I Dare You
Chapter Eight - Regret and Betrayal
Erza, in full Purgatory Armor, stormed through the halls. This was it. She wasn't going to stand by and watch her friends be torn apart by some rich piece of shit. Unsure to where he was, she checked every single door to every room she passed.
Dammit. She cursed to herself opening another door to an empty room.
Erza calmly stomped down the stairs and made her way towards the lobby.
The smaller man behind the desk was staring in shock and the beastly woman. She stopped a few inches from his desk.
"C-can I help you m-miss?"
"I need to know which room Alekander Cross is staying in." She said, face twisting at his name.
"I-I apologize miss. That gentleman is under the VIP list of guests and I am not authorized to g-give out that in…form…ation…"
Erza towered over the small cowering man, eyes glowing red from anger.
"Please. I insist."
"I-I apolo-"
Erza slammed a fist on the man's desk, snapping it in two. He gasped and back away slowly.
"I. Insist."
His body shook as he nodded. Disappearing to his back room, he came back with a room key that read: VIP RM66
"Room sixty-six? That's appropriate. Missing a six though."
"M-miss?"
"It's nothing. Thank you for your corporation sir."
"Y-yes. H-have a good day."
Erza flashed the cowering man a sincere smile then made her way up the stairs to VIP RM66. She summoned her weapon, her smile increasing in size, losing its sincerity.
Natsu continued to hold Gray until he fell asleep in his lap. The pink haired mage looked down at his friend without allowing the tears to fall. He kept his face stern, but his eyes were glaring with unwanted anger. He was tired at being angry and not being able to do a damn thing about it. Gray stirred in his sleep, snapping Natsu out of his thoughts. Gray was whimpering.
He's probably having a nightmare about what I told him. All that happened to him…
Natsu shut his thoughts off and caressed Gray's cheek.
"It's okay Gray. I'm here." He whispered, not wanting to wake him.
He continued to stare at the man in his lap as his caressing stopped. He just stared. Without realizing it, he let a tear fall.
"W-where are you Gray?" Natsu wouldn't allow another tear to fall, but he needed Gray, his Gray. He didn't know how much longer he could do this…with this Gray. He loved Gray yes, but loving someone that didn't love you back was hard enough. But this Gray didn't even know who he was.
"G-gray…" He sniffled. The dragon slayer stood with Gray in his arms. He gently put Gray on the couch and left the room. First making sure it was completely locked.
This was it. He wasn't going to stand by and watch the one he loved looked at him like he was a complete stranger.
"I'm killing you this time. Both of you." Natsu spat as he made his way to VIP RM66.
Erza stood at the door. It read: VIP RM66. Her heart was pounding. She wanted in. She wanted to hear them scream. She lifted her arm and knocked once on the door.
"What it is!?" A voice, she recognized, shouted through the door. She grinned; and kicked the door open. She stepped through the doorway, and caught two shaking pests in her gaze. Erza straightened her stance and pointed her weapon at their faces.
"Alekander Cross. Evlen Trevicks. For the crimes you have committed against the wizard guild, Fairy Tail, I have sentenced you to death."
"E-Erza Scarlet!?" Evlen gasped out. He held his arms up in defeat.
"Evlen! What do you think you're doing?" Alekander yelled, shaking his friends' body.
"You never told me she was in the same guild as Gray Fullbuster! She's going to kill us."
"She can't kill us Evlen." Alekander said hesitantly flashing a smile at Erza.
"You really think I can't?" Erza tested, stepping closer to the two. Alekander didn't back down.
"You can't if you want Fairy Tail to remain a wizard guild."
Erza stopped.
"Didn't think you wanted to see your home disbanded."
"You can't disband Fairy Tail after what you've done."
"Dear girl, who do you think they would listen to?"
Erza's heart stopped along with her body.
"Hello father." Alekander grinned. He stood, pulling Evlen up with him.
"Son, is this red-headed jail rat bothering you again?" The older man carelessly shoved past Erza and stood in front of Alekander.
"Yes father. She keeps insisting that we've done something to her friend."
"Is that so?" He looks down at Erza with a look filled with enough disgust to make anyone puke, but she doesn't look away.
"Sir, your son and his friend have committed several crimes against my guild."
"And what would those crimes be miss?"
His sarcastic egotistical tone made Erza want to punch the old man right then and there, but she held back…again.
"Alekander Cross attempted to kill one of my comrades by dropping a rock on his head from the VIP section. Since it failed he made his friend, Evlen Trevicks, trap another of my comrades in his own mind by black magic while he raped the other-"
Her explanation was cut off by snickering coming from behind the older man.
"I-is something funny?" She stuttered out; every snicker fueling her anger.
"E-Ev shut up!" Alekander said pushing Evlen behind him.
"Continue miss." The older man said without looking back.
"After Evlen raped my comrade, Alekander then tried to kill the other by stabbing him in the chest. He missed however, stabbing him in the stomach instead. My comrade fought off Alekander then stopped Evlen from killing the other-"
"Excuse my interruption miss, but why do you refer your friends by "my comrade" why not just speak their names?"
"I'm sure Alekander can tell you their names later. I'm only here to explain what happened." Erza stated.
I would kill them both if the old man wasn't here. She spat in her head.
"As you can see sir-" Erza pointed at the huge ice pack strapped around Evlen's crotch.
"That's what he got from raping my comrade. The other burned his dick for punishment."
"Alekander. Evlen. Is her story true?" The older man asked without looking away from the boys.
"Can't we tell you what actually happened father?" Alekander persuaded.
The older man nodded.
"What!?" Erza exclaimed.
"What I told you is what really happened!"
"Shut up fairy trash!" Evlen shouted as he stayed behind Alekander.
"Father, I did drop the rock on the bitch's head for one reason only. He killed my family. I wanted him dead, but that's when I thought about it. He's the one who made me suffer for so many years and I wanted him to feel the same. That's when I came to visit him the other night and told him my entire story. I barely made it out alive."
"What do you mean son?"
"That damn pink lizard almost killed me, but the ice bitch held him back."
"You're welcome." Erza whispered.
"Anyways, after that I asked Evlen to come help me with something and he agreed immediately. He trapped the pink guy in a black magic binding spell to trap him in his own mind. He couldn't move or speak, but he could still hear and see everything. That was the best." He grinned to Evlen who gratefully returned it.
"They were holding hands and that trapped the ice bitch there, which made it much easier. That's when I allowed Evlen to devour him in every sense of the word. I wanted him to bleed…to scream…to suffer." Alekander never took his eyes off Erza as he spoke.
If she had any resistance holding her back from killing him, it was gone now. She wanted him to bleed, scream, and suffer! Her grip tightened on her weapon, but never raised it. The old man was still in the way and she didn't want to shed unneeded blood.
"I told the ice bitch that I'd kill his friend before he could bust out of the spell. Sadly, I didn't make it in time. That pink lizard is a monster father. After he threw me across the room into the wall I blacked out. Evlen-" Alekander looked to Evlen to continue the story.
"Alrighty. I saw the lizard throw him then he turned to me. I had the ice boy by his hair with a knife pressed to his neck, but the fear I felt from staring at that monster kept me from killing him. The closer he got to me the hotter it got. He came closer until he was in arms reach and that's when he grabbed my unclothed dick and set it on fire. I eventually passed out from the agonizing pain."
"T-that's not all. Continue." Erza demanded, voice shaking with anger.
"W-when I came to I saw the ice bitch on the bed so I fingered him while I forced poison down his throat."
"Poison?" The older man asked, clearly unfazed by the story. Erza's anger only grew.
"Yes father. You know the one that kills off memories and wizard magic?"
His father nodded.
"The pink lizard came back in and I grabbed Evlen and ran. The end." Alekander halfheartedly bowed to Erza.
"They are going to be punished for their crimes against my guild."
"No miss. You cannot punish my son and his friend."
"You heard them tell the truth!"
"Doesn't matter. I hate that ice…what did you call him son?"
"Ice bitch."
"Right. I hate that ice bitch as much as my son. Whether or not I approve of the drastic methods he took to dispose of the raven headed stain no longer matters. We're done here."
"We are far from done! I came here to punish them."
"You? Punish them how?"
"What do you think!? I'm. going. to. punish. them."
The older man got right in Erza's face. She could feel his aging breath on her cheek.
"If you lay a finger on either of them I will have Fairy Tail disbanded tonight."
"You can't protect them from their crimes."
"You can't punish them for their crimes. Now leave."
"I'm not leaving. I'm not going back to see my friends continue to fall apart and tell them I couldn't punish these dicks for what they did!" Erza roared and raised her sword.
"Think!" The older man yelled, holding his hand up to touch her blade. She froze.
"Think about what you're risking by being so reckless. Your guild. Your home and family. What would they think about you getting their home taken away from them? They would blame you. Your family would blame you!"
Erza huffs. She lowered her weapons but not the intensity of her gaze.
What do I do?
"I-if I allow you to live…"
"Yes?" Alekander said, nose in the air.
"I want you to give Gray his memories back."
"Really?"
She nodded.
"If I give Gray his memories back you'll let me live?"
"…"
"You can't kill me anyways so the answer is no."
Erza could feel the tears coming, but she refused to let them surface.
"What do I have to do?" She asked.
"You? I just want Gray to suffer and he is so I'm good. Evlen?"
"I will give Gray his memories back if-"
"Evlen!" Alekander gasped. Evlen shushed him while clutching to his, ice pack covered, fried dick.
"He will regain his memories if you give me that FUCKING FIRE LIZARD!"
"N-Natsu? Why?"
"Do you really have to ask? I want him because of well…THIS!" Evlen said ripping the ice packs off revealing his charred dick.
"N-no."
"Then Gray will never remember either of you again. I wonder how Natsu feels knowing the one he loves can't remember his face." Evlen said tilting his head.
"How did you-"
"I could tell by the strong urge to protect came from him and the fact that they were holding hands. So what'll it be Titania?"
"If Natsu went with you…how do you think Gray would feel? It's the same damn thing. Either Natsu or Gray! I can't decide something like that!" Erza wailed.
"I can."
Everyone turned towards the voice that came from the door. The pink headed dragon slayer pushed past Erza and stood beside her.
"N-Natsu? What're you doing here?"
"I'm here to negotiate with these stuck up bastards." Natsu said glaring at the three men in front of him.
"You." Evlen spat.
"Hey there snake. How's your little man doing?" Natsu said flashing an evil grin.
"How's your amnesiac doing?" Evlen said as he watched Natsu's grin fade.
"I want you to give Gray back his memories." Natsu said looking at Alekander.
"If I do that he wouldn't be suffering anymore."
"Y-yes he will." Natsu said trying not to show his growing fear.
"How so?" Alekander said scanning Natsu's body up and down.
"If you give him back his memories you can have me."
"I see. If he has his memories then he'll remember what he felt for you, but you won't be there because you'll be mine which would make him suffer. I like the way you think lizard."
"G-great so do we have a deal then?" Natsu said holding back from punching Alekander for calling him a lizard…again.
Alekander and Evlen looked at each other. Alekander looked at his father and nodded. His father grinned then quietly exited the room.
"We have a deal Natsu Dragneel." Alekander said holding his hand out. Hesitantly, Natsu reached his arm out, but was stopped by Erza.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Natsu!?" She yelled gripping Natsu's shoulders.
"I have to Erza. I can't have Gray not know who I am!"
"You think him remembering you then realizing you're with them will make him feel any better? You're only thinking of yourself Natsu!"
"…"
"You can't stand the thought of going on without him, but your about to make him do the same thing. Think of Gray. We will find some other way to help him."
Natsu looked over to Alekander, hand still out, and then back at Erza.
"Deal's off Alekander." Natsu said.
"Okay, but just so you know lizard…that poison was thoroughly made by myself and only I know how to make the antidote. That was the only one of that type of poison. There isn't another like it. So good luck."
"…"
"Also another thing you should know, I didn't want him to be suffering forever because I won't always be here to watch him suffer. As soon as this tournament ends…he'll die."
Natsu and Erza stared wide eyed at the demonic rich kid. He grinned. Evlen snickered.
"Why is it you both look so shocked? He did say he wanted Gray Fullbuster dead." Evlen said winking at the pink headed mage.
"Now that I think about it. How many days left of the tournament do we have left Evlen?"
"Two." Evlen's snickering increased as he fell back in laughter.
"Good luck you two. May I ask you to please leave our room now?" Alekander said ever so sweetly it sickened Natsu to such an extent he gagged.
Erza couldn't control her body any longer. She raised her weapon and brought it down just above Alekander's head.
"AH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" He yelled.
Evlen stood and ran to Alekander. Erza summoned another sword and pointed it at Evlen's throat. Natsu smiled evilly and stood back, enjoying the show.
"You two make me sick. I want you to give us the antidote or I will kill you. Don't even think I won't. And I want you to shut up and stop your damn snickering or I will cut through your vocal cords."
"W-what about your guild being d-disbanded?" Alekander said choking on every word.
"I don't care anymore my comrades will understand that I had to do this. So…MAKE THE DAMN ANTIDOTE!" Erza screamed at the man cowering beneath her. Natsu nodded.
"Erza Scarlet back away from Alekander and Evlen."
Erza and Natsu both growled as they turned towards the door only to see Alekander's father standing there holding a rope in one hand.
"He's making the antidote or he'll die! I no longer care what you do!" Erza said glare darkening while she stared at the old man.
"Fine. If you don't care anymore then I guess you won't care what I do to this piece of trash I found." The old man's face cracked in an evil smile as he harshly tugged on the rope. The end of the rope was tightly tied around Gray's neck; his arms and hand were bound. He had the clueless yet scared look on his face. Natsu's body lit up in flames as he slowly walked towards the door.
"Release him." He commanded. Erza gawked and lowered her weapons.
"Take off that dangerous armor Titania." The old man said and when she refused he pulled the rope up, making Gray gasp out for air. She panicked and quickly requiped back into her usual armor.
"How did you get him?" Erza asked grabbing Natsu's burning wrist, trying to hold him back. She grimaced at the heat.
"Easy. A powerful man such as myself has access to any room I wish. I simply asked for the key and I walked right in. Knowing he had lost his memory made it even easier. I told him I was a careless old man who lost his way to his room. He generously offered to help and then this." He gestured to the rope.
"Release him." Natsu commanded a second time.
"You're in no position to be giving orders dragon slayer. Those boys and I are leaving this instant. Let them pass and I will give you back this…"
He wrapped the rope around his hand, tightening it around Gray's neck. Gray gagged and coughed on the tight hold the rope had on his windpipe.
"…bitch." The old man spat the last word in Gray's ear.
"No you release him now or I will kill your son!" Natsu threatened. Without looking, he threw his arm back and gripped Alekander around his neck. Nails digging in the bastard's skin.
"Ah! Father!" Alekander choked out. Evlen stood, but was stopped by Erza's threatening gaze.
"Don't." She said through her teeth.
"You really want to play this boy? Can you really risk getting someone you love killed?"
Natsu looked at the old man's twisted grin then he looked at Gray. He hated how scared and helpless he looked. He hated that he was being hurt by another man and he was right in the same fucking room again! Suddenly his thoughts from before popped into Natsu's head and he said something he'd never thought he'd say out loud.
Regret filled his heart with every word that left his mouth.
"He's not the one I love."
Many gasps could be heard throughout the room. Erza was completely shocked that Natsu would even think, let alone say, such a thing. She stepped in front of him and slapped him straight across the face, which didn't faze him in the least.
"How dare you say something like that right in front of Gray!? Think before you speak Natsu!" Erza said without knowing a tear fell to the ground. She looked back at Gray and she again felt her heart break and shatter into a million pieces. Erza forced her eyes to look away and she turned back to Natsu.
He stared blank eyed past her. Eyes half locked on the old man. Erza sighed.
"Natsu. Look at Gray. Please. I want you to see that even though he doesn't remember everything…your cruel words still hurt him." She walked back and stood between Evlen and Natsu.
Natsu blinked and made his eyes move off the old man and over to Gray. Realization and regret overwhelmed his heart.
Every beat was painful after looking at the face of a man he loved and see it so destroyed beyond recognition. Gray looked hurt. He looked like he had when he told them about Deliora and his family getting killed. Tears streamed down his face and his wide eyes were filled with betrayal. Gray shook his head, making more tears fall, and looked at the ground.
(A/N) I sincerely apologize that it took as long as it did to write another chapter. *bashes head on screen* This was the hardest Fanfiction I've written yet mainly because it's the only one that's given such terrible writer's block. I do have some good news though...I have already written Chapter nine the same time I wrote this one and it only took seven hours of continuous typing. Thank goodness I had a day off for this story. :) Anyways I'm thinking there will only be two more chapters - making ten - of this. There will not be a sequel, but I'm already planning a new Fairy Tail Fanfiction. So look forward to that and the next chapter that'll be uploaded later. My laptop's dying and I have to locate my cord.
REVIEW PLEASE AND AGAIN I APOLOGIZE FOR THE (VERY) LATE CHAPTER. :)