Ruthless Winds and Raging Seas

Chapter 49

Tartaros had set themselves up somewhere in the middle of the jungle, although it wasn't your typical camp. It was actually quite nice and refined however Lucy didn't exactly get what you call the royal treatment. She just sat in a room with her hands chained up as if she were a common criminal. One would never expect the daughter of a governor to be like this but Lucy hardly minded the chains, she was too busy thinking about other things. Like wondering what these men would do to her if or if not they got what they wanted. She wondered if Juvia was alright. If these men had assaulted her further or worse, if they had killed her. But most of all she was wondering if what Mard had said to her about Natsu was really true.

He had said that Natsu loved her. Loved her enough that she could be used as bait to lure him out. Was he really telling the truth? She knew that Natsu was both fond of and attracted to her but love? Was it really that deep? And what if it was? What then? What did it mean? Did she return his feelings? She was just so confused.

Suddenly she was snapped out of her thoughts at the sound off boots walking closer to her. She saw that Mard Geer had entered the room still wearing the sick, inhuman smirk on his face. The kind that made her feel like she wasn't in the presence of a man, but a monster.

"What do you want?" She asked him.

In one had he held a chalice made of gold and encrusted with jewels and in his other hand he held a bottle of wine.

"I thought you would like a drink." He said.

"No thank you." She answered. "I don't think it would be wise of me to drink alcohol while being held prisoner by a bunch of immoral men."

"No need to be so paranoid. None of my crew will touch you without my permission."

"What about you?"

"Well I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind. After all you do have a very tempting appearance but over the years I've learned that taking a woman isn't as satisfying as one giving into submission."

She felt the urge to spit in both of his eyes but he had both a pistol and a sword at his belt while she was in chains so she wouldn't take that risk. Not now anyway.

"You know it pains me to see you reduced to this Miss Heartfilia." He said. "I don't really like to see a woman being mistreated."

"You don't like to see a woman mistreated?!" She repeated in angry disbelief. "You smacked me and ordered one of your crew members to beat my friend!"

"Well I'm not above reminding a woman of her place in the scheme of things. When you stabbed me with that knife you clearly had no idea who you were dealing with so I gave you a warning. As for your friend, she's not really a woman. Granted she is quite a beauty and I'm sure if she offered herself to me I would have accepted but that doesn't necessarily make her human."

"She's more human than you'll ever be!" She snapped. "You sadistic pig!"

He just chuckled wickedly at her insult.

"I don't know how you can sympathize with a lower species like her but I do find it amusing. Almost as amusing as the fact that animal thought she could win a human's love. Of all the stupidity, not even a mad man would allow himself to become enamoured with some fish woman."

"As if someone like you knows anything about love."

"I know plenty actually. I know that it's mankind's greatest weakness. It distracts them, keeps them from their goals, makes them give up what they want most in the world. You wouldn't believe how many hopes, dreams, and even lives have been lost over love." He faced her. "You were wise to reject Natsu my dear. Had you stayed with him you would have spent the rest of your like scouring the streets like a rat. He has nothing, no money, no treasure, no value and do you know why?"