CHAPTER 7

No voice.

No figure.

Nothing.

The demonic entity had perhaps finally left my mind.

Well, that was the original theory, however, I can still feel her. I can still hear her. But only in the most silent of settings.

When I walk down a corridor, alone, I can hear footsteps beside me.

In the bath, there are two sounds of exhales, one that did not come from my mouth nor any other. And I could almost feel it brush against my ear.

If not gone, the entity was scared of something. Something that priest did.

Good.

I wanted her to hurt.

I wanted…

I wanted her to die.

"Mother!" Levy smiled proudly as her nicely dressed parent walked through the front gates. "Uncle, as well." The bluenette hugged them both as the McGarden clan guards walked behind them.

"Where is the Master?" Her Uncle smiled gently, "I believe there's much to discuss."

"There is." Igneel appeared out of, what seemed like, thin air. "How are you my old friend?" He bowed respectfully at the Uncle.

"Life has become far more stale now that my position has been taken." The Uncle winked at Levy, "However, relaxation as an old man is no ill fate. You should invest sometime, Master."

Igneel snickered and extended his hand to the missus, "A pleasure, always, to see you."

"Is she here?" The blue-haired woman held no friendly intention in her eyes. "Igneel?"
All but the woman stiffened at such a disrespectful acknowledgement. Igneel, also, held no surprise or change in demeanor. "Yes." The Master looked at the strict mistress with clever and cunning eyes. "However, she is not for display."

The woman looked appalled, "You haven't the right-"

"Mother." Levy scolded with a hiss, "There is tea made for you, hold this conversation inside where Master kindly intended to invite you."

Without much of a fight, the woman nodded and they were led into the enormous mansion that was home to the leading members of the Dragneel House.

. . .

Lucy sat in her corridors in the same still, cross-legged position she'd be in for weeks. She got up to bathe, she got up to offer her blood, and she got up to be force fed this disgusting waste of blood cells.

But that was it.

Other than that, she would sit there. Not sleeping. Not talking. Not blinking. Nothing.

Though vampires weren't quite undead in reality, her state of being only furthered along such a myth.

"This is an idiotic interaction." Laxus muffled voice appeared from behind the room's door. Until he fully opened it, revealing himself and Mira – in full Legendary attire. Formal. Must've meant she was going to do something painful, either physically or mentally, again.

"The McGardens are the last remaining loyalty to the Heartfilias. I believe they are truly the only ones that actually have a right to even be in her presence." Mira sighed, looking down to the blonde human-pire. One of Lucy's eyes were brown and the other was red. Something none of them had ever seen before. But Mira wasn't even sure Lucy noticed anything about her appearance nowadays at all.

Humans are ugly.

However, Lucy has somehow just decreased in beauty, even with the slight power of vampires circulating through her veins.

Laxus bent down with threatening eyes. Lucy did not look into them even though she was staring at them. Just a void tare. Not focused on him at all but rather whatever delusion was in her mind. "You don't even know who the McGardens are, do ya demon?"

Lucy did not respond.

The lighting-scarred male looked up to his mate with lifted brows and a smug expression. "It'll perpetuate rumors. The last thing the clans need right now is to be threatened by an uprising of support for a nonexistent heiress. She and all of them are dead." He rolled his eyes and stood up, "It all just seems hopeful. And the clans will not tolerate a weakness like that in their King clan."

"I can agree… however," Mira dipped her head playfully as she started to lift the immobile blonde in question. "The Kings have not been as solidified with the Heartfilias no longer in power. Hopeful may be too silly of a word. How about, if the madame was still alive, it may make things far easier. And if she truly was forever imprinted to the Fairy Tail clan, it would…" The silver-haired girl's eyes shifted from a shade of blue to a shade of pure red, "Give Natsu the unwavering loyalty of the new generation of clans."

"I hope you all fall." Lucy managed to mutter. "I hope you all die."

Mira and Laxus looked to each other, exchanged a rather stale glance, and then snickered.

That was the worst reaction they could've possibly given here.

Just utter disrespect.

Like her words don't exist, like her opinions and her thoughts have no merit here.

Like she… like she wasn't even worth anything.

Which she wasn't, was she?

She was worthless.

Mira bent down and began to undress the human hybrid as Laxus put brand new robes on her.

At some point they were done and Lucy was being forced into a stand. Time moved strangely when your mind wasn't present for it. Everyday it felt like Lucy would blink and suddenly the sun set.

One of these days she was hoping she would blink.

And then she would be dead.

Lucy was led into the hall where she was greeted by Erza and Jellal. The four guards held her in the center of their square formation. "I don't like this." Erza hissed. "The McGardens talk. They always do."

"It wouldn't be such a bad thing if our rivals believed the Heartfilia princess was in our possession." Mira hummed as kindly as she always hummed. "Even if it is all lies."

Lucy ground her teeth together.

How dare these monsters call her the liar.

As if their entire life isn't about keeping secrets from humanity of their existence.

Hypocrites.

Filthy fucking mutts.

Igneel and Madame McGarden's conversation was abruptly paused as the Legendaries' shadows appeared behind the sliding door.

Air ceased to exist in the room.

It was all still.

Silent.

Tense.

The door opened.

Mira and Laxus stepped forward, with Erza and Jellal behind.

That's all they could see.

Until, they split.

Evenly.

Precisely.

Revealing the discheveled and absolute disturbing image of a blonde, human girl.

Madame McGarden stared.

And her expression did not change.

Not even for a moment. Just a blank, strict stare.

Lucy was staring forward, at nothing in particular. Just lost in her mind of constant insults, waiting till she could go back to sleep.

` The tension seemed to affect Levy the most. Her face was pale as she stared at her mother, looking for some reaction. But nobody was giving anything, not even an exhale.

"Mother?" Levy's hoarse voice whispered.

That caused a twitch from the McGarden Head.

Those vicious eyes turned and dug deep into Igneel's own stare. His, however, was far more overpowering. That didn't seem to phase Mother McGarden.

"This is…" She lifted her chin with a nasty glare, "A ridiculous scheme."

"Yes." Igneel grinned, staring at the golden-haired mess in question. "I'm afraid, however, there are no schemes."

"If we are to forget about the utter lack of any presence, let alone the one Lucy Heartfilia once wore, this is simply a horrendous excuse for a mate." She stared at the frail girl, "You expect my clan to entrust our loyalty to a boy who could only be destined to a human?"

"She is no human." Igneel stared down to his cup of blood, "However, not even I could quite describe what she is."

The tall, skinny woman came to a stand. And then she gracefully swayed toward Lucy. The blonde did not look nor register the movements.

Levy dug her fangs into her cheek as her mother towered over Lucy.

The McGarden's eyes flashed to red.

A deep red.

Her long nail traced down that pale, sickly cheek.

The blonde captive looked ill.

What creature from their world of Hell got sick?

"What is your name?" The woman whispered.

Lucy's brown eyes looked up. Dead and void. But still registering the woman's presence.

"Lucy." Lucy moved her tongue around her dry mouth. "Heartfilia."

SLAP!
The room stood still.

The Legendaries looked to the McGarden guards, prepped for war, but Igneel detained them with a simple raise of his palm.

Lucy held onto her throbbing cheek. Three bloody scratch marks were imbedded deep into the skin. And the clan leader merely stared down at the pathetic imposter.

"What is your name?" She asked again. The same tone. The same stare.

Lucy couldn't hear out of her ear, it was just a wild buzzing.

She shut her eyes as the pain started to spread to her head.

"I don't know…" Lucy whispered quietly, frightened. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"The truth." The woman didn't move an inch. Her position was stricter than all the Legendaries and her clan guards combined. "Do you know where the Hearfilia Princess is?"

"Mom!" Levy immediately screamed.

Igneel shot an aggressive glare to Gajeel who immediately began to drag Levy out.

"No." Levy's fangs immediately shot out, "Don't."

"Daughter of mine," The woman turned to the deranged Legendary, "As for you, it is best if you return to the clan with us. It is clear there's much to renegotiate with the Fairy Tail Clan and I don't intend on having you pledge your allegiance and talents to such an incompetent Master."

Gajeel immediately loosened grip on Levy, "Mistress, with all do respect, there isn't a chance in Hell you can do that." He turned the shrimp around to reveal the sigil on her back, "This mark is by fate. Not us. Not Natsu. Not you."

Levy slapped Gajeel's hands off of her and refaced her mother.

Igneel slammed his palms into the table and caused everyone to calm down.

Everyone turned to the powerful King.

He snapped his fingers, causing a flame to ignite on the tip of his pointer. Then, the clan Head heated his bubbling blood. Sipped it. Put it down. Then silently looked up to the embarrassing display of his allies.

But the voice that came next was not his.

"You have the mark on you too." Lucy said to the woman. Everyone looked to the dull girl in agast at such a bold statement. "Doesn't that mean you're supposed to be here too?"

The McGarden Head stared at Lucy as she covered her Fairy Tail sigil, "And what does a human like you know about the marks?"

"It's interesting how much you learn when you just shut up and listen." Lucy tilted her head at the woman, with almost a threatening glint in her eye. "Don't you think that means this clan you all love so much was destined to be wiped out?"

The woman's pupils slitted. The red in the iris deepened.

And the fangs shot out.

Her claws lifted and Levy shot out to stop the impact.

But, there was no need.

For the woman made an abrupt stop halfway to the blonde's bleeding face.

And she stared.

Her fangs sank back in.

Her eyes melted back to green.

And her hand slowly moved back to her side.

But her eyes remained on the blonde.

And the blonde's eyes remained on her.

"Kneel." A voice that was not Lucy's echoed deep. It was vicious. Powerful. And demanding.

And not only did the McGarden fall to her knees but so did Levy, the guards, and every single Legendary in that room.

All but Igneel.

Who merely acted as a spectator.

Lucy stood above them all.

And then her bright, vivid red eyes turned to star at Igneel.

His eyes were the same.

Threatened.

"Who are you?" Igneel calmly pet his chin.

The blonde lifted her eyebrow and slowly those chapped lips into a long, dishonest smile. She licked the tip of her fang, "I'm coming."

Then, the body fell flat.

And all the influenced parties slowly came back to realization.

Lucy's uncoscious being was sprawled across the floor.

"What…" The mother covered her mouth, confused, bewildered, and aghast. "Is happening?"

The Legendaries looked to their Master, equally as alarmed.

And Igneel… sat silently.

Asking himself a similar question.

To which, he also had no answer.

Lucy's P.O.V.

When I woke up, I was greeted with a feeling. Not sight, not breath, or even a second to adjust my hearing. But a feeling.

Sheer rage.

Shaking, bone chattering, chest pain rage.

A few deep breaths helped soothe it to where I could move my clenching limbs. Well at least to where I could try. But they wouldn't move.

My eyes opened fast but close just as quick.

Too bright of a light.

Around me I could hear wind and feel a slight chill brush against me every so often.

Where was I?

What happened?

My eyes opened slower this time, blinking and suffering slighty at the daylight. To my side was a porch and a pond's garden. The sliding doors, every single one, was open. Even the ones into the hallway.

I attempted to wipe my eyes but felt something completely immobilize my wrist. I looked up and there was a cuff.

I blinked fast.

Not a cuff.

It was a carving of many numerals and characters around my wrist. There was no blood. In fact, I looked like I just had a proper bath. Considering I was not wearing clothing.

The same carving was around the circumference of my torso, my knees, and my ankles.

These things acted like some sort of incredible weight.

Lifting any of them was impossible.

"Good morning Mistress." A familiar face hovered over mine. Ultear, I think.

"What's… happening?" I blinked over and over again as it was the only motion I had any control over.

"A better question is," The Priestess seemed to be renewing the symbol's power as my arms became even heavier, "What happened?"

I opened my mouth to ask just that but suddenly, nothing was able to come out.

"Don't take it personally, your highness." Ultear tapped my lips as symbols formed over them, muting me entirely. "But I've never been a fan of the whole mind control thing."

I shook my head at such a sentence.

What?

The Hell?

"Something leaked out of that little lock of yours, caused quite a ruckus." The dark-haired woman closed her spell book, "The fact Master Igneel wants you like this makes me envious I wasn't there to witness any of it."

Leaked?

Something leaked?
What did that mean?

What did I do?

Behind Ultear, there was a sihlouhette. Its sudden image made my stomach drop in fear.

It was smiling.

I couldn't see it smiling but I could feel it smiling.

And from it, the source of all this anger.

Cooommiinnngggg….

It hissed.

Lowly.

Inhumanly low.

Just a vibrating frequency.

I… wannnntttt…. It baaaaaack. Back. BAAAAACKKKKKKK.

My mouth opened but I couldn't scream.

Ultear turned to me, seeing the sheer panic in my face.

Immediately, she removed the seal from my mouth and shrill shriek violently exploded from my lips. I shook my head, "What is that!" I shouted as the shadow moved left and right behind her, swirling its image like wind. "WHAT ARE YOU!"
Ultear turned but clearly was not seeing what was so obviously there.

The shadow's voice clicked, a constant click, like how a voice sounds when shouting into a face. Except low. And…deformed.

He's trying to killlllll…. Kiiiilllllllllllllllll…..KIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ME!

"WHO IS!" I shut my eyes, trying so hard to move. So hard.

I felt its cold finger slide down my nose.

I felt it.

Ultear was either not there or completely removed from my mind.

Because all I could smell was this rotting scent and all I could hear was its breathing, drawing closer and closer. All I could sense at all was its presence.

It's so painnnnfuuulllll.

Let me back in… give me it BAAACKKKKKK.

SAAVVEEEE USSSSSSSS…..SSSSS.S.S.S.S..S.S….s.s….s

Immediately, a sharp pain shout through its finger on my forehead to the rest of my skull.

It was…. Excruciating.

My entire body buckled.

Really buckled.

It, only slightly, moved with the symbols.

Which, to be honest, was much more movement than anyone should've been able to make.

But I had to move. It felt like flames were all around me. Everyone.

Screaming filled my ears. Smoke and burning flesh.

I'd been here before. Mentally.

Maybe physically.

Was this a memory or just the same hallucination?

I couldn't see anything.

Something was on top of me.

A person?

I couldn't tell, they were holding my entire head, squeezing it, putting some sort of pressure right onto my brain. It felt like their hand was digging around my skull.

I felt… dead.

I felt like my entire body wasn't its own anymore.

I felt my soul floating away.

But something caught it.

My own hand, it felt like.

But it wasn't friendly, I wasn't trying to save it. I was trying to trap it.

Then suddenly.

It all vanished.

I opened my eyes.

And all I saw was Ultear and Levy.

Both of them looked like they'd just been through wrestling a beast.

"Will someone…" My hoarse voice cracked, tears rollings down each cheek, "… please tell me what is happening to me?"

Levy's own eyes welled with tears, "I want to believe in you so bad." She clenched her jaw, "But I know that's just your manipulation. It's what you demons do." She covered her eyes and wiped off what seemed to be my own blood off of her clothing. "Fuck this sucks."

"Apologies." Ultear wiped the rest of the blood off my forehead, "Had to do a little carving to shut that imagination off."

"Help me." I could only look at her. With my pathetic, teary eyes. My voice was barely audible. But she heard me, I knew she did. But she ignored me. Like every single on of these fucking mystical bastards. "Please… please kill me. Or help me. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me here."

"If there was a known solution to… you… then none of this would be necessary." Ultear pushed Levy out of the room before the nuisance could start making things complicated again. "Alas, nobody knows what you are. And that makes you a threat." She put on some drapes, "I'd be flattered if I were you."

I scoffed at such a ridiculous thing.

Flattered?

For being treated like absolute trash?

I've never had anything.

Even since the beginning, nobody has ever liked me. Nobody has ever chosen me.

And even then, that type of emotional torture was nothing in coparison to this.

And you know what the worst part of it is?
Nobody was even looking for me.

The one friend I had, she'd abandoned me as well.

Or was she ever my friend?
Or was it the demon that coerced her into caring for me?
A protective instinct.

This demon knowing, fully well, these vampires existed and perhaps gaining the protection of one would help in evading the others.

Whatever.

I don't know.

I'll never truly know.

I hoped that I'd be dead long before anything comes to light.

But life doesn't seem to give me anything I want, now does it?

Through the sliding doors, then, came an even worse face. Worse than the demon. Worse than the priestess, than the Legendaries, just the absolute worst.

My mate.

Natsu didn't even look at me, just Ultear.

"Leave." He commanded the priestess.

The raven-haired witch gave him a bit of a snarl but, ultimately did exactly as requested.

Then the pink-haired, heavenly built man walked around the room, taking care to shut any open door or cracked window. I wanted to speak. But I couldn't. Anything I said, all my judgement, it was always washed over with the overwhelming attraction I had for him.

I felt trapped by my own body.

By my own desires.

But were they even my desires?
"Where?" Was all he said.

I choked a bit at my own confusion, "..Wh-"

"Where?" He immediately through something, so visciously, onto my immobile chest. I looked down to find my glove. Somehow, it brought me a sense of relief. Something I hadn't felt in a while. "Where did you get this?"

"My parents." I effortlessly said.

"No." His words were strict, sharp, mean. "You didn't."

"Yes." I whispered, "I did."

Immediately, his onyx eyes blazed with a fiery red. He looked at me, directly at me. There was no kindness to his expression, no sympathy, no mercy. If he could kill me, I have no doubt he would've. "Whatever it is you've come here for, you won't get it." A flame, a real flame, then, appeared in his palm. The heat was real, the fire… it was real. He held it close enough to my face that my entire expression scrunched up in fear. "But I'm sure you've recognized your fate here already."

"I didn't… come here…" I shook my head at my blatant lie, "I mean… no. I did but, it wasn't me. I promise. I swear to God-"

"You can say such a thing like God without burning," Natsu licked one of his fangs, singing off one of my blonde hairs. "You've got to be something special then, demon."

"I grew up in an Orphanage." Tears started to fall from my eyes desperately. He was going to kill me. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know… I didn't know what the situation was. Nobody did. So I just… explained… whatever I could. "My whole life. I didn't get Fosters or adoptive parents. Nobody liked me. The world… every single person was disgusted by me. At 18 I was kicked out. I tried going to college, the only one that accepted me was a community college with very little reputation. I met Levy, the first person to ever speak a full sentence to me. Then she wanted to abandon me too. I freaked… I went into a trance… I don't know." I hiccupped, "I followed her here. I didn't want to be alone anymore. I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" I coughed as the snot from my running nose fell onto my lips. "I don't know why everything hates me. I don't fucking know!"

Natsu's expression didn't change at all. He felt the same for me. Hatred. But the flame in his hand disappeared. "And this?" He picked up the glove delicately, as though it was precious to him. "You got it from your dead parents?"

"Yes." I nodded but then paused, "I think. It's all I had when I came to the orphanage."

"How'd you get to the orphanage?" He pet the glove lightly.

I lifted my brows.

How did I get to the orphanage?
… How… did I get to the orphanage?

Immediately the brand on my head burned like the surface of the sun.

I shrieked at the sudden pain.

Natsu didn't even flinch.

My screams pleased him.

The pinked-haired man, instead, took the glove and put it in his pocket. Then, he took my hand and put it in his hand. He looked down to the pink marking that bound us together. "That glove is hers." He spoke low. Very low. The pain in my head rested momentarily. "Your identity is hers. This marking was supposed to be hers." Natsu's eyes deepened the red in their color and immediately, an excruciating pain boiled the skin under my marking. I widened my eyes, seeing the flame he was engulfing my limp palm in. Tears flung from my eyes, horror muted my voice, and I could do nothing but stare at the man who was trying to set me ablaze. "If you are the reason for her death as well," The flames were more than hot. They were excoriating. I have been burned. I have been branded as punishment by the nuns. But never, ever, had fire hurt this much. "I will not just kill you. I will trap you in a chamber filled with these flames. And I will torture you jus enough that you don't die. Everyday. Till the day Fate takes me. And in turn, you as well." His eyes immediately melted back to onyx. His flames diminished. And tears violently streamed down my cheeks. "Till death do us part, I believe is what you 'humans' say."

Then, he stood up.

And he left.

And I just laid there.

Hoping death would take us both soon.

HELLO!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

I cannot formulate a proper enough apology for my absence, however, it should be expected by now ;)

It's updated. Woo!

See you again, probably.

Lovex1