The Dragon and The Princess

Chapter 58

•Lucy's POV•

I watched as Natsu opened the door slowly, trying not to make any noise. As he cracked the wooden door open about half way, he let go of the door handle, carefully peeking his head inside. Natsu and Happy quickly slid through the opening in the door and Natsu motioned us in with his hand. I went in next, followed by Erza and then Jellal.

The dimly lit corridor had approximately ten jail cells, but this hall led to another which had more. There were only three occupied cells, which was good for us because we now have a lesser chance of getting caught. Jellal shut the door quietly, trying to make the least amount of noise posible.

It looks as if the prisoners were sleeping, most likely out of boredom. The stone floors glistened with what looks like water, but it could also be these peoples' body fluids. I grimaced at the thought and continued eyeing the hall as the five of us stood where we could not be noticed. The iron bars of the prison cells were well compounded in order to keep their captors inside.

With the fact that these ten prisoners might be asleep, I stepped out of my place in the corner, slowly beginning to walk down the hall. I could hear Natsu's voice in my head.

Luce, what the hell are you doing?! Get back here!

I turned around and shook my head no, continuing to walk down the hall. The prisoners in the cells were indeed sleeping, because they have not noticed my presence. I heard Natsu, Erza, Jellal, and Happy's footsteps behind mine, meaning they had started to follow me.

As I inched past the last jail cell and peeked my head around the corner where the stairs were to make sure the coast was clear before we entered. There were no voices to be heard from upstairs so I rounded the corner, Natsu right by my side. The other three joined us and I stopped walking, and everyone did the same.

   "Right now, all the guards should be on break. They usually all go on break together for about an hour, meaning they should return in a little over thirty minutes. Remember, we're here to obtain Virgo, then we get our asses out of here as fast as we can without being seen. Understood?" I explained and everyone nodded. As I led them up the stairs slowly, I began to think. I'm just hoping no one is expecting our arrival and is waiting at the top of this staircase.

•Gajeel's POV•

As the Shrimp, Lily, I enter another street, I notice a decent looking pub about two houses down. I glance down at Levy and realize she's looking at it as well.

   "Ya wanna stop for some food Shorty?" I asked her. She looks up and me and pouts at the nickname, but nods anyway. With Lily in her arms, we walk to the pub and enter it.

There are about fifteen guards in here sitting at a table, so we'll have to be cautious. Levy seemed to notice them too, because I saw her tense up.

We're gonna have to watch what we say, Lev. If we say something too obvious they could take notice and interrogate us.

She glanced up at me and nodded, and answered through our little thought conversation.

I know. I want you to listen in on their conversation to see if they say something about the Witch. Okay?

I shook my head once, and we took two seats at the bar. Levy ordered us something, though I wasn't really paying attention. With my heightened hearing, I listened to their conversation, immediately repeating anything they say in my head so Levy knows what's going on as well.

I heard one of the buffer-looking men say something along the lines of; "Have you noticed anything weird about the King lately? He seems troubled."