Secrets, part 26
Dawn had yet to break, yet the mages of Serpent Wing were already beginning to stir. Veda called her family together through their dreams. Jasper had gotten little sleep, worried about Yona. Kavi had a similar story, watching over Blythe. A few brief hours ago, he'd finally gotten his beloved to rest - not through exhaustion or comfort, but through gentle force. Jasper wasn't the only one who knew key pressure points. Still, Blythe's sleep seemed more troubled than usual. Kavi quietly arose and readied himself for the pending meeting. It had to be important to be summoned at such an hour. Brushing the loose strands from Blythe's pale face, Kavi grinned faintly. Sure, he'd be angry, but he needed the rest.
Stepping into the hall, the dragon slayer silently closed the door behind him. He wasn't alone in the corridor. Across from the chamber sat a familiar face. Gajeel sat against the wall, arms crossed, resting lightly. One red eye peered at Kavi in question. "You're worried? I'm glad Blythe has such a good friend", said Kavi quietly. "Hmph. He's always been a handful", replied Gajeel. "He's asleep, but our master's summoned a meeting. Can I leave him to you?", asked Kavi. "Go ahead", replied Gajeel. It was obvious he was trying to hide his concern. It warmed Kavi's heart to see how much Gajeel actually cared. He was always so rough with Blythe in public. Still, Kavi had little room to talk. Nodding, Kavi began to walk away. "Hey." Pausing, he glanced back. "You knocked him out, didn't you?", asked Gajeel, staring him in the eye. Kavi's calm expression faltered. He really had no choice. Gajeel smirked approvingly. "Don't worry. He won't stay mad about it for long", he stated. Taking his leave, Kavi was lost to his thoughts. Still, he knew Blythe was in good hands.
Once the dragon slayer reached the meeting chamber, haggard faces greeted him. "What's happened?", he inquired, taking his place. "It's what's going to happen", sighed Puck. Veda sat with Jasper, clearly distraught. Interestingly, Teresa also sat in the meeting chamber. "What did you see?", asked Kavi carefully. "Many things. Noctis is coming faster than we thought. Their master is already here in Primrose. His eyes are cold, but something tells me they're also familiar", replied the seeress. "When will they attack?", inquired Jasper stiffly. "We have less than twenty four hours", stated Teresa. "Preparations aren't ready yet", said Veda, her voice trembling. She didn't want to lose anyone else. "How long?", asked Kavi. "They won't wait for nightfall", said Teresa. "That gives us little time", stated Puck grimly. "Jasper, assemble the guild. Kavi, get our brethren from Fairy Tail into position", ordered the elf. His sons nodded. Day would break soon and apparently so would war.
Above ground, someone sat in the sands near one of the cave entrances. At peace in the dark, Dubhan released his shadow cloak. He sketched out maps in the moonlight. He'd already infiltrated the sanctum. Now he was marking the path through the winding maze of passages. Only two people in all of Noctis or the world knew his true face. One was Wink Sandrunner. He stood tensely nearby. He sighed deeply. He was out of time and a choice had to be made. Would he live as an empty shell or fall as a hero? Noctis had treated him well, but Blythe was family. Sure his cousin was meant to be sole survivor of the raid, but would he ever smile again once he lost everything? Shaking the thoughts from his mind, Wink glared at Dubhan's creepy laughter. "Having second thoughts, dear sniper?", he taunted. "Shut up. You're just too excited", retorted Wink. Dubhan grinned to himself as he continued drawing. "Of course I am. I've lived my whole life for this day", he stated serenely. Wink's gaze narrowed. Would Dubhan obey orders or was he just waiting for the right moment to kill Blythe, too?
Changing the subject, Wink said, "We're down an agent, but it won't matter with those of us still gathered." Dubhan snapped his charcoal in annoyance. "Judd was a careless fool. I never understood why the master sent him here in the first place. The two of us alone could handle it. Aerona may yet get in my way", he said. A sinister grin crept over his sleep deprived face. "Would you be angry if I killed your little girlfriend? After all, she has no idea who you really are. You're just an idiot sniper with privileges to her. Maybe I should I tell her how far you actually outrank her?", he said with an eerie twinkle in his eyes. Wink knew better than to let Dubhan see him squirm. He simply shrugged as if he didn't care. "I think she's disposable. Just don't cross our master's orders and you can kill whoever else you want", said Wink coldly. Dubhan chuckled delightedly. "Sometimes I wonder who's heart is darker here", he grinned. "Your soul's as black as they come", said Wink flatly. The sentiment did nothing to upset Dubhan. He accepted it as fact and was quite proud of it, really. "Of course. I am darkness incarnate, after all."
A few hours later, both guilds had mobilized. Jasper wanted to tell Yona what he'd recently learned from his father, but it was hardly the time. She was doing her best to explain Van's choice to his former team mates. Yung-Li wore a somber expression as he listened. Koko seemed to be in shock. It was a lot to take in. It wasn't every day someone came back from the dead. Still, Yona's strength was impressive. Maybe she would be all right once things settled down.
The entire sanctum shook with a deafening blast. Kavi quickly nullified the noise before anyone's ear drums could burst. "The hell was that?!", gaped Yona. Kavi's eyes narrowed sharply. "The guild", he said. He took off up the long flight of steps before anyone could stop him. He gracefully grabbed Natsu's arm, dragging him along without warning. The other fairies followed in close pursuit. Once above ground, Kavi's fears had been confirmed. The guild hall was in shambles. Flames would soon consume what was left. Knowing it could potentially spread to the rest of the town, he leapt into action. Natsu ate what fire was nearby. Gray and Juvia put out the surrounding area. Lucy was pulled back from her shock by Erza's commanding voice. "Lucy, let's move!". She and Wendy were already digging for their fellow mages. Even the exceeds helped in the search.
One by one, team four emerged from the rubble. Wendy immediately began healing their wounds. Hantu sat in a daze. Usually it was her fault when things blew up. Kavi did what he could to snap her out of it. Finally blinking in recognition of the face before hers, she said, "I didn't do it!". Kavi grinned wryly. "I know. It must have been Noctis. Can you walk?" She nodded. "Good. Get Acheron to Wendy", he ordered. Realizing her cousin was bleeding beside her, Hantu shook him into consciousness. "Come on, cos'! Wake up!", she yelled. "Why's everything so blurry?", he uttered weakly. "Your glasses broke. Come on. You need medical attention", she replied, lifting him to his feet. He asked what had happened as they made their way to safety. Half their team was still missing.
"Here!", yelled Erza. Natsu finished his proverbial meal and rushed to help, feeling re-energized. "Ahiru!", said Kavi, tapping her face. "Can't you hear their screams?", she said as if in a trance. "We're digging out your friends. Everyone's going to be all right", assured Erza. Ahiru's eyes looked glazed over. Kavi had seen this before. "She's connected to someone's emotions", he explained. Natsu and Erza exchanged glances. "Who?", asked the salamander. Sitting her up, Kavi tried to find out. "Who's screaming, Ahiru? Our friends?", he asked. Tears started to stream down her face. "It's dark and cold... All I wanted was to be loved like you coddled him...Why? Why don't you love me, master?", she uttered. Hantu had come back. Sitting beside her friend, she said, "Block them out. Find Grem. He's always the one to settle your mind. Can you feel him nearby?". Ahiru's expression flickered as she fought the overwhelming sadness that consumed her. "He's too quiet...This sadness...", she uttered, trembling, "It's soul crushing." Hantu glanced to Kavi. "Grem must be out cold. We have to get her away from whoever she's picked up on", she stated. Kavi nodded and helped Ahiru to her feet. "Come on. Let's get some air", said Hantu, leading her near immobile friend.
Within the wreckage, something squirmed. "That bitch. She thinks she can expose me?", hissed a writhing shadow. Sinking into the crevices of the rubble, it zipped faster than could be seen and Ahiru fell face first to the ground. The shadow reared up as a mass of arms and claws at imposing height. "You can't know a heart as black as mine. Now die!", yelled the thing, striking. A fireball knocked it away just in time. "Hey! You're gonna pick on someone already incapacitated?!", snorted Natsu, clearly angry. The shadow beast was now a more reasonable shape and size, but no features could be distinguished. "Lucky shot, dragon slayer, but you won't hit me again. The one thing faster than light is darkness. How else do explain why the black is there first?", it chuckled in a broken voice. It seeped out of sight into the myriad of shadows from the destroyed guild hall. "I have more interesting prey to play with below. The others can finish here. Your fey friends will be much more satisfying", it said. Kavi tensed visibly at that statement. "Go. We've got it here", said Natsu. Nodding gratefully, Kavi took off to the sanctum once more.
Just then a bullet whizzed passed Natsu's face, nicking his ear. He froze in surprise as his blood began to run. "They're here", said Erza, following the trajectory to find the assailant. "Noctis! We know you're here! Come out and fight!", yelled the dragon slayer. Both fairies froze as a kunai lodged itself in Erza's leg. "Wink's getting sloppy. He usually hits a head shot the first time", said a female voice. A girl with dark skin and red dreadlocks stood with a smug look on her face. "Never send an idiot to do an assassin's job", she grinned. "Akachi", said Erza, calmly pulling the knife from her flesh. "My reputation precedes me? Good. Then you know who you're dealing with", said Aerona. She smiled tauntingly as she gracefully flipped out of harm's way.
A trail of ice came up fast where she had been standing, hitting Natsu instead. Gray grimaced at his missed target. "Damn it, Gray! Watch what you're doing!", steamed Natsu. Aerona wore a bemused smile as she glanced between the mages. "This will be even easier than I thought. Making you kill each other will be more fun anyway", she grinned. "Not gonna happen", stated Natsu, sending a huge wave of flame her way. Thus began the battle of the fairies versus Aerona, agent of Noctis.
To be Continued...