Ruthless Winds and Raging Seas

Chapter 51

Night had fallen by the time Natsu's group had reached the area where Tartaros had set up their camp. It was quiet and it looked deserted which was never a good sign, in fact it normally meant that there was a trap set up.

"You all wait here." Natsu whispered. "I'm almost sure that this is a trap so I'll go in alone, not to risk all of us getting captured."

The group members nodded in silent agreement. Natsu then sneaked his way through the camp with perfect stealth, his eyes carefully making sure that no members of the Tartaros were close by while at the same time looking for any trace of Lucy.

"Now really Natsu, you never have to sneak in to see me."

Natsu's heart was filled with great anger and hate when he heard the familiar, cobra-like voice address him from behind. He slowly turned around to face the owner of said voice and seeing him made him just as ill as listening to him. Mard Geer. Captain of Tartaros, evil incarnate, and by far Natsu's most hated rival.

"We have history so an invite isn't required." Mard continued. "Also there was no way you could have possibly sneaked up on me."

That chuckle of his always left a bad taste in Natsu's mouth.

"You're so predictable. Once I got my hands on your wench, I knew you wouldn't be far behind. You always come to the rescue, no matter what the rick or the cost. Just like your father."

"How dare you speak of my father!" He raged. "You murderer! You bastard!"

Natsu moved in to punch him, but Mard was quick and dodged the attack.

"You're impulsive and hot-tempered like your father was too. He's be very impressed if he had lived long enough to see you grow into this."

His words just fueled the fire that was his anger even further. He was ready to strangle the demon in human skin.

"Ah-ah." He said wagging his finger. "I wouldn't be so impulsive if I were you, one false move and my crew will kill that pretty blonde, so fast she won't have time to even scream."

Natsu immediately stopped and calmed himself down.

"That's better."

"Where is Lucy?" He demanded.

"Her location will be revealed to you in due time. At the moment I have some very important business that I wish to discuss with you. All of you."

That's when his crew members made their presence known and before Natsu's group could react, they were captured. Laxus and Gray were knocked down and pinned to the ground, Juvia was restrained by her arms, and although Mirajane fought, she had to keep still when a pistol was held right at her throat.

"Oh what's this?" Mard asked. "Only two members of Fairy Tail here? Where are the other misfits? You know, that bulking caveman and the psychotic red-head?"

"They're not here!" Natsu said.

"What a shame." He tsked. "I was hoping that they could be used as a form of entertainment for my crew. Gajeel is a musician and you know how we love to crush one's musical dreams. As for Erza, she would have provided excellent comfort for the menfolk here, am I right boys?"

All the male members of Tartaros nodded and grinned in a lecherous manner which made Natsu and Gray particularly sick to their stomachs.

"But perhaps these two jewels can make up for Erza's absence." Mard said approaching Mirajane and Juvia. "I'll give you this Natsu, as worthless and pathetic as your crew is, you do have quite the collection of attractive beauties."

He took some of Juvia's hair and sniffed it lustfully.

"Get away from her!" Gray snarled.

"How amusing, the man of faith expresses pity for this vile creature." Mard smirked sadistically at him.

"That vile creature as you call her, is worth a hundred of you and I swear to God, if any of you harm one hair on her head, I'll send you all back to Hell from hence you came!"

"Oh now this is precious." He laughed with even greater sadism. "This religious fool has actually fallen in love with the mermaid!"

His crew laughed along with him, mocking the bond that Gray and Juvia shared.

"Take the two lovebirds into the next tent. This unconventional romance might prove useful to us."

At Mard's command, Gray and Juvia were dragged away to be dealt with later. They both put up quite a struggle but in the end they were subdued.

"You better not hurt them." Natsu threatened.

"Don't do anything moronic and they'll be just fine." Mard said. "Now as for you three, let's get down to business, I have something that you all want and I will only give it back to you if you do something for me."

"We know." Natsu said. "Give you the items to make the sacred key so you can get the book of E.N.D."

"Well you're halfway correct. Yes I want the key but I want you all to be the ones to use it. In other words, you are going to bring me the book of E.N.D."

"To seek that book is to seek death!" Mirajane warned. "You will all die."

"Maybe you and these two idiots will die but I will not." He said. "I am not an imbecile, I know how dangerous getting the book is and that is why I am going to send you three to retrieve it for me."

"Brilliant plan." Natsu said sarcastically ". "But listen genius, how will you get the book if we die?"

"I'll come up with a solution for that issue if it occurs. Though I'm certain that at least one of you will come back from that tomb alive. Or rather one of you better come back from that tomb alive because if you three die before I get the book, then three more will die as well."

He was referring to Lucy, Gray, and Juvia.

"Do you now understand the circumstances of this situation?" He asked.

"Yes." Natsu answered bitterly. "We bring you the book and you give us back our friends."

"Correct. But worry not, I have no intention of sending you to get the book now. You're no doubt exhausted and in need of nourishment so for tonight I'll let you rest and regain your strength. First thing in the morning though, you begin your mission."

Natsu and his friends were then bound by chains, forced to remain in the place they were left in until morning. They were given water and suitable amount of food but Natsu couldn't bring himself to eat or drink a thing. He just sat there, chained up, and worried for what tomorrow would bring. Worried about if he and his group would be able to survive whatever danger guarded that book. Worried about if Mard would keep his word and spare his friends. But most of all he was worried about what Mard would do with the book once he got his hands on it. He knew money was never an object to Mard so holding that book for ransom was out of the question.

However Natsu had a pretty good idea on what that mad man had in mind, and if his fears were correct then he was going to have to go about this whole thing very carefully. He couldn't act on impulse or let his temper get the better of him. He had to be very clever and very quick. Just as clever and quick as Mard was. No, more clever and more quick than Mard would ever be. Anything less and they would all be damned.