Chapter Thirty-Five
Their Suspicions
"Worst In Me" by Julia Michaels
"You're up to something," Acnologia stated with certainty, from his seat opposite me. I lifted the mug to my lips, keeping my eyes away from his piercing ones.
"Why do you assume that?"
"You haven't looked right at me in two days and the dragon is not hanging off you like an accessory."
"Perhaps you are just too ugly to continually look at," I replied diplomatically. "And Natsu, despite his everlasting love for me, is the Prince of this kingdom. He has duties."
I took a long sip of the warm, caramel flavored liquid. I kept my eyes locked on the tablecloth, the sun beaming down on us. Acnologia had requested my presence for morning tea. I hadn't realised all Royals enjoyed tea so much.
Or maybe it was the little treats that accompanied the hot beverage.
Of course, after I'd been invited, Natsu told me that dragons don't generally drink tea. Instead it was this smooth, almost thick, liquid that was heated to perfection and slid down my throat. I hadn't thought to ask what it was, since it might ruin the taste. And instead of little scones, and slices, it was an array of small meat-based appetisers.
"You are a horrible liar, Lucy," Acnologia grumbled, before adding softly, "Leora was as well."
My eyes shot to his, surprised at the admission. He stared blankly back.
"Did she lie to you often?" I asked hesitantly, unsure of what to say. I didn't want to approach a touchy topic with him. I also didn't want to dredge up any unwanted memories. But I also yearned to know more about her.
However, instead of getting the shrewd glare I expected, I got something different.
His lips twitched, "Only when she truly needed to. Leora wasn't fond of keeping secrets."
"Why?"
"She lived most of her life with a highly volatile power. She believed that the more secrets she kept, the more stress she would be under, making her more dangerous." Acnologia shook his head, as if he was remembering something, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile.
"I still remember when she called the Chieftain of the Weston Plains a gutless donkey."
A surprised laugh burst out of me. "What? Why would she do that?"
"When the war was truly beginning to rip into the countryside, we were sent on a recon mission with the secondary task of gathering assistance from the Centaurs from the Plains. The Chieftain was hostile, and refused to join the war, despite the growing forces that were about to ride through his land. He refused to choose a side, and in the end, it was too late." A look of darkness passed over Acnologia's face, "The kingdoms that fought for the darkness ripped them apart within a day. And Leora had been given orders not to intervene."
"You just let them… die?"
"It was a very different time." Acnologia looked towards the castle, his eyebrows crinkling, a haunted emotion in his eyes. "There was no free-will during the war. You listened to your superiors, you listened to what you are told and believed that doing so would save more than those who were lost."
I frowned, trying my hardest to completely understand, but admittedly, I came up short. Maybe since I didn't grow then, I couldn't understand how they could blindly follow someone like that. How they could take orders without another thought, without having their own conscience fight them.
But maybe their consciences did fight…
"It would be hard," I admitted softly, "to ignore your own feelings and thoughts, blindly giving… the benefit of the doubt. Holding on to the belief that following orders you might not agree with would help, even if you didn't think it would."
"Hope," Acnologia corrected, watching me. "I wouldn't call it benefit of the doubt when thousands die either way. We could only hope we were doing good."
"Did she ever stray from orders?"
He laughed softly. "Of course she did. And she normally dragged me along with it."
"Not unwillingly," I said, and his smile got a little kinder, as if he was remembering a better time now.
"Never unwillingly. Maybe reluctantly."
I nodded, also smiling. I picked up a tiny grilled piece of meat, with a tangy sauce smeared over the top.
"So, now that I've shared some information, care to tell me what you are doing?"
I felt my spine freeze up for a second before I cleared my throat weakly. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"You're lying. You've planned something stupid and you are keeping me out of it."
"I always make excellent plans," I defended. "And why would I bring you into it? No offence meant, but you've done what you came here to do, which was to get Aquarius' information to me. You've done your job, so now you can sit back and relax."
His left eyebrow raised high and mighty, effectively looking down at me.
"You think that's my job?"
"Nothing you've said or done argues the contrary." I cleared my throat, staring up at him tapping into a large amount of willpower.
We were both quiet for a few seconds, just staring – which let me tell you, doesn't get any more comfortable no matter how many times you do it – when he shook his head.
"You're foolish."
"Maybe," I conceded, shrugging. "But I'm young. I don't know why you expect me to be anything else."
His lips twitched, very clearly holding back a smile as he lifted his now cool mug to his own lips, after minutes of neglect. I wondered if he had forgotten about it or was just sensitive to hot things. An unusual trait for a dragon if that was the case.
"Have you practiced what I taught you?"
My spine immediately straightened, a giddy smile breaking over my features as a surge of excitement funnelled through me. Glad we were off the topic of my secrets, I nodded eagerly.
"Yep! Want to see?"
He nodded once, eyes softened into the fatherly affection that I couldn't seem to get enough of. I picked up the clay vase that held the flowers between us. I brought it to the corner of the table, and took a deep breath in, glancing at him to make sure he was watching.
I turned back to the glass and lifted my right hand, summoning the smallest amount of my power to travel. It rose to my will, a white wall of mist and strength, like a wind that was slowly picking up speed. I concentrated, using my control to flow that power to my fingertips, beckoning and manifesting it into a silent shockwave.
It set my skin humming in the most addictive sort of tingles, the sort that spoke power.
I flicked my fingers and the vase exploded, the Scream a soft whistle of pure concentrated magnificence. I ducked when a few shards soared towards me, before beaming at Acnologia proudly.
"Good. Remember to keep it contained, that'll stop the blowback."
"I'm still amazed I can even do that without… you know, extreme emotion behind it."
Acnologia offered an extremely rare chuckle. "You managed to do it before."
"Yeah, but that was because I wanted to get to Natsu," I explained. "I never thought the Scream could be manifested in that way."
"It would be best to practice controlling it. You have no control over your first Scream, but the others, they can be… tested, and with enough training, you can control them," he informed me. "Using your emotions to fuel your power can be dangerous. Not only to others, but to yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"You saw it yourself." He closed his eyes, pained. "When they hit the nursery, Leora would have wiped them out without a second thought."
"I would have too," I admitted. "Attacking innocent, defenceless children…" Disgust and horror rolled around in me as I closed my eyes, trying to beat down the anger.
"Banshee's that use mainly use their emotions to fuel their Screams… they lose their sanity Lucy." He shook his head. "Leora learned that the hard way, she had to pull herself up from the lowest point."
A shudder of fear ran through me, and he stared at me closely. "I don't want the same thing to happen to you."
I bit my lip, unsure of what to say, because I had used my Scream through my emotions multiple times and I felt fine. Tired, maybe. Vulnerable, definitely. But nothing told me that I was going insane.
The tense moment was interrupted when a heavy body appeared on my lap, throwing itself over me like a draped coat. I laughed, Ultear's long hair swarming my face as she wiggled, getting comfortable on my lap.
She plucked a tiny sausage from the assorted appetizers, pouting as she nibbled on it delicately.
"You okay?" I asked, pushing her hair out of my face. She rolled her eyes, her mood decidedly grumpy.
"Yeah. Just hungry."
I let it go, reaching around her to pick up another treat. Acnologia shook his head, finishing off his drink in only two gulps. When I heard my name being shouted, I tilted my head around Ultear's body, waving as Erza and a woman I didn't know approached us from the castle.
"Acnologia, you seem like the type of person who carries a lot of alcohol," Ultear said conversationally. I turned back to them, giggling when Acnologia's eyebrow furrowed, obviously confused.
"I do?"
"Yeah. Mind if I have some?"
He continued to stare at her, a little perplexed with that same grumpy scowl on his features. When she said nothing more, he sighed and reached into his coat pocket, surprising me when he passed her a flask.
"I don't know how you knew I had that, but this is not an everyday occurrence."
"Gotcha," Ultear replied, taking a long swig before offering it to me. I sniffed at it, then wrinkled my nose.
"Maybe not this time."
"You'll wish you said yes once you meet…" Ultear's soft grumble went quiet as Erza finally reached us, smiling politely at Acnologia for a moment before addressing me.
"Lucy, please meet Milliana. She's one of my… acquaintances."
The girl beside her was as pretty as she was odd, dressed in very scarce clothing with two dark cat ears on the top of her head. Her big wide eyes were sparkling with delight and the silvery wispy whiskers on her cheeks made me do a double take.
"Nice to meet you," I replied, a friendly smile etched into my face as she grinned.
"Likewise Princess Lucy! I've heard so much about you."
I assumed she'd heard from Erza, rather than anyone else because I wasn't expecting so much… happiness. Maybe she was just an overly cheerful person.
"Oh, hi Ultear! I didn't even notice you were there."
Ultear picked up another savory bit, and ate it, not replying to Milliana's happy greeting. My eyebrows drew forward confused, as Erza smiled tightly.
"Ultear, Milliana greeted you."
"It's a free world, Erza. That means even if somebody greets me, I don't have to respond."
"It's considered rude if you don't."
I shivered at the intense anger boiling off Ultear, as she lifted her eyes to Erza, who despite their friendship, was her superior. The glare in her eyes was a stubborn, angry thing. I wondered what was going on.
Why did Ultear… hate Milliana so much?
What was the backstory to this much… aggression?
When Erza opened her mouth to say something, Milliana stopped her with a soft giggle. "It's okay Erza, Ultear doesn't have to forgive me."
"Good. Because I was never planning to," Ultear snapped, picking herself up from my lap and handing the flask back to Acnologia. She brushed off her pants, and with a final terrifying glare at the cat girl, left, walking toward the backdoors where she was intercepted by Natsu.
I watched, curious when he bent down slightly and his eyebrows crinkled in concern.
My eyes stayed on them as Natsu lightly placed a hand on her arm, drawing her to the side, away from the entry.
"I just wanted for you to meet Milliana. She had been gathering intelligence in your kingdom." Erza stated. I tore my eyes away from Natsu and Ultear to smile at her.
"Anything interesting to report?"
"Yes." Erza smiled back, but her eyes were haunted, guarded. "But I have to speak with Igneel first and it would be wise not to share the details in such an open space."
I nodded in agreement, hoping that it was something that would help us gain entrance into my old kingdom.
Once Erza and her companion left, I turned to Acnologia, "What are they saying?"
He raised his eyebrow, and I gestured to Natsu and Ultear, who were still talking quietly near the door. Acnologia also glanced behind him, before turning back to me.
"She's asking him to put a guard on the cat..."
"Any reason why?"
"I appear to have missed that part of the conversation," Acnologia informed me. I frowned. Ultear obviously knew something about Milliana that I did not.
But Erza would never have brought her here if she wasn't trustworthy. It was the first instance of disagreement that I had seen in the entire time our little 'group' had been formed.
What was happening?
"Your dragon is saying he'll put eyes on the cat, and keep it out of Erza's jurisdiction."
"Keeping a secret from Erza is not wise…" I murmured, watching as Natsu placed a hand on Ultear's shoulder and nodded.
"He's telling her he doesn't think she's foolish to not trust the cat." Acnologia made a briefly amused, curious noise. "Apparently he does not trust her either."
Both Natsu and Ultear don't trust Milliana?
For what possible reason?
Ultear shook her head and continued walking past him to get inside. Natsu headed towards me instead. My spine straightened, a pleased flutter of anticipation swirling in my stomach.
Acnologia sighed.
I ignored him, as Natsu finally reached me, leaning down to place a soft kiss on my forehead. I smiled, nuzzling into his neck with my own soft kiss. He breathed out, the tension in his shoulders disappearing.
"Can I steal you?"
"Mhm," I flushed pleasantly at the question, reaching my hands up to lace around his neck to bring him down a little lower. I rubbed my cheek against his, loving the bristle of his stubble on my skin. "But I'm having tea with Acnologia."
"He won't mind. I heard Yukino is starting a fight with King Sparky somewhere within the castle." Natsu's hands danced down my sides to my hips, cinching down. I squeaked when he lifted me up, and into his arms easily.
I turned my head to Acnologia. "Do you mind? I can stay if you need more company?"
Natsu squeezed at my hips, expressing his disapproval of my offer. It made me shiver, fighting a smile as I stared down at Acnologia from a new vantage point.
He sighed. "I suppose I'll have to stop Yukino before she forces King Dreyar to take extreme measures."
I giggled, wrapping my legs tighter around Natsu's front, "Alright. Have dinner with me tonight?"
"And by 'me', she means 'us'." Natsu smirked at him. "I find it extremely surprising she hasn't buckled under your stare yet."
I blinked in shock before pouting. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
"I assume you are talking about the 'plan' Lucy doesn't have?"
"I don't have a plan," I grumbled to Acnologia as Natsu turned us around, still holding me. I peeked over his shoulder and gave Acnologia a little wave, happily melting my body against Natsu's. When we got inside, I had to ask.
"Don't you think this is a little promiscuous?"
"What is?"
"You are carrying me like a…" I struggled to use the correct words, frowning when I couldn't think of anything, "Well, you're carrying me like this. It's hardly socially correct."
"Actually, dragonesses used to walk around with their tail wrapped around their captive to show possession."
"I'm failing to see how that compares." I frowned at him, confused, but he smirked back slightly.
"They were willing captives. And by 'wrapped around' I mean wrapped around their di-"
I slammed my hand against his mouth with a groan. "That is enough. Why would you tell me that?"
"You asked. And you know how much I like answering your questions."
"I never asked a question...it was more of a statement," I pouted, tightening my arms around his neck so I could press closer as he continued to walk through the halls of the castle. He chuckled softly, his hand reaching up to run his fingers through my hair as we finally reached his room.
Once we were inside, I dropped my feet and stepped out of his arms.
"So, what's with Milliana?"
"She's Erza's spy, and a leopard-were… Why are you looking at me like that?" He shrugged out of his vest, giving me a confused look.
I crossed my arms over my chest, "Why would you put a guard on her, per Ultear's request?"
"How did you- Did you get your grandfather to spy on me?"
"Technically, he's a bit older than my grandfather, but yes, I did," I informed him seriously. He continued to look at me in surprise. When his mouth flapped open for more than ten seconds, I sighed, my hip-jutting out and my eyebrow raising sassily.
"Well? Why would you put a guard on Milliana? She's Erza's spy, I assumed we could trust her."
"I didn't say we can't trust her." His eyes roamed my body. "I'm sorry, I have a feeling this is an important conversation, but that pose is really doing things to me and, fuck, you're beautiful."
I flushed, surprised and secretly pleased at how Natsu viewed me, especially since I was trying to be stern and ended up being beautiful.
Seeing as I liked being beautiful more than I liked being stern, I was willing to call that a win.
"This is an important conversation." I bit my lip to stifle my smile at his roaming eyes. "Explain to me why you would put a guard on Milliana, but not Acnologia. Surely, a supposed-to-be-dead dragon would be more of a threat than her, unless there's something you know about Milliana's past to the contrary."
Natsu shrugged, eyes still stuck on me, his chest painfully bare. The darkness of his tattoo wrapped around his neck and shoulder, a beautiful work of art on a practically perfect specimen. It almost seemed unfair.
I had to shake myself a little, getting caught up in looking at his tanned, delicious muscles. The smile on his face told me that my looking did not go unnoticed. I stuck my tongue out at him. Probably not the best idea because his eyes flashed that hypnotising red, and his muscles tensed in a sexy, predatory kind of way.
I squeaked when he took a running start at me, scrambling to the other side of the bed, "Important conversation Natsu! Pay attention. Prioritize!"
His grin was filthy, and it made me shiver, suddenly very glad that we had a bed separating us.
"You got me riled up, you have to pay the consequences now Princess," he purred, before jumping across the bed, which made me stumble back, and run across the room to the bathroom. I slammed the door behind me, stifling my laughter when I flicked the lock and he thumped on the door.
"Unlock the door."
"Not until you answer my question!" I was breathless with anticipation, trying to figure out why there was something inside me begging to be 'captured' by Natsu. It was a dizzying feeling, my skin prickling with excitement.
"I'll answer it once you open the door."
"No, you'll jump on me," I giggled, pressing my forehead against the wood, biting my lip hard.
His chuckle was dirty, full of hidden promises and heat. I closed my eyes, struggling with the need to have my questions answered, when a very large part of me just wanted to play.
"I think it's cute that you don't want me to jump on you."
Damn him.
"I think it's cute that you don't think I will turn on the shower and ignore you."
"You could never ignore me, Lucy," he murmured, his voice slightly muffled by the door. I pressed my ear against it, listening for his breathing.
"Natsu…?" I prompted, narrowing my eyes at nothing when I couldn't hear a peep from the other side.
It was silent for a few incredibly long seconds until a thump made me lean down, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
The doorknob fell off.
I burst out laughing as the door swung open, revealing Natsu, holding the other half of the doorknob in his claws.
He wore a triumphant smile, the idiot. It was enough to make me forget why I had locked myself in the bathroom in the first place. All I could think about was how ridiculous he looked, holding one side of the knob. It made fuzzy, warm feelings rise in my blood, looking at him.
I shook my head.
"Did you seriously just remove your door handle to get to me?"
"Yes. Impressed?"
"It would have been sexier if you just bashed the door down," I admitted playfully, spinning away from him so I could turn on the shower. Natsu's shower was quickly becoming my favourite shower in all of Fiore. It even beat my massive tub back at the Stars.
"You always tell me I have to be gentle with you, and the one time I am, it's not sexy," he complained with a chuckle, those perfect, muscular arms wrapping around my waist. He tugged my body against his tightly.
"I told you to be gentle with me. You can break down as many doors as you want." I tilted my head, biting my lip, smiling when he tucked his head against my neck greedily. Natsu did that a lot - I think he called it scenting - rubbing his cheek against my neck, tickling me.
It was a trait that I seemed to love, so I started to do it back.
"It feels like years since we've…" I whispered, pulling on his arms so he could squeeze me, moaning softly when he did so. The feeling of his muscles tightening around me, trapping me against the warm, steel of his body, always left me dizzy and breathless with need.
"Yeah," he breathed, sliding his tongue along my neck and then sucking on my skin.
I pushed my hips towards him, my stomach filling with liquid heat. I waited until he detached from my neck, before turning around, tugging on his hand softly.
"Come get clean with me."
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"Yeah," he repeated, his eyes flaring red, greedy for me. It set my skin on fire, and made me feel gorgeous, and wanted.
His hands reached up, grasping the top of my dress, which was held together by three small buttons. I leaned into him, my hands running down his chest to his pants, tugging on the tie that held them together. The dress unfastened, falling off my shoulders, stopping at my elbows.
He watched as I pulled my arms free from the dress, the fabric getting caught on the flare of my hips. He reached out, pushing the dress down over my hips. I placed my hands on his shoulder, shuddering when his hands roamed up my back, flicking the catch on my brazier.
I pushed against him, almost naked with only my underwear separating us.
"I love you," I breathed, touching his cheek, drawing his lips to mine and we kissed softly. His hands made their way slowly down my back, the loud pattering of the shower the only noise besides our breathing. I reached on the tip of my toes. His hands squeezed at my ass, slipping his thumbs into my panties.
I bit his lip when he slid them down, and he groaned against my lips.
"I love you too," he murmured. "Every night I thank whatever is up in the sky that you came back to me."
My eyes filled with moisture at his words, tears clinging to my lashes, and I pressed my lips against his once more. The kiss grew hot, open-mouthed and dirty as I led us both into the shower. I had never been so happy that Natsu frequently went commando until we were both under the hot stream of water, with nothing separating us.
He kissed me sweetly, taking his time to flick his tongue against mine, sliding his lips against me. Then he took my breath away with his teeth, fighting me, pulling me against him. It was like two separate personalities trapped in one kiss and I couldn't get enough of it.
He pressed me to the shower wall, the cold stone making my skin prickle, my blood pumping. I watched, shuddering as he slowly fell to his knees in front of me.
"Natsu…"
"Let me savour you, please," he murmured against the skin of my hip, biting down gently, before licking over the spot. I let my head fall back, as he lifted my thigh over his shoulder. I placed my hand tentatively on his head, running my fingers through his steadily dampening hair, as he began to kiss, and suck his way to my core.
I bit my lip to stifle my whimper when his hot tongue slid up my sex, curling around the sensitive ball of nerves a second later. That insane, liquid heat filled me, making my body heavy and light all at the same time. He sucked, stroked and lapped at my core, dipping in, tasting me from the inside out.
My breathing got heavier as I drew closer to ecstasy, my hips rocking slightly in a trance, my grip on his hair tightening. His tongue nudged and stabbed lightly against that blessed spot at the top of my sex, then very lightly, he ran the sharpness of his teeth against it.
White spotted my vision, driving me against that wall hard, as I felt my blood tingle. My power swirled around inside of me, reacting to the growing euphoria.
His tongue slipped into my tight hole, the leg holding me up shaking. Just as I was about to catch my breath, he used his teeth. I cried out, my body buckling and he caught me as pleasure pulsed and exploded along my skin.
"Y-you bastard," I breathed, my head lolling back as he chuckled softly, wrapping his hand in my hair.
Once I was able to function properly again, I realised he had let me slide down the wall until I rested in his lap, the water hitting his back. I shifted, feeling the hardness of his member touch my thigh, poking me insistently.
"I want you," I whispered, raising myself on his lap, using my knees as leverage. My hand sought out his member, stroking the tips of my fingers along in gingerly. His hips jumped, grinding into my sex. A small moan left my lips, and I stroked a little firmer.
"Lucy, I do not have this much control."
I leaned forward, brushing my lips against his, finding my taste on his lips strangely bitter.
"Talk to me."
I moved my hips, sliding the tip of him against me over and over, feeling my body jolt every time.
"What…" he groaned softly, hands clamping down onto my hips, rocking my hips a little so his tip caught against the bundle of nerves.
"Talk to me. In… demonic." I wasn't actually sure if demons called it demonic or something different. But at that point, I could not care less.
"Ești murdar, iubito," Natsu murmured softly, and I gasped, lifting my hips, aligning myself with him. I slowly sunk down, moaning in pleasure, as his hardness filled me. His hands tightened on my hips, groaning, rocking his hips back and forth, creating fireworks of pleasure to spark up my insides.
"La dracu, astau e copilul."
"What are you saying?" I asked, breathless, lifting my hips. He spread his legs a little, seeking traction on the slippery floor.
He shook his head, "You don't get to know… yet."
"Natsu," It started out as a playful complaint but turned swiftly into a lewd whine when he pushed up. His thickness ground against a deep spot. My body seized and my arms shook, trying desperately to keep my noises to a minimum.
"Asta e malo, mișcă-mă."
The growled words made me shudder. We moved together, grinding, slipping until our bodies were slick with sweat and the onslaught of water above. His hands branded me, to the point where I knew there would be bruises. I bit his ear, stifling my cries, as the heat got more potent and the room darkened.
It shuddered into shadows, uncontrollable and wild, as he thrust into my warmth mercilessly.
And I knew, even with my eyes screwed shut, even with the burning haze of pleasure pounding through me…
That it wasn't just the dragon I was making love to.
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His body shuddered as I slowly traced the spots of darkness on his chest, avoiding his eyes.
"This is bad."
"If you think it is, I won't argue." Even though I wanted to. Heaven above, I wanted to. But what sort of argument could I make? Sex made his demon literally poke out. It didn't exactly surprise me. That demon part of him had said so himself, loss of control made it easier to overcome him. Well, Natsu and I didn't seem to exercise control or restraint of any kind when we joined together.
It did make me wonder why there were no spots, or shadow horns during our first time.
"Why isn't it going away?" I asked, curious, observing the flecks and smatters that lined his chest, sunk into his skin like the shadows were pressing from his blood. If they weren't so black, I would have assumed they were oddly shaped bruises.
Natsu's dragon features, the longer hair, the sharper fangs and the slight dust of scales had faded already. I assumed it was because Natsu had excellent control over his dragon, while his demon was trickier. But aside from the more dramatic demon marks, his eyes were still lush green.
"I don't know Lucy," Natsu whispered. "I can feel it. It's just loitering, but, something is keeping the physical effects here."
"Something?"
"It feels… stubborn."
I bit my lip, resisting the mind-boggling urge to compare and state the obvious fact that Natsu was stubborn. The fact that 'it' – I wasn't sure I liked personifying his demon like that but it was better than END – was stubbornly refusing to leave for whatever reason, was just a very clear indication that the differences between the demon and Natsu were not disconcerting at all.
"Well," I lifted my upper body up on my hands, trying for a chirpy disposition.
"No sex until you figure out how to keep the shadows in your shadowy parts." I winked at him playfully, sliding out of bed, collecting his shirt from the floor. I pulled it on, groaning a little at the sweet soreness of a sated sex-drive.
"Lucy, be serious."
I glanced over my shoulder at him, unable to stop my soft, practically purring words.
"Don't think that is for my benefit; I love every part of you. But I feel like you'll have an aneurism if this happens again." I shook my head with a sigh, walking over to the dresser. "The things I do for you Natsu."
His chuckle was a pitiful, choked thing. I got the feeling he hadn't wanted to laugh and smiled at him through the mirror for it. I quickly ran a brush through my hair, knowing if I left it wet and untreated, the knots would try to strangle me later.
For some reason, as I was parting my hair down the middle, Milliana's face flashed through my mind.
"Now, while you are cooling down, tell me about Milliana. Why would you put a close guard on her, per Ultear's request?"
He was silent for a few long seconds, before he said seriously, his tone portraying the truth, "She tried to kill Jellal. Previously, when Ultear was his close guard. And although Erza gave her a second chance, Ultear has never forgiven her. Additionally, she's a wild card."
I spun around, shocked, and he slowly sat up, wincing in what looked like disgust when he saw the marks on his abdomen. I wanted to comfort him, but with the way he avoided my eyes, I choked it down.
I couldn't believe my ears, why would Erza give anyone who tried to kill Jellal a second chance? But I pushed past my shock, knowing that Natsu had more information to give me.
"What do you mean?"
"Ultear can normally see visions of people's futures, or even their intentions. She calls it her 'intuition,' when in reality, it's a very important power that she uses to watch those she's suspicious of. And she told me today that she can't see Milliana's future anymore." I listened eagerly, digesting the information, running the brush through my hair absentmindedly.
My breath seized, "Do you mean that she…she will die soon?"
"Ultear still sees some sort of future in that case, or at least see the intentions of the one she's looking into… But with Milliana, it's black. The only reason her power responds that way, is if they are hiding something. It's enough to make me cautious. So I listened to Ultear and suggested she deliver the message to Father. He'll put a guard on Milliana, and that way, Erza can't dispute it," he explained, his voice guarded. I closed my eyes, nodding because I understood.
It was more than suspicious that Milliana would… close off her intentions, and her future.
"Okay," I breathed out. "Okay. I get it."
"Until we know if she's safe or not, don't be around her alone."
"Got it," I promised. "I'll be careful."
He nodded, satisfied, before falling back onto his mattress. I tied my hair back. Natsu patted the spot beside him.
"Come on."
"You're still spotty," I pointed out, padding over.
He did not look impressed at my descriptive words and I smiled sweetly. Once I climbed in, he tucked me against his side. He was still tense, and still very hot to the touch, but I snuggled against him anyway.
"I don't know how you can love that part of me, Lucy. I don't know how you can stand to be in the same bed with me, when I look like… this."
I shook my head, kissing his chest once. "Remember when neither of us could kiss without sparking our true-forms?" It was one of the things I oddly missed. I hadn't noticed until Erza had pointed it out. Natsu and I were sharing a passionate – if slightly inappropriate kiss – right before I was set to go have tea with Acnologia. She had noted that we could now kiss without the risk of Goth Lucy and Dragon/Demon Natsu popping out.
We had come to the sad conclusion that when I died then came back, my control had grown enough to stop triggering Natsu's.
"Yeah," Natsu replied back softly, because he knew that I wanted the strange disturbance back. It might have been pointless, but it was something that made Natsu and I special from the beginning. It was sentimental, and I wanted to clutch at the strings that held it. But they were already gone.
"And you told me that I was beautiful, even though I looked like a pale corpse?"
"You did not look like a pale corpse."
"I sort of did," I smiled, nuzzling into his side, "But that's not my point. If you could stand to touch, and kiss me then, why couldn't I love and want to be with you now?" I lifted my head, looking into his beautiful, exotic eyes.
"You are always going to be beautiful to me Natsu, no horns nor scales will ever change that."
I think I spend most of my time planning to write, then staring at a blank page of disappointment. #donewithwords
But anyway, moving on from crippling illness and my (male?) cat having kittens (yes, yes I know, how did I not know he, i mean she was pregnant), the next chapter is done! AND GODDAMNIT I WILL GET THE NEXT ONE OUT WITHIN THE WEEK OKAY.
(do not hold that against me, plz)
Question Time:
I abuse the word 'spoilers'.
This is a pre-emptive question because I know, my editor, the amazing A knows and Satan knows I'm going to get "waht was natsu saying? I ned to know, i swear you gotta tell me", here's what he said (disclaimer this is a badly mixed tragedy of romanian & my own spin)
La dracu, astau e copilul – fuck, that's it baby
Ești murdar, iubito – you're filthy, beloved
Asta e malo, mișcă-mă. – that's it malo, move on me
Will we see any M rated scenes any time soon? ;)
(for all questions regarding the banshee and what her evil plan is…. guys I thought you knew me better than that. SPOILERS )
So to addess Acnologia as family would look like Great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather: This isn't even a question but damn, that dedication.
Natsu "fed" off of the darkness & pain that Lucy had accumulated from her resurrection that it would mean Lucy would have an easier time of it and allow her to do it more than other banshees had in the past...? When dealing with the darkness of coming too close with the other side, banshee's that weren't equipped with a dragon or some other creature that can heal that darkness would have just had to deal with it until it naturally left their aura.
When they all have their final showdown with Jude will we finally see Natsu's full dragon form? Because in previous Q/A's you said we would get to see Natsu go full dragon at some point. All I can say is you WILL see Natsu in big dragon form.
Also in one of the early chapters, I think it was briefly mentioned in the chapter of them traveling to Erza's kingdom when Lucy blew fairy dust at her, in some kind of memory flash back that Erza as a child was "learning to fly" does that mean Erza as a fairy has wings?! She has wings, but they move way too fast and are anatomically too thin to actually see. So when she 'flies' it just looks like she's floating/hovering in the air.
How long has Erza been engaged to jellal? Shouldn't they be getting hitched soon or something? Lmao, the assumption that a fae wedding is like a human wedding/ the even better assumption that being 'engaged' in this world is the same as the real world ;')
Is all of Lucy's ally's going to join up with her for the final battle with Jude and the "evil bitch" banshee? Sigh, spoilers.
Will Lucy have to reforge the treaty with zeroed since now they both have technically "died"? With what's about to happen, there won't be time to reforge any treaty.
Will Gray be joining them NOW that Lucy has been brought back? Spoilers!
Will Natsu and his demon side ever get in a "fight" over Lucy? No, that will never happen.
Was he (Jude) initially keeping the throne warm until Lucy was old enough to rule the kingdom herself? Yes, for Lucy's kingdom, he was an interim King until Lucy was ready to take the throne. However, the 'council' Lucy mentioned previously sided with Jude and called a vote saying that Lucy could not take the throne until she a) got herself a husband for 'support', b) exceeded the knowledge of the Queen before her which was her Mom.
Next, how on earth were you doing the years for the journal entries? It started as 38XX in the first journal then jumped to 41XX in the entry Jellal showed her from the 2nd journal, then 38XX when for 1 entry then immediately 37XX the following entry? I referenced the diary numbers and years in the chapter I introduced them. It's all in the notes of chapter 25. I wouldn't pay so much attention to the years (because when I owned a diary, I normally just flipped to any clear random page and that's how I was listing the diaries), but the entry numbers if you want the diaries to make the most sense. Btw, I haven't spoken/informed anyone of the classical Banshee life-span. In war, casualties, and deaths are unfortunately normal. Don't assume that a) all the Banshee's from the war lived to the maximum amount of years or b) that the last 'known' was the actual last. If a Banshee wants to remain hidden/out of public eye, I haven't made any claims saying it was impossible.. :) But to clarify: to Porlyuscia's knowledge, the last known Banshee was over 500 years ago. That doesn't mean that was the last Banshee in existence.
Is it going to come out that that she had a twin sister or best friend that also became a banshee with the affiliation of the mouse that she killed in a fit of rage and/or jealousy due to the lack of her own control and ended up consuming the soul because a little voice inside her head told her that it'd be the only way to gain the control/power she craved? I can't make any comments or speculate what the plan/motive/emotions fueling the other Banshee's life/actions. You'll just have to wait and see ;)
How many more chapters do you think are left? Ten or so? Maybe a little less.
Sooo...did I read right;)? Did END Natsu appear as he heard that Jude called Lucy useless if she doesn't has a husband? ;) sooo I guess he doesn't like that someone would call her that. ;) ;) ;) ;)
Does this mean we'll see Loke again? Like I said in a previous chapter, I dunno if I will be bringing Loke back.
Lucy is the only child of Jude, wouldn't it make sense for Lucy to be the next ruler if Jude is overthrown by the people? Or does Lucy have like, an aunt or uncle that's fighting for it too? It's just Lucy and Jude in the royalty but the 'vote' the public can give out can select nobility to rule.
Is Natsu going to die? 100% NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. How dare u.
Will the Banshee/Evil Bitch be an OC of yours or an actual FT character? She's an FT character.
Can we get more interactions with END Natsu and Lucy? What you saw of demon!Natsu is not the last time you will see him.
Also do you think there will be a possibility of like a side store of one shots of different side adventures like a zeref mavis tea party, gray and ultear, a few dragon mating rituals, Erza and jellal, Lucy and acnologia , and just yukino? I've been playing around w an idea for a while now, but it's not cemented yet. Just have to wait and see :)
Does this mean that if Lucy is no longer "cold" that the nymph side of her is gone? Will this be explained later on? Yes and yes it will be explained in the next chapter.
Back in chapter 6 when natsu spoke to Lucy in another language to comfort her was he speaking in the demonic language which is why he said that he didn't "use that tongue often"? Yes.
May I assume that each banshee, while all having certain banshee powers assumed quirks that are specific to banshees, has individual little powers/ways they can manipulate their powers into special moves that are specific to their animal soul? Yes you can assume that!
Were the other banshees never reborn because the animal souls that define each specific banshee have been trapped with/in the snake banshee? *nervously dodges the question*
Will Aquarius be traveling with them or will she stay at the dragon castle? She will be staying at the Castle, unfortunately.
I'm romanian and I wanted to ask you how come you chose this language to put it in you fic. Oh god, listen, this is very horrible, very jumbulated romanian/bosnian/myownshit. I am sorry if you cringe (like my romanian friend does when I butcher her translations). As for the reason why I chose romanian as one of the languages to morph, I was reading up one day on Romanian dragon/demon lore and honestly, the demons and stories there are the closest to what the demons of this world are like :)
If I didn't answer your question, it's because it contained massive spoilers/spoke about the Evil Bitches plans a little too much :) I'm sorry!
I really hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll see you next time.
My kittens and my surprisingly female cat all wish you the freshest of fresh days
Stay…. ;)
freshprincess x