CHAPTER 13
Levy was in a construction zone, curled under heavy metal beams as she kept her hands glued over her mouth to stop her frightened breathing from giving away her location.
She was sore and hurt, but she knew that keeping her wits about her would keep her alive for the time being. Droy had been hurt and it was a miracle she had been able to get him to a hospital before slipping away. Jet however, she hoped he was alright.
Levy wouldn't forgive herself if she managed to lose her friends in this madness.
Desperation had made her go to her house, even though she knew it wasn't safe. The fire had broken out so quickly, locking her from the inside. Only desperation and surprisingly light feet made her agile enough to dive through the widow.
But now cuts and scrapes decorated her arms, bloody and sore as she clung to herself for warmth. She had lost everything in the fire, choosing to run for her life instead of trying to rescue anything from the fire.
She almost didn't even believe she was going to be able to survive the night. Not with the whole guild trying to kill her.
Not only that, but since the fire she had felt... so strange. The iron beams felt abrasive against her skin, but she should have been far more tired than she was with her injuries and how long she had been running forZ
Well over a day with no rest.
Something had happened to her. Something magical.
It wasn't vampirism by any means. But there was definitely something different about her.
Her fingers curled up to touch her ears, feeling how they were tapered at the edges. Something new and different she didn't understand.
"Gajeel," she whimpered softy, missing her vampire deeply even as she cuddled closer into the beams.
She tried not to think about the way the beams itched against her skin, or her probable death, as her mind raced to find a way to get out of this mess. She was well and truly cornered and she knew it. Even if she escaped town she would be easy prey out in the open, though something in her called fiercely for her to be out in the wild where it would at least be clean and she could move freely.
It was an urge strong enough she had to clutch her arms tighter to keep herself from acting on it. No matter what her urges said she knew she wouldn't survive long out there without a means to survive. Something she did not have currently. Even if she managed to dodge her former guild and made directly for Magnolia, which she refused to do, it would be a two day walk at best.
And whatever was causing her new stamina there was no way she could count on it for that long.
What if she went the other way? Further up the line towards Clover?
It was a tantalizing possibility. If she could sneak past the others she could follow the tracks towards Clover and Blue Pegasus. Master Bob was friendly with Gajeel and the kids. Maybe he would help her?
It was a long shot. Gajeel had told her about that Karen person and how intolerant she was, but surely Bob could control the woman?
In any case it was her only plan.
Galvanized by the thought of an actual plan she slipped away from her itchy iron beam and began creeping stealthily towards the train station. It was dangerous, especially when she had to duck out of sight of so many she'd once called friend in the process, but it was her best bet.
By a stroke of pure luck though only a couple of her guildmates were actually guarding the train station. She guessed they'd checked there first and when she hadn't had a record of leaving, or shown up, they must've moved on. The only question was, how was she going to get onto the train?
"Child are you alright?" A concerned elderly voice asked and Levy nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of a tiny old man peering up at her in concern, "You look like you've had a very rough night."
Levy felt her eyes well up at the first sight of compassion she'd seen in over a day, and pressed her hand to her mouth to keep from sobbing, "I... I..."
The old man, who looked vaguely familiar, reached out and gently patted her hand, "There now." He soothed, "I'm sure whatever it is can be fixed. Are you trying to escape whatever has happened?"
She nodded mutely, "I have to get to Clover." She whispered hoarsely, "I can get in touch with my boyfriend there... I just..."
"In trouble with the local magic guild are you?" The old man nodded and beamed up at her, "Well not to worry! Laxus and I are headed in that direction too!" He turned his smile up to the large blond with him, "Aren't we my boy?"
The man, Laxus, nodded shortly, "She's gonna stick out like sore thumb like this Gramps." He noted, "And she'll drown in my coat."
"A little time in the bathroom should clean most of that right up." The man countered, "I'll escort her there if you'll go see to an extra ticket?"
Laxus smirked and nodded, "You got it old man."
Levy watched in amazement as he strode off with an almost eager look on his face, "But... I... you shouldn't..."
"Nonsense my dear." The old man countered, "There's nothing better than being able to help others in need. Now let's get you to that bathroom hm? I'm sure you'll feel better once you've cleaned up some."
Levy sniffled a little, overwhelmed by their generosity, and nodded, "Thank you." She choked, "Thank you so much!"
She let him lead her to the bathroom, which was miraculously free of watchers, and quickly, but gratefully, cleaned up. By the time she was done most of the obvious dirt was gone, and her bruises and scratches looked less like something she'd acquired in a desperate run for her life and more like the sort of thing acquired from getting tangled in a rose bush.
Hardly perfect, but it was much better than it had been before, and she gratefully slipped back out to the waiting man and his grandson, who crowded around her, effectively hiding her from anyone by the counters and led her to the waiting train.
"It's fortunate you arrived when you did." The old man commented as they got settled, "The train was only stopping for a little while. I'm not sure when the next one would've been along."
Levy smiled thinly at him, "I memorized the schedules a long time ago." She confessed, "I hid nearby until I knew the train was coming in and made my move. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't helped me though. Thank you for that."
"It was our pleasure." He smiled with a wave, "Might I ask just what has you in such trouble with Twilight Ogre? They're reputed to be a light guild, I can't imagine what would have them hunting someone like you down."
Levy hung her head, "I fell in love with the wrong person." She whispered, "At least according to them I did." Her fists clenched, "They don't understand. Just because he doesn't fit their definition of light doesn't make him evil. He's a good man, and he would never even consider doing the things they think he did to me."
She shook a little in fury, "I tried to tell them. But no matter what I did they wouldn't listen!"
"I see." The old man hummed thoughtfully, "Well that's quite unfortunate. Don't worry though. We'll help you get everything squared away. In the meantime, why don't we get you something from the dining car?" He smiled, "You don't want to get to Clover just to pass out from hunger do you?"
"You've already been so kind," Levy tried, but the kindly old man just huffed and waved his hand.
"Nonsense!" He patted the side of her leg to encourage her to move with him, "come now miss. You need to rest. It's not a very long train ride, but I will have you know that there are an abundance of delicious things to eat on it and you must try some of them out. I insist."
Levy could say she appreciated the gesture as she walked with them to get to the dining cart.
She was starving to be sure, and she wanted desperately to find something to eat. She would just have to remember to pay these men back their kindness.
Finally she felt the fear melt off of her as the train rattled into movement and twilight Ogre and its nightmare faded in the distance.
Never knowing Gajeel was right behind her.
—::—
She was alive. That much Gajeel was certain. He and Mirajane had followed her scent to a construction site, and while the fresh blood they found there had been frightening, it told him she was alive to bleed.
More importantly, the scent lead Gajeel to the train station, where it seemed to cut off.
She had gone to safety.
How, he had no idea but he wasn't about to discount the miracle for what it was. Mirajane jogged back to him from where she had double checked the boards, frowning a little.
"Last train ride to Clover just left, we're going to have to walk it," Mirajane crossed her arms.
"I can move fast over the ground, but I don't think we're going to make it out through the town border without busting in a couple of heads," He cracked his knuckles in response to that information.
Which was perfectly fine by him.
"Then let's get cracking," Mira spoke with a sweet smile that was more frightening than anything else. He knew exactly what that smile meant, having seen her give the same one to Natsu a multitude of times.
And, as always, he was grateful that it wasn't directed at him. As powerful as he was, he wasn't sure he could handle anything she threw at him when she got serious.
As it was, he was more than a little eager for some blood of his own, so it was with a sense of excited anticipation that they spotted the blockade.
"Sorry pal." One of the thugs blocking the road out of town grunted as he moved to stand in the way, "No one in or out for the time being. Orders from the guild master. We're hunting a fugitive vampire."
"Wow how surprising is that?" Mira exclaimed deceptively, "I didn't know the magic guilds had so much authority now that they could lock down whole towns! I was under the impression only the council could do that. And only with permission from the government!"
The man's eyes narrowed, "I doubt the crown's gonna care if it means getting a fugitive vampire caught and staked." He growled, "Now, you two head on home. No one passes through here tonight."
Gajeel raised an eyebrow at that, wondering vaguely just how gullible this guy thought people were. Though he was more amazed at the sheer level of stupidity being displayed. For a guild on the hunt, they didn't seem to have much of an idea of what they were hunting.
"Don't make me and my buddies tell ya again." The man warned when neither he nor Mira moved, and his friends pushed themselves away from the wall, "This area's closed. And so are all the exits out of town."
Gajeel snorted, "Runt like you ain't even a challenge."
He shifted his stance as the mortals rushed him, silently noting with approval that Mira had done the same, and smirked as she pulled up her Satan Soul.
"What the fuck?!" The leader screeched, "She's a demon! And him... that must be Gajeel! Stake 'im! Stake them both!"
"Idiot." Mira scoffed as she roundhouse kicked a thug into the wall of the nearest building, "This is Levy's guild?"
"Not the best or the brightest." Gajeel agreed as they plowed their way easily through the blockade and headed out of town altogether as fast as they could move. Clover, and Levy were waiting.
Even with their speeds it took them more time than Gajeel liked to make it to Clover. Twilight Ogre was equal distance between Clover and Magnolia which meant it was a two day travel on foot.
Granted Gajeel and Mirajane were both very fast, so it would shave off a considerable bit of time, however that would still put them at odds against a train which could make the trip an hour.
That and he and Mirajane needed to stop and rest for a nap at times. There was no mistaking that.
So it was around noon the following and a half when Clover finally came into town. Gajeel was supporting his sunglasses against the heat of the sun, looking both furious and annoyed by the slight sunburn he had gotten for leaving the house in a short sleeved shirt.
They made their way into town, Gajeel sniffing around to try and catch Levy's scent. There was no chance of it though and Gajeel snarled in annoyance. If there had been a scent, by now it was too old to pick up on.
"What now?" Mirajane asked, picking up a jacket from a nearby vender to toss over to Gajeel. The back of it read 'sweet ass' on it and he gave Mirajane a frankly offended look.
"It was all they had," she smirked at him.
Gajeel rolled his eyes and stuffed his arms inside the jacket, feeling some relief from the itching burn of the sun.
"Now we go to Blue Pegasus. I'm friends with the Master here and he could keep an eye out for her," Gajeel sighed.
"Friends with a light guild, Gajeel why I never!" Mirajane gasped dramatically and Gajeel snorted.
"Quit your dramatics, I'm friends with the guild master and not the damn guild. Keep an eye out for them, I wouldn't put it past any light guild for things to get nasty," Gajeel growled warningly.
"I'll go in there by myself," Gajeel continued, "Bob and some of his elite class know me but Blue Pegasus is sharper than Twilight Ogre. They'll peg you and me before we walk inside."
"Then I'll wait outside to bust inside to help you if things get sticky," Mirajane nodded solemnly.
They were interrupted from further planning when Gajeel's phone rang. He blinked and fished it out, tilting his head when he saw the caller ID.
"Speak of the Devil," he muttered and swiped over the call, "Bob."
"Gajeel, you will never guess who I have here in my office," Bob's voice crackled over the speaker and Gajeel's hear leapt in his chest.
"Levy?" He burst out, hardly daring to believe his luck.
"One and the same!" Bob chuckled, "She's been through quite a bit, but she's safe and sound. You should hurry though. I've got Ichiya and the Trimens distracting the others, but I don't know how long it'll last. You remember where the back door is?"
"Yeah I remember." He grunted, feeling like he should be dead from relief, "I'll be there in a minute."
He hung up and flashed Mira a broad grin, "Levy made it." He reported, nearly giddy with relief, "C'mon. He's got a distraction going an' I know the back way in."
Mira grinned fiercely and nodded, "Lead the way!"
Gajeel cackled softly as he darted away and led her on a wide circle to where the back door was only to nearly crash in surprise when he saw who was waiting for him.
"Leo?!" He gasped as the smirking lion held the door open, "What're you doing here?"
Leo chuckled, "It's a long story that involves a particularly stubborn unworthy contractor wannabe." He replied as he grasped his friend's forearm, "When Lady Levy came in asking for help and mentioned your name I couldn't resist getting involved."
The spirit looked Gajeel up and down, "The centuries haven't been as hard on you as I feared." He smiled, "Let me be the first to congratulate you on finding your mate finally."
Gajeel flushed, "I see you're still a brat." He grunted affectionately and clapped Leo's shoulder, "As much as I would love to catch up though..."
Leo nodded, "Of course." He nodded at Mira in a slight bow, "Please follow me."
He led them inside where all kinds of shouting, both horrified and not, could be heard and to the back where Bob's office was. Gajeel didn't even slow down as he pushed the door open and nearly cried in relief when he saw Levy sitting there looking a little worn and tired but otherwise whole.
He crossed the room in two strides and pulled her into a tight hug, "Thank the gods Lev..." He breathed into her hair, "I thought I'd lost you."
"Gajeel!" She burst out, tears finally escaping her as she clung to him hard enough for him to feel it, "you got here so fast! How—?"
"He was already out looking for you, it was very romantic," Mirajane smiled, looking a little misty-eyed herself.
"You were?" Levy mumbled wetly into his shoulder and Gajeel nodded.
"Yeah short stuff, Jet came by my place looking like his ass was on fire. The moment we figured out something was wrong we came," Gajeel pulled away and set his hands on her wet cheeks, "don't you keep somethin' like this hidden from me again Lev. I damn near went out of my mind looking for you."
Levy just nodded back at him and Gajeel pulled her into another sweeping hug, "how did you get here shrimp? Of all places?"
"A kind old man and his grandson helped me get out of town. When I mentioned that I was heading to Blue Pegasus to meet Master Bob, he was able to arrange the meeting," Levy whispered.
Gajeel glanced over at Bob, who nodded back at him.
"It's true, the one she ran into was none other than the Wizard Saint Makarov," Bob smiled and Levy gasped.
"Makarov from the magic council?" Levy gawked.
"Yes indeed, but he wouldn't want you to make a big ol' fuss over little ol' him," Bob laughed and waved his hand.
"I had no idea when he dropped me off," Levy mumbled.
"He doesn't advertise it, but he's also very understanding of extenuating circumstances. Considering his own grandson, he has a very clear picture of what falls into the area of 'grey,' Bob commented.
"That so?" Gajeel raised an eyebrow, "I find that interesting. Not many Magic Councilors find even a shred of sympathy in them for those who are on a dark path."
"I think you two would get along," Bob chuckled and nodded to them, "I'm glad you two have found one another."
Gajeel gave Levy and adoring look, bending down to press their foreheads together, "come home with me Lev? I promise nothing will come to hurt you there. I swear it."
Levy sniffled and nodded, her heart thumping painfully at the invitation. She knew what it meant for Gajeel to invite her to live with him. How much he was opening up to her by making her part of his coven. And it touched her deeply.
"Yes." She breathed, aware that this probably the next closest thing to a proposal from him, and gripped him tightly, "I will. Thank you Gajeel."
The bright smiled that illuminated his face made her laugh in delight, and almost made the ache at the loss of everything else go away. She could rebuild, she would. It would take time, but as long as she had him and the kids it would be alright.
He sat back on his heels a little and looked down at where she was holding him, "Not that I ain't thrilled to hear that Lev... but how the hell're you holding tight enough I can feel it?"
She flushed a bit, "Um, I don't know exactly." She confessed, "It happened when those jerks set my house on fire I think. Just all of a sudden I feel like I've been plugged into a battery."
"An atavism." Bob breathed with a smile, "I had wondered why I hadn't heard of you before now. Twilight Ogre would've been crowing since you joined if your traits had been active then."
"A what?" Mira asked in confusion and Bob looked at her.
"It's the manifestation of an ancestral trait." He explained, "It happens sometimes even in ordinary humans, but you see it more often in magic folk who bred with fae, demons, or similar in the past. A stressor or trigger will activate the latent blood and it will come out. In Levy's case I would guess that it happened when her life was in danger to protect her."
"Do you know what traits?" Levy asked eagerly, but he shook his head.
"I'm afraid not." He said regretfully, "Depending on how far back your ancestry is, there might not be enough left for much. Have you had any hungers or sudden allergic reactions?"
"I didn't like the iron beams at a construction site I hid at." Levy replied thoughtfully and Bob nodded.
"Definitely fae then. What other traits you may have will manifest on their own. I'll see if I can find you some information to help identify them, but you may need to simply keep an eye out."
Levy nodded, not entirely pleased with the answer, but accepting it as truth, and Gajeel gave her a hand up, "Thank you so very much master Bob." She told the guild master with a smile, "And would you thank Makarov again for me?"
"It'd be my pleasure." Bob replied, "Now, you should hurry. I don't think Ichiya can hold the rest of the guild off for much longer, and I'd prefer to avoid a fight."
Gajeel nodded at the dismissal and glanced at Leo, "You come too. If you ain't happy with contractin' to anyone here at least we can catch up before you find someone."
Leo smiled, "It would be my pleasure." He replied, "Particularly if you can tell me whatever happened to Anna's descendant Lucy? We lost track of her after her father died..."
"I think I can arrange that." Gajeel smirked, knowing exactly why they'd lost her up there. He'd learned protective warding from the very best after all.
