Sex drives all animals. The need to reproduce in order to maintain the species is universal among all beasts, although human beings are peculiar in that they often have sex for pleasure and not offspring. And before you even start to say anything, yes, human beings are animals. Filthy, primal beasts, driven by primitive desire and urges.
Mmm. I like that in a species.
The only race I know of that can surrender itself so completely to the flames of passion is my own. Mazoku become true animals, snarling and selfish. But humans are more fun because they deny their animal nature, fight against it and delude themselves into believing they are better than that. So when you reduce them to writhing, moaning beasts desperate for personal satisfaction, well, it's really quite amusing.
Dragons are even MORE fun, but that's another story for another time.
They had journeyed for three days, heading ever Northward and towards the Mountains of Dakmorgan. Lina found herself glancing at Xelloss out of the corner of her eye at odd moments, and every time she did he seemed to be smiling or winking at her secretively. But if she turned her head, he was gazing off at something else through closed eyes.
If anyone noticed Lina's tension, they didn't say anything. Zelgadis seemed set on reaching the Mountains as quickly as possible, quiet and determined. Gourry was Gourry. Amelia felt with the eerie intuition the young have that something was going on, but she didn't know enough to vocalize any questions. Naga was entirely focused on the idea of gaining great magical powers and possibly a lot of hidden loot as well, so she didn't notice much of anything.
The evening of the third day found the not-so-merry band of travelers camped out under the stars again, a blazing fire lit to keep the night at bay. Gourry was polishing the hilt of the Hikari no Ken, Naga was drinking and Amelia sat near the fire, her hands clasped loosely about her knees. Zelgadis stared absently up at the stars, and Lina was looking out into the gloom of the surrounding woods. Xelloss was humming.
"Nice night for star-gazing," Amelia ventured. Zelgadis nodded.
"They look cold," he replied.
"They are. Stars have no cares for the troubles of mortal men. They watch mortals live and die with equal indifference." Xelloss tipped Amelia a wink. "They know no love," he told her.
"Neither do Mazoku," Zelgadis said, his voice hard.
"Being one third yourself, I guess you should know," Xelloss threw back at him with a smile. Zelgadis didn't reply.
All was quiet for a while after that, the only sounds being the popping of wood knots in the fire and the faint whisper of wind in the trees. Once a wolf howled, the sound lonely and chilling in the dark. Xelloss smiled again at this.
"Mukashi mukashi," he said softly. "There was a woman of such fierce beauty that every man who beheld her fell instantly in love. But the woman was a predator, and she thrived on her suitors. She was a sorceress, and when she had invited a love-struck man into her bed she would satisfy herself and then transform into a wolf and tear the hapless lover's throat out.
In this way, she kept herself happy for many years, for her beauty never waned. One day she heard of a handsome young man who was rumored to be desired above all by both women and men, he was so attractive. The sorceress decided then and there that this young man would be hers to seduce.
She invited him to her castle, and lavished him with rich food and drink. She was enchanted by her young guest's eyes, which were so deep and dark they seemed like their own galaxies. His body was muscular and lithe, and couldn't have been more perfect had it been carved from stone.
By the time the two had adjourned to bed, the sorceress found that she couldn't bear to tear his throat out. The thought of life without this beautiful creature was too much to bear. The lovemaking was hot and savage, and for the first time in her existence the sorceress found herself wanting not only to satisfy her own needs but also to satisfy those of her partner.
After, as their sweat was cooling on their bodies, the sorceress rolled over to face the man who had won her heart. She smiled at him, and he returned it.
Then he leaned over and broke her neck."
Xelloss leaned back, his tale apparently told. Amelia blinked a few times and then asked: "Well?"
"Well what?" he asked, his voice holding none of the hypnotic quality it had before.
"What happened after that?" Amelia inquired. "And didn't he care about her at all?"
Xelloss' closed eyes were impenetrable. "Sore wa himitsu desu," he replied.
"Figures," Amelia muttered and sank her head down on her knees.
Zelgadis eyed Xelloss for a moment, his eyes cold as the stars above, then he shrugged and lay down, ready to go to sleep. The others followed suit, and soon the fire dwindled to ashes. In the dark, Lina Inverse lay on her side, eyes open, thinking. The moon overhead was growing larger by the day, and she realized soon it would be full. Why had Xelloss told his story? Lina knew that the priest rarely did anything without reason, although his reasons often seemed strange and were known truly only to him. Did it have something to do with her? No, that was silly.
The Devil. A charismatic and unscrupulous person. Our most destructive forces unleashed. Lust and unbreakable bonds. Secret plans, Lina-chan.
Secret plans, something Xelloss had no end of. He was charismatic, and definitely unscrupulous. But what did the 'lust and unbreakable bonds' mean to her? Surely it couldn't imply...
Dismissing these thoughts, Lina rolled over onto her other side and forced herself to fall asleep.
Traveling is hard on the soul, as well as the feet. By the time Lina and her friends reached another town, all of them were tired, dirty, hungry and cranky. Even Xelloss wasn't as cheerful as he usually was, and he spent a lot of time just gazing off thoughtfully into the sky.
Lina secured herself a room, and threw her cloak on the bed. She placed her sword by the headboard of her bed, and kicked off her boots. She lay on the bed for a while, one arm thrown over her eyes. After about half an hour she went downstairs for dinner. Following a hearty meal, she proceeded to the bath-house. The inn that she and her friends were staying in had a bath-house in the left wing, with little wooden stalls containing wooden tubs. Hot water was provided, and Lina sighed with pleasure as she sank into the steaming liquid. After a leisurely soak and a vigorous scrub, she climbed out and wrapped herself in a towel. She stepped carefully out into the hall and was surprised to see how dark it was. He bath had lasted longer than she'd planned. Quietly, dripping water, she crept down the hall to her room with her clothes bundled in her arms. She entered, threw her clothes on a chair by the window and sat down on the bed to brush out her hair. She noticed the moon was full, and its ethereal light filtered in through her window. She nearly screamed when she looked down and saw gloved fingers idly playing with her hair, twirling a lock around and around.
She spun around on her butt, nearly falling off the bed. Xelloss smiled at her reassuringly. Lina was all set to clobber him when she remembered she was still wrapped only in a towel and he was clad only in his pants. A blush spread across her face and she prepared to leap behind the headboard or something.
"Ne, ne, Lina-chan," he said. "Sit and relax. I didn't mean to startle you, and I had no idea you'd be in a state of undress. I just wanted to ask your opinion on something."
Lina did relax. She sat back down on the bed, but put her back to him. "Make it fast," she instructed, running the brush through her hair a few more times before setting it down on the bedside table. She felt his hands touch her shoulders, rubbing gently.
"I just wanted to know how long you think it will take us before we reach the mountains," he asked her, his breath tickling her neck.
"Not long," she replied. The priest continued to rub her back, and she realized she should probably tell him to stop, but her back was still tense despite her hot bath and his touch was soothing. "We'll most likely be there before the week is out. It's just finding our way after that that's going to be difficult."
His strong hands massaged her back expertly, caressing the taut muscles until they relaxed. Without any conscious decision Lina allowed her head to roll back on her neck, sighing softly. Gods, his touch felt so good. From behind her, Xelloss grinned. The little sorceress enjoyed this then, mmm? Somehow he had thought she might resist him a little harder. To be honest, he was a little disappointed it was going to be so easy.
Xelloss' hands slipped lower, moving up and down the length of her back. After a few minutes of this, he slid his fingers under the material of the towel, pulling it loose so it fell apart and revealed her bare back. He then traced his index finger down her spine, causing Lina to shiver and break out in gooseflesh. She knew she shouldn't be allowing him to do this... but it felt so good. And besides, it was just her back he was touching. Nothing major.
Grinning, he bent forward to brush his lips against her bare skin. Gently he kissed her shoulders, her spine, the hollow of her back. He moved back up, placing his mouth against the back of Lina's left shoulder. He licked her once, causing her to gasp in surprise. Xelloss smiled, then moved his tongue slowly in a circle, delighted when Lina stiffened a little. He knew she was unsure of his intentions and her own feelings, but he also knew she didn't really want him to stop just yet. He continued to caress her back with his hands as he used his mouth on her shoulder, warm and reassuring.
Then he bit her.
Lina's reaction was immediate and violent. She cried out and whirled around, her hand lashing out to strike his face. The sound was loud and sharp in the silence.
"Bastard," she hissed. "What are you doing?"
Xelloss smiled at her. "You didn't like it?" he asked innocently.
Lina slapped him again. The Trickster smiled as his head rocked to one side, eyes closed. His expression was one of undeniable pleasure. Lina realized that her violence did nothing to dampen his ardor, but rather had the opposite reaction.
"Sick, sadistic Mazoku," she whispered, half in hatred and half in fright.
"You have no idea," he murmured, his head still lolling to one side. His eyes were slits through which he watched her like a wolf watches his prey. Lina felt her stomach bottom out in fear, but at the same time she couldn't deny there was something about the way he looked... Skin luminous in the moonlight, finely toned body, silky hair, and those otherworldly eyes filled with such hot desire...
No. She wanted no part in this.
"Get out of my room," she snarled at him through clenched teeth. He rolled his head back to face her in one languid movement. At the same time, his eyes snapped open. The effect was decidedly creepy and Lina almost recoiled involuntarily.
"And if I say no?" he asked, the moonlight giving his eyes a weird glint.
Lina opened her mouth, then closed it. She had no idea how to reply. She couldn't threaten him with violence, because that wouldn't deter him in the slightest. But what else was there?
Xelloss smiled gently. "Ne, Lina-chan," he said quietly. "If you really want me to go..." He placed his lips softly against her shoulder. Lina felt her resolve wobble a little. "...Then all you have to do is say the word..." Warm lips tracing their way across her back. "...And I'll go."
She didn't reply, so Xelloss began kissing her neck, working to weaken hr resistance. He ran his hands along her waist and hips, the smooth material of his gloves whispering along skin. Lina moaned softly and leaned against him. He moved his hands to her stomach and caressed it, tracing a finger down to her navel. The towel fell away to lay in folds in her lap.
"Turn around," he instructed her quietly, and she obeyed. Xelloss' lips brushed hers, then became more insistent. Shyly, Lina opened her mouth, and he immediately slipped his tongue in, exploring and teasing. Despite her mind's protests, Lina could feel her body responding.
Xelloss moved his hands up, cupping her breasts. She gasped a little and turned her head aside, breaking the kiss. She was torn between fear and desire... and the bastard knew it.
She looked at him, and he was smiling at her, his eyes dark and alluring, cloaked and veiled in mystery. They seemed to strip her very soul naked. He laughed, low and liquid. "Are you afraid of me?" he asked. A soft whisper; silk and water. A scattering of stars on a sheet of black velvet.
Lina shook her head. She'd be damned if she would admit to her fear in front of him..
"You think I might hurt you, is that it?" he asked her, bending his head to kiss her collarbone. He looked back up at her, eyes almost hidden but still gleaming.
"Mazoku only hurt," she said through clenched teeth. "They can't love."
"You don't know that," he whispered against her chest. Lina shivered.
Lust and unbreakable bonds.
Xelloss slipped his hands up Lina's thighs, and she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. He kissed her lip tenderly, relishing the coppery taste. Lina kept telling herself that this wasn't happening, and that she would not succumb...
Xelloss grinned. Anyone could be seduced. All it took was the right amount of physical stimulation, perhaps a few endearing words. She was almost his. How he loved to see the humans resist their nature before becoming selfish, lusting animals.
Lina grabbed his head and kissed him fiercely. Her intensity startled him because he wasn't expecting it. Her small hands moved over his chest, his back, his shoulders. She grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled at it, pushing him down with her other hand as she did so. He sank back onto her bed, still surprised by the little sorceress' actions. Then she was on top of him, kissing and pressing her small body against his. She ground her hips against his and he found himself biting back an involuntary gasp. The next gasp escaped him when Lina raked her short nails down his chest, parting the skin. Against his will, Xelloss could feel his own desire, previously held in check; rising.
Mmm. He realized that this was a bad thing. He was supposed to be the one in control: a calm and cruel seducer who would taunt the cute little human. It was all supposed to be an amusing distraction, nothing more. He would enjoy the act of course, he always did, but he was most certainly not supposed to lose control, for that would mean the human gained the upper hand. And if he let his own passions rule him, pretty Lina was apt to wind up severely wounded or even dead.
Xelloss had never been very careful with his toys.
Lina was kissing his neck, her hands still roaming over his body. One leg rubbed maddeningly against his own. He groaned and closed his eyes. He was fighting a losing battle and he knew it. Ahhh, screw it then. She deserved what she got, tempting him like this. And besides, it had been a while...
Don't break her, Xelloss, his mistress' voice cautioned him. Whether it was really her or just his own mind Xelloss didn't know, and by this point didn't much care.
He pushed her aside and then rolled on top of her, their limbs entwining like gnarled old tree roots. Their hands explored every curve, every hollow, every inch of exposed skin. Lina's breath began to come in steep little gasps, and as Xelloss bent his head to her breasts she thought to herself: Damn Mazoku. This wasn't supposed to happen. She hooked a hand into his silky hair and yanked it hard so his head was pulled back, away from her body. He moved up to her neck again, his strange eyes clouded. On the plus side, Lina realized she could take out her anger and fear at being seduced out on the amorous priest since it would only heighten his pleasure.
With this thought in mind, she bit his shoulder as hard as she could, faintly repulsed when she tastes hot, foul blood in her mouth. If she is disgusted, however, her partner is quite the opposite. His embrace tightened, and for a second Lina was afraid she wouldn't be able to draw breath into her body. Some sound, feral and low, came from deep in his throat and when she glanced she found his eyes were screwed shut.
He was going to go nuts on her, he could feel it. He tried hard to suppress a growl, but he couldn't quite do it. Mmm. Maybe he should have thought this through a little more. Too late now. He could hear her little gasps of excitement and quite frankly they were driving him insane. Oh boy. He thought that after a thousand years he finally would have been able to get a handle on his hormones, but apparently he was wrong. Her hands were fumbling at his pants, and he helped her to get them off.
Huh, Lina thought as Xelloss kicked his pants off. That's what he meant by 'Bum to the breeze.' She briefly wondered how comfortable it was to forego the undergarments...
Shy at first, then growing bolder, she slipped her hand down past his navel. Xelloss made some sort of noise, a kind of hungry keening, and used his own hands to spread Lina's legs apart. He kissed her and she wrapped both arms around his neck. Then she took his hands in hers and stripped off his gloves. Their kisses became more urgent, and Xelloss positioned himself between Lina's legs.
She knew it was coming and so braced herself, yearning and yet also frightened. His manner had changed. Earlier, he had been deliberately taunting her, but now he seemed as caught up in the moment as she. His eyes were glazed with lust and hardly seemed to be his at all. They were the eyes of a predator.
There was pain. A great, rolling wave of it. Lina hissed air in over her lower lip, determined not to cry out. Soon remaining quiet wasn't even an option. It was amazing, but he was becoming ferocious. Harder and harder. Lina felt freezing fear when she felt his nails puncture her skin and felt blood flow sluggishly from the wounds. This was way too much for a beginner.
"Xelloss," she managed to gasp out, but he seemed not to hear. She couldn't resort to violence, for that most certainly wouldn't improve matters. Instead she tried again, her voice strained and desperate. "Xelloss!"
The pleading note in her voice was what actually reached him. Her pain, her fear: these emotions only fueled him all the more. But that one note reached down into his soul, to a part of himself he had tried to forget even existed.
He stopped suddenly, and their eyes met. Lina's were slit in pain, but fear shone there too, naked and horrified. Xelloss' eyes were wide, all that frightening cloudiness gone. His breath came in gasps, and he opened his mouth to say something.
The door swung open. Footsteps started into the room and abruptly stopped. Lina and Xelloss froze, and a low voice murmured: "Holy shit."
The lovers both swung their heads in the direction of the door. Lina started to speak, "Zel," but the Chimera was already shaking his head.
"I don't even want to know," he said, and exited quickly. The door snicked shut behind him. The silence was broken only by Lina and Xelloss' ragged breaths.
"Oh god," Lina muttered.
"Yeah," he replied and abruptly pulled out of her and sat up. Lina lay there, feeling sticky, shocked and cold. All her blankets were puddled around the end of the bed. She shivered and sat up as well, covering herself with her arms.
"Are you okay?" Xelloss asked, his voice unusually subdued. He was looking out the window, his gaze steady, pointedly not looking at her.
"Uh, yeah. I think so." She hesitated. "I didn't mean for that to happen," she said.
Xelloss shook his head. "Neither did I."
"Bullshit."
He exhaled shakily. "Well, I meant for THAT to happen, but not..." He took a quick breath. "Are you sure I didn't hurt you?" he asked instead.
"Well, you hurt me, but I always knew it was gonna hurt," she replied. He examined the puncture wounds his fingernails had made. Not too bad, they were congealing as she spoke. "And the rest is nothing a healing spell can't fix."
He nodded slowly. It could have been much worse. But... why did he care? Humans were toys meant to be broken when they were no longer an amusement.
"I wasn't planning for us to do... that," Lina said. "I suppose you think that you're so clever, seducing little Lina Inverse, but I realized what you were doing, you know." She tossed her hair back and sat up straight. "That's why I kissed you back. I was thinking of that story you told us a few days ago, about the wolf-woman." He looked at her. "I was going to get you riled then smash you in the balls and run for it," she admitted.
Xelloss just stared at her for a second, then he laughed. "I guess it didn't work," he said at last. Lina smiled a little.
"No. It didn't."
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a while, then Xelloss smiled brightly and looked up. His eyes were closed again. "Well then! I'll retire to my own room for the remainder of the night, then." He paused. "Unless you want me to stay," he added casually. She shook her head numbly. How could he dismiss what had happened so easily? She searched his eyes, but they were behind their protective lids again, hiding the truth. His eyes seemed sealed shut with secrets.
Xelloss teleported away, leaving Lina alone. She pulled her covers up to her neck, ignoring the ruined sheets, and clutched them tightly.
The Devil. A charismatic and unscrupulous person. Our most destructive forces unleashed. Lust and unbreakable bonds. Secret plans, Lina-chan.