Between The Pages

Chapter 16

"So you're a human?" Elfman said looking at Juvia.

"Yes I am." She answered.

"Wow I've never seen a human before. You look almost like the goblin king. Well there are a lot of differences between you two but you look like you could be the same species."

"Yes it is funny how a goblin like him resembles a human so much. Part of me doubts that he even is a goblin." Juvia said.

Suddenly a look of fear appeared on the faces of Elfman and Gajeel. They both became completely still yet at the same time they seemed to be trembling. She didn't know why they looked so afraid but she received her answer when a shadow fell over and she turned to see Alok the owl priest standing there. He looked very dark and ominous, he could strike fear into someone with just one look.

"May I help you sir?" She asked him.

He didn't answer for several seconds.

"I would like a word with you alone young lady." He turned to Gajeel and Elfman. "You two, scat."

They hesitated for a moment, afraid that if they left Alok might hurt the girl but with a gaze Juvia assured them that she would be fine so they left.

"So you're the human who my son has taken an interest in." Alok said to her.

"You're Gray's father?" She deduced.

"Yes I am." She took note of his appearance. It was quite ghastly, nothing at all like how Gray looked. "I know what you're thinking, not much of a family resemblance is there? Sadly my children didn't inherit any of my looks."

He started to circle her, like a predator circling his prey and waiting for the exact moment to strike. His eyes not leaving her for one minute.

"Well I can see why my son is so fascinated with you. You're quite the little beauty aren't you?"

"I don't really know sir. I don't think much of my appearance." She said.

"Tell me just what is it you're up to?"

"Nothing. I just want to go home and your son agreed to send me back if I finish the task he assigned me."

"Is that what he told you?"

"Yes."

"Hmm...Stupid boy. Always doing something that he hopes will make him forget how much of a disappointment he is to me."

"How can you say such a thing about your own son? Don't you love him?"

"Don't presume that all parents love their children. I will admit that I hold some fondness for him. I definitely prefer him over my daughter. The defiant little ingrate."

Juvia was greatly shocked and frightened by this man's words. How can anyone say such awful things about their children? She couldn't imagine her biological father or her adopted father saying things like that about her.

"How dare you." She said.

"Excuse me?" He said turning to her.

"How dare you say those things. I don't know your daughter but I do know your son is not stupid and you shouldn't say stuff like that about him."

"Young lady are you aware of who you're speaking to?"

"Yes. I am speaking to a dreadful father who doesn't deserve to have any children. I can't believe that you and Gray are related. He maybe arrogant and annoying but I believe from the bottom of my heart that he has good intentions and only wants to be accepted. He's not a monster and you shouldn't treat him so horribly."

At the moment he gave her a look that made her wish that she had kept her mouth shut.

"You have the audacity to speak to your superiors like that!" He snapped in a voice that scared her enough to make her fall over. "Know your place you worthless wench!"

He moved to strike her as hard as he could. She closed her eyes in fear but when the impact came she felt no pain. Confused, she opened her eyes to see that Gray had stepped in front of her causing Alok to strike him instead. It was amazing, it was like he had just come out of no where.

"What do you think you're doing boy?!" Alok demanded. "How dare you get in my way!"

He struck Gray again, this time twice as hard but Gray showed no reaction. Alok then regathered his composure and left. Once he was gone Gray turned toward Juvia.

"How are you? Unharmed?" He asked her.

"Yes." She said not sure that what she had seen actually happened.

"Good. I will leave you now."

"Wait! You're hurt!" She called pointing to the cut on his cheek.

"It's nothing!" He said. "Just leave me alone."

"Please let me see your face."

"Why should I?"

"Because you wouldn't have gotten that way if it weren't for me. At least let me help you." She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently pressed it against his cheek. He flinched at first but her touch was so warm and gentle that eventually he allowed her to clean him up.

"Why did you do that for me?" She asked him.

"I don't know. I did the same thing for my sister whenever he went after her."

"I'm so sorry." She said.

"It's nothing to get worked up about." He said. "It's how he disciplines me. It's how fathers show how much they care."

"No. That's not true. My father has never once hit me or my brother."

"He never has?"

"No."

"Then how does he raise you?"

"By teaching me. Sure he disciplines us but he would never use violence. Do you honestly think it's normal for a father to hit his children?"

"Yes."

It now all made since to her. Why Gray was the way he was. He had been so greatly abused by his father and he didn't even know that it was wrong. Such cruelty was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

"Hey why are you crying?" He asked upon noticing her tears.

"I'm sorry." She said wiping them away. "It's just...When I think about how you grew up and how your father treats you...It makes me sad."

"You're crying for me?" He said confused. "You're shedding tears for me?"

"Yes."

"No one has ever cried for me."

"No one?"

"No one." Why did she cry for him? Didn't she think that she deserved the beatings? Didn't she find his suffering amusing like the goblins and other creatures? Why were her tears for him? And why was she touching him so gently? Nobody ever touched him gently.

"Did you mean what you said about me?" He asked.

"Huh?"

"Do you really believe that I have good intentions and that I just want to be accepted."

"Yes I do."

"What gave you that ridiculous idea?"

"It's your eyes. Your face and the rest of your physique holds an arrogance and a carefree nature but your eyes, your eyes hold such a great sadness and longing. I truly believe that all you really want is for someone to accept you."

"What is this feeling?" Gray asked himself as he felt something in his heart stir.

"Your face is all clean now." She said. "I'll get back to work."

She then picked up her basket and left him to wonder about the new emotions he was feeling.