Rain in Winter [Gruvia] {The FT Love Chronicles; Book 4}

Chapter Four

~Venus~

Venus stopped at the foot of the stairs, listening to that damned rain woman's attempts to break free of her cell. They were all in vain. Those walls were all reinforced, and only an incredibly powerful magic could break through them. Not even I could break through those walls, so there's no way she possibly could.

After a few minutes, the relentless banging stopped. She must have grown too tired to continue. Pathetic woman. She was still angry about Juvia dumping her glass of water onto the floor. She had placed a special sleeping serum inside it that would render her unconscious for three days. Luckily, Venus had thought of the possibility she'd do that, and had planned ahead. As punishment for being difficult, Venus had infused her food with a water designed to trigger pain. The rain woman may be able to go without water, but she will have to eat in order to stay alive.

When the screams began, Venus smirked. She loved the sound of that despicable woman's screams. They were a sign that she was winning, and that Gray would soon be hers. Thinking of what was to come sent chills of excitement down her spine. She would enjoy watching Gray kill that woman.

She still remembered the first time she had met Gray. She had gone to Magnolia for a short trip, and had taken up waitressing at some over-priced restaurant in order to charm a rich man. When Gray Fullbuster had walked into the restaurant that night so many months ago, she hadn't known how to react.

He was absolutely perfect—except for that ugly wench whom had been clinging to his arm. Venus recognized her as Juvia, the rain woman. The fact that she used water magic as well had made Venus's blood boil in hatred.

When she had gone to their table, Gray hadn't even spared her a glance. Never in her life had she been so blatantly ignored by a man. Even if he wasn't single. She had large breasts, a curved waist, and she radiated beauty. So, why hadn't he seemed to notice her?

Venus saw the answer as she watched him with that rain woman from across the restaurant. He only had eyes for her, it seemed. Although he acted uninterested at first, Venus saw him slowly grow more comfortable with the woman. Even as they ate, Venus could see him watching the woman, taking her in as if she were something magnificent.

Opening the door leading to her home from the cellar, Venus fumed. She had vowed that night to make Gray hers, and to make the rain woman suffer. However, even with her charm spells, he was proving difficult. It had been raining ever since she had captured the rain woman, and every time Gray looked out the window and spotted the rain, he began fighting against her control.

Killing the rain woman would be the simplest solution. If she were dead, the rain would stop, and he would have nothing to remind him of her. But she had greater plans for Juvia. She wanted to make that damned woman watch as Gray pledged his love to her, and then have him kill the pest. Venus smiled at the thought of how much pain it would cause the rain woman to be killed by the man she loved so dearly.

“I look forward to that day, Juvia”

When she returned to the living room where she had instructed Gray to wait for her, she found him with his head in his hands. He's trying to remember again. “Gray, my beloved, you don't look so well,” she said, immediately going to him. She cupped his face in her hands, “is everything alright?”

“Fine,” he sighed, “just another headache. That damned rain woman.

“I'll make you some tea,” she told him. With a smile, she gave him a kiss on the cheek and went to the kitchen. She made the tea with water infused with her charm spell, as she always did. “Here is your tea, my love,” she cooed, handing him the tea. She watched as he drank it, and smiled when the tension in his shoulders seemed to ebb away. “Feeling better?” She sat on his lap as she asked him.