Hello everyone. Update time.
Thanks for reviewing last time, stoked that I reached 100 reviews.
Thanks so much all of you! Without your support I probably would have given up already.
:,)
Please enjoy~
2015: Revised
Lucy paused in front of Professor Bob's office door, heart in her mouth.
What if he told her things she didn't want to hear? Before her mother died she had always told Lucy to never ask things she didn't want to know the answer to.
Did she want to know the answer to her mother's mysterious death? The past she never knew existed, it just seemed so ominous.
Hesitantly she extended her right, knuckled fist and gave the heavy oak door four solid knocks.
For a long moment all there was was silence, then the sound of shuffling feet.
The door pulled open to expose his shiny bald head, a pinky red lipstick on his lips and two round circles of blush on his large cheeks.
"Oh, hello Miss. Heartfilia! Shouldn't you be in class right now?" Bob's tone was light, like a fluffy cream tart.
Under his teacher robes he wore a bright pink tank top and a rather gaudy necklace.
Lucy couldn't help but feel a little squeamish, she forced a tight smile.
"Hello Professor. Do you mind if I come in?" Lucy asked, voice rigid and polite.
Bob cocked his head slightly, and pressed a chubby finger to his bottom lip as if confused by the question.
"I guess that isn't a problem, I don't have a class right now. Please come in." He said sweetly, pulling the door completely open and ushering Lucy in.
Professor Bob's office was pink. The wallpaper was pink with little pink sunflowers, the cushions on his chairs matched the wallpaper.
A small little, pink kitty lay in a basket, sleeping on the floor near his desk.
Lucy looked around in awe, mouth flapping in shock.
"Please take a seat darling. Tea?" Bob asked, holding up a pink tea pot questioningly.
"U-um, yes please." Lucy said quietly, sitting down in one of the chairs opposite his desk.
As Bob hummed happily to himself whilst preparing the tea Lucy examined the photos on his desk carefully, searching for clues.
Pictures of him with students, pictures of him and his kitty, but one stood out the most.
The photo was older than the rest, and in bad condition.
In the photo was a small group of people, they all stood stiffly, with small, secretive smiles on their faces. Five in total; Lucy didn't recognize any of the people beside Professor Bob and her mother who stood beside one another.
Each of the people in the photo wore a small emblem on their right breast pockets, a singular eye. Curiosity Lucy grabbed the picture frame off the desk, bringing it closer to her face. In the bottom hand corner something was written in black ink, messily it read 'Society of the Sight'.
"Professor, what are you doing in this photo? And why is my mother with you?" Lucy asked, brows furrowed.
Bob turned around, two large tea mugs in both his hands, a deep frown creased his face.
With more grace than Lucy would have thought possible Professor Bob glided over to his desk where he sat gently, placing her cup before her.
"Oh, well it was just a club your mother and I were in a long time ago. It holds no importance now." Bob said offhandedly, taking a hasty sip of his tea.
Lucy could tell he was lying, his eyes wouldn't meet her as he seemed very preoccupied with his cup of tea.
"What did you do in this club?" Lucy asked, taking her mug in hand and taking a small sip of the pleasantly warm herbal tea.
Bob fidgeted with his tea saucer, his thick finger outlining the gentle golden edging. He said nothing.
"Professor?" Lucy asked again, voice more sharp than she wanted it to be.
Bob looked up, eyes serious. "Lucy, what do you know about ghosts?"
Lucy couldn't help but laugh, it bubbled out of her throat. Everyone knew there was no such thing as ghosts! They were just used as horror stories to keep little kids from doing things they weren't suppose too.
After Lucy composed herself she noticed Professor Bob looked less than impressed, his face was stony and serious.
Lucy cleared her throat awkwardly, taking a relaxing breath.
"I-I'm sorry Professor, it's just that everyone knows ghosts don't exist, it's common sense."
Bob face changed to that of disappointment, which made Lucy even more confused, why was he disappointed in her?
"Is it common sense?" Bob asked cryptically.
Lucy gulped, is this what Miss. Tibble's was talking about, that the Professor was actually something more than an unnerving tranny?
"I don't understand. Are you suggesting that ghosts are real?" Lucy asked, voice hardly above a whisper.
The Professor leaned back into his comfy leather chair, sighing, he inhaled the spicy scent of his tea.
"There are things in this world that no one can explain. Things that shouldn't be real that are. It's a matter of who believes in these hidden wonders and who doesn't."
Lucy grit her teeth, why was he being so mysterious? Couldn't he just give her a straight answer?
"Do you, Professor, believe in ghosts?" Lucy asked.
Bob held her demanding gaze, lips set in a straight line. "Yes, I do."
Lucy let out a whoosh of air, her mind spinning like a top.
"Was this club, the 'Society of the Sight', people who could also see the dead?" Lucy asked in a hushed tone, eyes wide in distress.
The Professor narrowed his eyes at the witch, watching her closely.
"If I said yes, would you believe me? Would you also believe me if I told you your mother came to me with the same questions?" He asked.
Lucy blinked, who could believe in such thing? It was madness! People being able to see ghosts, lost spirits stuck between this world and the next.
She nibbled on her lip, but it could explain Angel couldn't it? He sure didn't seem like a normal spirit, no, he was much too cruel. Yet even he seemed too powerful to be a specter.
Was Angel truly a wayward soul stuck between Heaven and Hell like a pebble wedged between two huge boulders?
"I-I do believe you Professor." Lucy said steadily. "B-because, I think I've seen a ghost. A truly horrible ghost." Lucy shuddered inwardly at the thought of Angel.
Professor Bob took a sip of his spiced lemon tea, he looked at Lucy curiously.
"So you have your mother's gift I see." He said.
Lucy nodded, eyes downcast, if you wanted to call it a gift, it was more like a curse.
As if he had read her mind the Professor spoke once again. "Most of the time it may seem like a curse, even I admit I wish my ability had been placed upon someone else. But you Lucy have something much more than just the Sight. You have something much more sinister than you know, something your mother also shared."
Lucy snapped her head upwards, lips slightly apart, lungs hammering in her chest.
"Something my mother and I share?" Lucy breathed.
The Professor nodded once, placing his tea cup on his saucer.
"Do you have time for a history lesson darling?" He asked kindly.
Lucy quirked an eyebrow, slightly nervous. "Y-yes."
Bob smiled widely, "good, now stand up and come over here would you?" Professor Bob had now jumped up from his desk and began hurrying over to where a large fountain bubbled near the window.
Confused Lucy followed, standing beside the Professor and peering into the bubbling waters of the fountain.
"This little marvel is my own invention, I call it the Time Hopper!" Professor Bob said proudly, hands on his hips, a large grin on his face.
"What does it do?" Lucy asked, examining the fountain closer looking for something to give away it's use.
"Exactly what it sounds like it does! It allows one to 'hop' through time." Bob said pridefully.
"A-am I going to be using it?" Lucy asked apprehensively.
"Well of course, now dip your right hand in the water." Bob instructed, forcing Lucy's hand into the lukewarm water.
"Once you're inside the Time Warp make sure not to disturb anything or anyone or you might alter the future." Bob said strictly.
"Wait! Where am I going in Time?" Lucy yelped anxiously.
Bob shrugged. "Wherever you need to go, good luck child."
Before Lucy could let out an indignant scream of her disapproval Lucy was sucked into the Time Stream without so much as a peep.
The moment Lucy opened her eyes she realized she was seated in a quaint cafe in what looked like some city.
A cheerful tune played on the radio, what sounded like a jazz band. Only a few people were seated in the cafe, talking to themselves quietly and sipping hot drinks.
A little bell above the door chimed happily signalling someone was entering the store.
"Hello there! Welcome to The Lucky Birds Nest, what can I get for you?" A pretty girl from behind the counter chirped.
"I'll have a steamed latte please." The velvet tone replied.
Lucy froze in her seat, she knew that voice! Lucy ripped her eyes from her hands to the person who now stood in front of the counter, smiling sweetly at the blonde girl behind it. He was just as handsome as he was in Lucy's dreams, his copper hair cut dashingly, his hazel eyes glimmering.
"Angel!" Lucy let out a terrified whisper, hands sweating.
The whisper went unheard, the man smiled widely at the blonde woman as she bustled about preparing his drink, humming to herself.
Don't tell me . . . ! Lucy thought to herself fearfully. For the woman behind the counter looked way too much like her mother for comfort. Golden locks held up by a large, black comb in her hair, brown thickly lashed eyes, supple, warm lips.
"You know Lauren, I come here everyday yet I can't seem to get you to consider going on a date with me." Angel said evenly, a teasing lilt to his voice.
Oh god no! She is my Grandmother! Angel fell in love with my Grandmother! Lucy screamed to herself mentally.
Lauren laughed. "Scott, how many times do I have to tell you you're engaged. You always seem to be forgetting that." Again her tone was joking, as if the thought of him cheating on his future wife was actually not that big of a deal.
His name is Scott! Oh my god! Lucy wanted to vanish and never return.
"Oh but Velma is such a bore. All she does is garden, not to mention she smells like mowed grass all the time. How sensual is that?" Scott groaned, taking his coffee mug from Lucy's Grandmother and stirring it with the given spoon.
Lauren giggled, leaning over the counter so her face was uncomfortably close to Scott's face.
"Just think of her as a flower yet to be planted in your garden of love." Lauren snickered.
Scott rolled his eyes, puffing out an exasperated breath of air.
"Don't make me vomit. How could I even consider another woman when the most tantalizing women of all is mere inches away from my nose?" Scott said smoothly.
Lucy watched in horror as her Grandmother pecked him on the cheek, smiling.
"Maybe if somehow you become miraculously unengaged, then yes, I'd marry you."
Scott's face changed, his teasing face became stony, serious.
"Is that a promise?" He asked, voice cool.
Lauren looked at him suspiciously, slender eyebrow raised. "Scott, is something the matter?" She asked worriedly, surprised at his sudden character change.
"Promise me Lauren, give me your word." He said seriously, eyes wild.
Lucy's Grandmother pressed her hips against the counter behind her, scared.
"I-I promise." She whispered timidly.
As soon as she had finished Scott became calm once again, his shoulders relaxed as he stood, flashing her a large cheeky grin.
"I must be going now Lauren, see you tomorrow." Scott said happily, waving before hurrying out of the shop.
The moment he stepped outside, the picture began to fade, Lucy's Grandmother blurring away.
Disoriented Lucy's vision swamped as the picture began to change.
This time she was in a back alley, the sky was dark, the faint sound of sirens could be heard in the back ground.
Thankfully Lucy was cloaked by the shadows for meters away was her Grandmother and Angel, talking feverishly under their breath.
Scott's hands cupped both of Lauren's arms, holding her slightly away from him, his words excited.
"Come with me Lauren! We can run away! I took enough money from my family vault to last us a life time, we'll hide, they'll never find us!" He whispered excitedly, hazel eyes dancing.
"What did you do Scott? What did you do to Velma?" Lucy's Grandmother spoke slowly, deliberately, like she was speaking to a child.
Scott shook his head frantically. "It doesn't matter what I did Lauren! Velma's out of the picture, now we can live happily, alone forever. No one with bother us! We'll build a house in the forest, where no one can find us. It'll be just me and you, forever." Scott's words were desperate, like he was unravelling at the seams.
Again Lauren spoke, her voice hard now, demanding. "Scott! What did you do to Velma!? Tell me." Her tone was harsh and it made Scott's slur of words halt.
His hands dropped limply to his side, like he was violently ashamed of something he did.
"I-I killed her." He whispered. "Like I'd always planned on doing."
Lauren's hand clasped to her mouth, brown eyes wide in horror, she backed away.
"Y-you monster! You're the one who poisoned her!" Lauren pointed a shaky finger at Scott, pushing herself away from him.
"I did it for us!" Scott raged, eyes wild.
"No. You did it for you." Lauren muttered, brown eyes now narrow slits. "/You're insane! You look at me like a porcelin doll upon a shelf, to keep for your own pleasures and desires."
"No!" Scott snapped, lunging towards Lauren, clasping her left wrist with one strong hand.
"I love you!" He hissed, pressing his lips to her temple, inhaling her scent.
"No. You don't." Lauren whispered, and before Scott could do another thing Lauren stabbed a thick, sharp knife into his lower abdomen.
All the air in Scott's lungs rushed out as he collapsed to his knees, blood seeping through his waist coat.
"Y-you stabbed me." He rumbled in disbelief, voice shaky.
Lauren stood back, blood pooling on the ground, tears dripping down her cheeks.
"Yes, I did. Because I had to."
Scott glared up at her, left hand clutching at the gore that was seeping out from his shirt.
"You'll pay for this! I'l'll never forget, one way or another you'll pay, even if I have to haunt your family century after century, you'll pay!" Scott choked out again, growing weaker.
Lauren looked down at him in disdain. "Stop Scott, the game is up. You're dying." Lauren said over her shoulder as she began to walk away, shaking like a leaf.
"We'll see who's laughing in the end." Scott gurgled, blood now pouring out of his mouth.
"Good-bye Scott." Lauren said.
Scott's knees collapsed under him, eyes rolling back in his skull, an empty shell left in a puddle of blood.
Tears of terror fell down Lucy's cheeks, hands covering her mouth in fear of being heard. The scene began to fade, the burning image of Scott's bloody, body scarring Lucy's mind.
"Hmm. It seems she had more trouble in the Time Stream than I thought she'd have."
Lucy's brain pounded painfully, she wanted to swat at the voice that had awoken her.
"Come on child, you have something you must tell me, get up." The voice was kind but demanding.
Begrudgingly Lucy opened her eyes a smiling Professor Bob hunched over her.
"Professor?" Lucy croaked, the gaudy pink of Bob's office filling her vision.
"Hello child, sit up, sit up I prepared a fruit tart for you." He said happily, pulling her into an upwards sitting position on the couch she was laying on.
Bob handed Lucy a hefty slice of fruit tart on a small plate, Lucy took it gratefully and stabbed at it with the fork she was offered.
"So?" Professor Bob asked impatiently, pulling up a chair opposite her. "What happened?"
Lucy stared blankly at her fruit tart, counting the strawberries in amongst her tart.
"I-I saw my Grandmother."
"Ah, I see. What did you learn for seeing her?" Bob asked.
Lucy paused, shoving a small piece of fruit tart into her mouth and chewing.
"She knew the ghost that haunts me, Angel."
Bob looked forlorn, shaking his head sadly. "Like mother like daughter."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, shivering.
"Your mother was haunted by the same ghost, Angel. He's what we call an 'Eater', a human who sells their soul, dead or alive to haunt others in the afterlife. Angel is the most dangerous spirit in the Spiritual Plane at present. And like your mother he has now moved onto you, his next victim."
Lucy dropped her fruit tart in shock, her mouth wide in astonishment.
"You mean Angel also haunted my mother?"
Bob nodded, his eyes droopy and sad. "Yes. The moment he died he sold his soul to Satan, promising if Satan let him roam the Human Plane he'd provide him with one perfect sacrifice. A untainted soul. Angel meant to do this with your mother, for Lauren was untouchable, she was tainted. The moment one kills a human with their own hands they are tainted. Your mother went through the same thing you are going through, the tug of war between who you really are and who Angel wants you to be."
Bob paused, watching Lucy's face grow paler as he spoke.
"But Angel never actually planned on giving up your mother's soul to Satan, no, he was far too selfish for that. Being the spitting image of Lauren he wanted Layla for his own, to keep as a little halfling pet not alive but not dead. He almost got his wish too, that was until Layla met your father Jude."
"My father? What did he do?" Lucy asked.
Professor Bob gave her a small gentle smile. "Love. Your father gave her love. Love is the greatest protection of all, the bond between two people nothing can break."
Lucy swallowed, tears filling her eyes, her father had saved her mother.
"Angel was furious. For as long as Layla loved Jude and Jude loved Layla your mother was untouchable. For years he could do nothing, he could only sit and watch them, everyday slowly eating him up inside."
Again Professor Bob paused and handed Lucy a lacy handkerchief so she could wipe her now running nose.
"What happened then?" Lucy asked breathless, although she was sure she already knew.
Professor Bob cringed, turning his face away from hers.
"Then one day Angel's fury grew so strong he lashed out. He manipulated a local thug, used his mind much like he's been using yours and murdered you mother. I'm sorry I didn't do anything child, w-we never knew, it just happened. There was nothing we could do. I'm so, so sorry."
Lucy buried her face in one of the green pillows that sat on the couch and sobbed brokenly.
"Why didn't you do anything!? The whole Society! You all have the ability to see the undead yet you did nothing! Why haven't you told anyone the things you know?! Why have you kept this a secret for so long?!" Lucy screamed, her voice muffled considerably by the pillow.
"Would anyone believe us if we told them a possessed, madman killed your mother? No. So we have remained quiet, all of us, until now."
Lucy took a ragged breath, placing the pillow in her lap, wiping away her tears.
"Why wait until now? Why me?" She asked pathetically.
"Isn't it obvious child? You're the only one who can see Angel, the only heir to the Heartfillia blood-line. You have to stop Angel. It's either that or your death."
OoOoOoO
The champagne tasted like dirty water. Natsu downed the glass anyways, sloshing the vile liquid around his mouth.
The ballroom was full, people swaying back and forth to the soothing sounds of the harpist. A server with an inviting tray of mini sausages walked by, Natsu reached out and grabbed three.
It was a little past midnight and he honestly had no idea why he was still at this party.
Natsu shifted his masquerade mask on his face, sweat building up under the mask.
What a lame and unoriginal party idea, masquerade. How cheesy.
Mentally telling himself to never go to such a lame party again Natsu shoved the tasty morsels into his mouth and looked around.
The dance floor was swarmed with dancing partners, flowing pastel dresses and smiling faces.
Groaning Natsu was about to leave when a shock of red caught his eye.
Across the ball room stood a slender, fair skinned, blonde girl. She was the only one in the whole ballroom who wasn't wearing a pastel dress. Instead she wore a tight fitted, scarlet dress, hugging her curves comfortably. Her mask was simple and black with white lace, she seemed to also be having a difficult time stomaching the horrid champagne.
A smile spread across Natsu's face, by far she looked like the most interesting girl here. Cracking his neck Natsu sauntered over to her with a confident swagger.
The girl watched him coming towards her with piqued interest, she made no move to get closer to him but didn't walk away either.
Natsu joined up beside her, standing to the right of her, looking down on her out of the corner of his eye.
"Evening." He said casually, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Good evening." She responded, sipping at her champagne glass.
Natsu tried to get a better look at her face, her expression impassive.
"That champagne tastes like mud doesn't it?" Natsu said, trying pathetically to make conversation.
"Indeed." She said, taking another sip.
Her presence made Natsu feel uncomfortable, like she knew something about him he didn't. But it also intrigued him, like a unexplainable pull.
"Would you like to dance?" Natsu asked, offering his hand.
She looked at him steadily, measuring him up, Natsu suddenly felt very self conscious.
"Alright." She said, placing her hand in his and guiding his hand to sit on the curve of her waist.
Daintily she placed her hand upon his shoulder, her other hand still gripped in his.
Carefully Natsu lead her into the centre of the dance floor, eyes fixated on the dark pupils behind her mask.
Time stretched on, and slowly but surely everyone began to leave until it was only them left on the dance floor.
Natsu yearned to take that mask of her painfully pretty face, gaze into the eyes of his partner, place an identity to them.
"What's you name?" Natsu whispered, leaning forward, lips pressed to her ear.
A breath of laughter, "it's a secret."
Natsu pulled back, a puppy pout moulding his mouth. "You won't tell me?" He whined, feeling foolish as soon as the words left his lips.
"No." She said coyly, a small smile on her lips. "But I'll show you. Take off my mask." Her voice was a whisper, quiet and soft.
Natsu inhaled, holding his breath. Gently his retracted his hand from her waist and the other from her hand, hands drifting gingerly towards her face.
His sweaty fingers gripped the edge of her mask gently. "Ready?"
"Yes." She said, voice tempting.
Slowly Natsu pulled her mask over her face pulling it off her head.
Black eyes, supple pink lips, a halo of golden hair and that smug grin he'd been getting far too used to lately.
It was Lucy.
"Surprised?" She smirked.
Then the world spun and he was swallowed by the marble floor beneath his feet.