He was in her room again.

Just as he had been for the past few days.

And had been ever since the new rule had been put in place.

This was the new routine for him since he had been forbidden to go outside anymore.

It quickly got boring staying isolated in his cold, lonely room. And these days, somehow, it was quicker than anytime before. So before boredom could take over, he would find himself going to his mother's room and keeping her company there. But it's not like anything particularly interesting happened there either.

She was the same.

Stuck in her own bubble. Away from the world, rocking to herself. Sometimes laughing, other times muttering stuff under her breath. And then also casting the occasional shaky glance his way every now and then.

It was nothing new.

Nor was it anything exciting.

Yet somehow, that was better to be around than the stone-cold walls and darkness that loomed in his room.

Vera and Alika surprisingly did not seem to have an issue with him doing this either. No, thankfully they were too occupied by their own thoughts to even begin to care about what he was doing. And on top of that, none of those weird people had been coming to see his mother either.

So it's not like there was anything that could stop him from going and spending time with her like this.

He did notice though, it was not long after that fateful night, there was an absolute reduction in those that came to visit his mother.

It was as if somehow, after that man's presence had come around here, he rendered everyone else's presence void.

It was strange.

There was no telling why that was the case.

And it made him wonder…

Was it just a mere coincidence that the clients stopped coming as much since he had seen the Man In Black?

Or…

Was there something more in the works?

He did not know.

And at this point, he probably never would.

But perhaps it was better this way.

As now he could see her without much problem.

He could see her without anything barring them.

Yet.

Even with those weird men out of the picture, the atmosphere wasn't peaceful nor quiet. Whatever roaming footsteps would have sounded when those sleazes would come about, were now replaced by the frequent pacing to and fro from Alika and Vera.

It was them that filled that space now. Coming and going anywhere and everywhere whilst he just listened to them wandering. Sometimes it would not just be them as the guards came around a lot more now too, but for the most part it was them two.

A sigh pulled from his lips.

As he remained seated in the space he had been occupying pretty much everyday since his ban, the boy folded his legs on themselves and used his hands to hold his feet as boredom and discomfort had taken over from staying in the previous position for too long.

Whilst he was doing so, he watched as another one of the stone-faced ladies paced around the room before they left again.

This time it was Alika.

He had seen it for some time now; she had been biting her nails to the nubs, whilst her gaze was frantic as she paced to and fro. For some reason she didn't wish to stay in the same spot for longer than a few seconds.

It was weird seeing her so mobile. She was the stone-faced lady out of the lot who was the laziest of them all, but now she was flitting around the rooms like her feet could not stop.

He noticed her speed would increase when she would look in their direction; where he and his mother were. And not long after that, her face would unfailingly twist from some unsaid agony before she would haste out of the room.

She kept doing this in a cycle.

It was weird.

The both of them were much more tense than usual; Vera and Alika. So tense it was to the point they had actually forgotten to give him his food and water for the day. Or perhaps they didn't bother? Either way it's not like he could ask as they refused to even stay in the same room as them it looked like, so forget about talking with one of them.

It was making him feel weak.

All this neglect.

And he wondered if she was feeling the same.

His mother.

Because for what he knew, she hadn't really been tended by them either.

The boy glanced her way and the sight of her wasn't any different; her hair still curtained forth, she remained curled up into herself as she rocked and what look on her face he could see was as vacant as always.

From seeing that, there was no telling if she felt the same as he did or what. Neither did it feel wise to ask either.

Another sigh hung from his lips as his sight dropped to his feet as he continued to rock his own body gently to keep himself warm.

He had been trying to keep the promise he made to her. About taking care of himself more. And all these days he had been doing well to put some effort towards it without fail. But, seeing how things were today, it didn't seem like that would be possible. He wouldn't be able to keep his word to her.

Hopefully she would understand why though right?

He honestly tried.

He really tried to be a good boy for her.

He really wanted to do as he was asked if it could make her happy.

Even if he didn't feel like it, he knew he should do it because she asked.

And he wanted to keep his promise because it was for her.

Because it was for his mother.

Though if there was something he had to be honest about…

Something felt weird about following his mother's promise.

He couldn't put his finger on what it was, but it felt like there was a weakness present in him, growing by the day.

It was there before the neglect of the stone-faced ladies. Honestly it had been there for some time now. And he noticed it felt the most prominent when he tried to follow her words.

When he tried to make good of that promise.

Of feeding himself better.

He didn't know nor could even tell when he started to feel like this, but it was during these instances he knew he felt it a lot.

It was as if something was draining inside of him.

Weakening his capacities as the days went by.

Food and drink was meant to replenish his strength but somehow it felt it was doing the opposite.

He didn't know why.

If he had to be honest, feeling drained wasn't something that had just started when he began following her words. No, it was a feeling that had been lingering too long to put a number to now.

However.

This wasn't the same as all those other times.

The drainage afflicting him now was not one that was just mental or emotional.

It felt more than that.

Almost physical.

Almost like what he felt that night.

It was worrying.

But something did clear his thoughts of any possible doubts that tried to poison his mind.

It was the fact that his mother had asked this of him.

The mother he had been longing for all these years. With her gentle voice and embrace. That which he believed he might not have ever heard or felt again.

It wasn't the monster who asked this from him.

But her.

So he shouldn't have been paranoid.

Really, he was probably just giving it too much thought like he always did with things. Especially now since there was barely anything to do. It couldn't be anything more than tha-

"Oh Gods…."

Before his train of thought could come to it's end, he heard a distressed voice sound out from one of the stone-faced ladies as they entered the room in a hurry.

This time it was Vera.

As frantic as he had been seeing her for the passing day, he watched her come to where Alika had been standing not too long ago as she muttered something under her breath whilst clutching to the pendant that was fastened against her neck.

"O Merciful Goddess Seren, please protect us…."

He heard her mumble before planting an eager kiss to the pendant she held.

His large eyes looked at the item, not having really seen much of it since it was generally tucked underneath her blouse save for when she prayed. Having taken a glance long enough to understand what it was, he realised what the shape of the ornament resembled.

It was shaped like one of the symbols he had seen on the cover of his book. Namely the book for older people. The one which was filled with prayers and bits of a language that he didn't hear being used every day. He imagined that was what she was saying when he watched her lips move rapidly, in a way he didn't recognize, and couldn't tell what she was speaking.

His eyes watched with curiosity as Vera ceaselessly muttered to herself and her hold on the star-shaped crux got tighter and tighter. He feared she would cut herself on the star's edges from how compact her grip got on it. But then again, maybe that's what she was going for?

A sigh rasped from the old woman's lips after she had finished a string of prayers. She then kissed the pendant enclosed in her wrinkled and age-spotted hand with growing desperation.

"Oh Gods…"

"Oh Gods, where are they?"

"They said they would be here soon…"

Her words left her in a choppy breath as she casted a sharp glance in their direction.

Just like she always did. Just like Alika had done. But this time, instead of being a gaze riddled with pure disgust, there was something more to it.

He stared back at her, trying to pinpoint what it was he could see.

It was strange.

What he saw in those pale eyes of her's, it resembled what he had seen in Marik and his clique's own when they had resumed tormenting him again.

Fear.

Fear was present in her.

Just as it had been present in them.

But why?

What happened for that to be there now, when it wasn't there before?

First with Marik and the others?

And now with the stone-faced ladies?

Nothing made sense.

What was going on?

"It's because of these devils all of this is happening!"

"They are polluting our blessed land."

"All this ill fortune is because of them!"

"Only them!"

Vera's eyes sharpened as she spat those remarks and her aged gaze hardened from watching the marked individuals. But her stony glare didn't remain as long as it usually would since her focus cut back to fervently kissing her pendant and she resumed to recite prayers under her breath.

"O Seren, please forgive us…"

"Protect us from these vile accursed fiends."

"They are the ones who have earned your anger, not us!"

His brows knitted on themselves from listening to the comments she spewed.

What was actually happening? And what the hell was she referring to? Anger of the gods? What was telling them that they were angry? Because of the murders that had been happening? Or was it something else? And how could it be through him or his mother when they never left the house?

What was going on?

"Why is it taking them so long?"

"Oh gods…"

Vera never stopped muttering such phrases as she remained stuck in her frantic state.

And honestly from watching her like this, a couple things concerned him. First, there was the fact that she sounded like she was close to passing out as she kept griping to her pendant and chanting prayers.

And second.

Who was she referring to in regards to arriving?

Instantly his young mind tried to explore all the possibilities.

Was it those…weird men again? Were they actually going to start coming back after being gone for so long? Were they going to come for her again?

In the midst of that thought he glanced over at his unaware mother with heaviness forming in his eyes.

If that was the truth it made him sad, because he didn't want to leave her again. Especially not in the hands of such horrible people who did nothing but hurt her.

She was finally being quiet now, she was finally at some form of peace. He didn't want them to come back and take that away from her.

But then.

Another thought crossed his mind.

That maybe it wasn't them who the ladies were waiting for after all? Because when she was visited by them, Vera nor Alika weren't ever paranoid to such a degree.

True there was the fact that the stone-faced ladies had become more jittery ever since the number of disappearances started to come to light, but if it was really them they were waiting for…Wouldn't they want to have prepared for their arrival?

Meaning by taking him out of the room and putting him elsewhere?

It was just weird to him.

And to be honest…

It didn't feel like it was them who were coming at all.

At least not to him.

Given the comments that the old stone-faced lady had been making, saying things like 'it was all because of them'.

'The devils.'

It didn't seem like it.

Whoever it was they were waiting for, must have somehow been tied to these strange remarks the two of them had been muttering. The bothersome thing being, he couldn't even begin to figure out for the life of him who that could be. Not in the slightest.

Because who it be they were waiting so eagerly for whilst invoking prayers and the names of the gods as they did so?

Why would they be calling out to the reverend goddess as they waited?

He never saw them do something like this before, even if they were devout followers of the faith.

So why now?

Jellal couldn't really remain focused on that train of thought as the scene changed again before him. In an explosive haste, after taking one too many glances at the 'devils', the old woman rushed out of the room with such speed he worried she would trip on herself.

She hadn't gone far though, he could still hear her every troubled breath and sparse prayer just outside the door as she went off on another spiel of panic.

"I-I can't take it Alika!"

"T-To watch after these devils so closely after all that's happened."

"I-It doesn't feel good!"

The door hadn't been bothered to be closed by either of them so he had full access to hear what was being discussed. Though, it's not like either of them cared he would be able to do such since they were too concerned over himself to even notice him eavesdropping.

He brought his rocking body to a stop as he tried to zone in on what was being said outside.

"-irst these misfortunes in our country."

"Then these disappearances and murders."

"And now the good doctor has suffered too!"

His face froze from hearing that last remark.

What?

What did they mean by that?

Who did they mean by that?

The good doctor? Did they mean the doctor that used to visit him? The one with small windows hanging on his face? The one who could barely say his name?

Something happened to him too?

Huh?

"His case was an accident, that was confirmed."

"I-I k-know b-but….I-I can't help but f-feel this is an o-omen…"

Jellal blinked at those words.

An…accident?

The doctor got into an…accident?

What kind of accident? What had happened to him? Was he hospitalised now? Was he even alive? How could that have happened to him?

"It's from staying so close to these devils, Alika!"

"The doctor's good fortune must have been tarnished from all that contact he made with those beings, and that's why he met an end like that!"

As that sentence ended a gasp simultaneously left the boy's lips, his eyes widening from the implications.

An…end?

So did that mean…

..He was dead?

…He was dead too?

…Like all the others?

Why?

"Maybe he had it coming? He never was one of strong faith. Always preferring the ways of his 'science' over the established ways of our gods. Probably this is a punishment for that. The same way he wasn't able to pronounce any name correctly, the gods must be making mockery of him."

"That is true…They know what's in our hearts better than we do, so perhaps that man was a dissident all along, feigning to be one of us. Oh gods."

"Then we shouldn't think anything of it, the gods are doing their right."

As Jellal tried to come to a solid understanding over what he just heard, the voices that had been discussing between themselves had gotten quieter after the reveal. This was no good as now he actually wanted to hear what they were talking about, especially after listening to statements like that.

He looked at the door that had been left ajar and decided on his next plan of action. The boy became mobile again, quietly crawling until the voices started to become clear to his ears once more whilst he felt his heart pound in his chest as they did so.

"-ods it still doesn't feel good. I fear what will happen to me from keeping contact with these devils for so long…"

As he could distinguish their voices again , from what he could hear, Vera's voice remained troubled as ever.

His thin brows knitted on themselves again from listening to what direction the conversation took.

"The gods must be angry with us."

"I can feel it."

"And it's all because of them polluting our blessed land."

"These forsaken devils!"

Yet again that statement was there.

The statement of the 'Gods' being 'angry.'

And somehow this was due to them.

Hearing this claim again only perplexed him further.

How did these claims link up with anything? How did this all like up with what happened in the country? And how did it link up with what happened to the doctor?

Were they actually saying that he and his mother were at fault for the doctor's accident? But how could that be? They never did anything to him. Well he didn't and he knew that!

And also what about those comments they just made about him not being true to the gods?

That wasn't because of them either, was it?

In all honesty, he hadn't even seen the man's face for who knows how long now, and the first he was hearing of him after all that time was that he met with an accident.

So how could he have been tied to the doctor's fate in any sense?

The child didn't have the time to ruminate on these new found mysteries when something was said between the two ladies which somehow altered the troubled tone of the conversation.

"Don't worry."

"We've been told that tonight it will all be dealt with."

When Alika said that, a strange laugh emerged from Vera almost as if she was relieved before she added in confirmation.

"Yes, yes that's right!"

"In front of our gods, so they will understand our wrongdoings and bless our sacred nation once again."

At the end of those words another weird laugh left the ladies lips which caused the boy to feel unsettled. He didn't know what or why he was feeling like that, but something about those words chilled him.

Whether it was the eerie calmness that seeped from the both of them after saying something so vague, or if it was the actual contents they had been discussing, he didn't know.

All he knew was that it didn't make him feel good.

"What's taking them so long though?"

"We're meant to be getting this over and done with!"

One of them said in an exasperated sigh which told him the panic still lingered.

He didn't like it.

So much had been said and done which made everything feel off about what they alluded to happen. So many questions were being created in the time he was starting to get some context on things, and his mind couldn't even begin to try answering any of them.

Because who was it they were talking about that was taking so long?

Why was it they kept blaming him and his mom for things they did not and could not have done?

What did they mean about the 'gods anger'?

And what did they mean that it would all be 'dealt with' tonight?

In front of the gods?

It was all a mystery.

It was all vague.

And it just kept him feeling on edge.

Nothing made sense at all and on top of that everything felt horribly off.

Jellal chewed the bottom of his lip as he tried to slow down the pace of his thoughts. But as he was in the midst of trying to unravel things, a sound stole him straight out of his focus and had his eyes slowly turning wide.

There in the distance…

Outside…

He heard it again.

That noise.

The sound of rhythmic clacking.

The sound of something pulling up.

Just like the day when they took him away.

"Ah!"

"Finally!"

Someone exclaimed from behind the door. He couldn't tell who though, as the only thing occupying his mind was reliving distant memories and feeling his blood come to a still. From there it all happened so quickly that he couldn't even catch a spare thought for himself.

Without having time to wonder why or who could be pulling up, footsteps announced themselves, flooding the house alongside doors being slammed open before the one before him was bust wide.

His face froze and his large eyes refused to move as he caught sight of towering guards marching through the door, donned in darkness and metals that were worn with the coldest expressions he had ever seen.

What were they doing here?

Why had they come?

And why did they look like that?

Jellal felt the forming knot in his stomach tighten sickeningly as the horde of men started to surround them immediately. With how restricted their presence made him feel, he could just about turn in his mother's direction.

Eyes still frozen wide like a frightened deer, he looked at her, wondering what her reaction was to this sudden intrusion. Was she scared just like him? Was she also confused?

She was neither.

Instead she just kept rocking to herself back and forth, wholly undisturbed by the new presences in the room, or possibly not even having noticed them.

Her lack of reaction was shocking.

But then.

That also didn't add up.

As he soon started to hear her laugh to herself. Getting louder and louder with her inappropriate giggling like she had just been told some funny joke.

This made no sense.

And something was definitely off.

First with this whole day, then the ladies and now even his mother.

What was happening?

As he was looking on, searching for an answer in his mother's actions, he didn't have the time or mind to realise hands lunging towards him until it was too late. Without warning his body was restricted; his limbs were gripped brutally and pulled behind by one of the many guards there before he felt himself shoved head first to the cold, rock floor callously.

The agonising pressure in his body only increased as the top of his head was held down under the weight of someone's foot. The pressure and position made him deeply uncomfortable, barely a whine could leave his lips in fear he would be crushed should he make one wrong move.

Tears seeped out of his frozen wide eyes and down his cold face. Unable to understand everything and anything in the moment as he was made to watch the dark world looming from underneath. Of stone faces, of glares, of eyes that held intentions that made him want to hide away.

He was frightened.

So deeply frightened.

He could feel his heart pounding and the vibrations resonate against the cold stone floor he was being pressed against. His lips refused to move but his vision kept getting hazier as he couldn't blink.

And he kept looking on at her.

Wondering what her thoughts were of this happening to him.

If it would happen to her.

But she remained unaware as ever.

Undisturbed as ever.

Still somehow in her own world.

Laughing.

He couldn't ruminate on that pain as he felt a sharp, physical one entering from the side of his neck with the breath he allowed himself to take. He couldn't tell what it was, other than something was being forced into his blood, thick and liquid by the feel of it. And because of it, everything was beginning to become heavy.

His vision started to fade as his body instantly started to give in, yet the questions continued to blare in his mind even whilst on the verge of unconsciousness.

Why were they doing this to him?

What were they doing to him?

Why had they come?

Why had they been waited for?

His racing questions started to slow down in his mind as his eyelids started to droop. His being wanted to shut down yet somehow his failing and hazed vision remained locked onto her. Watching her actions as she was brought down to the floor with him, yet made no effort at all to resist the restraint. Rather, it was like she was going along with it, like she wanted this to happen.

Though his vision was becoming obscured by the second, his eyes caught a glimpse of something that unnerved and baffled him more than anything else that had occurred in the past moments.

A smile.

A smile was playing on his mother's lips, wide and pleased whilst her giggles broke the silence and filled his drowning ears. She was acting like this was some sort of play and was finding amusement in this horror.

It was confusing

It was unsettling.

And it wasn't like her.

It wasn't like his mother.

What was going on?

As the situation continued to perplex him and his senses failed, he caught one thing she whispered to the ground beneath them as she stared back at him.

"Tonight…I will be free…"

After those words, the world turned black.

"There's barely anyone on these streets…"

Mumbled one of the masked individuals amongst the horde as they surveyed the surroundings of the nation they had just docked in. It was quiet, unusually quiet. Not a soul on the streets apart from their own. Strange considering this was the place told to help bring them an abundance of slaves.

A 'Nation's worth' that was what was quoted.

"Shouldn't that make our job easier then?" Another gruffed in response.

"That is right."

"Besides, he said it would be like this."

Before arriving in this quaint country, they had been briefed on what the situation would be. Some form of grand religious festival would be taking part that, if not all , most civilians would be partaking in, and that was all told to be concentrated in one place mainly.

Where the grandest statues loomed and life would be heard, that's where their operations would have to take place.

'The heart of the nation.'

That's what he told them.

As they were getting prepared and loaded off the boats for the great mission that would be carried out soon enough, most of them looked around in awe, surprised that some place so deserted looking actually was housing any sense of life.

And it was even more surprising as neither of them were aware that a country like this was actually existing not too far off the main continents.

"Honestly, I can't believe there was something so far here…" One of them mused.

"Weird right? Like we have never seen this place on a map or anything. And this is meant to be a whole country." Another added.

"Maybe it's not recognised by the kingdom?"

"It's a whole fucking country though?"

"It's not something small."

Commotion rose between the masked followers as they exchanged comments regarding their observances and all the intel they had been given on the country prior to even arriving.

Almeta.

That's what this place was called,

The nation that they had been led to. The nation that was so detached from the forefront of civilisation. The nation that was not recognised by the main continents, yet was somehow thriving as a fully built and functioning society. The nation that demonised and forbidden the use of magic but was said to house and pride one of the most powerful and destructive forces in the magic world.

It was contradictory.

And it seemed too good to be true.

But if the man's words were indeed lining up like they had been, then this raid that they would attempt would undoubtedly be the most grossly successful one out of the lot. They would have hit the jackpot with this one.

A nation's worth of slaves.

That was not something that should have been possible. That was a demented dream even for the likes of them. Yet somehow this man promised them that and more. And they all knew he was one to never break his promise.

"Don't lose focus from the objective!" One of them snapped, bringing all to an end to the useless conversations.

"We're here with purpose , not to argue on the intel or sightsee." Another hissed.

"Right-"

One of the main coordinators of the flock turned around to face a chosen group of the masked followers who were tasked with taking the reins for the execution of this raid.

"Everyone knows how the plan will go right?"

What was the devised plan of action was that the selected lot of them here would arrive at the scene when time would elapse. Then the attack would begin and chaos and encapturement would ensue.

Whilst a number of them would carry out the more brutal parts of the raid, the rest who arrived with them would be responsible for subjugating and hoarding the slaves. On top of that blocking off all exits until the capture was complete and they could begin with the move back to the tower.

But before that could all commence, they needed to wait for his signal.

"We can NOT let this fuck up."

One of them stressed as they looked over the line up of followers who made up a small sea of black robes and emblems floating in the darkness.

It wasn't usual for this many of them to come out during a raid , because if anything were to happen to them during such missions, having a lot of them captured or worse would prove grave for their work for Zeref. But this case would be an exception, they needed all the possible manpower they could get if the stakes were indeed high and worthy.

A nation's worth of slaves.

If this insanity was really possible, then they needed to take all chances and precautions needed so it didn't escape them. Equipment , manpower , magic , concentration , unity. It all had to be at the top of it's game and abundant for this to come out like intended.

"If we pull this off, this will be our most successful raid yet!"

One of them exclaimed in excitement before being smacked in the back of his head by a nearby follower.

"Ow! What's that for?"

"Not if. We will. Don't bring doubt onto this mission. There's no room for failure here."

"Oh-"

That was important to stress too.

There really was no room for mistakes.

It was all or nothing.

Either their biggest potential success , or would be their most miserable failure.

"We won't fail either. Not when that guy is taking care of most of the ins and outs of this infiltration to begin with." Another remarked , revitalising the confidence in the group.

"That's right."

It was true, they weren't putting all their assets on the table without some form of reassurance. This wasn't going to be just some impromptu raid that they were betting their chances on. No it was a much bigger game then that so they had to take action beforehand too.

Well not they, but him.

That man who had been working with them, he was the one generally in charge of incapacitating all threats. They didn't know how he did it, but he had done it every time before and he was going to do the same tonight too. He would be taking care of any opposition that would or could get in their way and had been actively doing so even prior to their arrival.

So really there was no means for them to fail this.

"We just need to wait for his order when to strike."

"Nothing earlier or later before that."

"Have we got that clear?"

Grunts of affirmation sounded from all of them as they brushed down their robes and adjusted their hoods, getting ready to journey where they would be directed. They had been given all instructions on what to do and where to go, all they needed to do was follow it and his words and they would have won. Really they were being spoon fed at this point and a failure would not only be detrimental but embarrassing too.

"We should make a move then."

"The harbour we've docked at shouldn't be too far from the operation point."

"And from hearing that noise and seeing those lights in the distance, it might be a walk but we should be there in time."

"Right."

As they were about to begin walking on the deserted streets to reach their destination, their leader quickly halted himself before turning around and impressing one more thing onto his horde which had to be remembered

"Wait one more thing."

"What is it? Why did you stop?"

"He said that we're allowed to take as many slaves as we desire, but that came with a condition."

"You all remember what it was right?"

He asked his followers who nodded in response before he repeated the answer just in case.

"Kill the woman and the boy."

Just from those words being repeated they could already hear that man's chilling tone commanding that to them with no further explanation. Only who the mentioned would look like and nothing more.

"Right."

With all of them up to date with the crucial aspects of tonight's mission, they began walking off again.

"Let's go."

Author's Note:

Well I wonder how you guys took that chapter? Were you expecting that? The next ones to come up will be just the beginning of Jellal's hell to come, I hope you guys are ready for that intensity!

Thank you for being patient with me once again, this book is my priority then following TBOS. Neither will be left uncomplete I promise!