Gray and Juvia went back to the bottom of the clock tower to find that Natsu had successfully staked all the dead bodies that could possibly come back as vampires.
"I heard a loud ruckus from upstairs and I see that Gray's not wearing a shirt. I'm guessing something happened where you had to go full devil?" Natsu said.
"There was pure blood vampire on the top floor, undoing the seal couldn't be avoided." Gray said. "By the way apparently this was no random attack."
"What do you mean?"
"Son of a bitch killed all these people as a way to draw you out."
"Me? Why?"
"I have no idea. Tell me do you know this creep?" Gray asked holding up the severed head of the vampire he had killed. Lucy and Juvia both screamed in terror.
"Women." Natsu scoffed, feeling irritated by their screaming.
"Why do you have a head?!" Lucy cried.
"So Natsu could identify him." Gray said. "So what do you say bat brain? Recognize this freak from anywhere?"
"No. Can't say I have."
"In that case just burn his head along with the rest of his body." Gray said handing the head to Natsu. "I'm going to call Erza."
"Right." Natsu said.
Gray stepped out of the clock tower to find the nearest place that had a phone line.
"Wouldn't Gray be the one to set the body on fire?" Lucy asked. "I mean aren't devils typically associated with fire and brimstone?"
"Only the ones that were once human and are currently rotting in hell. Also Gray has a thing about fire, he can't even bring himself to look at it."
"Why?"
"Let's just say it brings back bad memories."
Without another word Natsu went upstairs alone where he would burn both the head and body of the vampire that Gray had slain. Lucy and Juvia stayed behind on the bottom, not sure that either of them would be much help in setting a body on fire.
"So..." Lucy said to Juvia, trying to break the awkward silence. "Did you see him in his full devil form?"
"Yes." She answered.
"What did he look like? Was he scary? Was he ugly? Was he disgusting?"
"He was scary." Juvia admitted. "But he wasn't ugly or disgusting at all. In fact the strange thing was, I wasn't frightened of him."
"Really? You weren't scared at all."
"No. It was so weird. Usually the very minute I recognize a devil I become so terrified I can't breathe but him... There's no fear. It's like I already knew he wouldn't harm me."
"Typical, you can always see the good in everyone. Even in devils."
"Well I try to but there isn't always good in everyone. Hence why I keep a gun with me." She said pulling her weapon out.
"You know it's amazing how you can go from holier than thou and gun slinger in just two seconds."
"Can't help it. That's how I was raised though I'm sure that if anyone from the church knew I was helping a devil they would be quite cross."
"I know for a fact that my father must never know of this."
"In a sense doesn't he already know that you're family is at least involved with vampires."
"Right now I don't know what he knows but until I figure out what's really going on in my family I want to keep this from him."
"I won't breathe a word ofthis to him or anyone else in your household."
"Thanks."
Meanwhile on the other side of town Erza was on the phone, listening to Gray's report on how things went at the clock tower.
"So he's been desposed of?" She said over the phone. "Good. Anything else to report?...I see...We'll discuss this when I return...See you tonight."
She then hung up and made her way to the meeting that was being held. It was the members of bureau and they would be discussing certain matters regarding the bureau. .
Upon entering the room where the meeting was being held, an old man who was in the room gave her his most loving smile. It was Makarov Dreyar the head of the bureau and the closest thing Erza had to a parent since the death of her mother.
"Hello Erza." He greeted.
"Hello Makarov." She said with an equally loving smile.
"How are you my dear?"
"I am well but I do wish that we didn't need to do this meeting."
"I know but it's required and I fear that the odds may not be in your favor."
"Nevertheless I shall have my say."
The two then sat down at a table to talk with the other members which included Makarov's grandson Laxus.
"So are we all in agreement that something must be done about this man?" A member called Jura Neekis asked.
"He's a quack!" Laxus spoke. "I say we cut all ties with him and send him to the nearest looney bin."
"How dare you say such things about him!" Erza replied. "You don't even know him."
"I know him enough to know that he's insane."
"Miss Scarlet you do understand that Dr. Fernandes is guilty of grave robbing and doing illegal experiments." Jura said.
"His methods are unorthodox but he's a brilliant man with a good heart." Erza said. "I do believe that he should receive some retribution for what he's done but he's never harmed anyone. Surely we don't have to be so severe with him."
"I agree and I've spoken with the young man." Makarov said. "He's agreed to take responsibility for his actions."
"I suppose we can work something out so long as he never does anything like this again." Jura said. "Does everyone else agree?"
The other members minus Laxus nodded in agreement.
"Then this meeting is finished."
"You can't honestly believe that he won't try this crap again!" Laxus objected. "He's a mad man!"
"Laxus that is enough." Makarov said strictly. "This matter has been settled."
With that said everyone was dismissed from the board room.
"Thank you for speaking on his behalf Makarov." Erza said. "I'm not sure if everyone would have agreed with me if you hadn't of said anything."
"Just be grateful that they don't know about your engagement to the doctor otherwise they would have found my choice to be biased."
Erza looked at Makarov shocked and fearfully. Surprised by his knowledge of her relationship to the doctor.
"How did-"
"I found the ring on your desk during my last visit." He told her. "If I'm not mistaken that ring belonged to his grandmother and he always said that there was only one other woman he could allow to wear that ring. You. So is my hypothesis correct?"
Erza sighed before speaking.
"Yes. Jellal proposed to me a month ago and I accepted. But we've agreed not to wed until our work is finished. Please don't tell anyone about this."
"Calm yourself, I would never give away such knowledge without your consent though I must say I am deeply hurt that you chose not to disclose this information to me."
"Forgive me. I was afraid you would be upset. I know you always found him to be very strange."
"Strange yes but I could picture no other man being your husband besides him."
Erza smiled, feeling relived that he had accepted her engagement.
"So do those two dunderheads know the good news?"
"No. Not yet. You know how they are on the subject of love. They both think it's a waste of time but if you ask me I think it's because they both had girl trouble in the past."
"What gives you that idea?"
"They both talk in their sleep. They've both mentioned a woman's name and it's always the same name."
"Did you ever talk to them about it?"
"Tried it once or twice but they both say it's none of my business. It's kind of hurtful that we've known each other for all this time and they still don't want to open up to me. I know that they've been through a lot, they're centuries old and God knows what they've seen. I just wish that they could feel comfortable enough to tell me how they feel."
"They're men Erza and since when do men talk about how they feel?"
"Men or not it would be much healthier for them to talk about all these negative emotions instead of keeping them bottled up."
"Oh Erza." Makarov chuckled while shaking his head. "How little you understand a man's pride. But you'll be happy to know this my dear. They love you."
"What?"
"It's true. They may not always show it but I can tell that they both love you a great deal. Even back then when you were a little girl constantly bossing them around they still loved you so very much. I found it to be quite astonishing really. That a vampire and a devil could both love a human child."
"I really hope that's how they feel about me because I love them too. That's why I don't want to discourage Jellal from his work despite how unorthodox it is."
"What do you mean?"
"Jellal believes that he can restore their humanity. He's working on a tonic that when injected into the blood stream it can purify any unholy D.N.A that's in their system. If Jellal really can come up with this cure I plan to give it to them when this whole war is over."
"I don't mean to discourage you Erza but such a thing sounds impossible. Don't you think it would be kind of cruel to give them false hope if it turns out he can't do it?"
"Of course. That's why I've decided not to tell them about it until I know for sure that it works. But Makarov just imagine what we could do if Jellal can actually create this. We wouldn't have to kill vampire victims to keep them from becoming monsters. We could just restore them to their human selves."
"It sounds like a miracle and miracles are so very hard to come by."
"But not impossible. I believe that if anyone can pull this off then it's Jellal. He's genius. A slightly unhinged genius from time to time but a genius no less."
"I'm sure your undying faith in him makes him feel such love and assurance. I will pray that he can perform such a miracle but don't get your hopes up. He's not the first person to try to find a cure for vampirism. Archibald Heartfilia spent his entire life trying to find a cure."
"Still I believe that he can do it."
"Again I'll pray that he does."
"Thank you Makarov. I must go now but I'll talk to you again soon."
"Until then, good luck Erza."
"Good luck to you too and Makarov."
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to know, you're coming to the wedding right?"
"Nothing could stop me from being there."
"Good because I can't think of anyone else to give me away."
He smiled and she kissed his cheek before leaving.