Blind Faith

Prologue

It Begins

Well, here's my go at a Halloween fic this year. This will be something I will be working on throughout the month of October and the finish should be out on the 31st.

A/N: I must give a great big thank you to Chibi-Kaz for helping me come up with the idea for this fic.

He breathed heavily as he moved the large boulder out of the way. As the large rock was moved out of the way an opening in the mountain side became visible. With one last push he forced the boulder off to the side and sighed before saying, "Finally...this will finally be over."

Zelgadis smiled as he began his trek down the dark passageways of the cave. He moved in the dark silently as he could see without the need of a torch. 'One of the pluses of being part mazuko,' he thought as he continued to snake through the cave without a sound.

The cavern's inside was dark with the feeling of midnight about it. The pitch of the atmosphere was oppressive with a feeling of wet, damp, and stagnant air hanging about the path. The feeling of being watched entered Zelgadis' mind as he continued through the dank hole with unwavering fervor. After another hour of searching he came to a door that was carved out of rock. He moved up to the door and pushed but it did not budge. He glared at the offending object before he backed up and moved forward quickly. He checked the door with his shoulder just to hear some of the rock cracking. Zelgadis gritted his teeth as he stood there for a while and thought of ways to open the door. After a moment he backed up some more and took off at inhuman speed. He rushed at the door before shouting, "You're in my way," before leaping at the door.

He smashed right through the cracked door with his lunging shoulder check. His body automatically reacted and tucked into a roll position as he started to fall. He hit the ground with the back of his shoulder and rolled on the floor until he stopped at the other side. He stood and brushed himself off as he looked back at the door and thought, 'I won't let anything get in my way again,' while an image of a redheaded sorceress flashed in his memory.

Zelgadis shook his head to free him from the memory. It was not his place to daydream about a girl he could never have. It only mattered that he get what he came for and leave to live the rest of his life alone. He moved towards the center of the room as his eyes caught hold of the item he wanted. In the center on a pedestal of rock laid a round golden bowl with a silver liquid held within. He came to a stop right in from of the pedestal and looked into the reflective liquid before he spoke out loud, "The Mirror of Desire, grant what I want the most."

At the utterance of the phrase the liquid began to swirl on its own. After a moment it settled in the bowl again and Zelgadis' reflection was replaced by that of Lina Inverse's face. Zelgadis' eye widened as he ground his teeth in frustration. "No, that is not my desire...not anymore," he said as the painful memory came back to him.

He had stayed in the small town of Drindale for the night and was preparing to leave the next day after he bought supplies. As he finished up in the general store his sensitive ears caught the gossip of two female customers, "Did you hear that the bandit killer herself is coming into town?"

"No, I heard she was already here with her big blonde bodyguard...that's the last thing we need is for that little witch to destroy our town," the other woman replied scornfully.

Zelgadis had to restrain himself from yelling that they were wrong and calling too much attention to himself. He clenched his hands into fists as he walked out the store and began to search for Lina. It had been a while since he had seen Lina and Gourry so he felt a little visit was worthwhile. He walked down the street listening for her distinctive voice that he remembered vividly from their many run-ins. As he turned the corner he heard her voice from a ways down the street, "What do you think of this?"

He titled his head slightly thinking he had not heard correctly. He could have sworn he heard a sing-song quality to her voice that she hardly used. After a moment he shrugged as he drew closer and heard another voice, "That looks great, Lina. That...looks really good on you."

Zelgadis' eyes widened slightly at the odd sound of Gourry's voice. 'He sounds like he was talking to Sylphiel and not Lina,' he thought as he rounded another corner to come to a dead stop.

There they were in a clothing shop just across from him and he had come up at an inopportune time. Lina and Gourry were embracing one another before they pulled apart and looked into each other's eyes. Zelgadis quickly hid in a dark alleyway and continued to observe the scene while thinking, 'This can't be they normally can barely stand each other,' as he felt like a part of himself was dying.

He continued to watch as Lina and Gourry drew closer and kissed each other sweetly. It was in that moment that a fire lit itself within the normally stoic Zelgadis Greywords. His mouth and hands clenched, while his eyes widened with the feeling of fire that he did not understand. He stood perfectly still as he continued to watch as a mantra began to run in the back of his head, 'She is mine...She is mine,' being chanted over and over again.

Without thinking he began motions and before he could stop he held a large fireball in his hands. Without hesitation he threw the spell at the shop while hearing in his head, 'If she won't be mine then she will die!'

The fireball hit its target and exploded with great force. Zelgadis hid himself in a different area quickly knowing that Lina would not be down from just that. As the smoke cleared the only thing left of the store was Lina and Gourry standing behind a shield that Lina had made at the last moment. He watched as Gourry drew his sword and began to help Lina search for the attacker. "They have to be around here somewhere. If this is another mazuko attack then he'll try again very soon," Lina shouted as she began to levitate in the air.

Zelgadis smirked as he drew his own sword wanting to go out and meet the two in battle. 'I will have both of there heads for this,' the voice hissed as he waited for the correct moment. As Gourry approached the alleyway Zelgadis felt his body grow tense with hatred and the want to do as much bodily harm as possible. Zelgadis crouched low like a cobra waiting for his prey to draw just a bit closer. As Gourry came into his alleyway he lunged at the swordsman. The swords clashed and using the utmost of his demon speed Zelgadis kicked Gourry right in his stomach. The blonde swordsmen dropped his sword as he collapsed to the ground. Zel picked; the injured Gourry, up by his collar and looked at the hurt man. "How dare you," he whispered before punching Gourry in the same spot.

Gourry coughed with the second hit which caused blood to fly out his mouth. Zelgadis smiled wickedly as he watched Gourry shake with pain. He held the swordsman up higher and was about to land a second blow when he heard, "Gourry where are you?"

He cursed his luck while thinking, 'I'm not ready to fight with her,' before looking back at Gourry. He smirked as his fist clenched more and a strange power flowed through his body. As his eyes bore into Gourry's limp body shards of dark energy formed in the air around Zelgadis. "Think of this as my parting gift," he announced as the shards took off and impaled into Gourry's body.

Zelgadis watched as the shards embedded in the swordsman. Red blood shot out of the wounds as the shards continued to puncture the already defeated man. The force caused the blonde to fly from his grip and across the street with a bloody crash. He shifted back into the shadows as he heard Lina scream from above, "Gourry what happened!"

Zelgadis started moving back towards his inn as he felt himself starting to come back to his senses. 'What have I done? I don't understand how I lost control so quickly,' he thought as he slipped away from Lina and the badly beaten Gourry.

'I couldn't control myself...I just saw them together and I couldn't think. I wanted so bad to kill...wanted to see blood flowing in the street...what is happening to me,' Zelgadis thought as he began to pack his things as quickly as possible.

He left that night with his things and an extra few bottles of ale to drown out the memory. He left her behind to never cross paths again. To always be on his own as he was meant to be.

Zelgadis looked down at the mirror once more and commanded, "Now grant my true desire...not a false hope."

"But, that is your truest desire Zel-kun," came a playful voice from behind Zelgadis.

Zelgadis spun around quickly to find the trickster priest himself leaning on what was left of the stone door. He smiled at Zelgadis as his closed eyes looked right at him. Xellos pushed off from the wall while saying, "She has always been what you wanted the most. Wanting your cure came as a by product of meeting her. You wanted to be human to have her, and not just for being human again."

Zelgadis backed up slightly as the trickster's words rang in his head. He shook his head quickly and reposted, "That is not true anymore. Now I want to be cured and just live the rest of my life without incident. I won't be dragged into anymore of her adventures if I don't have any useful capabilities."

Xellos opened an eye as his smirk grew wider. The amethyst shard within the sea of white adjusted to the light and held a wicked gleam within its depths. Within the deep recesses of dark purple showed the owners cunning and pure hatred to its audience. He laughed lightly before replying, "See, she still holds your mind and heart in her hands. You want your cure so that she won't find you useful and thus won't come to find you if she needs help. You are now concerned on avoiding her instead of impressing her."

"Be quiet you silver tongued devil," Zelgadis ordered as he drew his sword.

"I understand you more than you know Zelgadis," Xellos replied as he sat in midair while looking at Zelgadis with both eyes open. Both deep purple eyes watched their targets every move like a predator waiting for the right opportunity. The slits moved with Zelgadis keeping eye on the young man like a pit viper watching from the darkness. "You and I are a lot alike. We both are very possessive of what we see as ours. And, the utmost thing that you see as yours, even if you don't want to admit it, is Lina Inverse. I mean why else would you attack her and Gourry for just kissing if you didn't?"

Zelgadis' eyes widened and he paled slightly before asking, "You saw that!"

"Of course Zel-kun. I see everything when it comes to the group. And, especially you since we are both one in the same as to what we were created for," Xellos replied.

"What do you mean? I am nothing like you," Zelgadis was barely able to shout back.

Xellos smiled wickedly as he heard Zelgadis' reply. His smiled was wicked and projected the idea that Xellos knew much more than he would ever tell. He floated a little closer and replied, "You can't come up with anything better because you know I'm right. We are both weapons Zelgadis. That is what we were created for...to be the sword that carries out our master's will. But, your master was destroyed and thus you've been wandering without a cause."

Zelgadis gritted his teeth in anger and rushed at Xellos saying, "Don't think you know me you bastard!"

Xellos phased out as Zelgadis lunged at him and appeared behind Zelgadis. He waited until the chimera turned to face him before he continued, "But, it's true. Rezo was your master and he was destroyed. After that you looked for someone to fill the gap and you found a master that you cared for with all your heart. You wanted to be her sword...wanted to protect her from all the world. But, the problem was she did not return your feelings...she did not see you as her great weapon and lover...she only saw you as a useful tool."

Zelgadis stopped at hearing Xellos. He lowered his head in shame. No matter how much he wanted to shout that it was not true that he was wrong he lost his voice. It was true that Lina used people and then gave them nothing in return but he wanted to think he was different. She had talked to him, become close to him, and yet never as close as he wanted. Always just staying out of reach of him and his feelings for her. "Silent are we," Xellos commented, "That must mean I'm right. And, when you saw her giving her love and affection to that dumb blonde you couldn't take it. The weapon instinct in you exploded and your want to protect turned into a want for revenge. You attacked but knew that was not going to be enough. Still you stayed your hand because you still want to protect her no matter how bad she treats you."

"Yes," Zelgadis replied weakly, "I want to protect her...I want to keep her out of harm's way."

Xellos floated down to the ground and stood back up. He approached Zelgadis while saying, "I could help you Zelgadis. I can give you the means to protect Lina, the means to help her, and the power to make her yours."

At the mention of the idea of giving him power he flashed back to when he first asked for power. He felt the pain run through his body and he struck out with his blade. He stabbed Xellos in the chest before saying, "I've heard this before and I will not be tricked into something like that again. I will not expect to receive power for nothing...there is a price with what you offer and I am not willing to accept."

Xellos smirked as he backed up and thus pulling the sword out of his chest. The hole began to heal instantly as Xellos replied, "There are no hidden strings here Zelgadis. In fact the ability to control what you look like would be a plus to you wouldn't you think. You will become even more powerful and you will be able to keep her no matter what happens."

Zelgadis dropped his sword knowing it was useless against Xellos. He looked at the mirror for a moment as he searched through his mind for what he wanted. 'I was a weapon for Rezo to use when he needed muscle. I was a tool of enforcement when people stepped out of line. And, then I was released from my service by her...I tried to serve others in the same capacity as before but found myself always wanting to go find her. When we met for the third time in a row I had made up my mind that when she needed me I was there as her sword or her shield. I just want her.'

Xellos watched as Zelgadis was caught in thought before saying, "Become an even stronger weapon, Zelgadis. Have a true propose again and serve as an agent for my master. As your reward we will allow you to have anyone thing you choose."

"I choose her," Zelgadis answered as he dropped to his knees in despair at the choice he had just made. 'It is for her...it has always been for her.'

Xellos smiled as he raised his staff over his head. He held the staff in both hands as he began to draw power. "Darkness come to my call," Xellos said as black energy began to swirl around the staff. The trickster cackled as he felt the raw energy flow through the staff to the ruby atop the weapon. He looked down at Zelgadis with a sinister look of victory plastered on his perfectly shaped face.

Zelgadis watched as the dark energy flowed into the ruby on the top of Xellos' staff until it looked like an onyx. He drew a breathe as he closed his eyes. A sharp pain erupted throughout his chest as he gasped in shock. His eyes flew open as he looked down to see the end of Xellos' staff lodged in his heart. Blue blood gushed out from the wound as Zelgadis felt his life-force draining away from him. He grabbed onto the staff and gasped for air as the his blood stained his clothes and flowed onto the dark rock of the cave floor. "Lina," he screamed out his last word before his body began to slump with the continuous flow of blood.

Xellos smiled as he watched the dark energy flow into Zelgadis' body and then began to create a cocoon around the newly deceased. He laughed into the dark air as his mission was finally over. "Now you work for us Zelgadis Greywords," Xellos commented as he sat down in front of the cocoon and waited for the new mazuko to be spawned.

"Lina!"

Lina Inverse shoot out of bed at the sound of someone screaming her name. She looked around to see that Gourry was fast asleep in the other bed. She smiled at him before become slightly depressed. It had been almost a month since the vicious attack on Gourry and Lina was still blaming herself. 'If I had reacted quicker this wouldn't have happened. If I had only just found him quicker,' she thought as she looked out the window next to her bed.

Outside the sky was covered in dark rolling thunder clouds. Lighting exploded from the heavens as a storm rolled into town. The rain began soon after in a downpour that would cause flooding if it kept up for more than an hour. The wind howled as the storm seemed to pick up in intensity with every passing moment. Lina sighed before thinking, 'Luna used to say that storms like this were omens of bad things to come...I'd say it's a month too late.'

Lina laid back down and tried to go back to sleep while thinking, 'Don't worry Gourry I won't let anyone do that again. And, when I find the bastard that did this he is going to pay.'

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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