Shadowy Depths (Fairy Tail Fanfiction)

1

Lucy laid on the soft bed in the room she rented for the night.  It was a total luxury compared to sleeping under the stars.  She, again, was forced to be the strong and independent woman, one that had to use her mind more than anything else as it was the only way to make quick money.  The past couple of years, since the disbandment of Fairy Tail, took away her dreams of what life could have been and now she was forced to make ends meet.

Instead of being with a family, she was alone.

Natsu, the fire dragon slayer and her one-time partner, took her to Fairy Tail.  He was the reason she was alive.  His overwhelming strength saved her from enemies that could have easily snuffed the life out her.  From those tough times he protected her, she thought she loved him.

But as she stared at the peeling ceiling of white crusted with black mold, she knew she had been naïve.  She had spent years opening herself to people, blindingly trusting them, only to find out it was all for nothing.  Her friends, once she called family, abandoned her.  Her parents were long gone and she was left to fend for herself.

Now, she was laying on a soft mattress rather than a hard ground.  Her blond hair, a halo around her as her fingers splayed out on the smooth surface of the bed sheets.  At least she didn't have to worry about critters crawling all over her while she slept.  That kept her itch free for one night.

However, tomorrow she had to look for another place to crash.  With no apartment, no furniture, no friends, she had nothing to tie her down.  And because there wasn't anything holding her back, she been in more places than she could count.  Some included Clover Town, Cedar, Crocus, and Shirotsume Town. 

Perhaps she could stay one more day in Crocus, explore the place as she never fully got the chance to experience it since the Grand Magic Games two years ago had too many dangerous events.  The big town was getting crowded by the day.  The new arrival of the previous magical guilds promised one hell of a year.  Fairy Tail, Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, and Blue Pegasus were going to participate.  But Lucy had to be out of the bustling town before they arrived.  The dragon slayers had good noses and her scent was one thing she couldn't change.  Natsu and Gajeel would be the ones to sniff her out.

That meant she had three days to spare before their arrival.  According to the Sorcerer Magazine, there was going to be a huge festival for Fairy Tail's revival.  The Grand Magic Games the previous year was a bore without their involvement.

Lucy expected the streets to be crowded but at the same time she didn't mind the distraction.  One would be astonished how she was able to blend easily with a group of people compared to being on a street with one or two of them.  It was better to be right under their noses because no one was expecting her to be out in the open.  That was how she discovered the job advertisement on the bulletin for her whereabouts.  Apparently, Fairy Tail was searching for her and they were willing to pay handsomely for her return.

Her lips stretched across her face, amusement flashing in her dark eyes.  There was no way in hell she was returning to a guild that abandoned her.  All that talk about family was a line of bull!

At least she could say she learned not to trust people.  She lifted her fingers and with her pointers and thumbs she created a triangle.  The three-sided shape represented her world.  Whatever her one eye could see, she stuck with it.  Objects, she could handle.  Living things on the other hand, she ignored them.

Just then she heard a noise and quickly, she sat up on the bed.  Her eyes darted to the window and then the door.  Outside, the sun had retired for the day.  The room she rented was quiet and still.  The lamp on the nightstand was the only thing on.  She scooted off the bed and moved to the direction of the noise.  Just beyond the door, travelers moved to and from their cheap rooms.  But Lucy knew from experience that one could never be too careful.  The job ad made watchers more observant and with Lucy's blond hair, brown eyes, and a busty build, she would still be noticeable.