Fighting Oblivion

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

After an extremely frustratingly hard night of almost no sleep, we were up and packed barely an hour past dawn. I was fucking exhausted but also eager to get started. The mountain was close, I could smell it. I didn't know how long it would take us to reach the top but I wanted this trip to be fucking over. I wanted to get Lucy Aquarius back, kick this darkness jerk's ass, save the world and find a proper fucking bed so I could do all the deliciously naughty things I could think of to the celestial mage.

We headed out, pairing off, I was just about to go take a spot next to Lucy, hoping we could sneak away for a few stolen kisses while the others were distracted when that fucking kitty cat popped up next to her in a flash of yellow light.

"Princess!" He shouted.

"Loke!" Erza was shocked at the sight of the spirit, but obviously pleased. "Long time no see! How are you?" He swept the red head a stupid little bow and turned back to Blondie.

"Lucy, I'm glad you're close."

"Loke," she was concerned and I had to remind myself that they were friends and that burning jealousy in my gut was not cool. "What's wrong?" It wasn't until she said that that I saw how pale and scared he looked. Something was up in the Celestial world that had the Lion spirit absolutely terrified.

"Princess," he started, grabbing her hand. "You have to– Why do you smell different?"
"What?" Then he fucking sniffed her. And looked dead at me. I could see his eyes flashing beneath his glasses. I had no idea how he could smell me on her still, we hadn't even gotten very far. But I wasn't about to be intimidated by a fucking pussycat that didn't even have a shot with her. I met his eyes and gave him my best Almighty Sting Eucliffe smirk. The fucker practically hissed at me.

"Loke!" Lucy shook him, looking incredibly embarrassed. That's when I noticed everyone staring at us. Rogue looked impressed, Minerva looked happy. Everyone else looked awkward and uncomfortable. My smirk didn't move a bit.

"Loke, what is going on!? And stop sniffing me!" She gave him a hard shove. Reluctantly he looked away from me and back to her.

"Lucy, the darkness, it's coming. Sooner than we thought."

"What?" I asked, "How do you know?" The asshole straight up ignored me and Gray repeated the question. This time he answered. Dick.

"We can sense him. He swallows all light in its path, including the starlight. Luckily, he doesn't have the key yet so he can't spread his power too far too fast. But the mage with this power, he's....he's strong guys. He can do some damage, even without enacting Oblivion."

"Which direction?" I asked. There was a long pause why everyone waited for the answer.

"Which direction?" Erza sighed.

"East." That little fucker. "He's a few miles away still, you have a day head start maybe, no more."

Then with one more murderous glance thrown my way he disappeared back through his gate with a little flutter of glittering light.

"Fuck," I said. "What an asshole." Lucy smacked my arm. Whatever.

"Let's move out," said Jellal and we all filed out after him.

I positioned the exceeds above us so they could keep an eye to the east of us above the trees. I had Gray walk parallel to us 30 paces to the right of us, hidden in the tree line, Rogue 30 paces to the left. I figured if the darkness came from that direction he'd probably sense it before it was on top of us. Gray could throw up a huge wall of ice and give us time to make our escape. Jellal brought up the rear and I was in the lead. I had the girls in the middle. No, not for the reason you think. Yes I was being overprotective. But the darkness mage, whoever he was, had been targeting Lucy first and foremost. She'd be target number one. After her, they'd have to eliminate Yukino next, she was the only other one who could make a contract with Aquarius making the key useless for the potion. Minerva and Juvia were to stick to their sides like glue. I wasn't taking any chances.