In shame, I opened the Queen's door and took one more glance at her, quickly though I glanced away before she could see that I even looked at her. I covered myself with my arms as much as possible as I walked by the 12 Zodiac guardians that gave me disgusted looks. I grabbed the tin bucket with cleaning supplies and quickly walked all the way back to the Queen.

(Scene swap)

My body stung in pain as I lay in the tub full of hot water. The clear water turned black and red from the dirt and dried blood on my body. Disgusted, I drained the water and refilled it. As I got in for the last time, I could feel the water gently rise about my breasts. Exhausted and sad I knew I still had chores to do even at this late hour. Quickly I drained the water, dressed in a new clean dress and went outside. This chore I didn't mind doing… and for some reason, only the Queen trusted me to do it. I was to feed the dragon and check his chains. My Majesty probably only trusted me to do this hoping that I would get eaten or killed even. The dragon and Queen had a close relationship before until she realized that he was a dragon so she had him chained up. Mostly the only reason for this was to keep him as a pet and even to scare intruders away from the castle.

Quietly I unlocked the cage and quickly shut it behind me locking it again. It was pitch black so I lit a torch and hung it on the wall for me to see the chains. It never bothered me to be around Natsu…I mean the dragon. I think that's what Queen Lisanna hates about me. I felt his eyes soften when he saw me; luckily he was in his human form telling me that he calmed down. Not bothering to check his chains I put pounds of freshly cooked meat next to him. It wasn't supposed to be cooked; however I cooked it for him.

"Aren't you going to check my chains? Lucy?" he asked me pulling at the chains.

"I trust you enough…I don't have to and I don't want to" I replied cleaning up the cage that had bones everywhere. I felt his strong hand grab mine and pull me down with him. He ripped open the back of my dress revealing all of my new fresh wounds.

"STOP IT!" I yelled at him pushing him away. He looked away and I continued to do my chores in the cage in silence.

"Lucy…I hate when you are hurt, but there's nothing I could do for you right now" Natsu said.

"I don't expect you to do anything…and why do you care?" I asked as I began cutting all the meat.

"You aren't like all the others. You care about and for me and you are never scared."

"There's nothing to be scared of. That's why it angers me when Gray and all the other villagers pick on you…they don't understand you." I replied to him feeling my heart beat faster every time he looked straight into my eyes.

"Soon when I get out of this cage…I am leaving this castle full of hateful memories…and I'm taking you with me, Luce…" Natsu said with a smile.

"I can't betray Queen Lisanna Natsu…it would hurt both you and me."

"Stop it Lucy…you know that I care for someone else way more now."

"And who would that be?" I asked standing up. He pulled me down on top of him and pushed my forehead against his.

"You know it's you Luce…" he said with a smile revealing his sharp fangs. Blushing I pulled away and grabbed the torch on the wall.

"You're leaving me already?" he asked sitting up straight now and clenching the ground with his sharp nails.

"I have to before someone realizes…" I replied to him causing him to sigh with anger.

"One more thing Natsu…when I have to help all the other servants put you back in the cage in the morning try not to be so easy on me before they realize that we are friends" I said lowering my voice.

"No way…not happening I don't care if I get stabbed I will never try or even pretend to hurt you" Natsu replied.

I sighed and watched him look away in silence as I left the cage and locked it. It's funny you say that. And all those nice things…but you are so different towards me sometimes.