A/N: Suprise! An update. Hope you like it!
Chapter 17: Doranbolt
Lucy rummaged through her fridge in search of something to eat the next morning. She had decided to forgo going to the guildhall for today so that she could think in peace.
In truth, she was worried about her father, more worried than she was willing to admit. They might not have the best familial relationship, but Jude Heartfilia was still her father, and nothing could change that.
Makarov had said that he'd be working with the Magic Council in capturing Raven Tail. Natsu seemed to be confident that their Guild Master would be able to handle it. Perhaps, she should put more faith in the elderly mage and the team he'd gathered for the said case.
Lucy had only met the Thunder Legion recently, and she didn't know what their capabilities are. But they seemed like formidable mages that could take on a dark guild. She had no doubt that Natsu and Gray were strong. But in a delicate situation where her father's life was at risk, Makarov probably didn't think that those two hotheads with a burning desire to fight would be as cautious in their mission to retrieve Jude stealthily and safely.
What if Ivan discovered that the Magic Council were already on their case? What if he learned that a team from Fairy Tail was planning an attack? Would he really take her father's life?
Ivan's letter said they only have three days to bring him ten million jewels and turn Laxus over to him. Right now, Lucy desperately wanted to know what Makarov was planning. But she knew that asking him was pointless. All she could do now was wait.
When Lucy finally found some strawberries, yogurt, and honey in the fridge, she brought them out and began to fix herself breakfast. After eating, she headed to her bathroom, bathed, and donned a pair of comfortable clothes. Then, she walked over to her desk and picked up a pen and paper.
Spetto was probably worried sick about Jude. Knowing how devoted she was to the Heartfilia family, Lucy decided to write her a letter to let her know that she and her guild are doing everything they can to get her father back. Hopefully alive.
Shut up. Don't think like that, Lucy thought frantically.
After she was finished writing her letter, Lucy summoned Leo to her room and asked him to deliver the letter to the Heartfilia mansion and give it to Spetto.
"Here is the location," said Lucy, handing Leo a piece of paper that contained the address where the celestial spirit needed to go to. "You can give my letter to anyone in the mansion, but let them know it's for Spetto."
"Okay, Lucy." Tucking the envelope and piece of paper into the side of his black suit, Leo studied his blonde gate key holder for a moment. He could sense that she was in pain despite her impassive expression.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hm?" Lucy uttered absently, looking up into his eyes behind his sunglasses. "What's up?"
"How are you holding up?" he asked, placing his large hands on her slim shoulders.
Lucy chuckled mirthlessly. "Not so good, Leo," she whispered, blinking back her tears. "Raven Tail's got my father. I've no idea what Master Makarov's planning. And I'm here doing nothing."
Leo pulled her into a tight hug, placing his chin on top of her head. He could feel his mistress shaking slightly, and he realized that she'd broken down into a sob.
He stroked her hair gently. "Hey, hey," he murmured in her ear. "Everything's going to be alright, okay?"
"We don't know that," Lucy whispered. "A part of me worries about my father. But the other part of me is mad at him. I just want all this to be over. I can't keep involving Fairy Tail to fix my problems."
"How can you say that?" said Leo, stunned. "We care about you, Lucy. You're a part of our family."
"But…"
"No, listen to me. There isn't anything that Fairy Tail wouldn't do for you. As I see it, there also isn't anything that you wouldn't do for your guildmates. That's just how it works with our guild. We take care of each other. So, stop feeling guilty about us trying to help you."
Leo gently pulled back and placed his hands on either side of Lucy's tear-streaked cheeks. Her beautiful brown eyes were full of hurt and frustration that he wanted to kiss them away. His experience with a lot of women had taught him that kissing them and sweeping them off their feet usually would take away their sadness.
He was already leaning forward when Lucy suddenly realized what he was about to do.
"Okay, resident playboy," she said sternly, and the celestial spirit froze, his lips still puckered ridiculously. "I appreciate the comforting words, I really do—but if you dare to try and kiss me, our contract is over."
Leo quickly took a few steps back and laughed awkwardly. "Oh, come on. I wasn't trying to kiss you, honestly," he lied easily, raising his hands in a sign of surrender.
Lucy rolled her eyes and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Yeah, nice try, she thought, but she felt a lot better.
Leo was right. Fairy Tail was her family, and her guildmates, including Master Makarov, really cared about her. She should stop feeling bad or guilty about them trying to help her.
"Okay, Lucy, I'll be off to deliver your letter now," said Leo, waving his hand.
"Thanks, Leo," said Lucy, smiling at him. Leo was quite the charmer that she couldn't continue to feel bad.
"Don't mention it. Delivering this letter is easy anyway."
"No, I mean, thanks for everything."
Leo grinned at her and winked, knowing what her mistress meant by it. Then, he dispersed into thin air, leaving traces of yellow light before they completely disappeared.
Laxus and the Thunder Legion exchanged looks when a lean guy with three distinct scars on his face introduced himself a Doranbolt, a member of the Magic Council. He had turquoise eyes and almost shaved black hair. He wore a dark jacket over a light shirt with the Council's dark symbol on it.
Doranbolt seemed to be in his late teens, which made Laxus quite skeptical. How on earth could this kid be a Magic Council member? Nothing seemed to be special about him. And how come Laxus had never met him before?
Last night, when Makarov had called a meeting for Laxus and the Thunder Legion in his office, the elderly mage had mentioned that they would be working with a guy named Doranbolt from the Magic Council. They were to meet him in the morning at the Kardia Cathedral.
To their surprise, Makarov had also told them that Doranbolt was actually a member of Fairy Tail and that they would need his magic to succeed in their mission of capturing Raven Tail and saving Lucy's father.
"Thank you all for meeting me here," said Doranbolt with a grin. "As you already know, I'm also a member of Fairy Tail, but that's going to be a secret between the four of us."
"And why is that?" asked Laxus gruffly, folding his arms over his chest.
Doranbolt shrugged. "You don't want your private spy to get busted by the Magic Council, do you?" he said nonchalantly.
"You're a spy?" asked Freed, eyeing him from head to foot.
"Now, now," said Doranbolt, raising his hands. "I know you're all suspicious of me. But Master Makarov actually hired me some time ago to infiltrate the Magic Council so I could report any funny business."
Evergreen scoffed, flipping her light brown hair off her shoulders. "How'd you manage to get in? You don't look like someone who has the qualifications to be a Magic Council member. I've never even heard of you!"
"Why, that just hurts my feelings, beautiful lady," said Doranbolt, making Evergreen blush slightly. "You see, I have the ability to manipulate people's memories. In fact, everyone in the Magic Council thinks that I've always been a member. I made them believe that I'm actually their private spy. But my loyalty is toward Master Makarov."
Laxus stared at him. Memory control was rare yet dangerous magic.
"I can also use teleportation magic," Doranbolt went on, "I can teleport myself and those that I cast my spell onto from one place to another. This magic is quite handy, mind you." Then, he smirked. "And for your information, we all have met before. I just erased all of your memories of me. Master's orders. Sorry."
Bickslow shrugged his broad shoulders. "Nah, it's cool," he said. "I don't think we'd like you anyway."
Doranbolt chuckled. He had known the Thunder Legion to be cold and aloof, but they were very loyal to Laxus. Among the Fairy Tail members, the four of them were his least favorite people.
He and Cana used to date before, but sadly he had to wipe out her memories of him. The brunette had professed her love for him, but he couldn't really commit to her as Makarov needed him to fulfill his role as a spy and protector of Fairy Tail from the outside.
"We heard enough," Laxus grunted, running his hand through his hair. "Why don't we start discussing the plan?"
"Laxus, are you sure we can trust him?" asked Freed, his eyebrows creasing. "What if he's really a spy from the Magic Council? I'm sure they can't wait to find anything that can give them a reason to disband our guild!"
Laxus shook his head. "We don't have a choice, Freed," he growled. "We don't have the luxury to investigate this guy. That bastard has Lucy's dad, and time's ticking."
Freed took a step toward Doranbolt and fixed him a steely glare. "If you try anything to Laxus," he hissed, drawing out his sword, "your head is mine."
Doranbolt just smiled at the rune mage, completely unfazed by the other man's threat. "I'll keep that in mind," he said coolly. "So, here's the plan…"
Jude glared at Ivan, who was sitting comfortably on the couch with Flare and combing her long, red hair with a brush. "You won't get away with this," he seethed. "How dare you betray me!"
When Ivan came to his office yesterday, he'd demanded ten million jewels. Of course, Jude had refused because he didn't have the jewels at that time. Furthermore, Ivan hadn't gotten ahold of the lacrima yet. However, Jude hadn't expected Ivan to go as far as attacking him for refusing to pay.
Jude would've gladly made the necessary phone calls to produce the amount of jewels Ivan had asked for—if the dark mage had brought Lucy with him. He couldn't care less about the lacrima; he just wanted his daughter back. He knew he'd been a horrible parent to his little girl. He'd treated her poorly and dishonored himself as a father. What would Layla think of him now? How could he be so blinded by greed that he'd placed Lucy's life on the line?
That last phone call where Ivan had told him that he'd locked Lucy up in his main hideout had driven Jude over the edge. The last thing he wanted was for his daughter to get caught in a situation where she might get killed. Phantom Lord had certainly been rough with her despite his clear instruction not to harm the girl.
Right now, he prayed with all his might that Lucy wouldn't go and look for him. There was probably a chance that she wouldn't, knowing how much she must've hated him all these years. For as long as his little girl was safe out there, then he couldn't care less what would happen to him.
"You know," said Ivan, glaring back at the tycoon, "if you don't shut the hell up, I'll have Flare silence your big mouth with her beautiful hair." He laughed maniacally. "Oh, goodness. I'm going to be a rich man soon. Isn't that right, Flare?"
"Yes, Master," Flare responded quietly, looking at the pale man lying on the floor with his hands tied behind his back. She remembered the way he had kept screaming for them to leave Lucy alone when Kurohebi and Nullpudding had grabbed him.
Flare couldn't help but feel jealous. Lucy had a father who cared about her, wanted her, whereas she'd been abandoned by her own to live at the Sun Village with the giants.
"You can do anything you want with me, but don't you dare lay a finger on Lucy!" shouted Jude.
Ivan continued to brush Flare's hair. "If the girl brings me Laxus and ten million jewels, then there'll be no need for bloodshed," he said smoothly. "If she comes after you empty handed, then she'll die. If no one shows up here in three days with Laxus and my ten million jewels, then you'll die."
"You bastard!"
Ivan laughed. Then, he turned to Flare. "Sweetheart, be a doll and check up on Obra, Kurohebi, and Nullpudding," he said icily. "Make sure they've finished setting up our trap for Laxus."
