Sands of Change
Lady Countryrose
Ch. 16
At the park, Hermione found a place to sit by the stream. Soaking her bare feet in the cool water. She heard someone sitting down, some few feet from behind her.
"Have I haunted your dreams, as much as you've haunted mine?" A deep voice carried to her ears. "You were gone for a month. This is a new low of torture."
Hermione sighed, "It wasn't really my fault. I had a Dragon to teach me my magic."
"Who?"
"Draco, the Celestial Dragon. He even taught Lucy to become a Dragon Slayer too."
The man groaned. "That's not funny at all. She was strong, even before she became one. Why did she have to have the same magic as you?"
"She is a Celestial Spirit Mage, why wouldn't she want to have more of the similar magic? There is no law about you having to have only one!"
The man sighed. "Forgive me, I stepped out of line. I mean no disrespect to her or anyone else."
"What are your plans?"
"What are your wishes? I can't really do much of anything without knowing what you wish."
Hermione looked to the stream. "A date, get to know one another, marriage. I want those things. Mating, I know it has to be part of it. But I want those things first."
"Dreams are going to get worse. I already want you, and it's only going to intensify. But a date, I can manage. Marriage," he chuckled. "Elope?"
"A quick engagement," she sighed. "I guess I really can't ask for anything more."
She then heard him leave. Hermione never once looked for him. 'I guess I want a little mystery left in my life.' She had felt her nerves were a livewire, when he talked. Hermione had fought for self control.
If his voice was enough to drive her wild. She couldn't imagine what else about him that could cause the same effect. But knew that there was more to him than his voice. She could tell that he was a large man. Him being large really doesn't scare her, just the unknown of it all.
The unknown of why the man was her mate? The unknown of how things were going to work? The unknown of why she was there and with Dragon Slayer magic? There were other unknowns that worried her. But those were on top of her head the most.
After a while, Lucy had found her. Only to sit next to her, with her own feet in the stream.
"Do you know who followed you?" Lucy looked a little annoyed about something.
"Nope, but neither do you."
Lucy sighed, "Sorry, Levy held me back. She wanted to discuss possible dates with Bickslow. So, I gave her some ideas."
Hermione nodded her head. After a few more minutes, they decided to go back to the guild. Where they ordered a meal each.
Cana sighed from her corner. "We should have a girls' night soon. It has been months since we had one."
Lucy smiled wholeheartedly. "That sounds good. But no clubbing. I nearly lost my good heels because of that."
Cana giggled, "Yeah, I nearly lost my favorite bikini top." She licked her lips. "That man's yummy abs were worth it, though."
Hermione shivered in her seat. "Strip club," she asked.
Lucy wrinkled her nose. "Levy and I are usually dancing in the corner, enjoying the music. Drinking lightly. Helping the others to walk home. After a long train ride back to Magnolia, afterwards."
Hermione felt uncomfortable, she was never one for parties. Every time Gryffindor threw a party, she either hid in a corner or hid in her dorm room. Yale Ball was the only time she had really enjoyed herself. Other than Ginny Weasley, Hermione never really got close to other girls back home.
'Something tells me that Ginny would have dragged me to clubs, if she wanted to go.'
Lucy gave her a thoughtful look. "What's wrong, Hermione?"
"What do you do around here, for girls' night, that is?"
Cana spoke up. "Drinking, karaoke, game nights, just whatever we want. When we do have girls' night, the guys rush upstairs to get out of the way."
Hermione turned towards Lucy. "They're up there to watch over us. Making sure we get home safe. It's what they do, during their poker nights."
"That sounds reasonable," stated Hermione.
Mira giggled from behind the bar. "I believe on their poker nights, the loser walks the girl, who needs to go home. I've noticed that Bickslow walks the girls home the most."
Lucy giggled as well. "That makes sense. I hardly ever saw Laxus walk anyone home. Unless it's late and Wendy is still here. Gajeel and Elfman do that too."
"They're thoughtful at least."
Mira looked at Lucy. Giving her a hard look. "Don't Natsu and Gray walk you home?"
Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "Jet and Droy do that with Levy. That is what teammates do, Mira."
Hermione stretched her arms with a yawn. "Isn't Makarov going to announce the new teams?"
"Should be at any minute," answered Mira.
Master Makarov jumped on the bar at that very moment. "Now listen up, brats! On the job boards, I have put up a new team list! What is written is final!"
At that moment, many people had rushed to the boards. Hermione stayed where she was. She felt her heart skip a beat. Just as she noticed, Lucy made it to the board. Feeling dread, knowing that fate had a hand in what Lucy was reading.
Her heart picked up in tone. Hearing it through her ears. Her tongue went dry. A dropping sensation fell into her stomach. Her head, slightly dizzy.
'Is this what doom feels like?'
All the feelings that she was going through, only grew. When Lucy turned with a surprised look came across her face.
"Stars all mighty," she heard Lucy whisper softly. Even through a loud room full of people. "What was the master thinking?"
Whatever Lucy learned, it was enough to know. Her mate was one of her new partners, with Lucy and her own mate.
"Sands of change, my ass," hissed Hermione harshly.
Lucy whispered, "On my team, there is Hermione, Laxus…" The man looked pleased from across the room. "... and …" What Lucy had said next, stopped Hermione's heart.
