Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 60 - Treachery

Lucy came to, unsure how awake she was, or, more importantly, where she was. She was bound, tight, to a metal chair. Chains locked her to the seat, and, shackled to her wrists, were anti-magic lacrima bands. The gag was gone, but Lucy had a feeling that screaming wouldn't do her any good. Lucy swallowed the lump in her dry throat.

"Wakey, wakey, little girl."

It was impossible to tell where the voice came from. Lucy searched until, suddenly, a man appeared before her. He had sunglasses on despite the dark room, and a black suit with a white shirt underneath. He was right in her face, their noses almost touching.

"Little Lucy," he said. "Wonderful for you to finally join us. My, you are a pretty thing. A little doll. You're Axel's right? Yeah, seems about right. Just like at you. A man like that must be eating you up. Hmm-mmm-mmm."

Lucy couldn't summon words. He had to be with the Empire, right? Who the heck was this guy? She'd never seen him before.

"Are you nervous? Don't be. Just go with it. You'll be fine. Apparently, you're valuable to the rest of the Empire. Not the way Miss Brandish sees it, though. No. Well, she sees all of us like little ants."

He put his hands on her, gripping her shoulders first gently and then, as he spoke more, squeezing tighter and tighter.

"Of course she does. Why, she put anti-magic shackles on you. You! A Spatial wizard! You wouldn't have access to your magic even if you wanted to. I am the master of Spatial magic. You're powerless around me. You're nothing. Nothing. But do you think she sees that? No. Of course not. I'm nothing to her, but, to me, you're nothing. So why are we wasting our time with a little bitch like you? Why even bother, why not just kill you now?"

He reared back. Lucy tensed, but the blow never came. Well, it did, but, it felt more like a light tap on her ankle. She glanced down and saw a tiny man at her feet who gave them a ferocious smack, which, truly felt like nothing. Lucy raised her eyebrow.

Then, the chill came.

"That's enough of your tantrum, Marin. You're gonna give me a headache."

Marin squeaked in argument against her, flailing on the ground while a woman Lucy did recognize emerged from the shadows of the cold, dark room. Brandish, General of the Twilight Division, flicked Marin away with her foot and rested a hand on her hip. She wore her typical cloak over the black laced bikini. Her head tilted to the side, face sneering at Lucy.

"God, you're pitiful," Brandish muttered. "What the hell does August see in you? Access to the Celestial Spirits? Please."

She placed her foot on Lucy's chest and eased the seat back. Lucy's hair dangled behind her, and at once, she realized that not knowing where she was meant she could be...anywhere. In a caged room.

Or out in the open, ready to be flung out and splattered on the ground at a moment's notice.

Brandish looked down on her as if from atop a mountain. She always had the veneer of superiority without a hint of vulnerability. Lucy balanced precariously on the feet of the chair holding her, gripping the sides for dear life as if it'd do anything.

"I just have some questions," Brandish said. "Killing you isn't worth my time. Besides, I could get in a bit of trouble with August, and that's just bothersome."

"What would you like to know?" Lucy asked, trying to maintain some amount of lightheartedness.

"Tell me where you got your Key of the Water Bearer," Brandish said. "How'd you come into possession of Aquarius?"

"It was from my mother," Lucy said, and Brandish pushed her leg further. Lucy squealed.

"Be honest," she said. "Or I'll squish you like the bug you are, Lucy. The key. How did it come to you?"