Everybody's looking for something.
Some of them want to use you...
- Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) Eurythmics
Xellos looked at her in shock. "You don't know? Not even your name?" This could be turned to his advantage if he could convince her that he was the one that deserved her.
Lina wrinkled her brow as she tried to remember her name. It just wouldn't come to her. It was as if her mind was wrapped in an impenetrable fog, one that showed glimpses of images, but didn't let her see enough recognize anything.
She shook her head. "No." She climbed to her feet and stared around the gloomy chamber. "What is this place?" she asked.
"It's your home. And mine," Xellos said. Well, it was mostly the truth; it wasn't exactly his real home, but rather one he'd created in his little pocket dimension. He didn't want to take any chances of those stubborn companions of her taking it into their heads to head off to Wolfpack Island to search for her. Not that they'd survive, but he didn't want the distraction. Better to keep her someplace they couldn't get to.
"Why's it so gloomy?" she asked. She wandered around the room taking in the furnishings. The walls were polished black wood, the floor black marble and the tables more black wood. The upholstered couch and chairs were covered in a dark wine red and there were several rugs on the floor all in various shades of wine, claret and burgundy. Here and there were touches of gold: the lamps on the tables had gold bases as did the candle holders over the fireplace. A large golden candelabra sat in the middle of the huge black table to one side.
"Gloomy?" he asked. "I think it's restful."
She shivered. "I don't. I think it's...dark." Lina hugged herself. "I'm cold."
Xellos got out of his chair and crossed the room to her. He took her hand and drew her close to the fireplace. "Come over here, then. Let me warm you." He used his power to create a fire in the fireplace; the purple flames burned without fuel.
He led her to the sofa and sat. The Mazoku pulled her down next to him and put an arm around her. As his fingers closed over her hand, he felt the cold band on her finger.
"Here," he said. "You don't need that." He touched the ring on her left hand and received a painful shock.
"What was that?" she asked, bewildered. She pulled her hand away and held it. It had hurt when he'd touched it.
Nursing his singed fingers, Xellos peered at the ring. "I don't know," he said. He could feel some sort of power sealed within it, but he couldn't divine what kind it was. It didn't appear to be any sort that could be tapped. "Tell you what, take it off and let me see it." He held out his hand.
"No," Lina said covering her left hand with her right. "It's mine."
"It's nothing," he said. "Just let me see it for a moment."
"No, I said. It's on my finger, that means it belongs to me. It's a link to my past, perhaps the only one I've got."
"Your past?" Xellos said smoothly. "But I'm your past." He put a hand on her chin and turned her face so he could look into it. "You just don't remember." He touched her cheek with his fingertips , lightly tracing the contour of the bone there. She shivered at his touch, closing her eyes and leaning into it. He smiled; yes, this might work after all. He could remind her of her powers gradually, train her to use them again but this time her loyalty would be to him not, as she had put it so often, that jellyfish.
He drew his fingers down her neck and further, towards the hollow of her throat and the valley between her breasts. Her eyes flickered open and she looked into his amethyst eyes. "Help me remember," she breathed.
Smiling, he nodded and leaned forward. Gently, he touched his lips to hers, opening them slightly and tugging at her lips. She gasped and let him force them open so he could slide his tongue into her mouth. He kissed her gently at first, then with growing passion. His hands moved across her body, down her sides and around to her back. Supporting her, he pushed her downward so that she was lying on the sofa and he was half atop her. He left off kissing her mouth to leave a trail of soft kisses along her jawline and down her throat. He paused at the hollow of her throat to lightly stroke her skin with his tongue; she gasped and put her hands to the back of his head, tangling her fingers in his silky, violet hair. He moved lower, lightly mouthing the expanse of her chest exposed by the neckline of her gown and further -
She arched her back as he kissed her between her breasts; her breathing was coming harsh and shallow through slightly parted lips. Xellos, taking this as encouragement, moved his attentions to the tops of her left breast while he brought a hand up to cup it from underneath. Slowly, he told himself. He had plenty of time. He pushed against the fabric of her gown, seeking the soft, sensitive flesh beneath it.
"N-no," she stuttered, suddenly pushing him away. "Please, stop!" She sat up and pulled away, gathering the skirts of her gown around herself and moving to the far end of the sofa. She leaned forward around her arms and stared at the floor.
Hiding a frown, Xellos moved closer to her. She didn't look up. "What's wrong?" he asked in his insincerely solicitous manner.
"I - I don't even know who you are! Your name! My name for that matter." She looked up at him, confusion clouding her ruby eyes.
"I am your husband," he said simply, reaching out and taking hold of her chin. "And you are my wife." The lie came easily.
"But who are you?" she demanded again. "Your name!"
He almost hesitated over that answer; would his name trigger memories? He'd have to risk it. "I am Xellos," he said. "And you are Lina." He watched her closely for any signs of reaction.
Her brows drew together as she frowned in concentration. "Xellos..." she whispered. "Lina..." She put her fingers to her temples as she tried to remember. "This is so frustrating! It's like everything is just out of reach!"
Xellos reached forward and took her hands in his. "Shh..." he breathed, drawing her into his arms. "Don't push. Things will come back in time." He stroked her hair as he held her. However, she remained stiff and unresponsive.
Eventually, however, she did relax. As she did, he pulled her close and tilted her face up. She had her eyes closed and her face was slightly flushed. He leaned down and kissed her.
This time she responded, moving closer to him and putting her arms around his neck. His arms went around her slim waist as he pulled her across his lap. She buried her fingers in the collar of his shirt as they kissed. He was surprised at her sudden ardor; she was like a fire that threatened to consume him. He resisted; he needed to stay in control. How such a small human could hold so much power and be so strong-willed, he didn't know. But he wanted that power, wanted her to be his.
She pulled the man who claimed to be her husband down on top of her and kissed him hard. This had to be right - right? He was her husband (husband, her memory supplied: A loved one - how was it she could remember that and yet not remember who she was or who this man was?) so she should be kissing him. Then why did she feel as if something weren't quite...right about the situation?
It was nerves, she told herself. Had to be. She ignored the part of her mind that kept saying it was wrong and let herself melt into his presence. Very pleasurable sensations were flooding her body as he explored it with his hands. And yet, accompanying the pleasure was a vague revulsion. A sense that she was betraying someone. That she was being...manipulated.
Shoving those thoughts aside, she concentrated on the desire she felt. He was kissing her again and she moaned softly as his hands moved down her sides to catch up handfuls of her skirts and pull them upwards. The air felt chill against the flesh of her leg, encased as it was only in a thin stocking. He laid his hand on her outer thigh and moved it down towards her knee where he slipped it around underneath and pulled her leg up. Moving downward slightly, he kissed her neck while he brought his delicate touch around to the inside of her knee and up...
Something exploded behind her eyes. Lina stiffened and her eyes flew open and she stared straight up at what should have been the ceiling but somehow just seemed a discontinuation of the room.
Power flooded through her, coming from somewhere outside her. It lead away from her, along some sort of channel; she "looked" along it but could not see the other end. Yet, the power had a shape to it that she felt she should know. As she concentrated on it, the shape solidified into the face of a man with blue eyes and long blonde hair - her heart leapt into her throat. Wordlessly, she cried out as she reached out along the bond towards him.
She "heard" him speak to her in her mind. Not words, just the shape and feel of them: Where are you, Lina? Tell me where you are and I'll come get you! Choking, she realized he was real: She could feel him, see him, hear him, smell him and yes, even taste him. Every sense was alive with his presence. But...She couldn't remember who he was or why he meant so much to her! Why couldn't she remember!
In frustration, she shouted down the link, Who are you!?
Then the link was gone. His face was gone, only to be replaced by the sight of Xellos' enigmatic one looking down at her.
"Lina-san?" he asked.
"No!" she shouted and pulled up her leg. Planting it in his chest, she pushed him off of her. Scrambling backwards, she tumbled off the sofa amidst a cloud of crimson skirts. She backed away from him, crabwise, until she came up against a chair. Using it to support herself, and while never taking her eyes off Xellos, she levered herself off the floor. "Who are you?" she grated. "You're not who you claim to be. And I don't belong here."
Xellos picked himself up off the floor from where she'd dumped him and brushed himself off. "Have your memories returned?" he asked.
"That doesn't matter!" she shouted. "Take me back to where I belong!"
A smile curved his lips upwards. Only now did she realize that his eyes were open further than the slits they had been previously. The smile on his lips did not reach those jewel-like eyes. "You belong here. With me. That's all you need to know."
"No!" she shouted again. She whirled and ran towards the door.
"Lina-san!" he shouted at her, but she ignored him. She felt his hand on her shoulder and instinctively she turned and struck out with her foot. She felt it connect with something soft and he fell backwards away from her with a gasp. Grabbing her chance, she yanked open the door and ran through. Immediately, she found herself in darkness; her shoes clicked hollowly on something hard.
"Lighting," she said and stopped in shock and amazement as a ball of light formed above her hand. Had she done that? She stared at the little spot of light until she heard another set of footsteps coming up behind her. Quickly, she hurried along the dark corridor. She took the first turning she found, then took them at random trying to throw off her pursuit.
Soon she realized her folly as she became hopelessly lost. She tried the handle to one of the numerous doors that lined the corridor and stepped inside. The room, like the corridor outside, was formed of black marble floors and black wooden walls. And it was completely empty, even of dust. She leaned against the door and slid to the floor. Drawing her knees up, she rested her chin on them and let the tiny light spell wink out. Now that she was alone, she brought out the memories of the face she'd seen. She knew him, and he meant a great deal to her. But who was he? How had he contacted her? Could she do it?
Burying her face in her black-gloved hands, she took several deep breaths. She'd rest here a little while, then start searching for a way out of this place. Maybe he would contact her again. This time, she vowed, she would be ready for him.
Leaning her head back against the door she shut her eyes. Her last thought as she slipped into an exhausted sleep was, I'm waiting. Please come get me soon!