The demon inside.
By: LemonSherbert
Chapter 22: The calm before the storm.
I do not own any of the characters in this story, they are owned by the creator of Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima, do enjoy and don't forget to review.
Levy felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders as she got up that morning; she had gotten up before the clock for once but only a couple of minutes before. She felt healthier than she had ever felt but she still felt too weak to go through with the plan, her heart felt heavy in her chest and every breath she took seemed to burn. With a sigh she swung her legs out of the bed, the cold wood gave its usual creak but it was no longer annoying, it felt like home as she took a last listen to the silence. She was expecting to come home to her mother cooking but today... it was different, there was no promise of her coming home and she gulped, standing up from her bed. Levy hummed the song her mother would sing as she began getting dressed, slipping out of her pyjamas and into fresh clothes, clipping her skirt up and sliding her sock against her legs. Everything felt different, like she was going to miss getting ready for school, like she was going to miss the brisk air running through the house and prickling her skin. She bent down, picking up the chain from under the bed and it clinked together. It was glowing with a dark purple essence and she wrapped it around her bare waist, she tucked the leather handle into the metal, holding it in place as she got on her shirt and jumper. The chain was thin enough to not be seen but it was cold and slightly heavy clumped up on her skin. She slipped into her shoes, tying her hair back in her bandanna after she brushed it and she walked towards her door. For some reason she took one last look at the worn down, broken and cold room she had called home for so long before she closed the door behind her and made her way down the stairs. She walked through to the kitchen, grabbing an apple and a small granola bar from the cupboards before heading towards the front door. With a heavy sigh, she walked out of the house, she didn't want to look back, she didn't want to have to memorize every detail of the floor boards or the broken shingles on the roof. For once it was a relatively bright day with barely any black clouds in the sky.
"Hey..." came a deep voice and she almost threw her apple at the person but stopped herself, seeing his long, dark hair and ruby eyes that instantly comforted her. She smiled though it was clearly fake and he swung his bat around in circles as she noticed the axe blades on the sides.
"They weren't there last time..." she said as they began walking down the path and she took a bite of her apple, savouring the taste of the sweet juice sliding down her throat.
"I know, Igneel modified it, he modified all our weapons so they do maximum damage, so now, if I smack this Demon, I'm going to also take his head off!" Gajeel grinned and she nodded as he began swinging it like a baton, twirling it between his fingers and she was kind of impressed. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he stopped and she shrugged, as okay as she was going to be heading to her death.
"Scared... a little sick..." she answered as she looked up at him, there was worry in his eyes but she didn't have the time to be mollycoddled or treat like a child. "How are you feeling?" She questioned and looked away.
"Scared... a little sick..." he told her and she gulped down the chunk of apple, forgetting to chew but it was small enough not to get lodged in her throat. "I guess I'm just as scared as you, I don't want to die but I don't want anyone else to die..." he said and she nodded, she knew the feeling all too well as she sighed and they walked under the bridge.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye to my parents..." she whispered and it echoed against the brick walls as Gajeel made a small chuckle and she stared up at him in confusion and a little anger. Now really wasn't the time to be finding things funny.
"Sorry it's just... everyone is saying goodbye to their parents and me... I'm going to be seeing mine again..." he said with a grim smile and she stared down at the floor. Of course, if he died he'd be able to see them after so long, that kind of put a grim happiness to their walk and she began humming, the only thing she could do since talking wasn't going to make anything better. The walk through the park was slow, deliberately slow and she smiled fondly as they past street vendors, she was going to miss them, she never really spoke to them but they were always pleasant and polite to her. "Hey... wait a second..." Gajeel said as they got to the corner of the alley where he'd first helped her and she stopped, her face turning to look up at him. She didn't even get a chance to react before his lips crushed hers, making her whimper slightly as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her heart thumped against her lungs and she felt his need, his worry, everything he was feeling was put into his kiss. Levy wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she closed her eyes, giving in to his kiss and relaxing in his grip though he didn't loosen it, only pulling her closer as if she might be pulled away by some unseen force. The kiss wasn't hungry or erotic like he'd done before; it was passionate and slow but powerful and full of emotion. He pulled back, looking into her heavy lidded eyes and he smiled, a soul crushing smile that was full of sadness and love, making her heart feel like it was being twisted. "If I never see you again then just know, I love you more than I've ever loved anything..." he said as he bent down, kissing her softly and she felt tears welling in her eyes as she pulled him to her tightly.
"You don't get to do that, you're not dying on me okay, I love you and I'm not leaving you!" She sniffled and he gave a low chuckle as he wiped his thumb under her eyes, taking away her tears.
"I won't leave you either, I'll stay by your side and protect you with everything I have so... don't be afraid, you can do this, you're strong and beautiful and amazingly smart and I'm the luckiest man alive to know that you love me..." he smiled as he pulled away, holding her hands before he gently placed his lips against her knuckles. "Let's go tear this guy apart...!" He growled with determination, the fire in his blood red eyes even made her shiver with power and she nodded, her brow creased in a determined scowl as she grinned. They made their way up the side street, hand in hand her adrenaline was pumping and even though her heart was in her throat, it was beating. Beating for all it was worth as they turned the corner to the school, unlike usual, there was no student, no teenagers walking up the path or laughing down the street. It was deserted and kind of eerie as they made their way up to the black gates where to men stood, two patrolmen and Gajeel gave them a slight nod as they walked inside. The school was completely lifeless until the walked through the doors and there was 'students' walking around though they were suspiciously well built and quiet. The resistance, they were disguised and if Levy hadn't known then she would have been none the wiser as they walked towards the cafeteria and Levy saw Lucy and Natsu.
"Hey guys!" She smiled as she walked up to them and they gave her large grins though they were just as scared as her and she hugged Lucy tightly. "Are you okay?" She whispered.
"Terrified but I'm fine..." the blonde answered and they parted as the four walked towards the cafeteria, where he was supposed to appear but she couldn't stop the uneasy feeling in her stomach that something was going to go wrong. She put it down to nerves as they entered the dining hall where several more Demons were and she could see patrolmen disguised and teachers in the mix. The plan seemed good, she just hoped it worked and she sat down beside Gajeel at the nearest table and she felt his hand on her thigh, gently squeezing as if giving her reassurance.
"Not going to lie... I'm fucking freaking out..." Natsu said, breaking the silence and the rest of them nodded in agreement; after all, it was a pretty large task for the four teenagers. Levy for one could feel the bile stuck in her throat and she sucked it back down, it wasn't the time to throw up or get weak, people were depending on her.
"Just do as you've been told and everything will be fine" Gajeels low voice whispered and Levy stared down at the metal table. Would it be? Would they actually make it out alive? Only time was going to tell. In truth she wanted to run, she wanted to hide under the table and never come out, she couldn't stop herself shaking, she was almost making the table vibrate as she tried to catch her breath. "Hey... calm down..." his deep voice purred in her ear gently. It soothed her somewhat but it didn't really calm her down, it made her shaking slow down but she was still barely able to breath. Levy felt like her throat was slowly being squeezed and her stomach was churning, threatening to bring up the apple and granola bar that she had eaten. If she could save everyone then it would have been a miracle but she knew that wasn't going to happen but she practically begged god or to anyone listening that she could take the Demon with her.