Hallo all! I think After the Moon is officially on the shelf and I'm having trouble with Slayers Dedicated so I decided to write this four-parter for you guys. I got this one, no fear.

Chapter one

If I had to…

I would put myself right beside you…

So let me ask…

Would you like that?

Would you like that...

- Breaking Benjamin: The Diary of Jane

Xelloss smirked, his hand tightening on his staff as he surveyed the damage from his floating mound of frozen earth.

It was useless, their enemy stood no chance, the more they fought, the stronger they became.

Defeat was inevitable, just as he'd planed.

His grin widened as a foolish band of golds came roaring towards him. Apparently they too realized their sure defeat and figured at least they'd take him down.

Fools, they weren't even worth the raising of his staff, ne, not even the full extension of his free hand. After all, with just one flick of his finger…

The explosions rippled the sky and his open eyes took it all in, the rain of blood and fire, the terrified onlookers... quite a few his own allies.

His eyes slid shut once more, his smile serene. War was fun, and now that Lina was gone, it too was inevitable.

Lina Inverse, dubbed by the immortal's as the Queen of Chaos, vessel to the Lord of Nightmares, may she always rein, had died; two years to this day.

He was surprised they had made it this long.

The monsters had wanted to strike immediately, while the foolish dragons thought there could still be peace, but Xelloss and his Mistress had stood against such brash tactics, opting rather to set up their pieces, so that when the dragons finally revealed their true nature, they'd be left with no choice but to trip right over them.

Here, at the frozen wasteland of the North, they were falling left and right, as usual unable to see the big picture right in front of them.

In the end, they simply lacked a killer's instincts.

He grinned, running a hand through his loosely blowing hair as the sun glowed red, preparing to set. They would retreat now, to heal behind their only refuge; a long froze over volcano just south of Dynast's territory where they could not be touched… yet.

He opened his eyes watching their retreat as night fell. Soon he'd find a way in and then he'd be able to take them while they slept, as any monster could were it not for their pathetic defensive magic.

Time shimmered to his right and he turned uncaringly as one of his many "seconds" phased onto his rock, leading a pair of lower mazoku and a prisoner. Xelloss arched an eyebrow, he made it obvious that there could be only one prisoner taken on this field should she be foolish enough to show up.

"My, my…" He muttered bitterly, approaching the surprisingly silent prisoner, staring blandly at the canvas sack over her head, the blood dripping down her wrist, his breathing echoing with it's decent to the ground. "If it isn't Filia…"

"We found her casting a defensive barrier for one of the south wing." His general sneered. "Half-heartedly at that. Almost as though she could have cared less if they all died."

"Hmm…" Xelloss, replied. His free hand twitching; eager to remove the bag, and the blood… or maybe leave the blood.

Xelloss steadied his hand and smiled blandly at his general, opening his eyes for the order. "Thank you Towen, your help has been quite appreciated in this matter."

Towen bowed and phased out, followed by his own generals and Xelloss was left alone on a floating mound of frozen earth, with the only prisoner the monster race had ever taken. He was going to enjoy this, and probably be quite punished for it later.

Xelloss bit the inside of his cheek, attempt to keep composure as the blood continued to drip from her wrists. Her emotions were dulled and only the small soft sound of her mourning let him know this was even the same woman, ne, dragon, he'd known in the time of Lina.

He'd never expected to find her out here on this field, but then, she was foolish. Or maybe she'd hoped to find him here as he had her.

Somehow, he doubted it.

He grinned softly, his eyes opening predatorily. Despite his doubts he had hoped and had warned all of mazoku-kind she was to be taken alive or he'd torture them for all eternity in her stead. They had complied with his will, and now she was his, although only a special form of torture would be fun with one such as her.

Hesitantly, not trusting himself to contain himself, he stepped towards her.

Filia shuddered, his aura was stronger than she had ever felt before. He's fed on so much blood today, and the days before… my gods do they not see what they've…

Filia gasped as a silky smooth, gloved finger grazed her bleeding wrist... and then immediately bit down on her cheek, furious with herself.

Xelloss felt her emotions awaken as he approached her and couldn't stop himself from touching her. Her emotions screamed at him and his eyes glinted in delight. Pain, sorrow, guilt, embarrassment… ah but where is that longing I can sense hiding right under the surface?

"Now, now Miss Filia..." Xelloss stated smoothly, rubbing his finger across the broken flesh causing her to wither and cry out, once again against her will. There… I can feel it barely there amongst the other emotions, they suffocate it don't they Filia? Not to worry, I'll break them all away…

"…these bonds won't do!" He continued out loud, removing the finger and moving behind her.

Filia shuddered, moving away from him, able to sense his movements before he could even make them, his aura painting his movements across her mind as though it were a canvass.

Xelloss grinned, flicking his now bloodied finger, releasing the bonds on her wrist and her ankles, causing her to fall to the ground with a cry. His grin widened as he knelt beside her, ripping the bag from her head, displaying her tear-stained eyes. Her eyes wide with fear, but even better in his mind, fury.

Piercing blue orbs stared into the depths of seemingly emotionless amethyst.

Xelloss traced the lines of her tears blandly, and Filia glared at him defiantly, to tired to fight anyway. She'd failed, gods help her, she'd failed, just as she knew she would.

Xelloss noted her docility and decided to take advantage of it for the time being, he needed her in better health than this before he could start.

Xelloss pulled her into him as he sat fully on the ground, Filia went with him easily, her head pulled into his shoulder.

"I must say, I'm surprised to see you here, Filia." Xelloss murmured, annoyance seeping into his tone despite his best attempts to keep it out as he stroked her hair. "…I never though you this much of a fool."

Filia's eyes welled up with tears again, but she bit her cheek harder. She wouldn't allow his bizarre act to lure her into embarrassing herself further by admitting why she was here, she could barely admit to herself. However…

"…I… had no choice…"

Xelloss arched a brow. "Hmm…" He stated blandly, wondering what the Air Dragon King could have possibly done to get her evolved in this war, she hated war.

The conversation died as night finally fell and Xelloss continued to stroke her hair as he watched the monsters kill the foolish dragons that went back for their wounded. They then killed the wounded and finally, Filia and himself were all that were left outside in the barren north.

The wind picked up, night had finally fallen bringing with it the frozen stars. It was time.

"Well, as nice as this had been, Filia dear…" Xelloss stated cheerfully, his eyes sliding shut as he pulled her to her feet as he stood. "You are my prisoner and you have been sentenced. I intend to carry out said sentence, so let us take our leave."

Filia swallowed, her throat tightening and her tired eyes once again yielding emotion. This time only fear. "Wha… what… are you going to do, Xelloss?"

Xelloss grinned, pulling her into him with a start as he phased them away.

"Whatever I have too."

Oh yes, I should mention this is intended to be a lemon so I'm going to have to write two versions, one lime, one lemon. I'll post the lemon somewhere. See, I'm not sure how to do this next chapter without the lemon… so I might skip it for fanfict dot net and just post the intro followed by the next chapter. Anyone who reviews will get the info on where I'll post it should they want the smut.

Till then!

Nicci