It had become much darker by the time they arrived at the abandoned monastery or so it seemed. Stepping inside of places like these made Natsu feel very uncomfortable because it reminded him of the life he had before becoming a vampire. He grown up in a monastery raised by the head monk Vahan who had taken him in. Natsu was still just a boy when his father Igneel and mother Grandeeney were killed by the dreaded Emperor Mard Geer who then made the child a slave to him. When he was six years old, a rescue force led by Vahan killed Mard and freed him. With no where else to go Vahan decided to raise him alongside his other foster son Gray who he had raised since birth.
He wouldn't admit it but those were happy times. Just two carefree boys who spent their days playing and learning their lessons. Completely innocent with no selfish or wicked desire in their entire body. How quickly that was all shattered once the war started. That war and the torture he suffered after it destroyed all the goodness inside of him, leaving him to be a withered husk of anger and vengeance. Ever since then violence and blood shed seemed to be the only thing that made him feel truly alive.
"Are you alright?" Lucy asked. She had noticed the distressed look on Natsu's face.
"I'm fine." He said. "I just don't like monasteries."
"Well I have to admit abandoned ones like these are pretty creepy."
"It kind of reminds me of home." Gray said. "Granted there weren't as many leaks, cracks, rats, and spider webs."
"I wonder why this place was abandoned to begin with." Lucy said.
"Maybe the building just got too old and drafty." Gray suggested.
"This Father Redfox guy must be crazy for coming here every night." Natsu said.
"Where have I heard that?" Gray wondered.
"Heard what?" Natsu asked.
"That name. Redfox. I swear I know that name but I just can't remember who it belongs to."
"Hold on do you know this guy?"
"I don't think so but his name keeps rattling around in my head."
"Where is he anyway?" Lucy asked. "I thought he was supposed to be here tonight."
"Maybe he's on to us." Natsu said.
"And how would he know that? We just found out about him today."
Natsu spotted a book. She bent over to pick up and tried to read it unfortunately all the words were written in ancient Latin.
"Can anyone here read Latin?"
"I can." A voice said. All eyes turned toward a man who stood at the end of the a hall. A large bulky man wearing grey cassock, grey pants, black boots, a black shirt, and a gold cross around his neck. His hair was as black as Gray's but wild and spikey like. He proceeded to walk toward them in a very slow like manner. "In fact that book belongs to me. Would you mind returning it?"
Once he was close enough, Natsu handed him the book back.
"Thank you. Now then what are you three doing here?"
"We're looking for Father Redfox." Natsu said. "We were told that he has been visiting this place every night recently. Are you him?"
"I am. What do you want me for?"
"We'd like for you to answer some questions for us. You'll have to come with us back to our organization."
"Is that right?" He stuck his book back into his pocket and then pulled something out of it. "I'm very sorry but I can't go with you."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't go anywhere with monsters."
He opened up his hand to reveal that what he had pulled out of his pocket was a small mirror which he held up to Natsu, revealing that he had no reflection. Then before any of them could even react he threw a blade right into Natsu's shoulder. He let out a piercing hiss and fell backwards on to the floor.
"Natsu!" Lucy screamed in terror.
"Blessed blades." The priest said. "A perfect weapon to use when taking out unholy scum like you. You won't die yet because it didn't strike your heart. You know it still amazes me that your kind even has a heart."
"Natsu are you alright?" Lucy cried running to his side.
"Don't worry about me." He said. "That was just a scratch."
"It's been a while since I've had a good hunt." The priest said cracking his knuckles. "Taking out a vampire and a devil in the same night. I'm going to enjoy this."
"How...How do you know what we are?" Natsu asked.
"As a first class exorcist it's my job to know what's human and what's not the very moment it comes near."
"You're an exorcist?" Gray said.
"Indeed I am you bloody dog of Satan and neither you or that bat from hell will leave here alive."
His movements were so fast. He flung three more of those blades right into Gray. One hit his stomach, the other hit his leg, and the third him right in the chest but missed his heart. Like Natsu he fell to the floor but lost consciousness.
"That was almost too easy." He walked toward Gray's body and prepared to give the killing blow.
Acting fast Natsu stood up, grabbed the end of the blade, and pulled it out of his shoulder which caused him a lot of pain and a lot of blood to flow out of his system. Then he pulled out a pistol which he fired at Father Redfox's arm. He turned away from Gray and looked at Natsu.
"So you're still able to move. I'm impressed."
"You impress me too Father. With your bravery. Most exorcists wouldn't attack a vampire head on at night."
"And most vampires wouldn't dare set foot in a holy place."
"Lucy." Natsu said to the blonde.
"Yes?" She replied shaking.
"Get down and cover your head."
"What about him?" She said looking over at Gray.
"He'll be fine. You let me worry about him and focus on keeping yourself safe."
"Alright."
Lucy got down and ducked under a nearby table while covering her head with her hands.
"You need not worry about the woman." Father Redfox said. "I don't harm human bystanders even they have been corrupted by your kind."
"How considerate of you Father but I didn't tell her to do it because of you." He pulled out a second pistol. "I did it because there's no insurance of where my bullets will go."
He started shooting off left and right at the priest only for him to dodge each bullet and move to stab him with the blessed blades. They were both formidable fighters especially Father Redfox. He was equal to both Natsu and Gray in strength, speed, agility, and cunning. Neither one of them had ever met a human so advanced in fighting and skill. Natsu wondered if this man even was human. No he was human alright. Natsu could tell by the scent of the priest's blood that was dripping out of his wound but this human was unlike any that he had seen before.
The fight seemed like it was going on for hours. Lucy being their only spectator couldn't tell which one had the better chance at winning. Bullets and blades were flying all around the area. Each one missing it's intended target. But eventually, due to the large amount of blood loss Natsu started to slip up a little. One of the blades hit him the head and about six more got him in the back. The pain and loss of blood was becoming too much. He fell forward, unable to move and could only lie there.
"What a proud day this is for me." Father Redfox said feeling victorious. "I've taken down many devils and a few vampires but never both at the same time. I'm really going to savor cutting off your head and disintegrating his heart."
Lucy couldn't move. She felt that she should do something but was too afraid and too in shock to do anything. It was like in that moment she had become paralyzed. As the priest drew closer to Natsu's body she felt her heart beating so much faster. What could she do? What was she supposed to do? Why couldn't she move? Oh why was she so worthless? Why couldn't she ever make her body do what she wanted?
"Rest in pieces vampire!" But just as his blade was about to decapitate Natsu...
SLAP!
A hand had struck him right across his face causing him to cease cutting. That hand belonged to a very upset Juvia who had just appeared out of no where.
"Gajeel you drop that blade right now!" She said sternly. At once the blade immediately fell from his hands and to the floor.
"Juvia." He said starting to sweat. "What are you doing here?"
"Stopping you from making a very big mistake." She then looked over at Natsu and Gray. "Oh Good Lord what did you do to them?! Are they dead?!"
"Not yet."
"Remove those blades immediately!"
"What?! Are you crazy?! They're a vampire and a devil!"
"And they're also my friends."
"Come again?"
"They're my friends and I would appreciate it if you would not kill them and remove the blades from their bodies."
"You're friends with a dog and a bat of Lucifer?!"
"I wouldn't exactly refer to them as that but sort of. It's not what you think Gajeel and I'll explain everything but first can you undo all this. Please?"
"No way! These two are monsters!"
"Undo it NOW!" She demanded angrily.
Gajeel huffed in frustration.
"Fine."
Without another word he removed his blades from both Natsu and Gray. Natsu had passed out but Gray was starting to regain consciousness.
"Okay that really hurt." He groaned.
"Are you okay?" Juvia asked as she helped him to his feet.
"Juvia? When did you get here?"
"Erza brought me over."
"Am I dead?"
"No. Come on let's get you and Natsu back to the organization."
"Are we outside? Because I see stars."
He passed out again.
"Oh dear! I'm so sorry Gray."
"Hold up what do you say his name was?" Gajeel asked.
"Gray. Gray Fullbuster."
He grabbed hold of Gray's unconscious head and examined his face. Staring at him as he was trying to figure out if he was someone he knew.
"You." He whispered upon recognizing him.
"Gajeel what's wrong?" Juvia asked.
"Nothing. Get him out of here."
"Will you help me? He's heavy."
"Alright." He huffed again. "Give me his legs."