This is very much a sequel to Cremator. I highly recommend that you read them in order, or you will have no context. This is set one year after the ending of the first book.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or any of the art. Credit goes to the creators! 🫶
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{LUKA'S POV}
The mission was botched. The target got tipped off before our arrival.

Now Frostburn and I run across the rooftops, pursued closely by several bodyguards. They launch attacks of earth, air, and water.

"I'll hold them off. You take care of the target." Frostburn says, her scaly snake mask reflecting light from the silver fire flickering in her palms.

"Got it." I veer off course.

There are six bodyguards. Two of them switch directions to chase me. They're easily dealt with. A couple fireballs over the shoulder and both fall. Downed but not dead.

I find the hotel the target is staying at. I know exactly what window leads to his room. It's on the ninth floor, but that doesn't matter.

I jump through the glass. Shards fall onto the blood-stained carpet. I frown and look up. Executioner dances barefoot on the corpses of the target, his wife, and their son. Blood is spattered across the floor, walls, furniture, and ceiling. All three bodies stare into the void with unseeing eyes.

They have matching bullet holes in the center of their foreheads. This isn't right.

"Creeeematoooor!" Executioner sings and jumps at me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I shake my head. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I'm not?" She tilts her head innocently, still clinging to me. I desperately push her away.

"You were on a different mission at the time. Frostburn was my chaperone. I'm the one who killed these people." I point to the teenage son. "I started with him. He had talent as a wizard and tried to tie me up with magic vines. He was being a nuisance, so I attacked without thinking."

"Wonderful!" Executioner claps excitedly. There's blood on her mask and clothes. "And then?"

"Then the target tried to run. He pushed his wife in the path of the next Inferno Bullet, using her as a human shield. He yelled, 'I'm sorry! I need to live!' I blasted him in the back right after she fell."

"I bet that felt good." Executioner beams.

"It didn't. I don't want needless death." I shake my head again. There's no way I felt satisfaction from killing. That would make me like them. Like her.

"You know you liked it." Executioner coos. "This was the mission that made Cremator famous."

My head hurts. "Why... are you here?"

"I told you, didn't I?" Executioner takes off her mask. The world begins to warp and elongate. One second she's on the other side of the room, and the next her bloody face is inches from mine. Her green eyes glow intensely. "You can never escape from me."

I wake up, sweating profusely. I sit upright, my eyes adjusting to the dark far too easily.

I clutch at my heart. The old brand burns, just like the day I got it. I can still feel the hot metal pressing into my skin. I'd never felt such excruciating pain before in my life. It felt like I couldn't breathe. Like the heat was sucking all the oxygen from my lungs.

I feel too hot. My magic power is reacting to my emotions and making me overheat.

I'm hyperventilating. I stand up and walk to the bathroom sink to splash cold water on my face. That helps a little. I rub my eyes and look up at the mirror. A cold-blooded killer watches, waiting.

I look down at the back of my right hand, at the pale blue Fairy Tail guild mark. The same place as Mum's, and the color of Sylvie's hair.

I leave my apartment. Mum apparently lived here when she was my age. She doesn't think the landlady has changed at all, but that can't be true. There's no way she'd look exactly the same after two decades, unless she wasn't human or something.

My current aim is a small shack on the outskirts of the East Forest. I knock on the door, which creaks open; it's unlocked.

Natsu's house is full of miscellaneous odds and ends from jobs completed a really long time ago, including a rather skimpy maid outfit that I don't want to know the story behind. Recently, some new souvenirs have been added to the collection.

Natsu and I had a bit of a rocky start. I was mad that he wasn't part of my early life at all, like when Mum and I were taken hostage. He was mad that I made Mum seriously ill by faking my death and then again by almost dying for real.

He argued that it was Mum's choice and he never stopped looking for her for all those years, while I argued that I was only trying to atone for my crimes.

We're currently at an impasse. I admit that I feel a little bit better about Natsu after seeing how much he clearly treasures his memories with Mum.

Natsu makes Mum happy, and unfortunately that makes him important to me. The one thing we can both agree on is that we want Mum to be the happiest person in the world.

A light turns on and Mum walks out of the bedroom, rubbing her bleary eyes. "Luka?"

Natsu must've sniffed me out. I croak, "Here."

Mum's eyes pop open. She comes forward and hugs me. I lean into the embrace, soaking in her light. She's my safe haven. I sigh contently as my awful memories fade into the background.

I hug Mum back, trying my best not to cry. "She was there again. I can't sleep without her invading my dreams. I don't know what to do, Mum."

"I—I don't know what to do either." Mum's voice cracks. She hugs me tighter.

We sink to the floor together, right in the middle of Natsu's kitchen. She rocks me back and forth and hums a lullaby. I bite my lip.

Natsu hovers, looking like he wants to do something but isn't quite sure what.

"Can I stay here tonight?" I ask softly.

"Of course!" Mum answers immediately, pinching my cheeks. "We can cuddle together like we used to when the radiator broke and it got suuuuper cold..."

"That rental was awful." I groan.

I feel so much better now. My body relaxes, releasing tension I didn't even know I was carrying. I don't care how old I am, or how long it's been since we were freed. I'll love every second with Mum that I get.

Mum looks up at Natsu questioningly. Ah, right. Last I checked, there's only one bed in this house. I don't particularly want to share it with him too.

Natsu scratches his head. "I'll sleep on the couch."

I fall asleep with Mum's arms wrapped around me, and I don't have a single nightmare.