Chapter Thirty-Six

Their Peace

"In The Name of Love" Bebe Rexha & Martin Garrix

I smiled, watching the fight taking place only a few metres in front of me, amused. Erza dodged the array of flying sphere's speeding towards her with ease, her one eye rolling at Ultear's maniacal laughter.

Despite the eye-roll, I could tell Erza was just happy that she was spending time with Ultear. The witch in question had been so busy lately, that whenever I saw Erza try to stop and talk, Ultear was already madly dashing away.

When I questioned her about it, she had waved it off and told me that she was so busy making the secret preparations for our trip, she didn't have time to talk with anyone.

I found that hard to believe since Natsu and I had woken up to her crawling drunkenly in our bed, demanding cuddles of the highest order.

I shuddered a little, briefly reminded of a hammered Ultear, goading Natsu into a small fight that left his head through the stone wall. I couldn't believe how much stronger Ultear got when she was drunk, but she had explained numbly through her haze of alcohol, talking about her 'drinking' teacher, a troll. Named Cana. Whom she met downing four barrels of mead in a row.

The idea of a woman, even a troll-woman, drinking that much alcohol was so foreign to me that I pushed it from my thoughts.

Moving on, Ultear's excuse had sat funny with me for a few hours before I realised. She wasn't hanging around Erza because of the prickly, obvious distrust between her and Milliana. I had spoken with the strange cat-woman a few times, and whilst the vibe I had gotten from her wasn't inherently bad, it was… odd.

Sometimes her smile looked too distant, to false.

When I had gently approached Erza about it, she had told me that Milliana was used to putting on an act and sometimes she got too wrapped up in her own mind to stop it. It made me wonder if we were the ones being played this time around.

Ultear's soft grunt made my awareness swim back to the surface as she stumbled back, holding the orb to her stomach. I smiled when Erza chuckled softly, clearly amused with Ultear's horrified expression.

"Don't throw my balls around so roughly Erza!"

I snorted, holding a hand to my mouth as they both turned to me.

I bit my lip stifling my laughter, "Sorry, it's just… Balls are meant to be handled delicately. At least, that's what Natsu tells me."

Ultear's horror was forgotten as a bout of laughter left her mouth, making her stumble forward. Erza appeared to be having a mini-crisis, her mouth set in an amused grimace at my words.

When Ultear had gained her composure once again, the training continued and I took the time to wander around, watching them closely. My fighting style – if you could call my inexperience that – was much closer to Ultear's.

Perhaps when I changed my form into a lion, I was willing to get a little closer like Erza but watching Ultear dodge attacks and use her power to send those orbs made me believe I was better suited to take note of Ultear's style instead.

I was so absorbed with watching her dodge efficiently, I was startled when two warm, familiar arms wrapped around my stomach. A chin nestled against my shoulder, placing a delicate kiss on my neck and I shivered.

I could feel Natsu's smile.

"You got up early. Eaten yet?"

"A young dragon by the name of Brax brought me something. Which was strange. How did he know I was hungry?"

"I told all the dragons that frequent the castle that you had the appetite of a Chupacabra and they should always offer you something to eat whenever they see you." He informed me dutifully and I turned my head to face him, shocked.

"That explains the reason why he gave me an entire lamb leg. Why would you do that?" I asked, aghast and humiliated.

Natsu raised his eyebrow, "You get so wrapped up in drama and stress you forget to eat. Now this way, you'll have copious quantities of dragons offering you meat left, right and centre."

"You know, if I was a different girl, that sentence would imply something scandalous."

Natsu smirked, "A secret fantasy I don't know about?"

I shook my head at him, "I can barely handle one handsy dragon. An entire flight would be too much to bear."

"You'll have to get used to it, you'll be their Queen soon enough." A nervous, excited swarm of butterflies exploded in my stomach at his non-chalant words. Natsu had been making more and more betrothal-esk comments lately, and whilst I repeatedly told myself to keep a calm mind, it wasn't working.

Imagining living with Natsu here for the rest of my life, was quickly becoming one of my favourite fantasies. Of course, the dream didn't last long when I realised, once, and if, I fixed the discourse my Kingdom was in, I still had my own royal duties to deal with.

It was the fact that I had been gone so long, and living without those responsibilities made me forget I had my own Kingdom to look after. To help heal, and to grow.

A headache pressed on my head, a reoccurring thing that Porlysucia – when I checked in with her – estimated it was stress related. She didn't seem concerned but did leave me with a firm order to check back in if the medicine she had given me didn't ease it.

Natsu gave me a soft squeeze, reminding me that I didn't respond to his question. I laced my fingers with his, leaning back with a soft sigh.

"Are you okay?"

"Acnologia keeps hunting me down and interrogating me." I informed him, ignoring the other pressing matters in my mind, "He's literally hunting me down. It's becoming exhausting to dodge him."

He chuckled, "Just tell him 'no', Luce. Clear, simple and stern."

"You clearly haven't been gotten the famous stubborn stare yet. It's so intrusive, I feel like he can read my every thought." I shuddered playfully.

Natsu nuzzled the side of my neck, a low growl grumbling from his throat. Goosebumps raised, my stomach tightening in arousal and I bit my lip, stifling my pleased moan.

"If anyone can do it, it's you. But if you want me to talk to him…" He left the offer open, and I wisely knew that getting Natsu to handle it was a horrible idea. Especially since Erza had informed me of a breakfast mishap-slash-fight when they had run into each other two days ago.

"No. I can handle it. Just let me avoid him for a bit longer."

I stared at King Laxus awkwardly, holding the last journal of my ancestor Leora to my chest. He lifted his eyes from the book he was reading and nodded politely but said nothing. Considering this was the first time I had been alone with him, I was unsurprisingly nervous.

King Laxus had this wild electric dominance around him. I guess it came with being a King. But it was enough to put me on edge, and slink to a seat opposite him. I figured since this was Igneel's private study, it would be empty.

Actually, Igneel, had assured me it was empty.

Which meant I either got played in an awkward encounter by my hopeful father/dragon in-law or King Laxus wasn't supposed to be in here.

Seeing as Natsu had warned me that his mischievous, aggravating streak was a by-product of his father, I was guessing it was the former.

Once I sat down, I looked down at the journal. Erza had given me the run-down of the book contents – she had been reading it after I was killed to find clues – and told me that a lot of it was non-legible. As I flipped through the pages, it was disheartening to see that she was right.

Only a few fragments of words were readable, and they didn't make much sense.

I was struggling to understand one of the only paragraphs, fighting back a sudden wave of exhaustion that rifled through my body. I had been getting that a lot lately, feeling tired, worn out. Done with the responsibility that rests on my shoulder.

It was all so heavy. So suffocating…

My power inside me that had been pulsing lightly sunk further into the cave, as if it was retreating from the mood I was slowly being sucked into. In a strange moment, I saw it turn grey, then black. But when I opened my eyes – unaware I had closed them – I looked inside me and the power was the same white mist it always was.

Figuring that I was just tired, and I was imagining things, I pulled and morphed it into my lion form. It comforted me greatly to see my lioness, fur that beautiful white colour with that queenly golden shine. I was watching her sink down to her knees, resting her head on her paws, when King Laxus's voice pulled me from the cave in my mind.

"Our treaty is not broken with death."

I frowned, confused as to where this had come from, "Pardon?"

"Unlike Lord Zeref's treaty, ours is not broken with death. My kingdom still defends and supports you, Princess Heartfilia."

It was a very odd statement. I found it… peculiar. Why would they purposely make the treaty bound after death? Ultear's voice echoed through my head, a memory riffling up into my mind, well, dear Lucy, when it doubt, ask.

It was my favourite advice I had ever gotten from Ultear, because, strangely enough I felt that it was the most 'Ultear-like' advice she had ever given me.

"Do you mind if I ask why you made it unbreakable even in the case of death?"

"A very old, and powerful woman told me to. In fact, she made it very clear." King Laxus informed me firmly, "She wished to come here and meet you herself but her health is not as it once was."

"You are talking about…"

"Mavis Vermillion, ex-Queen of the Thundering Wilds, yes."

I stared at him for a very long second, my mind buzzing with the implication of it. If Mavis Vermillion explicitly told King Laxus to put that clause in that might mean she could have knowledge about Banshee's.

"I must thank her when I get the chance to meet her." I was careful with my words, polite and a touch awkward, not sure how to take his stoic face. I had only seen King Laxus smile once, and that was in the presence of Natsu and Igneel. They had both been teasing me about dragon ceremonies and King Laxus uncharacteristically chimed in.

It was a ghost of a smile but it showed me how much something so small could affect a person's facial features.

"I'm sure you will. After… After you sort out your kingdom, of course."

A beat of nerves raced down my spine. It was a seemingly innocent comment. But it held a prying tone. The same that I had heard Igneel and Porlyuscia use. Acnologia just went straight for gold but I was beginning to believe that most of the older royals were all taught the same interrogation tactics.

"You have a very intense aura, King Laxus." I informed him dutifully, needing to fill the pointed silence, and he chuckled softly.

Despite my anxiety about where this conversation might lead, I closed the book and smiled slightly. I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath in. Luckily, the pressure of multiple Royals was slowly lessening by the day. Eileen had taken off two days ago, with the promise to return after she checked on her Kingdom and officials.

Gray had decided to stay behind, as Queen Mika entered a very lenient, very crafty temporary treaty with King Igneel on her husband's behalf. When I thanked her, and hoped that I wouldn't cause more turmoil than I already had, she simply laughed. It was the eyes of a woman that knew all and was not afraid that made me feel slightly better.

Although Natsu had ordered Zeref off his lands, Igneel had to rescind it. Natsu hadn't been at all happy but I understood. Natsu assaulted a very volatile royal member. Even if it was in my defence, his station was higher than mine since I was a wanted felon.

Igneel had luckily worked in our favour, telling Zeref to remain in the Northern compounds, away from Natsu's anger. I hadn't seen him, or Jackal since the incident. I missed Jackal.

And that left King Laxus, who had sent his Grandfather ex-King Makarov back to his Kingdom to check if his affairs were in order. I had wondered why he wasn't running for the hills already, why would he stay when it was obvious, things could only get worse before they got better.

I shook off that dark thought, my smile dimming as a brush of cold played in my mind. My lioness shoulders tensed, baring its teeth at the dark thought. Then it vanished, without a trace. As if I had never thought of it. My lioness looked distrustful big eyes glancing to and fro, searching before hunkering back down for her cat nap.

I was beginning to conclude I might be breaking under pressure and a long bath might be best.

"Your Kingdom is very quiet." King Laxus spoke again, his tone thoughtful, as he looked out the window, "Considering the uproar King Jude made when you left your home, it is eerily without noise of redemption."

I also looked out the window, trying to also be majestic and thoughtful, "Yes. I have noticed that as well."

"And you've also begun to prepare for investigations into the silence?"

"Yes, but they won't be-" I stopped speaking, looking up at him before grinning, slightly ashamed, "You're good. First royal that has been able to make me crack."

His lips twitched, "I am honoured, Princess Lucy. But I feel the need to tell you, plans need to be discussed at length before they can be acted on. It is not only your future you hold in the balance."

Treaties with three Kingdoms that could fall if I mess it up.

If I am unable to kill the Banshee that caused such pain.

Naïve and hopeless to think I could even kill a random person when destroying Mard Greer had left me so tormented.

I batted away the darkness with ease, feeling slightly ill for a second than it washed away like dirt under a warm stream of water.

"I am aware of that, King Laxus." I promised, because Natsu and I had already discussed this in length with Erza. Since they were the two that first joined the defence for me, they were going to be the most affected.

When he looked doubtful, I smiled kindly, knowing what he saw. I was naïve, and young. So young. I didn't know how the world worked yet, I had only a brief taste of pain compared to other souls.

"Acnologia once told me that war is all about hope." I stated softly, my mind in a different, clouded space, "You hope you are doing the right thing. You hope that the orders you are given will help in some way. You hope that your actions are strong, and purposeful. It may be naïve to say, but, I hope that I can make this right. Whether that be to give up my Kingdom to a predecessor, and make it a governed city rather than a Kingdom or allow my people the right for vengeance."

"You believe this is a war? Who is your enemy? Your father?"

"My enemy is me." I told him, "I was the one who destroyed my Kingdom because a lack of control. My power killed innocents, my own people. It caused my father to go insane. It caused the stars to fall across my wasted home. It made a peaceful place into a den of anger, and greed. Of darkness. How will I forget that without me, none of this would have happened? So, the responsibility, the lives of those who are left and the souls of those who have fallen, are on my shoulders. Nobody understands that more than I do, King Laxus." I took a deep breath in, feeling my lioness react lightly to my anger, and she growled lowly. The noise almost made it out of my mouth, but I choked it down, my words unable to stop.

"Now that I know what to do, and how to fix it, I can only hope that my actions and my orders, are enough. War is a very heavy word for this discussion. It implies armies and treasures. Powerful friends in powerful places that can finance, that can protect and help you fight." I smiled a little, "I have no need for your treaty, or anyone else's. It's a beautiful thought, an open friendship to protect me, but in the end, I simply don't need it. I have no army. I have a family, and that is it. That's all I need."

Once I finished speaking, I wondered where it all came from. I hardly ever talked about my thoughts anymore. Ultear had been worried previously that I would crack under pressure so for her sake, I didn't tell her how much of that pressure had been building up. Erza had been so busy, keeping everything a secret from Jellal and her mother.

Natsu… well Natsu just knew. He could see me fraying, my sanity slipping from time to time. Going to a darker place. To an angrier place. Acnologia warning that Banshee's that use their emotions to fuel their Scream go insane was so strongly imprinted in my mind, it was difficult to ignore the twinge of fear that echoed through me.

I shook myself lightly, refocussing my attention and gave him a small smile, standing up, "I apologize for distracting you from your reading."

As I walked towards the door, feeling seven-billion times foolish for almost admitting my plan, his words stopped me, "Earlier, you said I had a very intense aura."

I turned slightly so I could look at him, nodding, and he opened his book, but spoke to me truthfully.

"Well, consider this something else we have in common, then." He murmured, flicking the page over, and I gulped, suddenly nervous. I tried not to ask what I knew he was waiting for, but it burst from my lips uncontrollably.

"What else do we have in common?"

"I'll tell you some other time." He waved it off, leaving me wildly curious, before turning his head back to the book, "Until then, Princess Heartfilia."

"Lucy." I blurted, my hand rested against the door, my eyes stuck on the small swan feather clipped behind his ear. That looked so much like Lisanna's feather, only much shorter…

His steely blue eyes drifted over to me, and he tilted his head, "Laxus, then."

"Oh my god." I whispered, my eyes going wide, as I stared around the glittering room. Natsu smirked proudly, puffing his chest out smugly. I ignored him for the time being, eyes slowly trailing over the heaped piles of gold, the dangling trinkets of diamonds and the cluttered masses of priceless gems. The room was huge, but with this much treasure, this much disorder, it felt tiny.

I was gazing blankly, stunned at the strange artefacts and objects – are those bones? – when a slip of white fabric caught my attention. It was hanging off a chalice at the top of a mountain of treasure, gold reflecting off the very light, eggshell fabric.

I hesitantly followed the narrow path around the piles of gold, stopping to run my fingers over the material.

"Is this the dress I wore in the bath?" I had wondered where that had gone to, but it was a fleeting thought. I was soon dressed in warm clothes that didn't go see through when exposed to water. But the idea that Natsu had nabbed it before we left on our mission made me deal with a lot of love and amazement flowing through my system.

"Yeah." Natsu stated softly, his attitude a lot less confident. I assumed because I had picked it out straight away, and I was also surprised. You'd think I'd be more distracted by the numerous sparkling treasure around.

When I didn't reply, he cleared his throat, "Dad was going to throw it out… So, I just… Man, the look on his face still makes me angry."

I glanced back at him with a small, knowing smile, "I think it's… sweet. Romantic, strangely."

"You don't call me romantic often."

"Whenever you try to be romantic, you always go into a tangent about food, so I forget." I turned back to the dress, letting my fingers slide against the soft fabric before moving along. He followed me silently as I roamed through his hoard, careful not to disturb the piles, in case he got upset.

I had been told by the book Natsu had given me on our trip that Dragons were very particular about their hoards and if a dragon let you see theirs, you were supposed to be courteous and respectful.

It was when I was leaning down, peering at some ancient-looking scrolls that I noticed Natsu frowning at a far pile to the right. I looked up at him from my crouched, balanced position on the floor, confused.

"What's wrong?"

"Somebody moved that gold plate."

I followed his line of sight, catching sight of the gold plate that was balanced at the very top of a heap.

"How can you tell?" I asked, curious as he easily navigated along the small path to the pile, reaching up to clasp it. He gave me a little grin that was childlike and wholesome all at once.

"It may look like a mess to you, but everything has its place Lucy."

"So, who do you think moved it?" I giggled, watching him place it on the pile opposite, at the very top, looking satisfied at its new position.

"Dad's the only one with a key but I wouldn't put it past Wendy to sneak in. They are always messing with my stash. Bastards."

I laughed at the idea of Igneel letting Wendy in, and her moving one tiny, seemingly insignificant thing, just to get on Natsu's nerves.

He was rearranging some more pieces so I continued to look, noticing how he watched me out of the corner of his eyes the whole time. It oddly didn't make me nervous, but I could tell he was. I wondered what was going through his head, but left him to sort it out himself.

I was peering at a some very old looking relics when Natsu appeared next to me, causing me to jump. He snorted at my movement before showing me a slim, golden bracelet. It was solid gold cuff, with a small red jewel placed strategically in the middle.

"I'm not wearing any jewellery you give me until after we fix my Kingdom." I informed him, stopping him from speaking, "I don't trust you."

"What?" He barked, "What do you think of me, Luce? Do you think I'd really attach a magical bracelet to your wrist without telling you it's a formal acceptance to a proposal?"

I stared at him blankly before turning away from the offending piece of jewellery, "Yes. That's exactly what I think you would do." He continued to complain as I moved along from the relics, half-heartedly listening to his protests.

"I just want to see you wearing one of my treasures, is that too much to ask?"

"Yes."

"Lucy~" My eye twitched rapidly as he groaned my name in that annoying way he knew I hated. When he stretched the 'y' out as far as possible, I spun around and smacked his chest. He grinned smugly, he held up the bracelet hopefully.

"I'm not wearing that. I get to choose."

His eyes narrowed, as if he was going to argue from he sighed, "Fine. Go on, choose something." I smiled sweetly at him, triumphant before searching the piles tentatively for something small, and very subtle to wear. I was gently picking through one heap, ignoring Natsu beside me as he put everything back exactly where it was before, when a glimmer of something caught my eye.

I stood up, moving over to the pile of gems and jewels, carefully pulling some to the side to grab the beautiful silver accessory buried only a few inches deep. Natsu loitered over my shoulder as I pulled it out, eying the ring curiously.

Then I stood up and let Natsu see my choice, "I want this."

He stared down at the ring, which was a beautiful silver, with a glimmer of golden dust swirled through the base. It was an odd design, like flames of opal and red, or maybe teeth, curling over a small pearl. And despite its intricate curls and flare, it was small. Almost subtle, if you weren't looking for it.

"Out of everything in this place, you choose that?" Natsu muttered under his breath petulantly, "Lucy, you know how much I hate when Igneel is right." I rolled my eyes, ignoring his pointless chatter before lifting it up to the light, noticing the inscription on the inside of the band.

"What's this say?" I asked, curious and bummed that I still hadn't picked up draconic language yet. Ultear took to it easily, but I was beginning to think she cheated somehow and already knew it beforehand.

"It says 'put me back down, or suffer the moustache-wrath.'."

I smacked my hand against his stomach this time, "Will you stop mentioning that? You are only jealous because you can't grow a moustache."

"A pink moustache would be ridiculous Lucy, and you know it. Stop emasculating me."

I only rolled my eyes, and slipped the ring on my finger, ignoring the way Natsu peered over my shoulder. He looked pleased but oddly… troubled by my selection. I decided to do the nice thing, and ease his mind. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and snuggled into his chest.

Once he sighed softly, the warmth of his breath brushing over my hair, I spoke, "You look constipated."

His confronted expression along with a soft meow made me laugh. I turned around, noticing Happy slink out from underneath an iron throne – where the hell did he get that – licking his paws. He had followed us in here, after being near inseparable from Natsu for the last two days. It turns out Wendy had taken him to her Kingdom, to visit her own cat a week before we all arrived here.

"See? Even Happy agrees."

"Careful with her," A voice swam through the darkness, familiar, hushed. My body was heavy, the usual comfort of Natsu's warmth and soft bedlinen lost.

"She's pretty hot for a prissy princess," Another voice, one I didn't recognize, drawled out. I felt the unwanted, heaviness of someone's hand on my backside, giving it a rough, painful squeeze, "I wonder if V will let me play with her for a bit."

Bile crawled up my throat and I tried to move, to open my eyes. My body wouldn't listen, the makings of something artificial and foreign making my limbs useless. I felt my eyes open but I was greeted with darkness, the feel of smooth cloth wrapped around my head, over my eyes. Fear climbed up my throat and I swallowed the pathetic sound I wanted to make.

It was like my nightmare.

"Let's just focus on getting her out of the Moltens. With amount of body guards, she has, we have a very narrow opportunity of time."

The words sent a jolt of terror down my spine and I pleaded with my arms to move, my body to resist. I was being kidnapped. I opened my mouth to scream, to alert the closest person when nothing came out.

Nothing.

Leora's words swam through my head and I felt a wave of nausea run through me. I couldn't scream because I had no sight. I hadn't realised that it mean that I wouldn't be able to speak, to shout, to anything. I tried to think back in other circumstances where my eyes had been closed, realising I was able to at least speak then.

What had changed?

Had they drugged me?

"Calm down Milliana," The man drawled, making my heart turn cold, "Any dragon gives us troubles, I'll clip their wings."

Ultear was right about not trusting her…

But, who was taking me? Who was 'V'?

"You don't understand Erigor," She snapped back, "The loyalty she has among the dragons and creatures alike is astounding…"

"Maybe they wouldn't be so loyal if I broke her first." 'Erigor' chuckled, the noise dark and full of menace. I felt the air around me shift, and cold tiles touched my thighs. He set me down, and I could feel the moment my head thudded back against the wall.

"Erigor, she is engaged to the Prince of this Kingdom. Do not-"

"She's going to be dead soon Milliana," Cold, rough fingers grabbed my jaw, and I heard the pathetic, disgusting sound of a zipper, "Might as well get my knocks off. Just keep a look-out for me."

"No. We do not have time for this."

The silence was deafening after that, but we weren't moving. I was still seated on cold floor, his fingers tightening around my jaw steadily.

Then I felt it.

It pulsed through my soul, that familiar, disgusting magic. But this time was warmer. Letting me know it was there, that I wasn't alone. That he, out of all my family and all my friends, was watching.

If I focused hard enough, I could tug on that magic, like it was a rope or a lifeline that connected us. Begging for help, trying to convey everything I was feeling. I wanted this mans, this monster's hands off me. I wanted to look Milliana in the eye, and let my Scream rip her apart.

The pulse of magic that returned was… promising. I could see his face in my head, deep soulless red eyes, shaggy black hair. It promised that I would do those dark things, and it held no judgement for the fact I wanted it.

And in that sense, I strangely felt a connection I never thought I would ever feel with Zeref.

In some twisted way, he understood his darkness, he revelled in it and it never made him feel guilty for it. So different from Natsu, as guilt was his immediate reaction to anything concerning his demon.

"I either have her here, or you later. Decide."

Erigor's threat was cruel, speaking of personal issues between them and sickness crawled through me, a slight twinge of pity for Milliana. My intuition told me that her experiences with Erigor were not good ones. My head moved an inch. Relief swam through me, and I hoped they weren't watching me when I began to move my head slightly, trying to loosen the bind over my eyes.

A warning vibrated through the power currently attached to me, making the hair of my skin prickle. It amazed me that Zeref could use his power this way, since I had assumed he could only make people feel pure terror.

I stopped moving exactly when Milliana whispered, "Is she awake?"

"Don't avoid the decision, kitty." Erigor's disgusting words made my stomach roll but I remained still, my body lax – even though if I had full control of my limbs, I would be tensing.

"No, I'm serious. I swear she just moved."

Cold breath brushed over my face, and fear jammed up, up with nowhere to go.

"Hmmm." The noise was suspicious before a hand latching onto my breast made my blood turn cold.

"Erigor!" He groped, and molested my chest cruelly, to the point where I could feel tears prickling my eyes. It felt disgusting, and degrading. Being touched by someone that wasn't Natsu. Being touched without my permission.

He took his hand away after a few torturous seconds, smirking smugly, "Her breathing didn't change, so she's definitely not awake. Pity, I'm sure she's a great screamer." I had only realised than that the power Zeref was using to convey his presence to me had turned calming, and that was the only reason my breathing hadn't faltered and fastened.

He'd saved my life.

When the calming faded, I waited a few seconds before beginning to move my head, listening to Milliana plead with him to wait. To let them get out of 'enemy territory' however, Erigor had sunk his teeth into wanting me here. The bind around my eyes began to loosen slightly, a very dim glow of light pouring in.

A loud crack made me stop moving and Milliana's painful gasps were enough to make me realise that I needed my sight back now.

"You will not assume that you can order me around, kitten." Erigor snarled, "I will have her here. You cannot stop me."

"Fine." Milliana gasped out and I began to move my head again, my heart racing in fear, "Do what you want with her, I don't care." I could practically feel his smugness poison the air, and the bind slipped, my movements loosening the knot at the back.

The glow of light sunk into my eyes, and I moved my neck a little more, letting the bind slide down to the bridge of my nose. The minute I saw them both, standing a few feet away, I bared my teeth angrily and my power snapped.

A violent shock wave pulsed out of me, slamming them both into the walls. I still couldn't move my limbs, only my head, and victorious anger went bone deep. I saw Zeref move from out of the corner of my eye, appearing in front of the tall, bald man, grasping him by the neck. He lifted him up, his body encased in shadows, and his smile was a venomous, evil thing.

Erigor struggled for a second, clearly disorientated from the blow, before going stark still. His eyes widened in fear, rolling back as his body thrashed once, then went still. I looked away, catching Milliana's frightened face.

"Princess Lucy, I-" I squinted my eyes at her, fuelled by rage, humiliation and disgust. My Scream tore out of me, shaking the ground, echoing through the dark tunnels we were currently in. It slammed into her, pressing her to the wall, barrelling through her body.

Unlike Mard Greer, she made no noise. Not even a peep. She just went silent, eyes wide, mouth gaping open. And she died very quickly. One minute, she was twitching in agony. The next, she was nothing. Dust and a pile of pathetic clothes.

The soft brush of the blindfold made me tear my eyes away from the pile of dust on the floor, to Zeref's as he crouched down opposite me. His face was blank, careful, and I whispered, my voice hoarse.

"It makes no sense why she turned to dust."

"Old power like yours scarcely makes any sense. All the knowledge has been lost to the centuries." He used the blindfold to wipe my cheeks, and under my nose, which prompted me to ask.

"Blood?"

"And tears." Zeref informed me and I nodded, taking a deep breath in.

"They've done something to my body. I can't move it."

He surveyed it with his dark red eyes, before asking, "Can I check for any puncture wounds?"

I nodded slowly, and watched as he lifted my arm, checking both before tilting my head both ways, searching. He checked my legs before leaning back, "I can't find any obvious ones. We might be need a more intimate search with Natsu."

I closed my eyes, imagining his reaction to the events, before asking reluctantly, "Can you take me to him?" Obviously, I wasn't going to be walking anywhere and since Zeref had been practically banished to the Northern side because of our little run-in the other day, I was doubtful he was going to help me anymore.

That thought was pushed to the side when the air around us crackled, and then went completely still. Zeref glanced around slowly, before frowning, "That is alarming."

"What? What is it?" I asked, winded. It felt like the air was being slowly drawn from the room, and something was pressing on my chest, holding me down.

"I had assumed the minute your Scream was released, he would already be here." Zeref murmured under his breath before turning to me, "I cannot hear anything above us." I looked up the roof, confused before realising that he was right about Natsu. Natsu had amazing hearing. If I Screamed, he would be able to hear me and find me within an instance.

Dread settled into my stomach, distracting me from the shock of Zeref hooking his arms around my back and under my knees. He lifted me easily, his movements careful, inching towards the staircase that I believed Milliana and Erigor used.

"Anything?" I whispered, feeling stupid for asking. If he had heard anything, he would have said so. He shook his head anyway, answering my question with some more nerve-wracking silence.

"Are you able to move your body yet?"

I tried, and my teeth clenched down in concentration. My fingers twitched and curled slightly, and I flinched at my own uselessness.

"Sorry."

"I only ask because it is hard to fight and run at the same time."

"Why would we need to fight and run?"

Zeref's dark red eyes gazed down at me blankly, a hollow look in his face. My heart hiccupped weakly in my chest at the look and I stared up at the thick wooden door, wondering how Milliana had snuck me so far down without anybody noticing.

"Lucy, I don't think you understand…" Zeref murmured, "Jackal is not answering me. There is no sound of anyone above us. In fact, the only thing I can hear is a faint ringing."

"Ringing?" I gulped, tightening my grasp on his shoulders, "What does it sound like?"

Zeref began up the stairs without answering me, but his silence was enough for terror and fear to prickle at my senses, my power rising into a large wave. Poised, ready for attack.

But I could have never been ready for the sight that met us.

I am so unbelievably sorry for the extremely late update. I mean, it's been a month? I don't know where the time flew, but I experienced the most dreadful, crippling motivation-loss/writers block over that time. To be completely honest, I know how this story was going to end, and how things were going to play out but staring at the blank page, it was like my brain refused to put it into words?

I don't even know if anyone is still around to listen to my ramblings...

Either way, I appreciate everyone that popped in ~ on here and on my Tumblr and left kind messages/worried little reminders. You guys rock and I am so grateful to have such amazing readers like you. If anyone is still around, please leave a review saying 'hi!' or even letting me know what you think about this chapter. Obviously, there's a lot of things happening and it's gearing up to the final battle.

I can definitely say, there are only seven chapters left of this fic, and the whole story (including heart-breaking epilogue) will be out before November 20th.

The next chapter will either be out this Saturday, or next Tuesday. Since we are getting so close to the end of the book, I won't bother putting up my usual 'earlier chapter' bargain. I think we know each other well enough now to know better.

Once again, so so sorry! In the last chapter, I will be shouting out everyone who commented or messaged me as a massive thank-you.

(obviously since we are getting to the last chapters, I can't answer any questions but you can always give them to me and if I think it needs to be added in the story for relevance, I will)

I hope you guys are all safe, and don't crucify me too harshly.

/ one question I will ask because it'll drive me crazy if I don't is, some pointed out the fact that Lucy was in the shower then she 'slid out of bed'. That's a short time skip dearies. I'll have to go back in and make sure I've added the line but yeh.

Stay fresh honeys.

Love, Fresh x