Gajeel tried to break free of Jose's lackeys but could do little besides stare helplessly. Each second seemed to turn into hours as Jose brought back the sword. Levy's eyes were full of fear and pleaded to him silently for his help. He screamed her name, as if doing so would break some sort of spell that bound him in place. Instead, Jose's eyes flashed with murderous rage and he plunged the sword through her flesh, leaving a deep wound in her lungs. She screamed, choking on the pain. The smell of her blood filled the room with a sweet aroma akin to the smell of a dying rose.

Something suddenly happened in Gajeel's reality. Something inside of him shattered into billions of tiny pieces. Hope. Joy. Love. Light…

He was suddenly consumed with an indescribable feeling as dread turned into hate and finally a fiery rage. Heat flushed through him and something that had been left untapped in the recesses of his consciousness suddenly came brimming to the surface. His eyes fogged over, filling his vision with red and he felt nothing besides the need to decimate every living creature in the citadel.

Power surged through him. Suddenly, he no longer saw the beings around him as human but just an array of circuitry and he was a lightning bolt. He looked to one of the men holding him, his veins splaying out in a beautiful blueprint. He targeted the vein in his neck, calling forth the blood with so much force it exploded through his skin, making him scream in pain and fall in death on the ground.

The stench of fear filled his nostrils as the others near him realized what had happened. Racing heartbeats filled his ears and he once again called forth blood that rained down on him as the restraining arms that held him back collapsed. As he stood he pulled forth his newfound power, screams sounding all through the hall as blood sprayed into the air, covering the floor and walls with the warm, sticky substance.

He could see the sheer terror in Jose's eyes as all of his men fell to the ground dead. Gajeel's eyes were glowing red and his lips were pulled back in an animalistic snarl. All of his humanity was gone, the perfect killing machine. Jose retreated a step as Gajeel approached, calling forth the ocean of blood and using it to create a deep red scythe.

"G-Gajeel… stop this…" he stammered as Gajeel approached, pulling back the giant blade to ready a fierce blow.

Gajeel couldn't even hear his words. Jose was speaking a completely different language. Mercy? What was this thing he was pleading for so deplorably? Stop? How could he stop? He was unfeeling, unforgiving, and wanted nothing more than to see the vampire's head roll on the floor.

He could fear voices echoing around him, little impish voices telling him to kill him. No need for encouragement, he was happy to oblige. He brought back the weapon, slicing it across his torso, making Jose scream in pain as his top and bottom half were completely severed. He tried to crawl away, his arm desperately trying to pull him away. Gajeel growled, grabbing a handful of his locks and lifting him off of the ground. He snapped his neck as if it were a toothpick and then twisted, severing the head from its center. As Jose's form disintegrated into dust between his fingers, so too, did his rage.

He felt as if all the strength in his body had left him and he had to steady himself. He felt as if he'd just awoken from a dream, but reality came crashing back too quickly as he heard Lucy screaming Levy's name. He turned to see them laying her on the ground, having already freed her from whatever was binding her. He fell to her side along with the others who were desperately trying to get her to respond. Wendy looked at the wound, tears coming to her eyes as she realized that it was fatal. Questioning eyes turned to her, but she could only shake her head solemnly and hide her face in Lily's arm.

Levy took in a tattered breath, turning her head to Lucy, "What… are you guys… doing here?"

"We came to help you," she tried to smile gently, tears coming to her eyes.

"All… for me…?" her voice was weak, her breathing becoming labored, "I… love you… guys…"

Tears were streaming down all of their faces as her eyes started to flutter closed.

"Hey, hey, hey…" he brought his hand up to brush her cheek as a tear slid down, "You're fine, Shorty."

"My names… Lev… vy…" her bright eyes looked up at them, the familiar look of death starting to set in. She tried to smile but the look was pained. Her words were becoming weaker.

"Levy…" Gajeel tasted the name on his lips, "I love you, Levy,"

"I…" she choked, the pain making her eyes squeeze together.

"Can't you save her?" Lucy whispered, sobs wracking her body. She looked at him with pleading eyes, "Please?"

His heart felt like it was being ripped in half. He desperately wanted to help her, but he didn't want to be the cause for her demise. She was a beautiful creature of the light and he had no right to pull her into the darkness with him. He was such a selfish man…

He looked down at the failing girl, searching for her eyes, "Levy," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her cheek, "I'm sorry,"

"Look away…" Pantherlily cautioned, pulling Wendy against his chest.

Gajeel lifted Levy delicately into his arms. Her head lolled to the side and her eyes fluttered open to lock with his. He kissed her gently on the lips before running his tongue against her neck and biting down. He felt her fingers constrict against his chest slightly at the pain and then start to loosen.

He didn't feel right drinking from her. Every person he'd ever fed from had always been done with the intention to kill not save. As her blood pushed past his lips he felt the rush hit him, this time more fervently than ever before. His claws dug into her skin as he drank and he could feel her life force slowly start to slip away.

Finally, he relinquished his grasp on her throat and cradled her head forward. He ran his tongue across his fangs, slicing the flesh open until he could taste blood. He brought her face up and kissed her, pushing his tongue past her cold lips and running against his tongue.

For an agonizing moment he gained no response, making him wonder if he'd been too late. Then, faintly at first, he felt her respond. Her tongue ran against his and she started to suck gently. He pulled away from her searching lips and used his fangs to slice the flesh on his arm and held it to her mouth. She took to him readily, running her tongue against his flesh before sucking on his wound fervently.

Suddenly, she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down, sinking her teeth into the flesh of his neck instinctively. He winced as she did so but allowed her to keep feeding. He could feel the tips of her fingers start to turn into claws and dig into his back. He ran his fingers down her back, feeling where the sword had exited her body start to shrink as her body healed itself. When it was fully closed, he gently tried to pull her away.

"Levy…" he murmured, grabbing her shoulders and easing her away. She reluctantly let go, licking her lips as he drew her back. Her eyes were no longer a deep brown but instead a fiery red, "You ok?"

She blinked and looked down at her chest, running her fingers across her pale flesh, now completely intact, "I'm… not human?"

"Levy!" Lucy hugged her, "We thought we were going to lose you,"

"So you're a vampire now?" Natsu looked at her curiously, "Cool…"

"There's nothing cool about her dying!" Grey yelled, smacking him on the back of the head.

"Juvia is happy you're going to be alright," she smiled.

"Now we can all go home," Wendy smiled, helping Levy stand.

"No we can't," Erza suddenly interrupted, "Levy can't go back to Fiore,"

Silence fell over the group. Levy's eyes shimmered as she looked at her friend, "I… I can never go home?"