I force my body to move forward, crying out, "Gramps! Mira! Macao! Cana! Az! Levy! Natsu!"
I throw myself through the destroyed guild doors and right into Natsu's solid chest. He grabs my shoulders to steady me as I sway backwards. His face and voice are soft, but his onyx eyes fill with fire, "Everyone's safe, Lilli."
The words cause relief to crash over me in a wave, and my knees buckle with the weight of those words. Tears flow down my cheeks, and my voice cracks, "Thank goodness."
Natsu holds me steady against his chest. His arms strong and warm around me. Natsu waits patiently for me to gain control of my legs again. His body is warmer than normal, from barely contained rage. I gently pull away from him and look into his fiery eyes, "What happened? Who did this?"
"Phantom Lord," the name spat like a curse and his grip tightens on my shoulders, almost painfully so.
My own blood boils at the name, anger flashing in my eyes, causing Natsu to flinch in surprise. I take a step back, out of Natsu's arms and head out the guild door, my body trembling with each step.
"Where are you going," Natsu's voice calls after me.
"To destroy their guild. They don't deserve mercy," my voice comes out cold and dark.
"You're going to go against Gramps' orders?"
"I'll do whatever I have to, to protect you all."
Natsu surges forward, grabbing my arm and spinning me to face him. The fire in his onyx eyes flare into a burning inferno, his voice drips with hostility, "Then where have you been when we needed you? You left us during our time of need, Lilliana!"
His words tear open an old wound and my anger falters for a second, pain replacing it. The bite in my voice rivals his, "You have no idea what I have done for this guild. None of you do!"
"Then why don't you tell me," Natsu yells at me, pushing his face close to mine, "Because to me it seems like you ran away when things got too hard for you to handle."
I tear my arm out of his grasp and take a step back, my eyes meeting his levelly, "I left to protect you all. I didn't want to be a reminder of Lissana. She and I were inseparable, not to mention how alike we look. I didn't want to be the reminder. None of you needed that."
Natsu's face looks as though he has been slapped in the face. Tears are slowly making their way down my face, from the many other things I can't say, not yet. Natsu searches for the words to reply with, but instead pulls me into a hug. His next words are firm, but ever so gentle, "You are Lilli, not Lissana. I have never viewed you as a reminder. You are you. She is her. You are my Lilli, my shy, quiet, kickass, stubborn best friend. Losing you and Lissana in the same week hurt more than if you would have stayed."
I hug him back and sob into his chest, needing to cry after the events of the last few hours. I meet his eyes and with a shaking voice, "I'm sorry."
Natsu gives me his goofy grin in response, "Don't worry about it. Let's go see everyone."
After wiping my eyes, we head down into the basement of the guild where Gramps has set up a temporary guild hall. I sweep my eyes around the room noting that no one is injured, just as Natsu had said, but morale is low, aside from a very drunk Master in the corner. I sigh before hearing a chorus of;
"Lilli's back!"
"Oh, thank heavens she's okay."
"Welcome back!"
I smile at the greetings and search for Az. The black wolf is curled up next to Erza, his purple eyes clouded with worry. Happy sits on his head, gently petting him, mumbling kind words. I smile at the sight before calling to my wolf, "Az!"
The black wolf perks up and runs to me, knocking me over and giving kisses all over my face. I laugh at his reaction, but I'm grateful for it, needing the comfort. I gently pet the top of his head as he curls up on my chest. I gently prod the wolf telepathically, 'How's Papa Toshi?'
'Not well. The hospital is doing all they can, but the wound was deep.'
'Right…' my face contorts in pain remembering Toshi. Natsu and Gray pick up on the shift to my mood, 'Did you tell anyone else?'
'No, they have no clue.'
'Keep it that way for now. They were the ones who attacked them.'
Az's fur bristles and he gets off me, on high alert. Gray walks up and slings an arm around my shoulders, whispering loud enough for only me to hear, "Whatever is going on between you and Az, you may want to bring it down. If I can pick up on the change, you know Erza and Natsu can as well. We can talk later if you want." I nod to the raven-haired boy, before turning my attention to Gramps.
Even though Gramps refuses to take action against Phantom Lord, he still advises us all to not be alone tonight. Many of the guild already split for the night, staying close to those they care about. I head out before Natsu and Lucy. I walk along the edge of the river, passing my house and heading towards where Lucy has taken up residence. Az is trotting silently at my side. I enter head up the stairs to Lucy's apartment and gently push open the light wood door. The walls are a light pink color and knickknacks line them. Under the window to the left is her bed with a pink comforter thrown over it. At the foot of the bed is a small desk with papers thrown all over it. In the center of the room is a large coffee table and a comfortable looking couch. A small kitchen is hidden in the back. I take a step through the door and begin drawing runes along the edge of the walls, around the windows, and the openings. Satisfied with my work I leave and head to the store, leaving Az to guard the house. I decide that Natsu, Gray, and Erza are most likely going to end up at Lucy's house and they all eat more than the tiny blonde-haired girl. I go to the grocery store and pick up a variety of food and drinks for the group. I carry the many bags to the blonde's house just in time to hear someone yell, "What are you doing in my house?!"
I suppress a giggle and head into the room, gently pushing past the horrified Lucy. Natsu has taken up the center of her room, Gray is laying shirtless on her bed reading through the papers that had been on her desk earlier, Az and Happy are laying on her couch, and I assume Erza is in the shower, considering the water is on. I head to her kitchen and begin prepping some tea and food for the bottomless pits. I use the girl's kettle to boil water and start on cooking meat. I hear Lucy yell as Erza exits the bathroom, "Even you?"
"Master said for us to stay together," Erza begins, "Natsu's house is much to small and dirty. Lilli has never been good with guests in her space. Gray's space is too small, and I live in Fairy Hills where its difficult to get guests to stay for the night. So, your house was our best option."
I pop my head out of the kitchen, "I brought food so that we don't have to go through your food supply. Gray and Natsu can be bottomless pits."
Lucy's gaze switches between mine and Erza's before she sighs and heads into the bathroom for her own shower. I smile at Erza as she lounges on Lucy's bed, kicking Gray to the floor. I turn back to the cooking food, expertly cutting up vegetables and slicing meat, deciding on a hotpot for the group. I make sure to have extra meat on the side. The sounds of chatting and laughter fill my ears as I cook. The kettle screams and I pour the hot water into the waiting cups of tea leaves. I let the tea steep while I finish preparing the meal.
Lucy exits the bathroom as I set the meal on her coffee table, the boys immediately dig into the meal. I smile as Lucy joins the table, handing her a cup of chamomile tea with lavender and mint. I drink my green tea with honey and mint, before heading to the bathroom for my own shower. I turn on the hot water and take off my clothes. I take a deep breath and let the warm water run down my back. I can hear the chatter float in through the curtain. I smile and begin washing my hair, feeling at peace and content with the people I have surrounded myself with. A cold wind snakes its way through the hot water, and the room fills with darkness. I shriek causing Natsu, Erza, and Gray to burst into the bathroom. The light returns to the room and I turn my back to the group, my back exposed to them as I crouch on the tiled floor. I hear the group behind me gasp and feel Natsu's burning warmth hit my back.
"Natsu, leave her be,' comes Erza's voice. Her voice is sharp with demand and sympathy. I feel the warmth retreat and the curtain slid shut. I take a few calming breaths before quickly finishing my shower. I throw on a light gray shirt and a pair of mint fuzzy pants. The room is silent as I exit the bathroom. Natsu is pacing, Gray is fidgeting with his hands, Erza is calmly eating, and Lucy is staring into her tea. Az and Happy are curled up in the corner, their worried eyes following me as I sit on the floor next to where Natsu is pacing.
"Well," Natsu demands, stopping his movements to glower at me.
"Well, what?" I ask calmly, avoiding his gaze.
"I think Natsu, as well as the rest of us, would like to know where you acquired such…injuries," Erza says gently, though there is an edge to her voice.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, afraid to meet anyone else's while speaking, "My father used me as an experiment, well my siblings and me. My body and magic did not give him the results he wished," I open my eyes, the cold blue near freezing the air, "and everything on my back was a punishment at some point in time."
Gray's breath chills the room while Natsu's fire causes a burning inferno. Erza's calm demeanor is all but gone as the monster rages beneath her skin. Lucy's face is horror struck and Happy is crying. Natsu is the first to speak, "How can a father do that to their child?!"
My voice is cold and emotionless, "Quite easily if you ask my father. I was just a tool."
My words cause anger to rage brighter throughout the room, but there is little care in my body. Erza then speaks her mind, "What kind of experiments?"
My body shudders at the thought of those experiments and I shake my head, "I can't tell you."
"Why the hell not?" Gray yells.
"Because I physically cannot."
Az steps forward, 'The amount of trauma that Lilli endured during those years are something that her mind has suppressed. The mere thought of them can cause her entire body to shut down. I don't think any of you here want to cause that, just to satisfy your own curiosity.'
Natsu growls, but sits down next to me, his heat dying down to a warm ember. I instinctively lean into him, closing my eyes as the grief washes over my body. As the tension in the room fades away, so does my consciousness into a needed sleep.
I wake up curled into Natsu's side, morning light filtering through the blinds and the gentle sounds of everyone sleeping. Az curled up next to me, his soft fur warming me up. Lucy and Erza are sound asleep in Lucy's bed while Gray snores loudly from Lucy's couch. Happy sleeping on Natsu's chest, the partners' breathing in sync. I slowly attempt to unbury myself from the tangle of fur and limbs, however Natsu's arm tightens around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. Unable to move I lay there listening to the sound of the Dragon Slayer's heartbeat. The tempo slow and steady lulling me back into a dreamless sleep.
I wake to Natsu shaking me, his grip firm on my shoulders and his voice panicked as he calls my name. I force my eyes open to see light pouring into the room. Gray, Erza and Happy are ready to head out their faces grim. I hear Lucy rummaging in the bathroom, probably trying to find something the boys had misplaced. Natsu's eyes meet mine and I feel the urgency, giving him a small nod before running into the bathroom to change, no longer caring if they see the scars that mar my back. I throw on a clean mint colored t-shirt and ripped jeans then lace up my boots. Lucy throws a hairbrush at me and I gratefully take it and run the brush through my tangled hair before throwing it up in a high ponytail. We exit Lucy's house and follow the crowd of people heading towards the park in the middle of Magnolia.
We find Gramps in the chaos, he is using his staff to walk and clear a path for himself. Az shifts and lifts the old man onto his back, effectively causing people to move out of the wolf's path. Erza and Natsu take the front while Lucy, Gray, and I walk behind, guarding our Master and clearing the way. Happy is flying above the crowd to survey our surroundings. The moving is slow going as we push through the crowd to the large tree. As we get closer, Az lets Gramps down however he stays shifted, alert and ready. I watch the faces as I pass, horror and shock easily readable on all of them. We push through the crowd and the sight we find shakes our hearts to the core.
Pinned to the beautiful magnolia tree are Levy, Jet, and Droy. Their stomachs painted with the Phantom Lord guild mark, and blood drips down their bodies and onto the green grass below. I hear Lucy gasp and cover her face. Gray turns his face away and Erza looks to Gramps for direction. Natsu's fury takes over him, causing him to light his fists ablaze. My eyes widen and tears prick them, but the horror is over shadowed by the fire burning in my stomach as my magic roars at the sight. Gramps lowers his head, his voice quiet, but the anger barely contained,
"You can wreck our guild, destroy our morale, but the second you touch my brats….." Gramps' grip tightens on the staff, causing it to splinter into pieces, "This means war."