"Jose," Gajeel spat out the word as if it tasted bad in his mouth, "What in the hell are you doing here,"
"Me? I could ask the same of that little light-dweller you have there," his smile made Levy's stomach turn. She could tell immediately that this man was pure evil, "No matter. I said I wanted her in three days but since you have her now…"
"You won't touch her," Gajeel growled, pushing Levy behind him. All the color drained from her face and her limbs went weak with fear. What did he want her for?
"Oh I won't?" Jose smiled, stepping into the library. As he did, scores of men flooded in after him, all of them wearing malicious smiles and eyes full of malevolence. A look of distaste came to Jose's face, "Kill him,"
Gajeel hissed as they charged, his eyes flashing in rage. He lunged, slashing the throats of the approaching men. Blood splattered into the air, filling the room with the screams of dying men. But with every one of Jose's lackeys that went down, two more swelled into the room to take their place. Levy backed herself against a wall, covering her mouth as the carnage ensued.
Gajeel was like a predator among them, smashing heads into the ground with brute strength and slicing throats with his claws. He grabbed one man by the face and hurled him at Jose, taking the other vampire off guard at they slammed into each other. Suddenly, one of them lunged past Gajeel and grabbed Levy, yanking her after him. She tried to pull away but his grasp held firm and he twisted her arm behind her back, making her scream in pain.
"Gajeel!" she screamed as the man tried to drag her away. There was a red flash and the next thing she knew she was released. She felt strong arms encircle her protectively. Gajeel bared his fangs and the approaching men stopped their procession, too terrified to near the enraged vampire.
"Gajeel, you're hurt…" Levy whispered, fear and worry making her shiver. There was a large gash in his arm, and she noticed blood seeping down his leg as well.
"Its just a scratch," he growled, but she could hear the pain in his voice.
"Just let me have her, Gajeel," Jose's voice sounded smug as he approached them through the crowd of terrified men, "and you can go back to your quiet life on the edge."
"Over my dead body," he growled, his eyes flashing murderously.
"That can be arranged…" Jose smiled spitefully, throwing back his cape and pulling out a large sword. In a quick motion, he brought the sword around and thrust it through Gajeel's chest, pushing forward until it was lodged in the bookcase behind him. Levy screamed and Jose reached out his free hand to grab her by the hair and pull her against him.
"Gajeel!"
Gajeel spluttered blood, trying weakly to move. His face contorted in pain and his hands desperately tried to grasp the sword, tugging it feebly. His strength was failing and he could feel his blood draining from his wounds, pain making it harder and harder to move. He coughed as a hand pulled his head back, red eyes locking with his.
"All of this could have been avoided, friend," Jose smiled, "and honestly, I could have cared less about the girl. But a little birdie told me she was a McGarden and well… now I just can't let her go free… you understand don't you?"
"Bastard…" Gajeel coughed, spitting at him. Jose wiped the blood off his face with disdain. He brought his hand back and his him hard in the face. Levy heard a snap and his head hung limply, blood trickling down his face from the blow.
"…no…" she whispered, horror and sadness sweeping over her. She screamed his name as Jose dragged her away; desperately trying to struggle out of his grasp even though she knew the effort was futile.
His hands twitched, his fingers constricting around the blade. His vision was fading and he desperately tried to fight it.
"…Lev…vy…"
His vision was swimming. He couldn't understand what was real and what was lunacy. At times, he thought he heard voices echoing in his head. They were malicious and full of painful screams. Sometimes he thought he saw shadows moving in the corners of his vision, occasionally flashing red eyes.
"We can't let them live…"
Who?
"Makarov is the one who did this… trapped us here…"
He could see Jose sitting at the head of a table. His purple eyes flashed as he spoke.
"Most humans are worthless creatures but you're different. I've heard about you, Gajeel Redfox. You've killed vampires and you're just a feeble human… how interesting…"
Fuck off.
The illusion faded.
"There's a legend that says one day, a human will lift the fog that separates Fiore and the Dark Lands, bringing light and happiness to the world once again…" a sadistic smile, purple eyes, "You can understand why we wouldn't want that, can't you?
Kill all of them. Leave none alive,"
"Yes, sir."
"Do this, and I'll give you the power you've been searching for,"
"What's the name?"
"McGarden,"
Fire… so hot it seared flesh from bone. Screams filled the air, wailings of mercy and children calling for a lost mother. Then, there were just the cracklings of the fire eating a blazing house.
"They're all dead,"
"Go make sure,"
He walked around the house, searching the windows for any signs of life. The fire was engulfing the weak structure. Nothing could be left now.
He saw the doors to and outside cellar. They flew open and a young woman ran out, arms wrapped tightly around a small bundle in her hands. She rushed for the trees, hoping to find refuge in the twisting branches.
She hadn't seen Gajeel standing there when she'd tried to escape.
He rushed after her, dagger in hand.
He overcame her in the forest, slicing her throat and silencing her forever. She fell over the bundle, her last act of protection for the thing she'd held in her arms. He was curious and lifted it from her arms. What could she have wanted to protect so dearly?
Small blue curls fell around a sleeping face. Large, searching brown eyes opened up to him, a smile coming to its face as she reached her arms up to grab his long black hair.
He wrinkled his nose, noticing a chain around its neck. He flipped it over, a name hastily etched in the tag. 'Levy McGarden.'
Merciless killer, he was, but baby killer he was not. His heart ached for the small girl in his arms, a feeling of remorse he hadn't had since he was a child. He hid her in the nook of a tree before reporting back to Jose, informing him that he'd caught the last of the McGardens.
"Good," he smiled sickly.
Later that night, he returned, taking the child across the border and sneaking into the small town, leaving her on the doorstep of an impressive-looking house and retreating back into the mist before he was spotted.
'Wake up…'
He wanted to stay asleep, where the pain couldn't get to him.
'Wake up…'
His chest was on fire… why?
'I said, wake up!'
Who in the hell…?
'I know you're alive, now wake up!'
His hands twitched, trying to wipe whatever was sticky on his face off. They wouldn't move.
"Wake up!" the voice demanded.
He opened his eyes, seeing only blurred shadows. He blinked, trying to make out what was in front of him. Blonde hair and brown eyes stared at him, a fierce look in her eyes.
"Yeah, that's right, stop playing dead," her voice was hard, her face filled with disgust, "Now, where's Levy?"