Dragon's Love with Dangerous Letters
Chapter 7
When Artemis woke up she was starving, she was thirsty, she was bored, her wrists ached from the cuffs, and she didn't even have the strength to think of anything else at this point. The golden rays of the sunset gleamed through Artemis's window telling her that night was just around the corner. She had heard some commotion coming from outside her window about an estimated two hours ago. Her guess was that the royal families of Sabertooth and Pyre had arrived at that moment but not even for five minutes did the noise last before everything became silent again. The brunette tried to strike up conversations with Juvia to relinquish the boredom that filled her but the bluenette only mustered three or four words for each reply she gave, maybe less. It was agony for Artemis to sit there for so long in one place and she only wished for a little time out of this cell, out of this dungeon! She didn't even care if she had two guards sticking to her heels the whole time, she just wanted out.
As if hearing Artemis's wish the dungeon door opened for the fifth time today and was followed by heavy and rapid footsteps. Two guards appeared new ones she hasn't seen yet and she watched as one opened her cell door and the other worked with Juvia's. The guard tugged hard on Artemis's cloak and dragged her out of the cell by her tied wrists, the other guard doing the same with her new friend. The teen felt as if they were in a hurry for something, in a hurry to get the two females to a new location though they didn't drag the two far from their cells. They took them just further down the hall where it was pitch black and anyone standing between their two cells couldn't possible see them. She felt a cloth cover her mouth and the green eyed teen tried to yell in protest though her cries were only muffled as were Juvia's sobs.
"I suggest you be quiet or his highness will make sure your life is cut even shorter than he has planned for you." The guard spat in her ear and roughly threw her to the floor.
She whimpered as she hit the floor again, she swore her cheek was going to be swollen for a good amount of time. Artemis didn't understand a thing that was going on. Why were they making the two of them sit here in the middle of the dungeon hallway where it was dark? Just what was going on? Still not understanding it Artemis heard the dungeon door open again followed by what sounded like five different sets of footsteps. After a few seconds of looking in the direction of where they were coming from five people turned the corner at the end of the hall. The first one she spotted was that revolting king that kept her locked up here. She scowled harshly at him even if he couldn't see the look meant for him. Behind him stood two men, both dressed extremely well.
The first one, the one to Jose's left was slightly shorter than the other male. He had red hair; it was like a blazing fire that matched his blazing eyes. Artemis caught sight of the small scar on his nose as well; it took the shape of an 'x'. He looked dignified and graceful; maybe even someone who could turn into an intimidating figure within a simple moment.
The same could be said for the other male's appearance. He had sapphire eyes and snowy white hair and he stood about a mere inch or two taller than the red headed male next to him. A crown not as flashy as Jose sat on his head though to Artemis it looked a little off, like it was a replica and not the real one. Compared to the red head the white haired male didn't seem to have any scars that were visible to Artemis. The big difference though, was that he seemed a little more serious then the male next to him.
Behind these two men were two teens. Now Artemis didn't need to ask who they were for she knew them rather well and they were the reason her eyes were so wide. Never, not once, did she think she'd find these two here right where she was trapped.
Natsu yawned and let his eyelids drop halfway over his eyes. He didn't really have any interest in being here in some dungeon; honestly he hadn't felt like coming to PhantomLord today in the first place. The pinkette would rather be off stuffing his face like the usual but nope, his father forced him to come here. He was at least glad he wasn't here alone and that Sting stood there with him just as bored as he though the blonde kept himself a little more composed.
Sting didn't want to be here just as much as Natsu, honestly he was forced to come as well because his father decided to come in place of Rogue's so he didn't have to come and Sting did. 'Tch! Lucky bastard'. Sighing softly he kicked the ground with his foot and glanced over at the pinkette who let out another yawn before turning to set his gaze on Jose, Natsu's father, and his father.
"Like I told you there is no one here. If I were to have prisoners they would be in these cells since the ones I have back there aren't in any condition to be used." Jose explained while gesturing a hand to the other end of the hallway that was to dark for them to see a thing.
Looking down into that pit of darkness gave Sting a weird feeling; maybe you could say that something was calling him there. He shivered slightly at the creepy feeling and let it go though he could see that he wasn't the only one who seemed to have the feeling. Natsu was staring out into the darkness as well, his brows pulled together and a slight pout on his lips.
"Very well Jose you have no one here, surprisingly at least, wouldn't you say Weisslogia?" Natsu's father spoke up, his firelight eyes meeting the water-like one's of Sting's father.
"Yes it is surprising with the way you run things Jose." The bleached haired male responded, a harsh look being thrown at PhantomLord's king.
"Are you two trying to tell me how to run my kingdom?" Jose inquired rather rudely and defensively in Sting's eyes.
"Igneel and I would not tell you how to run 'your' kingdom no, but I would like it if you kept in mind that you were never originally supposed to be the king for you are just a step in until Metalicana returns or when prince Gajeel becomes married." Weisslogia replied taking a step forward and speaking with a cruel tone.
Jose froze and gritted his teeth. He knew all too well that both of these men had a way more power than he did and that was what he wanted changed. A step in king, it was something Jose just hated to the core. Of course Metalicana and his son Gajeel would come before him and that's what he planned on changing. He wanted power that as greater than anyone's even if it meant sacrificing so many lives even from other kingdoms.
"Natsu my boy we'll be taking our leave and retiring to our rooms." His father spoke curtly and turned to leave, Weisslogia behind him who had given his own son a look that had said the same thing.
The two boys were quick to follow their father's orders and rush off after them; their urge to leave was greater than when they came. Both Sting and Natsu personally didn't like Jose themselves for they thought he was too cruel for the kingdom's liking and trust them when they say that because he is. They both knew that Metalicana was strict himself but he wasn't crazy about it and he did show kindness and respect for those that he ruled over. It was just the problem that he had up and disappeared one morning when everyone woke up and he hasn't been heard of since and both of the males knew that Gajeel didn't really take that situation well. Jose just gave both of them a weird feeling crawling down their backs and they both knew that when they became the kings of their kingdoms they were going to do anything to get Jose off of his high horse, of course in a safe way that also protects their land. Though, at the moment the two teens were a little more focused on a different creepy feeling, the one from that dark area in that hallway.
"You felt it too Natsu-San, the feeling that something was calling you." Sting muttered trying to keep it between the two of them.
"Yeah and it was downright awkward. It felt like someone was staring at me." The pinkette muttered shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
The onyx eyed boy continued to mutter to himself about the creepy feeling and basically dropped Sting from the conversation. The blonde took one last glance at the dark hole as they rounded the bend that lead to the dungeon doorway. It was then that his nose picked up a familiar scent, one that was sweet yet not to over done to where it was undesirable. He knew he had smelt it before and he remembered smelling it last night at the ball. The smell had been lingering on his hand all night after he had finished dancing but the thing was he had only danced with one girl so the scent had to belong to her, Artemis Elise, the brunette he met at the shop in the early morning before the ball. Question was what was her scent doing, floating around in a place like this?