Aria (Gray x OC)

+Thirteen+

"Damnit!"

Gray cursed, slamming his fist on the ice, not making a single dent. He screamed more irritable curses into the air. He felt enraged and his heart felt as though it was twisted into tight knots. He had never felt so angry, not even when Natsu had tested him.

His knuckles became bloody from punching the ice and he felt his heart pound heavily. But the ice wouldn't crack.

+---*---+

Mellodi groaned as her body ached all over. She twisted her back in attempt to stretch, but she felt restrained, unable to comfortably bend her bones. Her head felt heavy as she struggled to force her eyes open.

Once she finally did wake up, she released a short yell of shock. As soon as she did so, she tried to cover her mouth, but her hand wasn't obeying her.

She quickly looked up to discover her wrists bound with thick rope . The flesh of her wrists was turning blue from being strung up tightly.

She suddenly felt deep, dull pain emanating from a single point on her neck. From the way she was positioned, her legs barely touching the frozen ground, she couldn't see what was causing the aching.

"Look who woke up." A voice she vividly remembered, and thoroughly despised, echoed before her. Once her vision became clear, the icy-blue-colored hair was unmistakable. "Good morning, Mellodi." He flashed a cocky grin and took her chin between his cold fingertips.

Mellodi's lips curved into a frown as her auburn eyes glared angrily at him.

"What's that face for?" He hummed and took a step away from her. "If you're thinking that that pathetic guy is coming to save you, you're wrong. He can't break my ice." The man looked at his fingers confidently, surrounding himself with an aura of overwhelming pride. Then, his black eyes returned to the girl. "But you can..."

He was once again a few centimeters from her face. She leaned away as far as possible in her current, bound state. "The fact that you are the only one who can shatter my ice besides myself... I find it compelling." He whispered harshly, and Mellodi could feel his breath, which was just as cold as the ice he created, tickling her skin. It caused bumps to raise across her flesh, all over her body. "I want you all to myself, Mellodi."

His fingers went from her cheeks to her chin, and then trailed down her neck, tracing the tender spot that continued to throb, and then proceeded to her collarbone, her chest, and her waist. "Why don't you sing for me, hm?" Although it was spoken as a suggestion, it was clearly nothing short of a demand.

"Like hell." She spat bitterly.

"Excuse me?" Byron seemed surprised by her bold response. Perhaps, he expected her to nervously obey his orders. "Are you forgetting who you belong to now?"

The sensitive point embedded in her flesh stung severely for a moment, causing the girl to writhe in pain, and gasp for breath when the sensation was gone.

Although she hung from the ropes that bound her wrists limply and exhaustively, she lifted her head. Vibrant, thick strands of hair hung over her face, but her auburn orbs were like pointed daggers lit with fire. "I will never sing for you."

Byron took her chin between his fingers again. "We'll see about that." He threatened with a disgusting grin. With him so close to her face, she spat at him. He jumped back, surprised again by her actions.

"You bitch." He cursed.

And then, he began to chuckle. Mellodi's brows knitted together in confusion.

He looked at her with crazed black eyes. "You'll be fun to play with." He said as he approached her and traced the side of her body with his cold fingers. The girl winced at his touch. "Don't even try using your magic to escape. Those ropes restrict any mage's use of magic." His lips became threateningly close to her neck, and her entire body stiffened uncomfortably. "And with this, I can do whatever I like to you." While she was confused by his words, he licked the tender spot on her flesh.

She winced, and surely, he cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She heard low laughter bubble from his lips. As he grasped onto her hips, his other hand laced underneath the hem of her skirt, and the girl released a frightening squeal.

+---*---+

Gray continued to spit a slew of curses upon himself and Byron, whichever he seemed to be angrier with at the moment. He was so infuriated that his mind wasn't reasoning correctly. He was just nearly ready to give up on himself, but he could never bring himself to give up on Mellodi.

While his feet were still fastened to the ice, his knees buckled hopelessly. "Damnit..." He trailed with a rough voice. "I promised to keep you safe..."

His thoughts became paranoid with images and scenes of the vibrant-haired girl . Her smile and fiery eyes flashed through his mind. And then, almost as if a radio had begun to sound, the simple song she had sung the previous night echoed. He was very aware that he was alone, but the remembrance of the song twisted his heart.

He then recalled her words: "It makes me feel safe..."

A new flame of determination sparked within the boy. He may have failed her this one time, and for that, he will never forgive himself, but nothing would keep him from saving her.

+---*---+

Byron violently grasped onto parts of Mellodi's curvaceous body, despite her pleas to stop. Every time she appeared to suffer, he merely chuckled and treated her more roughly.

He cupped her bare hip where he had slid her skirt from her body, and he pinched the thin lining of clothing that remained. It wasn't until that moment that the girl will entirely filled with terror.

A tear slipped from her warm eyes, followed immediately by a few more, but she didn't dare sob. She bit her lip to keep herself from uttering noises to satisfy Byron's sick, perverted mind. Yet, he still seemed pleased with her tears. "Ah, don't break yet..." He teased. "I still have so much I want to do to you."

Consumed with fearful emotion as the man examined her tear-streaked face, she allowed her voice to whisper, "The silver airship shines. The sea is the only thing that doesn't change. This is the hill you always smiled on, I want to meet you here one more time." Although her voice was ridden with pain, she continued. She looked directly into Byron's insane eyes. She didn't sing for him as he demanded; she didn't sing for herself either. She sang for the family that had taken her in; the family that supported her and waited for her to return: Fairy Tail. She also sung for the one she knew was going to save her, because that was what he had promised. Gray.

As though she was directly calling out his name, she repeated the chorus at a higher, more intense tone so that anyone in the near vicinity would hear. "The silver airship shines. The sea is the only thing that doesn't change. This is the hill you always smiled on, I want to meet you here one more time." It became her battle cry. This man wouldn't break her; she knew she was stronger than that.

She continued to repeat the lyrics to the point where Byron looked at her with a confused expression. "Why the hell are you doin' that?"

She didn't answer, but continued to sing. Eventually, her lips curved into a sure smirk.

"What do you have planned?"

Mellodi sung, knowing that she would be saved.

"Shut up!" The man pushed her roughly.

She gasped, coughed, and lost her footing on the ice, but as soon as she recovered, she reverted to singing.

Dissatisfied with her actions, with the parasite he had planted on her neck, he enforced the stinging sensation to invade her veins once again. She winced and cringed, and although her notes became distorted, she didn't stop the lyrics from coming from her mouth.

Now infuriated, Byron raised his fist.

Mellodi braced herself within her simple, uplifting melody.

However, she was never met with the impact. The painful feeling in her aching body subsided immediately, and the loud thud on the ice flooring forced her eyes open. ~