CHAPTER 3

Lucy knew the second she snuck into her mother's workroom that she would get into big trouble if her dad found out she was there without permission. He'd forbidden her from practicing on her own on the grounds that without magic he couldn't help her if something went wrong. It was, she reluctantly admitted, a fair rule. But that didn't stop her from creeping further into the workroom.

Just the sight and smell of it brought stinging tears to her eyes as the memories washed over her. Memories of her mother making potions and talking about magic and the spirits. She'd learned the foundations of magic in here, and it made her heart hurt to know that all she had still were memories.

Even now, a year later, it hurt.

She'd tried her best to move on past the hurt, but it was hard. So very hard. And it wasn't made any easier by the fact she was alone so much now. Her dad meant well, and he tried really hard, but she knew the railroad took up a lot of his time, and being on the estate she couldn't go out and meet friends. That wasn't even an option with the servant children. They were off in school all day while she was with tutors, and the few times she'd tried to strike up a friendship it hadn't gone well.

About the only solace she had was talking to the forest spirits that inhabited their land, but even that was difficult. Like the fae, the nature spirits could, and would, lead her away into their own world if she wasn't very careful and as much fun as it sounded she absolutely could not, would not, leave her dad alone.

She loved him too much for that.

Still, she ached for a friend to play with, and remembered her mom talking about the many kinds of familiars available to people with magic. She hoped maybe she could attract a familiar to her. Even if it wasn't human at least she would have someone to play with, and that would make up for a lot.

Even her dad getting mad at her for doing magic behind his back.

She moved over to her mother's library and began going through the books as carefully as she could. Many of them were personal journals and grimoires from her family, many more were full of things she couldn't understand, and sometimes extremely scary pictures as well, but eventually she found what she was looking for.

She frowned a little as she flipped through the pages of the beginning spellbook and nearly collapsed in relief that basic familiar summoning was among the spells. She could do this!

She read the spell over carefully and grinned as it described how it would attract a familiar, or familiars, best suited to her. It even went into a similar explanation about the many types and what their magical properties were.

Excited now, she set the book down and very carefully studied the directions before going to get some chalk from her mother's special box. It was magic chalk she knew, specially created by her mom for use in spells and rituals. Its touch of power would help boost her own magic when she cast her spell, and she couldn't think of anything better.

After all, if she was going to have a best friend, she needed to make sure she didn't fail because she was too weak.

She propped up the heavy tome so she could see the circle and began carefully drawing out the circle, aware that it was starting to get late in the afternoon, and her father could come home at any time. The thought sent a thrill of excitement through her along with the fear that he would catch her, and she sped up as much as she dared.

Still, she was pleased to get the intricate circle looking exactly right as she stepped into the outer one. She took a deep breath to steady herself and carefully used her ritual knife, a knife her mother had gifted her when she began her training, to prick her finger and drop some blood in the center. She wiped the blade down and closed her eyes as she pushed her magic into the lines as she'd been taught.

There was a moment where nothing happened but then the entire circle lit up in brilliant gold.

A flash of light burst in Lucy's field of vision, a dancing flame forming in the center of the circle before It coalesced into the shape of a boy who was crouched on all fours.

His eyes were sharp, pupils slitted and head cocked to her in a way that was reminiscent of a reptile.

He opened his mouth and let loose a dark sounding hiss that ended with a sharp click. His head tilted and eyes rounded to her curiously. He circled around, looking confused before he flopped backwards onto his back.

"H-hello?" Lucy gave her new familiar a nervous look, "I'm Lucy. What's your name?"

The creature seemed to realize she couldn't understand him and a hesitant smile drifted over his face. His mouth worked wordless, and Lucy thought for a moment that the smile on his face grew with a fierceness that almost took her by surprise.

"Natsu. My name is Natsu," he murmured back, his voice sounding rough and like he wasn't used to speaking. He mirrored how she sat, shifting his weight back and crossed his legs. He had a thick, shiny looking scar across his side that looked like it had healed over, and a fainter one across his throat. He must have been a familiar used to combat, but by his smile he didn't look very threatening.

"You summoned me?" Natsu shifted, looking nervous and a little hopeful. His shoulders hunched forward and he scooted towards Lucy, "why?"

Lucy blushed a little and offered him a nervous smile of her own, "Well, I wanted a friend." She admitted, "My mommy used to summon spirits and other friends I could play with." Her expression dropped, "But she died not long ago."

"That makes you sad?" Natsu asked, and Lucy jerked her eyes back up to find him staring at her in a mix of confusion and vague worry. There was also something he seemed to be restraining in his eyes, as if the death of a parent wouldn't bother him. Had he never had a mommy to miss?

That thought seemed almost as sad to her as her own grief, so she nodded.

"I miss her a lot." She replied softly, "But that's why I summoned you. It's lonely here by myself and since mommy can't summon me a friend I decided I'd summon my own!"

She hesitated a moment, "Um, you will be my friend right?"

A dazzling bright smile, that contained surprisingly sharp teeth, met her.

"You bet I will!" Natsu crowed excitedly, crowding into her space and looking like he had just won the lottery. He came nose to nose with Lucy, and he couldn't mask the raw joy in his eyes, "It's lonely back home too! Being your friend sounds like fun!"

"Really?" Lucy squealed excitedly, "That's amazing! Thank you!"

Natsu laughed a bit over her enthusiasm, not thinking this mistress was at all like the one his father had spoken about. She seemed nice, and Natsu never wanted to go back to hell. Her summons had come at a perfect time, his father had been in another foul mood and Natsu wasn't sure he would have been able to survive another one of his temper tantrums. The last time he had been so severely beaten within an inch of his life, it had taken Natsu a week to fully recover even with his advanced healing.

This time he had been so desperate for an escape, he reached out his magic on all fronts to try and call someone to summon him. His luck had held out, because someone with a similar magic had managed to grasp hold of him and pull him from his father's protections.

Natsu stuck his hand out towards her, "C'mon, you have to make it official or another demon could take my place!"

Lucy blinked a little at that reveal, and Natsu went bone still at the expression on her face.

"You're a demon?" She asked curiously, wondering if she could remember any of her mother's friends being demons.

Natsu cocked his head, trying to breathe through the panic that wanted to dig its claws into him. She hadn't known she was summoning a demon? He didn't want to go back to hell! His father would actually kill him this time if his contract was rejected by her. He tried to keep the fear and desperation off his face and stared at her in surprise, "Well yeah. That's what you wanted right? A demon?"

His hand lowered a little and a hint of sadness crept into his eyes that he couldn't hide back completely, "Did you not want a demon?"

"No!" Lucy exclaimed hastily, suddenly terrified of driving away her new friend, "No that's not it! I just didn't know I would summon a demon." She ducked her head shyly, "I've... kind of never done this before."

Natsu's expression cleared and he smiled at her again, that anxious ball of knots and fears easing up under her easy admittance, "Hey, no worries!" He exclaimed, "I can help you! Just say what you want from me as your familiar. You gotta make it sound like a promise. When you're done, I'll agree or disagree, and we shake on it to seal the deal. Okay?"

He vaguely remembered Acnologia explaining the process to him in the past, but he didn't know the particulars exactly. Still he didn't want to assume anything he wasn't supposed to and get himself tangled in something worse than his father. Although he didn't think that could be worse. He touched the scarf draped over his chest for comfort.

Lucy nodded and frowned as she thought about how to phrase her words. She wanted to make sure nothing could stop them from being friends, "I promise to always be your friend as long as you'll always be mine." She said firmly, "No matter what."

Natsu's smile practically engulfed his face at the simple request. He could do that! He could so do that! It wouldn't even be hard compared to what Acnologia would always do to him, "And I agree to always be your friend." He replied cheerfully, "No matter what you need I'll come, and I'll always protect you. Deal?"

Lucy smiled and reached out to take his hand firmly in hers, jumping slightly as there was a bright flash of light between them and something warm and bright touched her heart.

She had officially created her first contract.

Natsu's eyes flared gold with the light of her magic and he blinked it away, looking surprised. Excitement seemed to shiver over him and his hand reached up to hover over his heart. His smile softened into something sweet as he stared down at his own chest in awe. For the first time in his life he felt hope. Like he finally had a way out of hell and from the claws of his father.

It was a shimmer of safety, and Natsu reveled in it.

Something warm touched his cheeks and he snapped his gaze up to Lucy. He reached out and took her hand, his fangy smile practically bursting from the seams. He dragged her out of the circle and burst out of the room.

"Come on! You wanted a friend right? Let's go do friend stuff!" Natsu cackled, taking in the sight of a banister and his eyes lit up.

"Yeah! What did you have in mind?" Lucy giggled, but let out a sharp gasp when Natsu began to climb up onto the banister, balancing there with wobbling legs.

"This looks fun! Come on, let's go slide all the way down Lucy," he cackled with a wild look in his eyes that Lucy got the feeling she was going to have to get used to.

She couldn't get up as well as he did, but was easily lifted up by Natsu despite his size. He smiled at her and plopped himself on the railing with Lucy clinging to him from behind.

"Alright! Come on!" Natsu crowed, pushing himself forward as they sped down the railing. Lucy shrieked with laughter as they hit the end and tumbled off in a pile of laughing limbs.

For the next few hours they played, with Lucy teaching Natsu several games and him investigating everything in her home. He seemed excited about everything, drinking in the warm, sunny day.

However the drain on Lucy's magic took its toll eventually and Natsu found them resting in the grass towards the end of the day. He frowned as he saw his hands becoming translucent.

"Your running out of magic," Natsu mumbled, his eyes falling over Lucy as his hands came into focus again. He had known this would happen eventually. There was no putting it off. He would have to return home to hell, but perhaps if he was lucky he would be deposited far enough away from the nest that Acnologia wouldn't be able to find him right away.

His father was going to be furious over the contract he made.

"Im sorry Natsu," Lucy said, but the demon could see the exhaustion on her face and knew there was no point in tiring out his mistress. Natsu was disappointed, but he frowned and took a hand against Lucy's forehead.

"It's okay Lucy. You need to rest!" Natsu smiled brightly despite the way his stomach rolled in discomfort. He knew what the consequences would be when he came back, and he pushed back the hot sting of tears behind a fresh smile for her. He dragged his hand away and stood up, brushing himself off.

"Until next time Lucy," he smiled at her, "And don't worry. I'll train up so I'll be a strong familiar for you so you don't have to use your magic to sustain me."

It was a promise more for himself than her. He had a nice friend now, one who didn't seem to mind that he was a scary demon dragon, and she had given him a ticket out of hell. She was his savior, and if Natsu managed to survive until he was strong enough to stay out of his Father's claws, he would spend the rest of his life repaying her for that kindness.

Before she could say something, Natsu burst into a ball of flame and disappeared back to where he came from. He left a small scorch mark in the grass which quickly faded, and Lucy immediately felt her magic return.

She stared at the spot her friend had been only moments before, and for a moment the loneliness and sadness came rushing back, but as soon as it had the spot in her chest that had been warm since they made their deal flared with a comforting warmth that chased it away again.

After all, hadn't she just had the most fun she could remember having in an afternoon? And didn't he say he would come back?

She smiled at the thought. He'd said he would get stronger so she didn't have to use her magic. Well, if he could get stronger then she could too! She would learn all of her mama's magic and become the strongest necromancer ever so she and Natsu never had to be apart!

Galvanized by the thought she leapt to her feet ready to go learn all the magic she could only to be stopped as one of the more practical side effects of magic use manifested in the form of a growling stomach.

She hadn't noticed while Natsu was around, but now that he'd left she was starving. Thoughts of breaking open her mother's books gone, she turned instead towards the kitchen in the hopes she could get a snack before dinner.

Fortunately for her belly, the cook took one look at her and her audibly growling stomach and smiled as he sliced up an apple and some cheese for her.

"Tuck into that miss." He said happily, "It'll tide you over without spoiling your appetite. And I'm mighty glad to see you so hungry I have to say. I was getting quite worried about you since your mother passed. Did something change?"

"I made a new friend!" Lucy blurted before remembering Natsu was supposed to be a secret, "Um..." She blushed, "Don't tell anyone?"

The cook's smile broadened, "Oh? What kind of friend is he?"

Cornered, and certain she was about to get into trouble, Lucy squirmed a bit, "Um, his name's Natsu, and he can make fire!"

"Well then!" The cook beamed, "That sounds like a mighty fine friend Miss Lucy! Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. And if you ever need any snacks for you and your 'friend' just tell me okay?"

Lucy decided on the spot that their cook was the best cook ever as he winked and went back to his work. Natsu's secret was safe for now. She doubted it would stay secret for too long, but for now she just wanted him all to herself.

—::—

Gray scowled as he stormed along the beach, sullenly kicking sand up every other step. He knew he was overreacting, but he couldn't help it. Seeing Lamia Scale so very happy day to day just made him remember why he wasn't. Most of the time he was able to swallow it back, and sometimes he even found himself enjoying himself, but there were days like this and the hurt boiled over until he couldn't even stand to be near the rest.

Jura had tried talking to him about it, but though Gray appreciated the gentle man's attempts, part of him also resented it. Jura wasn't his dad, and more than anything Gray wanted to wake up to his mom, dad, and sister back home and have this whole nightmare be just that.

Wishful thinking he knew, but that didn't stop him from aching for it with all his heart.

He was shaken out of his reverie by the sight of a tangle of red ahead of him. He stared at it in confusion for a moment before the pile of bright red shifted and groaned, revealing itself to be a person.

His eyes widened and he sprinted to the person, girl's, side, "Hey, are you okay?"

Stupid question, he immediately kicked himself, any idiot could see that okay was the very last thing she was. He knelt and helped her turn over only to yelp when he was caught in a vice-like grip and a furious blue eye opened to glare at him.

"Who are you?" The girl demanded in what might've been a threatening tone had she not immediately started coughing up sand.

Gray, however, understood the look on her face entirely, and didn't laugh. Laughter was the furthest thing from his mind actually as he met her half crazed furious gaze with his own.

"I'm not a threat to you." He said calmly as he laid a hand over hers, "Please. My name is Gray. I want to help you."

It was vaguely disconcerting to realize he truly did. He'd held himself apart from Lamia Scale so far, even going so far as to get annoyed when word had begun quietly spreading around town that he was an ice mage of considerable power. He didn't care about their recognition, even if it did lead to slightly better paying jobs.

But this girl... this girl with the pain filled eyes he understood too well... he wanted to help her.

"Why?" She asked sullenly as she stared out across the ocean she'd come from, "What do you care?"

"Because you're in trouble." He replied, "And if you don't get help from someone you'll die from hunger if nothing else."

To say nothing of her wounds. Just what the hell had happened to her? Was it a demon? He hadn't heard about any attacks, but that didn't mean anything.

"Was it a demon?" He asked, drawing her startled gaze, and sighed as he sat down next to her, pleased she'd at least released him, "I'm a devil slayer from Bosco." He told her quietly, "My whole family was. We used our magic to help people and kill the demons that were always trying to infest the area." He glared out at the water, "At least we were until a necromancer set a demon too powerful for my mom and dad to fight on our village." He looked at her, "Did the same thing happen to you?"

She shook her head and looked away, "I'm an Amazon from Tenrou." She whispered, shocking him completely, "We were attacked by outsiders. I got away by sheer luck."

Gray winced a little at the pain in her voice and stood up to offer her a hand, "C'mon." He encouraged, "You're never gonna be able to make them pay for what they did if you sit around here and starve."

He helped her up, watching her brush the sand from her knees. Slowly, and ready to draw back in an instant if need be, he put his hand on her shoulder. By the way she reacted earlier, he half expected her to snap his wrist off at the joint, but was pleasantly surprised when she faced him with a muted expression instead.

"What's your name?" Gray asked her, aware of how far away her eyes looked at the moment. There was a distinct possibility she wouldn't even hear him.

"Erza Scarlet," she spoke softly, "Daughter of Queen Irene of the Amazons and betrothed to Jellal Fernandez of the clergy."

"Be-what?" Gray blinked in confusion as he guided her from the beach and towards the guild hall he had just run away from. Lyon was sure to be real angry with him when he got back.

"Betrothed?" Erza repeated, looking a little more energized by a change of topic from the horrors she was walking from, "do you not have those here?"

"I don't even know what that means" Gray admitted, boyish face scrunched up in confusion.

Erza looked amused by his expressions and a sad smile drifted to her face, "he is the one I'm to marry one day. He is also my best friend. What shall he think happened when I no longer write to him?"

"Marry?!" Gray gawked, screeching it loud enough to pull Erza up short, "you already know who you're going to marry?"

"Do you not partake in a similar custom at this age?" Erza asked, innocent in her question while Gray looked like he was physically balking at the idea.

"No we don't," Gray made a face, "marrying someone? Gross..."

At Erza's frown though, Gray quickly changed the subject. He cleared his throat and touched her shoulder, "don't worry! I'm looking for someone too. How about we search together?"

Erza looked hesitant at the idea, but upon realizing this could be a good idea in relation to finding Jellal, quickly began to warm to it.

"Very well, we can search together," Erza sighed and looked to the sky, "it's been many months since I sent a letter to him when the battle first broke out. I hope he hasn't give up hope."

Gray looked at Erza and nodded, but pointed at the bandage that had been wrapped around her head an obscuring an eye, "gotcha, but first let's have the guild healer take a look at that."

Erza's hand wavered over it, a resigned smile on her face.

"You may, but I fear at this point... there is not much that can be done."

—::—

Jellal was going home. To hell with his studies and the magic he could learn. There was a feeling in his gut he couldn't ignore and it had been nagging at him for months.

Ever since his last letter to Erza months ago, he hadn't heard anything back.

At first he reasoned there could have been a delay in the post. It happened sometimes.

He had also been very distracted in his work, so he could have simply missed a letter...

But after so long he couldn't think of another reason behind the silence, and before he knew it he was cramming as much of his things in a knapsack as fast as he could to make it back to Tenrou island.

"Where are you going?" The voice of his friend and roommate asked. Ultear, who had been rescued from a necromancer by Master Brain and Hades, asked from her bed beside his.

"Back home," Jellal insisted, growling to himself as he cursed himself for waiting as long as he did.

"Has something happened?" Ultear asked curiously, silently envying that Jellal had a place to go back to. But she didn't voice it. He was a genuinely nice boy, and she rather liked him. The Erza he was so devoted to was a very lucky girl.

"I don't know." He replied, not slowing his packing at all, "But something doesn't feel right. I have to go check. Just to be sure."

"What about your magic studies?" Ultear asked in mild alarm at the very final way he was speaking, "You've been making such good progress!"

He shook his head, "None of it matters." He replied firmly, "I'm a cleric of the goddess. That, and my queen and princess, come first." He offered her a half smile as he slung the bag over his shoulder, "If we're lucky I'm just jumping at shadows and Queen Irene won't mind me coming back. Take good care of yourself Ultear. I'm going to go let Master Brain know."

However, he never got beyond opening the door.

Brain was standing there waiting for him.

Jellal stumbled to a halt, his forward momentum nearly making him collide with the large man, "Master Brain!" He exclaimed in surprise, and took a step back, "Sir..."

"Is there something wrong Master?" Ultear asked softly, catching sight of Brain's expression before her flustered roommate.

"I'm afraid I have grave news." Brain said solemnly as he stepped inside, taking in Jellal's packed bag without comment, "Jellal, I'm truly sorry to be the one to tell you this... but there was an attack on Tenrou."

Jellal's eyes widened in horror, "No." He breathed in denial, "No!"

Brain bowed his head grimly, "My sources tell me it was an unmarked fleet. Pirates most likely. I'm sorry, I don't know how it happened, but they penetrated the defenses. Everyone was wiped out."

Jellal's knees went weak. Everyone? How was that possible? They were Amazons! The finest warriors since antiquity! A single Amazon was capable of razing battalions! There was no way this could be true. His mother, his queen... Erza. They couldn't be dead.

"I don't believe you." He breathed, and then glared as his temper flared, "You're lying!"

Brain stared at him patiently, "You know I've never done that Jellal." He chided, "However, I can understand your disbelief. I wouldn't believe it either if it were me." He dropped a hand on Jellal's shoulder, "I'll have someone return you home to see for yourself."

Jellal nodded shakily and numbly followed Brain out to where Master Hades was waiting. He barely listened as Brain asked Hades if he would be willing to take another trip back the island so Jellal could see the truth with his own eyes. Hades proved reluctant, but acquiesced at Jellal's glare, and led him to his airship.

Jellal paid little attention to it, or the people on it, as he tensely clung to the railing, his eyes never leaving the horizon. He couldn't have said how much later it was when he finally caught sight of Tenrou's magnificent tree, and nearly collapsed as he found it had been cut down.

No. It couldn't be.

The barrier was strong, the divine fairy tree healthy. How could this have happened? Their defenses had held strongly for over a thousand years.

Sick with dread he watched as the airship moved closer, and let out a strangled sound at the sight of the ruins that had once been his home. There were blast and scorch marks everywhere, proof of the combat that had happened. He read it with ease. How the invaders had landed. How they'd attacked. How his people had fought.

It was apparent they'd lost ground bit by bit, but their killers had paid heavily for their advances. Until finally they'd reached the palace itself.

Tears cut down his cheeks as he took in the ruin that had been the palace. He could see the bloodstains, the bits of armor and weapons that had been smashed as the defenders fought to their last, but it was the sight of an eye that did him in.

Torn from its owner's socket, it was a perfect image of horrifying innocence. But even more horrible, it was one he recognized. How could he not? He'd spent most of his childhood staring into that particular blue.

"No!" He screamed as his knees buckled, "Erza! No!"

Tears cut heavy across his cheeks and he felt a wave of nausea rise within him. No. No. No! It wasn't fair. How could this have happened?

Everyone he knew, everyone he loved. Gone.

He didn't have the chance to say goodbye.

It felt like someone had ripped out a piece of his very heart and left him hollow on the inside. He wanted revenge, wanted to make whoever had taken Erza and his family here away to suffer.

These animals had carved out Erza's eye like she was nothing. Like she was just something to play with. Jellal's stomach heaved in disgust as Hades stepped closer to him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Jellal could barely feel it, only letting himself be guided back on the ship.

He couldn't bare to be back on the island, not when so much of it had been destroyed and wiped of the life that had made it feel like home.

Now it was simply a graveyard, an empty shell of memories meant only to haunt him.

The trip back to Master Brain was done in silence, Jellal listening to Master Hades give him soft advice and he found comfort in the well-spoken words of the magician who had lived so long.

They provided little warmth, but helped Jellal in other ways as he thought about the cycle of life and death and the way other magic users used it to find a balance and inner peace. Necromancy, Master Hades called it.

And when they arrived back at home, Jellal had a half-formed idea in his head as he approached Master Brain.

"Can I bring them back to life?" He asked, his voice hoarse and his eyes filled with such desperation that Ultear could only sympathize.

Master Brain gave Jellal an apologetic look, "I'm afraid not Jellal, even necromancy, with all of its power cannot bring back true life. It cannot bring forth the spirit in physical form of what you loved in life. You may resurrect the husk, but not the spirit."

He nodded to Ultear, who was staring studiously into her crystal ball, "Ultear here is learning something similar. The Arc of Time. She aims to restore her own family by reversing time so they were never killed in the first place."

Master Brain sighed and shook his head, "But even Ultear knows this is not a perfect practice and she may never get what she desires by this."

"The only thing that could possibly bring back both of your families quickly is-" Master Brain cut himself off and shook his head, aware he had attracted the laser attention of both of the children.

"No, I should not go into detail about such things," he sighed to them, "Forget I even spoke of it. I wouldn't want to frighten you."

"Speak of what Master Brain?" Jellal asked, nearly demanded, with a growl, "Is there something that could help us? Something that could save Erza and my mother?!"

"Nothing human has the power and ability to do what you require." Brain replied slowly, "But humans aren't the only beings in this world. There are many worlds interconnected with ours. Some you're already familiar with. The Fae are especially well known, as are the legendary ascended spirits of the celestial realm, but the most powerful of all is a demon by the name of Acnologia."

"A demon?" Ultear hissed in hate, and Brain shook his head.

"Do not compare him to Deliora my dear." He told her firmly, "Acnologia is to Deliora what the sun is to a candle. He is a god beyond our ability to comprehend. A dragon of immense strength and wisdom, he is not bound by mortal rules and therefore capable of restoring your loved ones to you. If you can convince him to."

Jellal felt his stomach drop at Brain's words. A demon? He'd learned a little of them in his studies and had not liked what he'd read. They were a tricky, devious, race and dealing with one was fraught with peril. Sure it was possible that this Acnologia Brain spoke of could do what was asked, but would he? Not without a price that was for certain, and even that was assuming he did what was asked and not some other ironic version.

He exchanged a skeptical glance with Ultear and sighed in defeat, the pain in his chest growing again.

"This is why I did not want to speak of it." Brain shook his head, "I'm sorry."

Jellal nodded and shuffled back to their room to flop back on his bed, his mind whirling with pain and anger that threatened to consume him. He ached to find who had done it, who had destroyed his people, and extract his vengeance until there was nothing left. He ached to curl up and go to sleep and never wake up.

Most of all, he just ached.

He rolled over fitfully on his bed unaware of the soft voice that had begun whispering in the back of his mind, only that his dreams were full of blood and vengeance and death with everything restored at the end.

Especially his beloved Erza.

—::—

In hell, Natsu watched as his father blew between the most extreme of two emotions in the span of a single breath. As he had expected, Acnologia had been furious when he discovered Natsu had contracted with a necromancer to one day escape him.

At least until he looked at Natsu with a sudden calm that was even more frightening than his anger.

He grabbed hold of Natsu's chin, creeping into his personal space. Smoke blew in his face, but Natsu did his best not to flinch away. His father did not like to see weakness.

"Make no mistake, you will rue the day you contracted with a necromancer," Acnologia promised to Natsu, the weight of his words a promise that demons were forced to keep.

Natsu glared back at Acnologia, not wanting flinch away or show how much a promise like that scared him. Acnologia's claws tightened into his skin, pricking blood under the tips of his fingers until his face was abruptly released.

"You are just lucky that you have managed to give me an idea that will suit me in the long run," he purred down at Natsu, his claws dropping delicately down from his son's tender cheeks, "and that I have such a poor, eager soul to test my theory on."

Natsu stilled at the silent threat in his words, a creep of dread burying in his gut. His small hands balled into angry fists, fire burning in his chest at the injustice of never being able to escape his foul father.

At Natsu's furious look, Acnologia pushed the boy aside and barked on a laugh, sweeping away to whisper more honeyed lies into the ear of the mortal he had his eyes on.

No matter the outcome, a storm was brewing and before long it would break on them all.