Hello, This is my new story Encaged in dark flames. I have started the other stories again as I was not happy with them or the end goal for them. Please note this story is based of a dark romance setting and is recommended for those 18+. Trigger Warnings

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence, Abuse, Strong language, Sexual Scenes.

~Prologue~

Lucy's P.O.V

The uncomfortable and unsettling feeling fluttered around the whole of my stomach like a wounded dove diving into a golden glided cage repeatedly. Which seemed like a very metaphorical expression if it wasn't reflecting the realness of the life I would now come to call my own – only, I was the wounded dove, and this marriage the golden cage. My hand shook whilst interlocked with his rough, steady fingers as the icy wedding band was slipped onto my finger. A platinum band with 20 alternating red and white diamonds – a symbol of his power. The ownership of the inferno salamander.

With one tender stroke, my fingers locked with his and I slowly lifted my gaze to stare into the onyx blackness of his own, but only found the cold, predatory stare of a killer. The tears once more stung at the back of my eyes… not for the beauty of the ring or the supposedly dreamy situation I was presented with, but for the realisation of zero escape. Zero escape from the cards I had been dealt, zero escape from the marriage and zero escape from the brute of a man in front of me. I blinked them back, refusing to show a sign of weakness in-front of him, and to maintain the lie of our wedding in respect for my clan. For others, a wedding meant a marital bond- a unique connection built on the love a couple has for one another. For the shadow of a man across of me, and for myself, it meant an alliance of two groups on opposite sides of the battlefield, coming together to defeat an overpowering and growing enemy.

The typical speech of 'until death do us part' was not an empty sentiment, it was a promise. The only parting from our marriage was through death, as were all marriages under the law of the gangs, amongst other things. Divorce was non-existent and escaping the clutches of my husband would only provoke a vengeance that my family would not survive. I could feel the prickling gazes of hundreds of members of both the zodiac and the dragon gang, watching in calculating stares to find the weaknesses of the other gang and both of us.

I could recall the exact words my father said prior to walking down the aisle.

"You are not marrying for the weakness of love, but for the birth of a strong child, with the expectation of bringing many. As a Heartfilia, this is your duty, to bring in power, one that will shut down the pathetic organizations trying to expand and fight back. As my daughter, you are expected to carry this out and act like the dutiful wife that will pleasure your husband so that you may help us gain insight on the movement of Tartaros".

The words stuck to my core, pinching and tearing at the souls and dreams that once fuelled my hopes until there was only a hardened shell of nothingness. The once starry-eyed girl was replaced by the disciplined daughter of a famous gang boss, and trained into one of manipulation, betrayal and darkness. The grip on my hand had tightened to an almost painful twinge, one that I had almost flinched at whilst hiding from reality in my pre-occupied thoughts.

'Snap out of it Lucy!' I reminded myself, as I remembered I was still within the clutches of a demon. I snapped my glare from his and turned towards the priest who had finished talking at some point whilst I was distracted. With a thoughtful smile, he nodded his head towards each of us, before respectfully staring back towards my husband. Husband... the disgusting word to call this man. He may be my husband to the world around us, but to me, he was nothing but a job, and I for one, would never see him as a husband.

"You may kiss the bride," the priest said. I turned back towards Natsu robotically, my head held high in confidence and my gaze zeroing on his in a deadly sneer. Something ticked in his jaw, and his own onyx eyes hardened, flames flickering behind the black. He slowly lifted his hand up, brushing his fingers attentively against the base of my throat, up the column with a barely noticeable squeeze and to my chin – lifting it up higher in a firm grip. He lowered his head down to fill the 5-inch difference. Thankfully, the heels had taken an extra 2 inches away from the height difference.

'Apparently, you don't like it when someone isn't shuddering beneath your gaze.' I taunted in my own mind, feeling a sense of achievement from the new-found confidence within me. It was no secret that we despised each other with a passion, after all, our gangs were enemies after the dragon clan had broken our truce 16 years ago. Besides that, our hatred for one was personal, as I was the reason for the bullet scar in his shoulder, and he was the reason for the stab wound to my thigh.

Natsu leaned his lips towards my cheek with a cruel smile, his hot breath playing along the lobe of my ear causing a hitch in mine "I guess it's time to kiss, Luigi". I parted my lips to respond with a very colourful word to the nickname, but strong lips pressed against mine in a hungry manner, and I was left staring wide-eyed before I jammed my own shut. My hand lifted in an automatic response of a slap, but instead I grabbed onto his black suit to play the light-headed role of the dutiful wife, swallowing down the urge to be sick as he deepened the kiss. His strong arms wrapped around my waist in a possessive manner before releasing me and my tingling lips a moment later.

His fiery onyx eyes bore into mine, and I felt my knees threaten to buckle below me. He once again moved to whisper in my ear, his breath hot and numbing and his voice a low-husky sound. I was surprised I could hear it over the violent thumping of my own fear washing over me in a deadly wave. "I'm going to enjoy taking my time breaking you"