Part 2: Shadows of Magic (Rogue Cheney X OC)

Chapter 24

Hope's P. O. V:

A few days pass since Rogue took me on that lunch date and I was sitting at a table with Wendy and Lucy, writing in my songbook, when Alec comes up to me.

"Hey, sis." I glance at him questioningly. "Just got a job request asking for me specifically, and I have to leave right away."

I blink my eyes as I reply, "Okay. What's the job?"

"A body guarding job in Azalea Town. I should be back in a couple of days, depending on how things go," He tells me.

"Okay. Good luck, nii-san," I say with a smile before he ruffles my hair and then heads off for his job.

I look back at my songbook, and resume writing my songs in it.

💥💥💥

Another few days have passed and my brother hasn't returned from his job yet. I can't help but feel worried for him even though Alec is a Wizard Saint. Natsu's been trying to bug me for a fight but of course I refuse.

"Don't worry, Hope-chan, I'm sure he'll be alright," Wendy assures me on one rainy day in Magnolia. I flick my purple eyes up to her.

"She's right; your brother is a Wizard Saint. He'll be back any day now," Adds Erza, nodding, though I do see concern in her brown orbs.

"Yeah, but still, it's not Alec Alec to be late," I sigh with my cheek in my hand. "If he says he'll finish in a couple of days, he will. Where was his job again?"

"Azalea Town," Charlele remembers.

"Right. Maybe I should go check on him..." I start getting up from my seat.

"I don't think there's anything for you to worry about with Alec," Says Lucy. "He is one of Fairy Tail's strongest wizards."

"Yeah, but still..." I trail off, looking down worriedly.

"Your brother is right here, Hope," Says a female voice from behind. We whirl around, gasping, as a tall woman with long blonde hair and purple eyes flickers into existence.

"Persephone," I grit out.

"You know where Alec is?! You'd better talk, right now!" Natsu exclaims before igniting his right fist with flames and charging at her.

Persephone doesn't even flinch when he goes right through her and face plants the floor.

Deadpanning, I activate my Ether Form and holdup my hands with ether around them. The hologram glows and reveals no solid form.

"It's just a Thought Projection, idiot," I tell him, dropping my Ether Form.

"Eh, right," The Dragneel mumbles as he gets up.

"You said you have Alec?" Erza demands sharply as she and the other members of Team Natsu join us.

Persephone nods her head as she says, "I do, Erza. Don't worry; he's being taken really good care of right now. I just had to... weaken him a little so he wouldn't fight back."

"Tell what you're doing with my brother right now!" I roar, my eyes dilated with anger.

"Temper, temper, Hope," Persephone chides. "Your brother is perfectly safe—for now. The only way to get him back is to meet me in my headquarters at my guild hall. If you bring anyone else, I'll kill your brother." I stiffen upon hearing this. "Keep that in mind. I hope to see you soon, Hope! Oh, and I do hope I get to have some fun with that handsome Shadow Dragon Slayer of yours again soon!"

With that, her image disappears, leaving us in a room fool of stunned silence.

"Um, Hope?" Lucy was the first to break the silence, her voice a little nervous as everyone looks to me. My face is hidden by my bangs. "A-Are you... okay?"

I don't say anything. Instead, I whirl around on my heel and storm for the door.

Laxus calls after me from the bar, "Hey, Magical Girl, where do you think you're going?"

"Where do you think?!" I snap harshly, whirling on the blonde Dragon Slayer, causing everyone to flinch.

Gray and Natsu hug each other at the dark expression on my features as they squeal, eyes incredibly wide, "Hope-chan is P. OED!!"

Lucy wants to know, giving them a deadpan expression, "Well, of course she is! How do you think she feels right now?!"

"You can be seriously thinking of going right to to the Akatsuki, are you?" Inquires Laxus with a raised blonde eyebrow.

"Do you seriously just expect me to sit here and do nothing while that witch has my brother?!" I shoot back, storming up Laxus as I throw out my hand for emphasis.

"No, but—" He begins but I cut him off, a deep glare on my face.

"I've already lost my parents! I can't lose my big brother, too! He's only caught by the Akatsuki because of me! If I were to lose Alec, I-I do t know what I'd do...!"

I trail off as the tears leak down my cheeks, tears of hopelessness, anger and frustration.

Wendy murmurs as Charlele gazes intently at me, "Oh, Hope-chan."

Charlele's P. O. V:

As I gaze at the frying silver haired girl, a vision flashes through my mind:

I see us taking on a group of Akatsuki members with two others I don't recognise, a man with incredibly long silver hair and golden eyes and a girl with pink hair and green eyes, while Hope goes on ahead and enters a wide room.

There's a bit of a fight before the scene changes to Hope unconscious on the ground, with a shadowed figure looming over her, the hint of a twisted, triumphant smile on their face, holding up their right fist.

I snap back to reality as Hope whirls for the doors once more, angrily brushing away the tears. "I can't just leave him there! I'm going to get Alec back."

"Wait!" I call, getting up from my spot n Wendy's lap and going over to the female Foster, causing her to stop and whip her glare down at me.

"What, Charlele?" The Arc of Magic user snaps.

"You mustn't go to the Akatsuki guild," I tell her insistently.

"... Why shouldn't I?"

"Because if you do, something terrible will happen to you," I say wearily. You face a dangerous member of the guild alone."

A thoughtful frown overtakes her features before Hope murmurs, "Persephone... I know she'll take my magic if I face her."

"Then why go there?!" I was so confused by her rashness. I thought Hope was more sensible than Natsu or Gray.

"Because they have my brother!" Hope snaps back at me in frustration. "I can't just leave him there to die! I don't care what happens to me; I just need to make sure Alec is safe. He's the only family I have left. I... have to go."

We all fall silent as Erza, Wendy and Lucy gaze at her with softened eyes.