Chapter 6 Living Nightmares

Zeref found himself sitting by a lake, the wind whispered through the forest. He gazed up seeing the little blonde boy, shyly smiling at him. Zeref smiled warmly as he took in his son's appearance. The little boy nervously walked towards him, Zeref was pleased to finally see August unscathed compared to the nightmares that occasionally plagued his mind. Zeref raised his hand towards the boy motioning to him that everything was alright. As the boy grabbed his hand he smiled happily, Zeref frowns noticing the boy grimacing in pain as a pool of blood leaked from him.

"Father!" Zeref opened his eyes, feeling pain rushing through his head. He felt something was wrong, his skin was tingling. August! He teleported to Mavis sensing something terrible is happening. He couldn't believe his eyes; Mavis was mutilating her stomach trying to dig into her flesh. Zeref grabbed her wrists, crunching the bones to force her to drop the knife. Zeref's eyes glowed red, "What are you doing?!" Zeref couldn't think, his horror and rage were consuming his emotions at the sight before him.

Mavis was bawling her eyes out thrashing to get out of his grasps. She was screaming hysterically with snot and tears running down her face. Zeref narrowed his eyes putting his hand on her stomach, desperate to sense life. He feared he came back to this time to only lose his son before he could be born. Zeref took a shaky breath sensing a heartbeat within the already healed skin. Zeref's red eyes fell on Mavis's crazed green ones – he felt the rage boiling down his core at the heartless woman before him. Zeref forced her off the ground, he kept his hand protectively on her stomach. Zeref scowls, his fury was reflected in his eyes, "How dare you harm my son."

Mavis cried as Zeref's power pushed her to the ceiling, "I saw my death – he's evil."

Zeref gritted his teeth, "You stupid woman. August was showing you my sins – he is gifted with our memories."

"M—memories?" Mavis gasped; her eyes became large as Zeref stared at her as she processed his words. Mavis shook her head tears in her eyes – she couldn't believe him; the dreams were too horrible… She knew Zeref had done horrible things because of the curse but she can't see him doing something so cruel intentionally.

Zeref kept her airborne, he turned away, his fury had come to the surface, the death magic was wrapped around Fairy Heart, his appearance altered. His black hair was drained from its color becoming dead white, his eyes grew more blood red as he glared at her. Behind him, magical energy surrounded him and spread across the living room like black wings.

"Yes, memories." Zeref scowls, he approached her, his hands were wrapped around with dark and light energy. Mavis watched in horror as the building began to decay, the only thing untouched from the death magic was her. Zeref clutched his head, he forced the energy at bay to prevent injury to August. Zeref chuckled seeing the same horrified face within Mavis as the old world, "You see, I murdered you in my old world – actually to better describe it, I eradicated the whole world."

Mavis froze, seeing this sneering creature before her revealing his secrets. "Why would you kill everyone?! You said you despise conflict." Mavis shook her head, memories of Zeref being kind to her shattered with that bloody stare of his that eradicated through her soul with wings that shrouded death.

Zeref tilted his head narrowing his eyes, "I gave the world a quick death. You see, in about a hundred years the Apocalyptic Dragon – Acnologia, would cause havoc. He was massacring every city and he was immune to magic. I didn't want to be the last creature alive to be Acnologia's plaything – I decided I would go back in time before Acnologia gained the properties to withstand magic. But it was you who begged me to spare your guild – to come to this time, to allow Fairy Tail to be born."

Zeref grabbed her chin glaring at her, she winced as the magic burned her skin, "I'm enraged because I agreed to come back to this unnecessary time. The only compromise I had was to give August a better life. I'm not allowing you to be his demise again."

Mavis cried as his fingers squeezed more, sheering into her cheek bones. Zeref sneers at her pained whimpers, "August grew up with hardships, without the love of his parents. I wanted to give him a life he deserved; the other world was too cruel for him. This world, I will make it worthy for him."

"Zeref – you're hurting me." Mavis cried as his fingers dig deeper into her, she was forced to stare at the sinister red eyes.

Zeref glares at her, "You think this is painful?" A flash of August's burnt body went before his eyes, he gritted his teeth snarling at her, "I watched our son die right before my eyes – his body was charred, blistered, and beaten. Can you imagine the pain I am feeling to see my son's mother trying to murder him in the womb?!" Zeref narrowed his eyes at the knife, "If you really wanted him out of your body so badly –."

Mavis screamed as Zeref slit underneath her swollen belly. Zeref didn't even flinch as blood spilled over his body as he surgically cut through her. He had studied anatomy for his resurrection experiments, he knew the vital areas. He ravished in the pain he was inflicting on Mavis as she thrashed helplessly within his grasp. He couldn't risk having her attempt to kill August again, he estimated August had developed enough to be safely removed from his prison. Mavis's screams became silent as she dangled unconsciously.

Zeref wrapped his tunic around the small figure within his hands. Zeref's red eyes scan the infant, waiting for him to wail. The seconds seem like years until a strong cry escaped from the baby's lips. Zeref smirked slightly falling back onto the floor. Zeref's magic let go of Mavis making her body fall to the floor with a liquidly thud. Zeref allowed his magic to shimmer down until he bore his usual form, the white hair faded to black and the light and dark energy was absorbed within him once more.

The world was silent, blood painted the floor and decayed walls. Zeref ignored his surrounding, his only focus was on this pure life within his cursed arms. Zeref's body was covered in red, but he took no notice, he gently brushed the blood off August. His hand carefully stroked the baby's head and he smiled. Zeref's mind was able to obtain an old melody he had once heard, and he hummed the tone. He cradled the light within his arms, momentarily forgetting the darkness that surrounded him and for once in his life he felt a calming peace.

Mavis came back to her senses, she felt coldness on her wrists and ankles. Her body ached; she heard a slight jingle as she attempted to move her limbs. Her attempts to open her eyes created a sheering headache, once she passed through the pain, her eyes focused. Her head fell, noticing her limbs were shackled to the wall. Her eyes darted around herself noticing she was in a dark cellar; the only light came from fire lacrimas on the opposite wall. Mavis panicked thrashing within the chains – the clinging ringed in her ears, deafening her. Mavis screamed for help, hoping there was a soul to hear her.

"No one will help you." Red eyes sneered at her.

"Let me go!" Mavis screamed. Mavis cringed by the empty red eyes that once seemed to hold a kind dark brown. It pained her that she left her friends behind and cursed herself to be naïve enough to believe there would be anything good within this man.

Zeref materialized in front of her, putting a hand around her throat, "You haven't earned my mercy."

"Why keep me?! Kill me!" Mavis cried, thrashing in her chains. She wanted to die! She hated herself, she hated this creature that she had become – a creature that murders people… a creature that was willing to kill a baby in fear for her own demise.

Zeref smirked at her, "I was able to kill you once… However, my love for you turned into hatred and alas my curse can't kill you anymore."

Mavis's eyes widen, "The woman you killed with your curse –."

Zeref's eyes gleamed red, "Yes, she was you. I was hoping to have a better future with you for August's sake, but it seems you are too irrational in your state of mind…" It's a shame that Invel isn't born yet, his talents would be beneficial…perhaps his relatives have similar talents…

"Please Zeref! I won't hurt him!" Mavis gasped as his grip tightened. A part of her didn't want to hurt her child, but she couldn't shake this dark dread that filled her every time her mind thought of her baby. Her eyes widen at the jumble of thoughts that ran through her mind – was she falling victim to the Curse of Contradiction?

"No, you will not." Zeref narrowed his eyes. Zeref let his hand fall, giving her a chance to breathe, "I promised you once I will have you by my side with August. It seems like you need some time to rehabilitate yourself."

Mavis sucked in the musty air until her lungs were burning. Mavis rattled the chains, "Please don't keep me here!"

Zeref scowled at her, "You need to realize what you have done. You need to think rational again. Starved and deprived can-do wonders with the mind…" Zeref vanished out of her cell, leaving a whisper of Mavis's screams behind in his wake.

Zeref smirked slightly relishing in the tortured screams that were drowned out by the steal doors. He was pleased to know Mavis would endure what he had with the curse, to fall victim to one's own mind. It had enraged him when his old-world Mavis laid her hypercritical gaze on him beyond the grave every time his mind was overrun by fleeing thoughts and emotions. At least now she will understand his struggles, she will not dare view him as a villain because she is just as horrible as him.

Zeref walked the halls of his castle, nodding slightly as people worriedly pass by him to ensure their own safety from his curse. He chuckled at that; his curse hadn't inflicted any tragedies since he had traveled back to this time – plus his emotions only had gotten out of control whenever Mavis was on the mind.

Zeref narrowed his eyes I won't allow her to control my curse. August's wellbeing is my priority. Zeref walked into his room, smirking slightly at the cradle the servants had crafted. His hand brushed the edge of the cradle, August mumbled in his sleep feeling the presence of his father. Zeref's eyes admired the child and his eyes gleamed slightly at the future. Once you grow strong, we will make this world ours. You deserve everything that this world would have to offer.

Zeref frowns, noticing August's sleepy eyes gazing at him – he was not fooled by the hint of wisdom behind that young gaze. Zeref smirked slightly, "You shouldn't be dwelling on the past anymore – there isn't happiness there."

August's tiny eyes closed again and Zeref whispered, "Don't worry, I won't let anymore harm come to you. No need to dwell on our failures, because in this world you will have me by your side. In this world you will have the f—family that you had desired…" Zeref turned away feeling tears stinging his eyes as he let the words sink in. A family… a family that he had also desired. He knew how much August must have craved the love of his parents – for he had risked his life and died for the knowledge to know if it had existed. Zeref only hoped that August knew now that he actually did care for him, and he made all of this possible just for him to have a better life… Zeref patted his son's forehead, No more worries little one, everything will be different now…

Looking onward to the future…

Hope you guys enjoyed the gore, torture, and the feels. August is an interesting character to write, his ability to obtain memories from the past can really cause some issues . I would love to hear what you guys would like to see in the next chapter. I'm thinking of a little time jump, August being a toddler… things can get interesting with Mavis being in chains and Zeref on the mind set of having a perfect world for his son. If there is anything you would love to see drop your comment below in the review section!

Plus, a huge thank you to my awesome reviewers Guest8383839 and vampirehime92!

Guest8383839: The whole dream sequence was one of my favorite parts to write, and I'm excited that you enjoyed it too. I'm thinking on adding some more in upcoming chapters. The horror aspect with the dreams really emphasize the psychological and physical horror Zeref had caused.

Vampirehime92: After thinking about it I just had to do a sequel and I'm glad you suggested I do one back on the Corpse Flower story. The horror genre to Zervis is scarce and always thought it would be interesting to write. Zeref was really impatient… plus I time jumped a few times last chapter to speed up the anticlimactic parts of the early pregnancy.

I'm expecting to upload a chapter every weekend. Thank you all for reading!