Chapter 12: The Black Diamond Rose
It was a personal office and library. A cozy den with book shelves lining the left wall, a grand, stained-glass window overlooking the town, positioned behind a mahogany desk. The glossy wood, coupled with the miniature jeweled sculpture on the desk, suggested wealth. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with chubby cheeks and a nervous disposition. His younger, blonde-haired wife stood at his side, hands clasped in front of her. Facing them, standing in front of the desk, were two Fairy Tail wizards.
The one on the left was a young woman with hair the color of salted caramel ice cream, that barely brushed her shoulders in length. Her eyes were pink as blossoms in the spring. She wore black leggings that were torn in places—whether intentionally or as a result of the mission she'd just completed, wasn't clear. A loosely hanging white blouse covered a green tank.
Her companion was an older man with a white streaked mustache. He wore a formal brown suit and polished dress shoes, and a green tie that matched the woman's undershirt. His clothes looked perfectly pressed, despite the fact that he too had just completed a job. Hanging from his pocket was the golden chain of a pocket watch, which seemed to conflict with the fact that he was also wearing a wrist watch. He held a brown top hat in front of him, respectfully removed from his slicked back black hair, with a single white streak.
Dreamer and Jezran bowed before the couple that had hired them.
"Thank you so much," the chubby man repeated for the fifth time. "I would have never been able to persuade those thugs to give me my property back. Your magic is amazing, miss."
Dreamer shook her head humbly. "It was Jezran who did most of the work."
"I disagree," Jezran said, humbly. "I merely tracked the thugs, dear me."
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to need an extra day to do the job. I really should have a bigger reward for you…" The man looked shamefully at his desk. Jezran's wrist watch ticked in the following moment of silence. The Fairy Tail wizards shook their heads.
"There's no need for that, sir." She smiled warmly at their employer. "It's our duty to help the people of Magnolia. The original price is more than enough."
"Indeed, dear me."
"Still…" The man looked at his wife. They shared an imperceptible emotion. She nodded slightly at him, wringing her hands nervously, and he opened the drawer of his desk. "Please, take this as an extra award for doing this for us. It's not jules, but it might be of some value to you." He pulled out an object and held it out to them. There was just the tiniest of trembles in his fingertips.
The look between the man and his wife had sparked suspicion in Dreamer. She focused her magic and detected confusing emotions coming from both of them. A moment ago, she had felt sincere happiness emanating from this man, but now… She felt fear and… guilt?
She stood up straight and crossed the room to take the object in the man's hands. She stopped suddenly when her eyes rested on it, a lump forming in her throat.
"Where did you get that?" Her voice was no more than a whisper, eyes glued to the object.
A diamond in the shape of a rose. As black as a starless sky.
"I… It was an inherited family artifact."
It didn't take magic to know that the man was lying. His voice was somewhat hoarse and shaky, and he glanced yet again to his wife, who was now wringing her hands hard enough to turn the skin red.
Dreamer began to shake, tears welled in her eyes. "This wasn't just some job, was it?" Her voice was high, raised in something like panic. "Who put you up to this?" Never once did she look away from the black diamond rose offering in the man's palm.
He looked at his wife. She looked quickly away.
"Who!" Dreamer slammed her palms on the desk, muscles taught and shaking. "You have to tell me! Did you see his face?! Did he tell you why?" She was screaming now, cold tears streaming down her face. Her expression was deranged—desperate.
"I… we… I'm sorry." The man shook his head as he leaned instinctively away from the wild woman. He was still holding the diamond out to her. "I'm sorry we deceived you… We got a letter in the mail with a large sum of money and this… It had specific instructions… Please, I… We…"
"What did the letter say?! Where is it? Who sent it!" She leaned farther over the desk, as if she was planning to spring at the chubby faced employer. She was beginning to hyperventilate.
"That is enough, dear Dreamer." Jezran's arms closed around her. "Thank you for your generous reward." He bowed his head at the couple as he tugged her by the waist away from the desk. "We will be taking our leave now."
"NO! I have to know!" Dreamer struggled in his grip, nails digging into the glossy surface of the desk, but he remained firm.
"Dear, these people know nothing. It is time for us to part, dear me."
"Please, take the diamond with you!" The man jutted it forward again.
Dreamer ripped out of Jezran's grip and turned her back on the couple. Her shaking had not subsided—nor the steady stream of tears.
"I don't want that trash," she hissed. "If I were you, I'd go dump it in the ocean. Let's go, Pops." She started for the door.
"W-What about your reward?" the wife asked, frantically.
"We don't want your money, either! Keep it!" She ran through the door, face in her hands. Jezran remained for only a moment to bow politely at the couple and utter an apology on behalf of her behavior. He then followed after her.
"Dreamer!" He called out once they were outside. She was still running, her tears splattering onto the sidewalk behind her. "You must remain calm! Please, your magic!"
She could feel the magic welling inside of her, spurred by her own strong emotions. She had to control them. If she didn't… the result could be catastrophic. So, she stopped in her tracks and held her face in her hands, weeping. Jezran caught up and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Sweet child, you must breathe. Dear me, you must breathe."
She tried. She took a long, shaking breath. Then another. Then, she turned around and buried her face in the old man's chest. He accepted her embrace immediately.
"It was him, Pops! It was him…" He tears soaked into the fabric of his brown suit.
"Hush, hush. We do not know that for sure, dear." He stroked her hair.
"Yes, we do." She clutched onto him for dear life. Like a child might cling to her grandfather. "What does he want? Why now?"
"Child, listen to me." Jezran pushed her back by the shoulders and levelly met her eyes. His permanently gentle face was uncharacteristically stern. "You must control your fear. You are safe. Both you and Syllestra are safe. Remember, you have all of Fairy Tail to protect you. You have myself and Piper and miss Mirajane. We will not allow any harm to befall either of you." There was passion in his tone. "Your fear is unwarranted. Should this incident mean anything, which it may not—dear me—then we will take it in stride. I assure you, my dear, you are safe."
Dreamer trembled and hiccupped as she gained control of her tears. Her tears gave way to quiet sobs and then shaky sighs. She looked up at his kind face. The wrinkles that creased at the corners of his eyes and mouth, showing that he was a man who smiled often in his long life. His white streaked mustache mounted a gentle smile, even now. She remembered when she met him, on an icy cold night in the dark of an alleyway. She was only fifteen-years-old then, with no family besides Syllest. Then came along Jezran Excalibur, and ever since, he'd become something like a grandfather to her.
"I love you, Pops," she whispered.
"Oh, dear me…" He closed his eyes in a sweet smile and cupped her cheek. "And I you, dear child."
She wiped her eyes and looked up at the sky. Colorful leaves drifted on a breeze that didn't care about what happened to the people it blew over. A calm, uncaring breeze.
"Please don't tell Piper about this," she said, referring to the incident with their employers. "You know how he is. He'll go looking for him."
"Of course, my dear. On my honor." He took off his top hat and bowed. When he righted himself, he looked at the golden wristwatch and checked the time. "Speaking of which, I am sure the lad will be expecting us."
Dreamer nodded. She took hold of her emotions and set them aside for now. She reminded herself over and over that Jezran was right. She and Syllestra were safe. Much safer now in Fairy Tail than they had ever been.
"Forget these things, Dreamer. This week is a week of celebration." He gestured at the petal filled sky. In only a few days, the Rainbow Sakura Festival would take place. "I want to see you happy."
She gave him a forced smile. "I am happy, Pops."
"I do not believe you, dear me." He pinched his eyebrows together. "You make me age faster than I already have…" His eyes twinkled, mustache rose as he smiled. "If happiness cannot be achieved, then at least peace. This war of pride between you and Piper will come to a halt on the day of the festival, do you understand me?" Clearly he hadn't missed the fact that things were tense between the two of them ever since she brought Midnight to the guild.
"Is that an order?" She asked.
"I would like to see my family behave as a family for a few hours. Dear me, is that so much to ask?"
Family. Dreamer, Syllest, Piper, Jezran, and Mirajane. There was no better word for it. They really were a family.
"No, it's not." Dreamer smiled softly and finally turned away from him to keep walking. Back to the guild hall, sadly without the reward money she'd been hoping for.
"Perhaps you should invite young master, Macbeth to join us on the day of the festival," he said suddenly behind her, falling into step.
"Macbeth?" She glanced over her shoulder in surprise. "I'm not sure he would be up for that." She thought back to when she caught him getting cookies in the kitchen.
Haven't you heard a word I said? I hate you.
Those words still stung. She still had no idea if bringing him to Fairy Tail had been the right thing to do, and she definitely didn't think he'd want to celebrate the Rainbow Sakura Festival with her.
"You will never know unless you ask," Jezran said with all the wisdom of an old sage.
"I'll ask. But it's definitely not going to encourage Piper to behave like family, you know." She could just picture it. I ain't doin' it, Dreamy! I'd rather never step into a casino for the rest of my life!
"The lad must learn that you are fully capable of making your own choices and choosing who you spend time with," he said firmly. "For as loyal as he is, he can be quite a pest, dear me."
"Pops!" She laughed and rolled her eyes.
"It is true, dear me."
She tried to think ahead to the festival and not about what had taken place today. An afternoon with Jezran, Piper, Syllest, and maybe even Midnight… As strange as that combination of people seemed, the thought of all of them together did make her feel a little better. She might have to use her magic on Piper to get him to chill out, though.
She took several more deep breaths as she walked. She thought of rainbow hued cherry blossoms and the faces of the people she loved. She had nothing to be afraid of. Jezran was right, Fairy Tail and Team Derelict Heart would keep her and Syllest safe. There was no doubt about it. All she needed to worry about was enjoying the festivities in the upcoming week with her beloved family, and maybe Midnight, too. She told herself she could do that. She could focus on the good things—family and friends, festivals and color, Fairy Tail and laughter…
But, in the back of her mind—looming and waiting to spring forward—was the ever-present image of a black diamond rose.
A/N: Awww, you guys are so great! Your reviews make my days, seriously! I so greatly appreciate those of you who review weekly, along with those of you who pop in after "lurking" for a while. ;) The encouragement I get from every single one of you, makes all the difference when I face writer's block or uncertainty about this fic. Thank you, from the deepest part of my heart.
Also, howlingwolvesonfire, I HAD to look up that song you mentioned in your review. I love pairing music with my work, and that song is literally perfect for Midnight in this fic. Seriously, anyone who's interested, the song is "Mind Machine" by Jellyrox. "Send me a dream" "I've fallen asleep to dark melodies." *faints* So perfect. Don't worry, Midnight, I'll send you a Dream, alright. ;D