Lucy walked among the streets, lights blinking overhead as they slowly went out. The trail was fresh as she and Natsu made their way following the trail of blood. Her gums ached as the scent of blood made its way up her nose whole Natsu scrunched his nose.
"He should be close, but I don't smell anything over the blood."
Lucy didn't say anything as they kept moving forward. Her shoulder brushed against Natsu's. The warmth of his body flowed through her. It made her wish she could feel that warmth coming from her body when she was alive. Now, it was just the cold abyss that flowed through her. Sure, she still bled, but it was different. She didn't feel the rush of adrenaline. Some times she missed the feeling of death, the void of emotions. She's turned them off only once. It was so she didn't feel the turmoil within as she helped slaughter the people of Magnolia.
Lucy could feel her fangs push against her gums as the hunger roared. She slowed and inhaled deeply, letting her senses take over. She could feel everything the slight whisper of the wind and tiny dust particles brush against her skin. These moments were always her favorite since being a vampire. Seeing everything in such vivid detail made her stare in awe at the world. She thought it would become boring to her, but it hasn't. When Lucy opened her eyes, everything became more clear she became the predator she was so terrified to be. Natsu observed her as she walked ahead of him, dragging her finger through fresh blood. Lucy hummed as she licked her finger, "B negative interesting choice for a newborn."
Natsu gagged, "that was disgusting. Why would you do that?"
"I'm trying to gather more about this Mason. He's messy, so he must be freshly turned. It takes time to not make a mess out of your prey. And B negative blood is a little bitter."
"What does blood type have to do with anything?" Gray asked as he came up from behind to stand next to Natsu.
"Newborns tend to like sweet blood types and healthy victims. He went this way." Lucy said as she licked her finger clean savoring the taste of human blood. Just that little taste made her craving even more unbearable as her new friends' heartbeats seem to cry out to her. How she yearned to taste Natsu's blood just one more time; the crackling fire in those veins awakened the beast that she kept locked away.
"Lucy, are you alright?" Natsu asked as he matched her pace.
She shook her head and felt her lip; she had bit her lip compliments through and had blood dribbling down her chin. "I'm fine, just thirsty. I can handle it, so no worries." She tried to smile but couldn't find the strength to. She reminded herself that she's already fed and that the hunger she felt was just a craving. Natsu went to touch her shoulder, and Lucy sped around him to avoid his touch. "I'm not that good. I don't want to hurt you guys."
"See, this is why we don't trust them," Grey muttered to Erza.
Lucy clenched her jaw as they continued their search for the rogue vampire. The trail ended once they reached an old abandoned building. They had to be quick before the sun went down, or they would be searching all over again. The newborn was panicking from what Natsu and Lucy could tell by the scent.
"Ugh, it reeks in here," Natsu said.
"Will you be quiet we vampires have really good hearing," Lucy said in a hushed whisper. Lucy looked up the stairs, "stay here." She ran up the stairs in a blur before anyone could voice their objections.
"Mason?" Lucy said as she took a slow step towards the figure.
"It wasn't my fault; I'm just so hungry." He turned towards her, his brown eyes meeting hers.
"I know. You are new to this, and you don't understand your options."
"She's going to kill me."
"Who is going to kill you, Mason?"
"Me." A voice said behind her. Lucy reaches her keys and twisted.
"Now, is that a way to greet an old friend?" Lucy swore as she came face to face with Ikaruga. Her pink hair swaying with the invisible wind she like Erza was an excellent swordswoman, but immortality made her almost unbeatable. Almost, being the time when Lucy used grand chariot and left her healing for days.
"It seems you are still alive after all this time. Your creator wishes to see you again either alive or dead it seems he no longer cares."
Lucy wrapped her fingers around Loke's key, "well, tell Midnight you tried and failed once again, or am I just going to have to use that spell again like last time?"
She smiled, "that was an error in little judgment pet, and it won't happen again."
"Aren't you like a thousand years old, why are you making new vampires? Has your eternal life gotten that boring?" Lucy's magic power swirled within her as she called onto Loke's power. She was going to kill Ikaruga this time, permanently. She may have to get creative, "Mason, I have friends downstairs, please don't bite one of them. I have a pest to deal with."
"You were always my favorite pet before they turned you. Your human body was so frail. You also weren't Midnight's creation. He was only responsible for molding you but it seems he failed."
Lucy steered her emotions. Questions can come later when she sees Midnight again. She was sure her death happened in her old home and not later, but the human physic is more malleable so that she wouldn't be surprised. Lucy knew she had to hit hard and finish the fight quickly. Sure, she had opened up her third origin for magic, but Ikaruga had twice the amount of time to master her magic and dig deeper into what Lucy would describe as a well for magic. She tapped her fingers to Gemini, telling them her plan as she spun around Ikargua's swipe of her katana. It was like a dance of light and steel as they fought. Lucy was small and nimble compared to Ikaruga, but one hit, and Lucy would be down for quite some time. Lucy screamed as Ikaruga sliced her sword across her abdomen as Lucy summoned Gemini.
"Oh no, you don't! Not again, little pet!"
"Gemini!" Lucy reaches her hand out to her spirit as they turned into her. Their hands were glowing as they reached for each other.
"Lucy!" She heard Natsu scream for her downstairs. His shoes were pounding the floorboards as he ran. It would be too slow she taught as Ikaruga rushed to Gemini as their hands tangled into each other.
"Survey the Heavens, Open the Heavens...
All the stars, far and wide...
Show me thy appearance...
With such shine.
Oh, Tetrabiblos...
I am the ruler of the stars...
Aspect become complete...
Open thy malevolent gate.
Oh 88 Stars of the heaven...
Shine!
Urano Metria!" Lucy opened her eyes once the spell had finished dealing damage; the roof was destroyed along with part of the floor, and there laid Ikaruga, unconscious. Lucy looked down at her bloodied body as specks of black began to cloud her vision. She didn't dare lift her shirt in fear of internal organs being visible.
"Holy shit Lucy! Are you okay?"
Lucy went to stand only to fall back down, "no, I'm not." Natsu snaked his arms around her just as she collapsed again, breaths raspy. "I need you to burn her Natsu."
"The council is coming; they can take care of her. Right now, we need to get you out before they come."
"No! You have to she's dangerous and will kill them all. It's happened before just burn this place down. She can't heal if she's ash-" Lucy's words began to slur as the cold abyss took ahold of her.
Natsu cursed as he did what he was told and carried Lucy out the building to meet with the others.
"Geez, what happened to her?" Gray asked.
"A fight between someone named Ikaruga. She was a vampire. Lucy told me to burn her body."
"Mason, you need to tell the council everything. They will put you in their database. We can stay if you'd like."
"Thanks, Erza, please thank Lucy for me when she comes back."
"I will make sure to have Lucy check on you."
"Holt! In the name of the council, please state your names!"
Natsu cursed and gently set Lucy's body down, hoping she wouldn't come alive snarling and looking for blood. Her cuts were already healing, and her fingers were twitching. It was odd seeing her come back alive it was like each nerve was testing its functions.
"I am Erza Scarlet of Fairytail, and these are my comrades Gray, Natsu, and Lucy. We are here on a quest to retrieve a newborn, which is why I have called you here."
"Is she a vampire?" He pointed to Lucy, who was still unconscious.
"Yes, but she's been one for quite some time. She's part of Fairytail." Natsu said, slightly standing over her protectively. They didn't even give her a second glance.
"Mason Darnell, you are charged with murdering mortals, unauthorized hunting, and failure to register with the council. You are to come with us."
"He didn't know what he was!" Erza said.
"That will be decided through a trial. No worries, no harm will come to you."
Gray stood silently, but Natsu could tell even he didn't agree with this. They were supposed to register and teach him other ways, not arrest him. Lucy's eyes began to flutter along with her legs beginning to twitch.
"Your payment." The man with black hair who announced Mason's crimes handed Erza a pouch of jewels. They quickly turned and led Mason out of sight.
"Guys, she's beginning to wake up," Natsu said. He scooped her back up and began to walk back to Lucy's old house with the others close behind. It was better not to be in public when she woke. Natsu's nose twitched at the smell of her blood that was now coating his hands. He stepped into the luxurious house Lucy owned out of what he now learned ten. Lucy's fingers began to twitch almost like she was flexing them, testing out their movements. It made him wonder what went on in the body when they were coming back from the dead. Her heart did beat like she was alive, but it wasn't as fast and didn't seem to increase in the rate it pumped blood when she seemed over-excited. Natsu laid her down in the den where they had their late-night conversation. "Maybe we are both screwed." That's what she said to him last night, and he couldn't help but agree. From her journals, life did seem to bore her, and it became redundant.
"Is she awake yet? I want to know what the hell happened out there and who the other vampire was." Gray said while looking down at Lucy's body, beginning to wake. Suddenly she gasped, sitting upright, which made Natsu jump.
"Where is Mason?" She asked in a panic.
"The council took him." Lucy blinked up at Erza as she came closer. "I'm glad you are okay." Lucy didn't say anything before racing to what looked to be a chest, but when she opened it, a cold air washed over the room. Lucy pulled out a blood bag, and greedily drank it dry. Gray gagged while Natsu vomited in the bin next to the couch; well, he hoped it was a bin.
"Ah, much better." Lucy licked her lips; her eyes were black but slowly fading back to the beautiful brown orbs. "I need to look in my journals Ikaruga said something that can't be true, but I have to be sure. With Mason, I'm sure everything will work out with him."
Gray scoffed, "they arrested him for murder. They said he would have a trial."
Lucy paused and turned, "a fair trial? There is no such thing for a vampire."
"I know which I normally wouldn't want a vampire roaming the streets, but he seemed like he was scared."
Natsu smiled up at Gray, and teasingly said, "you are starting to lose your 'I hate vampires' facade.
"I still do, but we can't leave him do die. It isn't his fault that he was turned. Hey, where are you going?"
Lucy kept walking, "I am not running into the council to save a vampire I barely know. I feel for him I do, but if I step foot in the council, I'm dead besides I need answers."
"Lucy is right. We can't do anything."
"But Erza-" Natsu faltered under her glare. "You're right sorry." When Natsu looked back to where Lucy was, he realized she was gone. He went down to the basement, where she kept her journals. She was vigorously scouring through her journals.
"What are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for who turned me."
"Don't you already know that?"
She looked up at him wide-eyed. "Ikaruga insinuated that Midnight did not turn me and that I was left a human for a while after the attack. Compulsion is stronger in humans, and in the early stages of a newborn, we can basically be molded and shaped to think certain things with compulsion. I need the name of any vampire I might have mentioned in an unusual, passionate way, but it may be brief. Usually, the bond between a newborn and its creator is so strong it would be difficult to break that bond. I do, however, remember being starved and well tortured in my first few years of vampirism."
Natsu, Gray, and Erza were all helping read through some of Lucy's journals. "Erza, why are you turning red?" Natsu took the journal from Erza and then too blushed while a few giggles made their way up to his throat. "Lucy, you are quite dirty for writing about a guy named Eric. Oh, he's a vampire too! Maybe he is the one who turned you!"
Lucy rolled her eyes and snatched the journal away from him, "Eric is not your concerns."
"You two seemed to be very in love."
Lucy nodded, "we were. He was the first one to show me kindness, and yes, we did horrible things together. He was the one to convince me to leave Midnight, and I'm forever grateful he stayed behind to keep Midnight off my trail. He's probably dead." Lucy exhaled a deep breath. "It was a long time ago, though, so my feelings are gone."
Lucy looked back through her journal that she was reading, a tentative smile across her face. Her fingers seemed to caress the page as she turned them. Natsu sighed and looked back down at what he was reading. This particular one was dark and full of horrible things. This had to be from one of her evil days. Natsu pauses at a name he heard of often in hushed scared whispers. Zeref, the most powerful wizard who made himself into a vampire, the first vampire to come into existence. Lucy wrote about him as if she knew him personally.
"Lucy, do you know Zeref?"
"Of course I know of him but not personally, why?"
"You seem to know him very well from this one." Natsu handed her the journal, which she sped through it.
"I didn't date it. Huh, he's like one of the firsts in Alvertraz (spelling?) he was powerful and killed thousands in his wake."
Natsu gulped as he watched Lucy frown at the journal. From his knowledge, some vampires from a different sire hold a great influence on who they turned. The more powerful they were, the stronger the connection was. If Zeref did turn her, who happened to one of the most powerful celestial mages that Natsu has ever known along with Master Makarov, the pair could destroy the world if they wanted. Natsu resisted the urge to brush a strand of her hair from her face as she read through the journal. They would head back to Magnolia in the morning. Mason would have to fend for himself, Lucy and Erza were right, but Natsu couldn't help the guilt that seemed to crawl up into his heart.
