Chapter 24
Levy did her best to ignore the man sitting next to her, but Gajeel's uncle refused to keep quiet. He commented on the weather, what foods they were going to have on the ship, how her father handled running a country. She hardly responded with more than a small hum or tight lift of her lips, but apparently it was enough to keep the creepy old man satisfied. Thankfully her father assigned Lucy to accompany them during the banquet, so Levy didn't have to be alone with the man for the entire ride to the docks.
The carriage drew to a halt and Levy bolted out of the enclosed space the moment the footman opened the door. Lucy huffed behind her, no doubt put off by her non-princess-like behavior, but Levy didn't want to be next to the man for another second. She took in a deep breath of the salty sea air and wiped her hands on the front of her dark pants. Lucy had a conniption when Levy refused to wear the dress the maids set out for her. If she already had to have uncomfortable company, she wasn't going to add to her torture by wearing something she hated.
Gajeel's uncle, she refused to call him Jose as she was certain that wasn't even his real name, drew up next to her.
"Ah, what a sight to behold," he sighed next to her, looking at the Fairy Tail anchored in front of them. "Such a magnificent ship."
Levy drew up her chin. "It is indeed. Led by the commanding Captain Erza and armed with enough firepower to subdue even the greatest threat. That is, of course, only if one found a reason to need it."
She gave the man a pointed look and nearly growled at the coy look he gave her. "Why, Princess…whatever do you mean?"
"We both know why you're here, Jose, if that's apparently what you're calling yourself up here," she began walking up the gangplank, glancing around surreptitiously, "But I guarantee your plans will not work."
The man had the audacity to grin, "Don't be so sure of that. How many hours is it till sunset? Only about two or so? And on the third day, no less."
The crowd cheered as she walked on deck, preventing her from making a retort to the man's cryptic comment. Captain Erza yelled orders. The anchor raised, the sails unfurled, and the ship lurched forward in the wind. Levy looked around the deck once again, looking for a familiar dark patch of hair. The light of the setting sun glinted off the ocean, little more than an hour away from setting fully. Levy's fingers grew cold and she plastered on a smile when well-wishers rushed up to greet her.
Gajeel, where are you!?
I could get used to this…
Acnologia rubbed his chin, preening under the attention. Humans swarmed around them, jabbering away with whatever questions their puny minds could conjure. They praised him for his heroic deeds and Acnologia embellished the story of him 'rescuing' the princess with each passing moment. He hardly noticed the way the annoying blue-haired princess glared in his direction.
His voice stumbled over yet another rendition of his heroic rescue. The princess stood next to a tall woman, whispering frantically in her ear. Acnologia frowned, looking at the setting sun. The blazing orb was already sinking into the ocean. With a satisfied smile, he turned back to his adoring crowd, an excited lilt in his voice.
A gust of wind blew, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. A shiver passed over him. He frantically looked around for the princess, freezing when he saw Gajeel climb out from below deck. Acnologia growled low in his throat, startling the humans around him.
"The brat doesn't know when to quit…"
Boots stomping on the wooden deck, Acnologia stalked through the crowd towards the princess. He reached into his shirt sleeve and yanked out a knife, smiling in satisfaction at the screams he created when he drew the gleaming weapon from its sheath. A yellowed haired human moved to block the princess with the female captain following suit. His magic swirled in his hand. With a muttered spell, he hurled the magic at the females and knocked them to the ground. He cursed under his breath, muscles spasming. He needed to get back into the water, where his magic was strong and deadly.
Hearing pounding footsteps behind him, Acnologia yanked the princess in front of him and pressed the knife against her throat.
"None of that, nephew of mine," he snarled to the young fry, who froze a tail's length away. "We don't want to see your precious princess hurt, now do we?"