Fate Decides

Chapter 12

Levy sat pulling at the gauzy fabric of the pale blue dress she had been put in. Mira drew a shaky breath, the silvery gown she was in was much like Levys, halter topped leaving a good bit of skin bare with tiny crystals through the fabric, beautiful and clothes both women would have appreciated if not for the circumstances. Both sat in small cages that hung from the ceiling of the temple they were in.

Mira frowned over at Levy, the blue haired woman didn't look all that well, thin and pale with the edges of marks showing at the edges of her elegant gown.

"tch tch pets. Once the Goddess retrieves the last of the benefactors of the spell and its caster, final prices will be asked. You must not despair, Vanati is a just and wonderful Goddess, she is after all, daughter of the Goddess of love." A priestess bowed to them, bearing a tray with food and drink and handed the plate under the bars for Mira, then the drink and then did the same for Levy.

"I wont pay her price." Levy said quietly. Looking blandly at the food with no interest. The priestess smiled at her "You will, or you will not be returned to him, your love, the man with the glowing eyes and handsome face, you benefited greatly from the blessings of the Goddess, you owe her much, your love is...a fine prize."

Levy was about to open her mouth when another gilded cage appeared beside the one Mira was in. Just like when Mira had appeared, first the cage, then suddenly Lucy appeared in a gorgeous golden gown, unconscious as Mira had been when she first appeared. "Lu!!" Levy cried, Mira turned in her cage "Lucy!"

"Calm down, just two more to go and this will all be drawn to a close." The priestess said, she waved a hand and two attendants came from the shadows and hurried to the woman.

"Oh good, the man who destroyed the temple has been brought, please excuse me sisters. I need to attend a son of Mars." The Preistess bowed and left them and Levy sat heavily.

"Levy do you have any idea what's happening?" Mira asked, sitting and looking at the food she'd been brought.

"It's got something to do with Canas spell. Though I was...whipped...because I removed some runes from some ruins that included a temple of Venus." She said shakily.

The edges Mira could see were of the long whip marks across Levys back, she'd been given 30 total, though she had lost consciousness after 16 of them. They had put some sort of seal over then, the priestesses, stating they could not allow a sister to bleed through a gown gifted by the Goddess. They still hurt terribly though.

"What price was she talking about...you said you wouldn't pay it..." Mira asked. Levy put her hand over her mouth, tears threatening her eyes again.

"The Goddess, Vanati...wants me to give her something from Bickslow, she didn't say exactly what it was, only that I had him because of her and she wanted a piece of her gift." Levy said miserably "I wont do anything that might hurt him..."

Mira pressed her lips together "I...you don't think she wants Max do you? I...I wont let her touch him...." Her tone took on a dangerous edge and Levy smiled thinly at her friend.

"I don't know Mira, I don't know what they're going to do or demand. Vanati herself hasn't said anything yet and wont until she's gathered all of us that were "blessed" through Canas spell that morning." She said quietly.

The women both jerked their heads up as a new cage suddenly formed next to Levys and a few moments later, Cana appeared unconscious in a gown that matched the rich chocolate color of her hair.

"Only Juvia left..." Levy breathed.

"Indeed. She doesn't seem to ever break contact with her man if she can help it. Only takes a little distance and big sis can slip in so it speaks highly of her bond to her lover that hasn't happened yet." A silken deep voice said. Both women looked up as a tall man strode in, priestesses flanking him with their heads bowed.