Lina Gets a Curse
Author's Note: I'll try to keep it short. Thanks to those who wrote me reviews on "Winner Takes it All.' Your kindness inspired me to write you more. It may actually be orginial idea for Slayers...though I might be wrong. This is my first chapter fic. Unfortunately, it is not quite as polished as I would like. But I hope the speed in writing will make up for some of that (my last fic took more than 2 years off and on with several major rewrites). I hope to finish this in about a month. The plot gets more intensive each time I sit down to write. Please forgive any grammar errors that remain (after much editing). If informed I will do my best to rectify them. Please enjoy and let me know what you think!
The standard disclaimer: I don't own Slayers. And I can't spell that names of the people who do. Please look them up and pay homage to their greatness. And buy lots of stuff from them:)
A cloaked figure emerged from the darkness escorted by something vaguely resembling the shape of a wolf. The cloak was brown much to the owner's disgust. From beneath it peeked two blue slippers and the skirt of a matching dress. A little embroidery graced its hem. It would have been beautiful, if not for the mud gracefully adorning several spots. The wearer, and disgruntled owner, radiated both anger and bewilderment as she stalked quietly behind her guide. The silence was momentarily broken as she tripped yet again on the hem of her dress. However, she spoke not a word. Neither did her escort. They walked for a few moments more before the wolfish creature paused in a small clearing dappled in moonlight. A soft wind died and the leaves stopped rustling as the figure turned to the cloaked woman. One fiery lock ceased its dance and fell to the small girl's shoulder. The "wolf" opened its jaws and growled softly.
"I have brought you as promised. You know the conditions. Whether or not he chooses to let you in is beyond my control. Do not move or speak until he comes. This gate is rumored to be more temperamental than most." He turned to leave, but stopped as the red head fidgeted and opened her mouth to speak. The guide hushed her with one sharp yellow eyed glance. When he spoke again his gravelly voice was filled with annoyance and a grudging trace of admiration.
"The swordsman is not far behind us. He's a good tracker. No harm has come to him. But remember that he must return before the timer runs out. Now stay silent! My master is anxious for my return." With that he took one step before dissipating into wispy slivers darker than pitch and phasing back into the astral plane.
Lina removed the hood covering her face and stared at the double moons in the sky as she waited for her protector. There was no one to see her now. Besides, they'd lost their pursuers several gates ago. She shivered slightly as she remembered the wolfishly inhuman delight their guide had taken in jumping extra gates to loose them. Regardless of their murderous intent, it bothered her to think of two old acquaintances possibly trapped in another dimension forever. Some of the dimensions had been beautiful. She'd always heard that they were. Perhaps someday she could travel them again for leisure. However, others were terrifying in their own unique ways. Like the one with beautiful flowers that upon closer examination grew upon the bones and remains of former victims. But that had not been as eerie as watching the red blossoms become white again as blood finished dripping off of their petals. The one with fire breathing slugs had been a nightmare come true. But that didn't even compare with the mind numbing terror of the water world. It was quiet place, seemingly beautiful and relatively innocent, until you discovered that one drop of the water there erased the existence of anything it touched. Even memories that other people had of you would vanish without a trace. You just ceased to have ever existed. The name inscribed upon that gate had simply read 'Oblivion.' It was there that the wolf had crossed three gates and locked up their pursuers. Even Gourry, in his own fashion, had understood how dangerous a place it was. Lina shivered again, feeling a stab of guilt. Old acquaintances of hers, if no longer friends, trapped forever until they literally ceased to have ever been. What if…Lina stopped herself. This train of thought was doing her no good. There was nothing she could do to fix it now. Just like the rest of this mess—there was nothing to do now, but to find this legendary keeper. Perhaps, if she were lucky, she could cheat fate once again.
Where was Gourry? Had that jellyfish for brains gotten lost again? No—he never disappeared when it counted. At least, not until… Lina sighed. Another problem to deal with when the time came. Idly, she wondered to herself what she would be doing now if she hadn't gotten into this mess. Fleeting images of chasing bandits, eating delicious food, and camping out in the forest filled her head as she waited for Gourry. Lina became alert again when she heard a twig snap and a corresponding rustle of leaf litter. A few seconds later, Gourry emerged striding quickly to her side. He sheathed his sword, but stood ready as if waiting for an attack. She tensed automatically responding to his anxiety. Gourry looked at her in concern and gently reached out to touch her shoulder before catching himself and quickly pulling back. Lina looked away from the undisguised pain in his eyes.
She ended the awkward moment by shuffling her feet and thrusting her hands inside the interior of her cloak. The endless silence was grating on her nerves and making her jumpy. Normally she'd have blown something up to soothe her fraying nerves, but it wasn't the best idea right now considering. After all, that was part of the reason she was here. Lina looked up at Gourry's sorrowful face for a moment before coming to a decision. It wasn't like he was going to stay after all. That had already been determined. So there really couldn't be any harm in touching him this one time could there? Besides, there was so little time left to them, perhaps just this once they could take a little comfort in each other's presence. Gourry's eyes widened as she slipped her small cold hand into his large rough one. He looked as if he wanted desperately to say something, but Lina shook her head solemnly. All that was left was to wait for her fate to be decided. Would this mysterious keeper help her or condemn her?
It was almost dawn when a soft rush of warm air announced his presence. Lina couldn't decide if she was irritated that he'd left them out in the cold so long or grateful for the remaining time she had before everything changed. Her ruby eyes narrowed, squinting at the man who was supposed to alter the course of her life. Who was he to be helping destiny, whom she had tried to outrun for so long, take its course? Or would he somehow change the flow of time? Rumors were that he had before. Unfortunately, all evidence pointed at the former. Lina wasn't sure she wanted to believe it, but Luna had been quite adamant.
He was a withered old man with a soft wispy beard. His wiry frame seemed to glide in and out of the shadows. Entirely in view, yet somehow hidden. Lina had thought that the person foretold to destroy her current life would be cruel and craggy. Instead, his face was worn and warm. Everything about him screamed kindly and old. Perhaps he would instead be the cure? His voice was slightly melodious and had a hint of laughter to it. But as the words reached the pair standing in the dawning light, they could feel it resonating against the core of their beings.
"So you are the one She sent. I wonder. Welcome then."
He turned without motioning for them to follow. Gourry raised his eyes to Lina's. In a single glance, similar to many on the battlefield, she knew what Gourry wanted to say. That he was willing to die taking out the old man and anything else that followed if that was what Lina really wanted. Lina's resolve swayed for a moment before she shook her head slightly and turned to follow the mysterious old man. Gourry sighed audibly and followed Lina across the glen into destiny's insidious grip.