The Shadows of Tragedy

Chapter 7

At the end of the hallway there were two doors to two rooms that were across from each other. Erza knocked on the door of the right and it was answered by a very pretty young lady with brown eyes and shoulder length blonde hair that she kept in a sideways pony tail. She looked like she was the same age as Juvia and she seemed to carry herself with a sort of restlessness.

"What is it Erza?" The blonde asked the red head.

"Lucy I'd like you to meet Romeo's governess Miss Juvia Lockser." Erza introduce. "Miss Lockser this is my stepsister Lucy Heartfilia."

"It's very nice to meet you." Juvia said politely.

"You're here to teach Romeo?" Lucy asked Juvia.

"Yes."

"Well then here's some bits of advice. Get out. Get out while you still can. Believe me you don't want to get involved with this family because it's super weird."

"Lucy don't start." Erza warned.

"They're all into witchcraft and monsters and stuff."

"Lucy enough."

"I'm just letting her know what she's getting herself into." She then grabbed her purse and walked out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Erza asked.

"Out with Dan."

"You know I don't like that man Lucy. He's a thug."

"That's your opinion Erza."

"It's a fact. The man robbed a drug store last month."

"That was never proven."

"Could you at least not go out with him at night?"

"I'm a grown woman Erza. I can take care of myself." She said checking her appearance in a compact mirror. "Besides just because you choose to live a solitary life doesn't mean I have to."

"I do not live a solitary life."

"Sure you don't. Everyone knows you're a total recluse. Surprised that no one's accused you of being a witch or anything like that." She stuck her mirror back into her purse. "Anyway I'll be back before morning. Bye."

Erza blew in frustration as she watched her younger and rather high spirited stepsister leave the house.

"You'll have to forgive Lucy she's a little bitter with all of us here."

"Why? If I may ask that is?" Juvia said.

"She never really accepted her father's marriage to my mother and she's always had a hard time fitting in with my family but what really upset her was when we were forced into debt and she couldn't use her college fund. Now she spends her days hanging out with hoodlums and doing whatever she can to get away from me. She thinks the whole thing is my fault. Mine, my mother's, and everyone else on my side of the family."

"Well she can't blame you for this forever."

"Oh you'd be surprised by how long that girl can hold a grudge even when there's no one to blame."

"What exactly did she mean by witchcraft and monsters?"

"It's nothing really. It's just that rumors and myths say that my family has encountered and/or been associated with the dark forces of the occult. Superstitious nonsense really."

"I kind of believe in that. I mean I don't participate in anything relating to that mind you but I do believe there are some forces out there we can't really explain. Logically that is."