Between The Pages

Chapter 11

As days went by Juvia continued to spin the nettle flax into thread, it was quite difficult in the beginning but the more she did it the easier her work became. Mirajane always had delicious meals and a bath prepared for her, Jellal always spoke to her in a graceful manner and occasionally assisted her in her work, she would see Gajeel from time to time, and Frosch was always there to keep her company. She soon believed that she would be finished with her work and home again in no time.

However even though things were getting better there were really bad days which didn't just make things harder for her but for everyone else as well.

One day in particular Alok, the owl priest had returned from a long trip. He was very cold man, colder than Gray and he was cruel too. Selfish, vindictive, unfeeling, and he was feared by everyone in the castle. When he arrived at the castle doors all who resided in the castle became stiff with fear. He had a calm appearance but they knew all too well that something had angered him.

"I wish to speak with my son." He said.

"Yes sir." Jellal replied nervously before calling for Gray.

The goblin king and his father were left alone in the owl priest's study.

"What is this I hear about you letting a human woman work here?" He asked Gray.

"She just appeared out of no where, begging me to help her get home. I told her I would if she could successfully make a tapestry for me."

"How could you let such filth into the castle?!"

"I was bored Father." Gray said. "There's nothing to do around here, I need something to amuse me and watching her try and fail is quite a show."

"You didn't have my permission to let her stay here."

"Oh please! I'm not a child, I'm almost eighteen, and I am a king I don't need your permission for anything."

"How dare you use such impertinence toward your own father! You are such a worthless boy!" Alok snapped in a voice that caused Gray to flinch and before he could react, Alok drew back and struck Gray across the face. "But of course that's to be expected from someone like you! A goblin with a hideous human body! Your mother would be so repulsed by you!"

"Please don't say that Father." Gray pleaded.

"Stop sniveling like a coward! Ugh...You are such a disappointment."

"I'm sorry...I-"

"Silence! You're lucky that I didn't choose to disown you years ago! As for the human I suppose she can stay for your amusement but if you pull a stunt like that again you'll be more than sorry!"

He then left his son trembling on the floor. Later that night as Juvia slept, she was awoken by a disturbing noise. It was a mixture of howling and screaming, like someone or something that was suffering in agony. At first she thought that she was dreaming but she soon realized that she was very much awake as she was listening to it.  Curious, she stepped out of bed while being careful not to wake Frosch who always slept on a pillow at her feet, slipped on a shawl that Mirajane had given her, and with a lit candle in her hand she went out of her room to investigate.

The darkness of the night made the stairway look like a bottomless pit and the castle was so very cold and dark. It made her feel like she was walking through the night sky itself however there were no glittering stars to make it less scary. She had the earie feeling that someone or something was breathing down her neck and following her. She turned around several times to make sure that she was alone and indeed she was.

Drawing closer to the source of the noise it became louder, more frightening, she felt fear grip her heart and her voice of reason telling her to go back but her curiosity told her to press on.