Warning attempted sexual assault in this chapter.
As the days went on, little by little Elkis tried her best to bond with her foster children but it was very difficult. Greige at least tried to be civil with her but Nasha was especially stubborn. No matter what attempt Elkis made to make their relationship better Nasha would just shoot her down. And she didn't just do it to Elkis she did it to Greige too. The boy had tried on several occasions to befriend her but she only brushed him aside or just ignored him. It was like the child absolutely refused to form any kind of relationship with anyone.
Not sure what else to do she decided to call that therapist Juvina had mentioned, hoping that maybe he could help her figure out what kind of emotional issues Nasha and Greige had. But before doing that she wanted to make sure that he was reliable and not a quack especially considering she had never met him or even seen him. According to Juvina, Gazeel Redfox the school janitor was a former patient of his so she decided to speak with him on the subject.
"What happened between me and the doc is strictly private sister." He said gruffly when she asked him about it. "In other words it's none of your business."
He was a very rude and grumpy man who had a very short temper. He had been known to start fights and cause trouble which was why he had to see a therapist in the first place. A lot of people in town didn't like him but apparently Juvina was a good friend of his and the local children adored him. Of course why that was, no one knew. After all he didn't exactly seem friendly.
"I'm not asking you to tell me what you talked about with Dr. Fernandes I just want to know if he's a good therapist." She said. "Like did he really try to help you or did he just say what you wanted to hear or did he just come up with some nonsense?"
"Why do you want to know this?"
"I'm sure Juvina has told you about the two children in my care."
"She's mentioned it a couple times."
"The thing is I'm having some troubling bonding with them and I think they may have some emotional problems."
"They're orphans. Of course they have emotional problems."
"Well I figured if I knew what those problems were then maybe I could help them and form a better relationship."
"You think they might be psycho or something?"
"No. Not everyone who sees a therapist is psychopathic though in your case..." She trailed off with a grin.
"Oh ha-ha. Very funny." He said with an unamused look. "You sound just like that pharmacist who likes to piss me off every chance he gets."
"Could you just tell me if it's a good idea for me to call Dr. Fernandes or not?"
"Fine. To tell you the truth sister I only went to see him because Detective Fullbuster got a court order insisting that I do so or I would go to jail for assault. I went to the doc thinking he was just going to judge me or or make my personal stuff public or make me sound crazy but honestly he really helped me."
"He did?"
"Yeah. He actually listened to what I had to say and he never judged me. He gave me some good advice on how to deal with my anger and he never told a single soul anything that I said during our sessions."
"So I can count on him to really help me with the kids?"
"Yes."
"Alright then. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you for your help Mr. Redfox."
"Whatever. Now if you'll excuse me I have a hallway to mop."
After that Elkis looked up Dr. Fernandes's number in the phone book and gave him a call.
"Yes is this Dr. Fernandes?" She asked over the phone when the person on the other end of the line picked up. "Oh good. Hello I'm Elkis Scarlet I live here in Edolas and I've recently become the foster parent of two children who I believe may have some issues emotionally. I was wondering if maybe I could schedule an appointment with you...Oh yes Friday of next week would be perfect, how much do you charge per session?...Huh that's a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be. Now tell me where I can find your office?...On the other side of town okay. I'll see you then Dr. Fernandes. Goodbye."
She hung up the phone and then went into the kitchen to get started on dinner. She had just gotten out her pots and pans when there was a knock at the front door. She went to answer and on the other side there stood Lusha.
"Mayor Heartfilia?" The red head said in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry for the unscheduled visit." She said. "It's just that over the past few days since they've been here I realized that I haven't introduced myself to the two new residents of our little town."
"You mean the kids I'm looking after?"
"Yes. I wanted to give them a proper welcome to Edolas."
"Oh...Well that's very nice of you to offer but perhaps you should do that another day. Right now they're both busy with their homework."
Along with trying to better her relationship with Greige and Nasha, Elkis had also tried to recall certain events she believed had taken place. Such as when she started living in Edolas, when she met some of the people here, when Lusha was elected mayor. But try as she might she just couldn't remember any of those events happening and it worried her. Also it made her very suspicious.
"Mayor Heartfilia may I ask you something?"
"What?"
"When were you elected mayor?"
"January 12th of last year."
Elkis tried to remember what happened on that day but she couldn't. She couldn't remember what she did or any announcements that were made in regards to who was the new mayor.
"And when was the election?"
"Idiot you know when that was!" Lusha snapped.
"No. As a matter of fact I don't."
"Ugh. It was January 9th of last year."
Again Elkis tried to remember what she did on the date Lusha had spoken of. She tried to remember voting for Lusha or anyone else but like before she couldn't.
"And who was running against you?"
"Why are you asking me all these ridiculous questions?"
Elkis wasn't sure how to answer that because the last thing she wanted to do was give Lusha an excuse to have her committed.
"No reason." She lied. "Just trying to make conversation I guess."
"Well asking questions that you already know the answer to is a rather foolish and frustrating way to start a conversation."
"Good point. I won't do it again. So I'll talk to you later then?"
"I suppose. Are you sure I can't see the children now?"
"Again I think it would be best if you did that another time. Have a good night Mayor Heartfilia."
Elkis politely closed the door and went back to getting dinner ready while pondering what she should do about her apparent amnesia on certain events in her life.
...
There were no appropriate words could to describe how Erza felt about the clothes she was wearing. It was a common peasant dress but it came with a corset that squeezed her waste so tightly and allowed her bosom to be puffed out. The top part of the dress was cut low to show a little cleavage and the skirt was hiked up slightly to give her legs some exposure. It was disguise for when she would try to pass herself off as someone who worked at the pub that her map led her to. But apparently no one would believe she worked there if she didn't fit the role of the attractive and flirty serving wench.
"I look ridiculous." She said to her reflection in the nearest looking glass she could find. "But hopefully convincing."
She took out the small bottle of what Lucy had said was a potion that would strip away magic and hid it in her dress pocket. She then went into the tavern and none of the people who worked there seemed to care when she started handing out mugs of beer to customers. Customers who were definitely not appealing to her. They were all dirty, drunk men who had poor hygiene, yellow teeth, greasy hair, and a God forsaken body odor. A few times she had to hold her nose and hold back the bile that threatened to rise up from her stomach and into her throat. If all the men who came to this tavern were like this then Natsu must've been the most the repulsive and ghastly looking man alive.
"He's probably worse than that beast Gray." She thought to herself.
"Another round wench!" She heard one drunkard demand to her. He was big, burly, and quite unsightly.
"Coming."
Erza filled a mug of beer and brought it over to the table where he sat. He placed the mug on the table and turned to leave but the man grabbed her by the arm.
"May I help you?" She asked.
"You're not like the other bimbos here." He slurred.
"Excuse me?"
"You're probably a lot sweeter and softer than all the other tramps here."
His words made her want to gag.
"I need to get back to work." She tried to pull her arm out of his grip.
"I didn't say you could leave."
"Too bad because I'm leaving now."
But instead of releasing her he grabbed her roughly by her hair and threw her on to the table. Beer spilled on her and the hard wood she felt when she was slammed against it bruised her skin. He still held on to her hair and pinned her by her stomach.
"Let go of me!" She cried.
"In a minute." He said. "After I'm done with you."
Her heart stopped when she realized what he had in mind. She struggled and desperately tried to get up but it was like she couldn't move. She looked around for anyone who would have to morality to come to her aid but none of the other men and women there would lift a finger to help her. They either looked away and pretended that it wasn't happening or they just watched with grins of sick and disgusting amusement.
Poor Erza couldn't breathe. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so frightened and just as the man moved to touch the skirt of her dress something grabbed him by his throat and slammed his face against the wall several times.
"No! Stop! Please!" The drunkard cried.
"Funny how you're begging me to stop harming you when this poor young woman did the same thing yet you ignored her pleas." The voice of the man who had assualted him.
Erza got up from the table and saw that her savior was a young man. One with salmon hair, handsome features, and branding a sword which he now held to the drunk man.
"Apologise to this woman and I will spare your pathetic life." The salmon haired hero demanded..
"Alright! Alright! I'm sorry!" He blubbered.
The younger man dropped him which made him lose consciousness. He then turned his attention to Erza who was stunned with what just happened.
"Are you alright?" He asked her.
At the moment she was completely speechless and
could only nod. He took notice of the scrapes and bruises on her body which was also sticky from the beer that had been spilled on to her.
"Do you have anywhere to stay tonight Miss?" He asked her.
She shook her head.
"If you'd like I could take you back to where I live. So you can clean yourself up and get some sleep."
Erza wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go anywhere with this man who she just met but then again he did just save her from being defiled and she was in shock so she ended up nodding.
She got her things and he helped her on to his horse which they rode to where he was staying. It was a simple farm house. Very small and humble but warm and welcoming.
"My mother is away right now so you can stay in her room tonight." He told her. "I'll give you some of her clothes to wear. She won't mind I promise you."
"Thank you." She said.
"So you can talk." He joked. "And here I thought you were mute."
She giggled at his comment. Once inside the house, Erza cleaned herself and changed into the clothes he had given her. Once cleaned and dressed, the man gave her some stew to eat. It was very good and it was just what Erza needed because she was starving.
"Thank you for saving me and for the food and clothes." She said.
"You're welcome. Glad I could help. But if I may ask what were you doing working at that place? You seem too nice to be working in that rat hole."
"I'm very poor and desperate for work." Technically not a lie but it wasn't the reason she was there. "What about you? Why do you drink there? You're a decent man and if I'm not mistaken that place is filled with thugs and other low lifes."
"Yes a lot of disgusting people go there to drink but they don't always just drink there. Sometimes they like to beat up and/or violate those who are unlucky enough to gain their attention. And since there are very few moral people in that tavern I figured that I might as well be the one to stop them from doing something deplorable."
"That's very noble of you."
"Oh I'm not noble. I'm just doing what's right and in that situation it's making sure that no one innocent is harmed."
"Well if you ask me that's very noble. There aren't a lot of people who think like that around here." She said. "By the way sir I never got your name."
"I'm Natsu."
The minute he said those two words Erza became completely stiff. Did she hear right? His name was Natsu? He was that Natsu. The one who was terrorizing Lucy and her kingdom? The unfeeling murderer?
"You're... You're who?"
"I'm Natsu." He said. "And I know who you are...Erza and I know the real reason why you were in that tavern."
Erza felt the fear in her heart return.
"How..." She said as she started to become to scared to speak properly.
"Someone tipped me off. I know you've been sent to kill me by Lucy but I can't let you do that."
Kill? She wasn't here to kill him but now that he knew what she was up to she would probably have to do whatever it took to get away. Her eyes moved toward his sword which lay discarded on the floor. He followed her gaze and before he could even move she grabbed one of her arrows and stabbed it into his hand.
He let out a cry of pain and clutched his hand. She then got up from her chair and turned the table over before running out of the house. She didn't know where she was going or what she was going to do all she knew was she had to get away from this man because she was sure that if he caught her she would die. However due to the darkness of the night and her haste to get away she did not see that she was running straight for a cliff.
She ran right off the edge and fell down ward. She screamed and quickly clung to some strong stones and roots that were sticking out. She was dangling 50 feet from the ground so if she let go then it would be the end of her. She tried to climb back up but she couldn't get a proper footing. Was this it for her? Was she going to eventually lose her grip and fall to her death? No. No it can't be. Not when she's finally broken free if her mother's restraints and started living her life the way she wanted.
"Grab on!"
She looked up and saw Natsu leaning over the edge, reaching both his hands toward her. One of which was bleeding from her arrow attack.
"What?!" She cried.
"Grab my hands! I'll pull you up!" He told her.
He wasn't serious. He wasn't really going to help her. He was probably going to drop her once she grabbed on. After all why would a psycho murderer save someone he believed was trying to kill him?
"Why should I believe you?!" She asked. "How do I know you won't drop me?!"
"Let me put it this way, what choice do you have?"
He had a point. Her only alternative was to just hung there until her strength gave in. Unable to think of any other way that would ensure she would livliveed on to his uninjured hand.
"Good now grab the other one." He said.
"But your other hand is hurt." She protested.
"I don't care! I won't die from a hand injury! Now hurry!"
She grabbed the bleeding hand with her other one. She saw him seethe from the pain of her gripping it but instead of letting go of her he just bit his lip and pulled her upward. It took a few minutes but he managed to get her back on top.
"Oh God my hand is throbbing." He said clutching his hand again once she was safe. "I am definitely going to need some stitches."
Once again Erza looked at him stunned. He saved her. He saved her life even though she had attacked him and according to him tried to kill him. If he was a dangerous killer like Lucy said then why would he do that?
"You saved me." She said.
"Yeah I did."
"Why?"
"Why? What do you mean why? You would have died if I hadn't of."
"But you...You thought that I was going kill you and you... Weren't you going to kill me?"
"Is that why you stabbed me with that arrow? No I wasn't going to kill you. I don't like to kill. I only do it if I have to."
"I don't understand. I...I was told that you were a murderer. That you killed innocent people and that you wouldn't stop until Princess Lucy agreed to marry you."
"Is that what she told you? Wow she's sunk pretty low. I mean I can understand why she wants me dead and but she could at least be honest about why she wants me dead."
"You mean she really did lie to me?"
She thought back to what Gray had told her. About how Natsu was really a hero and that she was tricking her into poisoning him. That she only befriended her to use her to dirty work. Erza didn't want to believe that Lucy was capable of something so horrible but apparently she didn't know her so called friend as much as she thought.
"I'm afraid so." Natsu said. "Though she's not entirely unjustified in wanting me dead."
"What do you mean?"
"It's nothing. Just know that Lucy despite her deception is a very damaged person and that she feels unwanted and unloved. And when a person feels like that they will do some very immoral things."
"Are you...Are you not angry with her for trying to kill her?"
"No I'm not angry with her. In fact I would like to let you kill me because it would bring her happiness or so she thinks but there's something I have to do."
"And what's that?"
"I can't say but until that's done I have to stay alive."
Erza was confused. Confused and betrayed. Why had Lucy lied to her about this? And why did she want an innocent man dead? And why couldn't she do it herself? Why did she have to trick someone else into doing it like a coward? Why did she use her like this? How could she do such a thing?
