Chapter 8 The Dark Fae

Zeref walked back and forth in his quarters nervously, the conversation he had with August kept resurfacing in his mind and his son's tearful eyes guilted him severely. Now that he thought of it, some of his words could had come across harsh for a toddler… But he wanted to prepare his son for reality, and Zeref was unsure how his son's memories of the old world are processed through his mind. At times August would give Zeref a wise look as if he knew all of Zeref's secrets and sometimes Zeref was gifted with an ignorant bubbly toddler. Perhaps the memories come and goes, which pleased him, he was worried August would always be burdened with memories of a world that wasn't worthy for him.

The creak of the door drew Zeref's attention, breaking his train of thought. His dark gaze fell on the green haired woman as she stepped in with the toddler in her arms. Zeref frowns seeing his son still crying, he didn't realize his words would hit the boy so hard.

The woman bows, "Your Majesty, I found little Master August down near the cellars…it seems something spooked him, I couldn't blame him, that place has an eerie aura."

Zeref's blood ran cold, his eyes fell on August noticing that it wasn't tears of sadness, but tears of fear. August stretched his arms towards Zeref, and he obligated with wrapping his arms around the child. Zeref gave the woman a shaky nod, "I am very grateful you were able to find him before he got himself hurt."

The woman gave him an awkward smile, she wasn't expecting a gracious thank you, "It's my pleasure sire. And you are right, there are probably left-over devices down there a child shouldn't be messing with."

Zeref nods gazing down at the secured child feeling him shake, "Yes…I may have to clear the lower levels from potential hazards…"

The guard ran a hand through her green hair, "If that is all sir…"

Zeref glanced up at her slightly, "Oh yes, you may go. Thank you for finding him." The guard nodded leaving the room swiftly, she knew something struck a nerve through the emperor, she saw it pass through his eyes – and she didn't want to get involved.

Zeref peered down at the sobbing boy in his arms and he smoothly rubbed the child's back to calm him. August sniffled as Zeref sat them both down on his bed, the boy peered up at him noticing how silent he was. Zeref saw the worried glance and he didn't want to push for answers – his mind was clawing at him to demand to know why the boy was down there. He bit his tongue forcing himself to not make matters worse, August was already upset – frightened even, and Zeref didn't want to add onto it. I shouldn't ask him – he will tell me…

August wiped his tears away, he could sense the struggle within his father, seeing the way he nervously peers away and clutched August firmly to his chest. August mumbles, "I'm sorry I couldn't catch you a fairy…"

Zeref's eyes snapped to August's face. August nervously glanced away seeing the surprised and paling face. Zeref clutched his jaw and calmly asked, "What did you say?"

August shrunk slightly noticing the firm tone in his voice, "A fairy… I wanted to catch her so she can grant me a wish to make you happy… But she flew to the lower levels and I got too scared. I'm sorry I couldn't get her."

Zeref stared at the boy, he was baffled by what he had said. Zeref narrowed his eyes, Is Mavis trying to reach out to him? Zeref rubbed August's back, he shouldn't get mad at August – but he shouldn't have been so gullible to believe in nonsense like fairies either. "I don't want you going down there."

August gazed up at him in surprise, "But the fairy led me there. I will be braver next time so she can make you happy –."

"No August." Zeref firmly responded. His gaze hardened at the thought of Mavis trying to corrupt August's mind with nonsense fairy tales of fairies granting wishes. Zeref glanced back at August noticing the broken expression on his face. Zeref softened his expression adding, "Don't be silly, a fairy wouldn't make me happy… You are the only thing in this world that brings light into my life. That's the only thing I need." Zeref smiled down at him ruffling his blonde hair to make it stand in crazy angles.

August grins at him and giggled, "Really?!"

Zeref smirked, "Of course." August beamed at him as he stood on Zeref's thighs and reached to mess with his father's hair. Zeref smiled at the playfulness, but his mind was still unsettled by Mavis's attempts to draw August towards her. He was uncertain on her motives and he needed to ensure that August would stay away from the cellars.

After a few moments of giggles and hair pulling, Zeref's hair was a disaster as was August's. Zeref leaned back on the bed frame fiddling with a strand of his son's hair and he came up with an idea. Zeref gave a sideways glance at the dozy toddler, "How about I tell you a story."

August's sleepy eyes seem to gain energy by the words. Zeref never told him a bedtime story, Zeref left the stories for the nanny to tell. Zeref shifted August in his arms allowing his son to sleep on him as Zeref ran his fingers through his blonde locks.

Zeref narrowed his eyes in thought, "This is a story about a dark fairy."

August shifted in Zeref's arms, Zeref leaned forward holding his son's back as August sat to gaze up at him with wide excited eyes. Zeref smirked slightly at the expression, it reminded him of Natsu when he was a child. "Long ago, in a mystic forest there lived the fairies – their wings glittered with magic and they were beautiful. On a night of a full moon one adventurous young fairy wanted to venture into the human world… She wanted to learn the ways to use human magic, for she wanted to get stronger. That night she stumbled upon a wizard, she was in awed by his magic and she convinced him to teach her." Zeref ran his fingers through August's hair sensing the boy was getting tired once more. Zeref peered at the door and he manifested an illusion of himself that crept out of the bedroom, Zeref's eyes glowed red slightly as he turned his eyes back to the sleepy-eyed toddler.

Zeref continued the story, "You see, the wizard was falling in love with the beautiful fairy for she seemed so light and graceful. However, the more he taught her the more she craved." Zeref felt his illusion walk down to the cellars, his blood boiled at the thought of Mavis trying to get her hands on his son. Zeref ran his hand through his son's hair as he watched August fight the urge from falling asleep. Zeref smirked deciding to make the story shorter, "The once light fairy, became so consumed for power her heart became black, and she disregarded the wizard, for he taught her everything he knew – breaking his heart and condemning him to a life of sorrow. The corrupted fairy was banished to the human world, for her power was more human than fairy. To this day the dark fairy dwells in the shadows looking for another light soul to consume…" August heard his father's warning within the story and he sleepily nods as he curled into his father's chest falling soundlessly into sleep.

Zeref frowns closing his eyes as he focused on his illusional self into the cellars…

Zeref opened the steel door to the cellars, the groaning of the door on the stone echoed throughout the dark corridor. His eyes scan the empty cellars walking down towards the end of the hall where the flame lacrimas illuminate part of the eerie atmosphere. Zeref narrowed his eyes sensing a build-up of magical power that influenced his surroundings.

"Murderer!" A shrilling shriek echoed in the darkness, Zeref turned swiftly to his left he was hit to the floor, claws held him down. Zeref stared up at the creature on top of him, he sneered seeing the look of hatred and pain within its green and dead white eyes. He took in the image before him, Mavis was partly decayed, he could sense the magical energy within her, and he realized it was one of the most powerful illusions he had seen from Mavis. Zeref narrowed his eyes wondering what could have caused Mavis to manifest this lively image.

The corpse stared at him seeing the sneer upon Zeref's face, "Why do this to me?! You promised a better future!"

Zeref's eyes widen by its words… It can't be… Zeref chuckled staring deeply into those eyes, "Oh my dear Mavis, look what had become of you!" Zeref mockingly smiled at the corpse – he was pleased that his old Mavis could see what he had done to her.

The corpse screeched at him firmly digging her sharp bony fingers into his flesh. Zeref sneered at her seeing the rage in those eyes, "I did give you a better future. You were practically begging me to pleasure you. You enjoyed it, I made you happy – things only got this drastic once you tried to murder our son."

The corpse cringed at his words, she shook her head not wanting the images to form in her mind. Zeref smirked slightly, "I always wondered what would make this Mavis so bold to try to take August from me, now it all makes sense. I'm curious, what would make you manifest? The old world was destroyed, there shouldn't be any trace…" Zeref's words trailed off as he came to realization to what had created a disturbance in this world.

The corpse smiled seeing Zeref's expression losing its smugness, "It seems August has more potential then you realized. He could make me whole again; I won't let you corrupt me any further."

Zeref grabbed the neck of the corpse, she gasped at the power within it. Zeref stood up prying the claws from him, his eyes grew blood red, "You truly think I have no power against you? This is my domain. I created this world; August is unsure of what the memories he has, and I will protect him from any knowledge of the world you had given me your blessing to destroy. You are unwelcomed here; this Mavis is easily persuadable now please stop meddling in this world's business." Zeref squeezed her neck further, gold dust flaked off the illusion. Zeref's eyes grew more red, "You know I always dreamt of you seeing what I had done to you. The power I have over your life, if you are so persistent to stay, I will have better lock and key on you as I do Zera inside me." Zeref crunched the illusion, shattering her in pieces and absorbed her within him. Zeref felt the rush of emotions and memories running through him as the gold dust evaporated within his skin.

Zeref's eyes scan his surroundings noticing the illusion of the room faded. Mavis was slouched with the chains that held her forward. Her skin was a dead white and sickly looking, her veins and arteries could clearly be mapped out under her pale skin. Zeref narrowed his eyes walking towards the woman, she was crying, terror was in her eyes.

Mavis glanced up seeing him as if for the first time, "Zeref!" She gave him a small desperate smile.

Zeref took in her expression, there was no hate within her. Zeref narrowed his eyes, "Tell me, were you using your illusions to draw August down here to you?"

Mavis's eyes widen, "I didn't want to – the skeleton… she wants August to show me the world."

Zeref narrowed his eyes further, he caressed her cheek and she leaned into his touch. Zeref tilted his head, "What do you want?"

Mavis's eyes widen, she glanced at him desperately, "I—I want you to love me. You loved me once."

Zeref smirked at her desperation, he knew this Mavis couldn't go against him. Maybe it was his old-world Mavis pulling the strings to get August in her clutches. Zeref pulled Mavis off the wall, the chains disappeared from her. Zeref's red eyes searched her as he held her down, "You want nothing from August?"

Mavis struggled under him, "N—no, I only want you."

Zeref narrowed his eyes, she was so desperate to try to appease him. He liked the change of controlling her, maybe it really was the manifest of the old world that influenced Mavis to act against him. Zeref smirked at her, kissing her fully on the mouth – she moaned at the interaction. Zeref's eyes gleamed at her, maybe he can give August that future of having Mavis and him together to raise him. Perhaps it was possible…

Zeref opened his eyes, he put less focus on the acts his illusional self was doing to Mavis. Zeref's eyes narrowed in thought as he stared at his son soundlessly sleeping at Zeref's side. He couldn't shake the feeling of being disturbed of how powerful August's memories can manifest itself into living things. Zeref frowns, No, if that were true there would be many more manifest memories walking about. Zeref narrowed his eyes remembering Mavis thrusting a knife into her belly, she was horrified by the memories August was able to transfer to her. Maybe when he was in her womb a part of the old-world Mavis latched onto this Mavis…

Zeref's attention fell back on the moans, how he easily could keep Mavis at bay especially if the old memories disappeared from her. Zeref was brought back to focus on his body noticing he must have moved to wake August. August rubbed his eyes, "Father?"

Zeref smirked at him apologetically, "I'm sorry to wake you, I have many things on my mind and forgot you were sleeping."

August scooted closer to him, Zeref wrapped his arm around him. August mumbles, "I hope you feel better."

Zeref frowns in confusion, "Why do you insist I don't feel well if I have things on my mind?"

August shrugs and he yawns, "You always… have an upset look in your eyes when you have things on your mind."

Zeref peers down at the toddler seeing him already falling back to sleep. He gazed towards the intimate reunion in the cellar, he was curious if he would need to risk opening that door to allow Mavis to be in August's life. Zeref felt himself finish off Mavis and saw the blissfulness within her expression. He could tell Mavis was so pleased to have him showing some affection to her. However, Zeref narrowed his eyes by the way her eyes seem to look broken, as if she was not fully there. No, he had raised August perfectly fine without her. Mavis didn't need to be involved in his life; his son is perfectly fine without a mother. He feared he must have broken her to no repair with the years of neglect and she must be in no state in mind to care for a child.

August finished his studies early and he roamed the castle in his usual routine. He would visit each servant quarters and learn about their duties and socialize. August left the kitchen happily with a handful of cookies he obtained from the cooking staff. He hummed a tone as he stuffed a cookie in his face. He smiled as he chewed the sugary desserts, he hopped up the stairs, but he heard a girly giggle from below. August frowns, gazing in between the steps trying to find the girl, his eyes widen as blonde hair ran past his view and the sound of giggling came from the floor below.

August smiled, he always hoped there would be more children with new staff. August jumped downstairs trying to find the girl, "Hello?" He whips around as the giggle came from behind him. He smiled seeing the blonde girl hiding next to a bookcase, her green eyes gazed at him warmly.

August blushed, running a hand through his blonde locks, "Hi, I'm August –."

She beams at him, "Let's find the fairy!"

August frowns as the girl fully came out from the bookshelf, the girl was around his age and somehow, she seemed familiar to him. He wondered if he saw her before in the castle, before he asked, she grabbed onto his wrist pulling him with her. August fumbles slightly at her speed, it shocked him by how fast she was without any shoes.

August pulled at his arm to make her let go of him, "I don't want to look for fairies."

The girl peers at him confused, "Why not?"

August frowns as he held his wrist to his chest and massage it, "Because the last time I found a fairy she was a dark one."

The little girl tilted her head, and giggled, "Don't be silly, she's really nice. She's a queen of the fairies, and she needs our help."

The girl reached out for him again August stepped away, "Stop that. I don't want to go."

She frowns at him, "Why don't you want to help her? She's imprisoned by the evil wizard."

August shook his head, "Stop lying I'm not going down there. I had felt a bad presence there, maybe she's the evil one and the wizard is the one protecting everyone from her." August remembered Zeref's story, maybe there was some history behind it and this fairy was the reason for his father's heartbreak.

The little girl scowled at him, "He's lying to you. Evil wizards lie."

August glared at her, "You don't know him. He is a great ruler and people love him."

The girl turned on her heel walking towards the stairs to the cellar, "Then why are you too scared to see if I am lying?"

August's eyes widen at her taunt, "I'm not scared. I just don't want to."

The girl shrugs, "Fine scaredy-cat." She went down the stairs leaving him conflicted.

August frowns and glanced nervously at the staircase then up towards the upper floors knowing his father would be so angry if he found out. August narrowed his eyes I will prove to her that she is wrong about my father. August gulped as he took a step down.

Oh Zeref, you think I'm so ignorant of the torture you put me through… Her green eyes smiled as the little boy nervously followed the little girl. She could sense the magical energy as August nears. Mavis smiles, Don't worry my love, I will uncover our secrets from this other world. I will find a way to make us both happy…

There you have it, things are about to get interesting I would really appreciate suggestions on what you guys think should happen in future chapters so I can implement your ideas to the story. So please review!

Author notes to fans –

cxmgamingKR2: Thank you for reviewing and following! To clarify better from the last chapter "Past Demons" the fairy illusion was hinting as if it were Zera rather than a younger Mavis, for the fairy was described with brown hair and green eyes. However, in this chapter there was a younger version of Mavis so you were half right, no worries. Chapter 7 really look more into Zeref's ideal about Mavis, and I hope this chapter shows more on what he wants with her. Hope you enjoyed this new chapter with more interactions between Zeref and Mavis!

vampirehime92: Mavis really has gone through a lot, and sometimes a girl can just reach to her tipping point… Toddler August is just a cutie but he always finds a way to get into trouble!