Lucy had known something was wrong when Levy didn't come home that night. She had waited outside of her house, hoping to talk to her again. She was terrified of what was in the mist, but losing her friend terrified her even more. She waited until night fell and the moon was high in the sky but she never came. Finally, she left, hoping to find her there the next morning. Once again, the house was empty.

That's when she'd gathered up Natsu, Grey, Juvia, Erza, and Wendy. She told them about how Levy had been sneaking out into the mist and that she hadn't returned home. Reluctantly, they agreed to follow her into the Dark Lands without alerting Makarov. She insisted secrecy was their only option, so as not to start an open war along the border.

Arming themselves with knives, they had journeyed into the darkness. Wendy had hidden behind Lucy the entire time, the poor girl not even sure why she'd agreed to come along. Erza, of course, led the way, trying to act brave for the group even though they could see the gooseflesh hidden under her scarlet hair. Natsu and Grey were startlingly silent, and Juvia was clinging to Grey's arm, fear etched on her face.

That's when they'd seen the giant castle looming in the distance. Lucy knew immediately that this place was where the vampire would have lived; close enough to the border that a wandering Levy would find it, but far enough away as to not attract attention from the people that lived on the Fiore side. They'd seen where a large group of people had trampled in and followed the carnage they had created up the winding staircases and into the library.

Everyone had been repulsed by the bloodshed before them, everyone except for Lucy. She had seen this kind of slaughter before, though not to this extent. Dead and decomposing bodies lay piled on the ground. Dozens of them, eyes open and mouths gaping were strewn on the ground like blood-soaked confetti.

That's when Lucy had spotted him, the sword securing him to the wall leaving his feet dangling just centimeters above the ground. Blood seeped over his face and out of his mouth, a blow on his head matting up his long black hair. He had large gashes on his arm and leg and his blood pooled on the ground, dripping from the tips of his boots.

"Shouldn't we take him down?" Wendy whispered, tears brimming her eyes as she stood behind Erza.

"No, he might come after us," Lucy said sternly, turning to the vampire, "besides, he's not dead,"

Then he finally came to, opening his glazed-over red eyes. He gritted his teeth as he tried to move, obviously in great pain. Lucy just gave him a look of disdain.

"…I said, where's Levy?" she glared at him, brining her hand up to grab the end of the sword.

"…Lucy…" Natsu cautioned, but she paid him no mind.

She bumped the end of the sword, sending even more intense pain through Gajeel's chest. He tried to growl but only choked on the sound, spitting up more blood. He desperately wished he could drink his own blood, then he might be able to get the strength to get down…

"Lev…vy…" he gritted his teeth, the words barely making it out of his throat. Pain made it hard to breathe and he realized his lungs must have been punctured. Death sounded so peaceful compared to the intense pain.

She just glared at him, her eyes cold to his pain. He realized that she must not be from the world of light like Levy. She had to know of the cruelty that lurked in the Dark Lands. Her friends, however…

"Lucy, please let him down…" Wendy whispered, covering her mouth with her hands. He could see her shaking.

"His spine is broken," Erza said, shooing the blonde away, "he can't come after us if we let him down,"

Gajeel thought that maybe leaving him pinned to the wall would have left him better off. She quickly pulled out the sword, making him yowl in pain as he fell to the ground. His entire body screamed with agony as he hit the ground, as if his bones were made of glass. He heaved but there was nothing in his stomach to come out.

"We need to help him," Wendy said, fighting the urge to rush to his side.

"Are you kidding me? He's a vampire! He'll kill us all!" Lucy raged.

He growled at her, the sounds coming out weakly. He was sick of this; he had to find Pantherlily and Levy. Gathering up as much strength as he could muster, he pulled himself forward with his arms, making the six light-dwellers jump back. Gajeel paid them no mind and focused on his target: a table with various bottles sitting on it. He silently thanked Pantherlily for insisting on storing fresh blood in case he would for some reason need to drink without being able to hunt.

He pulled himself over the bodies that littered the ground, trying to ignore the pain that ran up and down his spine as he moved. His muscles screamed in protest, his body's natural instinct of conserving his dwindling energy trying to keep him from going farther. It seemed like miles to the table, but finally he collapsed at its base, his lungs desperately trying to gain air.

"Wendy!"

"…um… is this what you need?" the meek girl picked up one of the bottles and handed it to him.

As soon as the coppery-tasting substance hit his lips he felt relief flush through his veins. It was sour and stale, but invigorated him nonetheless. He felt his spine suddenly snap into place, making him choke. Then the pain in his chest and back started to ease until he finally had the strength to pull himself up. He felt his body tense up until he doubled over, finally expelling the blood that had been filling his lungs. He never thought he'd be so happy to be able to breathe again.

He looked up at the blue-haired girl, her eyes filled with concern and fear. He huffed, pulling himself up and he turned to her. He could hear the others holding their breath.

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome," she smiled up at him, all fear completely erased from her face.

"Now tell us where Levy is," Erza said, letting her new weapon relax.

"Jose took her," he immediately saw recognition flash in Lucy's eyes, "You know who he is?"

"I've only heard about him…" she said, fear obvious in her voice.

"Where is he?" Natsu said, clenching his fists.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Gajeel scoffed, grabbing another bottle.

"We're going to retrieve her," Erza said, no hesitation in her voice.

Gajeel choked, not even trying to suppress his laugher, "You can't be serious? A bunch of light-dwellers infiltrating and killing one of the worst and oldest vampires to walk the Dark Lands? What a joke,"

"Oh yeah? At least we didn't get pinned to a bookcase!" Natsu shouted back, an angry fire in his eyes.

"Natsu…" Lucy shushed him, still uncertain of the dark man before them.

"I was ambushed," Gajeel growled, downing the rest of the blood and tossing the bottle aside, "trust me, he ain't catching me off guard again,"

He walked past them, heading for the door. He didn't have time for this.

"Where do you think you're going?" the blonde demanded, following after him.

"Ain't none of your business, bunny girl," he growled.

"What do you mean its none of my business?! Levy is my best friend! Do you mean to tell me you're not going after her?!" she raged, grabbing his arm in an attempt to turn him around.

He turned on her, pushing her up against the wall. Fear suddenly welled in her eyes and he could hear her suck in a quick breath and hold it.

"Let's get something straight, blondie," he growled, "I don't give a shit about you, or any of your other friends from Fiore. I'm going after Levy on my own and you aren't going to be barking orders at me. Now, please keep in mind that as much as that bottled up shit helped me out, that don't mean you won't make a nice snack if you get in my way. Understand?"

She gulped, her eyes never wavering from his. What was it with light-dwellers and not being afraid anymore? Was he so soft that he just reeked of happiness and affection that they came flocking to him all of a sudden?

"Please," he turned his head. Wendy walked up to him, putting her hand on his arm, "Levy is our friend… we want to help,"

He stared at the girl, completely dumbfounded. She had not a trace of fear in her eyes or voice, only worry. He hated it, but he knew he couldn't take down all of Phantom Lord by himself. He'd need help, but looking at the rag-tag group of friends he had no idea if they'd be a help or a hindrance. It was obvious the red-head knew her way around a sword and Lucy knew a thing or two about the Dark Lands, but what about the other four? He suspected the boys probably knew a thing or two about holding their own in a fight… but light-dwellers? What could they really do against Jose's men? Not that they were much more than hired thugs anyway…

What the fuck was with him and blue haired women?

He released the blonde girl.

"Come on," he grunted, walking down the hall, "We might as well find Pantherlily while we're amassing a small army,"

He suddenly remembered why he preferred to live alone.