It was dark out now. Fireflies danced through the garden as Lucy strolled between the flowers and bushes. She carried a book in hand, her fingertips ghosting over the pages as she tried to read in the pale moonlight.

It felt wrong to stand in her chambers, despite the numerous torches that lit her room and made it easier to read. So instead she walked in her garden as she squinted to read the handwriting of some old fuddy duddy.

It felt wrong because she could still smell him. The taste of his mouth still lingered on her lips.

She felt the heat of a blush creep up the sides of her neck to stain her cheeks. With a snap she closed the book, stalking back to her room and setting it down on a pile next on the floor. Another dead end. Though this books was at least interesting with it's articles on plant species and their healing effects.

Lucy stilled. I must be going mad. When did a history of plant cycles become interesting! With a shake of her head she bent to task, scanning the old and worn covers of the books before her.

His words haunted her in her mind. You're not doing a very good job at it.

With a frustrated growl she went through her collection of books, blinking as the titles began to blur. She had enough to fill a library yet none she found held the information she sought. Stifling a yawn she squated down and tried to read the titles of the texts on the lower shelf.

Maybe he is more clever than I give him credit? Lucy thought as she sat back on her haunches defeated.

Not one of the books in her little library had any information on the time before Zeref, how he had gained immortality, or how END came to be. Maybe he had done it on purpose. It made sense. If there was a book on how to defeat him he would surely want to keep her from finding it.

With a frustrated sigh Lucy stood, rocking back on her heels and stretching as she fought another yawn. Sweat had coated her body in a fine sheen of grime and dirt. She felt disgusted and was in sore need of a proper bath.

She shuddered at the idea of getting naked. The idea of sleeping with her skin feeling as grimy as it did though made her shudder harder though. Turning on her heel she walked to her bath. Inside she shut and locked the door, confident she would be safe in here. There were few windows in here and those she had were high and covered in a combination of glass and woven wood. No one would be able to peek in on her. At least she hoped not.

Still she couldn't stop the crawling feeling lingering on her skin. She always felt watched, how else was she to explain how her food arrived and her dirty clothes taken care of. She had no way to prepare meals nor do her own laundry. Yet the idea that a massive castle such as this was hiding a kitchen or washroom in the depths of it's belly seemed absurd even to her. More absurd was the idea of servants working in such a place.

Another thought crossed her mind and her body quaked with the darkness of her thoughts. At least she hoped they were human servants. Her mind ran from her, images of small dark creatures scurrying about the shadows made her squeal. Covering her mouth she forced herself to breath through her nose.

There is no one in this room with you. It's all in your head. Relax.

With an unsteady sigh Lucy began to undress. Wrapping herself in a tower she sat at the edge of the massive pool she was to call a tub and turned the setting on as hot as it would go. even though it had been so hot today she craved the warmth the water brought. It reminded her of her apartment on Strawberry street, her mean old landlady, and a time when life had been simple. Back when Natsu hadn't been a crazy demon created by Zeref.

Slipping into the warm water, Lucy felt her body slowly gentle hands she pushed shampoos and conditioner through her hair. Taking a wash cloth she scrubbed her skin until it was raw and pink. Clean of any lingering touches END had left on her body.

Relaxing against the tub she sighed as the heat of the water burned against her skin. As her body relaxed so did her mind. She let herself wander through memories of her childhood, the good ones where she had Michelle and her Mother and her family had been happy. Her father smiling, her mother's words of encouragement and whispered stories of adventure.

She thought back to the first time she had met Natsu, and her joining Fairy Tail. How she had felt like true member of the guild when Phantom Lord had tried to kidnap her and the guild had refused to let her go because she was one of their own. How she had leapt from the tower purely out of the blind faith that Natsu would save her.

Darker memories began to creep in. She remembered how cold and frightened she had been locked away in her cell in that tower. Bound and unable to escape the wrath of the guild's master..

If she thought hard enough she could still see the Phantom Lord guild Master Jose. How he had threatened her and treated her. How Gajeel had tried to break her spirit by breaking her bones. Joking that as long as she remained alive they'd still get paid. .

Lucy grimaced as she felt the memory of his hands on her throat, his iron turned fist punching her in the stomach. Her own hand came up to rest over her skin as she tried to push the feeling away. In her mind Gajeel was no longer standing before her, tormenting her body with pain and causing her to cry out in pain and anguish. It was Mard Geer. He was standing before her, his mouth set in a cruel grin as pain lashed out through her body. His voice filled her head, calling her weak and pathetic. Telling her she deserved a fate worse than death just because she was human.

She felt her life force waning, slowly slipping from her body as some invisible presence crushed her chest. She wheezed for breath as she tried to crawl down the hall away from him. Tried to reach for her keys to summon one of her spirits to save her.

Natsu!

Lucy awoke with a start as something touched her shoulder. She expected to see END hovering over her but when her eyes adjusted to the bright light of the room she found she was alone. Looking around her, her heart went to her throat. Something had touched her but for all she could see no one else was here.

Was it one of the servants of the castle? Were they invisible or just to tiny for her to see? Maybe they could appear and reappear on a whim.

She felt the air behind her move and whipped her head around to catch the perpetrator. Nothing. In her panic she stood, searching the room for the source causing the crawling feeling moving along her skin. She was alone though that hardly made her feel better.

Standing she slipped from the tub, looking around her room as her nerves continue to tingle and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Something was off. She could sense it in the air. Something else was in the room with her and her anxiety bloomed with it.

Snatching her towel off the floor she quickly wrapped the fluffy fabric around her, back peddling across the marble floor to the door. Her back hit the wall, her hand blindly searching for the door as the feeling of unease intensifies.

Her hand found first the rough texture of the wood, then a second later the cool metal of the doorknob. She turned it, slipping back into her room and slamming the door shut. All at once the knot in her stomach loosened. Her body began to shake as the surge of adrenaline left her feeling weak. After a moment of silence she pulled back from the door.

A second later a loud bang emanated through the room and the wooden door jostled as if something was trying to open it. Another bang, this time louder and the door vibrated harder as if something had slammed itself against it.

With a scream Lucy dashed from her room. Slamming the door shut on her room she was engulfed in darkness. Hurriedly she rushed down the stairs. Another bang, louder but distant then a second later a crash. She knows whatever was inside her bathroom is out now. Lucy screamed again. Her feet slapping frantically along the stone stairs as she raced to get away from whatever was after her.

Her heart was fluttering in her chest like a wild bird trapped in a cage. She could barely see, the blackness of the night so thick it was almost suffocating. Her hands glided along the cold wall, her only guide as she raced faster and faster down the stairs. Suddenly there was a light at the end of the way. She heard another bang. With a whimper she looked over her shoulder, squinting in the dark though she knew she wouldn't be able to see the thing coming.

Without looking where she was going she collided into a solid wall of muscle and flesh. Arms came up and braced her, preventing her from falling onto the hard angle of the stairs. Looking up her breath caught in her throat.

END

He was the source of the light. His back and horns covered in flames that flickered and danced in the cold breeze moving through the corridor.

"Lucy! What's wrong!" his voice was hard and demanding as his eyes stared her down.

The words froze in her throat for a second as she looked up at him. His face was filled with an emotion she hadn't thought he could feel. Panic and fear. His eyes are wide, pupils slited. His breathing harsh as if he had just run from wherever he had been to get to her.

"Lucy!" he growled, giving her a shake.

"There's something in my room." she squeaked. She realized her hands had snaked into the fabric of his coat, her fingers gripping him tight with white knuckle force. She couldn't get herself to relax enough to release him. In truth she didn't want to. Her body was shaking and unresponsive to the pleas of her mind.

She felt the push of magic energy surge from his body. A ring of fire encircled them, blazing high and casting light into every corner so that no shadow could hide. Slowly he pried the fabric of his coat out of her hands, gently lowering her to the ground so she could sit on the stairs.

"Wait here." he said softly as he took a step up in the direction of her room.

Lucy lashed out before he could leave. Grabbing onto the hem of his pants she felt the tears well up in her eyes.

"Please don't leave me here." she begged.

He looked at her over his shoulder, his face softening with some unforeseen emotion. Carefully he pivoted, crouching so he was closer to her height. A hand darted gently out and cupped her cheek, a calloused thumb running over her skin and wiping away a tear that had escaped.

"I have to protect you." his voice was soft but she could see the harden resolve in his eyes. "Whatever you do, promise me you won't leave this circle. My flames will protect you."

Standing back up he dashed up the stairs, the light of the flames on his back slowly receding until only darkness remained.

Lucy sat on the cold stone shivering. Gripping her towel she casts wary looks both up and down the stairwell. She strained to hear any sound or movement but the only thing her ears pick up was the crackling of END's fire. Her body began to shiver. Despite the light they emitted, the flames cast little heat.

The fear that had gripped her mind slowly began to dissipate. It left her with knots of confusion in her belly instead. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, having END's presence nearby had a soothing effect on her. She felt safe.

Disgusted she curled her knees to her chest. It felt like hours, though it was probably only a few minutes, before she heard the gentle thud of feet coming back down the stairs. Turning she watched as END reappeared around the curve of the stairwell.

"I didn't find anything."

With a wave of his hand the fires around her died out, casting her back into darkness. The uneasy feeling returned causing her to dart up and close the distance between her and END. Standing their awkward she shifted back and forth on her feet, unsure of what to do or say.

So she turned and began the long climb back to her room.

"Wait." he called.

She stopped, turning on her step and watched as he reached up the wall, grabbing an unlit torch and lighting it with a small puff of flame from his mouth. Quietly he followed her up.

"I can at least walk you back up."

Maybe it was the scare of being frightened by something she couldn't convince herself had been a product of her imagination. Maybe it was because she was to tired and now that all the excitement was over her body felt more drained than before.

She nodded and continued the ascend.

Her legs burned from the exertion of climbing all those stairs by the time they reached her door. On unsteady feet she managed to make it to her bed, flopping down and nearly passing out on the spot.

The soft click of something shutting made her tense. Looking up from her prone position across the bed she watched as END careful shut the large wooden slate doors that separated her room from the garden.

Relaxing back into her bed she barely had the strength to move. Her body shivered as cool night air blew across her skin. The bed dipped as she felt END's knees press into the side of her thigh. Too tired to care but too scared to sleep she laid there shivering on the bed.

Warmth enveloped her as she felt the soft touch of a blanket cover her body. With a sigh she relaxed a little further into the bed. Her eyelids felt heavy but she fought the pull of sleep. Her mind was too busy conjuring up the possible idea that whatever had come after her would be back.

The dip in the bed increased. An arm snaked out and curled around her waist, pulling her and the blanket flush against his body. Lucy was to tired to fight and she hated to admit it but his presence was soothing. She felt safe so long as he remained here.

"Thank you." she muttered before the lull of sleep pulled her mind into the dark.

When Lucy awoke her body was tucked beneath the layers of comforter and blankets stretched across her bed. Looking around she yawned and stretched, her mind chasing away the fog of sleep as she slowly sat up.

When her eyes landed on the plate of breakfast sitting on the end table next to her bed, the events of last night came back to her like a bucket of cold water over her skin. Sitting up fully in her bed she tucked the covers under her chin and looked around her room. She felt no odd presence and her body wasn't tingling with the awareness of being watched.

Releasing a shaky breath she carefully edged to the side of her bed. Pulling the sheets with her she hesitantly placed one foot on the floor. Peering out over the edged she waited with baited breath for anything under her bed to lash out and reach for her foot.

When nothing came out she released her breath on a shaky, borderline hysterical, laugh. It was silly of her to think that their were monsters lurking under her bed. Especially when she resided in the home of the most feared and powerful monster of all.

She stood and stretched, or as best she could while still holding the sheet. How she had ended up naked was beyond her. She remembered having a towel wrapped around her during her flight down the stairs. She must have wiggled out of it while she slumbered.

She tried to think back to what had happened last night. END had come back down the stairs with the grim news that he had been unable to find anything. The march back up the stairs had been quiet and long. Her thighs could attest to the workout it had been.

All she could remember though once she had been back in her room was falling face first onto her bed. Scratching her head she shrugged. She must have passed out without having gotten dressed. Though that still didn't explain how she had gotten under the covers.

"Oi, you're finally awake."

His voice washed over her, making her body both buzz and tense from the sound. Slowly Luy turned, clutching her bed sheet tighter around her body as he came in through one of the doors separating her room and garden. Lucy started up in bewilderment. She didn't recall shutting them last night.

Her eyes landed back on END. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his pants. He was also, much to her annoyance, shirtless, save for the bandages encasing his right arm.

"What are you doing here!" she demanded. "And put some clothes on. You can't just walk around shirtless like that! It's weird!"

He shrugged and her annoyance rose several notches.

"You don't really mind me being shirtless. And i definitely didn't hear any complaining last night."

Her face turned red as she squeaked out her embarrassment. "W-what!"

That cheeky grin of his slide across his face and made her belly flip flop as her heart began to thump erratically behind her ribs.

"You don't remember? We slept together last night." he said, his arms raising over his head as he stretched. The tremors shook his body as he pushed them behind his head. "Best night of sleep I've had in weeks."

Lucy stood transfixed, watching how his biceps flexed and bulged. Her throat suddenly felt very dry.

"See something you like?" he asked, head cocked to the side. That devilish grin of his spread wide across his face. A warmth spread through her belly making Lucy squirm where she stood. Suddenly she was very much aware of how a thin sheet of fabric was the only thing covering her nakedness.

Lucy shook her head, snapping herself out of her transfixion. "Stop."

Even she could hear the thickness in her voice. END smirked in response. Lowering his arms he slowly made his way up to the dais of her bed.

"Oh come on Luce. Don't be like that. What happened to wanting to go on more adventures with me and Happy?"

"Don''t know if you've noticed but Happy isn't here and you're not Natsu."

His smile vanished as he let out a frustrated breath. "No, I'm not your Natsu. That's the problem. You've been living with a version of me created by Igneel. The problem is that version wasn't the real Natsu. He was a fake. That person was someone who didn't remember who he was, the horrible tragedy of losing his real parents or-"

"Igneel was your father!" Lucy shouted.

"No! Igneel was my enemy. He took away my memories. Took away my past. He made me forget who I was, what my true purpose in life was. He took away my future!"

"Stop it! How can you say that." Lucy screamed. "Ever since I joined Fairy Tail, Igneel was all you cared about. You've searched for him your entire life. How can you just toss him aside like that!"

"Lucy." he warned.

"Don't Lucy me! You're tossing him aside like he's trash. All because you think your someone demon!"

"Stop."

"No. I'm going to find the real Natsu. He's in there somewhere. It's what Igneel would have wanted! To bring his son back!"

"ENOUGH!" END roared.

The silence in the room was deafening as it fell between them. Lucy shook with her anger as she stared END down. She could feel the energy rolling off of him in waves. Could practically taste his anger.

"I'm not tossing him anyway. I'm just realizing that he was apart of my life, but he had no right to stop me from being who I was."

"A monster?"

He sighed heavily. "You wouldn't understand. I had to do what I did for a reason."

Lucy shook her head. "There is never a good enough reason to kill someone. To murder people. No one has that right. To pass judgment on whether or not they deserve a future."

"You're right. Which is why I have to stop Zeref. So he stops taking away other people's futures. So he can have an end to his existence and be at peace. I owe him that."

Lucy shook her head. "I won't let you hurt any more people. I will stop you and save Natsu."

END sighed. "You are so stubborn." slowly he moved forward, coming to a stop only when he stood at the end of the bed. "Is it because I'm not the goofy dork I use to be? I'm not dense or act stupid. I still destroy everything I touch so it can't be that. Why can't you believe me Lucy?"

The question made her feel confused. Shaking her head she tried to cast aside the doubt he was planting in her head. The way he was making her feel didn't make sense.

"I still love Fairy Tail. I still want to protect it. It made me stronger, gave me something to fight for. Something I lost long ago. With my family I have become more powerful than I ever was before Igneel. But I need my family to stop Zeref. I need you. Don't push me away Lucy. Please. I'm not strong enough to fight this on my own."

Lucy scowled at him, backing up as he slowly made his way towards her. Her hip bumped the table and instinctively she reached behind herself to steady it.

He's playing with me. Toying with my mind and feeding on my weakness. He knows how much I care for Natsu. He's using this against me. It's all lies. You have to be stronger than this Lucy! Fight him!

Her fingers brushed against something hard and rough. Without a thought she grabbed it, bringing it up above her head as END rounded the corner of the bed.

He stilled and Lucy chanced a glance up at whatever it was she was holding in her hand. A large metal candle holder, the candle still attached. Thick layers of previously melted wax had sealed it into place.

END's eyes flashed a second before Lucy hurdled the object at him. He dodged it with relative ease then lunged at her.

Lucy ducked, diving to the side and falling behind the changing screen she used when getting dressed. END cursed as he collided with the table. He hadn't been expected her to be so fast and Lucy smirked at her ability to still keep him on his toes.

Her moment of victory was short lived. She heard the thud of feet approach. Ruffling through her discarded piles of clothes her hands gripped a familiar shiny ring of metal. Just as END shoved the screen aside, she stood.

END stilled as he glared at the end of the golden key she clutched tightly in her hand.

She swallowed past the lump forming in her throat. "Don't make me use this."

He hissed in response. His hands clenched at his side as he bared his teeth. "You want me to be a monster? Than fine. I'll be a monster."

He was gone before she could think. The door slamming behind him, surging back with the force of it's momentum to collide with the wall as he fled from the room. A roar sounded somewhere from the depths of the castle a second later. The loud sound of an explosion followed shortly after and the castle shook with the force of it. Everything in her room rattled, like the whole island was about to come apart. Then just as quickly as it had begun everything went still.

She collapsed on the floor, her keys clutched in her hand and the blanket wound tightly around the other. The tears fell down her face in hot streams that burned as they crossed her skin. A sob tore through her, then another. Standing she crawled back in bed and buried her face in her pillow.

What was she going to do now?

I would like to thank all my lovely viewers for your reviews and messages! I haven't abandoned any of my stories. Things have just gotten a little crazy over the past few months. I have a few more chapters currently under work for this particular story, and right now I'm stuck at home with a currently out of commission ankle, so I should definitely be able to get them up in the next few weeks. Please bare with me. Hope you all enjoy! And don't worry...the smut is on the horizon!