Elkis picked up the kids from school, helped them with their homework, and fixed them dinner like she always did. But during all that time she couldn't stop worrying about Gren which she found to be very odd. Before today she never really cared what Gren did or how he felt. As far as she knew he was just a sneaky detective who could either be a great ally or a terrible enemy. Nakku had been telling her for years that the man was no one to be trusted or sympathetic to but today when she saw him, it was like a switch went off. Like some kind of long forgotten sense was reawakened and urged her to be concerned. 

"So it's a right angle if it's at 90 degrees, right Elkis?" Greige asked her as she was helping him with his math homework. However she didn't respond. She was too lost in thought. "Elkis?...Elkis?...Elkis!"

"Huh? I'm sorry what?" She said.

"Are you okay? You seem a little out of it."

"I'm fine dear."

"Are you sure? You've been like this ever since you picked us up. What's going on? Did something happen?"

"No. Not really. I just ran into Detective Fullbuster today and he was upset about something."

"What?"

"Apparently someone broke into his house and stole something from him. He thinks it was Mr. Vastia."

"Wait somebody robbed him?" Greige said getting nervous.

"Yes."

"Oh no. Elkis you better call the police. Now."

"I suggested that to him but he was certain that he could recover what was stolen on his own."

"No! Don't call them for theft! Call them to prevent possible assault and maybe even murder."

"What?" She said slightly disturbed by the boy's words. "Greige it was just a small robbery. He wasn't hurt."

"I'm talking about him. I'm talking about who ever robbed him. If Detective Fullbuster finds him he's not going to arrest him. He's going to hurt him really, really bad."

"Greige I think you're overreacting. Now I know that man will sometimes bend the laws to suit certain agendas that he has but I really don't think he would assault and or murder someone over a petty theft."

"Elkis he once tortured a guy just for stealing a book."

"What? Where on earth did you hear that?"

"I read about it. Here, let me show you."

He went into the room that he had been staying in and came back with his story book. He laid it out on the table, opened it up, and started to flip through the pages.

"Greige what is this?" Elkis asked.

"I know you don't remember what kind of man he was before all this but you have to believe me on this. He gets really pissed when someone steals from him."

"Greige don't use language like that."

"Sorry but it's true." He stopped on a page. "Take a look."

"Honey this is just a story. It's not real."

"Just look at the picture."

She rolled her eyes in frustration but did as he asked. The illustration showed a beastly figure who despite it's otherworldly appearance, could be recognized as having a strong resemblance to Gren. The figure was in a dudgeon and wiping blood off of a knife while a man who mirrored Nakku's appearance was hanging from shackles and bleeding. It was a very disturbing picture. Made Elkis wonder why someone would put something like this in a children's book. But what disturbed her the most wasn't the image of torture but the fact that two characters involved looked so much like two people she knew. 

"Good heavens." She said. "Who wrote this book? Because this is not for children's eyes. I mean I always knew the original fairy tales were dark but this is too much."

"You're missing the point." Greige said. "Gren is probably going to half kill Mr. Vastia when he finds him. We have to stop him."

"We?"

"Yes we. We're the only ones who can because we know what he's capable of."

"Now wait just a minute, even what you said was true you're not going to be the one to stop it. You're a child. You think I would let you anywhere near a violent crazed maniac?"

"He won't hurt me. He doesn't hurt kids. It's one of his standards."

"I don't care. You're not getting involved in any kind of crime or police work."

"Alright fine. I won't go. But you have to at least."

"Me? Why me? I'm not a cop."

"But you're a hero. You have to be the one to save the day. Also he kind of likes you so he'll probably listen to you."

"Likes me?"

"Not in a crush sort of way. He respects you and he likes how you always stand up to the princess of Darkness."

"Greige this is just a story. None of it is real. Now if you want we can call the police and ask them to look in on him but that's as far as-"

"Please Elkis! If you don't someone might die tonight!"

He was pleading and very afraid. He actually believed that Gren was possibly going to commit murder and in that moment Elkis sudddenly had that fear as well. The sudden instinct to show concern and to take action for justice had become stronger now. Strong enough to the fact that she would find herself doing something she never thought she would be doing.

"Alright I'm going to drive over to his house and find out what's happening. Go get Nakku and tell him to call the police."

"So you believe me?"

"I don't know what to believe right now. Just do as I say and stay here. Do not follow me or do anything crazy like that."

"Yes ma'am." He agreed reluctantly.

She put on her jacket, left the apartment, got into her car, and drove in the direction of where Gren's estate was located. Her head told her that she was just overreacting. That she was letting a child with an over active imagination get to her. That when she got there everything would be just fine and that she would probably end up looking like some crazy woman. 

But her heart told her that her foster son spoke the truth. That if she didn't go to that house tonight something very bad would happen. That she was the only one who could prevent this terrible event from happening. That she had an obligation to do what was right no matter how crazy or stupid it sounded. 

"I must be completely out of my mind." She thought but she still kept driving to that estate.

...

Juvia waited in great dread for her employer to return to the castle. She was absolutely terrified of what he would do to her once he found out what she did. But no matter how horrible her punishment may be she would have no regrets about the choice she made and she would accept the consequences with dignity.

"You shouldn't have saved him." Gajeel told her. "You know you're gonna die for this."

"Maybe." She said as she mended the holes in an old tapestry. "But even if it costs me my life, I'll never deny anyone kindness."

"You have a good heart Juvia." Levy said. "Your parents would be proud to see how selfless and courageous you are. But if that monster does try to kill you, we will do everything in our power to protect you."

"Thank you but I don't want either one of you to suffer for my choices." Juvia said.

"We would gladly suffer anything for you." Gajeel said.

"That's right." Levy said. "I was made specifically to look after you and help you in anyway I can."

"And ever since you let me stay with you for all those years, I've sworn to protect you with my life." 

"Thank you both so much but I've really done nothing to deserve your loyalty."

Before either one could argue they heard footsteps coming. They quickly hid and Juvia continued to mend casually. The doors opened by themselves and Gray walked in carrying a much larger and sharper knife in one hand and a bag of salt in his other hand. 

"This blade should cut more swiftly." He said with a twisted grin. "And just before I put him out of his misery I'll rub a little salt on the wound to make his agony really last."

Juvia looked away from him to hide her expression of contempt. 

"I'll try not to be too loud." He told her. "But I can't promise the same courtesy from our prisoner."

She held her breath when she heard the door to the dudgeon open followed the sound of his foot steps going downstairs and she didn't release it until she heard him running back up. 

"Where is he?!" He demanded in a voice full of growing rage.

She quietly and calmly put down her work then slowly turned to face him before answering.

"Gone. I let him go."

"What?! He was a thief!" He shouted enraged.

"Which doesn't give you the right to torture him. Let alone kill him."

"It gives me every right! How dare you disobey me!" 

This was a new side to him that Juvia had not seen before. Normally he was rather calm and hardly ever show any emotion unless you count twisted as an emotion. But now he was mad. Very mad. Dare she say, close to losing his temper.

"I did not disobey you in anyway." She replied calmly.

"You set him free!"

"Well it's not like you ordered me not to."

"Don't split hairs with me blue eyes! I invented that method! You know very well I didn't want you to do that! As my servant you are to do whatever I wish whenever I wish it!"

"Yes and I will but not if it goes against my morals. Eternal servitude or not, I will not let an act of cruelty take place if I can prevent it."

"Oh how noble of you! Noble and stupid! You think he was just some innocent soul?! Well guess what! When you let him go he stole that book he was looking for!"

"He said it wasn't for a selfish purpose."

"He lied! No one wants anything from me unless it's to suit their own wants and desires! His motives were completely selfish!"

"You don't know that for sure."

"Oh but I do! I deal with selfish and greedy people everyday of my life! It's selfish and greedy people who make deals with me! And if he made a deal with me he could have gotten what he wanted and not have to lose his life but he took the coward's way by stealing!"

"He probably didn't want to make a deal because what you demand in return for your services are too high and un-reasonable. And why does there have to be a deal involved? Why can't you just give?"

"Give?! My God you really are naive! Nothing is ever given! For everything you must pay! You must either earn it or steal it or pay for it!"

"That's not true. Kindness is free. Love is free."

"Love is not free!" He snapped. "Unconditional love is not real! Even if someone does love you there's always a catch! Weather it be something you gain or something you lose! The same goes for kindness! So tell me, what did he promise you in exchange for freeing him?"

"Nothing."

"You lie."

"I'm not lying."

"You must be! No one would go against me unless they're getting something worth while in return!"

"Well I would and I did."

"Then you must be really stupid. Don't you know what happens to those who cross me?"

"I do but I don't care. I know what it's like to be denied compassion when you desperately need it and I wouldn't wish that on anyone else no matter who they are."

"Oh please! What could you possibly know about being denied compassion when you need it? You were a servant to a wealthy merchant. You probably didn't live the high life but you definitely had it better than most!"

"How dare you make assumptions about my life like that. You don't know anything about me. You don't know what kind of life I've lived."

"I do know that any kind of life you had before this is ten times better than the life that I-"

He stopped and made a look that implied that he had said too much. 

"Better than the life you lived?" She finished. "Is that what this is all about? Did you live a terrible life and because of that you always see the worst in people and assume their lives were better than yours?"

He didn't answer. Instead he turned away from her and started to walk away.

"Well look who's being stupid and naive now." She said.

Like the first night she arrived he stopped in an instant and turned around in a slow, cringing way that would make anyone who saw him fear that he was about to burst.

"What did you just say to me?"

"I believe you heard me. Otherwise you wouldn't have stopped."

"You are calling me stupid and naive? You actually have the nerve to call me that?"

"I have the nerve to say that you're acting very stupid and naive right now. For assuming that you're the only person who's ever had a miserable life. That's a very foolish and selfish way of thinking. Everyone suffers through something in their lives and just because it's not the same suffering as yours doesn't mean it's not important."

He slowly walked toward her, she backed away from him at the same speed. Just like earlier today he had her completely against the wall. He was doing his best to keep his expression calm and collected but his eyes were burning like the red hot gates of hell.

"You have exactly three seconds to take back what you said." He said.

"I will not because it is the truth. To take it back would be a lie and didn't you say earlier that you would not tolerate lying?"

He dragged his claws down the wall in growing frustration. 

"Well then how about this? If you don't take back what you said I will drag you by your hair and throw you into the deepest darkest cell in my dudgeon!"

"Go ahead then but it won't change the truth about you."

"Why are you being so difficult?"

"Why are you being such a bully?"

"Because I will allow myself to be called many things but I will not accept being called stupid, foolish, or anything relating to that!"

"So you admit you're being a bully?"

His claws dug deeper into the stone walls. Juvia sounded brave but in truth she was petrified. Her heart was pounding and her knees were trembling. She was certain that this was going to be the moment she died. Well if she was going to die then she wouldn't beg or plead. She would just accept her fate with no regrets.

Gray on the other hand was about to boil over. This woman was by far the most difficult human being he had ever met. He thought a servant would be more submissive and fearful, well at least too fearful to defy her employer. Part of him wanted to send her flying out the window of the castle but another part of him was very hesitant to do so. You see he had never actually killed a woman before. Especially one that was very moral. 

His contemplation on what to do with her was suddenly interrupted when something black jumped on to his shoulder. It was Gajeel once again in his cat form. He had tried to stay hidden but seeing that Juvia's life was possibly in danger, he just couldn't stand by and do nothing. 

Gray moved away from Juvia while trying to remove the protective feline from his shoulder. Gajeel hissed and yowled, sinking it's teeth into Gray's neck as hard as he could and scratching him on his face. Gray had been hurt much worse than that but it still caused him pain. He finally managed to force the creature off and he threw it against the wall. 

"Stupid cat!" He snarled.

Horrified, Juvia rushed to her animal companion's side and gently took him into her arms. To her relief nothing seemed to be broken.

"Oh Gajeel you shouldn't have." She whispered to him.

"Where did that animal come from?" Gray asked her.

"Uh...Well...I...Uh..." She held Gajeel close just to make sure he wouldn't be snatched away from her and he in turn glared threateningly at Gray. "I found him on the window ledge the other night. He was cold so I let him sleep in my room."

Technically not a lie so Gray wouldn't be able to force her to come clean completely.

"I thought I said no visitors." He said.

"He's a cat. What harm could he do?"

"Exhibit A, the bite marks on my neck."

"Alright he did attack you but that was only because you were going to hurt me. It's my fault. Punish me but don't hurt him."

"Oh I'll punish you alright. But physical pain won't be enough to teach you." He declared. "Since you're such a moral woman your pain should be emotional."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to retrieve what was stolen from me and then I'm going to kill the thief who took it. Your punishment is that I'm going to make you watch the whole thing."

"You cannot really be that twisted." She said in terror.

"Well normally I don't like to kill in front of a lady but you've pushed me past that standard. Now go get your cloak and get rid of that cat. If we come back and it's still here I'll skin it and use it's hide as a coin purse."

Gajeel gulped and looked at Juvia worryingly. She clutched her friend gently, wondering what she was going to do now.