Xellos sat in the inn's common room, waiting patiently for Gourry and Sylphiel to descend from their room. It was almost time for Dinner to be served, and he'd never known Gourry to miss a meal if he could possibly avoid it. He let his mind roam up to their room and smiled. He was right, they were just getting dressed now. When they came into the common room, Xellos waved to catch Gourry's eye.
Gourry waved back. "Hi Xellos, when did you get here?" he asked when he got to Xell's table.
"Oh, just a little while ago." Xell said urbanely, "You know, I don't think I've ever been properly introduced to your lovely friend."
"Oh, this is Sylphiel...She's a really good cook." Gourry said nonchalantly, but his body language said something else. He put one arm around her shoulders, and there was a dangerous, possessive glint in his eyes which said, 'She's mine, so don't even THINK about trying to take her!' Xellos checked himself. His purpose here was definitely not getting on Gourry's bad side, and Gourry operated on a more basic, instinctual level than most humans...and he just happened to possess a weapon which was quite capable of hurting him. Better to establish everyone's relationships right at the beginning.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Xellos." he said in the most casual voice he could muster. She really did look an awful lot like Xala, and it was bringing back some fairly painful memories. "Why don't you sit down and order?" he invited.
Gourry sat down and waved to the waiter, who hurried over to their table.
"Your usual, Sir?" he asked.
"Yeah, that'll be fine." Gourry agreed.
"And for you, Miss?" the waiter turned to Sylphiel.
"I'd like the trout, if you don't mind."
The trout, of course...and you sir?"
"Oh, I'll just have tea." Xellos said, making a little negating gesture with his hand.
As they were waiting to Gourry and Sylphiel's food to arrive, Xellos looked over at Sylphiel.
"You know," he said casually, "You look an awful lot like someone who was very dear to me."
"Dear to you?" Sylphiel frowned slightly, "Xellos, I may not have been properly introduced to you before, but I do know who, and more importantly what, you are...how can a Mazoku hold anyone dear?"
"It's a flaw, I know, and one that runs through my entire line. We not only have the ability to love, but tend to love too deeply. It can be our downfall, as it was with my poor dear daughter Xala."
"X...X...Xala?! But that's my MOTHER'S name!!" Sylphiel blurted out.
Neither Zel not Lina planned on getting much sleep that night...after all, Chimerae don't need much sleep, and who knew when they'd see a bed again. Not that a bed was really NECESSARY per say, but hey, it was much more comfortable. What little sleep they did get was a short nap after dinner, and when Zel woke up, Lina was still asleep, and the pillow beneath her head was littered with chips of crystal.
"Dream tears." he whispered with a tone of awe.
He had discovered that whenever he had a truly wonderful dream, he would wake up with these chips of crystal on his pillow, so that's what he called them. Remembering the ring Lina had showed him, he scooped a few of the glittering gems aside, then bent off a few of the long, coppery strands of her hair that looked like they had weak points. He wasn't wearing anything, and consequently had no pockets to put them in, so he slipped them beneath the pillow, then kissed the tip of her ear to wake her up.
"Good dreams?" he asked.
"Yes, but I can't remember what they were about."
Zel grinned. "We have most of the night still to make better ones." He whispered seductively.
Lina blushed. "Let me just check that the others haven't gone anywhere." she said. Slipping out of bed, she reached into her cloak. This time, as well as the lock of Gourry's hair, she pulled out a braided lock of long purplish-black hair tied at each end with a bit of gold tassle.
"Well?" Zel asked when he saw her worried expression.
"Xellos is there now, and Sylphiel is so upset I can actually feel it. I'd say it's definitely time to pick up the pace...but not until morning." She kissed him and slipped back into bed.
Zel kissed her back avidly. "No, they can take care of themselves, and besides, even with our speed, it will take a couple of days to get there. Lets just forget about it until the morning." he said as he pulled her into his arms.
"You're ready to come home?" Amelia couldn't quite decide how she felt about this. She was happy that her sister was coming back, but she was also angry at her for leaving for so long...and Gracia looked so much like Mother now...Amelia felt her head spinning with confusion and had to sit down.
"Yes dear, I know that's your mother's name, because my daughter WAS your mother." Xellos said patiently.
"Y...you mean...you mean I'm...a Mazoku?!" Sylphiel's voice was shaking with the shock and fear she was feeling at this information which should have been impossible...she Couldn't be evil...could she?
Xellos shook his head. "Only half, but Xala suppressed that part of your heritage as soon as you were born." Xellos explained.
All of a sudden he felt a jolt of unhappiness and hurt over the link he always kept open with his Ame-chan. She needed him, and his granddaughter would probably be better off with time to think about all this new information.
"Look, why don't I let you process all of this, and I'll come back later." Xellos said, patting Sylphiel's hand.
Walking off, he slipped into a shadow and teleported to where Amelia was.