False Deceptions


Author's Notes

English project gone bad! Hee Hee. ^^


Eyes; ruby, focused and intense; staring deeply upon the mysterious lavender slit pupils of the Mazoku ahead.

Hands; gloved, fingertips gouged and dripping with blood, clenching her fist tightly, despite the pain.

Heart; beating, erratically pumping and pulsing with effort, flowing blood throughout her petite body.

"I hope you prove yourself more of a fight than your other companions." His voice was taunt and full of laughter. The young girl pursed her lips tightly, but never batted an eye. His once familiar face, always known as mysterious, but nevertheless as a friend, a helping hand at the very least; now his usual cheery features were distorted, having sleek eyes and an absurd smirk. "My my, Lina, Will you prove yourself worthy of a decent fight?" He mocked, clicking his tongue against his cheek.

Bandit killing, Dragon spooking, flat cheated terror, sorceress supreme herself. Lina Inverse. The man before her was Xelloss Metallium, a once known companion. After several months of traveling, deceiving all of them, he has finally shown his true self. Xelloss was a full-fledged demon of the Mazoku race, and to make things worse, general priest to the Greater Beast Master, Zellas Metallium. The brisk, chilly wind of October washed over their figures, whipping brilliant locks of orange hair about Linaís face. Xelloss stepped forward resting his upper half against the staff at his side; he cleared his throat preparing to speak.

"It's such a shame I had no use for your friends, Lina. Be thankful I have need for you." Lina's gaze darted to the limp figures that were spread across the bare ground, the bodies of her long known friends. She bit her lip, avoiding the tears that threatened to spill. Xelloss noticed the distant look in her eyeís as she looked over the torn remains of her traveling companions. He took that moment to attack. Jumping dimensions he appeared behind the grief stricken girl swinging his staff against her back, alighting a sickening crack and cry from Lina, who collapsed against the desolate floor.

Xelloss grinned, satisfied with his work. Lina lied motionless against the dusty floor, tear's rolling over her waxen cheeks. She lied next to one of her diseased companions. "Gourry..." Her voice was shaky and hardly audible. The pain in her back was almost unbearable. It all seemed so unreal. The last thing she remembered was chatting with her friends, her companions, inside the tavern while Gourry and she devoured plate after plate of food. Zelgadis was always the serious quiet type, keeping to himself, occupying himself with a mug of coffee. The ever so perky self-proclaimed champion of justice, princess of Saillune, Amelia, would try her best to cheer him up out of his gloomy mood. As much as Lina neglected to admit it before, and to their faces, they were her friends, and she needed them. And now it was too late. Xelloss had appeared making his usual short visits, but this time he did not bring good news. He had attacked without warning bringing everyone onto their knees with unexpected power.

Lina brought herself back into the present, blinking her dazed eyes at the blonde swordsman that lay torn and beaten. Lina smiled and caressed her nimble fingers along his cheekbone. "I do so wish you would fight me, Lina." She heard from behind her. She ignored his chilling voice and grasped the sword at Gourry's side. The legendary sword of light, that was known for slaying The Great Beast, Zangifar with one stroke, saving the town of Sairaag. "Sairaag..." Lina thought. Sairaag; where Sylphiel the shrine maiden lived. "If only Sylphiel was here...She could have healed everyone in time. This wouldn't have happened." Lina choked back the sobs that broke the silence. Xelloss grinned widely, devouring her pain and smacking his lips as though sipping a fine wine.

Lina sensed the feeding the twisted Mazoku was proceeding with. Despite the pain that washed over her entire body, she rose shakily to her feet, wobbling then standing on her own. Xelloss smirked in satisfaction of continuing the fight. She turned to face the amused Mazoku. She looked back once, gazing lovingly upon her friends, oneís whose lives were taken much too soon, she faced him once again, taking a step forward and jutting the hilt of the sword against her belly. The sword had a distinctive glow that erupted into a blade of pure light.

"And I thought only Gourry, the guardian of the sword of light knew how to use that sword." Xelloss mused. He shrugged it off and took a fighting stance. "You are mine, Xelloss!" Lina cried as she lunged forward and slashed the blade over his chest. Taken back; Xelloss shifted his footing and held a hand to his chest. Despite the wound, he did not bleed, but a miasma rose from his body, showing a void in his chest. Of course, his body existed in the astral plane. It made sense, but it would take a highly concentrated spell to destroy his very spirit. Deep in thought, Lina missed the opportunity to dodge Xelloss' blow as the sharp edge of his staff dug into her shoulder. Lina fell back; Xelloss laughed sadistically as he relentlessly drove his staff into her shoulder. Lina screamed as her thick blood spilled over her side and chest. She gritted her teeth and drove the sword with one stroke into the remaining chest wound of the suffering Mazoku.

"It's over Lina." Xelloss hissed through clenched teeth, twisting his staff, gouging her deeper. Lina cried out but never took her eyes off his. Eyes, burning with the passion she felt inside. The remorse of her friends was to come, now was the moment to fight. Lina knew the only way she could truly defeat Xelloss was with the spell she vowed never to use again. It was why Zellas had sent Xelloss after her the whole time; to get her to use the Giga Slave. A spell that called upon the Dark lord of all Dark lords, the Lord of Nightmares. It was she that could help Lina destroy the Mazoku who took her friends from her. With the power of the Giga slave, Lina could surely do away with Xelloss, not only Xelloss, but the entire world. A double-edged sword. One mistake and the world could be reduced to nothing but an empty void. Then again, if she didnít stop Xelloss, he would surely do away with her. Lina broke out in perspiration, beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she gazed furiously at the Mazoku who glared back, grinning, enjoying her lasting torment.

Lina continued to contemplate in her mind whether or not to use the spell. Two years back the spell defeated Ruby Eyed, Shabranigdo, the true Dark lord, by Linaís hand as well. She didnít know the true power of the Giga Slave back then, but now, she had come in contact with the Claire Bible, she knew now what she did not know before. The true powers that the Lord of Nightmares lent to her so she may cast it. The reason the Mazokus wanted the spell was because if cast correctly, the spell would return the world to utter chaos, back to when the Demon race ruled over the earth. No, she would not let that happen. She cast it once and succeeded, and she could do it again. So she hoped.

"Yes Xelloss. It is over." Xelloss quirked a brow and chuckled. "Oh, I'm so delighted that you agree! Xelloss forced his staff one last time, before ripping it from the gaping wound it made. He jumped back and swung his staff into her shocked face, grimacing with pain. Lina screamed as her brain exploded in hot white color. Pain. Gruesome pain. But nothing was worse than that of the pain of losing the ones she cared most greatly for. Paralyzed with shock and pain for only a moment, Lina rolled to her feet and with new found strength, she darted the blade through the misty wound in his chest for the third and final time. Lina clenched her eyeís shut as Xelloss dropped his staff and encircled his hands around the blade, trying to pull the it from his chest, to no avail. He growled deeply in the back of his throat slanting his eyes at the tireless young girl with profound strength. "I'm sending you back to hell where you belong!" Lina cried, taking a stance and concentrating deeply, summoning upon the being she most feared, yet needed greatly. She began to chant:

"Darkness beyond blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest night! Lord of Darkness, shining like gold upon the Sea of Chaos, I call upon thee, Swear myself to thee! Let the fools who stand before us be destroyed by the power you and I posses!"

Xelloss gasped and shuttered back, but Lina continued to sink the sword into his chest. The sword took on a black pitch as masses of purple and black tinted clouds swirled above. The wind howled, whipping Lina's hair from her face, her cape flapping behind her. Her eyes shot open as her lips curled into a devilish grin. Her ruby eyes glittered with remaining tears as she glared relentlessly into the frightened eyes of the Mazoku. Blood trickled down her mouth from Xelloss' last blow. "Damn you, Lina." Xelloss grunted, choking out a large portion of blood through his mouth. Lina watched as the thick blood pooled at his lips than seeped down his chin; his face grimaced preparing for Linaís final blow. A million things flashed through her mind as she hesitated before striking down. "This is for those whose lives were stalked endlessly by your relentless wrath..." Lina ripped the sword through Xelloss' shoulder and stroked back through with a sharp cry, releasing the tears she had restrained from flowing before. She pinned him and cried with all her force.

"GIGA SLAVE!"

Time stopped; the earth shifted for a brief moment. Great swirls of clouds washed over the floor as light washed over her figure, Lina blinked not knowing exactly what was going on. She panted and darted her sight all over the desert floor. Xelloss howled with the horror of having his soul thrashed. The black miasma that was his very being, drifted from his body. Shrieking with terror and pain, he was totally ripped from the earth as well as the astral plane. Lina's knee's buckled as she fell to the naked floor. She hung her head and panted, smiling to herself at her own victory. Truly avenging the death of her friends. Lina's victory was put on halt as lightning crashed through the skies. The ground shook beneath her and split. She flew back, the hilt of the sword fell into one of the cracks before she could get to it. Lina knew exactly what was happening, the worst possible outcome. Lina screamed and held her fists to her head as she watched through blurry, tear-filled eyes; the bodies of her companions were being sucked into a rip in the astral plane. The end of all that was ever just. Returning the world to nothingness. A black hole. Returning into a mass of chaos, for the Mazokus. "No, it wasnít supposed to happen like this! Amelia, Zel....GOURRY!" Lina cried as she reached out for their figures. "No!" A great light exploded blinding Lina, her scream faded. All was silent. So eerie. So gone.

Lina jutted up, crying out and darting her gaze around her. Thing's didn't make sense. She was exactly where she was last. At the tavern, with her...friends.

"Are you OK, Miss. Lina?" Amelia asked, concerned, shaking her shoulder lightly. Lina blinked confused eyes at her before jumping up and hugging her around the waist.

"Amelia! You crazy girl! Thank the gods you're OK!" Lina chuckled and swung her around then set a confused Amelia back on her feet. Zelgadis cocked his eyebrow and lowered his mug from his lips.

"A bit too much Sake, Lina?" Zelgadis kidded in his dry, humorless tone. She whacked him on he head playfully, causing herself more pain than Zel. Lina smiled and hugged Gourry around the neck while he continued to scarf down his meal.

"I missed you guys!" Gourry set down his fork and held up his finger. "Missed us? Where'd you go, Lina? I thought you just fell asleep. Did you have a dream or something?"

Lina shook her head and smiled. "No where Gourry, yeah just had a dream." Lina sat down and gazed upon her companions in a new light, fully content with herself and life.

Atop the rafters a figure stood still. The shadows of the tavern hiding him from view. The candle lit flames below, flickered patterns and shadows across his face. A thin pair of lip's twitched into a ghost of a smile as Xelloss gazed down upon the redheaded sorceress and her crew. Lavender slit pupils gleamed as he chuckled softly to himself. Perhaps thinking of things to come.


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