Chapter Eight


There is a hero
If you look inside you heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are.

Xellos watched as Lina tried to dodge Sherra's spell. Lina cried out in pain as the burning sphere clipped her on the shoulder and left to the ground in agony. "No!!!!" Xellos cried as he knelt down next to his lover. "Lina please, hang on." Xellos begged. Sherra laughed slightly.

"You should never have fallen in love with a pitiful human Xellos. They are our prey, not our equals." Xellos snarled, and his aura glowed black-violet around him.

"Lina is twice the woman you will ever be you pathetic excuse for a Mazuko!" Xellos growled. Sherra recoiled as if she had been struck.

"Now you and your mortal lover shall die!" Sherra cried, yet inside, she was hurting form Xellos' cruel words.

"If I can't have him then neither shall you!" "No!" Xellos said and his voice echoed unearthly power.

"A mere component of the Lord of Nightmares
Could release understanding upon the world
Frozen into the dark knife of annihilation
With our power, with our essence
Together we can destroy all who cross our path
Spirits of the Gods deliver your smiting blow
Laguna Blade!!"

Xellos held out the black shining blade and he his lips curled back in a smiled that was more of a snarl. "Nooooo!" Sherra screamed as Xellos' magickal blade seared a path of fire down her chest.

There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

"Why Xellos, we were so good?" Sherra asked in confused hurt as she clutched at he rbleeding chest.

"She is mine, Sherra, and nobody hurts what is mine!" Xellos said cheerfully as he walked over to Lina and knelt down next to her.

"Lina!" Gourry cried as he ran to where the two Mazuko had fought. Gourry saw Xellos kneeling over Lina's bleeding and broken body and his insides froze. "Li... Lina?" Xellos looked up at Gourry with dull eyes. "Save her please." He murmured as he looked over at Slyphial, "I beg of you, save her." Tears ran down Xellos' cheeks as he cradled Lina against him.

And then a hero comes a long
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you will survive.

Slyphial walked over and knelt down next to the distraught Mazuko.

"Let go, Xellos-kun." Slyphial whispered as she laid Lina on the ground. "Resurrection." Slyphial murmured as she began to cast the strongest spell in all of White Magick. Xellos leaned down and kissed Lina once more. Xellos stood up and began to walk into the woods.

"Wait!" Zel shouted as he ran after the Mazuko. "You're just going to leave Lina while she's in this condition? I thought you loved her!" Xellos turned around and his open eyes burning into the Chimera's eyes.

"I do love her, that's why I am leaving. I have too many enemies Zelgadis. I would place her in danger if the other Mazuko knew that I love her. They would either kill her to spite me, or they would use her for their own twisted games. And I refuse to put Lina-chan though that." Xellos turned around and began to levitate.

"Xellos, I'll tell her what you said." Zelgadis called, yet the Mazuko didn't answer him. "I hope your tortured spirit finds some respite Xellos." Zel murmured as he walked back to the others.

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lied in you

Lina swam into consciousness and stared at the people hovering around her bed.

"How are you Lina?" Gourry asked with his usual sunny grin.

"Lina! Don't you do that ever again!" Khirah cried.

"You had us worried there Lina." Zel frowned at her and broke into a slight grin. "Nice to have you back."

"Lina-chan!" Firia cried as she hugged her young sister.

"Lina-san." Draneth said as he inclined his head at Lina.

"Hello Lina." Zangalus said with a smiled on his long angular face.

"Xell..... Xellos?" Lina asked hoarsely. "Where is he?"

"He's not here Lina-chan." Lina looked up in fear as she saw her Neechan standing at the foot of her bed.

"Neechan." Lina whispered.

"Ne Lina-chan what about me?" Milgazia asked hurt.

"Milgazia." Lina said softly. "Neechan, where is Xellos?"

"He left." Luna said shortly. Lina closed her eyes, yet a tear slipped from her sooty lashes.

"Can you all leave me alone?" Lina whispered. "I'm really tired and I would like to get some sleep. The Slayers' faces fell, yet they left without argument.

"Barayaro Namagomi Mazuko!" Firia snarled under her breath.

"Firia!" Milgazia commanded sharply. Lina pretended to be asleep for a long time, and she finally did fall into a restless slumber.

It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No on reaches out a hand
For you to hold

"What are we going to?" Lina distantly heard someone whispering from the other room.

"Don't worry Luna, we have a plan." Lina couldn't place the voice of the woman her Neechan was talking to.

"How can I help?" Milgazia asked.

"Leave it to us. I have to go now. See you soon Luna."

"Good luck." Luna called after her friend. "Milgazia, you are a good friend." Lina heard the rustling of clothing.

"Anything for you my love." Milgazia murmured. Lina opened her eyes ands she saw two shadows playing upon the wall outside of the open door. Lina guessed that they would be Luna and Milgazia. Imagine her surprise when she saw Luna lean up and kiss Milgazia passionately. Lina's eyes bugged out and she silently climbed out of her bed. "I have to go love." Milgazia whispered mournfully and Lina heard his retreating footsteps down the hallway.

"Ne Lina, he's gone now." Luna said as she walked into the room. Lina froze in mid-packing.

"Neechan, I have to go to him." Lina said softly. Luna walked over to her younger sister and gently hugged her.

"I understand. I would do the same if Mil were in trouble. Here." Luna held out a purse that clinked heavily in Lina's hands. "You'll need this on your journey. Good luck Lina-chan." Luna kissed both of Lina's cheeks and left the room. "I will stall your friends for a while." Luna began to leave.

"Neechan what." Lina said softly. She threw her arms around Luna's neck. "Thank you Neechan, for understanding."

"What are sisters for?" Luna asked with a grin "Now go." Lina nodded and pushed her pack into the special pocket in her cloak that was actually a bag of holding. Lina wiped at tear that ran down her cheek.

You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

Lina reached the village by dawn. She heard the angered snarl of a wild animal.

"Don't let it go!" A panicked voice reached Lina as she ran forward. She saw a group of farmers surrounded a snarling gray wolf.

"Hey!" Lina shouted. The farmers turned to her and began to leer at her

"And how are you going to stop us?" One of the lager farmers asked grinning. Lina smiled maliciously. Lina grabbed as stick off of the ground and began to walk around the farmers murmured a chant.

"Explosion Array!" Lina cried and the farmers were blow into the air. Lina looked up and a small sack came falling to the earth. She reached out her hands and a bag of gold fell there. "Lucky!" Lina said with a small semblance of her old self. The wolf looked at Lina with narrowed icy blue eyes. "Easy girl." Lina murmured as she walked slowly towards the wolf. "Easy girl."

"Stay away!" the wolf snarled in Lina's mind. Lina took a step back.

"Whoa when did animals start talking to me?"

"Who are you?" the she-wolf asked.

"I am Lina Inverse."

"Lina Inverse, you saved me. Thank you." The gray wolf bowed her head to lean and whines in submission.

"Ahhh." Lima murmured.

"Pack Leader." The she wolf grinned a toothy grin. "I am Greyling." Greyling walked over to Lina and she stared at the wolf. Greyling took Lina's hand and delicately held onto her hand. Lina sighed and pulled her hand from the wolf's mouth.

"Well Greyling, I am going on a trip, do you want to come along?" Greyling yapped and raced ahead of Lina. She suddenly stopped and looked back at the sorceress.

"Are you coming?" Lina smiled and walked side by side with her new companion


Chapter 9   |   Fanfiction