|
|
Author’s notes: HIYA!!!!!!!!! I’m hyper, much apologies.^_^. Anyway, here, as promised, is the TRUE beginning of the end. Ha! And you thought I was finished, OHOHO!
Characters: (groan) JUST FINISH IT ALREADY!
Author: OHOHO! No WAY! You guys get to suffer!
"Um…Lina?"
Lina continued to devour the food on the table.
Xelana tried again. "Lina-san??"
Gourry swiped a leg of beef from her plate and Lina retaliated with taking his biscuits. Xelana sweatdropped.
"Mother’s gone for a day and now we’re short on food already…" She muttered, skipping off her chair to clear the table a bit. The humans had, predictably, woken up soon after noon and had demanded food. She was pretty sure Xellas wanted them to be fed, so she gave them food. She just didn’t know they could pack away so much.
The wolf at her feet sniffed the air and looked from the humans back to her. The question was as apparent in his body language as his mental voice inside her mind. Interesting…humans.
"Don’t be mean, Xelan." She muttered to him, stroking his ears. The large wolf sat on his hunches, coming to exactly her height. His tongue lolled out as if laughing. "What are you laughing about??"
Lina swallowed. "Who are you talking to? Oh, the wolf." And went back to eating. Amelia gave the girl and the wolf a curious look, then dismissed the ability to talk to animals as something all demons could do. It would be an incorrect assumption, but considering what demons she had contact with, not unusual.
Xelana watched them with a quizzical expression for all of three seconds, then promptly dropped the armful of plates she was holding. "Someone’s home!" She yelled. The wolf barked in excitement and even Lina paused in her eating to look. Xelana ran at a breakneck pace to hurl herself at whoever was unfortunate enough to enter the room.
"Enthusiastic, isn’t she?" Gourry asked intelligently.
And of course, the unfortunate one turned out to be Xelloss, with Filia trailing a few steps behind him.
"Nii-chan!!!" Xelana squealed, flinging herself in Xelloss’s arms. He grunted, forced back a few steps by the sheer momentum behind the hug, and then laughed as she latched herself onto him. "You’re back!"
"Ne, Xelana, aren’t you a little too old for this?" he asked teasingly. She stuck her tongue out at him. "I guess you didn’t grow up any in the past thousand years." To retaliate, Xelana released his waist and latched on to his neck instead. "Ow ow ow! Don’t pull my hair!" he protested as she snickered, victorious.
"Hey, Xelloss." Lina greeted the irate Demon who was trying to untangle himself from his sister. She appraised him with a weird look. "What happened to your hair?"
He paused in the tug of war for a second to blink at her. "Oh, my hair?"
"It’s long." Lina pointed out.
"Very long." Amelia added. Gourry scratched his head.
"Who’s he?"
Xelana was almost dislodged as Xelloss went crashing to the floor. Gourry blinked as the Demon struggled back to his feet. "Gourry…doesn’t…remember me?"
"THAT’S XELLOSS!" Lina screamed. "DON’T YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING!?" The swordsman shook his head proudly and she sweatdropped.
"You look like a girl." Xelana said, wrinkling her nose and picking up a few strands of the purple hair between thumb and forefinger. "Mother’s going to have a fit." Xelloss made a face and nodded.
"I had enough trouble convincing her to let me cut it the last time…" He muttered. "Speaking of which, I’d better cut it before she finds out-"
"Darlings, I’m home!" a familiar voice sang.
"…drat." He finished.
Lina and company sweatdropped as Xellas entered the room, wine goblet in one hand and cigarette in the other, dressed in a revealing white dress and tons of gold jewelry. Then they sweatdropped some more when she squealed and latched on to Xelloss also, gushing about his hair.
"Ano..ano?"
"Is it just me or has things taken a turn for the surreal?" Amelia whispered to Lina. Lina gulped and nodded.
"Lina."
The red head snapped back to the present when Filia tapped her on the shoulder. Lina could see something different in Filia’s eyes, a grave seriousness that wasn’t there before. And she noticed the strange, almost liquid metal that was wrapped around her waist. "Hey, Filia."
"How did everything go?" the Dragon asked quietly.
Lina decided to not question the odd tone in the older woman’s voice. "It went okay, I guess. And how are you guys? Do YOU know what happened to his hair?"
"Not really," Filia shrugged. "but it’s not important."
Lina patted the seat beside her on the laden table. "Sit down and tell me all about it."
"Are you sure you can’t just tie it back?"
He shivered as he felt the razor’s edge of her nails lightly graze his neck. As always, the warmth in her voice contrasted startlingly with the chill of her claws. Can’t enjoy that too much, he mused. "I’m sure. It’s dragging on the floor, Mother."
"But it’s so pretty. Like purple silk." Xellas said regretfully as she ran her fingers in his hair longingly. "Maybe just a trim?"
"Mother." He said, speaking volumes in that one word. He never called her Mother unless he was ready to be stubborn. She sighed.
"Okay, okay. I’ll cut it." Her hands flexed and he felt the icy prick of her nails again. Purple strands began to fall to the floor, fading out as it hit. "Such a waste…" She mourned. Xelloss chuckled.
"I think you wanted a daughter." He said teasingly. "Why don’t you go play with Xelana’s hair? She’d love it."
Xellas pretended to be hurt. "Xel, you injure me with that remark!" She chided. He smiled at her innocently.
"I would never do that on purpose, mother dear."
"I think I taught you too well."
Suddenly, the temperature of the room dropped ten degrees. Shadows lengthened and Xellas and Xelloss both tensed. Xelloss could feel his mother’s nails digging into his shoulders as she tried to pinpoint the source of the disturbance.
"I’d hate to interrupt such a touching moment, but I need to speak with you, sister." Dynast’s voice floated into the room, even colder than Xellas remembered. "About the war, and about Xelloss’s little spat with Sheela."
Xellas released Xelloss’s shoulders and he stood up beside her. Calmly, she crossed her arms, a lazy smile tugging on her lips. If she had been surprised, it no longer showed. With a flick of her wrist, a cigarette appeared between her slender, claw like fingers. "Now, dear brother," She said that word as if it tasted bad. "If you wanted to talk, there’s no need to hide yourself. I don’t like talking to thin air, if you recall."
With a chuckle that fairly dripped insincerity, Dynast’s form shimmered into view. Although he was not physically present, his aura radiated power. "Yes, I remember that." His ice blue eyes roamed about the room, settling on Xelloss, who was smiling with his eyes closed. "I see you have everything back."
Xellas hid a frown as she took a long draw on the cigarette, letting the smoke waft up lazily. "I’m sure you didn’t come to congratulate me on my current standing in life. Let’s stop beating around the bush, Grausheela."
"Of course, of course." Dynast’s smile was indulging. "I am in the understanding that everyone except Ruby Eye-sama are Unsealed. Is that correct?"
Xellas nodded. "You didn’t need confirmation, Dynast. I’m sure you can sense everyone on the Astral Plane just as well as I can."
"Phibrizo is missing."
"Phibrizo-dono is still Sealed." Xelloss supplied with a smile. Dynast gave him a look and Xelloss opened his eyes, smile never wavering.
"Ah. Well, then. Is it safe to assume that the next order of business will be to Unseal Ruby Eye-sama?"
"What does it matter to you?" Xellas replied languidly. "You certainly aren’t going to be the one doing it." Dynast’s image rippled slightly with irritation, then stabilized. He regained his smile and gave her an arch look.
"I guess it is true then, that your Xelloss will be leading the little band?"
Xelloss closed his eyes in the mysterious smile. "Not leading, per se." He answered. "After all, I doubt that Lina would like that."
"But you are the one who knows where Shabranigdo-sama is, right?"
Xellas’s brows creased as she eyed her ‘brother’ critically. "And what would that have to do with you, brother dear?" she asked, Xelloss tensing beside her. The Lord of the North fixed his ice blue eyes on the Priest-General, smile widening and giving him an almost crazy look.
"Isn’t it only fair that I receive this information, especially considering that he killed one of mine?" he asked, raising one hand.
Xelloss gasped, feeling something tear at his consciousness, black claws digging for something. Xellas cursed, turning to Dynast angrily as her son staggered and slumped against the wall. "What is the meaning of this!?" She said furiously.
"An eye for an eye, sister." Dynast hissed. "He took Sheela’s life, I shall take his." Xelloss gritted his teeth as the piercing pain intensified and Xellas pursed her lips, dropping her cigarette and grounding it ruthlessly beneath her heel.
"I won’t allow this." She said firmly, meeting her brother’s eyes. "Be gone." The quiet words carried behind it all the power of the Island’s master, smothering his power as easily as she had crushed the cigarette. Dynast howled with frustration as his grip on Xelloss’s mind slipped, then fell away. A giant Astral shockwave, with Xellas as its center, expanded from Wolf Pack Island, banishing any Astral presence from the island.
Xellas gathered her power back to herself, knowing that Dynast will think twice about invading her island now. Xelloss’s breathing was harsh in the silence in the room that followed. "Xel, are you-" she never got a chance to finish as he half-stumbled, half-pushed past her and out the door. Xellas blinked with surprise, then ran after him.
"Xel- oof!"
Filia and Xellas both staggered back. Xellas managed to regain her balance by steadying herself with a hand on the doorframe, but Filia landed hard on her butt on the floor. "What the-?"
Filia growled. "Doesn’t anyone watch where they’re going on this island?" She snapped. Xellas golden eyes searched hers, then swept the narrow hallway that they were in. "What are…where did he go?"
The hallway was empty.
Xellas helped the Dragon up. "I’m sorry." She apologized. "I didn’t watch where I was going."
Filia stood up, dusting her pants off and giving the hallway a semi-perplexed look. "That’s okay…I...Xelloss was just here, wasn’t he?" She asked doubtfully, her anger giving way to puzzlement. "Where in the world did he go?"
"I don’t know." Xellas answered truthfully. Filia gave her a disbelieving look.
"Yeah, right. Then all those stories about Mazoku Lords and their creations being mind linked are false, right?" the Dragon remarked skeptically.
Quietly, Xellas murmured, "Our link was broken a thousand years ago." Then she shook her head. "It doesn’t matter. What did you want?"
Filia shrugged distantly, "Well, Lina might want to stay here and eat until the end comes, but I want to get a move on. I wanted to ask Xelloss where we are headed next." Xellas nodded in agreement.
"That’s right. There’s still one more Seal to go." The Demon Lord took Filia’s arm and began leading her to the dining room, where she knew they would find Lina, Gourry and Amelia. "I’ll talk to all of you about that now." Inwardly, she set aside her worry and confusion about Xelloss’s puzzling actions. She’ll have to worry about that later.
"Impossible…" Dynast murmured. Granted, Xelloss was fairly powerful, especially when compared with the other servants of the Demon Lords, but no one short of the Five under Shabranigdo should have been able to hold off the attack that long.
Logically, he ran the events through in his mind, scrutinizing every detail. He knew he took both of them by surprise when he showed up…Xellas might have been on guard, and if she was on guard, so was Xelloss. That still didn’t explain it. He had planned it so the invasion was swift and ruthless, it had to be, in order for it to work.
A scowl marred the Demon Lord’s coldly handsome features as he paced. There was something else also. He couldn’t feel a thing from his sister’s Priest-General. Not a ripple in the Astral Planes, not even when he attacked. It was as if there was nothing there.
"You’re going to get wrinkles."
Dynast spun around, surprise and rage barely contained in his face. "You." He managed to say in a moderately level tone. He did not like being surprised.
Zira crossed her legs, no mean feat considering her perch on top of a huge slab of ice. "Hello Dynast. You were thinking hard, I would guess." The Knight of Chaos smiled, no mirth in the action. Dynast prided himself on being able to read the beings he came in contact with, but she was a complete mystery, still. "I wonder what it might be. Does it have anything to do with Xellas flexing her muscles a few minutes ago?" she mused slowly.
"You were not supposed to involve yourself in this world’s affairs." He told her coldly, accusingly. Zira chuckled, looking pleased with herself.
"If I don’t meddle, the world is going down the drain. I doubt L-sama is going to be very happy with me then." She noted. "Then again, you don’t really believe in L-sama, do you?"
"All I know is that you are disturbing me." Dynast said haughtily, drawing his aura around him in a dignified and almost frightening motion. "If there is nothing else, please leave."
Zira began a slow fade out, just to annoy him some more. Must have been spending too much time with Xelloss, she thought. Which reminds me… "Don’t bother."
Dynast blinked. "What?"
"Don’t bother trying to figure out what Xelloss is doing." The nearly transparent image of Zira said with a wink. "You’ll just get a headache."
Let him chew on that… and it’s about time I paid Lina a visit…
You’re scaring her.
I don’t care.
Stop it.
This is all your fault, you know. If only you weren’t so stubborn.
I’m NOT letting you out.
Oh? Then why am I here?
You’re just a voice in my head right now. That’s it, a voice. No more than that. Get out.
Am I really just a voice?
Yes, you’re just a voice. You can’t be more than that.
" Nii-chan?"
You’re the one that’s scaring her.
Go away.
Tell her that. You don’t want her to see this, do you?
Shut up.
Just let me out. Things would be so much easier that way.
No.
"Nii-chan? Answer me, please?"
What’s the use of fighting me? You’ll lose and you know it.
Oh, and that’s why you’re still trapped as a voice inside my mind, right?
Don’t make me angry, I’m warning you.
Ha ha. That’s really funny. You think threats still work? I’ve been listening to them for an awful long time, you know?
"Nii-chan, can you even hear me?"
No, he can’t, little girl. Your Nii-chan’s busy talking to himself right now.
Shut up.
"Nii-chan?"
"Go away, Xelana."
"Hey, Amelia, what’s up?"
Amelia jumped, then laughed nervously. "Hello, Gourry-san."
The blond smiled brightly and waved. " Isn’t it nice, that we get to go back to the mainland soon? Have you ever been to this place…what was it, Salga…Salmon…"
"Sailloon." She corrected quietly. "The place that used to be the kingdom of Sailloon." Neatly, she folded the shirt that she was packing. "It’s close to where we started, a city of all humans. Actually, it’s one of the few of its kind."
"Oh."
Lina knocked and came in, nodding with approval at Amelia’s packing. "Hey, Gourry, Amelia. Gourry, can you do something for me? Ask Xellas if she wants to come with us this time, will you?"
The dense swordsman nodded, then left the room, forgetting that he wasn’t quite that sure who Xellas was, and even if he did, he had no idea where she was at this given moment.. Amelia gave Lina a confused look. "Lina-san, he’s going to forget-"
Lina shrugged, waiting until she was sure he was out of earshot. Either that or hopelessly lost, whichever one came first. "No biggie. Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
Amelia felt a tiny quiver of unease inside her. "Oh? About what?" She said, forcing her voice to remain carefully neutral, casually curious.
"What do you think, Amelia?" Lina replied. Two could play this game. Amelia looked away from Lina’s knowing glance.
"About…Sailloon, right?"
Lina decided to not let her irritation, which is what always welled up when Amelia tried to be evasive, show. Being tactful wasn’t exactly her strong point, but for Amelia’s sake, she’s going to have to try. Lina Inverse isn’t completely insensitive and heartless, nuh-uh. "Yes, about Sailloon. Are you okay with it?"
The younger girl swallowed, but her smile almost looked real. "Sure. Why would I have a problem with it?"
"Amelia…"
"There’s no problem, Lina-san."
There was silence in the room, then Lina nodded and said, "If you’re sure, Amelia. I’ll let you finish packing." And left quietly, closing the door behind her.
With a heave, Amelia released the breath she was holding in a vain attempt to hold back tears. She continued to pack her clothes, ignoring the hot tears that ran down her cheeks as she did so, doing it with ease born of practice. She’ll deal. She had been doing it for the past ten years. She’ll deal. She must deal.
Crossing her arms, Filia gave the Beastmaster her most patented severe glare. "What you said is nice and all, but what are we doing once we get to Sailloon? Xelloss doesn’t seem to be keen on telling us the way, heck, we don’t even know where he is."
The Beastmaster indifferently smothered another cigarette, lighting another one automatically. Once out of the sight of the ‘young ones’, she had reverted to her time honored habit of chain smoking, with glee. Filia wrinkled her nose in disgust and the Demon Lord merely smiled. "I’m well aware that you have your misgivings, Cepheed General. Let me assure you that they’re unfounded."
"Oh, yeah? Well, why don’t you tell us where to find this Sealed piece of Shabranigdo, then?"
Xellas smiled, flashing Filia an eyeful of sharp canine teeth. "I’m sure a solution will be presented once you reach Sailloon."
"That doesn’t answer my question." Filia said flatly.
"Oh, dear. Is this a bad time?" A female voice asked mildly. Zira waved and turned around. "I can come back later."
"Zira, wait!" Filia called and the woman stopped, looking over her shoulder with one eyebrow raised. "When did you get here?"
Zira shrugged. "About a minute ago, when someone informed me that the Cepheed General and the Beastmaster are left in the same room together, alone. I thought I’d come and see if there were any casualties."
Xellas chuckled dryly. "You flatter us."
"I’m sure." Zira agreed. "So, what was the problem that had you two at each other’s throats?"
"I wouldn’t put it like that, exactly." Filia protested. "I just wanted to know what we’re getting into before instead of after the fact."
Xellas ground out yet another cigarette. "And since I don’t have all the information, I can’t tell her."
The Knight of Chaos nodded sagely. "I see. Well, I suppose I can help you out on that, Filia."
The Dragon perked up. "Yes?"
"I believe I’ve been given the honor of escorting you guys to Sailloon." Zira replied. "At least, until Xelloss decides to get off his lazy butt and do what he’s supposed to. I doubt he’s going to miss this trip though."
"Where is he?"
Zira shrugged. "I don’t know. Can’t find him either."
Xellas looked a little disappointed, although she was almost certain that Zira of all people would know where her son might have went. Then again, Zira never vowed to tell the truth all the time. She had used falsehoods before… "ah." Was all she said.
"In that case…"
"Mother?"
Xellas’s cigarette disappeared, as if by magic. "Yes, Xelana?"
The little girl peered into the room, eyes widening for a second as she saw Zira. "Um…Lina-san said that they’re almost done packing and want to know what’s for dinner." She said meekly. "That’s all."
"Good, good." Xellas nodded. "Will you be a dear and prepare the dinner? I’ve got a few more things to take care of on this end."
"All right."
Filia’s eyes followed the lavender haired girl as she left the doorway, sapphire depths thoughtful. She was jolted out of her thoughts when she realized Zira was asking her a question. "Wh-what?"
"I said, what were you saying?"
"Um…" She quickly ran through her memory of the past few minutes. "I was saying, in that case, we should get ready, but it appears that everyone is ready to go."
The Demon Lord nodded again. "You’ll stay the night and leave bright and early tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"
"It’s a plan." Filia agreed. "Now, will you please excuse me?"
Zira moved to let her pass and the Dragon brushed past her and hurried out the door. The older woman’s gaze was unreadable as she watched the General go. Xellas offered her a seat and she declined.
"So, Zira. Any words of wisdom?"
She shook her head. "Nothing that will help much." She said regretfully.
It was a very new experience, but it felt like she had done this for all of her life. Filia gazed silently at the physical plane via the astral one, knowing she couldn’t be seen in either, if she was careful. Regaining her powers had some unexpected but beneficial results, one of which was this ability to…look in on things.
Okay, so she was spying. She needed information, and the end justified the means, doesn’t it?
There really was no satisfactory answer to that, so she ignored the slight guilt she was feeling and resumed her look out.
She watched as Xelana brought in enough food to feed an army to the table. Lina and Gourry were already digging in, with Amelia pushing food around her plate without really eating any. The girl then excused herself, exiting the room, then teleporting out of Xellas’s castle. Filia continued her silent vigil as the girl reappeared outside, into the wilderness of the Wolf Pack Island. Xelana shifted forms with a thought, turning into the wolf that Filia remembered from what seemed like ages ago, when they were in Sairaag. The wolf loped, running easily over the broken and forested terrain of the island, knowing the secret, unseen paths as if they were on the back of her human hands. Filia watched as she ran on at full speed, until she came to a cleared part of the forest. The sound of water roaring could be heard as tons of river water cascaded over the side of a steep cliff, crashing into the lake below with much fanfare and noise. Fine mist rose from the waters, and Filia could even see a rainbow. Xelana ran directly into the water without slowing, starting to paddle as she reached the deeper parts. Filia watched curiously as the demon pulled herself onto the far bank, shaking water off of her dark fur. Xelana shifted forms again, returning to the small, petite frame of a human girl.
Xelana disappeared behind the waterfall, and Filia raised an eyebrow. Well, technically, she can’t raise an eyebrow because she’s not exactly physical, but that is beside the point. She used this chance to also check the Astral Plane more carefully.
The Demon’s aura burned brightly in the spiritual plane, blackness embracing spots of brilliant light. Xelana’s aura was nowhere near as powerful as Xellas or Xelloss’s, but it was still very strong. Filia also noted the immense blackness that was the Beastmaster; but try as she might, she couldn’t find Xelloss’s presence at all. No surprise there.
The black and white of Xelana’s aura fluctuated, somehow agitated by something. Yet although Filia could feel the presence of all the living creatures on the Island, she could not sense anything that might be disturbing the Demon’s spirit like that. The light seemed on the verge of being swallowed by darkness. The Dragon watched as the girl emerged again, wiping strands of wet hair from her face. Or was she crying? Filia couldn’t be sure, but before she could try to look closer, the girl went wolf again and ran off. Filia debated following her, but decided against it because it seemed that she was heading back anyway.
A few minutes afterwards, Filia appeared in the empty clearing. The waterfall continued to roar, white foam fogging up the bottom of it. Curiously, the Dragon casted Raywing and flew over to the narrow ledge where Xelana had disappeared into the first time. She searched the moss covered stone to no avail, for there was no openings or entrances of any kind. Filia ran her hands over the cold, wet rock, beginning to feel frustrated.
She yelped when she felt her hand sinking into something cold as she reached further into the waterfall. There…Filia took a deep breath and made sure the Raywing was still shielding her, then pushed where she had felt that coldness, as hard as she could.
Stumbling, she tripped forward into a dark place. She had sensed the distortion almost as soon as she passed through it, and wondered why she couldn’t feel it before. Another dimension, similar to the one that the wolves were sealed in. A twinge of fear tugged at her for a second, but it fled before she could pinpoint the source. It left her to face the darkness alone.
Cautiously, Filia took stock of her situation. Her eyes were rapidly adjusting to the semi-darkness, and she could tell she was in a room of sorts…or maybe a natural cavern, with many long, dark passages. Shuddering, she tried to not think about her last adventure in a cave. As her eyes adjusted, she heard a very queer sound. A sort of thumping…
Wincing, she realized where she had heard the sound before. The sound of skull meeting stone.
The darkness lifted and she could see a figure sitting against the wall, where the shadows were deepest, with his arms wrapped around his knees. As she watched, he lifted his head and hit it against the wall he was backed against with a slow but steady rhythm, each successive hit a little bit harder. The thud…thud…thud was the only noise in the silent cavern.
"What the hell are you doing?" She asked, her quiet voice holding a hint of horror. Slit-pupiled eyes opened to stare at her for a split second before closing again.
"What do you think I’m doing?" his voice sounded far away, even to himself, soft compared to the repeated crack of bone against stone. Pain was coming in warm, comforting waves from the back of his head, the injuries that would have killed any ordinary human were healing almost as fast as they were being inflicted.
"Xelloss, stop it."
"Go. Away." He said, emphasizing every word. She couldn’t tell if he was talking to her…it sounded like it was directed at someone else.
"You’re going to hurt yourself." She said, fighting the urge to stomp over and shake him by the shoulders. She felt more than a little…confused, afraid. After all, he had never, ever acted like this before.
Silence. Then a low chuckle.
Why should you care? "And why would that be a bad thing?" Was the hushed reply. "If it hurts, then that means I’m still alive. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?"
This time, she did stomp over and grab his shoulders. "Xelloss, don’t be so stupid. STOP it." His eyes were gleaming slightly in the dark, not really looking at her. "We’re going back now." She could feel a numbing, almost chilling sensation running up her arms like frozen flame and she released him abruptly. What the hell was that?!
"Go away, Filia."
"No."
The Demon eyes focused, flinty shards of jeweled amethyst, and he looked at her with a slightly curious expression. " Goaway." He repeated, as if to a very young child. The Dragon glared at him, shaking her head firmly.
"Is that what you told Xelana when she came to you?" she snapped. "Making her leave when she was so worried about you?"
"Xelana’s not stupid."
That immediately aroused her anger. "Are you saying I am?"
"You don’t take perfectly good advice." He shrugged, then went back to pounding his head against the wall. "Just leave, Filia."
"You’re coming with me."
That seemed to amuse him even more. "You’re so funny, Filia."
"And you are not in your right mind." She retorted. "Have you forgotten what we need to do? This is no time to be sitting around, you have a job to do."
"When did you become my boss?" He asked, turning away and looking into one of the hollow passages to his left. "Don’t talk to me about duty and destiny. I know what I’m doing."
Do you really? She voiced the same question that echoed inside his head. "Do you really, Xelloss? If you do, then you wouldn’t be here right now." There was no answer. "Don’t ignore me, Xelloss!"
Slowly, he raised his head and she swallowed, feeling that fear well inside her chest once again. Just as slowly, he touched his finger to his lips, smiling. Filia almost jumped as he reached out, feeling his icy fingers touch her lips. "Go. Away."
And everything exploded in darkness.
"Oi, earth to Filia!"
Lina let out a surprised exclamation as the Dragon sat straight up in the bed, looking around confusedly. "Wh-what happened?" Filia asked, feeling quite bewildered.
"Looks like you fell asleep to me." Lina noted, pointing at the bed. "Are you feeling all right, Filia? It’s not that time of the month or anything?"
"Was…Was I dreaming?"
Now Lina gave the General her most patented quizzical look. "What are you talking about? Did you have a dream?"
No, it couldn’t have been a dream…she was sure of that, at least. The waterfall, following Xelana…Xelloss. But she couldn’t remember how she got back. "Um…yeah." She lied. "A nightmare. Nothing important."
Lina shrugged. "Okay. We just finished dinner, but you weren’t here for it. Are you hungry?" Filia got to her feet, frowning a little to herself, shaking her head. "Well, we’re leaving tomorrow, so don’t complain once we get going." She winked and waved. "See ya!"
Filia mustered a smile and waved back.
The door closed with a click.
"What the hell just happened?" She whispered.
Silence.
"Xellas isn’t coming."
The petite sorceress smiled teasingly as she hit Gourry’s arm lightly. "Why, you remembered, jellyfish brains." He gave her his best sweet, innocent and empty-headed smile.
"Why, yes. That’s me."
She chuckled. "Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re serious, or just pretending to be stupid." She laughed, peering at the swordsman, her long time friend.
Gourry shrugged. "Hey, that means I’m pretty good." He winked. "Anyway, Lina. We just hang around until next morning?"
Lina nodded. "Yeah. Zira’s coming along, you know."
"Zira? Coming? That’s odd."
"I’ll say." Lina snorted. "Speaking of odd, I haven’t seen Xelloss since…this morning." Odd considering how he was always hovering in the background, watching…She began ticking off all the so-called ‘odd’ things on her fingers. "Xelloss hiding, Zira showing up, Filia acting funny…" She omitted Amelia and said "and we’re going to the place that used to be Sailloon. What a day."
Gourry nodded. "Who’s this last guy again? Shabravodoo?"
"Shabranigdo." Lina corrected. "A piece of him, to be precise. Zira said we’re going after the piece that possessed the legendary sorcerer, Lei Magus."
"Why that one?"
Lina put her hands behind her head and stretched. "It’s the only one that we know of, Gourry. The other six pieces are lost during the first Demon Dragon war." She scratched her cheek. "Although…if the demons can get their hands on the other pieces, their chances in the war would be much improved…"
"If that’s the case, wouldn’t they have tried to look for the pieces already?" Gourry asked. Lina smiled.
"Very good." She said approvingly. "So you were pretending after all." Gourry scratched his head and laughed ruefully. "I doubt that they have found any though, because we would have heard of it if they did."
He frowned as she gazed out the window, her face unusually serious. "Lina?"
"This is it." She whispered. "We’re going after the biggest and baddest one of them all, Gourry. We’re going after the Dark Lord, Shabranigdo." The darkened sky seemed to echo her somber sentiments. "And we’re going to be the one who unleashes him on the world. We will be the ones who bring about the end."
"Scared?"
Anyone else, she would have fireballed immediately. Anyone else but him. "A little." She admitted quietly. "It’s just so profound, what we’re trying to do. All this crap that sounds so high and mighty. ‘Restore the balance’, ‘save the world from obliteration’, etc, etc…sometimes, I wonder if I’m the one who will be responsible for the end." Pause. "It’s a horrible feeling. I thought I couldn’t die…but I guess Dolphin taught me otherwise. And all those other people who think they can’t die…what will happen to them?"
"I’m not sure." Gourry said softly, coming to stand beside her as she looked out the window. "But I know I’m not going to let you die."
"Gourry?" She whispered, feeling a blush spread across her cheeks. He smiled sweetly at her.
"We’ve come too far to turn back now, Lina. I know I haven’t been much help…but I’ll be with you to the end."