They had moved into the kitchen, the dining table making it easier for them to plan and giving an heir of officialness to the whole thing. Though the table was round, Lina still seemed to be seated at the head. Her hand moved to rub her temple, and her hand twitched absently, her mind expecting a pen to be there. Finally, after the initial silence, she spoke, "Alright, as much as I hate to admit it, it seems something's gonna have to be done. Otherwise, we'll never get these two away from us." She cast a glare to the intruders-that-weren't-really-intruders-but-were-because-technically-uh-dammit....
An odd look had come upon Amelia's face, her voice carrying something of question, something not like her at all, "Lina, you say we, but who do you mean, actually?"
She blinked, an edge creeping into her own voice, "What exactly are you implying?"
"Nothing much." She shrugged, but her tone belied her words, "Just that it seems Gourry and I have been included in something we didn't consent to..."
Zelgadiss cast her a cool glare, unsoftened by his human face, "No one's asking you to stay, Amelia."
It was now Amelia's turn to be confused, "But, I..."
Hmm. As much as he hated to do it, Xelloss took Zelgadiss' side, "He's right, princess. You can leave any time you want to. Though I'll admit you, or some semblance thereof, have been a help to us in the past, it doesn't mean we'll force you into something unwilling. Just why do you stay?"
"Because...Because Lina's my friend, and I don't want you two freaks pulling anything on her!" She felt as if she were on trail.
"If she's such a friend, why urge her against this? Something that could well be even more dangerous if left alone."
"Why should we believe you? For all we know, you're just two criminals ready to rob her blind!"
Xel chuckled darkly, a decidedly un-friendly look making his violet eyes shine, "Even in a different world you still look for enemies that aren't there, eh, little princess?"
"Stop calling me that!"
"Go on, then, run home and do your duty as a princess and a daughter. You're father would want it that way, and we couldn't have daddy being upset, now could we?"
The tension was building again, dark undercurrents lancing through the air invisibly. Lina got a hard look in her eye and Gourry stood, Amelia gasping for breath like a fish out of water for some reason, the water she was lacking quickly building in her eyes. She decided then and there was something about the purple-eyes man, something dark and inconceivable she couldn't quite place. Even Zelgadiss looked slightly surprised at the coldness in the once-priest's voice.
"Xelloss!" Lina?s voice was half astonishment, half growl.
"You want to say that again to me, man, instead of a little girl?" Gourry had taken his stance, ready to beat the man senseless should he be asked to. Ever the protector...
"No, Gourry..." Amelia's voice was eerily calm, her face now settled into a cool glower to rival Zel's own. She had seen Naga superimposed over Xelloss, but the words were the same. She straightened her shoulders, taking on a positively royal position, even though she herself couldn't see it. Even her voice befitted a princess...No, a queen, "I do not follow my father's wishes, only my own. I'm coming."
Zelgadiss, though he sighed inwardly in relief, was still unsure as to whether the girl would feel the same later on, "Amelia, are you sure....?"
She flashed him a warm smile, making a victory sign, "Don't worry, Mr. Zelgadiss, I'll be fine..."
Blush, "I wasn't exactly worrying..."
Gourry sat back down, confused as to the sudden conclusion of the argument, though he still kept his gaze on Xelloss. Said man merely smirked, as Lina once again took control, "Well, now that that's dealt with..."
"A-HEM!"
"Geese, sorry Ame...Gourry, are you gonna get down on this?"
"Huh?"
Sweatdrop, "Are you gonna come along? I'd like you to, but..."
He blinked in that way only football players and their cheerleading counterparts can, "Was I ever not coming, Lina?"
"Ah....nevermind. You satisfied Amelia?"
She nodded.
"Good then...Er, anyways I guess the best question is what we should do...Any suggestions?"
It was then that Amelia noticed the clock, "Uh, Lina? It's nearly nine..."
Lina and the other's hadn't noticed the time had gone by. Zel glanced outside at the sun, hanging low above the western horizon and moaned softy. Lina sunk into her chair, "We can't really do anything 'till tomorrow, then...Do you two have a place to stay?" She half-dreaded the answer.
"Yes," said Zelgadiss.
"No," said Xelloss.
Zelgadiss blushed.
"Fine then, you guys can stay with me...In the basement," Xel's face fell.
"I'm staying too, Lina!"
"Me too!"
"Amelia, phone you're dad and make sure it's okay. Gourry, you can't."
"Why not?"
"Because, jellyfish, you're a boy!!"
"Umm....okay....Hey! Wait! They're boys too!"
Rolling her eyes, Lina slumped to the table, "Gourry, just go home, but be here first thing tomorrow morning."
"Okay, Lina...If that's what you want..." He stood, "I should be getting back anyways, mom probably has dinner ready." Brushing coldly past the two, he gave them both a look completely contrast to his stature as he moved out the back door and into the darkened daylight.
Phil had said it would be wonderful for Amelia and Lina to spend the night studying, and many plans were made, though not quite with the school's interests at heart. It was decided that the best place to start would be Rezz' bar, the Dragon Slave, since it seemed familiar to Zel and Xelloss, and since Lina knew all the dark types lurked around there, and the well of information the patrons held was unrivaled.