Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 32 - The Twilight Division

Lucy fiddled with some earrings Axel brought home earlier that day, some strands of hair dangling just low enough to get in the way. She hurriedly brushed them away and checked the time. Still good. She let out a little sigh and almost nicked her finger with the earring. Her hair fell again. Gah.

Normally, she could get Cancer to help with her hair or Virgo to help with her jewelry. Neither was accessible, locked away somewhere in Axel's home high above the rest of Crocus's. Lucy sat on a cushioned seat before a fine wooden vanity, light pouring in from the lacrima above.

Her dress was laid out on the bed, one that Axel had apparently picked for her, too. It was short and low-cut, of course. High heels were on the floor, and a lone headband was atop the dress. It wore a small lapel on the left breast signifying her new loyalty to the Twilight Empire, with a tiny dragon emblem clipped to one of the straps of the dress, almost like a corsage.

In any other situation, Lucy would be blushing with anticipation. To wear such a beautiful dress with this exquisite jewelry was what she dreamed of as a kid, and was certainly the life her father anticipated for her as she grew up.

She checked the clock again and heard growingly impatient footsteps just outside her door. Axel's shadow caught in the slit beneath the door. Lucy rolled her eyes and finally got the last earring. She slipped out of her shift and snuggled into the dress. She smoothed it out as it fit her like a glove. Lucy eased her feet into the uncomfortable heels and at last slid the headband into place.

In the mirror stood a woman who was a crowning beauty of the Twilight Empire, devoid of the life that she'd once known. There was no smile, hardly a hint of warmth. White gloves covered her hands...her guild mark. Her dress showed off exactly what it was meant to, her headband kept any hair from obscuring her face.

The doll of Lucy Heartfilia stepped out of the room with a gentle closing of the door. Axel was in a full suit. He flung his coat over his shoulders, revealing his various demarcations and ranks. He fitted a hat atop his head, too, and gleamed a grin at her.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yes," Lucy said.

He offered his arm, flexing. Lucy gingerly placed her fingers on it and he led them out of the house into the corridor toward the elevator. They had a decent walk across all of Castle Mercurius to get to the Twilight Division's tower.

After all, they were to be honored guests at one of their dinners. Invel, the Winter General, had personally invited Axel, as all members of the Twilight Division were eager to have the opportunity to meet and dine with Lucy, a Fairy Tail traitor. It was the sort of invitation Axel could not pass down—though Invel and he were of similar rank, the Twilight Division held a different kind of influence over the Empire altogether. As Lucy was coming to understand it, the other four divisions paled, combined, in comparison to the Twilight Division, especially their captain—August, the Wizard King.

She didn't let any of her fear show in her face while she walked. Soldiers saluted Axel and he gave them valiant nods back, as if he were a hero returning from some great battle. They had to know his situation, about his recent demotion from active duty to patrol. Lucy was his prize from the complete mess that Clover Town was for the Empire, and he was all too proud to show her off: a fine diamond in his collection.

Dozens of soldiers made sure to salute Axel and then watch Lucy walk. She'd wished she was naked—at least then people, some people, would be too embarrassed to look at her. The dress revealed just enough to poke at their curiosities. For Axel, it showed that he could dress Lucy up with some sick hope that he'd one day get to see what was underneath, just barely hidden away.