Her eyes snap open as her senses kicked in. The Alverze heat and the and dust and rubble covering the ground made it hard to breathe.
Since the moment she arrived on the continent no place had been safe. This abandoned castle had proved no different. Of course that is the exact reason she was even there in the first place.
Ever since the war between Ishgar and Alverze ended, the enemy country as been in disarray. Like a snake without a head.
Dark guilds and individuals looking to take advantage of the innocent citizens of the country in the midst of Zerefs defeat.
With no authority figures to take control of the situation, their new counsel has sent requests to this side of the boarder for help in restoring order and dissipating the newly found dark guilds causing chaos.
Many of her guildmates had taken these opportunities to earn some Jewels, as such jobs were in abundance at the moment, but Mira's quest was different.
While some of the requests from Alverze could reach A-Class, never before had they sent Fairytail a S-Class quest before… Until now.
Master Makarov was so secretive with the entire thing that he only notified those wizards that were ranked S-Class for safety reasons.
At first Mira didn't even consider the job, figuring that Erza or Laxus would probably want it. Truth be told, she hadn't been on a S-Class Job since the incident with Lisanna. Even after her magic returned and Lisanna came home she was still hesitant.
But alas, both Laxus and Erza had already committed to other jobs and no one even knew where Guildarts was at moment. So due to the urgent nature of the Job request, Mirajane decided to accept the offer.
Bringing her mind back to the present, she could hear them on the lower level, searching each room systematically, throwing open doors, slamming them shut.
The sound threw her back to a few days ago, when she had pushed open the door to the orphanage. A little girl had been in the arms of one of those monsters, her blood spilled across the floor
The memory twisted her gut into a raw ache, but she couldn't think about them right now. The Children she was too late to save.
She jumped to her feet, halting in the narrow hallway, straining to hear how many demons were here. Three? More?
These were the repercussions of killing Zeref. According to Natsu, Zeref assumed that with his death, all the demons from the books of Zeref would die along with him, but that is not what had happened.
Instead the exact opposite had happened. Those demons that where still trapped in their books were set free upon his death, with no ties to bind them any longer. They had the freedom to apperate as they pleased and just like their fallen Tartaros brethren, they took delight in the death and despair they caused.
Her fingers flexed as she felt the magic radiate throughout her body. She couldn't give up, she wouldn't leave until he was dead.
out if the hundreds of that were released into the world, the counsel had identified 10 of them that they consider higher class demons. These demons had a much higher curse power than the usual demons one would come across. they call themselves the kings of hell.
She has already killed 9 of them and has taken over their souls in retribution. But one alludes her. For the past few months she has been focused solely on tracking him and destroying him. She knows the guild is probably worried about her has she has been gone for months now with no contact but she has to see this through. So many people have died at his hand. Women and Children. And if she does not stop him more innocent people will suffer.
She had finally caught a lead, leading her to her current predicament but after coming here she realized that it was not the High Demon Amimon that was creating mayhem in this small town but more or less some of his lower demon lackies.
Somewhere in the building, a floorboard groaned and gave way. A deep howl broke the silence, starting as a low whine before hitting an intense shril pitch. The scream sounded inhuman, sick and horrifying. Nothing in this world sounded like a demon. A hungry demon at that.
They were close to her, she could feel it. A whoosh of stale air whirled around her as a demon grabbed a handful of her hair, slamming her into the wall. Taking a hazy look at him confirms that he is not the one she was looking for.
Dust and plaster floated through the air. Black starbursts dotted her vision as she scrambled to her feet.
Those soulless, pitch black holes where eyes should have been seemed to stare at her like she was his next meal ticket.
The demon grasped her shoulder, and the takeover mage let instinct take over. She twisted around, catching the surprise flickering across his dark face a split second before she brought her hands to his chest.
The beem imitating from her palms went straight through his chest. The impact sent him staggering into the opposite wall. Mirajane spun around, slamming her hands into him.
Surprise turned to horror as the demon looked down at the talons buried deep in his stomach. It didn't matter where she aimed. Her magic would always win in the end.
A guttural sound escaped his gaping mouth before he disintegrated into nothing.
Changing back into her human form, Mira whirled around and took some steps away from where the demon was just moments ago trying to make her way down and out of the building. She has been at this for months already and what was meant to be a job to defeat one S-Class demon became a witch hunt when she realized that there were nine more of them who were even stronger and reeking havoc on the world.
After killing Nine of them in total she was completely physically and mentally drained. That was practically equivalent to taking Nine S-Class jobs one after the other. The only thing that is keeping her going right now is her determination to save as many people as she can but even she knows that right now she is at her limit and she needs a few days just to recuperate.
"And where do you think you are going little wizard?" Mirajane stumbled to the side as she heard the voice.
Twisting around, her heart slammed against her ribs. He appeared a few feet behind her. Finally she was face to face with the demon that has alluded her for months. Amimon. He looked like a freak. His mouth hung open, exposing sharp, serrated teeth and those all black holes sent chills over her skin.
"What are you doing here all alone hm?" he asked, voice deep and alluring. She took a step back, her eyes searching the room for an exit. At the moment she didn't know if she could defeat him. There was no way she was going to back down from this fight. this is what she has been working towards for months but she does know her own limits and right now her magic levels was close to being completely drained, so she needed an escape plan in the event that things got bad.
"Well that's a simple one. I'm here to kill you." A cold smile forms on her face sending chills through the room.
Without a second thought she charged towards him, throwing her palm against him, eating out a powerful display of magic. He looked at her surprised, not expecting that kind of Power to come from a human.
Reaching for him again, she tried to use her magic to take him over but he dodged her hand and landed a heavy blow to her abdomen causing her to buckle over.
As brave as she was trying to be in this moment it might be impossible to cast another takeover spell as her reserves were completely drained now.
The demon Amimon advanced on her. "Do you know what I'm going to do to you?" he smirked as he came over and ran his filthy hand over her breast. "I think Im going to have a taste before I kill you."
Dread settles in Mira's stomach as the implications of his words set in. She cannot let that happen. Never. She would kill this bastard before her can even think of placing his hands on her in that way.
He circled her like a vulture, ready to rip into her. Mira's eyes narrowed on him.
She feinted toward him and like a druggie going after his fix he came right at her. The demon yelled at her to stop, but it was too late. She has her hands wrapped around him, using what little energy she had left she started to absorb his power. It felt delicious, it always did. She could feel the life-force leaving his body and flowing into her.
What she was doing was not her using takeover power. No this was something else. Something forbidden. This feeding was more sinister. a way to satisfy the darkest part of the soul. a part she never wanted anyone else to see.
She was so caught up in her feeding, she didn't even realize that someone had walked into the room until it was almost over. The electricity crackled in the air as the lightning dragon took in the terrified scene before him.
"Mirajane?"
The Distraction was just what Amimon needed. Taking advantage of the surprise caused by the new wizard, he managed to free himself from the takeover mage and took the opportunity to escape.
"No!!!" Mira screamed as she tried to stop him but it was too late. Has gone.
"Do you even know what you just did? Do you Laxus? That could have been my only chance!!!"
"What are you even doing here?" Mira asks as she walks out of the old building. Laxus being here has thrown her for a loop. Out of everyone he was the last person she ever expected to see here.
Truth be told Laxus and her use to be close at one time. She even considered him her closest friend and perhaps she even hoped that they would become more at one point in her life but that was ages ago.
The Laxus that he was back then has grown into a man. In hindsight he has always been this person, he just let his pain blind him in the past but his heart has always been true. Regardless, their past relationship had never returned to the state it was when they were younger even after his return to fairy tail. Truthfully she thought he considered her to be a Distant colleague at most, so his appearance here really surprises her.
"Seriously?" She looks away at his condescending tone.
"You've been MIA for months now, not even a word from you. Do you really think gramps would sit back and do nothing?"
Mira Stared, even though she had expected something like this. "So Master sent you?" she responded with a aspirated sigh. All her thoughts vanished as her stomach did a funny twist. Mira turned and stared out to the streets
"Well what did you expect? Trust me if I had a choice in this, I would not be here right now." She nodded, at a loss for words. Even though she was trying to push the emotions down, some of them seeped through and her eyes harden.
"He is really worried. It's not like you to go off the rails like this." He looks at her like he is waiting for an explanation, one she is not willing to give. Not now. Maybe not ever. She can't bare to see the look she knows will accompany the knowledge of what she is starting to become.
"I didn't mean to worry them but as you can see I'm perfectly fine so you can go back now."
"Yeah, that's not going to happen." He says and Mira stops to stare at him.
"I thought you didn't even want to be here." She says as she continues to walk in the direction of the inn she is staying at. She hasn't been there for a few weeks as decided that camping out away from the citizens where a safer option.
"I've changed my mind." He says with his usual arrogant smirk but Mira knows that behind that arrogant persona that he still hides behind, is a wizard who really cares about his guild mates. As much as she is happy to see the man he has become, she really can't have him around her during this mission. This is something she has to do on her own. Something he couldn't be around to witness.
"Seriously Laxus, you need to leave. I'm not here a play a game, I'm in the middle of a dangerous mission. I can't afford any distractions. Just go back and let the guild know I'm fine and that I'll be back once I'm done with my task."
"You know little demon, I've been watching you for a while now." His words are said with an emotion she cannot place.
She freezes "what?"
"probably a week in total." He say getting serious.
"What the hell Laxus, that's creepy as hell." The realization that Laxus probably knows exactly why she has not returned home yet. he probably has seen all the inhuman things she has done too. It makes a sense of dread stair in her stomach. Nobody would look at her the same.
"What I saw today, are you going to tell me exactly were you doing when I walked in?" He asked.
"No" she says and turns away. she cannot bare to look at him.
He smirked " Do you know what I've noticed? You've changed since the last time I saw you..." he says as tears start to gather in her eyes. Her fear starts to rise. What will he think of her now? "And you know what else I picked up on? You struggle to stay in control of all those demons you have consumed."
"Fuck you Laxus" she hisses, letting her fear and pain turn to anger
"Your bloodlust is uncontrollable little demon. You could really hurt someone if you are not careful." He say with contempt.
"I have it under contro-"
"No you don't!!!" He cuts her off letting some hardness seep into his voice.
"You are loosing control... Which is why I'm going to be your new shadow from now on." He says with a smirk but she knows he is serious.
"I don't need you here Laxus. I would never hurt an innocent."
"Maybe not on purpose."
"I-…" The tears start to fill her eyes because she knows he is right. during these last few months, she had slowly started to become the monster everyone was afraid her to be.
Behind Laxus's words, she could see a future she couldn't bare to face. Being subjected to her darkness, having no control or say over anything she does, the possibility scared the crap out of her.
A possibility made worse by her nearly all consuming need to hunt these demons. Fighting them was ingrained in her blood, but after seeing what'd happened to all the people here, what happened to the children, her desire for their blood skyrocketed.
"Aren't you the one who has always told me to ask for help when I need it? Fairy tail is supposed to be a family right? Those were your words."
"I don't- "
"That's fine demon, you can try to hide it but I've decided that I'm going to stick around for a while. Maybe you really don't need my help but I'm going to be there for you either way." He say nonchalantly as he walks into the inn.
"Laxus-" Mira whispers.
"I'll see you in the morning Mira. You should get some rest now. You and I both know how much you need it."
She doesn't say anything more, she can't. It feels like the world is caving in around her. It makes her feel almost like she cannot even breathe.
"Oh and Mira, don't you dare try to run. There is nowhere you can go that I would not be able to scent you so just make it easier on the both of us and say put yeah." He says, not stopping to give her a second look as he shuts the door behind him.
Her footsteps felt heavy as she moved around the familiar room. It was fully furnished, seeming larger than she remembered. The room had a separate living area and a decent sized bedroom. And it had its own bathroom.
She took longer than necessary shower, reveling in the feeling of being clean again. People took things like showers for granted. She knew she had. For the last few weeks she had been out there, tracking that demon. Staying alive had turned out to be more important than a shower.
Once she was sure all the grime was washed away, she found the bag with clothes she brought along on table in front of the couch. Picking it up, she realized that they were actually somewhat loose on her. The pants were at least two sizes too big, eating well had been another thing she was not quite concerned about during the last few weeks.
Back in the bathroom, she craned her neck. Amimon had marked her just where the neck sloped down to the collarbone. The scratch would be an angry red color for the next day or so, but would fade into nothing leaving her with clear skin once more. One of the benefits of her demon blood.
She almost had him. if Laxus did not show up all if this would have been over but... what would have become of her if she actually completed her feeding. each one of the other high demons she feed of had changed her, made her stronger. But they were also the very thing that fed her darkness. part of her wonders if one day they would truly take her over.
she knows she should stop but demons were the most powerful being alive that she could feed on. it's something that she craves and she doesn't know if she can stop doing it even after she defeats Amimon.
Now in bed she couldn't help looking out the window of her bedchambers, she noted that the lands were completely enveloped by the depth of night, but still she could not find sleep. Taking a couple deep breaths, she slowly let her body drift back into slumber, but not before making a mental note to set some preliminary rules come the next morning.