Pain coursed through Lucy's body as she felt the blood gradually being drained from her arm once again. "We thank you greatly for this noble sacrifice you're making for us." One of the two said to Lucy who was floating on the brink of unconsciousness. If she had the energy and the use of her mouth, Lucy would have spat at the two and curse them as she had in the beginning of her prolonged stay in the filthy stone room.
Lucy felt completely empty as the blood loss and lack of food began to hit her full force, and she dry retched behind the filthy cloth that constantly clogged her mouth except when he was there. When he approached her the soiled rag was always ripped away. He enjoyed listening to her scream while he touched her.
"I want some now." One of the girls said, Lucy couldn't tell which as always it was too dark to tell in her dungeon. "You know we can't, we can only consume on the day of the eclipse." The other sodded disappointment clear in her voice. When Lucy had first meet the girls when she had arrived for the escort request they had seemed so fragile, so innocent and vulnerable. It had taken two hours locked in this stone room for Lucy to realise that the girls had the strength of Elfman and could inflict damage that she had thought was purely unique to Natsu. "I know sister, but this one looks particularly tasty." Lucy would have shivered if this kind of talk wasn't a common occurrence from the two.
Without warning the needle and tube draining her was viciously ripped out of her vein. A muffled moan escaped her as a small clump of skin ripped out of her arm. "Careful Naomi, we must be cautious to how much damage we cause the tribute. After all Master really likes this one." Lucy felt her decaying muscles tense at the mention of the girls 'Master', the man who promised her that her death would not be pleasant.
"Indeed I do Misha, there's something fascinating about this one." Lucy felt herself completely stiffen and begin to sweat. She was suddenly very aware of her lack of clothing and how the rough wood of the chair felt against her exposed skin. Lucy heard his footsteps as he moved closer to her and she hoped that today he would only talk, he wouldn't send the two girls away. "This tribute is a strong one; it's been decades since I've had to curse a set of stellar keys. Your spirits must truly love you to be able to force they get open to come to your rescue."
Panic began to fill Lucy, this was the first she'd heard about a curse. What was it? She could only hope that Loki and the others were safe in the spirit world. "Oh don't look like that Lulu," She hated it when he called her that, it suggest a friendly relationship they did not have. His grubby hand ran down Lucy's face, nails roughly scrapping along her skin. "They're just locked in the spirit realm sealed from you my dear. No one can come for you now." A small sigh of relief escaped her. Little did the man know Lucy had given up the idea of rescue weeks into her imprisonment. His lips pulled back over his rotting yellow teeth at the relief she had shown.
Before Lucy could fully react the soiled rag was ripped from her mouth and Lucy found herself coughing in an attempt to bring some moisture to her dry mouth. "When was she last feed?" he asked the girls, eyes running over her exposed torso, hands following his gaze and gliding over her protruding ribs. "Last week sire." One of them answered, no emotion portrayed in her voice. "Fetch her food, and give her water." He told them, eyes not leaving Lucy's naked body. Fear invaded Lucy as the two girls began to slowly back out of the room. "Yes sire."
"Now lulu," a sadistic smirk spread across his face "Say thank you to your master." His hand dipped lower on Lucy's abused form. She winced as he pushed down on the bruises that decorated her skin, eventually he reached he thighs. "Fuck you." She managed to croak out praying that this would provoke him enough she would be knocked out. She didn't want another round with the disgusting man. A hard slap landed on Lucy's cheek and the stinging pain only made her more alert. "It's good you plan to Lucy." He said as her broken legs were lifted and he settled himself between them. "After all my love, we only have a few days left together before the harvest. Then you'll see why we went to all this trouble for you my dear." Before Lucy could react he plunged into her and a scream was ripped from her throat.
"Fuck!" Gajeel yelled to the thin air. It had taken half a day for the two reach the village and in the two months since they had left the place assuming it was a dead end, it was gone. Nothing remained of the tiny colony that seemed so untouched by modern society. The only thing that connected it with civilisation was the railway station one mile from the actual town. Now the ground was over grown with weeds and grass. It was as if there never was a town. "Maybe we took a wrong turn? Lets head back and see if we can retrace our steps." Levy said, trying to be helpful and claim Gajeel down.
"I don't think we did," Panther Lilly said from the script mages arms "We followed all the land marks." The two were confused. It was true they followed the exact path they had travelled on their way into the wilderness surround the village, but what other explanation could there possibly be? No ruins could be covered in plants in the short time they had been gone. "We didn't take a wrong turn." Gajeel finally spoke directly to the two. His red eyes practically glowing with fury. "This is the place where the village was." His eyes turned back to the site scanning it for any clues he could, praying that this wasn't what he thought it would be.
"There's nothing left Gajeel, how could this possibly be the same place?" Levy asked the iron man, rage filling her. Why were they arguing over a village that may or may not have previously been here? "Because," He said both Lilly and Levy staring intensely at him "The villagers weren't people." Gajeel turned back to Levy worry clear in his expression. He would never admit it but he cared for the blonde mage. She had accepted him in the guild without question. Almost like the fascinating little blue hair once pouting before him.
"Oh really," Levy rolled her eyes clearly not believing him. "What were they then?" she stared at him clearly not amused. Lilly hoped from her arms on the ground and stared at his dark haired friend, his face only showing indifference. "What do you know of Umbraphiles?" Gajeel asked, face dead serious. Levy couldn't help but laugh at the man "Eclipse chasers? You're worried about eclipse chasers? Seriously?" another bubble of giggles escaped from her throat. Panther Lilly simply looked amazed Gajeel could get worked up over something this stupid. "No. I'm worried about the Umbraphiles who chase solar eclipses to sacrifice things during them for immortality!" Gajeel growled out. Face a mixture of fear and anger. Levy's laughter stopped. "Wh-what?" She stuttered.
"When I was with Metalicana, he told me about this race of people who believed that human sacrifice during a solar eclipse would grant them immortality. They thought that stellar mages were born with immortality in their blood they just chose not to use it. Something about their connection to the spirit world. He called them the Umbraphiles." Levy stood wide eyed before him as he told her about the people he thought had stolen Lucy. "They lure spirit mages in with the prospect of gaining a new key about three of four months before an eclipse is due to occur, when they have the mage they wait till someone comes looking for them so their able to throw them off the path. Once their asses are covered the town just disappears, nothing is left. No one knows for sure how long the Umbraphiles have been around but Metalicana said that to stay immortal they must make at least one sacrifice per year and that before a sacrifice their weak. Starved almost."
Levy felt tears build up in her eyes. There had been celebrates in preparation for months about the solar eclipse that was going to occur in two days. Gajeel pulled her in and warmed his strong arms around her. "We'll find them bookworm, they have to be near here somewhere I can smell the faint scent of those two girls. They didn't plan of there being two dragon slayers." Levy looked up at the man in confusion. He was the only dragon slayer there wasn't he? "He's right Levy." Her head whipped around to meet Natsu's onyx eyes. "No one is sacrificing Luce. Not while I'm here." As Levy watch Natsu begin to head towards the site of the lost village she could help but think that she had never seen Natsu this livid and right now he was damn frightening.
She now knew what Lucy meant when she said Natsu was a different person when he was serious. A small warm paw broke Levy out of her thoughts. Looking down she saw Panther Lilly giving her silent encouragement. "Let's go, we have to save the blonde one." He said. Levy smiled slightly at his small attempt of comforting words. "Yeah." She said, moving away from Gajeel's warm embrace. "Hold on Lu-Chan, we're coming." She wiped her eyes and moved forward to where Lucy's team plus Lisanna was. Had she not been listening careful she surely would of missed Natsu whispering "Hold on Luce, I'm coming for you."
I was in a bad mood and took it out on poor old Lucy. Sorry it took me awhile, like I said I work at nights so I was pretty tired. If I'm lucky though my boss will fire me:D. Yay unemployment!
J Luc Pitard, Lucy didn't think anyone would break into her apartment in her supposed be short absence since Natsu and the others weren't really talking to her. As for Natsu he noticed after two days while Erza and Gray took a month, sorry I should have made that clearer. Um this is just in my mind you might see it differently which is cool but I think Romeo was the main reason he went after Macao and he never did asked master to go. At first he thought Lucy was really on a secret mission with Levy but then he thought about it, I think he would of felt guilty about not speaking to her and thought maybe she wanted alone time at first and that's why master was lying about what she was doing and that's why it took Lisanna to kick him into action? That just how I think he'd react. What do you think? I might change it if you all think it's too out of character for him. Like I said Erza and Gray only noticed one month ago so it's like she just left for them :D I hope that helps clear up any confusion. Tell if it doesn't and I'll re-work the chapter of something.
NtinAki7, I promise they will most definably find her alive; it's the after math I really want to write about. Lol
ShiningStellar, how's it coming so far as a non-typical Natsu ignores Lucy fic?
Princess Happy, I just wanted to day I love how you Gajeel laugh at the end of your reviews.
I hope my grammar and stuff is getting better, if stuff doesn't make sense to you do feel free to ask :D. Thanks so much guys, you're all amazing. And isn't Natsu jus the little super hero?