Jellal awoke after a strangely peaceful night. He slipped out of bed and dressed in his best clothes. Guests were coming from all over Fiore to join this lavish dinner party. All Jellal cared about was the dessert.

~ ~ ~

I awoke after a strangely restless night, filled with bone-chilling nightmares and cries of the lost. I still worried for Minerva but when I turned toward my side table, I found a silver necklace sitting in a small white box. Only Jellal would give me jewelry, something I loathed due to the fact it got in the way of my training. Smirking, I carefully hung it around my neck.

~ ~ ~

Minerva Orland sat on her throne beside Faust and his sons', and watched the guests begin to come in. She smiled politely at everyone, but her dark eyes kept flickering over to where Jellal sat. No effects so far. 

She was still conflicted about what she and Morgause were doing. After all, it was Faust who they needed to plague, not Jellal.

But Minerva trusted Morgause with her life. When she was scared and alone, it was Morgause who helped her, who showed her the way.

Together, they would make Fiore great again. Magic would be free.

~ ~ ~

"Please don't tell me we have to wear those insane headdresses again," Natsu begged. "The one with those peacock feathers?"

Jellal laughed, "Don't worry. You can wear those another day."

Ever since the incident with Natsu and Igneel, I'd been worried he would regain his memories about Igneel again. I had desperately hoped my magic was strong enough. If Natsu regained those memories, there was going to be trouble.

"All ready, Scarlet?" Jellal asked.

I nodded.

"Good," he said. He motioned for the trainee knight to come closer. "Listen, as you guys know, I'm in charge of training you. These past few days, Father has been disappointed with me. You need to get your act together, okay?"

"Fine," Gray grumbled.

Jellal looked over his shoulder and whispered, "Especially since it's not fair that Sieg gets to train the senior knights."

~ ~ ~

"They're teasing us," Gray said.

"Look at all that food," Natsu groaned. "And we have to stand here and do nothing."

I closed my eyes. My head was throbbing in pain from all of the loud music. The nobles were all dancing and drinking. I made sure to keep a close eye on Jellal. In case he got drunk, of course.

I reopened my eyes and leaned against the stone wall. I hated parties.

"Errzaaa," Jellal whispered, striding towards me. So much for making sure he wasn't drunk.

"How much did you drink?" I accused.

"Not much," he slurred, unsteady on his feet.

"Seriously?" I asked. "If Faust saw you drunk he would be so embarrassed."

Jellal squinted at me as if he had just noticed I was there. "You look good, Erza."

"Thanks," I said. "Now go away."

~ ~ ~

How much did he drink?

Jellal rubbed his head and left the throne room. He needed to get fresh air.

He stepped out into the courtyard. It was getting dark, but he decided to stay out only for a few minutes. The fresh air felt wonderful on his face.

Creak

He frowned. Was someone following him? The prince turned around and looked. Nope. He must be hearing things. Or maybe it was just a girl who was too shy to ask him for a dance.

Jellal continued walking past the water well.

Creak

Something was in the water well..

He shook his head. He definitely must be hearing things!

Jellal walked up to the water fountain to prove himself wrong. He glanced down into the dark depths of the well. Laughing, he looked up and whispered, "See, Jellal! Nothing there!"

He was about to leave when something grabbed him.

The prince yelled out and looked back down into the well. A pale, ghostly looking woman looked up at him from within the stone well. Half her visage was torn, revealing pink flesh and scarlet blood that trickled down her cheek, where it met with a long scar across her throat. 

"Jellal!" she rasped. "JELLAL!"

"Let go of me!" he yelled. Jellal grabbed her hand and shuddered. Her wrist was unnaturally cold. 

"Let me free!" the woman screamed, her eyes bulging out her sockets.It was only that Jellal realized her hands had claws, slick with blood and gore. Her frail arms were peppered with scars and cuts that oozed with unclear liquid.

 "FREE ME, FERNANDES! FREE ME!"

He managed to pry her hands off of him and backed away, stumbling over a bucket. 

Jellal Fernandes curled up on the ground and cried.

~ ~ ~

"I found him!" I yelled, shaking Jellal's shoulders. He was curled up on the ground. Crying. Who had done this to him?

"Whoever did this will pay!" I shouted. "Search the courtyard!"

"Her.." Jellal muttered. "So..scary.."

"I'm going to take you to Porlyusica," I said. "You must've had too much to drink."

"Drink.." Jellal agreed.