Bound By Hate (Gale) {Book 1 of the "Bound" Series}

2: Everything Goes Wrong

Jet, Droy, and I searched Hosenka for nearly two hours and found no signs of Gajeel. “It's too quiet,” I said. We should have found something within two hours of looking. It's like he just disappeared.

“Maybe he left Hosenka?” Jet suggested.

“I don't think so. Something about this doesn't feel right.” Suddenly, I sensed something. I turned around, just in time to see Droy get hit by a large iron club that seemed to come out of nowhere. “Droy!” I shouted, rushing to him.

“Damn! Where did that come from?” Jet cursed, standing beside me as I checked on Droy. He was conscious, but his eye was already starting to bruise.

“He's here,” I said. I helped Droy to his feet and pulled my handgun from it's holster.

“Not very perceptive.” A low chuckle came from the darkness right before a tall figure stepped from the shadows. He was nearly twice my height, and his black hair hung down his back in a wild mane. I noticed that his eyes were just white slits as he stared at me in dark amusement.

“Levy,” Jet whispered, “it's now or never.”

“Right,” I nodded, stepping forward. “I'm guessing you're Gajeel?” I asked him, forcing any weakness out of my voice.

“Tch. Why should I tell you?” He growled.

“My name is Levy McGarden,” I continued. “I am a member of the Fairy Tail hunters organization, and have come to speak with you at the request of our Master, Makarov.”

“What the hell do I care about weaklings like you?”

“Join Fairy Tail,” I blurted out. My request seemed to have caught him off guard, because his eyes widened slightly at my words.

“Join Fairy Tail?” He asked.

“Yes,” I nodded, stepping closer to him. “You would be welcomed into the organization, and the council would excuse you for your past crimes.”

Unfortunately, I had said the wrong thing. His aura darkened, and he glared at me. “The council can burn in Hell for all I care. And you can send them a message for me. Iron Dragon's Roar!” I didn't have time to dodge his attack. I put my arms over my face to shield it from the worst of the blow, but I was throw backwards several feet.

“Levy!” Jet and Droy cried together. They immediately attacked Gajeel, taking that as his refusal to join Fairy Tail. Droy threw a powder at him containing a pungent odor, but he was unaffected. His fist smashed into Droy's face with such force that I heard his nose crack.

“Damn you!” Jet snapped, running at him. Like Elfman, Jet used hand-to-hand combat mostly. He slashed at him a few times with a small dagger, but never landed a blow. When I saw a small smirk form on Gajeel's lips, chills ran down my spine. He's not even taking this seriously. Jet and Droy can't land a single hit on him, and he has barely been making an effort to fight them!

“Jet, get away from him!” I shouted at him, not liking the way Gajeel continued smirking.

“Why—” Gajeel moved with impossible speed and kicked Jet in the gut. As he fell to the ground, Gajeel, began punching him. I made it to my feet after the third hit, aiming my gun. When his fist rose above his head once more to punch Jet, I pulled the trigger. My bullet met the side of his head, flinging him away from Jet.

“Are you alright?” I asked, kneeling beside my friend. His face was already swelling, but he managed to smile at me.

“Yeah. Caught me off guard.”

“Damn it! That hurt.”

“What?!” I gasped, watching as Gajeel stood. How is he still alive?! I shot him in the head! He titled his head to the side, and I watched as the flattened metal of what had once been a bullet fell to the ground. It didn't even break through his skin.