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yxamix · 9 months

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The Devil That Dreamt Of Paradise - Chapter 1 : A Turn In Fate (X764)

As the will for freedom writhes deeper than you'd ever know.

Note : This Jellal centric story is going to be a rather dark, psychological and gritty tale that follows Jellal through his life prior to his abduction to the tower , to his abduction , to his possession etc. I will be taking a twist on canon things and playing into different interpretations and themes I want to explore in regards to his ideal of freedom in a holistic aspect. I hope to those that follow this tale that it should be a gripping and depthful one!

She stood there.

With strikingly long, dark hair cascading down her back as it was tied in a loose ponytail. Her arms were full of a small form of life cradled into her bosom whilst her gentle wide eyes watched over the calm night.

Leaning against the open window frame supporting her, she hummed a sweet soft song as the moonlight breaking through the heavens bathed them both in a silver kiss once again.

“It’s clear for us to see the stars again, Jelly.”

She told her son softly as she tilted him away from her chest enough to get a better view of the sight before them. When she did so, the young boy squealed as the comforting sight of the magnificent stars and light-hazed sky appeared in front of his large, eager eyes once more.

“You love them so much.”

“Don’t you?”

She doted as she witnessed the touching sight of how his deep dark orbs would instantly brighten, just like a star amidst the midnight sky, whenever it was time for their beloved stargazing.

A giggle sounded from the boy in response to his mother’s sweet voice as his small chubby fingers tried to reach out towards the open heavens, trying to catch one of the stars for himself, which made the woman’s gaze soften at how adorable he was.

“Awww, Jelly…”

She cooed as she used her hand to guide his grabby fingers towards the stars way out in front, trying to ‘catch’ them with him.

“Do you want this one?”

“Or this one?”

“What about this one?”

The woman joked as she played into her son’s behaviour, her eyes warm as she watched him and saw part of herself resonate in his actions.

With the way his eyes would lighten up and look around whenever it came to nightfall. With how he would routinely tug on her dress when it was time to watch the stars as if reminding her so she wouldn’t forget. And the way the most heartwarming smile formed on his little face when he got what he wanted as he watched the night with wonder.

He was honestly just like her.

So fond of the stars and heavenly beauty in general.

It was surprising really.

She didn’t expect that Jellal would have such an avid interest in this from this much of a young age. Most children had to be taught to appreciate these wonders, especially due to the importance they had to their country. But perhaps, due to her position as the nation’s priestess and her having a strong connection with the heavens to begin with, this could have been what influenced her son to have an affinity for them too.

It wasn’t anything bad by any means though!

Rather that made her happy beyond words! Since she and her beloved son could bond over doing the thing they both loved and it would keep them close.

Watching the view of the mesmerising cosmos in all their grandeur with her adorable Jelly, what more could she ask for?

“Look, look!”

A gasp left her lips as she joined in his childish excitement and pointed towards different parts of the divine beauty in front of them. Her large, gentle green orbs widened from witnessing the myriad of heavenly wonder as the deep velvet hues of the sky folded on themselves whilst being adorned by endless points of glistening light.

Through it all, the full moon took centre in the splendid sight, shining through the tones of darkness and attracting all to bask in its irresistibility.

It was a sight she could never get tired of seeing.

Night after night, year after year, the awe always struck her as if it was her first time being this captivated.

And hopefully this wouldn’t ever change.

As she was enchanted by the heavens, the spell cast upon her quickly broke when she felt her thick tresses being pulled by the curious fingers of an azure-haired boy.

It seemed he had had his fill for watching the stars tonight and was now getting fidgety again.

“O-Ow ow.”

The woman winced in a playful manner, lowering her head slightly to close the distance between the chubby little fingers that tugged on her midnight strands.

“Jellal, I told you to stop pulling my hair so much!”

She scolded with a bit of a pout, her cheeks having puffed up like a little chipmunk to show her dissatisfaction with the child’s mischief. But her sternness quickly faltered as his wide dark orbs slowly broke focus from the hair he held to the eyes that watched him.

The two of them had a small bout of staring to see whose resolve would win over. But, it didn’t take long to declare the winner as Jellal solidified his win when he broke into an innocent, mainly toothless smile and gave a delighted squeal.

Whatever ‘anger’ could have been present on his mother’s face immediately melted away and replaced her frown with a tender curve.

“Oh…I can’t stay mad at you….”

“You’re too adorable!”

“My precious blueberry.”

She giggled to herself, her eyes having never lost their warmth from watching her son’s sweetness as she planted a slew of kisses over the supple, moonlit skin of his face. A slight flush was created on his creamy paleish skin as she nuzzled her face into him.

The boy babbled to himself from being showered with her affection.

Whilst he was occupied with his adorable incoherent sayings, his mother slowly pulled away from his grasp, trying to release her hair from his clutch and watched as his tiny fingers struggled to keep a hold of the blueish-black silk that was leaving his hand.

“You’re really fascinated with my hair.”

His innocence caused her to giggle again in amusement as her own fingers, which were cradling his head, gently started to comb through his small sproutings of azure. Under her touch, she felt how the tufts moved against her fingers as if mimicking the ebbing and flowing of the sea.

“Your hair however,”

“Is more like Papa’s.”

She remarked, continuing to swathe the growing silky waves of her 7-month-old as she glanced over his features. Whenever she looked at him, something that never left her mind was the fact of how much Jellal resembled his father.

The most common feature they shared was the hair - vivid azure like the breaking sky revealed after a raging storm. It was something that stuck out brilliantly against the less vibrant and eye-catching colours she usually saw.

And though the hair was a major resemblance, there were other features which her son possessed which also seemed to hold something similar to her husband too. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was yet, but the thought never went that whenever she looked at Jellal, she saw his father.

That’s not to say that her son didn’t share any form of resemblance to her. Rather between them, they had similar complexions; creamy-looking and light in tone. Also, Jellal’s eyes took a darker shade like her own compared to his father’s strikingly light, intense gaze. And his softness was alike to her’s rather than his father’s rugged and sharp appearance.

But that being said, Jellal was not even a year old yet. There was no knowing how he would turn out or whom he would resemble closer in the coming years.

It could have been his father, it could have been her, it could be his features from the both of them could come to more of a balance or maybe he would look completely different from the both of them once he matured.

Really only time would tell.

But regardless of who and how he would look like, she knew she’d love him dearly as he was a blessing bestowed upon the both of them through their love and trials.

And he was a blessing that the both of them deeply longed for.

Especially herself.

A sigh left her as she felt the heaviness settle in her chest from recalling the past seven months again.

They had gone by somehow without the presence of his father. Actually, even before that, he was already out of the country, but it was in these seven months especially that she felt the most empty.

Raising their son in the absence of the man who had given her him in the first place…

It created a void inside.

And when that void would get too consuming, she’d try to satisfy her longing for his father’s company with the presence of their child. Excessively doting over Jellal to occupy her mind elsewhere so she didn’t pay too much attention to the hole in her heart that had grown larger with each passing day.

It had truly been such a long and…lonely wait.

But finally, that was all going to come to an end.

This was going to be the last of nights spent like this.

As she continued her soothing touches to her son’s scalp, her tranced attention was stolen again from a small yawn that sounded against her chest. It resonated deeply from the young boy as he nestled more into her lengthy satin nightgown.

Whatever sadness had been there was instantly forgotten as her soft gaze watched the inevitable fatigue lull the small boy into a longed slumber.

“Sorry, Jelly…”

“You’re tired, aren’t you?”

“I shouldn’t have been keeping you up with me…”

The woman reprimanded herself as it wasn’t right for her to be taking her son away from the sleep he needed for her own comfort. Her slender fingers continued to comb through his sprouting waves as her sight cast downwards before another sigh left her chest.

“It’s just that I've been nervous…”

“Papa’s finally coming home tomorrow and…”

“I just haven’t been able to sleep myself…”

As she admitted her thoughts, she could feel her heart beating faster. Her fingers were restless, wanting to twitch as she thought deeply about the day to come.

It was still hard to believe.

After their reunion had been stalled month after month, one disappointment after another, they were finally going to be back together. The new chapter they both wanted would begin in a way that would be worthwhile. All these sacrifices and patience endured, from tomorrow it would all hopefully bear some fruit.

Just like he had promised.

A sad smile wilted her lips as she thought about meeting her beloved husband again.

Truthfully…He was meant to be back a month before Jellal’s birth; however, some complications had happened and kept pushing their reunion back.

It was unfortunate.

But she wouldn’t complain.

As after tonight, the wait would have finally come to an end.

And it would be worth it.

“I bet you’re excited too aren’t you!”

“It will be the first time you see Papa.”

“And the first time he sees you.”

“I can’t wait for you both to meet!”

She doted as she held the baby closer to her body, feeling his weight increase as his large eyes wavered between being open and shut. It wasn’t long until he was drifting off to sleep in his mother’s hold. As she caught a glance of the peaceful sight, she couldn’t help but smile.

“I bet he won’t be able to believe how cute you are!”

Gushing once more about her beloved son, she quickly took the chance to plant another peck on the side of his smooth face. Her delicate arms adjusted to hold him better as her grasp had faltered a bit over time. Looking up from the marble floor she had been peering at, she let out another deep sigh from her chest as she relayed her inner thoughts to the comfort of the night.

“This will be a new chapter for us…”

“We’ll finally be a proper family…”

Her last words left her with a noticeable degree of heaviness. Not that it was anything bad, but the mere notion that everything would change and that would be the new reality…it was still so astounding to believe.

After living a quiet life of her own for so long, with the premature death of her mother and only her ailing father to be of company, for there to finally be something different and revived, was truly a thing of excitement!

From tomorrow it would all change.

From tomorrow she would learn what it meant to be a woman and a wife.

From tomorrow she would learn what it meant to share her joy as a mother with her beloved husband.

And most importantly,

From tomorrow she would see with her own eyes how the course of fate would change now that the both of them would face it together, hand in hand.

She could feel her heart drumming away in her chest just at the thought of what the new day would bring. Her throat became tight as her large almond-shaped eyes glazed over with unshed tears, trying to imagine the bliss she would feel when she would finally see him again.

And be rid of this loneliness once and for all.

Before the desire to shed her sorrow could take over, she let out a final sigh. Her mind came back to the present as she looked through the open window once more, finding the former luminescent star-lit sky had departed and was replaced by an approaching thickness.

Murky shadows had cast over the city, beginning to conceal the heavens’ radiance and eclipse the moon’s glow. The sight of the light being tarnished before her was strangely disheartening to see.

“Oh, the clouds are back…”

Seeing this must have been a cue from the heavens themselves that their speculation should come to an end. And besides, it was the time for the both of them to catch some rest.

“No more stars for us tonight, Jelly.”

She told her young child who was clutching onto the fabric of her gown as he nestled in deeper. A slight disturbance could be felt seizing the boy, making him fidget a bit in her hold, to which she started to bounce herself lightly in a soothing motion as her hand immediately went back to combing through his tousled locks.

“Ah? Are you cold?”

In response to those words, Jellal nuzzled into her further.

“Let’s get this window closed then.”

Without a moment wasted, keeping the baby boy cradled into her with one arm, the slender fingers of her free hand grabbed a hold of the open window doors one by one and brought them to a neat close. The crisp breeze that had been airing out the room came to perish, making her shudder from the remnants of it that still lingered.

“It’s going to start getting colder again.”

She mumbled to herself as she finished securing the lock of the window. After that was done, her free hand took a hold of the embroidered drapes around the frame and started to pull them to the centre of the window. Whatever was left of the moon’s illumination was soon broken, as the last of it’s silver rays faded out, and the room was cast into darkness.

As soon as it was clear that heaven’s light was no more, the boy stirred in his mother’s hold, as if showing his disapproval. Her eyes softened as she looked at him but she knew they couldn’t stay up any longer than now.

Especially when the day tomorrow was so important.

“Maybe tomorrow, the three of us can watch them together instead, okay?”

“Me, you & Papa.”

She posed as she brought both her arms to cradle her baby securely into her warmth.

“You would like that wouldn’t you?”

“Mama would too.”

A smile lined her rosy lips as she could feel the child beginning to settle down again. Also, the thought of the next time being the three of them doing this really warmed her heart.

“You know Jelly, actually there’s a very special place I want to show you tomorrow when-”

In the midst of doting over her son, a strange chill seized with a presence, causing the woman to freeze up unexpectedly as she heard something which wasn’t usual. Her thin brows furrowed in confusion as her ears pricked up at what sounded like the pitter-patter of weight treading along.

And from what she could tell, it seemed relatively close too.

‘Huh?’

Quickly fastening her hold on the baby with one arm, she grabbed the drapes again, pulling aside the fabric as she peered down from the window to see where such a sound could have come from.

From what she was hearing, it was as if a horde of people were marching nearby.

But to her surprise, nothing of the like was there. No presence or trace of a presence. The winding narrow streets that lead towards the city from their palace were deserted as they usually were on a night like this.

That reality spurned more confusion in her mind.

What was happening?

Was she just hearing things by any chance?

“I must be more tired than I thought….” She justified to herself quietly.

Her fingers remained gripped against the pleats of the drapes due to how uncertain she was feeling as she scanned the view again just in case there was anything she had missed.

There wasn’t.

It really did seem like she was just being paranoid.

‘It really must just be me…’

Her lack of findings solidified that train of thought and she sighed in relief, believing that it most likely was her imagination playing up.

“Okay, let’s go to bed for real this time.”

With her intention now set, she turned to finish shutting the drapes for real.

But, as she was bringing the pleats to a uniform close, the sound of a startling slam interrupted her, immediately freezing her on the spot.

SLAM

“!”

Her blood started to pump wildly as this time her ears clearly distinguished the sound.

‘What’s going on??’

Fear began to take over as the hold on her baby tightened in apprehension. Her fingers crumpled into the soft fabrics that adorned the boy who had been stolen out of any approaching slumber due to the sudden ruckus.

SLAM

Turning around in sync with the sound, she barely had a moment to process anything as the loud noise hurt her sensitive ears and a violent gust of wind blew towards them from the impact.

Her blood became chilled from the unexpected entrance.

With no warning, the doors of the master bedroom were flung open and her eyes couldn’t help but stare ahead like a frightened deer at the group of hulking figures who began to crowd into the room.

What was happening?

Why were they all here?

Her heartbeats were rash, given the wholly uncalled presence of such beings in her private confines. However, it wasn’t long until she realised who these people were when her wide eyes caught sight of the detailed embroidered insignia on their clothing.

They were the second highest members of the civil force in Almeta.

All of them.

Dressed from head to toe in the standard plain, shadowy tones of the nation’s uniform with the main embellishment that stuck out proudly on them being the renowned coat of arms of the country that was stitched on the upper part of their sleeve and across their hearts. It depicted the revered goddess Seren, watching over them on her high throne whilst seven stars aligned around her to symbolise the same number of bloodlines which had been blessed with the privilege of overseeing and protecting their nation.

This was something all guarding members of the country wore with no exception, but these men present had something more which differentiated them from the ranks of standard watchman.

Along with a more prominent design for their coat of arms, many of them also had a number of gold and silver emblems adorning their uniform, telling of their incredible merits towards the country and their level of servitude they had given towards their people.

Such things were not given to just anyone. These emblems were proof of the country’s unmistakable gratitude. And being adorned by them meant a great honour bestowed for the constant dedication these individuals had shown.

Despite the lack of lighting, she could still make out the presence of the polished metals that shone with pride against the dark fabrics.

Confusion played on her delicate features, unable to understand why guards of this calibre would come to her chamber at all, nevermind so abruptly. Really, with the level they worked at, their duties weren’t ever disclosed or even seen as opposed to the standard watchman. No, they were known to act in secrecy and take up only the most crucial operations for the country.

They weren’t ever seen to go anywhere openly unless dire circumstances called or a major threat had emerged against the safety of the citizens.

So seeing them appear in front of her like this couldn’t help but make her question…

…Why did they come here?

The mystery troubled her from the inside and she couldn’t help herself from feeling a knot form in her stomach from their sudden appearance.

There was absolutely no reason for such people to be here.

She hadn’t done anything and nor was she even remotely related to anything that could be connected to their usual affairs. But somehow; she still couldn’t help but feel unsettled...Especially as the pang in her gut grew painful with the more she was left in the dark.

It just made no sense for them to be here.

So why were they?

The young child in her arms began to whimper and sniffle, evidently disturbed by the unforeseen change in the atmosphere. Although her fingers tried to soothe the child before he could erupt into a tearful mess, her heart that was beating hard in her chest made it difficult to feign calmness.

She could feel the pound of it becoming more violent as the dead silence was finally cut with the announcement made.

“Kaileen Fernandes.”

The hairs on her skin raised as she heard her name being sounded in the dead of the darkness.

What…

What did they want with her?

She couldn’t even begin to tell what their intentions were since the stoic tone never betrayed their role. It all addled her further and had her heart drumming away impatiently as her throat felt like it was about to close in.

“Y-Yes, o-officer?” She could just manage to choke out.

An answer wasn’t given to her immediately, her hushed and strained breaths were allowed to ring against her ears roughly as the horrid feeling in her gut continued to churn. Her wide eyes stared at the marble floor, trying to anticipate what was to come next but she was in no mind to be patient.

In an effort to try and keep calm her hands fumbled with the soft star embroidered shawl wrapping her child up, trying to soothe both his stirring and keep herself from overthinking.

However.

Doing that only gave her a deceptive moment of relief.

Until what she heard next.

“You are under arrest for being a direct accomplice to capital offence”

It was then she felt her whole body become exceedingly heavy. Unable to do anything other than feel her breaths scratch her as they crawled up her throat and somehow managed to leave her body. What bare breaths she could take in, grew shallow by the moment as her mind struggled to process what was said to her.

“...W-What?”

Capital offence? A capital offence? What were they on about? Why would she be someone to partake in a crime against their country?

She? The sole daughter that descended from the blood of their prestigious protectors and was the country’s current appointed priestess.

She wanted nothing but good for her people.

She wanted nothing but safety for her people.

So how could they accuse her of this?

“I-I h-haven’t-”

As things failed to add up in her mind another question blared, making her thoughts hazier than they ought to be. Because this horde of guards had come and made such a grave claim, but on what basis were they saying this on?

What capital offence were they even talking about?

The only one she had witnessed in her lifetime was the incident which had occurred eight months ago. It was an attempted attack on the country by a foreign party, which was believed to have been through the connections of their own.

But other than that, there was nothing of the sort.

She knew she couldn’t have any form of correlation to anything of the like to begin with.

So what was going on?

Her lips quivered as she remained struck with confusion. Her still, wide eyes looked up from the cold marble that she was looking at, searching for an answer. The shock still had yet to pass from her face as her features stood distraught and her trembling fingers gripped tighter to the young boy in her hold.

As her heart beat violently in her chest, the bad feeling from before amplified by tenfold to the point it was genuinely making her nauseous.

So consumed by her own apprehension, she didn’t even realise that her feet had begun shuffling backwards, trying to find an escape from the shadows surrounding her.

But, that had only made them come forward.

Her whole body was seized by a shudder from a chill that didn't stop travelling down her spine ever since those words had been told.

Nothing made sense to her.

And to her misfortune,

“Given the evidence we’ve collected,”

With what was to be revealed to her next,

“Your husband Rais Fernandes,”

It would only get worse.

“Has been uncovered as the leading culprit regarding the attempted attack on Almeta eight months ago.”

It was then and there everything in her came to a vivid still.

Her thoughts stopped racing.

Her blood stopped rushing.

And her breaths stopped crawling up her throat.

The weight of this revelation had pushed any sense of motion out of her body.

What…

What was she hearing?

…Her husband?

…Jellal’s father?

…Rais?

…Him being the one who was behind the recent attempted attack on the nation?

And on top of that…

…The leading culprit?

“N-No…”

That…

“N-No n-no no…”

That was absurd.

“Under suspicion of collusion, immediate orders have been made to detain you and take you for further interrogation.”

Everything in her became light and dizzy.

Her vision felt like it was closing in as she was brought back from that ghastly stop in time. Her brain was overrun with all kinds of emotions, the predominant one being fear. She could feel her heartbeat pound viciously as she shook her head in denial.

“T-This has got to b-be a m-mistake!”

She tried to appeal as her voice was broken through the sheer terror and tears threatening to pull her apart. The distance started to be closed between her and the intruders as she could feel the weight created in her throat burn with a brutal choke.

The back thought in her mind made her tread backwards cautiously, away from the ill intentions she could sense as her quivering hold on the child tightened protectively.

“R-Rais w-wouldn’t have done t-that.”

“H-He couldn’t h-have done that!”

Everything up to now made little sense, and their claims about him made even less sense!

“T-There must be something w-wrong!”

What they were claiming about her husband just wasn’t possible! Rais had been on an expedition alongside other members of the nation for a work ordained by Almeta’s governance itself.

So how could he have been the one to orchestrate a plan like that?

Why would he be someone to do something like that?

“H-He couldn’t h-have!”

Any attempt to plead in response just fell on deaf ears, the men were in no mind to listen.

Her feet shuffled back and the darkness followed. Soon she found herself cordoned off in a corner of the room. Her back hit against one of the many burly men surrounding her and she nearly jumped from the contact.

“We told you we have the evidence.”

“So shut the fuck up and don’t make this difficult.”

Evidently irritated, the words were literally spat at her. The uncalled aggression made her whimper as tears began to bead out of her distraughtly large orbs and down her increasingly paler skin.

“P-Please!”

“T-This can’t be true!”

Kaileen cried out in desperation but misfortune took over as her words weren’t even thought to be heeded. All her responses did was irk the tension in the room further. And it wasn’t long after that the brewing hostility was acted upon.

With no warning, a pair of large, savage hands lunged towards her, making her jolt with shock.

“W-What are you doing-”

Alerted by their actions she drew the young boy into her closer. From where those hands looked like they were going, she could tell what they wanted and she wouldn’t allow it. Her hold on Jellal tightened as she felt his small fingers grip onto her nightgown with what strength he could muster.

He was aware of what was happening and that made her want to protect him even more.

But sadly.

Their efforts weren’t enough to stop the inevitable.

What one pair of arms failed to obtain, another from a guard nearby ripped the child’s body away from his mother’s hold. A shriek burst out from the azure-haired boy’s lips as he was broken from her warm and safe embrace. His little fingers desperately tried to cling onto her gown, but that was torn away from him too.

“J-Jellal-”

As her child was stolen from her arms, Kaileen could not hide her panic any further. Tears streamed down her cold face now her mind was reduced to a blur, unable to understand what was happening.

“W-Why are you t-taking my s-son?”

The question spilt from her lips in fright as her hands made every desperate attempt to try and attain her son again. As she reached for him in the midst of the guards, a merciless weight grabbed a hold of her arms and pulled her to the side. She couldn’t tell what was happening until the feeling of cold, bulky metal tightened around her wrists, beginning her punishment.

A gasp broke from her lips as she caught sight of the unforgiving steel that had been put on her without warning. Her delicate features twisted into a grimace as a bruising pressure was applied to her appendages with no sign of letting up soon.

“W-Wait!”

Everything in the moment sounded loud. The clink of her cuffs, her ragged scratching breaths, the beat of her heart inside her chest. Her mind zoned in on all these sounds as she felt her panic working up into a frenzy.

Her body began to shake violently, the sparse breaths she could just about take quickening by the second as she became disoriented.

The feeling only got worse when the sound of her baby boy erupting into a shrill cry stole what was left of her working thoughts.

“J-Jellal!”

The young boy’s voice pierced into the night as he was handled ruthlessly. Not even an ounce of care was considered for the child’s frailty. Simply being held as the bare minimum whilst they started escorting him out of the room.

From there on out, his wails only heightened, raising in alarm, demanding his mother’s comfort in desperation.

“S-Stop p-please!”

“Y-You’re h-hurting h-him!”

Her heart panged from hearing the levels of distress in her son’s cries. She had never heard anything like that from him before. His cries were never this shattering. They were never this heart wrenching.

That alone had her trembling more from what could come at the hand of these brutes.

“P-Please!” She tried to plead once more.

Only for her request to be answered with a scoff.

“Like anyone could give a damn…”

Kaileen’s lips hung open, speechless and horrified at the lack of mercy they had shown towards a young child.

It was grossly disturbing.

How could they not have consideration for a child?

A young child?

He was such a small thing.

He couldn’t have been of harm to anyone even if he wanted to.

Yet they treated him like this?

Her shaking fingers balled into fists.

What kind of monsters were they?!

Aware of what threat was actually at hand, Kaileen’s struggle surged with passion. Her hands, which had been clamped down on, were now trying to free themselves from the bruising grip that grew tighter with each move she made.

Pain shot through her and fear battled against her adrenaline, but she couldn’t give up.

Listening to Jellal’s growing anguish was enough for the influence of terror to fail at crippling her once more. All that rushed in her blood now, was the will of protecting her beloved son.

Nothing else mattered at the moment other than keeping him from harm.

“G-GIVE HIM BACK TO ME!”

Kaileen’s voice raised with demand as her actions were solely controlled by a mother’s promise.

She tried to fight her way against all the odds, thrashing and flailing about like a mad woman to make through the guards barricading her off. But all her attempts were proven futile as she was pulled back into a threatening hold and her mouth was covered in a smothering grip.

The rush in her blood came to a still as she heard a cruel tone whisper near her ears.

“I told you she would be a pain in the ass…”

Her hairs pricked up instantly from those words breathed against her neck. Her large eyes remained wide in agony as a near-crushing pressure was applied to her jaw.

Though tormenting, it didn’t do anything to silence the cries she could still hear.

Jellal’s piercing shrieks rang in her ears, replaying over and over as the sound moved further from her, and she was left looking on as her son was being taken away.

Salty tears dripped down her frozen face as her vision became hazier.

It couldn’t end like this.

Tension seized her for a split second as the grip on her body became unforgivingly heavy.

She knew she couldn’t let this happen, and nor would she.

But the only chance she had turning this around meant doing something incredibly grave.

Possibly even incredibly foolish.

But in the given moment,

It was incredibly necessary.

Without any sense of warning given, her mouth widened against the hand trying to hush her. Her teeth bared with obvious intent before clamping down like a vice through leather fabric and then the layer of flesh underneath.

“AGH!”

From the yelp that came, she took that as a sign to bite deeper, trying to put as much weight as she possibly could into the attack. Hastily, her teeth dug shockingly deep into the hand of the guard, making blood flow plentifully past her lips and fill her mouth.

“YOU FUCKING BITCH!”

Not too long after her retaliation had done enough damage, she was finally let go. Sour blood dripped down her chin and onto the fabric of her gown, staining silky pure white with streaks of murky red. More blood was sprayed onto her as she threw her cuffed limbs against the faces of the guards in her way.

Each attack she made was heavy and just as unforgiving or more than they had been to her, almost making her freeze up from her own brutality but she knew she could not stop.

With the taste of bitter metal pervading her mouth, she spat the mouthful in the faces of those in around her, trying to get rid of her nausea and gain further advantage by blinding them.

On their own, her attacks were just about enough to disorient her assailants. Sadly, it wasn’t possible to do anything more than that, the circumstances now wouldn’t permit, it would be too risky.

Still, with the rush reignited in her blood and the dire need to get away, she pulled her weight together and kept knocking her bound appendages against them as she had been, trying to keep her opponents in a haze of pain and confusion.

Eventually when she deemed right and had made a possible way out, her legs immediately started to dash towards where she could hear Jellal’s shrieks echoing in urgency. So caught in her child’s woe, she hadn’t even realised the quick recovery the battered guards made. Mercy was abandoned as her hair was brutally pulled and yanked her back into the space she tried to escape.

An ear-splitting shriek ripped out of her own throat from the violent retaliation. Whatever fire had been pushing her forward, was immediately about to be snuffed out by the angry shadows she found herself surrounded by again.

Fresh tears formed in her eyes as her body already wanted to submit to the new severity of pain and terror introduced.

But she knew she couldn’t.

Not when her son and she were in danger.

Not when she didn’t want to find out what fate was in store for them, should she let fear overwhelm her now.

With what strength was left in her that she could muster, she pushed on forward, pulling herself against the force which opposed her. The cruel sound of her hair ripping and her own intensifying cries of anguish filled her ears and of those present as her resistance heightened.

Her low ponytail became loose, flowing behind her in a dishevelled, knotted mess as she finally tore herself away from the hands violating her.

But.

Her freedom was short-lived as she was punished severely.

No sooner had she freed herself from their clutches, a sharp pain was shot directly at her groin, the impact being enough to knock any breath clinging inside her out.

Her throat choked on the sudden loss of air as blood trickled down her legs in an amount which was alarming. She looked down and saw red beginning to coat her from the inside out, pooling at her feet as her vision began to shake.

Aware of the impact of injury she had suffered, Kaileen felt her body becoming uncomfortably light. The strike from the guard’s armoured kneecap at her pelvic region was enough to make whatever support her legs gave her falter completely, making her keel over in response.

Her throat began to burn with the presence of bile from how raw and deep the hit resonated.

She gagged strongly as a result.

The injuries she was accumulating were nothing short of worrying. Her being the delicate thing she was, the violence she suffered was taking a toll on her more than she could manage.

Her body was turning in on itself, disoriented and confused. She could feel the adrenaline rush that had been driving her, disappearing as agony won over.

Her vision, once frantic and alert.

Now grew dark and heavier by the moment.

But even so, she still tried to resist. As she could still hear her baby crying. Her sweet beloved baby boy. She could imagine his tears and distress. Calling out to his mother to rescue him, as she was his only hope now.

She couldn’t fail him.

She had to save him.

She would save him.

And there was only one way she would be able to do that.

Her shaky fingers twitched with the presence of energy being channelled as she turned herself and readied into a stance.

She was going to use it.

Magic.

That which was generally forbidden.

That which was said to be evil.

That which was said to bring nothing but lawlessness.

And that which was a sin.

It was her final hope that she believed she could turn to.

The gods had blessed them with these divine abilities for the need to protect their nation, yet here she was about to use it for her own gain. It would be abuse of the blessing and she knew that, but Kaileen only wished that she would be forgiven for this transgression as it was the only answer she had to protect them both.

With her son being within the proximity before, her mind didn’t dare think of turning to such. It was too risky to use a spell in his presence, especially when it was not known what implications could follow.

Also, she would have never been able to forgive herself if her beloved son was hurt through her own doings.

Even if it was for their own good.

Even if it was to save them.

She would be the worst if she harmed as much as a hair on his head.

But now, given the separation between them, there was more than enough space she needed to use her abilities without fearing for her son’s safety.

Trying to bring forth her power, her body shook awkwardly. She tried to close the space between her trembling fingers, trying to make a certain formation to cast a spell, but it was proving difficult. What was left of her mind, was failing to direct her magic potential the way she needed.

With her stance wonky, her mind blanking out and her body feeling like it was about to collapse, her failure was already being spelt out before it could show.

The lack of reaction made her anxious, causing her to shake more as she begged the gods watching over her to please make her capable of using one spell, any, to save her and her son.

Just one was enough.

It was then she felt a surge beginning to build in her, announcing the successful channelling of her powers despite her state. She could feel herself getting stronger and more stable as her shakiness reduced.

It was as if her prayers had been heard.

She would be able to save them.

She would be able to save her son.

Or so she thought.

Because the minute she believed favour to be with her, fate revealed it’s true intentions as she was thrown down violently onto the cold marble before she could commit a successful cast.

Whatever light she had seen in that moment, died before her as it was killed thoroughly by the shadows.

Her head spun wildly as an immediate contusion formed on the side of her forehead. Blood seeped down her aggressively, making her body lighter by the minute as each breath she took hurt her more than the last. The sound of approaching footsteps rang in her ears, warning her of her woe to come as weak cries fell from her lips.

“Trying to use your blessing against the order of the gods?”

“And you claim yourself innocent…”

Before Kaileen could have a chance of interpreting what those words could mean, an unforgiving blow was imprinted into her body by the steel toed boots of the surrounding guards.

Her quivering fingers were crushed under a punishing pressure until they fell limp and were rendered dead weight.

Thick blood spewed out of her lips as her bruised and beaten body was kicked over and over, again and again, trying to beat out any sense of rebellion which could have existed.

“Fucking traitor.”

Her body was quickly overwhelmed by the harsh punishment. Blood stained all parts of her once pristine satin white dress and her porcelain skin. Where the trace of red did not exist, was where her tears had washed away the presence of cruelty and made her look easier on the eyes.

Her hair became damp from the wetness of her tears and matted from the viscosity of flowing crimson. It stuck to her body uncomfortably. The heaviness in her eyes slowly came to a proper close as she could hear the sounds of her son coming to a silence as they succeeded in taking him away.

As her unconsciousness started to settle in, the final thoughts that remained in her weak mind were her baby’s fading cries.

And how she had failed him.

Burning blood spewed out of her throat as she croaked the last word she could manage in relation to her consciousness.

“Jel…lal…”

Dark red ribbons spread far and wide on the cold marble floor as her movements and voice ultimately came to cease.

And then…

Everything turned black.

Note : If anyone is interested in reading the what I have at the moment of the story without the rewrites, then I will put the links down below! On AO3 On Fanfiction.Net If not then all rewritten chapters will be coming on this blog.

Thank you so much to those who have read this far!

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