The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 27: Mistress

The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic):
Chapter 27: Mistress

Sabertooth Guild—

Elaine's body felt heavy, her limbs sluggish and uncooperative, as though she were trapped in a thick fog. Her mind, a swirl of confusion, moved slowly, disconnected from reality.

Wake up.

The thought whispered weakly in the back of her mind, but it was drowned out by the relentless tide of dreams.

She was pulled under, sinking deeper into the visions—blazing fire, people screaming in agony, their faces twisted in horror. The world around her burned, consumed by flames. And there, silhouetted against the roaring inferno, stood a figure. A man, his white hair gleaming in the light of the fire, a halo-like glow encircling his head as the moon shone behind him. His gaze felt like it bore into her soul, and yet, she couldn't see his eyes. The feeling of isolation gripped her chest—her friends, nowhere in sight.

The scene flickered, the fire intensifying, the screams growing louder.

—

GASP

Elaine's body jolted, her heart racing as she snapped into consciousness. She heaved herself up into a sitting position, her breath ragged and shallow. Her skin was damp with sweat, and her pulse hammered loudly in her ears.

She was back in the former Master's bedroom, the thick garnet-red bedding bunched around her as she tried to gather herself. The remnants of the nightmare clung to her like a veil, refusing to lift.

"What a dream..." she muttered, running a trembling hand through her hair, trying to shake off the unease that lingered. Her breathing began to even out, and the pounding in her chest gradually subsided. But as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the sharp, searing pain in her thigh hit her like a wave.

Elaine's face contorted as she sucked in a sharp breath, bending slightly to inspect the source of her pain. She grimaced when she lifted the comforter, revealing a dark stain of blood on the mattress—a deep gash along her right leg. The sight of it sent a chill down her spine.

"I must have gotten it earlier..." she whispered to herself, cursing under her breath. Without her necklace, without her Magic, she had no way to heal herself. She hadn't realized how much she had depended on it until now, when she was left helpless with a wound that throbbed painfully.

The clock on the bedside table ticked mockingly. Two hours of restless sleep.

She stood, albeit unsteadily, and limped to the closet, pulling out a fresh nightgown and a long coat to cover the blood-soaked towel she wrapped around her thigh. Each step was a sharp reminder of her vulnerability without her magic. She needed to get to the infirmary. She couldn't just sit there and hope it would go away.

The halls of the Sabertooth Guild were hauntingly silent, the usual bustling energy now replaced with an eerie stillness. Elaine could only hear her own shallow breathing and the soft scuffle of her feet against the stone floor. The weight of everything—her injuries, her friends in the infirmary, the strange occurrences at the masquerade—pressed heavily on her as she made her way through the darkened corridors.

When she reached the infirmary door, she paused, steeling herself for what she might find. She eased it open quietly, and was met with the sight of Erza and Gray, seated and watching over Lucy and Natsu, who were still fast asleep in the beds.

"Guys?" Elaine whispered, her voice barely louder than a breath.

Erza and Gray turned, both looking just as worn as she felt. Erza's sharp gaze softened slightly, though her expression remained unreadable.