Lily looked in awe. "That is absolutely amazing. He commanded them with just a hand"

Holding him, Eitherious looked straight in the face as Tristan started shaking. "Stop it kid, I'm not going to hit you" he said looking Tristan up and down. "Yyyesss Mr .Drag"

Rolling his eyes, impatiently he said "okay cut the crap with the Mr. I know Natsu has told you that. It's sir. You got it!" He quickly nodded his head as Eitherious continued . "You want to be with my daughter, respect me?. Then come with me to save her" He said it so firmly it shocked everyone. "Umm,..are you sure..sir?" Putting him back on the ground, his gaze did not waver as he said "if you are too much of a coward to save Layla then you don't deserve her. She's a daughter of the mafia kid, you either accept that by now or you don't. She has hours left and don't have time to waste so decide quickly but before you do, if you say no, when we get her back, you will never see her again. It will hurt her too much. So what's your choice?"

Eitherious stayed quiet for a moment letting him think then in a clear voice said " yes sir, I will come with you. I love Layla. I want to save her." "Good" he said then smiled looking at the others who couldn't help but smile back.

"Everyone get your butts outside, now" "Eitherious, it's one am" remarked Gray as Natsu turned and gave him an uncaring look. "Oookay , forget I said anything" "We have fucking hours, that's it. I don't care what time it is" "Natsu. What do you want us to do?" asked Sting. "Yeah, second thought instead, you two go to his house. Turn that damn place upside down, I don't give a shit. Find anything you can about that bastards hideout"

"We're on it" they said running out the door. "As for everyone else..you heard me, get your asses outside now. I'm not asking again" "Hold up, Lily, you can go to sleep, hell you two can too but Tristan..your coming with me" "Wwhhy mme?" asked Lily. "Because I'm not taking you with me Lily. I'm not putting you in the middle of this. The only reason I'm involving Tristan is because she's with him. It's as simple as that" "Okay." She muttered disappointed as she went to head for the stairs.

"Lily" he called making her turn around. "You shouldn't have to see your old man get hurt. He was your father once" he said with empathy. "Thanks" she said quietly then headed up the stairs.

"Do you have the address Natsu?" "Yeah, just get going, I'll text it to you" "Right, we'll catch you in a bit" With a nod, they left. "Natsu, we will come out with you two" "Are you sure?, you guys don't have too" "Layla's in trouble, you bet your ass we are coming out with you" said Gray.

"Alright then, come on" said Natsu serious grabbing Tristan's shirt, yanking him outside. "Wha..what are we doing?" he asked once they stopped. " You need combat training. I've had you do fights and workouts in the gym but that was nothing. Where we are going, you need to be able to defend yourself or your going to get yourself killed"

Grabbing his arm, Gray pulled him aside. "What?" said Natsu. "Natsu, you sure about this?, the kid is terrified. Look at him" They looked over and saw how rigid Tristan went.

"Good. He needs to know this is no joke. This is life or death." "Natsu" Jellal stepped in front of him daringly. "Your sending a kid who has no experience whatsoever into a death match."

"Layla's life is at stake!. I don't have time to argue. Tristan is learning and that is my final decision. Back the hell off…now" he said in a low and hostile voice. "Jellal… stand down" Gray advised. "Yes sir" he said reluctantly.

"Prepare yourself Tristan..your in for a hell of a training" Nervously he swallowed the breath he had been holding nodding to Jellal. Sending the directions, Natsu put his phone up. "You ready?" "Yes sir" Tristan answered firmly stepping up beside him. "Good, pay attention. I don't have time to go over stuff again" "I understand" he said understanding the stakes.

"Mom" Layla huffed pulling on the chains and laying on the ground. "Layla, I'm right here baby" "I feel …sssoo.. " she slurred. "Stay with me Layla." "Uh huh" she murmured rubbing her arm over her forehead.

"Damn it" Lucy cursed pulling the chains. "Ahhh, come on!" she groaned frustrated. "Ah..ha..aahha" Hearing her pain , Lucy stopped pulling the chains to see Layla gritting her teeth in pain. "Ahh" she yelled. "Layla!" "My..mmmy ssskin ..ahh. it's burning!" she started scratching.

"Baby, stop" Lucy cried . "Your only making it worse." " ,.mommy!" "I'M RIGHT HERE, I PROMISE!" she screamed unable to do anything while watching Layla's skin turn red. Furious, she hollered "GAHHHH, YOU BASTARD! YOU WILL BURN FOR THIS!" Layla tossed from side to side trying to relieve the burning.

"Layla..you have to try not to scratch baby. I know..I know it hurts" she in as calm voice as she could.

"I..I'll ttry" "Oh baby girl, I am so sorry" she cried as tears started falling. "Not..y-your ff-fault" she slurred turning her head with a loving smile. "He's coming Layla, he's coming" she repeated comforting her the only way she could. Resisting scratching, she thought "why am I so Itchy" until she looked at her arms.

Freaking out, she lifted her pant leg and yelled "Mom!" Lucy's eyes widened looking at Layla. One thought came to her head. "Hives" "Layla, don't touch them!" she said panicked. "Mom, it hurts" she cried in pain as tears stung her face amplifying her pain. " You can't baby girl" she said wishing she could say anything else. Writhing in agony, she curled into a ball putting her hands under her feet to not scratch them. "Dad, where..where are you?"