Fairy tail in trouble with Demons 11

Two days have passed since Jackal's hijacking of Lucy's body. The team had set up camp in the forests only moving far enough so the charred battle scene couldn't be seen. They knew they should move, but with all the uncertainty in their hearts they remained were they where

Lucy remained not only in the demon binding cuffs, but had also been bound to a tree essentially being used to make sure she didn't take her own life as well as contain the demon. The horror show of her possessed body put on plagued her guilt ridden mind making her unable to get any rest making her look even worse than she did before Fairy Tail's destruction. Worst of all was the look of pleading horror in Cana's eyes right before she killed her.

Wendy in exception to checking on the others injuries kept to herself never suffering this great a loss in her young life didn't know how to handle it. Despite her pains Samantha had been able to symphsize with her helping to deal with it the best she could. One of the worst things for her though was seeing just how bad her guild mates had been shutting down, and how powerless she was to do anything to help.

Laxus had finally woken up the previous day learning of what happened to Fairy Tail from Gray excluding what happened to Cana. He used sparing sessions and exercise to distract himself not wanting to show weakness to the few remaining Fairy Tail wizards. But at night he kept thinking of the memories he had of them all regretting that he was never able to make amends with everyone for his past sins.

Like Wendy and Laxus Gray had pretty much kept to himself constantly thinking of all the what ifs. Constantly thinking of how he had lost everything in his life for a second time now. Unlike the others who understood it wasn't Lucy who nearly killed them all he felt disgusted each time he looked at her. He knew it wasn't her doing, but just like those images plagued the woman they plagued him as well.

Samantha being the only non-Fairy-Tail member did her best to keep the other four from losing themselves in their own head. Doing her best to deal with seeing all the horrors she'd seen over the last month since her hunt began she began to question is she'd be able to fight the higher up demons after seeing first hand just how powerful they can be.

Now lets begin the chapter.

"Mmmmmmnnnnn!" Samantha hummed while making a 'specialty soup' of hers.

"Why haven't you even tried to exercise the demon yet?" Gray asked frustration clear in his voice.

Nearly jumping from the man's sudden appearance. "My spiritual power hasn't fully recovered yet." slowly stirring the soup. "I've never really done what I did a few days ago until then." Still feeling the massive strain it put on her.

"You must have recovered enough by now." Pointing at Lucy still bound like she had been for since she regained control.

"Gray." Trying to calm him down. "We're not just talking about magic here that you guys recover just by resting." Placing her hand over her heart. "This is my soul that we're talking about." Sliding her hands till they touched her golden cross. "If it over powers me..."

"Samantha the longer we wait the more it has to recover!"

"If I fail then..." Trying to explain to him only to get interrupted again.

"Stop talking like that." He shouted causing both Wendy and Laxus to look at the two. "I saw you take out a whole hoard of demons a couple days ago! One demon can't be to hard for you!"

Turning around did she start to walk away from him ignoring more of his shouts, and shrugging him off as he tried to stop her. That was until she walked towards the still burning part of the forest where she knew he wouldn't follow her. Only looking at the stream of water she made her way to it till she sat down at its edge burying her face in her knee that she hugged to her chest. "You don't understand Gray." Thinking of everything she'd seen since she started her quest to fight Tartarus just over a month ago wondering if she can do what her ancestors did long ago.

"Are you okay?"

Turning around did she see the 2nd generation Dragon-Slayer. Shaking her head.

Looking at how she shook he could tell even though she was nearly a full grown woman she still had the innocence..., or had the innocence of a child not knowing just how cruel reality can be. "Gray's just frustrated." Taking a seat next to her.

Samantha was surprised by his calmness. Like the others he lost everything yet here he was helping a complete stranger. "Aren't you?"

"I am!" Laxus admitted pointing back toward the camp. "If it weren't for you and them I'd be dead." For the first time in his life since obtaining his immense power he wasn't able to defend himself. "But someone needs to keep a level head." Remembering what his grandfather taught him about being a true leader. "Something I learned the hard way."

The Devil-Slayer moved her gaze from the man to the moving water.

"Now what were you trying to tell him?"

"That my soul simply hasn't recovered enough since that mass exorcism." She said while clutching her cross still feeling the strain it put on her. 'Or should I say my confidence.' Knowing it was her fear holding her back.

"Your Soul?"

She then went on to explain how her chant worked since he was still unconscious when she explained it to the others.

"Sounds like an instant kill to me." The Lightning-Mage said.

"Its not. One on one I have a huge advantage, but I spread my soul so thin to get them all I struggled to stay awake long enough to complete it." Growing quitter with each word. "The truth is is there is a huge risk to my Exorcism chant." Fingers wrapping tighter around her cross.

"What is it?"

"When I use it to attack the demons its my soul that's fighting theirs." Thinking back to two days ago atop the cathedral. "Luckily my faith gives me an advantage over them allowing me an easier time to exercise them, But..." Still thinking of the moment. "If they had managed to overpower me instead my soul would have been ripped apart."

"Ripped apart?"

Shaking just thinking about what her father told her. "Yeah!" She said softly taking a big gulp. "It would leave my body as an empty vessel for them to claim, and...and...and deny me an afterlife." Sobbing hard once finished imagining pure blackness awaiting her should she fail.

Slowly did Laxus wrap an arm around her pulling her in. "The fear is from more than just that." He said after a few moments. "Otherwise you wouldn't have attempted to slay so many." Imagining Magnolia being attacked by the horde.

"Jackal!" Saying what she was so afraid of. "It was so powerful. And there's still seven more of them after him." Seeing the difference in the power of a regular demon to one of the Nine Gate. "What if I'm not able to..."

"There's more than one way to slay a demon." Laxus said. "After all I killed one of them myself." Patting her on the head. "Even though I needed help to recover."

"..."

"But right now you need to help out Lucy." Starting to stand back up. "We've had too much death." Suppressing his emotions the best he could thinking of his Grandfather and Cana the most. "And you're the only one who can save Lucy." Extending his arm out to her.

Instead of taking his hand did she hand him a scroll. "Give me an hour." Hearing him opening the scroll up. "Please carve a four-foot version of that into the ground..." Giving him a few more instructions before he left so she could prepare herself.

"One hour." Laxus said walking away.

"One hour." Samantha said to herself as she mentally focused herself for the task at hand. Though she gained some confidence from the talk she still felt that fear.

One Hour Later.

Lucy was placed in the center of a circle filled with marking none of the Fairy Tail members had seen before besides the giant star just touching the outside of the circle, but had managed to replicate the pattern exactly. Samantha called the thing a devil's trap. The most prominent was a star in it that had a fire at the points on the outside of the circle. Gray insisted on keeping the chains on her, but he was told repeatedly that the demon would be rendered powerless inside the trap.

Though she was free to move as she pleased for the first time in days Lucy opted to keep the cuffs on as she sat on her knees pinching her wrists between her long legs in the center of the devil's trap. Though she knew there were many more steps she needed to take to make up for what she had done when possessed she knew the first was gaining freedom from her body snatching demon. In her mind she kept repeating five words. 'Please God let this work!' Not sure how she'd live with herself if it didn't.

Laxus, Wendy, and Gray all watched as Samantha stood at the edge of the circle standing in front of Lucy.

"Are you ready for this Lucy?"

Though she heard the words her body only moved enough that the other woman could only guess that she nodded.

"Alright then." Lacing her fingers together over the center of her chest. "This will hurt, but it will rid you of the demon." The purplette warned.

No response from the blonde.

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica. Ergo draco maledicte et omnis legio diabolica adjuramus te. Cessa decipere humanas creaturas, eisque aeternae Perditionis venenum propinare."

At first Lucy didn't feel anything. Then after the tenth word chanted in the strange language did her head feel like it was starting to overheat and her whole body starting to be overwhelmed with pain. Finally by the time the first verse was finished did she know that it had to be Jackal Trying to take her over. But despite both being cuffed and confined to the Devil-Trap she felt he would soon take her over again. So she did the only thing she could. Try to delay him as the pain she was feeling continued to pile up.

"Vade, Satana, inventor et magister omnis fallaciae, hostis humanae salutis. Humiliare sub potenti manu dei..."

"KEEP THAT CHANT UP AND I'LL BLOW THE FUCKING BITCH'S HEAD OFF BEFORE YOU COMPLETE YOU'RE FUCKIGN CHANT!" Jackal threatened screaming in pain after taking control of the human once again.

Samantha stopped her prayer hearing the possessed woman scream what she did.

Seeing that she stopped did Gray then yell at her. "The demon is powerless!" He yelled. "Keep going!"

Hesitating for a moment did she try to continue only did the demon's yelling stop her.

"I became attached to this bitch's body by placing a seal in her brain." Jackal explained leaving out that it wasn't his intention to do so. "Even in all of this." Moving the humans head in a circular way to point at the trap he was in. "I can blow it up at anytime I want."

"Fudge Monkey." Samantha swore dropping to her knees hitting the ground hard with her fist abandoning the chant, but due to it ending by her own power her soul wasn't at risk. 'The only way I can separate them now is by killing Lucy.' Something she refused to do after giving her hope.

Gray rushed to her side. "It's lying to you Sam!" Trying to get her changing again.

"It's no lie." Jackal spoke and started up before the human's obvious next statement could be said. "But then again if you really think I'm lying go ahead and continue." Shifting the Lucy's body so his hands weren't getting smashed anymore. "Just remember its all on you once this bimbo's head gets blown clean off of her shoulders."

"Fuck!" Gray swore. As much as he wanted Jackal dead he wouldn't do it if it was at his Nakama's expense. "Fuck!"

Feeling the power shifting in his favor. "Well that's disappointing. I thought you'd go for it."

"If it weren't for you possessing Lucy's body I'd kill you myself."

"Go ahead." Laying down making her an easy target." Because I guarantee I'll kill you the first chance I get." Staring at the raven-haired man. "Still I wonder how you survived the bomb. I know how the others, but you..."

"Shut your mouth!" The last image he head before the explosion was Juvia smiling at him as they talked.

"Then again at least they went out peacefully." Sitting up. "Your death won't be so peaceful." Looking at Samantha. "Yours will be the most painful."

Gray stepped into the circle picking up his possessed Nakama by the collar of her skimpy jacket. "Shut your mouth."

With access to all of Lucy's memories did the demon know Gray's past. A past he was more than willing to exploit. "Perhaps it makes sense since you survived a massacre as a child. A massacre created by another demon." Grinning. "You do have a knack for living when you should have died, and getting everyone you love killed. Like Ur"

"Shut the Fuck Up!" Gray warned emitting a violent aura.

Leaning forward till their noses nearly touched. "I'll make sure you die last so I can see the look in your eyes once you've truly watched everyone die." Copying Lucy's voice. "Just fall in love with someone else before you do so I can make a trifecta of killing the women you've Fu..."

SMACK! Gray hit the demon with as hard a right hook as he could slamming its body against the devils-trap making it impossible for it to leave its confines. Lucy on the way down felt her head hit the trap a second time as she fell hard sliding down the seal she was trapped in

Everyone looked on in horror how Lucy's body dropped to the ground with Gray standing over her.

Lucy didn't know what felt worse of the two, and no the punch wasn't one of them. Not regaining control in time to save Cana, or the look of hatred/disgust in Gray's eyes as he hit her. In control she sobbed in pain knowing she would most likely lose it shortly.

"Gray!" Wendy yelled out frightened at the man.

Before he could process what he had done did he feel Laxus's thick muscular arm wrap around his neck pulling him back away from Lucy.

Now outside the devil-trap. "What the Fuck Gray?" Clearly seeing Jackal was egging him on to the point he couldn't hear them pleading to him to back off.

Any and all admiration Samantha had for Gray vanished. She watched as the Slayer reprimanded the Ice-Mage once far enough from the trap still locked up. Turning around did she see Wendy healing Lucy's face.

"HaHa!" Jackal half laughed half sobbed, but soon felt the healing affect going away as the small healer smartly backed away from him. Slowly standing up. "I thought you'd like seeing me get hurt." Now taunting Laxus.

"Not at Lucy's expense." Laxus said more than willing to put a second demon down for good if it were in its own skin.

"Even knowing she wasn't strong enough to save your girlfriend from dying?"

Gray stopped struggling now growing nervous being in the grip of the man whom he lied to. Even though it was to protect him.

"Cana died..."

"When I took control and burned down for forest." Tilting her head back in the direction of the burned forest. "Lucy kept on scratching at me for control as I used her spirits. Begging me to stop what I was doing to them" Grinning evilly which looked so unnatural on Lucy's gentle face. "It wasn't until that personal bomb I made for her was ready to blow up Cana that she took back control." Now Laughing.

Laxus's whole body was trembling in rage hearing the demon brag. How badly he wanted to strike it with thousands of volts of electricity, but knew he was being goaded to do so.

"I can hear the bitch in here crying over it now." Tapping the side of her head. "Not that she's stopped since it happened." Looking closer at his face he could tell there was more anger there than he anticipated, and that Gray's was growing paler. "Haha! They didn't tell you did they? Haha."

"Looking down did he look at the back of Gray's head. "You lied to me?" Hoping it was Jackal who was lying to him.

"I did it to protect you..., and Lucy." the other man said. Feeling the grip becoming lighter he knew he understood why he did it, but knew he'd be paying for it in future sparing matched.

"If only Lucy was just a little stronger." More so taunting the woman this time than the man. "Then maybe..."

"Don't Say It?" Lucy begged only having enough power to say those three words knowing what the demons was about to reveal from her knowledge.

"She could have saved your girlfriend and her baby." Jackal revealed the secret Cana trusted to Lucy alone until the war with Tartarus was done.

"What?" Laxus completely thrown off his guard. "Cana was..."

"Pregnant with your baby." Jackal said. "Oh how worried she was that you'd never..."

Gray felt the grip around him disappear and suddenly saw the Slayer appear before Jackal raising his lightning coated fist up before bringing it down.

"Laxus!" Lucy's voice coming out this time as she closed her eyes ready to be hit for the second time. That hit never came though. Opening her eyes did she see Laxus looking at her with his calm blue eyes.

"I won't fall for it." Speaking to the demon as the damn he had built was blown up by the explosive demon. "It wasn't your fault Lucy." He choked out thinking of Cana and the child he'd never get to now.

"Laxus." Speaking softly looking up at the crying hulking man trembling in emotional turmoil. "Cana only found out after..."

Turning his back to her. "If anyone else is to die because of Jackal it will be your fault." Saying what he thought his grandfather would say. "You're stronger than you think you are." Turning his head back to see the sprit mage was still crying like he was. "Prove it by taming that demon. And don't you dare think of taking your own life to do so" Turning into lightning to get away from everyone before he did something he'd regret.

"You think I can be tamed?" Jackal snorted now that the other blonde was now gone. "Don't make me laugh." Standing up. "I am one of the Nine-Demon-Gates of Tartarus. You humans will never tame me. You'd be better off killing me now because the first chance I get I will kill every last one of you and wipe the last members of Fairy Tail off the face of this world."

"Not everyone is dead." Wendy shouted stunning the others as she store daggers at Jackal. "There's still Erza, Mira-Jane, Lisanna, and Natsu." Tears steaming down her young face.

"That's true." speaking in a mocking tone. Giving the human all brief moment of relief. "But for how long? And thats if we don't...Experiment of them." Seeing the hope in their eyes dwindle. "Even if we don't kill them they won't be the same as you knew them. That I promise you too."

"You'll never break their sprits." Again shouting. "Natsu and Erza will never break, and they'll make sure Mira and Lisanna don't either."

"We'll see about that, but the fact remains. Tartarus killed Fairy Tail." Gloating over the victory with absolute pride.

"So long as one of us is alive Fairy Tail isn't dead." Showing off her guildmark with pride.

Letting out a smirk. "Looking at the fire in you little one I wish we would have taken our time with you." Sitting down cross-legged. "After the others used my bomb I doubt we'll have much resistance." Sighing in disappointment that his fellow Gates decided to go the fast way instead of slowly tormenting them.

This last statement puzzled the humans.

Looking around did Samantha notice the only lights where coming from the five fires around the trap. "We should get some rest." Thinking it best to just call it a day before anything else could be said. Silently they all agreed and began to get ready for bed.

"One more thing before you all go." Jackal said while lifting up her right hand showing off the pink guildmark on Lucy's hand. "Any demon who sees it will immediately target you for death." Grinning. "I recommend you all accept that Tartarus killed Fairy Tail and erase the mark so you can all live a little bit longer." Lying down trying to get comfortable in the trap to small for the body he hijacked to lie down without being forced to curl up.

After all shit talking he did everyone was surprised by what he had just said. All of them thinking that he was actually hoping for a tooth and nail kind of war with both sides taking losses instead of the way that they had. But why would that be.

Not another world was said as they prepared for bed. In less than fifteen minutes everyone had settled into their sleeping arrangement except for Lucy who didn't even bother to attempt to get any sleep. Even with the blanket she was given she knew the nightmares would prevent her from getting any sleep with the demon in her head, the chains around her wrists, and the circle she couldn't move out of in any manner.

"What a pathetic little girl." Jackal spoke to her mentally. Feeling the bindings on her wrists preventing him from taking true possession of her body. Because right now he felt he could easily push her soul from her body making it his own.

"I am pathetic." Lucy sobbed agreeing with him. Thinking of all the things he'd forced her to do. Cheating on her beloved boyfriend Natsu, Betraying her precious spirits by letting them be turned into those terrible demons, not being able to save Cana and her baby in time, and finally letting Jackal say everything he had to her remaining loved one. Honestly nothing would have made her happier than letting Samantha rid the world of Jackal...even at the expense of her own life.

Only there was a single thing that kept her on the edge preventing her from taking her own life in her lowest of moments. 'If anyone else is to die because of Jackal it will be your fault.' 'You're stronger than you think you are.' 'Prove it by taming that demon. And don't you dare think of taking your own life to do so.' Laxus's words that honestly sounded just like Natsu would have said to her if he was here right now. Right then did she have an epiphany. "You're going to help me." Lucy said to the demon.

"And why would I do that?" Jackal asked laughing at the idea of helping the human as he made a mental projection of himself so the two could talk face to face as best they could. Even if she would still look like she was talking to herself since it was a mental image.

Still thinking of the conversation they all just had did she know that Jackal didn't like what Tartarus was up to. "You don't like your own guilds plan." Thinking more about it did she decide to take a huge gamble. "You're just like Natsu..."

"Don't you dare..."

"You both love to fight so much, but what is there for you once Tartarus has taken over the whole world and no one is willing to oppose you anymore." Seeing the look on his face change she knew she was hitting the nail on the head each time. "You love to be the conqueror, but you're not the type to only rule."

Jackal didn't answer the question because he'd been thinking of that long before they make their move. After all he was a conqueror. What else would he have once everything was his. His guild was too absolute and thorough no human would ever dare to oppose them once the world was theirs. 'I'd probably blow my brains out due to boredom.'

With how much of a talker he was did she know he was contemplating joining them with how long he was thinking. Sadly she knew she had to offer him something great to truly get him to turn on his brethren. " I can get you a new body once Tartarus is gone." Hating what was about to go down.

Sighing before he pretended to humor the idea more than certain he'd be switching sides soon. "Okay so lets say I do this and you human's somehow manage to beat all the demons of Tartarus. Its one thing to kill a demon, but it another thing to kill another human." Not believing Lucy has what it takes to sacrifice someone to give him a new body.

"I didn't say anything about sacrificing someone to you." Her insides starting to sicken her staring to regret the deal she was about to make even though it was the only thing she could do.

"You mean." Smirking at the thought of what he was about to hear.

"You want a new start..." Taking a giant gulp. "What better way than a newborn body." Offering her firstborn child to the demon.

"So me turning you into a demon in exchange for possession of your firstborn child." Contemplating the deal given to him. He remained silent for a long time to make it feel like he gave the idea much thought, and to enjoy the look of pure dread and hatred she had towards herself right now.

"We've already proven that we can take you demons down." Lucy reminded him of what both Laxus and Natsu had done to them. "I admit it doesn't look good for us if...if...if." Struggling to admit he might be right about her other Nakama. "You're right about the others." Knowing the struggle would be even greater without the other four joining them. "But if we succeed you'll be the last demon standing."

"Alright, but under one condition." Imagining himself being the last demon standing. The new Demon King Jackal.

Not having anything else to bargain with Lucy was at his mercy. "Name it." Wondering what else he would take from her after taking her firstborn and her heart with it.

"I'll accept you as the mother of my new body, but once you've had your shot at Tartarus win or lose if you survive I get to decide who the father will be." Studying every little movement she made to see if she agreed to his terms.

Placing her left hand over the top of her right. "If that's what it takes." After all she had nothing else to offer. Wiping her cherished guildmark away. "If that's what it takes." Looking up at the image of the demon projected before her through tearful eyes. "If that's what it takes to save my loved ones then so be it." Willing to do whatever it takes to save them and keep the ones she had still alive.

"I don't believe it." Shaking with excitement from her display inching closer to her. "I don't believe it." Cupping her chin so she was forced to stare into his eyes. "I didn't think a goody-goody-girl like you would actually accept my terms."

"So do we have a deal Jackal?" Hating herself with every fiber of her being. "Your co-operation for you being the last demon standing with my firstborn as your new body

Nodding his head. "Lucy you just struck a deal with a Devil." Leaning in closer to her. "I'm looking forward to seeing where our union goes." Preparing to press his lips to hers. "And I now just how we can stamp the seal on this deal." Noses touching. "Of course we can hammer out a few more details later." Believing she'd want to be able to use his curse for herself much like he used her spirits.

'Please forgive me!' Thinking of everyone she lost, could lose, and those she still had to protect. 'I'm doing this for all of you.' Tilting her head to kiss the demon she just struck a deal with. 'No matter the price I have to pay.' Willing to accept all the sins she was sure to commit in this unholy union.