To Protect You

Chapter Fifteen: We will remain strong...for we are one

Saytas was quiet, looking at Juvia lying on the ground in front of him. Evalyn was next to him, rubbing her jaw and pursing her lips in annoyance.

"Now, what do you wish to do." He said and she smirked.

"I want her in my room. I'll make her my slave, the same as she treated me all those years ago." Evalyn said and Saytas smiled, nodding. He took her by the waist and leaned towards her. Placing his lips against her cheek, he pulled back and smiled.

"Of course, my love. Meet me in my chambers tonight." He said, gesturing towards Juvia's limp body and a few guards scrambled forward, picking her up. "Make sure she doesn't die." He snapped as they scurried off.

"My Lord." Evalyn said, causing the man to look to her. "I wish to be with you." She said, blushing deeply. Saytas smiled, leaning down and pressing his lips against her own, his tongue slowly slipping into her mouth.

He was cruel, yes. Abusive...Also yes.
But he was the first man who truly loved her. No one loved her like he did.

Saytas pulled back and looked at her, a fire in his eyes that caused her stomach to clench in excitement.

"My chambers. Tonight."

"Yes, my Lord."

***

"Dammit!" Gray snapped, slamming his fist down onto the ground. "Dammit. Dammit. DAMMIT!"

"Gray..." Lucy breathed, placing her hand on his shoulder. He shrugged her away, Lyon next to his side, back slumped, knee brought up to his chest.

"Why is it that I can't do anything..." Gray said, lowering his head to the ground, his forehead pressing against the rubble and dirt. "I can't ever do anything to help her..."

"Why're you crying." Levy said, not looking to the boy. Gray's shoulders stiffened and Lucy looked to her best friend.

Levy was resting against the wall. Her head was tilted back, her blue hair looking dingy, hanging in limp curls around her shoulders. Her head band had been destroyed, clenched weekly in her right hand. Her orange dress was in tatters, scratches and cuts all over her ivory skin. She was looking up towards what used to be the ceiling, her hazel eyes shut.

"If we keep crying..." She murmured. " We won't have anything left to give."

Lucy looked to her as she opened her eyes and looked towards Gray who had risen from his spot on the ground to his knees. "If the others were here, we'd be coming up with a plan. Natsu wouldn't let you cry. Gray, you do not get to cry. You can not cry. Because right now, everyone is looking for someone to be strong. Your Natsu's best friend. And Juvia is in love with you," Gray looked shocked at this, for whatever reason. "So you have every reason to want to cry." Levy stood, her joints obviously stiff. Lucy's eyes widened as she spotted the determined look on her best friends face as the small bluenette walked to the man on the ground.

"But you can't. Don't show them your weakness. We will save our friends. I have no doubt in my mind that we will." Levy held her hand out towards Gray, tears in her eyes as she smiled, eyebrows drawn down and determination etched into every single feature of her petite face. "We need to be strong with our friends and for our family. Because we're Fairy Tail, dammit." She said, her voice cracking.

Gray looked at her and nodded, taking her hand and standing, having healed his shoulder wound with his ice. He looked down at his friend as she smiled, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Yeah." Gray said, wiping his eyes, his hand still holding hers. "We are Fairy Tail." He turned to his guild mates. Evergreen holding Elfman's torso to his body, Mirajane and Lisanna holding each other.