Standing By

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 14

After hours of walking around town. Hermione and Lucy found their way home. Putting away clothes. They decided after being out and about. They would have dinner at home.

They managed a quick chicken salad and ate at the table. After they ate, Hermione felt something was in the woods behind the house. Urging her to go there. But she was just too tired to talk to him.

'Tomorrow, I'll talk to you, tomorrow.' After a moment, the feeling of going there was gone. Leaving her to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Lucy had gone to her desk to write. While Hermione sat at the couch to read. After a good two hours, a knock was sounded at the door. Causing the two to stop what they were doing and went to the door.

Once there, they saw a couple of rocks with a tied note on one of them. The two looked at each other with worry. Before Lucy grabbed for the note to read it. A gasp left her lips, before handing Hermione the note, and rushed into the house.

With a worried look, Hermione read the note.

We have those that you call Richard and Angel. We want to meet up at where it all began. Go ahead and bring your friends to the party. It wouldn't matter.

1135

After Hermione was done reading, Lucy came back. "We're advised to stay here. Gajeel will be showing up to take us to the guild in the morning. Then we'll come up with a game plan to deal with this."

Hermione took one more look from the door. Before closing. Hoping that, whoever had left the message, wasn't staying around.

'Cobra!' She called with her soul. 'Don't you and Midnight be alone right now! There was a bad message for you guys!'

'We won't,' she heard and felt from her soul. 'Staying at the guild.' Then it was gone. Leaving the feeling of fear and alone.

Hermione had never felt so alone with herself. Not after having a connection like that. A connection with her soul, with another living person. It felt warm and raw-truthful. The kind that it could never lie to you or hurt you.

The two girls had gone to bed. Wishing that tomorrow was there.

Cobra, true to his word, was at the guild with Midnight, as well as, the rest of Team Natsu. It was enough of a headache to see Jellal there in the shadows. Leaving Erza, who loudly told people the game plan.

"We should bring Lucy and Hermione in to talk about this?"

"No," growled Cobra. "They are asleep, and should need what little rest they can get!"

Natsu glared at him, "Luce isn't yours to worry about!"

"Nor is she yours. But Hermione is mine to worry about," he bit back.

Gray huffed, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "He has a point, Natsu."

"Shut up, Gray, who asked you?" Natsu marched his way to him, before trying to hit him. Only for Erza to come and hit him over his head.

"Anyone else," she asked out loud. Hoping to hit another person.

Midnight, after being knocked out for most of the day. Sat up like a well-behaved young man. "We should plan who they would be working with."

"No," growled Cobra with heat in his eyes. "Whoever is behind it, had already tried to harm Hermione but failed. They know where the girls live. That is enough to leave them out of it."

Midnight turned to him with worry in his eyes. "That may be true. But Hermione is your mate. What better place for her to be, but your side. Otherwise, you'll go into a blind rage and then kill people. Our friends are in there, you are going to end up killing them."

Natsu spoke up from the floor. "I am sad to have to agree with Midnight, Cobra. You're going to have her at your side."

"Along with me," hissed Midnight with determination in his voice. "Someone has to be there to protect you two."

Natsu grumbled, "Gajeel wouldn't let me team up with them."

"No, I wouldn't." Gajeel grumbled at him. "I think Bunny Girl would want to team up with her new friend."

Erza nodded, "Agreed. Which will mean Gray, Natsu, Happy, Jellal and I, in another team."

Master Makarov nodded from the bar. "That would be good. Teams of five should help, not knowing what you'll be facing."

Laxus spoke up from the second floor. "How about my team come in with Wendy, as medical and support. Ya never know what could go wrong."

"Yes," Makarov nodded his head. "I think we have a game plan. The rest will follow an hour after Laxus' team. By that time, we should have an idea of what we're facing."

Cobra knew enough not to argue with the guild master of Fairy Tail. Not just because he knew it to be pointless. But knew that he was going to need the help. He had another person to think about, his mate.

Gajeel made his way next to him and sat down. "Your mate isn't mad or angry with you."

"Then why was she upset?"

Gajeel turned to look into his eyes. "For you, Bunny Girl, and your friends. You, mainly, because she could easily feel how close she may have never met you. Or worse, you died because of it."

Cobra growled softly. "Then why hasn't she talked to me. Hell, I can hardly hear her soul."

Gajeel shrugged his shoulders. "Just know that she's angry with herself for crying all the time."

Midnight looked at the two of them, shaking his head. "Remind me to never love someone. It was hard enough to see your girl cry."

Cobra turned to him with an evil grin. "Fate, Karma, have the same twisted sense of humor, Macbeth. Meaning, when you do find your love, it will hit you like a raging dragon. And there will be nothing you can do about it."

Gajeel chuckled, "I can't wait for that to happen."