These Blood-Soaked Pages (Fairy Tail) [Book 1 of Reaper's Scythe]

XXI - The Tower

Wendy's PoV

"I wish Gray-san was here," I whisper to Lucy. "An enemy that's strong enough to take down Natsu sounds intimidating!"

"Yeah... But Zeref said that he was weakened. Hopefully that means whoever kidnapped him isn't as strong as we think." The celestial mage bites her lip. "I hope Natsu's okay..."

Erza, Lucy, Happy, Charle, Zeref and I are all gathered outside the Fairy Tail guild hall. Zeref-san has his eyes closed and is focusing on some sort of spell.

A few minutes later, he opens his eyes and turns around to face us. "I found it. It's somewhere near a town to the west. I think I'll be able to find it on a map," he informs Erza.

"Umm, Zeref-san? What were you doing?" I ask.

"Since they're all tied to my life force, I can track the location of the Books if I concentrate hard enough." Zeref shuffles his feet, seeming anxious - but nobody can blame him. "I was able to find out where the Book of END was taken. Hopefully it's at the same place as Natsu himself..." He mutters something under his breath that even I can barely make out: "although it might be better if they're in separate locations, just in case..."

Erza produces a map seemingly out of nowhere and hands it to the dark wizard. "Where was it exactly?"

Zeref places a finger on a specific point on the map. "Here."

"If I remember correctly, there was a small branch of a certain guild around there somewhere. It's supposedly been abandoned for the last eight or nine years, though. Perhaps some more nefarious people have moved in." Erza taps her chin. "Perhaps we should ask Gajeel or Juvia to come along."

"Why Gajeel or Juvi... oh." Lucy grimaces. "It's an old Phantom Lord branch, isn't it."

"Phantom Lord?" I ask, confused.

"Three or so arcs before- er, some time before you joined Fairy Tail, we were attacked by a rival guild called Phantom Lord. Gajeel and Juvia used to be in that guild until they joined Fairy Tail after the incident," Erza explains.

Right, I think I remember hearing something about that.

"Well, we should head off then! No time to waste." Zeref nods vigorously at Lucy's statement.

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Zeref's PoV

"So, this is the place?" Lucy asks.

"Yes. The Book of END is nearby, I can sense it." The four of us (actually six, including the cats) look up at what looks to be a old watchtower, albeit one that was recently inhabited by a guild. Well, recently from my point of view anyway. Having lived so long, I tend to view anything that's happened in the last decade or so as recent.

"Since Natsu obviously isn't in the rescue team, maybe we can sneak-" Lucy begins, but before she finishes her thought Erza approaches the door to the watchtower and shouts for the kidnappers to show themselves.

Lucy sweat-drops. "I was going to say we could sneak up on them and rescue Natsu without as much of a fight. Looks like that's out of the question now."

I follow after Erza, prepared for a fight. "Not to worry, I can deal with-" My words are cut off when I trip over my own feet.

The white cat sighs. "So much for the famous Dark Wizard Zeref, huh? Is falling randomly a thing all enchanters do?" I blush bright red as I stand up, brushing off my robes.

"Charle!" Wendy exclaims. "That's rude!"

"I don't particularly about being polite to that monster. And you shouldn't either!"

"Now's not really the time, guys!" Lucy yells as she pulls out a key. "Open! Gate of the Archer! Sagittarius!"

I run over to Erza's side, looking up at the tower. A window on the top floor slams open, and a woman with green hair sticks her head out. "Who do we have here? A light guild? Or friends of one of the captives? No matter. You'll meet your doom soon enough!"

She goes back inside and the shutters shut seemingly by themselves.

"She said 'one of the captives,'" Lucy points out. "So they've captured more people than just Natsu?"

"I can sense six sources of magic power in there," Erza says. "One of them is quite powerful. And a third... that one's far more powerful than that, and it's growing stronger by the second. It reminds me a lot of.." She frowns, looking at me. "I can't tell if Natsu's among them. Can you tell?"

I nod. "He's there, but we have to hurry. That massive power you sensed is him. Or more accurately, END. The seal is being completely undone."