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In a chair at the head of the table, smiling sweetly at the princess sat Bubbles, dressed neatly in a little tuxedo. "You seem surprised," he said.
"We are," Zelgadis said.
"We never expected you to be the Kahuna," Amelia said.
"Well, surprises are abundant in Briseral during festival time, please have a seat."
The two walked alongside the table and took seats on either side of the dragon.
"I think an explanation is in order," Zelgadis said
"And you'll have one, but let's have a little something to eat," the dragon answered as Daisy flew into the dining hall and sat beside Amelia.
"Hello everyone," she said shyly.
"You can talk too?" Amelia asked staring at her little lavender friend.
"Um . . . yes, I can."
"My sister's shy as you already know, just give her a minute and she'll be chattering away in no time," Bubbles laughed. "Now then where were we . . . OH yes, FOOD!"
"Do you need me to pull your chair closer so you can reach," Amelia asked looking between the two dragons.
"Thank you but no, just give us a second." Suddenly a wave of light circled the two and the dragons transformed into human form.
"You'll have to excuse us, usually we change before dinner not during," Bubbles smiled, now a young man with blue-grey hair and delicate features.
"I hope we didn't startle you," Daisy said, now a pretty, young lady with a long lavender pony-tail and bright lovely eyes.
The princess looked at both of them, taking in their new forms, especially Bubbles. "And here I thought he was a baby," she laughed mentally. "Not at all," she finally said aloud.
"I know that changing forms is fairly common amongst dragons, but something tells me you two aren't really dragons are you?" Zelgadis asked.
"I would say that something is correct," Bubbles answered and started serving up food on everyone's plates. "Try some of the potatoes. The chef here works wonders on them."
"Guess I'll begin the explaining since my brother is so infatuated with the entrees. We bring the people of Briseral here once a year to give them a chance to have some fun and relax," Daisy started.
"But why?"
"Some time ago my brother and I were hurt very badly and stumbled into Briseral. The people here let us stay and recover. They were very nice to us. As you saw when you first entered town, they're very simple, practical people so . . ."
"We decided to repay them for all their help with something a little festive," Bubble finished.
"How very generous of you, but that doesn't explain what you are," the chimera said.
"We already figured it takes a great deal of power to maintain all of this," Amelia explained.
"You're right. We're Muzuko."
Instantly the room took on silence. Zelgadis tensed at the words, so did Amelia. "Now forget all the stuff you've heard about Muzuko for a second. Some of us are bad and some of us just don't want to be bothered so we don't bother anybody. We don't go in for that feeding off of the pain of others or causing trouble business," Bubbles ended and continued eating.
"They're nice Muzuko and mean ones just like with humans or the Dragon race. We just want to live quietly and happily, that's what got us hurt in the first place," Daisy murmured.
"What do you mean?" The princess asked.
"We were injured because we'd gotten into a very bad fight with some other Muzuko who didn't like the way we do things," Daisy explained.
"I see."
"So why go around as baby dragons, wouldn't be easier to go about in these forms?" The chimera asked.
"We like being little dragons, it's fun and everyone's nice to us like you two, Lina and Gourry," Daisy smiled.
"Besides even though we maintain this place, we like to keep a low profile and folks in town respect that," Bubbles added eating more potatoes. "Anyway enough on the talking, this is a celebration dinner for out new Mr. Briseral so let's eat now and talk later," Bubbles cheered. Everyone started eating and talking about the festival and all the fun things they had done during the week.
Zelgadis chewed quietly staring at the others. He had more questions to ask and felt that Bubbles would have a majority of the answers. "Once he finishes eating," he thought as the Muzuko went for seconds.
* * *
The banquet hall for the People's Choice dinner was every bit the epitome of elegance and finery. The tables were set with the finest linens and polished silver. The chandelier sparkled brightly from the ceiling. Its glass ornaments chiming together gently, like champagne glasses, enhance the rooms already graceful air.
"This place looks incredible," Gourry said.
"Everything looks so shiny and new," Lina sighed.
"And it's all for us," they said together, staring around the room starry eyed. A waiter showed them to their seats near the dance floor. As they walked through the hall, they were greeted with gentle applause from the other patrons. Once seated the waiter took their menu's, insisting that they weren't necessary.
"We heard that the two of you truly enjoy a good meal and took the liberty of preparing a special selection of items for you," the waiter explained then clapped his hands. Moments later several trays of food were brought out from the kitchen to them. "Would two of every appetizer and entree on the menu be good to start?"
"Yes it would," they smiled and began eating. Soon a band started playing and people stood up and started to dance. Lina enjoyed her meal throughly, especially her favorite entree, roasted chicken and herb sauce. "This place is great," she smiled, taking another bite of food.
"It was really nice of them to have all this food ready for us," The swordsman said.
After eating one serving of everything each they decided to take a breath before the next set of trays were brought out.
Gourry looked around the hall and wondered what they could do to pass the time between courses when an idea came to him. "Hey Lina, wanna dance?"
"Okay," she answered as the band began playing a slow song. The two stood up an walked to the dance floor. Once there Gourry took Lina's hand and placed his other lightly on her waist and began dancing.
"He's really good at this," the sorceress thought as the pair moved around the dance floor effortlessly. It occurred to her that this was the second time this week that they had shared a dance. It also occurred to her how much she enjoyed it.
"There's nothing wrong with having fun with Gourry," she mused. "We have fun beating up bandits together and taking their treasure and lots of other stuff, dancing is just like those things, isn't it?"
"Lina, is something wrong?"
"Nothing Gourry, really," she smiled.
"Let's got outside for a minute before they bring the food out?"
"Sure."
They left the dance floor and went out into the gardens that grew beyond the large glass doors in the back of the banquet hall. They found a stone bench and took a seat, enjoying the quiet ambiance of the little garden.
"You're probably just tired," Gourry started suddenly.
"Tired?"
"From all the work and planning you did this week to help me through the pageant."
"I guess, parades and public appearances are fun but they can take a lot out of you."
"Um Lina?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks a lot for helping me with the clothes and stuff this week. I really appreciate it."
"Well what are friends for, to help each other out. Right?"
"But you did a lot and I wanted to say thanks, so I got you this," he said and pulled out a gold rectangular box about four inches long. Lina looked at it surprised. "Go on, open it."
Lina lifted the lid tentatively, unfolding the gold tissue paper inside with the utmost care, revealing her prize.
"It's a miniature sword of light," she said, pulling the small blade out of its nest of gold paper. The sword mirrored the original in every detail from hilt to blade.
"You're always asking if you can have mine so I had this one made for you," he explained.
"Thank you," she whispered staring at her gift.
"And here's the best part, Light come forth!"
At the words the swords' blade emitted a bright red glow that illuminated the whole section of the garden that they occupied.
"Gourry, this is wonderful," she said as she continued to stare at the blade as the glow faded. "How did you do this?"
"I found a good sword-maker at the swordsman guild and a sorcerer at the lunch Zel and I went to."
"But why does it glow red instead of white like your sword?"
"Because your hair's red and the swords for you. I thought it'd be nice if it glowed the same color. There's even a chain inside the box so you can wear it."
"This is the nicest thing anyone ever did for me," she murmured.
Pulled out the chain and attached it to the sword then placed it around her neck. In a burst of spontaneity, Lina leaned over and gave Gourry a quick kiss on the cheek, at which they both blushed brightly.
"Let's go back inside and get more food," Gourry smiled. "I heard the desserts here are great. At least that's what the little fairy waitress at the tavern said."
Gourry got up and headed back inside where the waiters had finished bringing out the next portion of their meal. Lina remained in the garden studying her necklace. She traced her fingers lightly over the sword and smiled.
"Hey Lina, are you coming inside?"
"I'm right behind you." Lina tucked the necklace inside her shirt for safe keeping then headed in.
* * *
"Dinner was really nice Daisy."
"I'm glad you liked it Amelia," The girl smiled as the two drank after dinner tea. "I hope Zelgadis isn't too mad at us for not telling you the truth sooner."
"I'm sure after he and Bubble talk for a bit he'll understand, speaking of which you said you needed to talk to me?" Amelia asked.
"It's about Zelgadis."
"Really, what is it?"
"I know you like him and I was wondering how things have been between the two of you . . . I don't mean to be noisy but well I-"
"It's okay you don't have to explain," Amelia said, "You - You like him too, don't you?"
"No, no that's not it," Daisy cried "I know how much you like him, I can see it every time you look at him and I was hoping that . . . I think of you two as friends and I . . . ,"
"Wanted to know how our relationship has come along since we've been here?" Amelia offered.
"Yes!"
"I'm not sure, that's one of the reasons we wanted to come to dinner," the princess whispered staring in the warm depths of her tea.
In another part of the banquet hall Zelgadis stood on the balcony sipping coffee staring out at the city.
"It does look nice in the evening," Bubbles said standing next to him.
"Hmm," Zelgadis murmured taking another sip of coffee. "There's something else I feel you should explain."
"And that would be?"
"When Amelia held you in dragon form you seemed quite infatuated with her . . ."
"Well, what can I say I'm a fool for pretty girls especially ones with nice figures," Bubbles laughed, scratching the back of his head. "And Lina, have you ever seen a girl look so adorable balancing a mango slice on her nose? But you've got nothing to be jealous about, you're the one Amelia likes."
"I'm not jealous," Zelgadis blushed, "I only brought it up because I think you should apologize to her."
"Uh huh, of course THAT'S the reason you brought it up and not the fact you wish you were in my place nuzzled in her bosom."
Zelgadis gave the young Muzuko a cold stare. "I said that wasn't the reason I brought it up," he growled.
"Okay, okay I was just kidding, can't you take a joke."
"In this case no," Zelgadis grumbled.
"Fine. I'll make an apology later, all right?"
"Good," Zelgadis nodded and resumed staring outward.
"So how have things been for you this week aside from winning Mr. Briseral and having the company of the lovely princess?"
"It's been and interesting week," he said and continued nursing his coffee mug. Since dinner he'd been trying to think of a way to bring up Nephillo. The pieces weren't all there yet, but he wasn't completely sure of what was missing. An then his current line of conversation with Bubbles gave him something else to think about. The Muzuko's obvious attraction to the princess irritated him. "Maybe that's too strong a word," he thought. "Admit it, you're jealous," the voice in the back of his mind taunted. Zelgadis shook the voice out his head. He wasn't jealous. He just hadn't been in a discussion before with someone about the attractive qualities of his female friends.
"It's obvious you aren't the talkative one of the group," Bubbles said, interrupting his thoughts. Zelgadis replied with an incoherent murmur. "Sounds like they're something else on your mind?"
"As a matter of fact I do, I wanted to ask you about . . ."
"Nephillo," Amelia said looking at Daisy, who began to grow pale.
"Nephillo?" Daisy repeated in a whisper.
"Yes, we ran into someone outside of town who mentioned the name."
"What did they say?"
"That Nephillo was using Briseral as a playground for some sick twisted games and that we should beware," the princess answered.
"Oh no, Nephillo could be here," Daisy whispered in panic.
"I guess Nephillo is as bad as we heard."
"Worse. What else did this person say?"
"He said that Zelgadis and I may have fallen into his clutches, then disappeared. Actually, we thought the Kahuna and Nephillo were the same person, that's why we were so surprised to see you and Bubbles."
"We have to tell my brother right away?" Daisy said standing.
"Daisy?"
"Amelia, you don't understand, Nephillo is more horrible then words can describe and if there is a chance that he's in Briseral we're all in danger?"
"Then we'd better hurry," the princess following close behind her lavender haired friend.
"So you and Amelia shared the same type of dream and you want to know whether it really happened or not?"
"Yes."
"But why ask me about it," Bubbles wondered.
"We were told that there was a dream Muzuko in town and . . ."
" . . . and since you're in the dreamscape and I'm a Muzuko you thought I could clear this up for you."
"And tell me how this happened in the first place, yes," Zelgadis said.
"What kind of dream was it?"
"I'd rather not go into details," the chimera stammered.
"OH, THAT KIND OF DREAM," Bubbles nodded. He looked closely at Zelgadis as he stared into his coffee, blushing. The play of emotions on his face said a lot more then the chimera could have imagined. "All right let's have a look," Bubbles said, closing his eyes. He began to murmur an incantation under his breath and a mass of mist began to form in his hands. Bubbles took a moment to look into its depths. Seconds later it disappeared and Bubbles opened his eyes.
"Well?" Zelgadis asked.
"The best answer I can give you is this, ask yourself one question does it really matter now, considering?"
"THAT'S YOUR ANSWER, WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT! 'Considering', what's that supposed to mean 'Considering'?" He asked in a mocking tone.
"When you figure it out everything will make sense for you, trust me. This is one you'll have to solve by yourself." Zelgadis only grunted in dissatisfaction.
"But back to that dream Muzuko thing you mentioned who said . . ."
"BROTHER!" Daisy yelled running out to the balcony, with Amelia following.
"Daisy, what is it?"
Daisy took a moment to catch her breath, but to no avail. "Nephillo," she rasped.
"That's what you meant by hearing about a dream Muzuko is it?" He asked looking at Zelgadis.
"I asked Daisy about it, and she said we should find you right away," Amelia explained.
"She said they were told by someone outside of town that Nephillo was here," Daisy continued, finally getting her second wind.
"You mean you've been here a week and Nephillo could have been here all this time," Bubbles whispered, running a hand through his hair as he began to pace.
"I don't think they realized what could happen Bubbles, don't be angry, brother."
"I'm not Sis. They didn't know who they could trust aside from themselves."
"Especially after we were told we'd fallen victim to one of Nephillo's games," Amelia added.
"And the reason Zelgadis asked about the dream."
"Yes, we thought it was Nephillo's doing," Zelgadis nodded.
"But if Nephillo was planning to do something wouldn't have been done by now," Amelia asked.
"Not necessarily, why do something right away when you can wait and make people stew," Bubbles said. "Besides the city has a lot of people in it despite what you saw when you entered town. Nephillo could have been having a playground of twisted games with people throughout Briseral under our noses."
"But if something big is going to happen it would probably be soon since tonight's the last night of the festival, right?" Daisy asked and as if on cue the building began to shake.
"What was that?"
"I think the answer to your question Sis."
* * *
Lina sat at the banquet table, fork at the ready. In front of her quietly sat, waiting for the inevitable was a three layer chocolate raspberry cake, drizzled in chilled berry sauce. Throughout the room people sang, danced and ate happily in the height of festivity, but Lina could only see the three layer delight in front of her and the smell of cool berry sauce that adorned it.
"This looks so good," Lina smiled at her prey, licking her lips. She leaned closer, savoring the deep red of the sauce and the chocolate shaving sprinkled all over, until she was inches away. Then in one quick movement she stuck in her fork, cut a slice and devoured it whole. The combination of cake and sauce made Lina's eyes glaze over in delicious sweetness.
"Gourry, you've got to try some of this cake. It's unbelievable."
"You should try some of this mousse, it's great," the swordsman said, taking another spoonful of the white chocolate confection, dusted in blueberries on caramelized sugar wafers.
They both chewed for long moments, eying the other's dessert ravenously.
"I'll share some of mine if you share some of yours," they cried.
"Deal," they smiled and made separate plates for one another.
"Wow Lina, you we're right this is pretty good."
"Yeah and this mousse thing isn't half bad," the redhead laughed, preparing to take another bit. Just as her fork was about to enter her mouth the building began to shake.
"Lina, what was that?"
"Probably just my stomach wanting more of these great desserts," Lina laughed when the rumbling started again only louder.
"Lina I think we should find Zel and Amelia," Gourry said reaching for his sword.
"Just let me have one more bit of this delicious food," Lina said staring intently ate the remainder of her cake. The rumbling returned again, so violently that chunks of the wall started to crumble. "Dammit, always when I'm eating," Lina pouted. Gourry strapped on his sword and looked around the room as others began to notice that something was happening.
"We'd better get everyone out of here first."
"Yeah, this place could collapse if this shaking gets worse," Lina said.
The people began to leave quickly as Lina yelled out orders to the banquet staff to make sure all of their people were out and to check for stragglers.
"The chandelier isn't going to stay up there for long," Lina thought as Gourry did one last check through the hall.
"Lina, let's get out of here," Gourry yelled and the two ran for the door. Once outside the chandelier gave up its losing battle with the ceiling and fell as the rest of the room collapsed.
"That was too close," Lina sighed.
"Man was it ever," Gourry gasped. Everyone stood outside confused as the ground continued shaking so badly that many stumbled to their feet.
"We've got to get to the Palisades and find out what's happening," Lina said.
"I think we have something else to worry about too, Look."
A giant orb appeared in the sky high above the city. A flash of light radiated from its smooth surface and the skies became a dark ominous color streaked with lightening. Then one by one the people began to disappear.
"RAY WING!" Lina shouted and grabbed Gourry. The two flew away from the scene as quickly as possible.
"Lina we have to go back and help them."
"We can't help them if we don't know what's happening. We'll find a way to get them back and stop all this Gourry," she yelled as building continued crashing coupled with lighting strikes. "I hope," the redhead sighed inwardly.
The walls of the Palisades began crumbling and chunks of the floor gave way as the four ran from the banquet hall.
"What's happening?" Zelgadis yelled.
"Briseral's falling," Bubble answered.
"Falling?" Amelia cried, "What do you mean?"
"There's no time to explain now. We need to get to the crystal room."
Amelia and Zelgadis followed the Muzuko siblings through a maze of corridors that seemed to weave endlessly. They used shield spells whenever needed against the onslaught of falling rubble, careful no to over exert their power.
"Shouldn't we get out of here?" Amelia asked as the reached their destination. Once inside the room the shaking stopped.
"Is it over?" Zelgadis asked.
"No actually. This room is fortified with strong shielding, we're safe in here for now," Bubbles said.
"What did you mean when you said Briseral was falling?" The princess asked.
"I was referring to this," Bubbles said pointing to the center of the room where a deep red crystal floated surrounded by four green ones. "We developed this device to maintain Briseral in the dream scape."
"It takes a lot of power to maintain all of this. If we did solely on our power, which would require a great deal of concentration and spell casting. One slip, even in the slightest and results could be disastrous," Daisy explained.
"So we cast into the red crystal which opens the rift in dream space and shifts it. That gets reflected through the green crystal which acts as amplifiers, creating a continuos energy field that keep everyone here," Bubbles finished. "But one of the crystals is missing."
"And the other contaminated somehow," Daisy said looking at the green crystals closely. On each one a black mass seemed to be slowly creeping over the crystals bright emerald color.
"So this place is now destroying itself, because of the device being tampered with?" Zelgadis asked.
"We have a fail safe just in case of emergencies, if something happens everyone automatically gets shifted back to reality and everything built on the dream scape disappears. I guess the system damage must be making everything crumble instead."
"But what if the fail safe has been tampered with also," Amelia whispered. Everyone looked at each other in concern.
"Is there anyway to check the back up system?" The chimera asked.
"Yes, it's in a hyper dimensional pocket apart from the main system," Bubbles said. With a fluid motion a black portal opened a pale crystal appeared. Bubbles held his hands close to it an scanned it magically for several long seconds. "The fail safe appears to be in working order," he said resulting in sighs of relief from everyone.
"Someone must have stolen the crystals and tainted the rest, but how," Amelia wondered.
"Not someone, Nephillo," Zelgadis said.
"We'll have to figure out the details later," Bubbles said, "Right now we need to find Lina and Gourry and get back to the real world."
"They could be anywhere in this mess, how will we find them?" Daisy asked.
"We won't have to, my guess is they'll be coming here to try and find us," Zelgadis said, thinking of the plans they had made, "let's just get out of here."
Bubbles went and stored the remaining crystals in a hyper dimensional pocket like the one that held the fail safe. "So nothing else goes wrong," he explained as they left. The four cast levitation spells, no longer trusting the floor and flew off quickly desperately dodging debris.
* * *
When Lina and Gourry finally reached the Palisades large sections of the roof had already collapsed.
"Do you think they're still inside?" The swordsman asked as the flew over the building. Lightening bolts were now shooting in all directions incinerating the crumbled remains on the ground.
"Lina look out!" A lightening bolt shot out grazing the sorceress's shoulder sending the pair crashing to the ground. Gourry moved quickly so that he was under Lina, breaking her fall as they landed. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, lets find Zel and Amelia and get out of this mess." Lina moved out of Gourry arms, favoring her shoulder. The two entered the building and looked about frantically.
"Where should we start?" Gourry asked.
"I don't know, I keep forgetting this place is so damn huge," Lina grumbled, "And we have to deal with all this falling garbage," she thought. "My spells would only cause more damage and this place is already too unstable. I need a way to stop them from falling on the ground," She mused looking at the continuous falling walls. "That's it!"
"What's it, Lina?"
"Just watch Gourry," Lina said and readied a spell. "Levitation!" The fall rubble instantly became suspended in the air above them. "Come on, I don't know how long it will hold," she said as the two continued onward.
Amelia flew close behind Daisy and Bubbles with Zelgadis bringing up the rear. "I hope Gourry and Lina are all right," she thought as they flew into another room. A bolt of lightening blew a way a large section of the wall giving them a view of what was happening outside. Dark clouds streaked with lightening covered the skies greeted their eyes as did the orb that lay in the center of the storm.
"What is that?" Amelia asked.
"I don't know, but it's destroying whatever remains left of the city," Bubbles shouted.
"Let's hurry and find Lina and Gourry," Zelgadis yelled.
They continued flying and dodging falling rock and lightening until they came to a room where the rubble floated alongside them.
"Oh what could be happening now," Daisy asked.
"I'm sensing some type of magical energy like . . . a levitation spell," Amelia said.
"Lina!" Zelgadis shouted suddenly, spotting a mass of red hair on the floor below.
"Hey guys," the sorceress waved as Zelgadis and Amelia landed. Lina noticed that her friends were accompanied by two others and eyed them curiously. "Who are they?"
"This is Daisy and Bubbles," Amelia said.
"I thought Daisy and Bubbles were dragons," Gourry said confused.
"It's a long story, let's get out of here first and we'll explain it all later," Zelgadis said when a lightening bolt blasted the wall throwing the group in different directions with its force.
"Bubbles hurry," the princess cried.
Bubbles moved quickly, focusing on the presence of the others forming a sphere of energy that encased them. When the spell dissipated the group reappeared a few feet above the ground and dropped onto the street.
"Are we really back?" Gourry asked.
"Looks that way," Daisy said taking in the now clear skies, intact building and curious onlookers who looked a little worn from their ordeal but otherwise fine.
Lina sat holding her injured shoulder, tears threatening to flood her eyes as the pain pulsed throughout her.
"Lina are you all right," the swordsman asked.
"Gourry I . . ." she whispered, her lips trembling, "Oh Gourry," she cried hugging him.
"Lina, does your shoulder hurt that bad?"
"Gourry, I . . . I LOST MY DESSERT," she wailed looking at him with teary eyes.
"There, there Lina its okay, we'll have other desserts."
"Not like this one," she sobbed, "All that yummy sauce, chocolate and juicy berries, it's so unfair," she cried.
"A chocolate Raspberry explosion cake," Bubbles thought aloud. "Lina, I'm sorry."
"When I get a hold of who did this I'll make them pay," the redhead growled, clenching her fists.
"Um, she really likes desserts, doesn't she?" Daisy asked.
"Yeah," Gourry nodded and continued to console Lina who still cried over her lose.
"You can't blame her. Chocolate raspberry explosion cakes are the best ever," Bubbles said. "Don't worry Lina. I'll find you another cake, in fact two. Would that make you feel better, Lina-chan," Bubbles smiled.
"Would it ever!" She cheered.
"Good, I hate to see pretty girls cry," he said, handing her a handkerchief. "Now let's have a look at that shoulder," he smiled and began inspecting her wound.
"Did he just say I was pretty," Lina thought watching as the strange attractive man fussed over her.
Amelia dusted herself off as the others checked for injuries. She looked around their current place in reality and noticed something missing. "Where's Zelgadis?"
* * *
Zelgadis woke up in a room with huge dressers and other fine furnishings. His hand went to his forehead recalling the hit on the head from the blast that rendered him unconscious, and found his wound healed. He looked around cautiously as a hundred different questions rushed through his min abut where he was and where were the others. The answer that kept repeating itself was Nephillo.
"Ahhh, my sleeping beauty has finally awakened," a voice purred from the shadows.
"Where am I?"
"My place," the figure said, stepping into view. "I couldn't bear the thought of you being in the company of fools any longer so I stole you away."
"Don't tell me you're Nephillo?"
A small smile played on Evette's lips as she moved in closer. "Correct."
"I want to go back, now," he demanded.
"To your little princess? I don't think so," Evette, now Nephillo said, pushing him back down on the bed. "You're not quite getting the big picture," she whispered.
"And what is this 'Big picture'?"
"That you are mine, to do with whatever I please," she smiled wickedly. Nephillo moved over him until her face was inches from his. "We're going to have a lot of fun together, you and me," she with a deep, throaty laugh and kissed him on the lips. Zelgadis lay still in surprise waiting for the kiss to end. Her lips where cold and unfeeling against his and all he could think of was the warmth and tenderness he had felt in the last kiss he had received.
"I bet the princess has never kissed you like that," she said smugly.
Zelgadis looked at her above him waiting for an answer. "No, she would never kiss that badly."
"What!"
"Amelia kisses a lot better then you do," the chimera said cooly, "Maybe you should go back to practicing on teddy bears." It was his turn to laugh and he did so in a loud mocking fashion that resulted in a slap across the face from his captor.
"Don't cross me or I may decide to dispose of your cute little ass," she hissed. "If you play nice this will be a lot more enjoyable for the both of us," she said, her wicked smile returning.
"If you wanted to kidnap me all along why would you have Amelia and I . . ."
"Believe me I didn't, my plans in that area went awry shall we say, so you ended up dreaming about the little bitch" Nephillo spat out.
Zelgadis let the comment abut Amelia slide for the time being, not wanting to further provoke the Muzuko. "So it was a dream then?"
"You're not sure," she said in cryptically. "You'd like it if you had the little princess wouldn't you? Well, the only person who can really tell you what's real and what's not around here is me, remember that."
"Then what did Bubbles mean when he said that I had to find the answer on my own and about 'considering'? The chimera thought, confused. Zelgadis moved to sit up, pushing Nephillo off of him. "Do you mind?" He grumbled.
"Yes actually, I do," she shot back.
"So what did Amelia do to make you hate her so much?"
"She's an obstacle in the way of getting what I want, just like your friends. And will be dealt with if necessary, nothing more."
The coldness of her words sent a chill if fear through him about the fate of his companions. "What have you done with them?"
"Nothing they're back in Briseral, " she said unconcerned. "My precious time can't be wasted on the likes of them, especially when there are other things that I'd rather be attending to," she cooed, placing a hand on his chest.
Zelgadis pushed her hand away and got out of the bed and looked around the room for a means of escape.
"There's no way out," Nephillo laughed, watching him.
Zelgadis stood in front of the double doors that led out of the room. "Fireball!" Nothing happened. "Elmekia Lance!" Still, nothing. "Burst Rando!" Again nothing. He tried a variety of different spells but to no avail.
"I told you it's pointless. This room is made from Trialcon it absorbs magic, so you're helpless," she smiled and patted the spot on the bed he previously occupied. "Now be a good boy and come back to bed, hmm."
Zelgadis grumbled under his breath as he walked back over to her. "I will not be apart of whatever sick, twisted little games you're planning."
"Hey, how did you know I was planning twisted games with you," she pouted and the chimera's eyes widened in shock. The expression on his face made the Muzuko laugh.
"I guess this wasn't a good time to discuss this with you," Nephillo said nonchalantly as she stood up and headed for the door. Zelgadis followed behind her but was thrown back by a suddenly raised shield and landed on the bed. "You think I'm going to let you use me to cater . . . "
"To my every whim and desire? Yes, because in the end you'll be staying here willingly."
"And what psychotic fantasy makes you think that?"
"Because in the end I can give you the thing you desire most in life, not your stupid little princess."
"What do you mean what I desire most in life?"
"Go look," she pointed to a corner of the room then went over to the doors and instead of opening them disappeared.
Zelgadis got up and went over to the direction she had pointed to and found a large jewel trimmed mirror. He looked into the shiny, reflective surface and what he found surprised him.
"Oh my god!" he whispered as a human face stared back at him.