Chapter 33: Strike a Nerve

-Lucy's PoV-

Laxus and I walked in scilence.

Let's not forget this man was hell bent on killing me.

I remember when I was younger, I had dreamed of him teaching me how to control it. Now let's get it straight. Ive only known his title as 'Demon Dreyar the Great'. I had no clue that this egotistical jerk was the real deal. But he is and now that dream has turned into a nightmare.

"Oi, Blondie."

"Hm?"

I was suddenly lip locking with the lightning mage. What. The. Hell?!

I gotta admit, he's a good kisser. His tounge was in my mouth, searching for something maybe? I dont know. I was so in shock I could only let him keep going. Finally he broke away and I just stared at him. My heart was racing and my face was on fire. What was that for?! Something must have caused this insanity.

And then I felt it.

"What...the hell did you..just..do?!" Falling to my knees I grip my heart and hiss in pain. The stigma was trying to come out. There was more demonic energy than Ive ever had.

"That's how your gonna learn how to control it. By adding more demonic energy than you think you can handle and overcoming it."

Rolling on my back I can feel myself scream. Oh my God this hurts! It burns! It stings! Im gonna die! I need water, I need to release this energy! Almost as if he read my mind Laxus dropped down next to me, on his toes and leaning back on his haunches. "That's why were in here. No water to send it away. You just gotta tough it out and keep it."

"You son of a bitch! This hurts like hell!"

"I know. I went through it too."

Was that sympathy in his voice?! I dont care, Im ready to end it.

-Regular PoV-

Lucy closed her eyes and tears streamed down her face. Laxus sighed and looked away, not knowing what to do with a crying girl. He remembered five years ago when he was eighteen. He was just like this. He would do anything to be able to control that curse. He too had shed tears. Not only because of the pain of the demonic energy ripping throughout his body, but because of the reason why.

Finally he heard her snap.

Lucy began laughing maniaclly, screeching with the sound. She never took a breath, she just continued to laugh. Laxus heard the all too familiar words ring out through her voice but didnt pay attention. He simply laid a hand on her eyes and closed them.

"You lasted two minutes, Luce. Two is actually better then what I did. I lasted thirty seconds." Laxus was talking to her but she was unconcious and he knew it. So they stayed like that. Laxus watching her while she slept and wondering how long she could last. His stigma, which had flashed during their kiss, returned to his inner spirit.

"No wonder your demonic energy is so out of whack!"

Gajeel, Wendy, Eve and Kuma were sitting in the castle's grand library. Kuma could have sworn it ran for miles and miles.

"That Jellal guy trained you in a diffrent order than normal. That's why you could defeat Reiga so easily. Not that Im complaining, that means less work for me to do." Wendy was strangely quiet during the whole exchange but Eve was excited. And not in a good way.

"Jellal sounds...scary." Eve murmured and Kuma shrugged and looked down at her left hand. "I guess but then again he wasnt. Anyways, he told Mom he was possessed by Zeref. Something about that statement doesnt seem right with me. I mean I could tell something was controlling him but it didnt...feel...like Zeref I guess? Does that make sense?" Kuma could feel Gajeel staring at her but she didnt want to look at him.

How would she know what Zeref felt like?

"...Queen Moka told me that you would have some type of connection with Zeref because he's your father. Maybe you can tell his presence?" Wendy suggested and Eve nodded. Those two were sitting entirely to close to be a friendly coincidence when there was plenty of space at the table.

Suddenly Gajeel stood up and walked towards a bookshelf. He went straight to a big red book with golden writing and a blue spine. He flipped through the book and turned back a couple of pages as if he missed a page and then began reading.

"Uh...Gajeel?"

"Dont mess with him. He usually gets like this when he's on a Broker Search." Eve informed and Kuma shrugged. They watched the grown man until he slammed the book and closed it, walking back to the table.

"Alright brats, first things first. We're gonna have a little history lesson."

"Demons are quicker than you think! You have to be able to sense with every fiber of your being than just relying on sight, hearing and smell!" Claire yelled.

Cobalt dodged and dodged Claire and Dennevah's hits for all he was worth. These girls were just a blur! He couldnt believe how crazy fast they could move.

Dennevah caught him in the chest and he fell to the ground. She chuckled and helped him up. "So far, your doing pretty good. Though I suppose its because your trying to show out for Kuma the next time you see her." She remarked slyly and Cobalt cough. "Whatever. Besides, the magic council wants Kuma under arrest. The guy who's suppose to arrest her was appearently raised by the Earth Dragon, Jani."

"Seriously? So Kuma has a twin?" Koga piped up from his side of the room. Cobalt shrugged and Koga pulled his black hair in a low ponytail.

"Maybe we can ask Kuma about it?"

-Lucy PoV-

A few weeks flew by and the training with Laxus wasnt terrible, but I have alot to learn.

Like how to use my weapon.

Laxus said that all demons of the Royal Guard had to have a weapon and weirdly enough I picked one that had two sickles connected to a chain. He had just chuckled at my choice and said "Quite deadly, dont ya think Blondie?" I had just stayed quiet.

Right now I was working on my blocking and dodging. Laxus fist showed no mercy and I did whatever I had to to get out of his way. His leg came up and I used my sickle to block. His elbow came down from above and I used the sickle in my right to keep him at bay. Struggling to hold up against the man I kick up at his abdomen and back flip away.

"Hey, there was no hitting Blondie!" He said jokingly and I rolled my eyes. "Like the enemy would really restrict the rules." Laxus grinned and we trained for another three hours. Part of me said it was because I wanted to get stronger as quick as possible but the other part of me grudgingly admitted that I was having way to much fun to stop.

And that scared the crap out of me.