Chapter 11 - Apart
The next morning, Adryn felt like she woke up fairly early. From what she could see from the room, dawn was just breaking and light was just beginning to flow into the room. She wasn't facing the window though so she wasn't sure. Adryn figured that she was awake first and she wanted to see the window to see if her guesses of it being early were right, but when she turned around she was met face to face with an awake Laxus. Adryn gasped out, nearly screaming when she saw him watching her. It seemed like he was just as shocked that she was awake.
"Good morning," Laxus muttered after his shock wore off. His voice was as quiet, well as quiet as he could be.
"Morning," Adryn replied simply with a hesitant smile on her face. "How long have you been awake?"
"For a little while, I guess."
"Did you even sleep?" Adryn saw the slight sleepiness on his face that wasn't from just waking up.
"Off and on," Laxus whispered as he sat up quietly. Adryn followed him and sat up next to him but with a good distance between them.
"The others are still asleep," Adryn stated, pointing out the obvious. Laxus just hummed in response as he looked to the window to see how bright it was outside. It was getting brighter by the minute. "I finally have an answer to Evergreen's question from last night." Laxus turned back to Adryn only to see her looking at her hands now.
"And?"
"I'd rather tell everyone all at once, so I don't have to keep repeating myself." To Adryn's statement, Laxus just nodded his head. The two then sat in silence for a little bit, until Adryn's stomach began growling.
"We should wake up the others and get some food soon," Laxus stated simply as he climbed out of their bed. Adryn watched as he went over and shook Freed awake. The green-haired man sat up slowly and looked to Laxus. Adryn nearly burst out into laughter at Freed's hair. It was all over the place and was insane. "It's time to wake up the others," Laxus spoke to Freed who was trying to tame his wild hair. Once the man's hair was decent, he climbed out of his bed and woke Evergreen and Bickslow.
"We're up early. What's going on?" Evergreen questioned as she sat up in bed and looked around at the others after putting on her glasses.
"It's time to get ready for the day. Plus, Adryn has an answer to your question." Laxus simply explained to the girl. Evergreen perked up when she heard that.
"Oh? So what is your answer? Do you still love Nova?" To Evergreen's question, Adryn turned to the group and got ready to speak. She took a deep breath and then began.
"I do love Nova. However, I'm not in love with her and I honestly probably never was. I was always just very attached to her because I had nearly no one else. Plus I met her when she was a newborn, so she always held a special place in my heart. We were always together and I care deeply about her. Even so, she is now a threat to us and I am alright with taking her down. Even so, I might have problems with it. Though, I'll do my best." Adryn explained to her friends and boyfriend. It took them a moment to process all she'd said, and then they nodded their heads.
"I can accept that." Evergreen stated simply as she climbed out of bed to get ready for the day. The rest of them agreed with her as well and they took turns using the bathroom to get ready. Laxus had a weird feeling in his stomach, but he wrote it off as that he was hungry or something.
As soon as everyone was ready to leave, they headed to the tavern to eat some breakfast before they started their travels. There were more people now and they all seemed completely normal. So, after they got a table, Adryn headed to the bar.
"Excuse me." Adryn approached one of the men behind the bar.
"Yes? How can I help you?" The man responded kindly as he smiled at her.
"Do you know where we can find an old man doctor? He healed me yesterday and I want to thank him." In response, the man just stared at Adryn for a moment in confusion.
"The only doctors we have are young men, no older men." That startled Adryn but she tried to not let it show on her face.
"Okay... Well, thank you anyway." Adryn then returned to her table full of confusion. "Hey, that old man who healed me yesterday isn't someone these people know."
"Maybe he was a traveler like us and was just stopping by?" Freed suggested as the redhead sat down between him and Laxus.
"I don't know, something just doesn't feel right."
"How come?" Evergreen questioned from her place on the other side of Laxus.
"The doctor conveniently appeared when we needed him most and he was able to heal my wound just at the right time. I wonder... Maybe Nova sent him to help us."
"Why would she do that? She tried to kill you." Laxus stated as he looked at his girlfriend like she was crazy. Adryn shrugged her shoulders before responding.
"I don't know why she would do that, but I do know that if she wanted me dead, she would have stabbed me somewhere fatal and I would be dead now." That made the group think for a little bit before Adryn spoke up again. "How about we just worry about that later. Let's just eat now. We have a long day ahead of us, I feel it."
"Why do you say that?" Freed asked before he began to eat.
"We have to find out information about Nova and hunt her down before she can surprise us or hurt one of us again. So that's what we'll be doing today."
That had been easier said than done. After the 5 of them finished eating, they asked around the bar if anyone had seen a lilac-haired girl around or any people with the Raven Tail guild mark on them somewhere. However, every person they talked to said that no one like that had been in their town at all. When asked about the house that Nova's people had led them to, the people of the bar stated that no such house even existed. So, the 5 of them headed out to where the house was, only to find that it was an empty lot.
"What the actual fuck?" Adryn snapped as they all stared at the clearly empty lot. There were only signs that a house was there once.
"How could a whole house go missing with no one noticing it or remembering that there was even a house there in the first place?" Freed was astonished at the situation.
"Nova did this," Adryn growled as she kicked at the dirt.
"How?"
"She has mind magic. Anything from being telepathic to mind control. She could easily erase Raven Tail from the minds of everyone in this town. It would be nothing to her. She's done it before."
"This is incredible, and not in a good way." Freed was a little in shock, but quickly gained his composure back. "What will we do now?"
"I say we track her down by her scent. I know her scent well, and if I even just catch it on the wind, I can find her." Adryn was still worked up obviously.
"What will we do until you catch her scent?" Evergreen questioned joining the conversation.
"...What will we do, Freed?" Adryn turned her eyes to the green-haired man who just looked back at her in confusion. "You are the smart one of the group. We usually follow you."
"Oh, right." Freed took a moment to think before he faced everyone. "We should just start searching for Raven Tail members for now. I'm sure if you don't catch her scent, then one of those members can lead us to her."
"That sounds okay with everyone?" The other three agreed, so they headed to the train station. While they were waiting for the train to arrive, they decided to head further away from Fairy Tail. Adryn was the one who was sent to get the tickets this time but she was stopped by the ticket seller before she could buy the tickets.
"You are Adryn, correct?" The woman asked causing Adryn to look at her suspiciously.
"I am. How do you know that?"
"Here, a girl with pale purple hair gave this note to me." The woman handed Adryn a blue paper that was folded up.
"Thank you." Adryn stepped away from the seller to let others pass while she read the note.
The note stated, 'Hello, Adryn. I'm sure you are wanting to find me now, so I'll help you out. You know that town that Ivan took you from all those years ago? Well, that's where we will be waiting for you. See you soon.'
"The fuck?" Adryn was in shock but moved back in line to buy the tickets for that town anyway. It was a town a little closer to Magnolia but still a good distance away. It would at least bring them closer to home than they were now. As Adryn approached the counter, there was a man there now. "Where is the woman that was here a few minutes ago?"
"What woman?" The man asked with irritation in his voice.
"Um, never mind." Adryn then requested the tickets and she was given them after she paid. She then returned to the Thunder Legion and Laxus' side. "Change of plans," Adryn stated before telling them everything that just had happened while she was away from them.
"It is most likely a trap." Freed immediately responded, but Adryn just nodded her head.
"Definitely, but we have to go. As long as we are together, we'll be fine, right?"
"Of course," Laxus responded instantly. With their leader's acceptance, the Thunder Legion agreed and they all boarded the train. Once on the train, Adryn leaned against Laxus and snuggled up to him. "What's got you all cuddly?"
"I'm just cold." Adryn lied even though she clearly wasn't cold. She just didn't want to tell Laxus that she just wanted to be close to him currently. However, the train then began to move and suddenly both dragon slayers were hit with motion sickness. "Oh fuck, this sucks."
"We could have walked."
"That would have taken forever! Besides a little motion sickness won't kill anyone!" Adryn then paused as a wave of nausea washed over her. "Or maybe it will..." That caused the Thunder Legion to chuckle. Laxus found it all too real so he just kept his mouth shut.
The train ride felt like it took forever, but eventually, they got to the town that was their
destination. Once there, they began to look around the town to find the specific spot where Adryn was taken from, which was an alley off the main road of the town. Adryn couldn't remember which one exactly since there were a few, but once they entered an alley, they were surrounded. Men and women, all with the Raven Tail guild mark, were around them holding various weapons or were currently radiating their magical power. None of them made a move to attack them, so everyone ended up remaining tensely still.
"Now, now. Don't look so worried. We won't hurt you." It was Nova's voice. She walked through the crowd to reach the 5 standing in the center of the alley. "Well, we won't hurt you, as long as you, Adryn, comes with me."
"If you wanted me, why did you stab me?!" Adryn snapped at her former lover, who in return just chuckled.
"I stabbed you to prove a point. I can hurt you any time I want if I so chose to." Adryn frowned at Nova's response but took it for now. She had more important things on her mind.
"So, you say you won't hurt anyone if I go with you, then fine. I'll go with you."
"What?!" The Thunder Legion and Laxus all cried out immediately.
"You can't do that. We can fight them!" Laxus was instantly furious. He wasn't having this at all, but Adryn just turned around to face him.
"I love you, Laxus. That's why I'll do anything as long as I can keep you and my friends safe. You know we would get really hurt if we tried to fight them." Adryn then reached up to pull Laxus down to her level and pressed her lips against his. It was their first kiss in a while and it caused all sorts of butterflies to bloom in both of them. However, the kiss only lasted a moment before Adryn pulled away. "I'll see you later. We won't be separated for too long." Adryn then turned around and walked to Nova.
"Adryn!" Laxus reached out for Adryn, but she was already out of his reach. The group of people stopped any of them from going after the two women as they walked through the crowd. Adryn didn't look back once as she and Nova walked away from her lover and friends. She had a terrible feeling in her though, that this might be the last time she ever saw them again. That didn't stop her from following the lilac-haired girl though. Nova led Adryn to a seemingly lived in house on the outskirts of the town.
"This is a little house that I am 'borrowing' from the owners," Nova explained to Adryn as she opened the door and motioned for Adryn to walk in. Adryn did as she was told and entered the home, only to see blood everywhere in the entrance.
"Oh my god! Did you kill these people?!" Adryn was outraged, but it only got worse when Nova laughed and nodded her head.
"Of course I did. I wanted this house, so I took it. That's how we were raised."
"Just because you were raised that way, doesn't mean that's how it has to be! You are capable of change! I changed!" Nova just ignored Adryn's words and walked into one of the bedrooms and sat on the bed.
"Join me." Nova patted the bed next to her, causing Adryn to growl at Nova. However, she did as she was told. Adryn sat next to the girl but sat as far away from her as she could. "Let's chat now."
"About what?"
"Anything you have on your mind."
"Alright. Then, how has your life been since you supposedly died?"
"It's was good. Ivan and I remained by each other's sides. It was all quite nice. Until you, Eclipse and Laxus killed him." There was pure bitterness in her voice as she spoke, but Adryn chose to ignore it.
"I see..."
"Let's not talk about me. Let's talk about how you fell for Laxus."
"Alright, well... He is attractive, so that's one reason. He is also a big sweetheart deep down inside. He is caring towards the friends and family that he has, in his own special way. It isn't always obvious that he cares because he's a little hard to get along with at first, but when he lets you in, it's great. He carried my drunk ass back to our inn before we were really friends. Besides all that, he has accepted me for all the things that I've done and that has been done to me. He has done his best to protect me through everything that we have gone through and I know that he will continue to protect me, no matter what. That's due to him loving me, just as much as I love him. Though he doesn't say it, like at all. He would rather show his love than say it."
"That's good. I'm glad that you found someone to love like that. I am happy that you moved on from me... because having you have feelings for me was disgusting, vile and quite bothersome."
"The fuck, Nova?! That was completely rude and uncalled for! You loved me too!" Those words caused Nova to laugh out loud.
"Actually, I never loved you, at all. Everything between us was fake and all a ruse just to get close to you and plant the seed that Ivan needed to control you for the rest of your life."
"Well, clearly it didn't work. I'm not under Ivan's control anymore and I never will be again, because he is dead." Nova just laughed again causing Adryn to frown.
"You will always be under his control, as he laid the groundwork for me to take over. That means, while you're being controlled by me, you're being controlled by him."
"Why are you even on his side in the first place? He killed your family!"
"He showed me what real love is."
"The fuck does that mean?!" Adryn stood up from the bed as she yelled at the lilac-haired girl, who just smiled in return.
"It doesn't matter. Just understand that I am attached to him, just as you are attached to Laxus. Well... maybe a bit more than you and Laxus." Nova then pulled Adryn back down on the bed and continued to speak. "You know, Adryn, I'm surprised that you weren't attached to Ivan after all the good he did for you." That infuriated Adryn, causing her to sit up and glare at Nova.
"What the fuck type of good did he ever go for me?! He put my life through hell! Even to this day the things he caused still affect me!"
"What good did he do? He helped bring Laxus into this world. You ended up being with him due to Ivan's planning. He always planned for you two to end up together and it has gone exactly how Ivan has wanted it to go."
"What are you talking about? Laxus and I didn't even know each other until we were forced to take that job together!"
"Who's idea was it for the two of you to work together? Master Makarov's idea, correct?"
"...It was..." Adryn was hesitant to reply to that. She wasn't sure where Nova was going with this, but she knew that she didn't like it. To Adryn's response, Nova just smiled at her, a smug smile. "What is it?"
"Well, it's just that... While yes, it was his idea to make you two work together, it was only due to a suggestion that Ivan had me put in his mind, via my mind magic." Adryn wasn't sure if Nova was telling the truth or not, but she couldn't help but wonder. What if her and Laxus getting together was really part of Ivan's plans? What if their relationship had been built due to someone wanting it to be built? Were their minds toyed with too to make them fall for each other? All these things and questions were swirling around Adryn's mind causing her to become worried.
"Why... Why would Ivan want Laxus and me together?" Adryn finally had to ask after a few minutes of thought.
"If Ivan couldn't have you, due to your overwhelming power to stop him, then he wanted Laxus to have you. That way, he could get his hands on you through him."
"But he had people assault me! Wasn't that enough for him!?" Adryn was trying to not get worked up, which only worked her up more. When Nova didn't respond, Adryn asked another question. "Was dying part of Ivan's plan?"
"Of course it wasn't! Ivan didn't plan on Laxus growing such strong feelings for you, nor did he think you would reciprocate those strong feelings. Ivan also didn't anticipate that you and Laxus would come to the decision to kill him so easily." Nova paused and Adryn could see Nova's face contort into anger. "I truly hate you three for taking away my love and I will get revenge for that!"
"How will your revenge happen?"
"You will kill Laxus and Eclipse."
"I will what now? I would never hurt either of them and there is nothing you could do that would make me do so." To Adryn's strong words, Nova just laughed and stood up from the bed.
"You're right. You won't... yet." With those words, Nova walked out of the bedroom door and slammed it shut. Adryn listened as Nova locked the door behind her, and runes came up to prevent Adryn from escaping through any method.
"What the hell just happened?" Adryn was in complete shock over everything that'd been said to her. "Do... Do I only love Laxus because of Ivan's plan?" Adryn stood up from the bed and began to pace around the room. "No, that isn't possible. I know how I feel about Laxus. No one made me feel that way about him. But..." Adryn froze in place but then shook her head. "No! Even if it was some sick plan by Ivan, I love Laxus and I wouldn't give that up for anything!" Adryn then turned to the door. "You won't beat me, Nova! I won't be torn down by this! They will come for me! I won't be a part of your stupid plans!" The girl then sat back down on the bed and sighed to herself. "Laxus and the Thunder Legion better not have been attacked after I left. They better be safe." Those were the last conscious thoughts of Adryn as she laid down on the bed and drifted off to sleep. All the drama had tired her out and since she had nothing better to do, she figured, why not just sleep. None of them knew of what was about to happen to her.