The Regal Key
Chapter 4
Nightmare
Back at the inn, Lucy summoned Ophichus in his human form to help heal everyone. While Gajeel was spending all of his time fawning over Levy's minor scrapes, he was pretty beaten up after fighting Gemini and then Erutan. Natsu was a little scuffed up, but was okay.
"What do we do?" Levy asked at last, trying to cut through the tension that welled up in the small room.
"Those bastards were targeting us," Natsu stated firmly. "They were trying to settle their grudge. They aren't going away; they will try to attack us again."
"But they wanted the shards," Lucy objected. "They had more information than they should."
"When Kurohebi entered my room, I had my translations on the table. He could have read them."
"That assumes that Raven Tail is in league with them, and wasn't that guy arrested?" Lily asked.
"He had a week to pass on the info," Levy mumbled.
"This isn't really getting us anywhere," Lucy sighed. "We need to decide what to do. I guess that we should head back to Fairy Tail for safety."
"No," Natsu objected. "They can attack us whenever they want. If we go home, they'll just wait until we feel happy enough to go out again. And they might find us alone. We need to stick together."
"Oi! That's fine for you and me Salamander, but not everyone here is up to brawl on a moment's notice!"
"Gajeel, I'll be fine," Levy said shyly with a confidence that she didn't feel. "Anyway, Lu-chan needs my help to locate the key pieces. I'll stay by your side."
"Gurkh." Gajeel made a strangled noise as his words on Tenrou were thrown back in his face. Clever girl. "Still, we should send word back to Fairy Tail to let Makarov know what just happened."
===][===
"Gajeel, are you alright?" Having been able to book their own room this night, Levy snuggled into his side in the darkened room. "You didn't eat half my dinner tonight."
"I'm worried," he grunted laconically.
"I'm sure that you can handle anything they throw at you."
"I'm worried about you, dumbass."
Levy puffed out her cheeks, unseen in the darkness. "I can look after myself."
"Don't ever leave my side."
"Why Gajeel, one could think that you're being a considerate boyfriend," Levy teased.
"This isn't a joke!" Gajeel shouted, making Levy shrink back slightly.
"I know," she replied softly. "I know that I'm not as strong as you guys. I promise to stay close to you."
"Thanks," Gajeel said abruptly. He clearly thought that everything that needed to be said had been said.
"Heey," Levy wheedled. "I don't mean to change the topic…but we've been together for a while now…and I was just kinda wondering…why hadn't we…done…it… yet?"
"Because you're not ready," Gajeel snorted.
Now Levy puffed up more. "That's not for you to tell me!"
"You couldn't even bring yourself to say the word 'sex' five seconds ago."
"I, uh well, I mean that I…"
"Face it Shorty, you're too innocent for it."
It was Levy's turn to snort. "You have no idea how many novels I've read on the subject. I am not some naïve little girl on the subject of…sex."
Gajeel grinned and looked down at her. "Then you wanna see my penis?" Even in the gloom he could see her suddenly blush strongly. His grin widened and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "Innocent things should be innocent," he said fondly. "Whenever you're ready."
"I…I wanna be ready…"
"It's fine. I can wait. The most important thing is that I never want to hurt you again."
===][===
Natsu flopped down onto the bed, covered in sweat. Lucy was insatiable! Natsu was amazed that she could push even his stamina to the limit.
"Natsu, you want to talk?" Lucy asked. He squealed slightly, terrified of the concept. What did women talk about after sex? Future stuff? Their feelings? "You're thinking about that man and his magic aren't you?"
Oh right, that. Jeez, could women switch topics so quickly after sex? Natsu would have been happy to just fall asleep! He tried to get his 'serious face' back on, to think about this important topic.
"He's using Dad's magic," Natsu said slowly. "I don't like it. "Dad always said that magic comes from the heart, but that asshole only cares about himself. Even if he is Dad's Edolas form, it isn't right. He shouldn't be using it."
"But you can beat him, right?" Lucy asked. "There's no way that he's stronger than you."
"I dunno. He's pretty strong. Didn't they say that Edodragons are tougher than normal human beings? Damn it! Normally I'd love to fight someone so strong, but I don't like him. I wanna beat him. I want to show him that he's wrong."
"You will!" Lucy asserted fiercely. "No one can beat you!"
Natsu turned to smile at her fondly. "What about you? It seems like you're getting super strong now." Lucy began to bluster and Natsu giggled. "Haven't you seen the way Levy looks at you now? It's like she thinks you're a super-hero!"
"I guess…," Lucy replied bashfully.
"Hihi! Think if Aquarius gets a power upgrade!"
"Oh God, she's going to kill me!" Lucy wailed. "Aren't boyfriends supposed to say reassuring things?"
Natsu laughed as he pulled her into him and kissed her passionately. "You're a brilliant member of Fairy Tail! I'm so proud of you!"
Lucy smiled. "Ready for round two?"
===][===
On top of the roof, Lily and Happy swapped tales of their owners under the star-filled sky. Lily told the story of how Gajeel had tried to make breakfast in bed and nearly burnt the whole apartment down. Happy skipped and jumped as he recalled the time that Natsu had ran a bath for Lucy – and nearly burnt the apartment down.
"The problem of having fire magic, I suppose," Lily noted.
"And being a moron!" Happy giggled. A moment passed and Happy noticed Lily looked a little morose. "What's wrong, Lily?"
"I froze in battle today. Because of that, Levy was hurt."
"Just a few scrapes, all healed now!" The blue cat declared positively. "No big deal."
"I am Gajeel's partner. Anything that is important to him should be important to me. And Levy's well being is top of that list. He still…" Lily stopped talking suddenly, but Happy started in turn, showing a surprising level of perceptiveness.
"That was a long time ago. He was a different person then. Now he's Fairy Tail's Gajeel! No need to still beat himself up about it!"
"I know that. Levy knows that. It's just him that we have to convince." Lily shrugged slightly. "It's important to him, that's all. I guess it's normal to want to protect your girlfriend, but I feel that sometimes he worries too much."
===][===
Gajeel awoke abruptly, instantly realising the thing missing from his bed.
Levy.
Where had she gone? Didn't she know that it was dangerous to separate? He waited for a few moments. Maybe she'd just gone to the bathroom. But with every passing second he became more and more worried. He stalked out of the room, trying to follow her scent.
It went down to the entrance and outside.
Worried beyond reason, Gajeel charged into the cool night air. The village was a small place, she couldn't have gone far. He hurried through empty streets until he reached the edge of the village, where buildings gave way to trees. On the very border there was one particularly large tree. Gajeel began to tremble as he looked up into its boughs.
Levy was crucified up there, nails driven through her palms. Her small body was covered in blood and bruises, and several of her bones were broken.
"No!" Gajeel shouted in despair. "Levy!"
"Gajeel!" Gajeel snapped awake again, in his bed. He was soaked with sweat and the sheets were tangled around his limbs as he'd flailed around. Levy was over him, looking down with concern.
"You were having a nightmare," she said softly, touching his arm soothingly. He stammered, clearly confused. It had felt so real! He sighed and slumped onto his pillow, mopping his brow with his right hand. "You said my name."
"Huh?"
"You said my name in your sleep," she clarified.
"Oh," he replied in a noncommittal manner. Levy smiled in return.
"I think that's the second time you've used my actual name!"
"Quiet, Shorty!" Gajeel responding teasingly, grabbing her and shoving her next to him on the bed. It was alright. She was safe. Nothing bad had happened. Just a nightmare.
Just a nightmare.
===][===
Ivan sighed and sat back from the orb-like Lacryma he'd been working over. Projecting his illusions over such a distance was tiring in the extreme. The Corvus had landed inconspicuously outside the mountain village to allow the slayer to rest. It was still cloaked, of course.
"Are you well, Master?" Narpuding asked.
"Quite. Please have the galley send something up. I think I will require a nightcap to rest this night."
"At once." Narpuding paused, contrasting with his words. "And Redfox, if I may ask?"
Ivan smiled in a most disturbing manner. "You know, it's funny. As Phantom Lord's attack dog, I had no way to influence him really. He was a stone slab, completely featureless and unbending. It is ironic that his relationship with this girl gives me a way to attack his mind, a weakness to exploit."
"Very good, Master. I shall see if we have a bottle of the Cabernet 1745 lying around."
"Very considerate. Thank you, Narpuding." After his minion left the room, he turned slightly to see the other man advance out of the shadows. "No need to be shy, Alex-chan. If you want to talk, please feel free."
"That's a good vintage," he replied simply.
"It's always nice to meet a fellow connoisseur. Please share a glass with me when Narpuding returns."
"This orb, it projects your magic?" Alexander asked.
"Indeed. It is a simply magical focussing lacryma. It allows me to give greater range and depth to my illusions," Ivan confirmed.
"I see. So, this is what you meant. You want to torture Gajeel mentally."
Ivan chuckled slightly. "It is probably true that physical torture would be painfully ineffective against that man. Pain is not something he fears. His mind, however, is small and fragile. Give me enough time and I'll have him in a straightjacket."
"Could you do that to the others?"
"Unfortunately, I am not psychic. I would need to know what they fear to be able to expose it. In addition, if I start giving them all visions they'll quickly begin to suspect foul play. One man having nightmares is not so suspicious."
"I also suppose that Dragneel is too stupid to mentally torture," Alexander joked with a rueful grin.
"Of course, physical torture is much more satisfying," Ivan opined.
"I've never had the chance," Alexander said.
"Remind me to allow you to torture Heartphilia after you've killed Dragneel and we've gotten all of the use out of her that we can. I know that you have a grudge there too. Tell me, once we've enacted our revenge, will you stay with Raven Tail?"
"I haven't decided yet. I'm not used to listening to another's orders. Though so far you have impressed me with your insight. I admit that I was wrong earlier."
"I could certainly use a man of your strength in my guild. It's also refreshing to find a man who appreciates the finer things in life." As if to underline his point, Narpuding returned with the wine and poured them both a glass before retreating.
"A fine bouquet," Alexander said, taking in the aroma.
"It is lovely," Ivan agreed.
"We will kill them all."
"In time, Alex-chan. Death is permanent. It is the horrors that we inflict before death that are to be savoured."
===][===
"I don't like this," Erutan said to himself in the galley, poking a few vegetables around his plate. He sat at a table with the other three ex-members of his old guild.
"If you don't want the broccoli, I'll take it!" Rakarth said jovially, reaching over with a fork to nab them. The Earth dragon glared at the beast mage's lack of tact.
"I meant this whole enterprise. I wanna fight people worth fighting. All this subterfuge; it bores me."
Lyria laughed shrilly, her hair shimmering as she shook with mirth. "Come on Eru-chan! Don't you look forward to a spot of torture? I had that blue-haired runt in my clutches before; I hope I can get a better hold this time! She looks soft and easy to break!"
"No one tortures quite like you!" Melk said with an approving belch. It was true in a fashion. Lyria's hair manipulation gave her a plethora of binding and whipping abilities, which then had lightning added on top. Being inside her reach was a most unpleasant place to be. She'd killed more than a few men who'd been stupid enough to sleep with her.
"I've never liked torture," Erutan said with a frown. "Just kill them when you're done."
"How dreary," Lyria said, yawning. Erutan scowled and made to leave. Clearly his guildmates weren't on the same wavelength. As he walked to his cabin he fingered the guild mark on his forearm. What did it mean to be in a guild? Shouldn't there be trust? In truth, they would probably end up erasing their marks and taking Raven Tail's. There was no trust here.
"You wanna tell me why you're following me?" He asked into the dark corridor. Kurohebi walked up to him, clearly not bothered by being rumbled. Slayers had amazing senses after all.
"Just going the same direction, don't panic," he hissed with a small titter.
"Funny thing about sand; it's made up of tiny bits of rock. Don't try me."
"Just wanted to inform you that we'll be setting off at sunrise. I'll have the toilet prepared for you!" Kurohebi laughed as he strode away. Erutan watched him go, muscles tense with anger.
No trust at all.