A/N: As promised, here are the teeth :)

Chapter Three – Enveloping

Rainy days in Magnolia were few and far between for most of the year, but for some seven weeks of summer the rain would come hard, fast, and often times without warning. This particular day the citizens of the bustling city were given three signs of caution. The first had been seen only by its earlier risers and it had painted the normally azure skies with an unmistakable crimson blush. The second and third signs had also come from the sky. They came in the silence and the absence of birds and in the stillness and the smell of the air.

When the dark and heavy clouds came in, most of Magnolia's people were well and cozily tucked within their homes. Next came the rains. They were gentle and testing as they left their heavenly transport for the world below. And it was to that light and scouting force that Lucy awoke.

They produced a lulling and pleasant rhythm as they fell and for a while she allowed herself to be drawn in by it. Waters pelted upon the roof, pattered against the glass, and sheeted down to the streets below. It was so peaceful, so relaxing, and so wonderfully uncomplicated.

Unlike what had happened last night and unlike what was currently happening to her head right now. Pain was throbbing and screaming and pounding against the walls of her skull. Her tongue was dry, swollen, and fuzzy. She shuddered to imagine what her breath must smell like. Perhaps she really had gone overboard with the drinking last night.

With a groan, Lucy threw herself into the Herculean effort of sitting up. Leaving her warm and perfectly bundled sheets had been the hardest bit. The swinging anvil that had become her head was none too pleasant either, but it soon pulsed away and allowed the dull throbbing of her back to take over.

That annoyed Lucy far more than it brought discomfort. She had been quite thorough in checking it the previous morning and had even risked Natsu walking in on her shirtless and braless in the bathroom while she twisted and pulled at her skin, searching in vain for a wound that was not there. And so Lucy had been left to ponder the single and happy conclusion that yet remained her; she was going insane.

Moving was easier now that she had begun the process. Lucy cast her bed one last and mournful look before she left it and made her way to the common room. Half of her had been hoping to see Natsu and Happy waiting for her. The other half had known better.

She trudged past the empty couch and chairs to the kitchen and allowed her mind to take a breather while her body fell into its rote zombie mode. Three freshly ground spoonsful of coffee and two boiling hot cups of water later found Lucy happily curled up in one of her comfy chairs and sipping contentedly from a steaming and lovingly-chipped mug.

The peace did not last as the mind began to stir, supplying an unbidden and unwanted collection of memories from the last night. They played out to an unhappy and increasingly shamed audience of one.

Someone had convinced her to wear cat ears and race Happy, on all fours, down the main hall of the guild. And Happy had won. She and Erza had been dancing on a table and shaking things, things that did not stop shaking even when the rest of them did, all while belting out a chorus of lyrics as lewd as their delivery was slurred. And for some reason not yet, and hopefully never, known she had gotten into a screaming match with Evergreen that had nearly come to blows. And Natsu, of all people, had had to sling her over his shoulder and drag her away.

And as embarrassing as all of these were, they were completely out-staged by the grand finale. She had kissed Natsu. While almost entirely sober. Lucy felt her throat tighten. On the surface it wasn't really all that embarrassing. Hell, she'd even kissed Erza on the cheek several times. No, that wasn't what was upsetting her. What did upset her was Natsu's reaction and what it signified. All this time, and unbeknownst to her until now, a very deep part of her had been holding on to some wild hope that he loved her back. And now that hope, however foolish, was gone. He had practically gone screaming into the night to get away from her.

Girl, he's just not that into you. Lucy groaned, remembering Natsu's evasive probably when she had mentioned seeing him today.

Lucy gave a resigned look to the increasingly drowned world outside. Even if he had been somehow tempted to see her, the rain was the final nail in that particular coffin. And that was probably for the best because she did not know if she could even be around him right now.

There was always the guild hall. Maybe she could risk the weather and find out if Gray or Erza had picked out any interesting jobs. Lucy did not love the idea of traipsing across Magnolia in the midst of a building storm but it would certainly be something to take her mind off of one infuriating, charming, asinine, and wonderful pink-haired dragon slayer.

The plan of this journey was immediately murdered hardly after taking its first breath. Everyone there would remember what she had done last night. All the embarrassing bits she did recall and also all the other, and potentially far worse, ones she didn't. She also didn't much fancy the idea of seeing Levy and Gajeel, who didn't seem be to be able to tell their respective asses from the other's these days.

"Bath it is," Lucy decided. She placed her mug down on the counter, poured herself another cup from the half-full press, and set about preparing what had better be the most relaxing bath of her life.

Candles were the first order of business. Those were easy enough to find but the matches had been another matter entirely. What with Natsu always hanging around, there hadn't been any need for them. Eventually she did find a half-used and wholly soiled book hiding out in a lair of dust-kitties and hair underneath the couch.

Next were the bath salts, bubbles, and oils. Lucy dripped the fragrant ointment into the last candle and took in a greedy breath of the stuff. It smelled wonderful. She stripped off her clothes, folded them neatly on the counter, and then stepped into the searing tub. Thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning shot across the skies as Lucy settled into her bath.

Yes. This was the correct choice and exactly what she needed. She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the water, allowing the heat to work away and ease the pained tension in her muscles. The strange tremor she had been dealing with for the past few days had been fading in and out since then and now it was gone entirely.

Shadows danced upon the walls like little warm and lively fairies and Lucy smiled, glad she had made the effort to light them. She began to absentmindedly play with her bubbles and drew them in with a sweep of her arm, watching as they swirled about in the waters. She flicked a clump of foam off her skin and watched as the little puffy cloud flew some inches up and broke into smaller pieces, all of which eventually popped or fell back down where they were absorbed by other white and glistening hills.

The memory of Aquarius and the first time Lucy had summoned her in her bath found its way to the front of her mind. The water spirit had come out of the gate brimming with rage and hurling expletives no little girl should hear. She had immediately dumped a vat of steaming and foaming waters all over Lucy before pulverizing the entire bath in her fury. Lucy snorted at the memory but with the half-smile came a new sense of melancholy.

"I miss you, Aquarius," she whispered. Her voice sounded so small in the empty room and was barely audible over the noise of the thundering rains outside. "I didn't forget my promise. I will find your key."

It took some time for Lucy to truly let go. Feelings of worry, loneliness, and heartache all warred within her, each wanting an equal stake in her misery. But finally, the bubbles won out and Lucy began to drift into dreams.

She was in a large and familiar hallway; one she had not seen in years. Before her was a set of impressive and foreboding doors with a pair of elegant and golden handles just at eye level. Lucy reached a fat and little hand out to them. They felt cold to the touch.

"What are you doing, little Lu?" a voice from her memory, a voice from behind her, spoke quietly. Lucy turned at the sound and saw her mother. She was a vision of warmth in the otherwise chill place. Lucy's hesitant hand fell away from the door as her mother reached a hand out to her. "Come on. There's something I wish to show you."

As they walked down the hallway, hand in hand, a needling doubt began to pierce through the blissful cloud of Lucy's mind.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"What a silly question." Layla chuckled as she stopped them at yet another towering and ominous door. "I live here, princess." She opened the door and stood at its threshold, ushering Lucy in with a sweep of her hand. Lucy's shoulder brushed against her mother's as she stepped into the room.

There were many rooms, perhaps a countless number, that Lucy had never before stepped foot in within her family's estate. This opulent and spacious study was one of them. A large fireplace set in marble cut through the right and center wall of the room. In its cavernous mouth spat and sparked a blistering fire that was given life from a bed of blazing embers.

Across from it, and sprawling perhaps a score or more feet in length, were several thick and well-oiled wooden shelves. Each was stocked to the brim with neatly ordered books, variously polished spheres, and all other manner of geometrically shaped metal and stone.

Lucy heard the soft click of the door as it shut behind her and her mother moved, quietly and gracefully, to her side. Layla gathered her daughter's hands up in her own. They felt cold now, without the familiar warmth of before, and the hold sent a strange and pricking sensation over Lucy's skin.

"You've grown into such a lovely young woman." Layla smiled at her but there was an unmistakable sadness on her pleasant features. "And such a powerful summoner, too," she continued as she led them to the large mahogany desk that stood at the forefront of the room. She took a seat in one of the rigid and ornate chairs that was set in front of it and then gestured for Lucy to do the same.

"Now I promised to show you something, didn't I? Here." Layla reached within the pockets of her dress and withdrew a set of twelve gleaming and golden keys. "I know you're already familiar with most of my lesser spirits. But I think you're old enough now to see my most powerful one." Her mother leaned forward and pressed the keys into her hands. Lucy frowned.

"The zodiac keys? But I already have these. Most of them, anyway."

"Really – keys? The zodiac keys?" Her mother's voice was layered with both surprise and disappointment. "I thought you would have been powerful enough now…"

Lucy, who had been idly sifting through the rather familiar set, paused as she reached the one marked with the sign of the water-bearer.

"I lost this one."

"Oh? Which one is that?"

"Aquarius. I had to break her key when I summoned the celestial spirit king."

"So you have summoned him. That's good. I am sorry to hear about Aquarius, though. She was always one of my favorites." Her mother's dark eyes glinted with the light of curiosity as they caught on Lucy's chest. "But I see you have a new key. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this one."

"This?" Lucy looked down to the sharp and shadowed key that hung from her neck. "This is just some jewelry. It was a…gift…" Her voice trailed off as a renewed sense of unease cut through her.

"May I?" Layla was pointing at the thing and Lucy nodded somewhat distractedly. This was the necklace Natsu had given her. And her mother was…dead, wasn't she?

"Mom." Layla paused briefly in her inspection to look up. "Why are you here?"

"I told you, darling. This is where I live."

"But…" The words were catching in her throat. "But you're dead. We buried you. Just outside." Layla dropped the key and straightened as she withdrew. She was silent for a time. Silent and staring.

"Yes. I am dead, but that does not mean that I am gone. Not entirely. Listen to me, Lucy."

There was a large painting hanging on the wall behind the desk. Lucy had recognized it earlier as the familiar portrait of their family. But that was not what held her attention now. There was something off about their faces. Something vaguely unpleasant.

"Lucy." Unwillingly, Lucy dragged her eyes away from it. Layla's mouth opened as if to say something when she abruptly tensed. The bittersweet serenity Lucy had grown accustomed to was shattered as her mother grabbed her arms up in a painful grip. Her nails dug into Lucy's flesh and she began to violently shake her.

"I need you to wake up, sweetheart. Wake up. Wake up!"

Lucy jolted and gasped as her body shot forward in her bath. It was the cold that struck her first. In the time she had been asleep her bath had turned to ice. Darkness was the next thing she became aware of. All but one of her candles had been snuffed out and the blanket of the night now enveloped the room.

Of the dozen or so candles she had lit, only the one at her window yet remained against the dark. Lucy frowned at the glass and the image that weak and fluttering flame revealed. A strange form had begun to grow and undulate within it. Its shape seemed to have been cut out from the shadows themselves.

It began to unfold as if rising from a crouch and Lucy whipped around to stare at the corner. There was nothing she could see but panic was spiking through her. Her arms shot out and her numbed fingers wrapped around the edge of the tub. She had to get out of here. She had to get out now.

She made it about halfway up before an invisible force caught hold of her. Icy fingers grabbed at her shoulders like a thousand small and piercing daggers. A cry rose up in her throat but it was torn from her lungs as she was thrust back down.

Waters shot up and wrapped around her as she was pushed forcibly into the stones. Pain ripped into her and Lucy's eyes flew open from the shock of it. Swirling gray surrounded her and ice swam about her. Ice held her under. Ice and numbing fingers that skewered through her flesh.

Lucy kicked and thrashed against the hold. It was turning her, twisting her over so that her back was facing upward and her chest was pressed against the floor. Hands were at her neck now and they forcibly ripped her head to the side.

It's going to break my neck. Fear exploded through her veins and Lucy flattened her hands against the floor. She summoned all of her strength into one mighty push.

Sound and pain erupted as she broke the surface, gulping and starving for air. A second of perfect and life-giving air was all she got. The grip tightened around her, cold and unyielding. She bucked against her attacker, hands striking out wildly as it forced her back under. They grappled against wet and smooth stone for the briefest of moments before she was sent violently back into the depths.

Her head was slammed into the stone floor of her bath and Lucy screamed, involuntarily gasping and sucking water into her mouth. All she could see was swirling and eternal gray. But there was blackness now too, edging the corners of her vision. Her lungs were ready to implode and panic surged through every nerve in her body.

And it was not done with her yet. The pressure on her neck squeezed and it dug into her with a horrible rage. More liquid sucked into her throat as her head was jerked backward and was once more sent slamming back into the stones. Pain was everything, pain was all, and pain did not stop. Something was piercing through her, sliding into the flesh near her spine and digging savagely.

She was going to die. Natsu wasn't here and he could not save her. She was going to die and she was going to die alone.

Aquarius. Lucy could hardly summon the thought, never mind the spirit. Please, Aquarius. If you can hear me, please…help…

The pain in her back was unbearable and, try as she might, Lucy could not resist her lungs any longer. She sucked in water and her lungs were set aflame. Darkness was pulling at her. Pulling…inviting…beckoning…

Give in, it seemed to say. Give in and the pain will be over. Let go…let go and let me in.

Aquarius…please…

And then the pressure vanished.

Lucy's eyes snapped open and she exploded up from the water. Stabbing shards of glass cut into her flesh but she did not notice. Her body collapsed over the sides of the bath and she spluttered, coughing up streams of water and blood. Every part of her was shaking, starved of oxygen and glutted on pain. It was all she could do to gasp, to gulp in the precious air, and fight against the desperate desire to close her eyes.

Just another dream. It was just another dream. If she could but close her eyes then she would wake up and this would all be over. And part of her wanted to. Wanted to so desperately that she very nearly did. But there was another part of her and this part was far deeper, it was primal and it would not give up. It wanted to live.

Her hands gripped the sides of her bath and the pain was immediate, hot and sharp and wet. But there was no time to wonder why. Adrenaline coursed through her and it allowed her to lift herself up over the walls of what had very nearly been her grave.

Lucy collapsed on the floor. And screamed. Blood and water gurgled in her throat and it drowned her cry. Glass had shattered and it was strewn all over the floor. Some of the pieces must have cut through her when she landed. Tears streamed down her face and she gritted her teeth. It did not matter.

Fuck the pain.

Slowly, agonizingly, she began to crawl. She brought one elbow up in front of the other and dragged her herself over the piercing and slippery tiles, wincing against every scrape and stab of shattered glass. It dug deeper into her with each slow and terrible inch. But still, she crawled.

The dark and endless length of the hall beyond stared up at her. It would take too long to move across it.

Get up. You have to get up. Her fingers reached out and grabbed madly at the door frame. Blood dripped and streamed down the wood but Lucy clung to it, digging her nails into the frame. Fear and purpose drove her. One hand pulled over the other. One foot, then two…four…Finally, she was on her feet.

Lucy stumbled across the floor and towards her room. But her body was too weak, her head too lightheaded, her lungs too empty. She fell into the wall and drew her arms up, laying her slick palms against it and using it for support as she inched closer to her room. Through the open door, she could see them. Just a few more feet, just a few more.

Her keys gleamed up at her from her dresser and her trembling and smeared arm reached out to them. A little further. One more step, one more step. Her reddened fingers at last gripped them and they shook as she singled out the first key she could. Through the dark, she could hardly tell which it was. Aries.

"Open…gate of the ram," she rasped. Relief should have swept through her. Reprieve and safety should have been hers. But it was not. Nothing was happening.

"Open, gate of the ram!" Nothing. She flicked the key aside and grabbed at the next one. "Open, gate of the golden bull!"

Her room remained cold, dark, and empty. And from outside, lightning exploded and it lit the room, banishing all shadows from within. All shadows, save one. In the corner. In the corner it crouched and did not move.

Had she imagined it? No. No, it was there. It was waiting. Waiting and watching.

Lucy ran. All thoughts of pain and tiredness were burned away in the face of her fear. She tore down the hallway, ripped open the door, and flew down the stairs.

Naked and bloody, she came upon the streets. Rain fell from the blackened sky in a silver sheet. And the streets were abandoned. No one was there and no one could help her.

The guild hall. She had to get to the guild hall.

How she moved, how she was able to get across the bridge and move across the steadily rising roads, was beyond her. All she knew was that if she stopped…well, she didn't want to think about that. Her wounds were open and bleeding, she was concussed, and she had been drowned. And the blackness was waiting. At the corners of her vision, rising within her chest, and following behind.

She had to keep moving, had to keep running. And she was close now. So close to being safe. From above the sloping streets was the sign. It was like a beacon in the night and familiar windows shone into the dark with blazing light. The sight of it filled her with hope. Lucy threw herself against the gate and her fingers wrapped around the iron fencing as she tried to keep her shaking body from collapsing beneath her.

Come on. Just a few more steps.

Blearily, her eyes fluttered open and she released her death-grip of the fence. She took an unsteady step forward. The lights through Fairy Tail's windows…were not there anymore. In their stead was darkness and impossible, shifting, and tumultuous dark.

No. No, please let this be a dream.

She backed away from the place that should have been her salvation. It took all of her resolve but she somehow managed to drag herself away and spur her leaden and numbed legs into a sprint.

Fairy Hills. That's where she would go next. It was late, but surely someone was still up. Erza or Levy, even Juvia. The thought of their familiar faces warmed Lucy and lent some new purpose to her flight. She tore down the street, barely able to see through the blinding and endless rain. But there, moving beneath a street light, was a woman. Lucy ran up to her and grabbed the startled woman by her arms.

"Please," she breathed into her chest, "please help me." But there was no answer and, slowly, Lucy looked up. Her heart stilled. The woman was staring down at her with a blank and unexpressive face. It was empty. Frozen, save for a slight smile that curved at her lips.

Lucy jerked away from her and her legs slammed into the streaming night. But it was too wet and the streets were flooding. Lucy slipped and went crashing to the ground. As she brought herself up from the warm and splattering stones, her gaze found the woman's.

She had made no move to follow Lucy. In fact, she had not moved at all, save to turn around and stare at her. Staring and smiling with her terrible face illuminated by the light she stood below.

What will she do when I get up? Lucy could not wait to wonder. She pushed up from the ground and flew across it. The girls' housing was not far. She would make it. She had to make it.

And then she could see them; the wonderful and blessed steps that led up to the Hills. She forced herself to move upon them, but she was slowing. Whatever adrenaline had been coursing through her was beginning to fade. And with it, her vision. Blackness was pulsing across her eyes with every beat of her slowing heart.

Her terror and panic had reached impossible and mind-numbing levels. Even the thought of reaching the Hills could not calm her now. What if was waiting there, too? What if her friends were like that woman? Staring and smiling. Staring and smiling. Was the woman behind her, even now? Lucy could not bring herself to look.

Natsu. If only Natsu were here. There was no way he would be affected. He would protect her, he would keep her safe from whatever it was that came for her. He would save her. Just like he had in that farmhouse and just as he had countless times before. But Natsu was not here. And she would never see him again, not unless she moved. Not unless she found a way to save herself.

Lucy's hands tightened around the keys she still held in her numbed grip. Her trembling fingers slowly and jerkily unfolded as she picked out a key. It would not work and yet she had to try.

"Open, gate of the maiden." There was nothing. And a new force was beginning to rise within her, a strange and inertial tugging that seemed to pull at her very soul. "Open, gate of the maiden. Open, gate of the maiden!" Tears poured down Lucy's face as she sobbed and her legs went still. She fell to the ground, crumpling on the steps. There was nothing left. She was fading and fading fast.

"Virgo!" She screamed. Her arms reached out, grasping at the slick and sheeting steps above her. There had to be something. Something still within her that could rise and could keep going. She had to move…had to…

And then she was moving, moving down and moving quickly. She was falling and twisting down the steps and then her head connected sharply into stone. Blackness met her and it enveloped her in its cold and waiting embrace.

"Oh, come on, no fair! I know you're cheating, Natsu."

"Them's the breaks, kid," Natsu threw his winning hand down on the table. "Better pay up." Happy flew up from his seat and landed on the dirty and crusted wood between them. In a quick and blue movement, he grabbed up the offending cards and brought them up to his disbelieving eyes. His shoulders sagged and he gave Natsu a pitiful look.

"I don't wanna play anymore."

"Hmm. I guess I could give you one more shot," Natsu allowed, grinning as he swept the cards up. "This one's for all the fishies. Winner takes all."

"Really?" Happy brightened up.

"Sure. I'm not heartless."

"All right! But this time, I wanna deal." Shrugging, Natsu handed the yellowed and bent deck over to him. He settled back against the legs of his well-worn chair.

"It won't even your odds," he said, rubbing his stomach with a fiendish glee. "I'll be eating well tonight." Happy adopted a look of fierce determination as he dealt out the cards.

Outside, the winds had risen to a howl and they shook and blustered against the house. Rain pelted noisily against the windows but all the vitriol the weather could unleash bore no effect on the silent and tense pair.

Words were not exchanged as cards moved to and from the table but glances, glares, and the narrowing of eyes were traded well and easily. They were well into their high-stakes deathmatch when a loud and frantic pounding sounded at the door. Natsu paused with his hand halfway to drawing another card. He frowned over at Happy from what was doubtlessly his winning hand.

"We aren't expecting anyone, are we?" Happy shook his head and the pounding came again, more urgently this time. "Alright, alright, I'm comin'!"

Natsu flung his cards down and pushed up from where he had been crouching on the floor. He suspected Happy would use this distraction to full advantage and swap his own cards out for better ones. Not that it mattered, since Natsu had been planning on letting him win.

He reached the door and swung it open, ready to meet whoever was out there with unforgiving flames. But the fire sizzled out as Natsu came face to face with a drenched and shivering Virgo. She held Lucy, naked, unconscious, and battered, in her arms.