Beauty and the Beasts

Chapter Eight

I screamed, and we clutched each other with bated breath as we waited to see what happened. Neither of them moved. My heart hammered like a humming bird's as I waited for Acnologia to either drop dead or fight back.

"Acnologia." I called desperately. I never imagined I would wish he of all people was alive and well.

"I am fine, mio amor. This creature...was created using magic, but somehow it is still human." He said and Brain's eyes widened. I could just barely glimpse as to why.

His clawed corpse hand had turned into solid human flesh against Acnologia's chest where he had tried to rip out his heart. Brain shrieked and blasted a torrent of magical energy directly into Acnologia's chest. To any other man, they would me sitting with a gaping hole inside of their chests, but Acnologia was unscathed. He lifted his head back and laughed with glee.

"You can't even touch- "He began and them his arm dropped from his body to the floor and he yelled in pain. Brain held a katana made from dark miasma, similar to Jellal's. The corpse grinned manically and its eyes never left me.

"Immune to magic you may be, but you can die like any other man!" Brain jeered, as he made a slash for Acnologia's neck. I shocked myself and Wendy when I leapt forward.

"No!" My voice sounded shrill and panicked. I wasn't fond of the man but I didn't want him to die in front of me or my sister, especially since Brain living was the far worse option.

Acnologia caught the blade this time however and the miasma dissipated leaving an ordinary silver katana. He shattered it in his hand and brought his fist to Brains face, again and again. Brains teeth broke and fell from his jaws, scattering on the floor like buttons, and he screamed in animalistic fury.

"I will make you mine! Mark my- "He screeched as Acnologia took out his gun and emptied his rounds into Brains head, and spat on his corpse. He lay lifeless. I was about to shout out that they couldn't be killed that way when Brains head lifted forward madly to bite him. Acnologia punched it to the ground with a resonating crack.

"Girl. I need you to prove your usefulness. Come heal my arm." He commanded and we looked between him and Brain.

"I don't think it's dead." Wendy said shakily and he got up, picked up his arm like having it cut off was nothing and offered it to her. I requipped into a simple white dress and tore off the hem until it only barely covered my rear. Wendy held his arm to his bleeding stump and I tied the cloth around them tightly as she began healing him. He tensed and grit his teeth.

"I-it's not working." She stuttered fearfully. He glared at her.

"It's your magic, its countering her healing magic. You need to control it long enough for her to heal it." I told him urgently before he could shout at her or hurt her. He looked me in the eye and nodded.

"Try again." He said to Wendy and she tried. She didn't complain again so I assumed it was working. He continued looking at me.

"You care that much about my wellbeing? Do you love me?" He asked me and I looked at him shocked and speechless. I looked at him and at Wendy who watched him with thin lips and wide eyes.

"I...I don't know you. I don't know what I feel. I'm not ready to marry- "I tried to say but he leaned forward and kissed me. I stumbled back and held my hands to my mouth in shock and embarrassment. Wendy squeaked in surprised and covered her eyes with one hand.

"I have taken your first kiss, that means you belong to me. You will marry me here tonight, you will learn to love me in time. Look, you already care for me. And I am even willing to help you care for your sister. Thank my generosity by becoming my wife. I am killing your abuser for you to show you my worth, think of it as one of the many things I will do for you." He said and I flushed despite myself and looked up at him shyly. My answer was still 'no', but I knew it didn't matter.