Dancing With the Devils


Chapter One


Disclaimer: I don't own the Series Slayers. I am not claiming ownership over the show or merchandise, this is strictly fanfiction.

Author's Note: This is set during the time a few months after the battle of Darkstar. This is also a Filia and Xellos coupledom fanfiction.




A young man draped in obscure priest's garbs sauntered casually down the streets of an umbrageous city. The petite luminous coruscates of candle lights were soon diminishing as the cordial shadows seeped out from the alleyways and contaminated the streets along his hidden destination. The man coiled his staff fashioned with a blood shaded orb in the middle of the gnarled wood in his hand as he gave a small impish wink to a young brunette girl scurrying home with her mother. The girl blinked in surprise and giggled at individual's silly antics; her chubby cheeks tinted a rose colour while her guardian dragged her along like a stubborn sack of potatoes.

The person emitted an enlightened chuckle as he began to walk at a slower pace. He stopped in front of his first reference point. A light zephyr wind ran past him as well as grains of pebbles and dust followed by a few dead leaves; the man brushed a few strands of violet tresses from his face and took in the view of the building he was standing in front of. He raised his view to the birch wood sign attached above the doorframe. "Armaments and Antiquity". A smug grin crept up on the creature's mouth as the curves of his lips relaxed into a bemused smile. He easily made his way to the building to the right of the shop.

"Iyaaa," he said with a lazed sigh as he made his way up to the wooden door of the three-storied house, "I haven't visited for months since that last mission, I wonder how she's doing?" he inquired as he tilted his lavender head to the side; he could still the faint glimmer of light coming from inside at least someone was awake and about. The demon inched his gloved hand to knock on the door and ceased his rap a few millimetres away from the threshold as a devilish smirk inched its way on his visage and he vanished from sight.

*


Xellos leisurely melted his physical guise into the shadows of the dragon's den he was trespassing, pardon the little joke, as he tip-toed his way towards her room in the attic; his cape rustling stealthily behind him. The mazoku heedfully snuck small glances to the side as he made his way down the upper hall. He saw no sign of her beast men assistants or heard no noise emitting from anyone so far. The trickster priest's ears twitched as he heard a familiar voice drift to his keen hearing. That voice he recognized for sure as he teleported his physique to the base of the narrow wooden stairs that lead to a dear friend's chambers. Xellos floated up a few inches as he peered inside.

The mazoku's curiosity was aroused as he heard the singing ryuuzoku who was dressed in a fringed dark azure overall as her two associates stood at her side all of them looking down at a small weaved basket containing a glowing egg. Filia never removed her loving cerulean gaze off the little hatchling as she continued her enchanting song awing both the fox man and ogre like lizard.

......Feeling bitter and twisted all along Wading through an empty life too long I close my eyes listen to the wind Longing to belong to a higher place


Let me hear your voice Let me be with you When the shadow falls down upon me Like a bird singing Like a breeze blowing It's calling me From somewhere in the world


Her eyelids dropped a few as she stroked her hand languidly against the egg and nudged the crimson cherry knocker closer to the bed. Both Jillas and Gravos looked in complete veneration at their mistress as she shifted her golden bangs from her nonchalant face with her slender fingers.

"That was beautiful," Jillas breathed after the long silence, "I never knew you could sing like that, Onee-san." he complimented, ignoring the small wince of annoyance the dragon displayed at his continued usage of calling her sister once more.

Gravos nodded his head and looked at his boss, "I agree I'm surprised a dragon like Filia-sama can sing like that." He joked with a jovial chuckle, flinching as he saw the Gold shift her narrowed eyes towards the blunt mace sitting patiently on her neatly made bed.

"What was that, Gravos-san?" she asked as she gave him a sugary smile; batting her long eyelashes. The ogre stiffly shook his head and raised his hands in defence. A small shift made all three's tails and ears twitch as they looked at the contained dragon moving sluggishly in his protective sphere. Filia's sapphire eyes lit up as she bent down so that her nose was practically touching the shell, "It's almost time me thinks, soon Valgarv will be able to start his new life as Val, and everything will be mended for the past's mistakes," she said as her stomach fluttered, "I'll make sure of that." she promised in a determined voice to herself.

The dragon woman spun around to face her two family members and eyed them humorously. "Well I'd suggest you two to be making your ways off to bed we have a big day tomorrow since I saw a lot of new tourists enter the city and a couple of mercenaries as well," she chided as she shook her finger from left to right with a smile, "Unless you'd like to continue polishing vases and sharpening swords from dusk till dawn cause I think you missed a couple of spots." she laughed as both sweatdropped and nervously backed away.

"Geeku," Jillas' tail swished to the side as he shook his head. "That's alright me and Gravos will just wash up and head to bed." he stammered as he and the ogre turned to leave. The red fox ceased his transient and turned to the blonde. "Onee-san, would you like me to turn off the forge for you and put away the iron?" he asked as the dragon shook her head as she raised her hand and tied a piece of string around her hair so it styled into a ponytail.

"No thank you, Jillas-san I'd still like to finish making that sword I was working on then I'll probably hop off to bed, but perhaps……….take Val's basket with you I'd prefer him being supervised for the moment." she breathed as she inched her gaze towards the exit of her room; her instincts were telling her to be wary for the moment being as she turned back to face the waiting fox.

"Hai," he chanted as he dashed towards the basket and gripped it with his tarnished gloved hands bounding down the stairs along with Gravos unaware of the fleeing dark presence that re-entered into the shadows.

*


Clang! Clang! Clang! The small lit room gave off a monotonous noise and sounds as a comforting glow of warmth and tendrils of light spewed and reflected off the oval shaped ceiling. Already casting a sound proof barrier the dragon was busy at work finishing off the weapon with utmost expertise. Filia slammed the brunt minute iron sledgehammer against the heated metal as she hummed an old folk tune she was taught by her father when she was a hatchling. Small yellow sparks splattered off the anvil she balanced the swords fang on. CLANG!

"That should do it," the blonde muttered to herself as she placed down the hammer and rose from her kneeling position; the blade still in her hands as she walked over towards a large stone vessel filled with shimmering water and a mace emitting an orangey glow. Filia dipped the red blade into the water to cool as vapours of steam rushed up to greet her stricken face as she felt something smooth and soft trace an intricate pathway down her spinal cord and stop at the spot where her tail would emerge from. The dragon maiden's pupils shrunk, "It can't be............I mean I thought I was imagining things before, that Namagomi Mazoku should have left for GOOD last time!" she thought to herself as she dropped the steel completely into the water with a THUD and wheeled around. The mist of smoke, however, concealed any intruder in a blanket of white.

"You can come out anytime now, Xellos," she growled as she tapped her foot impatiently on the floor. Her tone had an acidic edge to it as her tail swung restlessly at her feet. It seemed that the appendage burst out of her garment as he made his secretive arrival. "Well…" the ryuuzoku drawled impatiently as the steam dissipated only leaving a smiling mazoku as its replacement. His hands clasped tightly together as he viewed the girl with one amethyst eye.

"Yare, yare honestly Filia-san you're no fun at all." he pouted as he stepped a few inches closer to the irritated and fuming mistress of the house, "Not even a hug and kiss for your dearest friend…...such a terrible and rude hostess." He chastised as he shook his head in mock disapproval; ignoring the throbbing vein in her temple or the newly protruding fangs that emerged from her mouth. "Hmmm, well won't you be offering me some tea for my arrival? I haven't seen you for months," he cried wiping a feigned tear from the crack of his eyelids, "Oh yes." He perked his head up and smiled at the female dragon. "I forgot to congratulate you on Valgarv's hatching! What will it be seven or eight more days now?" he questioned as Filia grabbed the cooling mace in her hands and rushed the stunned monster.

"GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM, NAMAGOMI MAZOKU!" she screamed as a tedious brawl began with the complete and utter destruction of the Gold's weaponry workshop and then they managed work their way towards her pottery work station destroying every vase and tea cup in sight.

The corner of the dragon's eyes twitched as the slip of her overalls slouched off her shoulders, displaying a patch of her skin. Her breasts heaved up and down as she panted down as much air as she could swallow. The dragon sighed as the unhealthy shade of blue washed over her complexion and she laid the mace to rest on the wall. She slumped down to rest on her rear along side the wall and looked up at the Cheshire grinning beast priest. Xellos looked at her with an amused grin as he reached behind his back and pulled out an indigo teacup embroidered with golden wolf auras that entwined into a chain.

"Ne, ne, ne Filia-san how much for this?" the demon questioned as he stooped down to be level with her; looking her straight in the eye with his mysterious closed gaze.

The dragon frowned and gave him a sceptical look as she gazed at her damaged and completely destroyed work areas. She looked back at the grinning mazoku and sighed with annoyance; the veins in her head were beginning pound like a bongo drum."Twelve million golds, two hundred silvers, fifty bronzes and three hundred golds for damage payments." she murmured holding out her gloved hand for her payment.

The priest balked and raised a purple eyebrow as he looked at the depressed dragon. He smoothly swatted away her waiting hand. "That much for ONE teacup? And most of this chaos was your doing might I add." he reasoned, "How about one million golds for the damage and five hundred for the cup," he haggled as he brought a small pouch of coins from his beige satchel that rested on his shoulder.

The dragon smirked and swatted away his gold, "No sale. Take my offer or no deal." she retorted in a superior and grand voice as she crossed her arms against her bosom. Xellos opened his irritated glinting eyes and blinked in astonishment as he quickly closed them.

"Filia-san, you're such a cruel, selfish dragon! Don't old friends get discounts or something." he complained as he still remained grinning at her devious tactics.

"Nope, now pay up," she smiled as her eyes narrowed into slits, "And remember old friend." She nearly cringed. "My other important and deeply obeyed policy is you break it you BUY IT!" she bellowed as she pointed towards the sea of shattered pottery and antiques lying in masses upon shards.

*


"So you actually paid for everything,.....and that's what you did with your three day break, annoy that dragon child?" a husky and smooth voice asked as the lavender haired monster enthusiastically nodded his head. "With that much sum of currency your dragon could go on lifetime retirement if she so desired," the voice stated as the finger removed the cigarette from her ruby red lips while she parted her exposed legs displaying a great view of her most private places.

Xellos lazily smiled up at his master as his head began buzzing with the nostalgic musk of blood and wine and a yellowish tint of smoke that flared his nostrils. He watched Juu-ou-sama shift sluggishly in her lengthy and slender chair that was covered with the bones and skins of her hunted and most worthy prey. A small crown of obscured human skulls encircled the head of the chair where strands of her silver tresses spilt over the dormant pates. Her slim almond coloured body was merely clothed in a few scrapes of black fabric that showed great amounts of skin in various alluring positions. The sash that wrapped around her petite waist was made from dragon scales. Golden dragon scales.

"Tell me my cunning wolf, of the unborn dragon." She interjected as she scathed her dagger like nails on the snout of a wolf that lay at her side; small trickles of black blood spewed from the wound and tarnished her crimson nails. "Tell me of how the reborn Valgarv....pardon me Val is it, is fairing, you said he would be hatching in a few days is the dragon woman planning to send him off or is she actually going to keep him?" she inquired as she clutched her hands around a crystal goblet and brought it up to rest on her full lips. She narrowed her eyes dangerously, tiny specks of scarlet glinted at the priest.

"Hmm, about one or two more days tops I'm wagering on and Filia-san is determined on raising Val herself with her two beast men servants. She is set of repent and cleansing of her races sins and repaying Valgarv it seems," Xellos explained in an impressed tone. He was quite enthused by the dragon's goals of challenging herself to take care of the young ancient dragon no matter what.

"How….noble," the Dark Lord drawled in low voice as she eyed her priest."Xellos," she said in a soft voice her lips curling in a crude sneer, "I have a mission for you." She placed the goblet down and he gave her his full attention, "I want you to bring me the Ancient Dragon egg and kill the Golden Dragon that poses as his guardian, dispose of this.....Filia UI Copt and bring the egg to me." She purred as she stroked her hand against the downy bear skin she was lying on.

Xellos arched a purple eyebrow in surprise as he faintly wrinkled his nose. His unmasked facade ceased for a few seconds. The mazoku shook his head meditatively as he slapped a Cheshire grin on his face and eyed his mistress. "Hai, it shall be done Juu-ou-sama," he replied in a low tone as he gave a deep bow and turned on his heel. His staff conjuring into his waiting hands as he readied himself for a teleport out of his mistress' sanctum. A charming whistle caused him to crane his head and view his master as she abraded her nails against the red tattooed streaks on her cheek.

"Dearest wolf, do hurry I wish to see the young dragon's hatching with my own eyes and I believe his new, rightful family should witness it as well." she chuckled as she jabbed her claws towards the wolves lounging around in every direction of her chambers; all of them yapping apprehensively at their mistress' whim. The trickster beamed at his creator and gave a small wave as he melted out of sight.

"Valgarv....a living, breathing amalgamation between mazoku and ryuuzoku." the female mazoku muttered to herself as she lit another cigarette and embedded it between her full red lips a feral grin forming at the crook of her mouth. "Whoever thought a half-breed between two races that despised each other so greatly could have such a potent outcome?" she questioned to herself as she blew a smoke ring through her parted lips, "An outcome I and I alone shall posses." she thought to as she gingerly tapped the cigarette into a diamond ashtray.

"Hmm," she purred gleefully raising her bloodied nail to her lips; giving it a lick, "That little dragon girl will be in for quite a surprise," she moaned as she allowed a few wolves to lap up the remaining liquid; she smiled to herself as she swatted the demonic dogs away, "Perhaps the young Val will be just the mazoku to be moulded as well as my dearest little wolf, and my forces will rise drastically." she mused as she brought the cigarette to rest on her lips tossing her head to look at the full moon. The night was still young and a good hunt was afoot as a mournful howl ricocheted throughout the land.

*


"I wonder when they'll be back...perhaps I should've gone instead," Filia mumbled to herself. She was contemplating her decree to have ushered Jillas and Gravos on an errand to purchase extra material for her vases and perhaps some iron. The stuff she bought the other day ago was too brittle and shattered whenever she slammed her hammer against it. "Guess I can't complain about it now, ne little one?" she smiled as she eyed the ancient dragon's basket sitting contently on the table in front of her as she continued to polish her mace against a blanch cloth.

The ryuuzoku woman placed down the fabric and allowed the weapon to sit on her periwinkle blue knee-length skirt as she reached for her pink tea cup that was beside the woven basket. She drank the beverage and cringed it was long gone cold as she skimmed her view across the rim.

"Huh, "she whispered as she noticed the unborn ancient dragon shift at one hundred and eighty degree angle in his egg; his arms and tail already clawing at the protective shell, but his wavering soon stopped and ceased all motion. The maiden found herself loss of words as she gulped down the rest of the chilly tea, despite the liquid she just drank her throat was dry as a bone; her eyes never wavered from the dragon.

"I can't believe it, he might just hatch today,...oh no Jillas and Gravos must be here to see thi...." the dragon stopped her sentence as a dark aura rippled against her heightened senses. She smiled to herself hoping that Xellos would not visit her for a much longer period instead of just staying away for the past two days. She kept her back to him and grinned. "Alright Xellos you can stay, but...," she wheeled around and faced him he was disturbingly quiet; it unnerved her to an extent. The dragon blinked and studied him warily as he laid his staff to rest against the wall; giving the dragon a feeble smile. "Anou, Xellos is there someth...." the dragon misplaced her comforting words as the mazoku broke leisurely into jovial laughter and sheepishly rubbed his hand against the back of his head.

"I think I'll make us some tea, that one seems to need a re-fill, ne," he chuckled as he walked up to the ryuuzoku and placed his gloved hands on her shoulder pushing her down to sit on the chair. "Hoi, hoi sit Filia-san it'll be my treat," he replied as he patted her head like a dog and strutted towards the kitchen his cape billowing tranquilly against the hardwood floor.

The Gold blinked in confusion and gritted her teeth vehemently. "Who gave him the permission to just barge in here and start gallivanting around my kitchen," she growled her hands clenching, "....and his treat who grew those herbs he's using to make the tea in the first place." She cursed as she titled her head to catch a glimpse of him boiling the water; her face heated when he spun his head around and winked mischievously; waving his gloved finger at her. "Hmph," she sniffed loudly, raising her nose in the air as her blush crept further across her cheeks.

*


Filia sipped casually against the margin of her blush coloured teacup, the aggravating heat not affecting her dulled dragon's tongue as she shifted her gaze from the mazoku to view the setting sun. Her servants have failed to return and it seemed like Val's hatching would begin soon for he was moving restlessly in his egg. The dragon clicked her canine teeth as she turned back to the mazoku and sighed. "Why are you here, Xellos?" she inquired for the umpteenth time as the monster merely smiled and placed his teacup down.

"That is a secret," he replied smoothly for the umpteenth time ignoring her crossed glare. "So, Filia-san……continue with that story," he began as he re-filled his cup and smiled at her, "After you threw a fit at the high priest what did you do afterwards,…………don't tell me you hit him with that mace of yours, did you?" he questioned as the dragon rolled her eyes towards the ceiling and drank the remains of her tea.

"Well its not like he didn't have it comin.....wait a minute ever since you got here you've been asking about my past for no explicit reason." she said as she gaped at him long and stout, "Why is it so important to know anyway," the dragon stopped and tapped a finger on the base of her chin, "Don't tell me you're here just to know more about me." she joked as the superior tone she wielded wavered. She didn't like it where her theories were ending up for Xellos' arrival. The dragon's tail swished irritably to right knocking the mace that sat beside her as she coiled the appendage around her leg. "Well, Xellos time for you to lea....the egg!" she yelled as she dragged her gaze from the priest towards the cracking shell. "This might be it," she said as she leapt off the couch and went to kneel beside the basket.

The violet manned mazoku got up from his seat and walked quietly towards the staff that lay silent against the wall since his arrival. "Hai, it should be about time, now," the mazoku breathed looking briefly at the darkening sky mixed with the cool colours of azure and plum and the heat colours of orange and yellow. He grabbed his staff and walked over towards the patient dragon kneeling cheerfully on the floor. Filia's tail wagged contently as she shifted her eyes to look at the looming shadow that covered her like a blanket.

The ryuuzoku looked up and saw Xellos towering over her; his lavender bangs shadowed his closed eyes as the grip on his staff tightened. A grim smile was plastered on his lips as he raised the weapon's ruby orb a few inches away from the dragon's chest. "Xellos, what are you….." she whispered as she tried to get to her feet only to plop back down; her body feeling stiff as she sluggishly covered half of her mouth that refused to work. "The tea," she screamed mentally. Her sapphire eyes widened as she looked up at her empty teacup and then her eyes flew back towards the trickster priest.

The monster cocked his head to the side and the ryuuzoku caught his trademark grin. His lethal amethyst eyes twinkled slightly as he muttered a few demonic words striking inky black tendrils from the crimson orb through Filia's chest. The dragon failed to utter a scream as she slumped to the ground while the onslaught on her body slowly ceased; blood leaked relentlessly through her wound and her gapping lips. The dragon began to shake uncontrollably as her vision blurred and she looked up at the smiling priest. Then inevitably blacked out.

*


She opened her eyes and noticed she was in her pink bed now stained scarlet from her blood as she saw Xellos holding the woven basket in his right hand; his staff gone. Filia wanted to shriek but the pain her body was excruciating so much that it made her want to wretch. Her lips curled as she swallowed back the dribbling liquid in her mouth. "Xel....los.....you,...give him back.....don't take him......please," she begged gasping for air as hot tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

The beast priest smiled sympathetically and laid the woven satchel to rest on her beige nightstand; walking slowly up to the distressed dragon he gently placed his hand on her damp hair brushing it softly. He drew his lips towards her and gave her a light kiss; licking lavishly at the blood he caught on her mouth. "Just rest, the pain will leave soon. I promise," he whispered in her ear as he backed up and gripped the basket; he rewarded her with his back as he shimmered out of view.

Filia's bosom heaved up and down as the flow of her blood increased. She tried to call for help but her voice would no longer function as her tongue drowned in blood. Healing herself was totally out of option in her current condition. The dragon smiled bitterly to herself, "What a fool I am...to have trusted that...that...Namagomi mazoku," the tears gushed down her red cheeks, "Jillas, Gravos, and Valgarv I failed them all.....but maybe I can save him. I mustn't give up." the girl pledged in her mind as she concentrated as hard as she could a golden light engulfing her; praying she'd be transported to the stolen egg.

*


Filia landed roughly on her side as her blood soaked the grass she laid on. She lifted her head and few millimetres as she sniffed the air. It was hard to tell with the blood blocking her senses but it smelt like a forest, somewhere south of her shop. The dragon cursed as her body shook; she no longer contained the strength of keeping her human guise stable painfully she reverted to her original dragon form that reflected in the emerging moon's light. The rays bounced off the parts of her body that was drenched in blood. "That's enough........I can't teleport anymore or do anything for that matter."

The birds rustled in their nests as they viewed a large shadowy figure panting desperately in the light of the moon; the creature's tail flapping limply as a small cloth of fabric trembled with each flick. The feathery animals chirped their heads to the side as they saw the behemoth's chest slowly heave up and then down and then continued to lie motionless. The shadowy creature's eyes flickered for an instant as they sluggishly closed, its snout curled up into a disarming snarl.

"Val,.....Xellos,.........you bastard.....you better take good care of him."

*


Xellos shook his violet head and smiled wistfully as he teleported into his creator's chambers. He felt it; Filia's life signature gave a final ripple and was no longer present on any plane. She had finally passed on. He sighed; it must have been a lonely death. He was lightly considering staying with her until she died; perhaps it would have been less painful, "Oh well, what's done is done." He thought with a rough grin as he faced his master.

The Dark Lord beckoned her priest closer as she greedily eyed the bundle and its contents. The wolves at her heels stretched on their haunches and began to make a small path for Xellos to walk through them; some of the dogs curious enough to trail at his heels to get a good sniff of the satchel. The Beastmaster hastily grabbed the basket from the priest and watched the young Ancient Dragon shift its scaled arms out of his dimly glowing shell.

"Well done, my cunning wolf, well done. It was a pity that dragon had to die, she was quite different from the rest, but I can't help but think what type of face she conjured when you finished her off," she laughed with mirth as the dragon's tail lashed out of the egg shattering it in numerous places. Xellos stiffly nodded his head as he took a better look at the cracking egg; a little interested of the birth of the reborn dragon. His snout was next to protrude from the sphere and soon he was squeaking a high pitch tune getting the wolves quite agitated that they attempted to quiet the creature themselves. "Silence all of you, let the dragon be," she hissed pushing the shaggy beasts away.

Xellos took a deep breathe and stared down at the newly emerged young Val, squinting his golden eyes up at him. "Filia-san would've loved to see this....alas it couldn't be," he mused as he etched his view from the dragon to his creator, "After this will Juu-ou-sama attempt to change Val into a mazoku....then all of Filia's hopes and dreams for Val to be a normal dragon will be completely shattered." The mazoku thought as a flash of cerulean blue eyes blurred his amethyst vision. "Will I allow that to happen....Can I allow it to happen?" he growled to himself causing the wolves to whimper at his side.

"I don't think I can."




A/N: So what do you think of Dancing with the Devils? Are Xellos and Filia in character or totally OOC, becasue if they are I wouldn't mind some advice to help correct them. Critiscm is always welcome as long as your not plain right insulting my fic or couple bashing. Any questions just e-mail me. Thank you for reading my fic. And don't for get to review.