To those of you who have added this story to your list of favourites or are following it... I thank you!
...And AngelQueen1325 what can I say... If it wasn't for your support over the past four chapters, I probably would have given up on this story long ago, so thank you! And anyone who finds this story someday down the road and thinks it's enjoyable, say a kind word of thanks to AngelQueen1325. COOL!
Anyway, on with the story...
Previously...
A lone guitar started to ring throughout the pit, it's warm melody echoed until it was joined by a light hum as if sung by angels... His invisible hand reached out and slowly brushed by his son who shivered for a moment but quickly smirked as he opened his mouth and a beautiful voice escaped his lips. This surprised Lucy, who by now had leaned in close to him and wrapped her arm around his as she rested her head on his shoulder. As they walked through the sixth circle - Heresy, a smile crossed her lips at Natsu's unusual actions... Miu cooed as she watched her daughter hang off Natsu who started to softly sing...
My eyes adored you...
Lucy drifted into his gentle embrace as they continued along on their journey...
Chapter 8 - The Three Circles!
Somewhere in Hell...
Lucy's POV
As we slowly approached the river Styx I felt a familiar pang, a tug upon my heart which bought with it, clouded memories - memories of Natsu, Gray, Erza and the betrayal of Lisanna. I remember the feeling of loosing myself and the fury that overtook me when she mistakenly released my seal... And I remember the pain I felt when my friends shivered in rage, the look of disgust permanently etched across their faces at the sight of my true form as it was now fresh upon my mind. My presence gave them reason to destroy me and because of that I'm now descending further into the bowels of Hell in search of the traitor who destroyed what I had worked so hard to obtain. "Lisanna!" I whispered.
I could feel the return of a long forgotten rage, it burned from the deepest darkest part of my very being. 'Why am I here?' I thought to myself as we approached the river Styx... Casting my eyes out over the hordes of angry souls that basked in their eternal hatred of everything, including themselves, even their very own existence gave them cause to hate... Yes that was it!... It was 'hate' that was driving my emotions, ripping at my insides and it's all because of this cursed Circle that I was feeling this way. I could feel each and every soul reach inside me as they added to my ever growing desire to destroy all that stood before me...
I sighed as I watched my feet slowly shuffle down the stairs towards the river. 'This must be the cause, the Sixth Circle - Heresy, that would explain a lot! My apprehensions and growing hatred were the end result!' I thought as I continued the long descent, down the winding staircase which led to the river of the damned.
My body trembled!... Was it fear that caused my body to ache or was it my internal need to spread destruction upon those that despised me and my existence... I don't know what it was but I... I was bought back to my reality by a warm hand as it intertwined with mine, "Natsu!?" I gasped as I quickly became aware of the reality of our current situation.
"Luce!..." Natsu's eyes furrowed as his paced slowed.
I felt a twinge deep in the furthest reaches of my heart. It was 'an unknown' to me as it was a feeling, no, an emotion I had truly never felt before... What it was, well I couldn't be sure but I knew that it was the cause of my fears. The earlier rage was not due to the close proximity to this Circle as I had previously assumed...
"Sorry Natsu!... This Circle seems to be affecting me more than I had anticipated!" I tried to force a smile but it was useless. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Natsu glaring at me and I blushed... Me!... The daughter of Lucifer was blushing like some love-sick school girl. I hung my head and urged him to follow me. "...Let's get out of this place as soon as possibl..." I stopped mid-sentence as I heard an odd melody echo around us. "...Music?" I gasped.
The soft soothing melody grew louder and louder as the seconds passed... I was stunned to hear such a beautiful sound reverb throughout Hell and Hell, a place of sorrow and torment, was for a brief moment a little brighter and perhaps livelier. I could feel that little pang in my heart again and my right hand flew to my chest as I tried desperately to stop the ache that was now growing moment-by-moment... And then it happened as if it was meant to be... The voices of Angels broke through the dark misery of the the Sixth Circle and shone their dazzling light down upon us and Natsu began to sing...
"My eyes adored you..." Natsu's expression said it all... He was as confused as I was, yet he sang softly at first and then it was as if he gave into the song and slowly, sweet words flowed from his lips.
"...though I never laid a hand on you..." His eyes lit up as he relished every word he sang. It was as if Heaven opened it's doors and the hand of God caressed him. Little did we know that that was indeed the case!
"...My eyes adored you... Like a million miles away..." For the first time in my long life I was caving to the sultry sounds of another... My body quivered as I released my grip on Natsu's hand and as if by instinct I wrapped my arm with his and rested my head on his shoulder. I was lost in the moment!
"...from me you couldn't see... How I adored you!" I slowly looked up and saw the face of an angel and I smiled as I felt my heart shatter. I knew what that earlier 'pang' was about and now I would embrace it...
"...So close... so close... And yet so far away!..." It was truly an electrifying experience! One that...
...I remember my mother telling me about such things when I was a child. She said with a smile, "Love!... It was a wonderful feeling and a very powerful force of creation..." Plain and simple, it was love and I had been touched by it's warm embrace. Perhaps this was what my parents had wished for me when they asked me, 'to show them my resolve!'
We continued on for what seemed like an eternity... I was glued to Natsu's arm and his soulful sounds were resonating throughout Hell.
The trip across the river Styx was uneventful, perhaps due to my new found courage or perhaps it was due to my ever tightening grip on Natsu's arm but whatever the reason I was thankful to have over-come my earlier trepidation... Styx, the wife of Charon, the ferryman I met earlier, was more than happy to assist us in our trip across her river and up to the gates of the City of Dis. We thanked her for her assistance and continued along our chosen path.
Of course Natsu, being his ever-humble self, kicked-in the large door of Dis and growled as he dragged me into the ruined city... The city of Discord as I like to refer to it!
"Hey Natsu!" I tugged on his arm, stopping him in his tracks just feet from the stairs that led down to what used to be a small courtyard.
"Hmmm!" He smiled.
"How did you know that song?" I wondered as my mind was now passing it's euphoric state and had entered a more analytical state... In other words, some odd occurrences along the way were starting to raise some doubts or to be more precise, concerns as to what or how Natsu knows so much about things and places he should not know... He knew that song which is from Earth and not Earthland, he knew who and what I am and he even knew who my parents are. Far too many coincidences for my liking!
"Don't know Luce..." He grinned and started to pull me along again. "...Just do I guess!... Now let's get you out of here before you go all weird on me again!"
"Hey!... I'm not Weird!" I huffed as I quickly fell into step with Natsu. A small smile graced my face as we continued on our way.
As we entered the decrepit courtyard, many dark and dismal souls wandered around. Their souls tainted by their lack of belief in an afterlife... Eternally damned to wander this realm for eternity for their misguided beliefs. Ahead was a long walkway, it's edges crumbled as we carefully made our way across and as we stood before the arch that led deep into the City of Dis I could feel the hesitation in Natsu's movements. He seemed almost paralyzed!
"Natsu! Is everything alright?" I warmly asked for fear of upsetting his earlier warm demeanour.
"I-I'm fine Luce!... It's... It's just something about this place that gives me the creeps!" Natsu flinched as I released his arm and slowly entwined my fingers with his. An air of relief permeated from him and he forced a smile.
"Don't worry, I'll be here!" I smiled.
"Thanks Luce!" He said as we both took a deep breath and slowly walked through the large archway.
On the other-side of the arch was a city in ruins. A fitting end to those who were confident in their belief that they could do as they pleased throughout life without any worry of retribution upon their death but that foolish mentality only led them to this damned place... The land of heretics!
Only a few steps in I was stunned to notice a quiet Natsu. His facial expression changed from his earlier carefree smile to one of discontent. He was showing signs of falling pray to the influence of this dark Circle... And then it happened! Natsu's eyes glazed over and his body started to glow a bright white. It was as if he was in some way reacting to this place but why the change? I was stumped for a moment but then it all became clear to me... The song earlier, his knowledge of myself and my family, even his ability to use Beatrice's Cross earlier could only mean one thing and I froze at the reality of what I was envisioning.
"Natsu!" I spoke but received no reply. I took a deep breath and yelled. "NATSUUU!" Still nothing and that's the moment I knew I had to act or all might be lost.
"Shit!... Shit!... Shit!..." I yelled as I reached forward and threw Natsu over my shoulder and ran as fast as I could through the ruined city. I dodged demons, lost souls and the occasional falling obstacle until after what seemed like an eternity I finally arrived at the other side of the City of Dis. The exit was within reach but I knew it wouldn't be that easy.
Blocking my path was the foul creature of legend, the Minotaur! A thirty-foot monster that towered above us... Its blood-red eyes seemed to scream with agony, for that was its true nature! Horns jutted out of either side of its head and he bared his fangs as he looked down at us and readied his battle-axe for war. He reminded me of a larger version of Taurus but a lot nastier but...
...I knew something he didn't know! 'He was all horn, no brains and all I had to do was out smart this behemoth. For me that should be a piece of cake, besides I'm smarter than your average demon.' I laughed to myself.
"Hey UGLY, down here!" I yelled and waited for the inevitable grunt then growl, which of course would be followed by the ever predictable charge towards me... As if by cue it lowered it's head and ran straight towards us. 'And there it is!' I shook my head and laughed to myself. At the last moment I stepped to the side and watched as the dumb creature ran head first into an old stone wall... The dumb beast was instantly knocked unconscious! "Idiot!" I mumbled as I turned on my heal and headed towards the end of this Circle, towards my last remaining portal, the portal to the Eight Circle - Fraud.
The portal was a simple door that I had placed here many years ago as a place I could... Actually all Circles have a portal but this Circle was special as it never required a sacrifice to access. The door only required a simple phrase from me and passage would be granted.
I glanced to my right and sighed as Natsu still remained unresponsive to my movements and inquiries. "I think you have some explaining to do Natsu!" I sighed before turning my attention back to the door in front of me. "Open the Sixth Gate - Password 'Luce!' Unlock!" My eyes became as big as saucers the moment the gate opened... Why did I use that for a password?... And why is it the same as the nicknamed you gave me back then?... "Natsu!... You really have some explaining to do!" I grinned and walked through the door.
The Eight Circle - Fraud!
Exiting the door, I stood upon the edge of a great cliff. Ahead lay ten suspension bridges, all connected to one another in a steady procession of steel, concrete and stone... Ahead lay the passage to the gateway to the ninth Circle, the deepest of all Circles, the place where all traitors reside and at it's heart the most famous traitor of them all, my father... Lucifer himself!
I slowly stood Natsu on his feet and smiled as he shook the cobwebs from his previously clouded mind. He stood tall and slowly grinned as his earlier white glow was now gone, replaced with a new determination as our goal was only a mad dash away.
"Luce! Where are we?" Natsu asked but all I could do was sigh and force a smile.
"Where almost there Natsu!... See those bridges..." I pointed to the long and winding bridges that stood before us and the old building off in the distance. "...We have to pass over those and get to that building at the end of this way!"
"Okay!" Natsu smiled and placed my hand in his and started to walk towards the first bridge but I stood fast, halting his surge forward.
"Not so fast Natsu!" I said as I spun him around. "Natsu!... Who are you?"
"S-Sorry Luce but this isn't the time or the place for a discussion of that nature... Let's just say I'm someone who loves you more than life itself!" Natsu tilted his head and grinned. "Can we please leave it at that until we rescue Lis!"
"Fine!... But the moment we release her we talk!... Understood!" I growled and Natsu happily nodded. "Good!"
"Ready?" I nodded and something occurred to me.
"Natsu!... I need you to listen carefully and do 'exactly' as I say... No questions asked!" I took a deep breath as I waited for him to nod his understanding. "Thank you!"
I pulled out my i-pod and scrolled through my play-list until I came across a song that I though would be appropriate and pressed play... I smirked as I tucked it into Natsu's pocket.
"Listen carefully Natsu... I want you to put on these earphones and run!... Run like you've never run before!... Don't stop for anyone or anything, just keep going until you are inside that building over there... DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" I roared as I placed my hands on his cheeks in an effort to draw his full attention. He nodded! "Once you are inside, walk out the other side of the building, there you will find Lisanna. Use that cross to free her and I will meet you when you are done!"
"But Luce!..." He interrupted my speech but I knew he would object.
"Natsu, please I'm begging you just this once, do as I say without question!" I smiled. "I promise I'll be there when you're done!"
"Fine, okay!" He pouted as he placed the ear pieces in and smiled. I tapped his shoulder when he was ready and I mouthed the word 'GO!' He started to run but stopped a few feet away and quickly returned. He place a gently kiss on my cheek, which caused me to blush but somehow I managed a smile in return. I motioned for him to continue and Natsu turned back towards the bridges, took a deep breath and bolted.
I had seen Natsu run before but this was truly impressive! By the time I noticed he was gone, he was already on the second bridge and quickly closing in on the third one.
"I-I love you!" I said as tears rolled down my cheeks and fell to the ground below, staining the stones beneath my feet. "Goodbye Natsu!..." I sighed as I slowly turned and disappeared leaving only a faint wisp of black smoke behind.
Wow!... That took most of the day to write. Sadly there are only two chapters left not four like I had earlier planned! I am sorry but this story as interesting as it is, is very difficult to write, especially as it draws on three sources to put together and it's very hard on the head at times! LOL I hope you all understand!... Perhaps if there had been more interest...
Next weeks chapter, Chapter 8 - Sacrifice!
Till Next Time...