Hope you're enjoying the story so far. :)
Regular Story Line: Arcane Eclipse
Achilles wraps a sleeping Happy inside Natsu's scarf but leave a small opening for him to breathe. Bellona sits down in one of the old chairs as she stares at the bare stone wall. Her mind wonders as she follows Achilles with her eyes then smiles.
"You know where it is?" Bellona ask with a worried tone.
"Yes, don't worry." Achilles answers as he walks out of the guild. Drake soon emerges from the dark room with a smile on his face.
"It's hilarious to see him writhing trying to get out. I think after he is done he will be what you wanted, an animal." Drake comments as Bellona smile wide showing her pearly white teeth.
"Raw anger at it's prime." Bellona smiles as her amber eyes sparkle.
"Seems like Achilles' new spell worked." Bellona adds as she gets up from her chair then walks towards the dirty cracked window.
"Think you can beat this one?" Drake ask as Bellona shrugs her shoulders.
"Let's hope so, a person like him tends not to back down even when they're at Death's door." Bellona says
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Drake ask with a sly smile
"Is it sick of me to watch strong men crawl on their knees begging for their life? Is it sick of me to watch grown men crying like children when they their pride being crushed in front of them?" Bellona ask as she turns her head to face Drake.
"Sick? No. Twisted? Maybe." Drake answers as Bellona gives a soft laugh.
"I prefer the latter, love." Bellona says with a wink
"Can you give Natara her training today? I'm going to start testing our new prey." Bellona adds as she heads towards the door.
"Anything for you." Drake answers
"Don't worry, you can practice your new techniques when I'm done." Bellona reassures as Drake gets twinkle in his eyes of the excitement that awaits him.
Bellona walks down the stairs to Natsu's cell and watches from afar Natsu placing his hands on his head then slowly turns his eyes to Bellona. Natsu gets up then dashes towards her then slams his head hard on the rusty metal bar. Bellona takes note of the anger in his eyes and feels a chill run down her spine; she hasn't had that feeling in a long time.
"You killed them?! What have you done to Happy!" Natsu barks as he presses his head hard against the rusty metal bars.
"Killed who, love? The cat is being taken care of." Bellona questions as she watches the toll Achilles spell took on Natsu.
"My friends!" Natsu shouts angrily as his forehead begins to redden due to the pressure against the rusty metal bar.
"This is all an illusion, Darling. Concentrate hard and tell yourself that this is fake." Bellona instructs as Natsu closes his eyes hoping to get rid of this nightmare.
As Natsu opens his eyes, he see all the images of his friends dying or mortally wounded is now fading. He loosen his grip from the l bars then back away from Bellona. He eyes her cautiously as he can't shake the menacing vibe she is giving off.
"Isn't it cruel how compassion can make someone strong and weak?" Bellona ask to break the silence. Natsu stays quiet as he thinks about her words.
"Lost at words, Dear? A man capable of wiping out the strongest guild and here you are quivering like a child." Bellona lectures
"You have no right to say any of that. What I saw can easily bring any one to tears." Natsu growls as he keeps his distance from Bellona.
"Pathetic, know when to use your emotions or you will kill yourself and your friends. Maybe even someone you deeply care for." Bellona says sternly
"Watch your mouth." Natsu warns as he glares at Bellona
"Ah, I struck a nerve. Who is this Lucy person, Salamander?" Bellona questions as Natsu's eyes widen with fear and anger.
"You lay a land on her and I'll turn you to ash." Natsu threatens
"Then do it." Bellona taunts. Natsu is taken back by her words as Natsu releases a stream of fire from his mouth but it is absorbed by Bellona.
The same purple aura emits from her body as his flames are disappearing from his eyes. Suddenly a sharp pain in Natsu's chest brings him to his knees as he glances up at Bellona. She gives him a sly smile as she releases his flames back at him. The deep purple flames hits Natsu with a strong force knocking him to the ground.
"Haven't you forgotten about our earlier encounter?" Bellona ask as Natsu slowly gets up from the ground.
"Each time you use your magic, a toxin will be released inside your body. Overdo it and you'll be dead." Bellona warns as Natsu slams his hand on the concrete floor then glares at Bellona.
"I wouldn't be so cocky. Once I get out of this cage, you'll turn to ash." Natsu growls as he gets up from the ground.
"You wish to fight me? Fine, if you win then I will let you go." Bellona comments
"And if I lose?" Natsu ask as Bellona chuckles
"Then your nightmare will come true." Bellona adds as she opens the lock. The cell is now wide open as Natsu tries to study Bellona's intentions
"Don't make a lady wait." Bellona says as Natsu walks towards
Bellona lend him her hand but Natsu swats it away as she leads the way. Natsu worries what they did to Happy and why they needed his scarf. The stairs give out an eerie creak as they both walk up in silence. Bellona senses the mood as they reach the door but before she opens it, she turns her body slowly to meet Natsu's eyes.
"As I mentioned earlier, the cat is being taken care of." Bellona whispers as he places her pointy glove near Natsu's throat then glides it upwards until she's under his chin.
"Just open the door already." Natsu demands as Bellona turns around then opens the door.
Natsu expected a bright light to engulf them but is greeted by dim lighting as he scans the dark guild. Broken glass on the floor and old furniture show signs of neglect as they walk to another door but this one wasn't a wooden door like the others, its metal. The metal door opened easily as they both enter the room to see a wide space in front of them. The room gives an eerie feeling like this whole guild and an unsettling scent filled Natsu's nose. The smell is overwhelming as it occurred to him its blood, someone died here not long ago which sent a chill down his spine.
Bellona walks into the room and turn on the light inside the room. The bright light causes Natsu to close his eyes quickly from the unexpected stimulus. As he opens his eyes he sees some discarded clothes or pieces of broken weapons on the floor. He wondered why this was here then a troubling thought came up.
"Is this a…" Natsu says as he's face turns white.
"I'm a collector at heart, feast your eyes at all the brave mages that took a part of this battle." Bellona announces as Natsu's eyes widen to see blood stained clothes, ripped paintings of a families, and broken weapons on the floor.
"You're a monster." Natsu whispers as he glances at Bellona.
"That makes two of us." Bellona quips as Natsu dashes towards her and attempts to lands a hard punch across her cheek, but Bellona dodges.
"Control your emotions." Bellona lectures sternly as Natsu's blood begins to boil.
"I am not a monster!" Natsu shouts as he ignites his hand on fire then forms a fist. He hits Bellona's left side but the pain in his body came back again. He grit his teeth then glares at Bellona.
"Is that what you tell yourself each day? Your power is something no mere mortal can handle." Bellona counters as she collects her composure. He knows that he is E.N.D but he wasn't going to let a stranger tell him what she deems him as.
"Let see if a mere mortal like you can handle this." Natsu retorts as he swiftly ignites his elbow on fire then strikes it at her face until he feels a sharp pain inside him intensify then notices her gloved finger in his chest.
"You're mine." Bellona whispers as she retracts her gloved finger then smiles.
As the battle rages on, something inside Natsu is growing faster and faster as each minute passes by. The toxin in his body is rapidly spreading throughout his body causing his body to undergo more stress than ever. Each strike causes him to grit his teeth but he isn't going to back down. He wants to make things up and apologize for everything he has done, but if he doesn't make it out of this alive, then how will he make it up to her?
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you have a chance, please leave a review. Hope you have a great night/evening/day.