My Scarlet Rose (A Jerza Fanfic)

Chapter 5 - Darkness

Two Days Later . . .

Fairy Tail declared an all-out war against Tartaros after they severely injured Laxus and his team. So far, the fight wasn't looking so good for Fairy Tail. The council members that teams were sent out to protect had already been killed by Tartaros. Natsu was severely injured from fighting a Tartaros member. Erza, Mira, and Lisanna had all been captured by Tartaros.

Being the idoit he was, Natsu took off despite his injuries which resulted in him getting captured. Mira was in a machine which was suppose to turn her into a demon just like the other members. (Good luck with that!) Elfman was forced to blow up Fairy Tail and Erza was being tortured for information on Jellal. It was a full scaled battle between the fairies and the demons.

Meanwhile, Jellal and his team found the Oración Seis. After refusing to let anyone stand in the way of their freedom, the Oración Seis challenged Crime Sorcière. All except Hoteye and Brain since he had been killed by Cobra. Jellal insisted on fighting by himself so Meredy and Rachael stood off to the side and watched. The two girls wanted to help their friend, but respected his request.

After casting Sema (successfully this time), Crime Sorcière, along with their new members, set off to complete their goal. Defeating Zeref and along the way, destroying dark guilds. As they walked, Jellal couldn't help but think of Erza. How was she? Was she gravely injured? He worried, but deep down he knew she would be alright. It's Erza after all.

Speaking of Titania, she wasn't in the best shape. Chained by magic resistant cuff on her hands and feet, Erza was stuck. She was stripped naked, completely naked. Her torturer, Kyôka, had the ability to raise one's sensitivity. Raising Erza's sensitivity to pain, the redhead was tortured for hours. Kyôka repeatedly asked for Jellal's whereabouts, knowing that Erza was close to him, but Erza gave the same answer.

"I don't know." She would say, her voice weaker each time. The demon merely thought she was protecting Jellal, but the truth was Erza really didn't know where Jellal was. How could she? They were in different guilds. They couldn't stay in constant contact. Plus, Crime Sorcière was an independent guild. They were always on the move. For a demon that was supposedly stronger, she sure wasn't smarter. (But don't let her hear you say that!)

Having targeted another dark guild, Crime Sorcière didn't waste time attacking. Each member went off on their own or in teams, using their magic respectively. Meredy, Rachael, and Angel went off together, being the only girls. To Meredy's and Angel's surprise, Rachael was good in a fight. Like really good. She didn't even use magic. It was all hand-to-hand combat.

"Wow, Rachael! You're strong!" Meredy praised.

"No kidding." Angel agreed. "I'm glad I'm on your side. If you're that strong without magic, I don't want to imagine how strong you are with magic."

Rachael smiled and giggled at the compliments. "Thanks. I try not to use magic. It can get out of hand sometimes."

"You can't control it?" Angel questioned.

"I can," Rachael replied and lowered her head. "but I made a promise to myself when I was little that I wouldn't use magic until I met someone special."

"A boyfriend?" Meredy's eyes lit up.

"No. Nothing like that." Rachael laughed. "Just an old friend."

Meredy and Angel nodded in agreement, being polite enough not to pry any further. Everyone has their own "darkness", as Jellal called it. The team could respect that. Until Rachael was ready to spill the beans, they'd just leave her be.