The Shadows of Tragedy

Chapter 33

For a moment Gray felt nothing but sheer bliss as he kissed Juvia. It had been so many years since he had felt the delicate touch of passion from his love. That kiss all but confirmed it to him, there wasn't any doubt. Juvia was his Juliette, he could feel it in her soul as he held her in his arms and kissed her lips. She had a different name, was born of a different family, came from a different time, but she was still the same beautiful and gentle young women he had fallen in love with centuries ago. He wasn't sure how she had come back to him like this but at the moment he didn't care. He was just so happy to have her again.

But this romantic moment was interrupted when he felt a familiar chill run down his spine. One he recognized all too well. It was one that informed him danger was near. That an evil presence was close by. In other words, Ultear was near. 

He turned from Juvia and checked behind himself. He didn't see anyone but he knew that she had been there. Which means she had seen them kiss and knowing her she was definitely going to retaliate somehow.

"Is something wrong?" Juvia asked noticing the concern in his face.

"No." He said. "Listen you're still locking bedroom door and windows when you go to sleep right?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"There it is again."

"What?"

"That look on your face. It's the same look you had on your face that night we took Romeo to the movies. When we got home you looked so scared and you look scared now. Something is wrong isn't it?"

"No. Nothing's wrong."

"Please don't lie to me. At least not about if you're upset or scared. If something is bothering you I want to help you."

So selfless and considerate, she was definitely his long lost bride. And because of that he couldn't bring himself to continue lying to her. But it was also because of that he couldn't tell her the truth either. If he did then he would have to explain to her who he really was and what he really was. She could never know that. Never. If she did she would become afraid of him. So afraid that she would run from him and blindly throw herself to her death just like she did back then. He knew that secrets and lies had no place in love but if secrets and lies would keep him from having to watch her die twice, so be it. 

"I am scared of something but I can't tell you what that is." He said. 

"Why not?"

"I just can't. But believe me when I say that I'm keeping this from you is for your own good."

"I don't understand."

"Juvia I know you only want to know these things so you can help me but there are some things about myself that must never be known."

"I see." She sighed. "I'm not sure what it is you're hiding from me but I'll believe that you have good reason to do so. But just so you know, no matter what secrets you may have I promise they'll never change my view of you."

Oh God how he wished he could believe that promise. But he had already seen what her reaction would be to knowing his secret therefore he couldn't believe her. But he smiled anyway to tell her that he understood. 

The party ended after midnight and by then everyone in the household was exhausted. They slept hard and probably wouldn't wake til way passed morning. However even though the party was over there was still some activity taking place that night. Ultear had returned to the house, she was just outside of Juvia's bedroom window, glaring hatefully at the sleeping governess.

"You untouchable wretch." She snarled in a venomous whisper. "You had everything I ever wanted. Wealth, beauty, class, adoration from almost everyone who knew you. No one treating you as some kind of pariah. But did you work for it? Did you do anything to deserve it? No! You were just born into it!"

She gnashed her teeth so hard that if anyone saw her they would wonder how they were not breaking or at least getting chipped a little.

"You automatically had it all and yet you still felt the need to steal my one chance to get the life I deserved! Why did you have to be engaged to Gray? You didn't need money or status! But I did! That's why you had to die! And yet even though you died you somehow came back to torment me and steal what's rightfully mine!"

She looked at the latch on the window which kept it locked. She chuckled wickedly to herself.

"You think that pathetic man made device will protect you from me? Nothing on earth can protect you from the likes of me. I'll slip in and wring your pretty little neck out, so I can really relish in watching you die."

But when she moved to touch the window a light flash burned her. She screeched and drew back in pain. She tried again and again and again but each time the result was always the same. An unseen force would burn her hands to keep her from getting in. 

"What is this?! Why can't I get in?!"

"If he doth lose one who holds his heart

Forever they shall not part

Together they shall be

For all eternity."

She heard those familiar words in her mind and they were spoken by the same voice as the person who had said them to her the first time. 

"Mother."  She said with disdain in her voice. "So that's what your little curse on me is supposed to do. Revive that virgin tramp and somehow lure her back into his arms. You must truly hate me don't you Mother?"

Her gaze went from Juvia's window toward the skies.

"I know you're dead Mother but I also know that some part of you still roams within this house and that part of you is what's keeping me from getting into her room. I'm impressed that you have some much power even after life." She said. "Dead or not I know you can hear me so listen good. Your attempts to protect this family may slow me down but they won't stop me. I'll find someway to do away with them all and I want you to know that when you died I shed no tears. Your death was no great sadness to me, in truth it was a great relief because with you gone I could finally squash the Fullbuster's business and reputation and rise above them."

As expected her words received no response and as she spoke them she appeared completely remorseless yet there was a slight inclination in her voice that seemed to imply she was trying to convince herself that she had no feelings of mourning, grief, or regret for her mother's death or what had happened between them. Trying to convince herself that it was Ur who had betrayed her and not the other way around. That Ur had always favored the Fullbuster children over her, her own daughter. That she secretly wished they had been her biological children instead of Ultear. 

That's how her mind worked. She told herself lies in order to justify her terrible actions and sins. Telling herself that Gray did love her but rejected her because he was ashamed of her poor background. That Juliette never really loved him and only wanted to marry him for his money. That the Fullbuster family didn't take her in out of kindness or considered her family. That she had been condemned by her own mother because she always hated her child for being a reminder of the fact she had once been so man's mistress who then tossed her aside upon learning of her pregnancy. That banishing her had been an act of cruelty instead of mercy.

That's how she slept at night. Believing the lies her deluded mind told her so she wouldn't see herself as the monster she had chosen to be. 

"There are other ways to hurt that family without being direct." She said. "And Mother and I aren't not the only witches who were involved with that family. In fact one managed to actually marry into it, pity it was when they had no fortune or class so she left. But something tells me she'll make a reappearance very soon."