-Chapter 14-
"You are very naughty," Safra said panting on the cool tile.
"You said anytime or anywhere," Vander replied lazily from her side enjoying the flush settled over Safra's body. Gods does he love sex.
She chuckled, "Yes but you just wanted to trap Lucy in there while Cristoff bathed knowing she would be too uncomfortable to walk past."
Vander smirked, "She needs exposure. The little princess has been left alone and untouched in her tower for too long."
"Denying the physical need to bond will only get harder for both until neither can control themselves. That's when dragon mating gets dangerous," Safra informed turning on her side eyes trailing down Vander's tanned skin. Just watching the way his abs flexed as he breathed had her desire for him building up again. "So I agree that she needs help. Maybe I should speak with them both on the matter?"
"That actually might help. I think Cristoff wants to get back to Magnolia before they mate."
"That is most stupid. While we have no records of the process for slayer mating since most died in war before they could, if they are similar to dragons both of them will turn more violent the longer they wait."
"Violent? Violent how?" Vander asked turning to his side so he could look at her while she spoke.
"Violent as in maim or kill all perceived threats that might get in the way of their mating."
"So what? Cristoff will start killing off all the men anywhere near Lucy if they don't start having sex?"
"He is a large attractive male so men will naturally keep their distance from her and if they do not he'd be more inclined to injure not kill to assert his dominance. I am more concerned Lucy will be the one to kill the women around her since female dragons do not play games and only go for the kill. He is a lunar dragon slayer and the full moon is 10 days away. If he is at all like his mother women will seek him out and Lucy will defend her claim aggressively if they have not mated by then," Safra explained.
"But Lucy isn't a dragon," Vander supplied skeptically.
"And for that there is hope. My knowledge is solely that of dragons and not slayers but she was born to be his mate so she might have been born with the instincts."
"What are you guys talking about?" Cristoff asked standing fully dressed in the doorway. He'd only caught the last half of what Safra had said - the bathroom was surprisingly well sound and scent-proofed.
Safra closed her rob and took Vander's proffered hand up. "What did your dragon parent tell you to do when you found your mate?" Safra asked playing a little bit ignorant of his parentage.
"That I was stupid if I did anything but mate her right away," he said not sure where this line of questioning was going as he followed her to the seating area. He took a seat on the sofa with Lucy next to him as Vander sat in the armchair and pulled Safra in his lap.
"Did she tell you what would happen if you did not?" she queried.
"She said that not taking her would likely end in death." He looked a little worried saying that out loud. He didn't want Lucy to feel any more pressure but had a feeling this was something they both would need to know.
"We'll die?" Lucy asked reaching for Cristoff's hand.
"Yes." "No." Both answered at the same time leaving a confused Cristoff, shocked Lucy and knowing Safra.
"You may have been told stories of dragons dying without their mates, yes?" she asked and saw both mages on the couch nod. "Those cases are rarer than you think. As I have said my people have safe guarded the next generation of dragons and have kept detailed records on information regarding them so we might raise them appropriately when the time comes. These records say dragons only die due to the loss of their mate for one of two reasons: they are not strong enough to protect their young by themselves and die in their effort or they never got the chance to have young and do not belong to a tatsu, a clan or family," she clarified for Lucy, "so they no longer have a reason to live. Both cases involve a mated pair." The fairy waited a beat before continuing, "What your sire was likely referring to when she said that death was likely to follow if you waited to mate was that your mate might kill potential threats to your bond. As I told Vander just now, males are more likely to maim and warn. Given the power you have most will not approach Lucy. Females behave differently. They are more likely to covet a man more when seen with another woman and attempt to steal him away so female dragons do not warn these threats, they kill."
"So my mother told me but Lucy isn't a dragon," Cristoff said.
"That's what I said," Vander supported his brother.
"Ask Lucy what she would do," Safra said. She'd caught a look that spoke death when she had only made mention of a threat.
"I'd rip those bitches' throats out for even looking at you twice," she snarled out eyes narrowed on Safra - her hand grabbed Cristoff's thigh possessively. Vander looked at Lucy surprised - it usually took a lot to get Scary Lucy to come out and play but here she was.
Cristoff flashed back to their conversation earlier that day about the Boscan Princess and knew, born human or not, Lucy was all dragoness in this case.
"So you see - you must mate soon. The longer you wait, the more aggressive, possessive and violent you will both get until you are even a danger to your friends." Safra dropped that bomb then snuggled into Vander's chest. Safra accepted the fact that she may never understand Lucy's hesitation over having sex, which their mating would require, or to be bound to her mate after only just meeting. Fairies often stayed by their sýzygos' side after they found one another and started preparing for the joining immediately back when their kind was spread out across the land. There were a lot of things her people and dragons had in common except for things like this. Fairies do not have sexual drives and hormones, they do not value much outside of life and family so jealously was a foreign concept. Safra understood them all too well. She was often jealous of the joined pairs back at the charm ever since her failed joining with Gin. Even now she physically craved Vander again. He cooled the fire in her blood and steadied her wild emotions like only Gin had been able to do before.
What she did not understand was jealously over physical pleasure. Creating new life, yes, that was sacred and should only be attempted by sýzygos. Fairies often spent time touching each other indiscriminately in large beds back at the Charm as a way to relax since they did not require sleep. She did but then again she was part human.
Lucy came out of her murderous rage at the thought of hurting, 'No I was definitely thinking more along the lines of killing,' her friends. 'It has only been 2 days we've been together and I want to make imaginary women bleed for even thinking about Cristoff. Old ideas aside, I need to start thinking like a dragon instead of a human and do what is best for everyone. Cristoff is already in pain fighting his instincts and I only seem to lose it when I think about waiting at this point.' She hadn't killed anyone in her life and if she started it was not going to be from something she could prevent. She could live with having sex with an essential stranger but not with randomly killing someone.
"My friend Levy said her mating just involved having sex. They stayed holed up in his house for a month so I don't know more about it." Her eyes were calculating and serious now that she'd made the decision rationally. She still had no idea what was even going on with her mood swings, it was like PMS on crack, but now there was no doubt left this was the right thing to do.
Safra was surprised. "You know of a mated dragon slayer pair?" At Lucy's silent agreement Safra confirmed it sounded the same as what happens to dragons. "If either of you know of a secluded place that would be best. Someplace well secured so you are not interrupted for that month or until you feel comfortable enough to be around others. You are actually in an ideal location to mate now since the only ones around are your friends." 'I like Lucy, she is true to herself and adaptable. Looking at her now I would not think she was the shocked blushing girl that froze seeing Vander and me just a little while ago."
"We can't stay here. We're on a job and need to meet with the client to complete it first. Do you know of a place we could go after that?" Lucy asked Cristoff but he shook his head no.
The only place that he knew that was even remotely close to what she suggested was his father's home but there were too many people they would have to displace for too long. He couldn't exactly kick his father out of his own house even though his father would happily do so. Plus it would take too long to get back to Pelerno from Magnolia.
"Then we'll call Arman to set something up. I'm sure he could have something ready by the time we make our way home. It the meantime I suggest Cristoff and I stay out of populated places and we get him a hooded cloak. I will not kill some innocent," she ground out the word between clenched teeth already feeling the rage creep up again, "person just for looking at him if I can help it." Everything in her was denying the innocence of any woman who tried to seduce her mate.
"You will make a fine Dragon Queen," Safra smiled.
"Queen doesn't sound right. She's much more of a Princess," Vander teased.
"Oh shut up!" Lucy huffed but shifted closer to Cristoff's side.
"Two unidentified magic users are approaching," a disembodied female voice alerted.
"Ora show the magic users," Safra said.
"It's probably Bickslow and Erza come to join our party," Vander grinned right as a screen made of light appeared showing said mages searching around for something.
"Ora, please add those two to the approved security list. They are probably searching for their companions," Safra said the last part directly to her guests.
-DTRE-
"Where is everyone?" Erza asked. It had been a while since they had seen Lucy and Cristoff walking around and the last time they saw Vander and Safra was right after the group decided to take the rest of the day for themselves.
"I don't know," Bickslow shrugged. He hopped on his totems and floated into the air. "I don't see anyone around out here so they're either in the temple or forest."
"I can't imagine Lucy isn't back at camp after walking around for hours. Usually she'd be writing, reading or in a bath now that the job is practically over." Erza was getting a little worried. Bickslow was surprisingly good company and now she understood why Lucy had befriended him – he was so much fun. Around the guild he had a reputation of being a perverted immature jokester who partied very hard and often. He was also known as a player only having one-night-stands, never dating anyone. For the fairly conservative Lucy to have befriended him hadn't made any sense before today. Bickslow had definitely made some jokes around her, mostly at his own expense if not suggestive, but he treated her like a person, not someplace warm he could put his dick. She felt like a strong beautiful woman around him - free to laugh at his teasing without being judged. Never once did he refer to her as scary or a monster when she acted violent or tried to intimidate him when she got uncomfortable. Instead he'd pick a flower and put it in her hair or twirl her around to music only he could hear. He'd kept her entertained and distracted for hours after they had pulled her cart and luggage out of the temple before she even noticed that the others were missing.
"You think something happened to them?" Bickslow asked incredulously. He knew Lucy had a knack at getting kidnapped but neither of his brothers would have gone down quietly.
"Maybe they stumbled across a trap while wandering the forest?" Erza asked. Not seeing anyone did have her worried but she didn't feel like they were in trouble. She always had a knack for sensing trouble – it was how she made S-Class before anyone else her age – so she was just at a loss.
"I think it's more likely Vander and Safra went back to wherever they were hiding this morning and Lucy convinced Cristoff to lay in a field of flowers or something they found while walking around." Erza smiled at the thought – it was a very Lucy thing to do.
"I would like to look for them all the same. It will be dark soon and we need to be up early tomorrow."
The seith mage just smiled and nodded as he turned her more toward the forest. "I don't think they would have gone far," he said while making possible plans to prank his brothers or startle Lucy if they found them. He knew Erza was worried about Lucy being alone with his brother more than her being in danger no matter what she said. Still, he thought she was making a valiant effort to keep her distance as much as she had.
They wandered through the forest for a while until Erza caught a glimpse of sunflowers and they headed that way.
"Well now, I was wondering when you'd find us all," Vander said stepping out of the shadows behind the pair approaching Safra's tent.
"Us all?" Bicks questioned. "You're not telling me you're all hanging out in there." He gestured toward the tent.
"Sure we are. Safra asked me to see if you'd like to join us," Vander smirked. Truth was he offered to come out and bring them in so he could have a little bit of fun with it.
"I'm surprised Cristoff even fits in there let alone three other people," Bicks said knowing his brother was up to something he just couldn't figure out what.
"I'm sure we can make it work, it will just be cozy," Erza replied moving with purpose toward the tent where she now knew for certain Lucy was.
"Yeah bro, nice and cozy!" Vander put his arm around Bickslow and half led half drug him with him.
Without hesitation Erza threw open the flap and marched in. There was only a small hitch in her step as her surroundings changed. She scanned the room and could not stop the look of appreciation when she eyed a confection on the counter in front of her. Bickslow's reaction had been more fun to watch as Vander practically threw his brother in face first. The tall mage turned the fall into a summersault and was on his feet ready to attack his little brother when his arms dropped as well as his jaw. "It's bigger on the inside," he said as his wide eyes panned around the room.
"Welcome, yes I know," Safra said getting up from her seat to greet her new guests. She found it absolutely hilarious that four out of five people had said the same exact thing when they entered. "Would you like a piece of cake?" she offered seeing the red-heads eyes locked on the treat. "It's a favorite so I have a few in stasis for my travels." Safra moved to the counter and pulled out plates to serve the cake. She had a weakness for all things sweet so her family made sure she was well stocked.
"Yes thank you," Erza said primly and sat at the counter on a stool with a grace usually reserved for an elegant banquet. Lucy had somehow miraculously appeared at Erza's side without anyone seeing her move at the word cake. No one here knew this besides her but she'd been denied things like cake for months now because of Capricorn and his dietary plan for her. He'd pop in if she even thought about eating anything sugary or fatty but even he would find her manners appalling if she did not accept in this situation and she was going to take advantage.
The brothers just blinked as Safra formed a knife from light using her magic and served slices to each. She even pulled out a white wine to drink as they chatted like this was the most natural thing to do in the world. Cristoff recovered first and moved to stand behind Lucy. Bix and Vander looked to each other, shrugged then joined the others for wine and cake.
"This is an excellent cake you have Safra. May I ask the bakery you got it from?" Erza asked before lifting another bite of the confection to her mouth.
"Oh, one of my cousins made it. He rescued a baker in Minstrel during his travels and she took him on as an apprentice for a while until she healed. She's one of the few humans who know of us so many fairies now stop by Capresa to rest on their travels and help out in her bakery. I think it is called Blé Sucré," Safra answered then took her glass back from Vander's thieving hands as he stole a bite from her cake.
"I've always wanted to try the bakeries in Capresa," Erza said wistfully. "They are rumored to be the best."
"I've been there before. A Midi style bakery, very good pastries," Cristoff added. He was amused he hadn't noticed that there were fairies working there the whole time. From what Vander had said full fairies looked significantly different so they had to of had some serious illusions in place to fit in. The magic should have drawn his attention but he'd had no reason to even look for something like that. He would be doing so in the future though.
Having finished her slice of cake Erza eyed her surroundings critically. "How are you able to prevent the space from collapsing or cutting off Earthland when you are not actively using your magic?" It hadn't taken long for her to recognize the use of spatial magic in the tent or conclude that it had some external monitoring system since she could see and hear outside and Vander had been waiting for them. Both things seemed almost impossible given what she knew about her magic. Spaces like this existed outside of the reality that was Earthland. It took magic to construct the space and much more to expand it. It tended to only remain as large as what was contained in it and you had to bridge the gap between realities every time to access it. This tent just did not make sense.
Safra smiled indulgently. Those were the same problems Gin had muttered about driving most everyone crazy when he designed the space. It had taken a few trips to magic libraries and 3 years before he succeeded. "That's the power you get mixing fairy core magic in with other types. My friend was able to use the ethernano from the earth to support the internal structure so it doesn't collapse. It also fuels all the amenities that require magic so I am not constantly being drained." It had also taken a meeting of several fairies, called together by her father, to figure out and plan each of the features. Then they all had to combine and weave their magics in such a way to enhancing each other's powers to make it work.
"This is amazing. Can you increase the size of the structure or is it fixed?" Lucy asked curiously joining the conversation.
"It can be increased but it would take a very large initial infusion of spatial magic to do so. I wouldn't want to try it without Gin though since he made it with so many others and their spells are all woven together. Trying to change it might strain or break something." Safra saw the looks in the women's eyes. Both were powerful spatial mages and each could most likely double the space on their own if they tried but she didn't want her gift accidentally destroyed.
"Red, little mouse, stop thinking what you are right now. You're not going to destroy Safra's home just because you're curious and want to recreate it for yourselves. This is her home and a very cherished gift," Vander said firmly. Both of those women he knew could be impulsive and reckless without thinking on occasion and the last thing he wanted was Safra to lose her greatest connection to her family because of their antics.
"Of course, you are correct Vander." Erza said still studying her surroundings intently as was Lucy.
"Gin might be joining us later and I am sure he would be more than happy to answer your questions then." Safra tried to appease. She would never have invited either woman in here had she known they'd look at it so hungrily. 'I think I will have to modify Ora to downgrade their security status so they can enter but not affect their surroundings.'
"Would he really?" Lucy asked. "This would be so much more comfortable than just plain camping while on missions." Lucy smiled as Erza nodded.
"Yes he would but I think our attention should be more focused on creating a plan for the full moon," Safra said to change the subject internally apologizing to Gin for volunteering him as a sacrifice to her new acquaintances.
-DTRE-
The group set out bright and early the next morning with Cristoff and Vader leading and cutting away a path wide enough for Erza's cart to pass through. Lucy and Safra took up behind them chatting while Erza pulled her cart and Bickslow covered their rear. It was slow going but the group made it back to the dense forest at the base of the mountain near where they entered at the other temple by the end of the day.
"Erza, I think we need to leave your cart here and pack all we can on the goslers then leave the rest," Bickslow said. They needed to make better time if they were going to be able to meet their client in Acalypha in only 8 more days.
Erza's eye went wide at the thought. "But everything in there is absolutely necessary!"
"I highly doubt that," Vander said exiting Safra's tent.
"Why do we not just put her things in my skini? There is more than enough room in front of the kitchen," Safra suggested as she followed Vander out. She'd thought of it just now while trying to figure out a way to speed up their pace.
"Yes exactly. There is no need for me to abandon my souvenirs. I will help you get it in there and all problems are solved," the red-head said swiftly. She moved the cart into the tent through the opening easily even though the cart was wider and taller than it was. Had Safra not seen it happen with her own eyes she would not have believed it.
"I believe that makes us all idiots for not thinking about that yesterday," Cristoff said slumped on a fallen tree exhausted from clearing the wide path all day. Lucy moved behind him rubbing his tired shoulders helpfully agreeing as well. They'd all been stupid but he and Vander had paid for it.
-DTRE-
"So, we have 4 goslers and 6 people. Lucy and I will double up and Vander and Safra will as well," Erza announced the next morning once the camp was packed up and the animals readied.
"I would like to run," Safra said adjusting her pack over another of her bikini like outfits then throwing on her cloak.
"That makes two of us," Vander added adjusting the various knives strapped to his body. "So you each can ride solo and we'll make better time. I'll clear the way. You think you can keep up?" Vander asked Safra goading her.
"I would be more concerned for your friends," she said back then disappeared. Vander grinned, saluted the rest of the group then took off after the fairy in an equally fast blur.
"They know where we're stopping for the night right?" Lucy asked as she adjusted her seat and grabbed the reins.
Bickslow snorted and took the front of the line. "They'll most likely be there in less than an hour and spend the rest of the day fucking around," he said smiling hugely.
"I'd rather they do that then have him try to prank or scare me because he's bored," Lucy said.
Erza smiled urging her animal faster sensing a fight nearby. "I think they've encountered trouble," she said excitedly.
"Whatever it was the fight is over," Cristoff said instantly deflating the red-head's excitement. It didn't take them long before they came across a group of dead small yellow monkey like creatures each missing their canines.
"They defeated 10 drits by themselves that quickly. Impressive," Erza added. She'd yet to have an opportunity to test her metal against the creaturees but they were supposed to be fast and clever using pack tactics to take down prey.
"Why take some of their teeth?" Bickslow asked and no one answered. He'd not faced a drit before but they were supposed to be magical and vicious pack hunters that would chase prey for days so he wasn't surprised that the two had just killed them instead of scaring them off.
"I don't know of there being any kind of black market for them either, too troublesome for the interest," Cristoff added as they continued on.
-DTRE-
"Looks like they came across the rock wyvern's mate from before judging by the size," Bickslow said eyeing the creature still a ways off.
"I feel like I'm missing all the fun," Erza's shoulders slumped a little more.
"No worries Amazon, we'll make them stay nearby after today since the path opens up a little more and we can get some real speed," Bickslow said looking back at her.
"It looks like they took a lot of scales and all of its claws," Lucy announced wrinkling her nose as they passed the dead beast.
"The scales would be worth a good amount of jewel and they only took the thickest ones though once again I don't know much need for the claws…" Cristoff said wondering if the fangs were gone as well but was unwilling for them to slow to check it out. They were making really good time today but even he was getting bored and a nice fight with a Wyvern would have been just the thing to break up the monotony.
-DTRE-
The next few days passed similarly but true to Bickslow's previous statement Safra and Vander stayed closer to the group and they each got to release their boredom and stress from simple fights with various forest creatures. It was then they all found out that Safra pulled bits from each killed beast. She made a point in offering them to the person who killed it. Most of them time they passed seeing no value so she added the stash to her bag. None of them wanted to be rude and question her but Bixlow was getting very near his curiosity's breaking point.
On the fifth day each of the mages were on edge. The forest was too quiet and even the goslers were acting up. It wasn't until the late morning when Cristoff picked up the heavy stench of filth and old blood in the direction they were heading. They followed it quietly ready for an ambush as Cristoff lead the group to a clearing where they saw two creatures that looked as if they might once have been human if not for the animalistic features unique to each.
"Berserkers," Cristoff swore under his breath.
"What are they doing here?" Bix asked.
"What are they?" Erza added already armed with a sword in each hand.
"Magically altered humans to enhance their strength, stamina, and magic resistance," Vander said likewise arming himself with long double edged blades with sawed teeth at the tips made from his shadows.
"They are common in Pergrande but always have a human holding their leash," Safra said as two forearm length curved blades formed in her hands.
"Bix you and Erza come from the sides, Van and Safra flank from behind. Go for the kill quickly if you see an opening. They will likely target the women. Then we hunt for their handlers to see what they are doing in Foire," Cristoff ordered. Without question the people moved to the places indicated and all six mages attacked. The fight was over quickly but it was brutal and Cristoff had been right – the berserkers targeted the women.
The berserker that had been closest to Erza immediately went for her and caught her by surprise at his strength. She had assumed they would be like the enhanced mages they faced during the Alvarez war by the same name but these creatures where a whole other level of scary. Its first blow offset her balance because she under estimated its strength and it attacked again immediately going for her head before she could fully recover. Fortunately one of Bickslow's babies blasted its shoulder in time to throw off the thing's aim and it only managed a glancing blow to Erza's shoulder before she rolled out of the way. Recovering quickly but with better knowledge this time, she requiped into her purgatory armor and flew at the creature and dealt devastating blows until an arrow fired by Lucy shot through its chest. It created the opening Erza was looking for. She requiped to her single katana without armor and freed his head from his shoulders.
The other berserker was the larger of the two and immediately targeted Lucy. It could use magic unlike the other and was trying to close the distance to Lucy but Cristoff's large presence made it more wary. It was quicker than its size suggested and its magic reflected their attacks making the other mages have to dodge everyone else's attacks. It was one of Lucy's deflected arrows in her Sagittarius star dress that fortuitously hit the other berserker.
The thing was able to dodge Vander surprisingly well as the shadowquip mage startled a melee battle to prevent future friendly fire since none of the mages could get clear shots now without potentially hitting him. He saw his opening finally when the berserker suddenly froze crying out in frustration when he found he could not move. He hesitated from dealing the death blow confused seeing long needle like bits of metal sticking out of various places from its body. Cristoff instead took the opening and sent a wing attack utterly devastating the berserker.
Vander slit its throat before it hit the ground to be sure it was dead then looked over at Safra questioningly since he recognized the opalescent quality of her light metal that had frozen the berserker. He suddenly screamed "Phase!" as he threw one of his blades directly at Safra.
With the 2 berserker's down Erza, Bickslow, Lucy and Cristoff gapped in shock as his knife hit blade first right through Safra's throat. It wasn't until a moment later that everyone noticed a hand sticking out through her chest.
In a blink of an eye Safra turned gracefully, unencumbered by the arm or blade sticking through her body and slashed a third berserker's throat and stomach killing him with her curved blades in a deadly beautiful dance. She stepped away and into the youngest Pradesh's arms unharmed but shaken at the nearness of it all. Vander kissed her almost painfully in his need to ensure she was still alive while the others gapped at her wondering how she had even survived. Lucy figured Safra was similar to Juvia and was able to turn her body into her element preventing damage form physical attacks but it still was something to see how close she'd come to dying.
Cristoff cleared his throat to get everyone's attention - they could all talk about what they just saw later. "We have three handlers to find and they will all be trying to go to ground." That said everyone started following Cristoff. He'd assumed the lead so naturally no one questioned the attack; he probably had the most experience in cases like this. Safra and Vander still stood where they were without moving.
"Thank you," she said. "I stupidly let my guard drop while in such a large group and it should have cost me my life."
"No way you're get away from me that easily. We haven't even figured out if we're sýzygos yet," he said trying to lighten the mood. They both knew how close death had come today that nothing else needed to be said.
Safra raised her hand up focusing the sun's natural light into three beams that burned through the branches above hitting each gross manipulation of life and turning them to ash in seconds. "May your original souls find rest," Safra said and let Vander pull her after the rest of group.
-DTRE-
They crept quietly through the thick forest quickly until the trail ended at the mouth of the cave. They could hear voices speaking inside so Vander slipped in undetected among the shadows. Usually handlers were much more difficult to find when their berserkers died so Cristoff was alert for potential traps.
"So there is a handler for each berserker?" Lucy asked quietly while she waited with baited breathe for either an answer or for Vander's return.
"Yes, but they are a long ways away from Pergrande where the berserkers are created." Cristoff kept all his senses opened to the area around them. He did not want what happened to Safra to happen to Lucy because he knew Lucy did not have whatever type of magic that had allowed Safra to survive. He might be able to heal her but that was pain was not something he ever wanted her to have to endure.
"There's only the three of them but they're from Seven not Pergrande. They think the control collars are malfunctioning," Vander snorted leaning on a tree very near the tall blond, "so it's obvious they aren't trained well. None look to have much in the way of magic either so I say we get the information and go. There's only 4 days until the height of the full moon so we need to get Cristoff secluded in three."
"Amazon and I got this. You four should go get the goslers and head back this way. We'll make out way toward you when we're done," Bickslow said waving Erza over to the mouth of the cave.
Erza requiped into her heaven's wheel armor as they strolled calmly into the cave - not hiding at all. It took Erza all of five seconds to subdue the men then Bicks got to work. Erza stood by fascinated at how self-assured Bickslow was using his magic to pull the very answers from each soul; his eyes glowing a vibrant green. It was a far cry different from his usual joking self. She could tell the process was painful for the men as they struggled until going limp before the seith mage moved on. His movements were all graceful like a predator and Erza had never wanted anyone more in that moment. She'd always had a thing for powerful, confident men, but hadn't paid him much mind before. This last week she'd seen sides of him that impressed her on so many levels as she finally took the time to get to know him. He was strong and confident, went after what he wanted, unendingly loyal and honest, funny, smart, attractive and now dangerous. It was a combination she would be more than happy to explore - all she needed to do was make sure her interest was known and see if he was receptive.
She watched as the third man collapsed then asked, "What do we do with them now?"
Bickslow smiled darkly, "We let them go. I may have altered their memories so they think the berserkers started attacking each other and their handlers so they had to be put down. With what I pulled from these guys it will be more helpful in the long run." Bickslow moved toward the cave entrance. "We should probably head back to the others."
-End of Chapter-
So Safra's tent/skini was obviously inspired by the TARDIS from Doctor Who and Rumpelstiltskin's home in KM Shea's book Rumpelstiltskin for those already familiar. Both are amazing and you should check them out if you haven't already.
