Shabrinigdo in the form of Lei Magnus smiled.
"Well done Xellos, well done indeed." Shabrinigdo congratulated the Mazuko general. Xellos genuflected before the Ruby Eye.
"Thank you my master." Xellos whispered.
"Raise Xellos." The violet haired Mazuko rose as ordered. Xellos tried not to look at Zellas huddling at the far end of the dais silent staring at nothing, completely withdrawn. "Awaken them Xellos." Xellos nodded and walked over to Lina and picked her gently up.
"Wakey wakey Lina." Xellos whispered as her kissed her once again. "Counter-sleeping." Lei/Shabrinigdo laughed heartily.
"Nicely done Xellos." The Ruby Eyed Lord laughed.
Lina woke up feeling warm lips presses against her lips.
Zel? Lina wondered silently. Lina sighed and she heard a chuckle that thoroughly woke her up. Zel didn't chuckle like that! Lina's eyes flew open and she found herself staring into a pair of violet slit pupil eyes instead of blue ones. Lina panicked and pushed against Xellos but that didn't deter the Mazuko. Finally out of desperation Lina opened her mouth and allowed Xellos' tongue to sweep in and bit down as hard as she could. With a yelp of surprise Xellos jumped back, his hand flew to his mouth, and Lina saw a small amount of blood stain Xellos' lavender gloves.
"She's got spunk this Lina Inverse." A deep voice intoned and Lina looked to where a man with long black hair and ruby red eyes sat. Shabrinigdo rose and walked over to Lina and knelt next to her. "My what a surprise." Shabrinigdo murmured as he ripped Lina's headband from her head and stared at the two marks on Lina's forehead. "Xellos look at this." Lei/Shabrinigdo murmured and the violet haired Mazuko peered at Lina's forehead.
"L-sama's mark." Compared to Shabrinigdo's rumbling and deep voice Xellos' seemed almost tenor-like.
"So it would appear." Shabrinigdo looked over at Zel who was barely stirring. "And this one... interesting." Shabrinigdo murmured as he held Zelgadis' face between his hands. "Your son?" [1]
"What!?!" Lina and Xellos cried at the same time.
"You are getting sloppy Xellos by letting your playthings live."
"But Master?" Xellos protested. "How do you know this creature is my son?" Shabrinigdo chuckled, a horrible sound.
"Just read his aura, he is your son. Your aura's are almost exactly alike." Xellos' closed his eyes and paled noticeably.
"Shabrinigdo-sama, you are right." Xellos murmured and giggled. "I've never had a son before, may I keep him?" Shabrinigdo looked Zel over and noticed the barely healed burn marks on his skin.
"So you can finish the job you started Xellos?"
"Eventually perhaps. But he does show remarkable aptitude toward magick, especially Shamanism. If I was to say resurrect him as a full Mazuko he would be a great asset to us." Shabrinigdo nodded.
"True." While the two Mazuko were talking Lina walked over to Zellas and started into the woman's beautiful golden eyes.
"Gods, what kind of monster did this to you." Lina asked as she wrapped her cloak around Zellas. The Mazuko female flinched when Lina's hand brushed against her shoulder. "Shhh, I won't harm you." Lina whispered and somewhere deep inside Zellas something awake, she herself awoke for the first time in a thousand years. Zellas looked up into Lina's eyes and something akin to sorrow and love shone in her golden eyes. Lina impulsively threw her arms around Zellas. Shabrinigdo with a snarl pounced on her and threw her across the room where Xellos phazed in and grabbed her.
"No one touches her but me!" Shabrinigdo growled and Zellas seemed to wilt. Shabrinigdo picked Zellas up and stared at her. "Look at me, look at your Master." Shabrinigdo commanded Zellas, but the blond woman stared into nowhere.
"Leave her along damn you!" Lina screamed. "What kind of monster are you! You have broken her must you degrade her like this as well?!" Lina's angry cries echoed those that Xellos' mind had cried a thousand times when ever he looked at his Mistress. In a way she was his mother, she had created him and it torn at what Xellos had for a heart to see his once proud and vivacious 'mother' reduced to noting more then a animal.
"Shut up!" Shabrinigdo snarled. Xellos clamped his hand over Lina's mouth but she bit him once again.
"What kind of man are you that you would treat a lady like that? You are a pathetic coward rapes a woman that can't fight back!" Lina screamed.
"Stupid girl be quiet!" Xellos cried as he tried to make Lina be quiet forcefully.
"No!" Lina snapped and she grabbed the Hirakri no Ken from it sheath at Xellos' side. The Mazuko was so stared by her actions he just stood there for a moment. Which gave the volatile sorceress enough time. "Hikario O!" Lina cried and the sword of light flashed into life.
In the runes of the Slayers camp. Gourry Gabriev and Sylphial Nels Raada tended to the wounded.
"Where do you think they are?" Slyphial asked as she wearily walked into Gourry's tent. The blond swordsman was one the leaders while Lina and Zelgadis were missing.
"I don't know Sylphial. The ex-barmaid turned healer nodded and her emerald green eye traveled over to the other occupant in the room. The woman known as Naga or Gracia lay on the palate pale and sweating as she burned with fever.
"I wish I knew what to do with her." Slyphial murmured. The woman Naga seemed to have a resistance to Sylph's white magick and her wound refused to heal and had soon become infected. "Who many people survived the attack?" Sylphial asked and Gourry sighed. Surprisingly the painfully shy swordsman had shone a surprising knack for leadership.
"Out of a thousand men and women? About two hundred including the critically wounded many of which will survive because of you Sylph. Gourry wrapped his arm around Sylphial's waist in a easy affection. Suddenly at Gourry's side, the Namidi no Ken trembled and started to hum. "Odd that is the second time in a few hours that it's done that.
"What does it mean?" Sylph asked unnerved.
"Someone is using the Hikari no Ken." Gourry murmured.
"They are connected somehow. The blond woman that gave it to my ancestor never really explained the connection between the two." Gourry said as he looked down at his sword.
Valgarv bowed as his master Garv appeared suddenly at his cliff-top lair.
"Well meet Val." Garv said as he embraced the thin Mazuko/Dragon in a unexpected hug.
"Garv-sama?" Val murmured. "What is the matter?"
"Am I that transparent Val?"
"To me yes." Garv smiled slightly.
"I never could fool you. So where is your Gold?"
"Firia, bring some tea." Val ordered and Garv grinned when he heard the string of curses that was issued form the enraged Dragon.
"She's been around you too long Val, she's picking up your speech habits." Garv said with a small smile. "You seem a whole lot less tense today."
"Yes, I suppose I am." Valgarv stood up. "If you will excuse me I will got see what is keeping Firia. Please be seated." Val murmured as he walked swiftly into a side cave. Garv cocked and eyebrow at the insults Firia hurled at Val and he winced when he heard the sickening thud of what must me a mace hitting a certain Mazuko/Dragon. Valgarv walked out of the kitchen with Firia's mace in his hands and the extremely ticked Dragon walking after him carrying a tray the tip of her tail slashing back and forth from under her skirts. Firia set the tray on the table and Val handed Firia her precious mace back. Which she promptly used to beat him into the ground with, Garv found this all vastly amusing and laughed until tears were in his eyes. With a sniff Firia whiled around and stalked back into the side kitchen. Val picked himself up from the ground and painfully sat down in a chair.
"Did I thank you for cursing me with her Garv-sama?" Valgarv asked wryly. "I understand you attacked the human resistance unit called the Slayers. Why wasn't I called upon?" Valgarv's voice was measured and even yet Garv could hear the disappointment and bitterness in the younger Mazuko's voice.
"Don't you get enough battle at home, why would you want to fight a few paltry mortals?"
"Yes sir, but I should have been there to protect you."
"I came by and you were otherwise occupied." Garv murmured as he sipped at Firia's tea. "Exquisite." Garv murmured appreciatively. Val flushed slightly and opened his mouth. "Before you say it I understand and approve wholly. I like this Dragon, she has spunk and spirit that will keep you on your toes." Garv sighed. "But sadly I came to fetch you away. I am doing on a daring raid that could very well result in my death. This is not a order, but I would like for you to accompany me." Val looked torn. "I understand completely if you wish to stay here, you have a beautiful Dragon that obviously loves you very much." Val smiled grimly.
"How can you tell?"
"I can."
"I will come with you Garv-sama, may I say goodbye to Firia quickly?"
"Of course, but the raid begins in a hour." With a brief smile Garv disappeared. Val turned and walked into the kitchen where he saw Firia kneading some kind of dough.
"Firia." Val whispered as he walked up and hugged her fiercely.
"Val, what's wrong?" Firia asked as she stared up into his unnerving golden eyes, the look in them frightened her. "Val?"
"Firia I am going on a raid, and I am not sure if I will be coming back." The bowl Firia was carrying to a table fell to the ground and shatter. "Firia." Val grasped her by the shoulders and turned her around. "Look at me." Firia kept her eyes downcast and closed do that he couldn't see the tears beginning to swirl within them. Val lifted face up and she looked at him. "I free you." He whispered and Firia threw herself into his arms sobbing.
"I don't want my freedom I want you!" Firia cried against Val's chest and the Mazuko/Dragon hugged her.
"Firia, I swear to you that I will do everything I can to come back to you." Val whispered into Firia's softly scented hair.
"Val." Firia cried and the aqua haired man pushed her away and stared deeply into her eyes. His golden eyes reflecting all the love and emotions that he couldn't vocalize. At least not yet, but Firia understood and wiped her cheeks. "No more tears." She whispered and Val smiled.
"Firia I... I care for you more then I thought I was capable of." Val murmured and Firia nodded.
"I understand Val and I don't need you to say it." Firia grinned weakly. "You had better go." With one last kiss, the two lovers parted. Val phazed to Garv's camp and Firia went back to her baking and tried not to notice when tears blurred her vision.
"I love you." Firia whispered mentally and thousands of miles away Valgarv uttered those same words at that exact same instant.
Shabrinigdo growled, how dare this impudent mortal challenge him!
"L-sama or not, this guy is going to die!" Shabrinigdo shouted as he powered of the his spell. "Ruby-Eyed Blade!" Shabrinigdo smiled cruelly. "How ironic that you should die by the spell that could destroy your pitiful Hikari no Ken." Lina stared at Shabrinigdo frozen in terror as the Ruby Eyed Lord brought his crimson blade down ready to skewer her through the heart when suddenly something phazed in between her and the blade. Lina was shocked to see a twinkling pair of violet eyes bore into hers, Xellos had just saved her life!
1 - All who didn't see that coming raise your hand.