Welcome To Fright Night

Chapter 4

"I must say it is an honor to have such interesting guests." Thaddeus said during the interview. "To meet an ice mage and a celestial wizard in the same day, how incredible. And you Miss Lockser, you're a rain woman correct?"

"Yes." She answered.

"If I'm not mistaken that means your body is made completely out of water."

"Yeah it is."

"How intriguing, you know water is the greatest strength of blood. The more water that flows the thicker and stronger the blood gets."

"Oh..Is that right?" Juvia said feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Moving on." Gray said changing the subject. "You said that you saw a guy sneaking around in other people's houses?"

"Yes, I believe his name was Jack. Jack Proctor. A very strange young man."

"Any idea why he would do that?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Can you give us directions to where he lives?"

"Of course, he lives at the edge of town. A bit of recluse."

"Thanks for the information."

"Glad that I could have been of some help. It really is dreadful thing that's happening in this town. I hope neither of you become another unfortunate victim. Also I have some old articles explaining the disappearances in their early stages perhaps you'd like to use them for your investigation?"

"Sure."

"I'll be back with them in a moment, feel free to explore the house and take in the decor while you wait."

With that said he left the room.

"Well he's creepy but at least he's helpful." Gray said.

"And polite." Juvia added. "Maybe a little too polite."

"He was getting real handsy with you earlier. Really annoyed me."

"I know it was very odd and- Wait why would it annoy you that he was getting...handsy?"

"Um..." Gray said realizing his error.

"Gray were you jealous?"

"No." He blushed.

"You were! Oh my darling you were actually jealous!" Juvia cheered.

"I was not!" He denied.

Lucy rolled her eyes and smiled at how silly they were being. She decided to take up Mr. Moore's offer to look around the house. It was dreary but very elegant and refined looking, if this place had brighter colors she wouldn't mind living here at all. Her exploration soon led her to a corridor of paintings, each one an antique and beautifully painted. But the one that caught her attention the most was the painting of a posing blonde woman who looked almost exactly like herself. Lucy blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes to make sure that she wasn't imaging things but she wasn't. That woman did in fact resemble her.

"I see you've taken a liking to one of my paintings." Thaddeus said from behind her. "Uncanny resemblance isn't it?"

"No kidding. If I didn't know any better I'd think it was me." She turned away from the painting and to face Thaddeus. "If you don't mind me asking who is she?"

He stared at her intensely.

"She was a very close friend and companion. You remind me of her, in another time or place you would be her. You are her."

Lucy was about to question what he was talking about but found herself unable to do so because as he spoke she felt a strange feeling come over her. A desire to listen to this man and believe every word he said. To trust and obey him.