Lina rested against a building, black haziness trying to fill her vision. Damn. I shouldn't have gone out. She blinked back the darkness, and pushed herself up, walking in a random direction. Her feet stumbled, and she righted herself jerkily. The next time her feet stumbled, she fell to the ground with an "Oof!" While muttering highly acidic words under her breath, she pushed her body up, and slowly stood back up.
"Well, well. The little Slayer's back out again." Lina moved into a fighting position, trying not to show any weakness. The vampire smiled at her. "This will be rather easy."
"Don't underestimate me, yaro," she whispered. Lina cracked her knuckles, and stood ready.
The fight would usually be evenly matched. However, Lina was still very weak, and that put her at a major disadvantage. Within a matter of minutes, her right arm was hurt badly enough that it was more useful broken. A fist slammed into her chest, and she was certain that a rib or two were broken. The Slayer wheezed, the pain in her chest keeping her from taking in a proper breath. Another punch drove her into the wall, and she slammed her head into the stone, hard. Black dots filled her vision, and she just about lost consciousness.
When the sound of bones cracking reached her ears, she assumed they were her own; she was past the point that she could feel any new pain past the existing pain. But when she opened her eyes, Lina saw something white and blue fighting off the vampire. Z-zel...? Y-you're...
The vampire ran off, snarling. Zelgadis turned to her, his face a demonic visage, and paled. "Oh, gods. Lina... are you...?" He bent down, stroking her head.
She coughed, and instantly regretted it. "'m fine. Give me sec'nd..." she muttered. "Cas' healing sp'll..."
"OH MY GODS!!"
Zel looked up, and saw Amelia standing there, white as a sheet. It was she that had raised her voice so. The princess choked, and stumbled back. "L-lina-san..." His face smoothed back into the familiar face of the chimera she had loved. "Z-zelgadis-sama?!" Amelia placed a hand to her mouth. "Y-you..."
"Shh. The sound might hurt Lina," he told the young girl. Then, to the redhead, "I'm going to cast Recovery. Try to stay with me."
"'m." Lina's eyes closed. "Tired..."
"No, Lina! Open your eyes!" When her ruby orbs opened again, Zel said, "Good. Now, keep them open. Stay with me. Don't go to sleep."
"Try..." she whispered.
"Amelia." That was directed at the young Shamanist. "Cast Recovery on Lina." She walked warily over to the prone body of the Slayer, and started to cast the spell. "Good. Now, Lina. Stay awake. Stay with me." The redhead blinked at the chimera.
"St'ying..." she muttered.
"Good." Zelgadis stroked her cheek. "Please, just don't... Stay with me. Stay awake. Are you feeling pain?"
"Hai..."
"Is it getting worse?"
"Iie... Getting better..." She sounded better.
Amelia pulled back, sweat dotting her forehead. "I-I didn't have to do much. It was healing supernaturally quick anyway... The bones are set, and I was able to get rid of an amount of bruising. W-we should take her to Syphiel-san..."
Zel shook his head. "It won't be necessary. The Slayer healing should work nicely. Lina, why did you come out? You should have stayed in bed."
"Had to find you," she whispered. "Neechan said something to me." Lina's face twisted in memory. "Um... something about a bond..." She relaxed, yawning. "'sides, the walls were driving me nuts."
Zel stroked her head softly. "I understand. Go to sleep." Lina smiled at him, then closed her eyes. The chimera picked her up, holding the Slayer close to him. "It's alright. Shh. Sleep."
Amelia finally got her voice to work again. "Z-zelgadis-sama... how can you... how...?"
"How can I be a vampire?" he finished for her, bitterly. "I don't know. My best guess is Rezo put in something Eris didn't know about." Zelgadis brushed a lock of red hair off of Lina's face. She smiled, and turned, snoring softly. "Do you know where Lina's sister is?"
"Why should I tell you?" the princess asked defiantly. "You're an Enemy to Justice! You..."
Zel glared at her, the look in his sapphire eyes silencing her. "I want to talk to her neechan. She said something to Lina to make her come out here. And remember, Lina's afraid of her. I need to talk to her. The fact I'm not who you thought I was has nothing to do with this."
Amelia gave in, reluctantly. "A-alright. Her sister is at this inn we're staying at." When Zel nodded, she said quickly, "But why don't I take Lina-san? She needs to rest, and I don't think you want Gourry-san to see you. Do you, Zelgadis-sa... san?"
He shook his head, catching the change in the suffix. "Go ahead. Do you know what her neechan's name is?"
"Iie." The princess reached out for Lina.
Zel bent down to the Slayer, and gently placed his lips against her forehead. Then, he passed Lina over to Amelia's waiting arms. Her blue eyes were filling with tears, but she Ray Winged both of them. Zelgadis watched the protective bubble fly off, and said softly, "I love you, Lina."