Xelloss struggled to free himself from the golds who held him, despite their greater numbers. One gold, a man with short blonde hair and narrow angry eyes started punching him hard in the stomach and up into his ribs, beating him up until he was to stop struggling. "Stop moving mazoku scum!"
Xelloss screamed in anger and pain and tried to avoid the punches, but the gold readied an energy ball in his hands, his hatred and anger building up for all that he has done to them in the past.
If things had been allowed to continue, then he would have died there, but luckily for him, the elder stepped in quickly by raising a hand in the air. "Enough!! He will be put to death, but not by your hands, and not now! It will be a proper execution!"
Xelloss continued to struggle feeling all his hatred bursting out, and started to transform halfway back to his original form, but was too weak to do it all, and ended up only materializing his wings and both arms back to his normal shape. The gold who'd assaulted him bitterly let the energy ball dissipate in his hands before he grabbed Xel by the shirt glaring menacingly, taken aback somewhat by his struggle to transform.
"Jira, take him to the dungeon along with Farin. Find the gold who got away." The elder commanded sternly.
The one who'd attacked Xel, Farin, nodded crisply. "Come on, lets go." He snapped to Xel, and then looked at Jira expectantly.
Jira nodded and bowed before the elder, before grabbing the now bleary Xelloss' other arm. "Yes sir!"
The two then made their way through the halls towards the dungeon, dragging Xelloss along helpless in their arms. When they reached the dungeon entrance, Farin opened the dungeon door for Jira to throw him in, laughing cruelly at Xelloss with glee in his eyes. Jira, however, glared at Farin a bit menacingly then helped Xel to the bed, lying him down, before going back and locking the cell door to scowl at the insane gold. Farin glared back mumbling under his breath to him. "If you help him, your a traitor. Are you forgetting all he did to us?"
Jira grabbed him by the throat at that remark. "Yes, but I also remember, unlike you, what we did to his people too."
Farin was a little frightened by this, but scowled angrily none the less. "It was their fault, they kept the weapon from us."
Jira narrowed his eyes. "Most didn't know about the @$@#ing weapon!!" He growled before stalking off. Farin was left standing there, shocked about this new bit of information, then finally stormed off on his own, leaving the broken Xel who was breathing raspily on the bed, clutching his chest in pain, sure he'd broken a few ribs, tears trickling down his cheek.
"Please... be safe Filia...:"
Filia, who had just vanished due to Xel's transportation, was in somewhat of a state of shock as she found herself transported outside the place where they had began. She was dazed and confused, not to mention scared. Not scared for herself...but scared for Xel. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized what had happened and she beat her fists on the wall in frustration, pleading in a shaken voice. "Xel... how could you! How could you leave me!?" Tears leaked out of her eyes in streams. She fell to her knees in a bit of helpless sorrow, her fists resting on the wall, her cries suddenly only be heard by Xel in little echoes. "Why...why did you leave me...*sob* Please don't die..."
Xelloss was currently lying staring blankly at the ceiling, the pain almost soothing. He was thinking if he died now, he could be saved the pain later on... However, he heard somewhere, perhaps from deep inside of him, Filia crying for him...... "....don't worry...." He whispered softly to nothing. "I won't...."
Filia meanwhile had suddenly thought she'd gone dillusional now by hearing him say that. Her hands ran down the wall slowly as she rested her face in them and sobbed on her knees, wracked with grief and not knowing what to do but beg and plead, her teary face buried in her hands. "Please don't die...please don't die.."
While drifting in and out of consciousness, half on the edge of delusion, half on reality and realization, he felt her misery, but couldn't do anything about it. "I.... promise I won't...."
Filia suddenly shut up then, hearing his voice again, and closed her eyes while she searched through her mind for him, trying to contact him If you can hear me...please respond my love..
Xelloss felt the probe, and since his body was unconscious now, his mind floated towards her consciousness and appeared in her mind. I'm here.
By making such a direct connection with him, her body sunk to the ground into unconsciousness and appeared before him. She reached out for him to embrace him, tears running down her cheeks. Xelloss took her into his arms and held her tightly to him, letting her cry as tears of his own spilled. For her, it was as though the river would never be quenched. Even as she spoke, glistening wet tears continued to fall and drip down from her riveting blue eyes. I..I thought they'd killed you..
He gently lifted her head towards his, then leaned forward ad kissed her tears gently. Not yet
She choked back a thickened sob. ..yet?
He sighed quietly. I'll try.... I'll fight, but they plan on killing me.
She pulled him tighter to her, not able to let go if her life depended upon it. When? Did they say? I'll get to you! I'll find some way and I'll get to you!
He shook his head. No, only that it will be a public execution. He gently took her cheek in his hand. I don't want you endangering yourself.
She fell silent from that thought, tears rapidly spilling down. I..I can't just leave you...just let you be killed..
He softly whispered into her ear. I'll think of something. I promised you that I would live.
She looked deeply up into his eyes pleadingly, the desperation showing through, begging him...begging him not to leave her... She spoke softly, barely audible:. I will come to you...I swear it...before it's too late..
He leaned forward and kissed her deeply. Don't be foolish..... they'll kill you then
She closed her eyes. I don't care...I'll do anything to save you......anything.
He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes with his own, which were strange now, shifting from one rainbow hue to another. Then promise me you'll stay safe and not put yourself at risk. You need to protect Val.
Filia was quiet for a very long time, seemingly mesmerized by his eyes, and in shock at his question at the same time. She continued to gaze into his perfect beautiful orbs. Val is safe right now with Amelia...I promise I'll stay safe..
He looked at her with his eyes, then closed them and kissed her forehead. I trust you.
She started trembling slightly, not wanting to betray his trust. Xel...gomen nasai.... She backed up slowly.
He let her go and stood there watching her with a sad look. Filia....
She couldn't take it anymore and avoided his eyes, looking down at the ground sadly as more tears welled over. Forgive me...my love...demo...I have to...
He looked pained, but lowered his head in understanding. Just.... . be... careful
She wrung her hands together, her heart throbbing in pain at the sight of his own pain:. D..don't worry...I swear I will...it's you who has to be careful now.. He nodded and started to fade. She clutched her heart, then reached out for him quickly. Oh Xel! Wait! Before you go.... She whispered softly. I love you..
He smiled and kissed her hand. And I thee. And with that, he faded into nothingness, drifting into full unconsciousness.
She smiled faintly, the tears seemingly have subsided for now as she too began to fade. Then her smile wiped away completely as she returned back to her body, waking up with a start and touching her hand to the wall, closing her eyes. "Gateway to my world...show me my beloved." The gate flashed white once then showed him, lying on the bed still unconscious and half transformed, bruised, bleeding from his mouth slightly from where he'd been punched in the face. When his unconscious image came into to view she gasped, bringing her hand up to her mouth in pain and fright at the site of his wounds and tattered body.. "I've seen enough!" She managed to choke out. The gate flashed back to it's original form instantly. "Take me as close to him as possible..:" She whispered., closing her eyes and stepping into the now shimmering portal.
She found herself a little ways from a guard down a long stone corridor and suddenly gasped at seeing him and hid behind a pillar. He seemed to sense some presence and turned his head warily in her direction. She stopped breathing completely and closed her eyes, her forehead beaded lightly with sweat of nervousness. The guard frowned slightly. "Who's there?" Filia made herself completely quiet, scrunching herself up to the pillar as much as possible to avoid him from detecting her. The guard frowned more, knowing he heard something, and started towards her looking around warily. She grabbed the front of her cloak, wringing it in her hands nervously and closed her eyes tight as if that would make her unseen. The guard came closer and passed by her, not seeing her at first, and continued on looking. She opened her eyes, afraid to breath still, and slid her way around to the other side of the pillar before the guard turned back.
While his back was still turned to her, she ran to another pillar on the other side of what appeared to be Xel's door. The guard frowned yet again seeing nothing, and walked back towards his post Her face started turning colors as she hadn't let her breath out yet, thinking over in her mind how she was going to distract the guard to get by. Meanwhile, the guard sighed and began to mutter to himself about how wrong something was, and how the golds have become corrupt in the past years. This spurred a small spark of hope in her as she got an idea. Lets see...oh! I got it, I knew this thing would come in handy for something! She grabbed the pink ribbon from her tail and cautiously peered over at the guard, unable to hear anything but her own thoughts at the moment. Lucky for her, the guard was staring off into the distance, not noticing her, so she took a small swift breath and stepped up behind him loosening the ribbon on her tail, then quickly threw it over his throat, pulling only slightly, and whispered in his ear. "Move and I tug.." The guard gasped, but did as she said, freezing and not moving. She spoke in a voice with tell tale signs of desperation and sadness. "Where is the one you keep known as Xelloss?"
The guard gestured with his head slightly behind him. "In that cell."
She looked towards the cell, then thought a moment...there was no way to get him out of this place now...it could be crawling with guards for all she knew, he was way too weak to teleport and she was getting to that point as well. She sighed heavily as if she were a lost child on the verge of more tears.
The guard seemed to sense her fear and hopelessness, and glanced back at her hesitantly, thinking this might be the chance to do something right. "I'll help you, if you want."
Her eyes widened at that, her voice a little startled. "Wh..what did you say?"
He spoke softer. "I'll help."
She felt a bit hesitant at first, thinking it could be a trick, but seeing as how she really had no other options, she took her ribbon from his throat and tied it as a sash around her waist looking down at the ground, preparing herself to be hurt if it was a trick. The guard sighed slightly in relief as the ribbon left his neck, and glanced back at her, pitying her. Filia was a little surprised that it wasn't a trick and looked up to his face in curiosity and such great gratitude. The guard put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for what's happened.... it's wrong, and I'm the only one who seems to see that...."
She bit her lip, her large blue eyes watering, as she nodded silently and slowly. "Thank...you..."
He smiled gently and glanced around, then backed up to the cell door. "I don't have keys though..."
Filia clasped her hands together tightly and wrung them nervously. "Do you know of a way I could get him and myself safely out of here?"
He looked nervous. "No.... not in his condition..... there's no way out of the palace from below here....."
She cringed and paled. "What can we do then?"
The guard shook his head. "I'm not sure..."
Suddenly the sound of another coming down the stairs could be heard loudly in the still stony silence of the dungeon. Filia gasped and hid behind the pillar behind the guard again as the other guard walked up and stood next to him completely oblivious of her. "Hey, I'm supposed to be on duty with you... You know, that Farin is really pissing me off, Jira...."
Jira nodded. "Yeah, you feel that way as well?" He positioned himself so that he was hiding Filia carefully behind him.
"Feh..." the guard said looking pissed as he leaned against the pillar that she was hiding behind. "I mean, I've heard stuff about the other race, the ancients, and never really believed the stories about how ruthless and dangerous they were. The one we heard up there makes more sense."
Jira nodded slightly, an idea forming in his mind. "So you think that this whole ordeal is wrong?"
The man nodded. "Yeah, sure as hell do."
Jira glanced back and saw Filia nod slightly, and then smiled and clapped a hand to the other's shoulder. "I'm glad you feel that way because..." He moved aside to reveal Filia hiding there. "I plan on helping them."
The other guard blinked once at Filia, then grinned. "Yosh! I'll help you out then."
"Are you sure about this? We could both get fired, or killed."
"To hell with that, they've got someone in there who's the last of his kind, and they're gonna kill him for old stuff that's thousands of years ago. I say screw em."
Jira grinned and nodded. "Right..... so.... Uh, any ideas how we can do this?"
They all sweatdropped.
"How about this....tomorrow when they unlock this door to take him to the public execution..." He looked around and lowered his voice. "One of us can pretend to be him...they usually dress the criminals in long brown robes with cowls...and we could somehow sneak him out of town square." He shrugged. "Best I have...you guys know of anything else?"
Jira frowned slightly. "But with him it may be different.... they'll want to show what he is....."
The other guard frowned as well. "True.." He closed his eyes. "Damn." He cupped his hands under his chin in thought. "Well I did have a talk with some of the guys back there and some of them agree that this is wrong too..." he paused. "...maybe if we got enough help we could rally up a fight or some sort of distraction...damn...then they'd always be after him and the girl..."
Jira nodded. "But what if we all supported him and refused to let them open the door for the execution, or something. they couldn't ignore us."
The other frowned. "Hai...but we don't have the keys, and there's more of them then there is of us.."
"Yeah, but if we get their attention ...... hmmm...or we could do it at the execution.... tell the truth...."
"Hai...that could work...the only options I see is either that or fake their deaths...right now there out searching for the girl..."
"Yes...... we could try to sneak them out then now..... my wife would feel the same as I, we could hide them."
The guard smiled. "Great idea...but they'll know something's up if the girl just disappears out of no where.."
"Yes but they don't know she's here now do they?"
"Nope."
He nodded. "Then that's our best bet....... I'm not high enough to transport, are you?"
Frowning, he shook his head. "No...I'm not either."
Jira sighed in resignation. "Are you miss?"
Filia nodded. "Hai."
"For three?"
She frowned at that. "I don't think so. I don't know....never tried it."
Jira sighed. "We'll have to sneak out then...."Filia frowned nervously as he continued shaking his head. "No other option, we'll have to risk it. Maybe you can get some others to help distract the ones we need to."
"Maybe."
Jira nodded. "Then you go and distract the others, and find those who can help us distract them while we get him out."
The guard grinned. "Good idea....but wait, you don't got the key and neither do I!"
Jira shrugged. "We'll use magic I guess."
He shook his head. "That's no good, you'll get caught."
Filia frowned as well. "True.."
Jira glanced at the guard. "You have a better idea?"
The guard was silent a moment in thought. "Actually I might..."
Filia raised an eyebrow. "Nani?"
"First of all, the counsel I don't think will listen to us anymore, their already dead set on killing these two. Second of all, we could first fake Filia's death, that would just make things easier if people weren't looking all over for her anymore...then third, the ancient's door will be unlocked to give him his meals too." They both nodded listening raptly to his idea. "We could then hide the girl at your place of course while everyone believes her dead, then bust the other out when the servant comes to give him his meal, what do you say?"
Jira nodded. "Sounds good."
"We could say he escaped...then we could fake his death too..."
Jira glanced at Filia. "What do you say miss?"
Filia nodded in agreement. "Yes."
Jira nodded brusquely. "Good.... then how do we go about this? One has to stand guard here..... "
"I could stand guard if you want while you take Filia to your home, then return with a piece of her clothes bloodied and tell the counsel she was killed?"
Jira nodded in agreement. "That might work......" He glanced over at Filia. "Shall we?"
She nodded reaching out with sad eyes and touching the door which Xel lay on the other side of softly. "Hai, let's go..."
Jira carefully led the way through the dungeons with Filia following close behind timidly, hoping that all would work out. Jira carefully walked up the stairs checking for guards that might be near, and Filia carefully fell back and walked behind him, her hands trembling clasped together in front of her. He gently put a reassuring hand on her shoulder for comfort, then motioned for her to wait there as he inspected the area. She smiled faintly and did what she was told as he explored, then, satisfied the coast is clear, led her behind him walking as if on official business. She followed him as expected, head bowed low to hide her nervousness as he then took her wrist, making it look like she's a prisoner and murmured for her to keep her head down so they wouldn't recognize her. She nodded and lowered her head further, trying to look like a helpless prisoner and succeeding well. He walked into the main hallway firmly forward with a no-nonsense look while she drooped her shoulders, her long golden hair covering her face and eyes from view.
They finally made it out into the main courtyard and headed for the exit. Filia walked briskly after him glancing around with her eyes but not being able to see much, so she continued to look at the ground as if she has a broken spirit. They managed to make it outside without any incidents, and they turned into town through some streets and alleys.
Filia sighed a breath of relief and whispered barely audible to him. "Are we out of harm yet?"
He whispered tersely back. "Only when we get to my home will that be so."
She nodded, and kept her head lowered and her shoulders slumped the whole time walking after him as they headed there and finally arrived at a small house. He opened the door and went in quickly shutting it behind him. "Dear? You home?"
From the kitchen, a female voice sounded. "Yes. back here." Filia glanced up nervously at him, but got a reassuming look. "I'm making dinner."
Jira nodded to Filia and led her back into the house. "This way..."
Filia looked around and smiled up at him with thanks. "I just can't thank you enough for helping us.."
He smiled back at her. "It's not a problem miss.... You have nothing to worry about."