Chapter 3

Imprisonment

Her wrists and ankles ached and burned from the chafing of the metal cuffs that she wore like jewelry. If jewelry could pin you to the wall.

And the floor.

Lucy felt the abundance of chains was overkill. Sure, she may have murdered the king and had…somewhat unique features, but she was still just a spoiled rich girl who got very little physical exercise. It was highly unlikely she would find the strength to break one cuff, let alone four.

She sat alone in a cell just for her, trying to block out memories of blood and carnage. All she remembered besides finding herself in the middle of a murder scene was being dragged from that scene at sword point and thrown into the dungeons to await her sentencing. People had spoken to her, at her, about her, but the only things that stuck were the ones about her eyes.

Evil.

Black.

A curse.

Nothing new, but she'd never heard the words so loudly and from so many people at once. This was the first time in her life she thought that they may be right.

She couldn't explain what happened. How could she when she didn't remember any of it? After walking through the door to the study, everything was a blank until guards started screaming and she found herself doused in the blood of her deceased father.

It had still been warm in her hands.

She shuddered and knew it had nothing to do with how cold it was below the castle. She looked at herself, still covered in the evidence of her crime. The blood on her dress had turned a nasty brown color, like rust as it dried and flaked. She didn't have to look at her hands to know that it was on her skin and under her nails.

If she hadn't already emptied her stomach, Lucy was pretty sure she'd be puking, but she couldn't bring herself to feel anything other than confusion, fear, and disgust.

She wasn't even sad that her father was dead.

She barely knew the man. They'd had maybe one conversation her entire life and the only time she was in his presence was when she was required to be. He was a stranger to her. She wasn't happy he was gone, but she wasn't upset about it either. She felt nothing for him.

Maybe she was evil, just like they said she was.

Natsu stared at the girl in the next cage over. She smelled gross, like blood, vomit, and fear, but it wasn't her blood that was the most dominant scent, it was someone else's.

Which was very confusing to him. He knew why she was here. The guards couldn't keep their mouths shut about it. This fragile blonde had murdered the king. What was confusing was she didn't smell evil. He'd looked into her eyes and seen a pure soul behind them. She just didn't seem capable of murder, but he'd been wrong before.

He for one was happy the king was gone. That man had been a thorn in the side of every magical being in the country for as long as he'd been alive. Every single one of them had been forced into hiding after he passed the laws that made magic and anything relating to it illegal. Many had died because of it, people he'd known personally, but judging by the amount of blood covering the trembling girl, his death had been brutal. No one deserved to die so violently and it took a special kind of person to commit that kind of act.

She just didn't seem like the type.

"Hey…" He didn't think she was aware of his presence yet.

Her head lurched up to find who had spoken. He saw surprise flit across her soft features for an instant before her face became blank, her eyes entirely black, not a single star in sight. She'd closed herself off and thrown away the key.

That just wasn't gonna cut it.

"What brings you here?"

She didn't answer, just turned her face away from him to look into the darkness. She wasn't going to be an easy nut to crack.

"Okay. Maybe not the best conversation starter. What's your name?" That was safe, easy.

She didn't react. Not even a twitch.

"Fine. Don't talk, but I'm telling you it gets pretty lonely down here with no one to talk to. I would know." A guilt trip may do the trick.

He waited a few moments.

Still she didn't talk. He sighed, defeated. So much for that.

Why was he trying to talk to her? He had to know what she did. Who would want to talk to a murderer?

Lucy did her best to ignore the urge to answer him. She may crave conversation, but she just didn't feel like she could speak without making herself look stupid or guilty.

"Fine. Don't talk, but I'm telling you it gets pretty lonely down here with no one to talk to. I would know." Ouch. He'd been down here for almost a full day with no human interaction besides interrogation and who knew how long they'd had him in a cage before they brought him here?

Maybe she could at least tell him her name.

"It's Lucy…" she mumbled softly. She wasn't sure he'd even be able to hear her.

"Luigi? That's a weird name for a girl." He sounded pleased.

"It's Lucy!" That time she knew he'd heard. Realizing she'd lost her composure, she buried her head in her knees as a blush covered her cheeks.

"Yeah…that makes more sense. So, Princess Lucy," it almost sounded like an insult instead of a title, "how are you enjoying your stay in our lovely prison?"

A joke. He was telling jokes while she was freaking out about the fact that she had killed someone. Lucy couldn't decide if he was insensitive or perceptive.

She decided to play along. "Well besides the fact that it stinks, I stink, it's cold, the company could be better," she stole a glance at the pink-haired boy as he huffed indignantly, "and I can't lay down chained to the wall like this, I'd say it's not too bad."

He laughed and it was an easy sound that made her feel warm inside. How did he manage to be so…happy in a place like this?

"Hmm. I'd say that's a pretty good observation, aside from the fact that my company is probably the best in all Fiore. While yours is…pretty bad." He was teasing her and it was helping clear her mind of self-deprecating thoughts.

She turned to give him the full brunt of her faux indignation but got caught in his eyes again.

This time, what she was thinking slipped unobstructed past her dry lips, "What are you?" She covered her mouth quickly, but the whispered question couldn't be taken back.

His eyes went hard for a moment before he closed them with a sigh.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough."

"What does that mea-" she tried to ask, but he shushed her quickly, tilting his head towards the entrance to indicate they weren't alone anymore.

Squinting, she tried to make out who the approaching figure was in the dim lighting. As they got closer she could feel the dread bubbling up inside of her. By the time the man stood in front of her, any happiness she may have gained from her fellow prisoner was gone.

Hades stood there, unlocking her cell, a solemn look on his face.

She turned her head away from him, pulling her legs as close to her chest as possible, and wishing she could wrap her arms around herself to hide from his gaze.

"Dear Lucy." No title. He was letting her know that she no longer held any sway. She was powerless. "You're filthy." He knelt in front of her and began brushing one dirty cheek with his thumb.

"It pains me to see you caged like this. Like an animal." Every sugary word he said slid over her skin like a thick sludge.

"You know," He stopped caressing her and wrapped his hand tightly around her chin. He forced her to look at him and she glared with disgust.

"They will hang you for what you've done. Who would've thought that such a beautiful woman could be such a monster?" Hades smiled, a cruel imitation of happiness. "Then again, those eyes of yours should have marked you for death the moment you were born. You're lucky to have lived this long." He leaned his face close to her neck and inhaled.

"I can save you." He whispered. Her breath caught in her throat, but she didn't respond.

"With your father's death, I have been named regent. In order for the bloodline to continue, you must produce an heir. It's the only thing left that can give your life value." Lucy knew where this was heading and it made her sick all over again.

"You will marry me, the only man with the power to stop your execution." It wasn't a suggestion and Lucy felt anger engulf her fear. Without warning she lashed out.

"You whore!" He slapped her, hard. "How dare you bite the hand that feeds you." He meant that literally. She had bitten the thumb holding her chin so hard that blood was now dripping from the tip of it.

"I'd rather die than marry you." She hissed, spitting in the direction of his boots, a fierce glare on her face.

"That, I cannot allow." He was still angry, she could tell, but his gloating could not be stifled by someone as powerless as her.

"Tomorrow, at your sentencing, I will make my case before the other councilors. They will agree because they want another Heartfilia heir. Once you're mine, I'll make sure you never bite me again." With that, he turned away, walking back into the hallway and locking the door behind him.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Lucy." Her name was a sick promise that hung in the air between them. It dared her to try to defy him.

After he was long gone, his steps completely out of earshot, she cried.

Natsu barely kept in the growl that threatened the moment he saw that sick bastard walk into Lucy's cell. Now that was what evil smelled like.

Evil and a disgusting giddy excitement.

It made Natsu sick to think about what was in store for the girl. He'd known men like the councilor before who had far less political power, but still managed to ruin the lives of innocent people. He glared at the retreating figure, wishing looks could kill, or at least maim, until he heard the small sniffles coming from his neighbor.

Now she was crying?

She hadn't cried when she'd been thrown in here, but that man made her weak. The fear in her scent had grown to nauseating levels and Natsu couldn't handle it. There was something about the princess that made his instincts kick into high gear. He wanted to make her smile and make sure she didn't have anything to be afraid of. It was strange, but he trusted his instincts. They were the only reason he was still alive.

"Hey, stop crying!" It was an order and one she ignored.

So he tried again. "I mean it! Just stop crying. I'm sure everything is gonna be fine."

She just cried harder. Man, he was bad at this.

"Uh, I mean…dammit…" now what? It's not like he could give her a hug.

Then he heard a small, feminine giggle that had him looking hopefully in her direction and she looked back at him. She was still crying, but there was at least an attempt at a smile showing through.

"You suck at comfort." She sniffed.

"Yeah. Don't got a lot of experience with that." if his hands had been free, he would have been rubbing his head sheepishly.

"That's ok. It's nice that you tried." More sniffles.

He shifted uncomfortably from his position against the cold wall. "So, uh, I don't really like that guy. He smelled…" Natsu searched for the right word "…nasty. Like bad intentions."

She gave him a look that made him feel like a science experiment, then shook her head dismissively. "You are so weird."

He bristled a little at the insult but smiled. "Not as weird as you. You're so dirty for royalty. Don't they teach you how to take a bath?" She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Beggars can't be choosers. Take your company where you can get it." He had to admit, she was more fun than he thought she would be.

"You aren't such bad company, just smelly." She laughed for real at that and he found he really liked the sound.

They talked late into the night until she fell asleep.

"Who the hell are you!?" The small bluenette yelled at the rather large male standing in the shadows across from her. He'd been sneaking around the kitchen in the middle of the night when Levy just happened to be going to get some food to smuggle down to the princess. She ducked out of sight and held her breath hoping he didn't know she was there, but when he paused and turned his head in her direction, she knew she was out of luck. Looking around anxiously, she noticed a rather large stack of pots and pans nearby, she then proceeded to throw them at him relentlessly.

"Woah! Watch it, shrimp. That was almost my face!" A deep voice growled from across the room. She couldn't make out what he looked like but knew he didn't belong there. She definitely would have remembered someone so freaking huge.

"Good! Now answer me! Who are you!?" She reared back to throw another pan. "If you don't tell me, I swear this one won't miss!"

"Pfft. Like someone as small as you could hurt me." She sent the pan flying. "Ouch! Dammit!"

"Now tell me!" Levy lifted another projectile, this one was heavy. It would do some damage.

She saw him pause in his flailing and assumed he was eyeing her next weapon of choice. A deep breath and,"Fine! Name's Gajeel. Looking for some guy I know. Pretty sure he's in the dungeons. Dumbass is always getting into trouble." The last part was mumbled but she heard it and she would've laughed if the situation wasn't so serious.

"So you're a criminal looking for your criminal friend." She accused.

"No! That ain't it!" The stranger sighed in exasperation. "Look, we ain't criminals just…different. Dunno if you know this, but the king don't like people who are different." This, she was all too aware of. Her best friend had been a victim of the king's 'dislike' of the unknown.

"'Different' how?" She still didn't trust this stranger but she let her guard slip just a little. Anyone who didn't like the king couldn't be all bad.

"If ya promise not to throw another pan at me, I'll show ya. Deal?" Levy contemplated this for a moment, but decided that she was really interested. Plus, if this guy could get his friend out of prison, maybe he could spring Lucy too.

"Deal." She moved to towards the light of the single torch, weapon still in hand. She may be willing to talk, but she wasn't taking any chances with this large stranger.

And as he moved into the light, she dropped that same weapon in shock. 'Different' was an understatement.

She felt like she'd been punched in the gut. "What are you…?"

Lucy was rather rudely awoken from her dreamless sleep by the door of her cell being slammed open. She opened her bleary eyes to find sunlight streaming in from a window high on the wall and four armed men bursting in on her.

"Unchain her." Came an order from the one she assumed was in charge.

They unlocked her chains and pulled her to her feet. "Where are you taking me?"

"To be sentenced for your crimes."

Oh yeah. That was supposed to happen today. She felt fear cloud her mind and she struggled fervently against the hands that held her. One of the guards took it upon himself to knock her knees out from under her with his sheathed sword. She gasped as the others dropped her and let her legs hit the hard stone painfully. She heard Natsu pull against his chains and let out a threatening growl.

She couldn't let him get himself in trouble for her. Lucy knew she wasn't going to die anytime soon if Hades had his way but Natsu…his life was expendable.

"Natsu, no." It was quiet and likely not heard by her captors, but if she was right about her new friend, he would hear her.

The growling stopped and she turned and smiled at him gratefully as the men pulled her to her feet. She didn't fight the rest of the way to the council chambers. She didn't speak and she tried her best not to think until she was tossed on the ground before the group of self-righteous men that had helped rule this country with her father.

"Look at you, Princess. You're covered in blood, just as the witnesses described." Came one voice to her right. She gave him what she hoped was a blank stare from her spot on the floor.

"I believe your guilt is without question. All that remains is your punishment." So, no trial, huh? She took inventory of the room and found all nineteen councilors present, including Hades. She tried not to tremble when their eyes met and she quickly looked away.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Crawford Seam, the current head of the Council now that Hades was regent, made himself known.

Lucy thought about it for a moment. She didn't think she killed the king, but she didn't know. She had no memory of the event and all the evidence pointed to her. How could she not have done it? She was definitely there. But every instinct she had told her it was wrong. Someone else had committed the crime and, the more she had thought about it, the more she thought it could be true. Hades seemed way too pleased with the king's death to be completely innocent in all this. Plus, she couldn't exactly roll over and admit to these people that she was a murderer.

"I didn't do it." Her voice was strong and full of a strange confidence that she didn't really feel.

Laughs resounded around the room, mocking and insulting. These men probably couldn't care less who actually did it, she realized. They may even know who the real perpetrator was. They could even all be in on it, but she was unimportant, just a pawn. They would rather blame her than condemn one of their own.

"No need to lie, Lucy. We know that you did." The voice was scathing and unfamiliar.

"However," Councilor Seam again, "Hades has brought to our attention the need for a male heir. Normally, the next in line would be your cousin, Jellal, but considering the current circumstances," circumstances being that her father had attacked the small country of Edolas to the north that Jellal ruled and her cousin had disappeared, barely escaping with his life, if the rumors were true. The king did not like competition and Jellal having any rights to the throne was a threat. "Hades was named regent in the will of King Jude and he has made a request in regards to the princess." The council went silent. Obviously not everyone had been informed of the situation.

"The Regent has asked that he be given custody of the princess in the form of a marriage contract." Seam waited for any reaction before continuing. "He has assured me that she would be confined to his quarters and used solely to produce an heir. She would have no freedom and none of the amenities normally afforded to one of her station."

Murmurs erupted from around the room but Lucy didn't want to see their reactions so instead she stared at her feet as she wiggled her dirty toes. They must've taken her shoes when she was arrested. Funny, she hadn't even noticed. She thought instead about the warm smile and reassurances of her pink-haired friend. The corners of her mouth lifted wistfully and she thought she would have liked to get to know him better. Maybe even help him escape. She and Levy could have ran away like she'd always wanted to and taken him with them. Now, she knew she was out of options no matter what they decided. Death or something worse was all that was left.

A gavel pounded. "Attention." Everyone stopped talking immediately. "I say we allow the prisoner to go back to her cell while we discuss our options. All agreed, say 'aye.'" A unanimous sound of agreement circled the room and Lucy prepared to rise to her feet.

"Very well. Guards."

She could almost feel her future slipping irrevocably out of her grasp faster than she could reach for it.

AN: Thank you for reading chapter 3! Reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed and encouraged. Wow. I just realized that is not accepting my page breaks. I went back and fixed it and the entire thing should be a lot easier to read now.

Thanks again to my wonderful beta reader evil-is-here on Tumblr.