The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 28: Rivals

The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic):
Chapter 28: Rivals

Sabertooth Guild—

Elaine Blakewood paced furiously in front of her minions, the sharp clack of her heels echoing in the room. Her eyes flashed with barely controlled rage, her face set in a scowl.

"Mistress, our deepest apologies. We have searched everywhere on the grounds, but... we cannot find it," a cloaked henchmen stammered.

Her patience snapped. Without hesitation, she hurled the contents of her drink at the man's face, the liquid splashing across him like an insult. He didn't flinch, standing stiff and emotionless, eyes void of any fear or life. Erza, Lucy, and Serano, standing beside him, remained eerily quiet.

"Keep looking," Blakewood hissed, her voice a dangerous purr. "Go outside the grounds, search everywhere. I need that necklace." She clicked her tongue, her irritation palpable. "The Magic traces of it are faint, but you tracked it here, to this wing. And yet, you can't find a mere crystal necklace?"

The henchman bowed, his voice trembling. "I detected it near the sleeping quarters, but then... the trace disappeared."

Blakewood's eyes blazed, her hand tightening around the empty glass. With a furious snarl, she flung it against the wall, the sharp sound of shattering glass filling the tense air. "I said...keep looking!" Her voice rose dangerously.

"Yes, Mistress!" they all echoed and hurried out of the room, leaving her fuming in their wake.

Elaine Blakewood took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of fury swirling inside her. Her nails drummed against her thigh as she exhaled slowly. Once her temper was somewhat under control, she turned sharply on her heel and strode back to her bedroom.

As she pushed the door open, her eyes landed on Gray, seated on her sofa, looking slightly out of place.

"Gray!"

Her tone instantly shifted, her voice adopting a lilting, almost playful sweetness. She sauntered over to him, her hips swaying ever so slightly. Gray, caught off guard by her chirpy tone, scooted over to make space for her, but she didn't sit. Instead, she draped her arms around his, curling into his side like a cat seeking warmth.

Gray tensed slightly. This felt... off. Elaine had been close to him before, but this—this was different. Too needy. Too...forceful. He cleared his throat, trying to figure out why she was acting so strange.

"S-shouldn't you be... looking for your necklace?" he stammered, shifting in his seat, trying to create a bit more distance between them.

Elaine leaned her head against his shoulder, her fingers trailing softly along his arm. "I'm just so tired from the Masquerade," she sighed dramatically. "My leg hurts too."

Gray's brow furrowed. Something was really weird. He hadn't felt this kind of uncomfortable around Elaine before, but now...

He cleared his throat again, trying to focus. "Do you need to rest? Maybe you should sleep. Everyone's been searching for hours; you should take a break."

Her voice suddenly turned flat. "No. You know how important it is to me."

Gray stood up, eager to put some space between them, still feeling off-kilter from her touch. "I know," he said, his voice trailing off. "But honestly, I need to eat something and help the others. Maybe rest will help clear your head."

Elaine straightened up on the sofa, smoothing her night gown, her face forming into a soft smile as she looked up at him. "Don't be too long, okay? Please come back," she said, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers, her tone almost childlike. "I really need a friend by my side. All of this has just been so stressful for me, since my parents died... I don't want to be alone in my thoughts."