A/N: Hey guys. Long time no see. Not sure I should bother apologising since it's been so long. But university and a lot of heartbreak kinda has that affect. But I've had a lot more happiness too, as my new boyfriend and I celebrate our 1st anniversary :D
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the new chapter.
Last Time:
When Natsu eventually pulled her out of the cul-de-sac pond, his internal temperature increased, drying them off so that he wouldn't have to let go of her. Natsu carried her nude form back to where shed first awakened and sat, cradling her shuddering body in his lap as he leaned back against the ancient tree with the calming hush rustle of the leaves. He continued telling her how much he loved her until they'd both cried themselves out, and until they both slept, cradled together against the ancient tree that shielded them from the world.
And Now:
Lucy was running, hard and fast in the dark. Faster and faster she pushed, running away from some evil she couldn't see, refused to see. She could feel the hands reaching for her, grabbing her, hurting her, pulling her back into that darkness. She screamed and screamed and screamed…. Then there was a warmth wrenching her from the shadows within her own mind, and he was there, surrounding her. Panting breaths brushed his neck as his hand wiped sweaty blonde strands of hair from her face. She clutched her anchor tight, then shoved him away as fingertips brushed a mark, causing pain to spark through her body. He never let her go, back relaxed his grip and laid her slowly back down on the cot.
She took a deep, shuddering breath. It was a dream. It's over now. Her body trembled. When she opened her eyes she saw Natsu, waiting patiently for her to calm down. She looked away, unable to bear the weight of the love, worry and despair in his watchful eyes. She was broken and had nothing left worth giving to him. He held her hand, his grip wonderfully warm, however uncomfortable. Her body wanted to reject his touch, was being forced reject that which she had wanted most for a long time, and that cut her heart deeply.
Scanning the room, she found Wendy and Lisanna in the doorway. "Oh, you're awake!" Wendy rushed to the bedside opposite Natsu. "Does anything hurt?" The girl placed her small hands over Lucy's wrist and shoulder, examining her body with magic.
"No, nothing painful." Her voice was a hoarse whisper. Natsu leaned over with a glass of water, cradling her blonde head so she could drink. The water was cool and refreshing as it soothed her sore, dry throat and filled her belly.
"How are you, Lucy?" Lisanna asked quietly. Lucy closed her eyes against the barrage of images that berated her mind. She shook her head but gave the girl a weak smile. "If you are feeling up to it, the Master would like for you to come down to the main hall. You have a couple of people here who would like to see you." She just stared blankly at the Take-Over mage before the tingling of her marks registered. Natsu handed her a plate full of fruit which she began to nibble on. She really needed the sustenance if she was going to have the strength make the trip downstairs, but her appetite evaded her still. But she forced herself to swallow a few mouthfuls before having Natsu help her up. He and Lisanna helped her to the door and down the hall to the balcony. Natsu was stiff as a board, his face blankly shadowed.
Upon reaching the bannister, Lucy looked out over the guild hall with exhausted eyes, and immediately spotted Lukas and Nox who were being questioned by Erza and the Master at a quiet table in one corner. The hall was completely silent, so it was quite clear that the rest of the guild was trying to listen in. Both the Slayers eyes snapped up to Lucy, however, and they immediately stood as if to come to her, but she waved them down.
A deep, reverberating hum emanated from the salmon-haired man who still gripped her arm with a surprising gentleness. She leaned into him, whispering "please? This is important." The hum ceased, and he was quiet, wrapping an arm around her waist to pretty much carry her down the stairs to the ground floor. Neither of the other Slayers sat until she was seated at the table beside Erza, Natsu on her other side, the Master at the head of the table.
"How are you feeling Lucy?" She could see Lukas wanting to burst out with a thousand other questions.
"I'm… Ok. Just a little tired." She gave him a weak smile. With one hand she began rubbing her opposite arm, trying to shrink in on herself. She could feel all eyes on her. Natsu was becoming increasingly warmer beside her.
Nox, quiet and observational as always, reached down and pulled something out of his pocket. He placed the small parcel on the table, wrapped it a plain brown sack. She stared at it, confused. "This was left back at the waterfall. Finding it was why I wasn't there for your arrival here."
She reached out for it, and when her hand touched it, a light jingling came from inside at the movement. She froze, her heart beating rapidly as she pulled the parcel closer. It couldn't be… She slowly opened the sack, and silvers and golds glinted at her. Tears began to well and her hands trembled as she pulled the ring of keys from the brown fabric sheathing them. The feel of the familiar shapes of cool metal pushed her tears over the edge, warm, wet rivulets sliding down her cheeks. One key shone brighter than the others for a second, and Loki appeared behind her. His arms immediately enveloped her, his tear stained cheek pressed against hers as he whimpered. "Lucy… Oh Lucy, I'm so sorry! I couldn't… The gate… It wouldn't open. I-I'm s-sorry." He continued bawling. Erza, eyes damp, stood and let the lion sit beside Lucy, his embrace not loosening.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm the one who lost my keys…"
"Lucy. You cannot in anyway blame yourself for that." Nox's voice was firm and unbending. She looked down and away, ashamed regardless.
"I d-don't understand. The gate wouldn't allow me to come. N-None of the others could either."
"It would have been caused by the magic of the crystals at the lake. As for after I retrieved your gate keys, my magic could have also acted as a suppressant because it is in part associated with celestial magic, but of an earthly influence."
There was silence as she absorbed the information. She didn't know what to say. Her hand rested lightly on the top of Loki's head as he sunk to his knees beside her, his arms still wrapped around her thin waist.
In a deep voice, Natsu asked about the marks. Nox replied "they are physical signs that she has been claim-". Natsu jumped up and slammed his fists into the table, causing everyone to jump except Nox, and cutting the dark Slayer off with a snarl and bared fangs.
"Can you remove them?!" A number of mages around the hall inched closer to the table, preparing to restrain Natsu. Lucy cringed away from him at the outburst. He stilled, eyes turning to her and softening, he sat whispering an apology to her.
Nox waited a moment, watching the exchange, before continuing. "Lukas and I can remove ours because we never completed the nec habetur amatores vitae ritual. As you can see, our marks are faded when compared to the others." He indicated to Lucy's neck and wrist. She looked to her wrist, thumb trailing over it lightly. The mark there was still clearly inked into her pale flesh, but it was much lighter than the others. Natsu's expression remained solemn.
"Remove yours. Now." Nox and Lukas both looked to Lucy, though her eyes rested elsewhere. It was clear on each of their faces that they had grown affection towards the Celestial mage. But it was also clear they each knew better, and in this case, it was to leave her in Natsu's care.
Lukas slowly reached across the table, hand up and waiting for Lucy's in return. Natsu rested his own hand on the small of her back, rubbing in small circles meant to appease her nerves. She had to hold herself still. The touch caused her some discomfort still.
She laid a frail hand in Lukas'. He gave it a gentle squeeze, and her a smile before rolling it over to face wrist up. Leaning forward, he lifted it and placed a light kiss on the mark, lips fluttering against her pale flesh that felt almost as if he were whispering, but he made not a sound. A tingling sensation followed as he pulled away, and the mark began to fade until it was no more. She blinked at the now unblemished expanse of skin that was her wrist, tracing the stark blue veins that were once again visible.
"That's it? The link is broken?" Erza seemed oddly surprised at how simple the process seemed.
Lukas smiled sadly at Erza. "In part. Lucy was willing to accept my mark so that I could help her, but she was never to be my intended, and we didn't complete the ritual. So a kiss and words of abdication are more than enough to break our bond."
Nox stood, moving around the table to come stand behind Lucy. Natsu stiffened, not liking the decreased proximity between the strange Slayer and his Luce. "Natsu, I do apologise for making you uncomfortable. Please know that we never intended to take her away from you. This was the only way we could help her."
Natsu said nothing, merely held an intense and unblinking glower.
Nox breathed, placing one hand on Lucy's shoulder and the other on the side of her head, he cradled her skull so it tilted and her blonde locks swept aside to reveal the shadowed star high up on her neck. The Slayer lowered his dark head to her throat, lips brushing against the soft skin his mark marred. Lucy, just know once I do this that I cannot transfer my power to you anymore, but you will feel stronger for having lost our connection. It was not yours to bear. Her eyes fluttered shut at the telepathy.
Thank you.
He kissed the spot, proceeded with the same whispered sensation that concluded with the light tingling. When Nox pulled away, she knew his mark was gone. Natsu, relaxed a little beside her, and took her hand in his much warmer one.
Nox spoke aloud then. "This may have been easy enough for Lukas and I to do, but the others in our Clan have accomplished a finalised version of the Coeuntibus Sollemne. However theirs is not a true connection. They chose Lucy, but she was not theirs to take, and she was an unwilling mate. Therefore the connections binding them all can be broken, just not as simply as ours."
Heat washed over the table, seeming to burn the very air. A bead of sweat rolled down Lukas' neck. "How?" The growl emanated menacingly. Everyone in the room could visibly see the hackles rise on each of the Dragon Slayers in the room.
"They each have to willingly relinquish their ties to Lucy." Lucy closed her eyes, breathing deeply to remain calm but she could feel her body betraying her with light tremors as the faces of each of her 'mates' coalesced in her mind. Loki's arms tightened around her, and the heat produced by Natsu warmed, brushing soothingly against her skin. The faces haunted her though, laughing at the pain they caused.
"… They won't…" The voice was quiet but everyone heard. A melancholy silence followed and all eyes fell. Guilt and shame coloured everybody's eyes because of how they weren't able to do anything to help her. But Lucy forgave them that. There was nothing anyone could have done, because no one knew where she had been. Loki's hair was soft under her fingers.
Natsu bared his teeth. "They won't have a choice."
Lukas looked squarely at Natsu, all sweetness gone from his expression. "Break Saevio, and the others will break too." Hope ignited in Natsu's dark eyes.
A/N: And there you have it. More will come, eventually. I promise I am bringing it all to a close, and there will finally be some sweet sexy lemons from NaLu after everything is resolved. Please don't forget to R&R, my wonderfully faithful fans.
