Light My Fire [Nalu] {The FT Love Chronicles; Book 3}

Chapter Seventeen

“Eliana, please, just let me find another way to help you,” Lucy pleaded, watching as Eliana walked around the cellar, lighting torches. As the room lit up, Lucy saw just how horrifying all the seemingly harmless objects from the dark were. The examination table was stained red with blood, as were a few rusty old surgical utensils laying upon its surface. The skulls hanging from the ceiling by ropes were cracked and disfigured—as if something traumatic had happened to them before they had been killed. Lucy quickly looked away from them, afraid of thinking about it for too long. She didn't want to imagine what could possibly happen to her in the near future.

Her gaze finally fell on Natsu's unconscious body, laying across the cellar from where she was shackled to the wall. Natsu, wake up! I really need your help right now. Although it pained her to admit, Natsu and Loke had been right about Eliana all along. That's right! Lucy gasped, suddenly getting a good idea. If I can summon Loke, then I'll—

“Those shackles seal away magic,” Eliana said, as if knowing exactly what Lucy had been thinking. “None of your spirits will be able to tell your in danger, either, so they won't be opening their own gate to come help you.”

“Isn't there another way that I can help you?” Lucy asked, staring into Eliana's lavender eyes.

“No, there isn't,” Eliana snapped, turning away from her. “Believe me, I've tried everything. Many before you have also tried to help me, but—well, you know what happened to them.”

“I thought you said you didn't want to hurt me,” Lucy sighed.

“I—I don't,” Eliana said, turning to frown at her with tears in her eyes. She looked so much like a frightened child that Lucy couldn't even be angry at her. I can't imagine how afraid she must be. She's lived her entire life in fear, and she sees whatever she's about to do as the only escape from that fear. I can't say I can really blame her for that. She just wants to be happy like everyone else.

“Aw, man! What gives? That really hurt!” Natsu's voice caused both of their heads to snap in his direction. Eliana looked furious, but Lucy sighed in relief. Good, he's alright.

~Natsu~

Consciousness hit Natsu like one of Erza's punches. He could feel the lump on the back of his head without having to even touch it. What knocked me out? It took him a moment to remember, but his eyes shot open as soon as he had. Eliana!

“Aw, man! What gives? That really hurt!” He complained, getting to his feet.

“How are you still alive?” Eliana growled, furiously. Her lavender eyes were dark as she spoke.

“You were tryin' to kill me?!” Natsu snapped, surprised.

“Natsu!” Lucy shouted, drawing his attention to her. When he spotted the shackles around her wrists, he clenched his fists, feeling fire engulf them without him even having to summon it. “Get Happy and get out of here,” she told him.

“Oh yeah,” Natsu said, looking around, “where is the little guy?”

“Over there,” Lucy said, motioning towards a large pile of rubble.

“No, he can't leave yet,” Eliana said. She grabbed one of the scalpels from the examination table and held it against Lucy's throat. “You need to do as I say.”

Natsu glared at her, feeling more angry than he had in a long time. “You won't hurt her,” he said, slowly walking towards them, “because you need her alive, don't you?”