Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers.
Beauty and the Beasts
Sword met staff, and a frantic scream pierced the air. "Please! Stop this!" Disregarding this earnest plea, both combatants fought on. Capes billowed, grunts passed lips, and feet skidded and stomped. The fighters brought their respective weapon of choice down again and again, only to have it blocked or parried.
The fight's spectator watched; face taught, heart slamming against her chest. "This mustn't continue," she gasped. "If this goes on…one of you will die!"
The staff wielding combatant turned to her and smiled, eyes shut as always. "That my dear," he informed her, "is exactly the point."
Choking back a sob, she turned from him and desperately shook her head. "No, no, no."
Focusing his attention, once again, on the fight, Xelloss frowned at his rival. His stare shifted to his rival's neck, and he thought of how very easy it would be to break that neck if only he could get close enough. "Don't worry, Amelia," he called out cheerily. "Just as soon as I finish him off, we can go back to living merrily once more."
The sword wielding fighter sneered. "As if she would." He swung his sword at Xelloss' belly, only to find himself jumping back in order to avoid a swift blow to the head. "You're scheme is no longer secret. She knows that the only reason you've been with her all this time is because your master commanded it. Amelia would never subject herself to a relationship that would bring about her being used for evil."
Dropping to the ground, Xelloss attempted a low swinging kick to knock his opponent off his feet. His leg, however, connected with nothing but air. "Wonderful dodge, Zelgadiss," he congratulated, brow furrowing with anger. "And whether or not our purposes are evil is merely a matter of opinion."
Zelgadiss grunted as he dived to the ground and rolled a safe distance before jumping to his feet. "To stay with you would be unjust," he shouted, using the princess' words. "And besides, what good is a relationship without love."
Eyes flashing open, Xelloss whispered, "I never said I didn't love her."
A throaty laugh poured from Zelgadiss open mouth. "What would a monster know about love?"
Raising his staff, preparing for his next attack, Xelloss narrowed both eyes. "Why don't you tell me, chimera."
Growling, Zelgadiss shifted stance and charged.
A/N - A message to all you readers who just can't wait to see the next chapter: THERE WILL BE NO NEXT CHAPTER. Not Ready isn't a multi-chapter fanfic. Instead, it is collection of writings from different stories that I will never/might someday finish.
Beauty and the Beast was something I thought up one night when I was bored. I'm something of a X/A/Z fan, and one night I was thinking about what I might use as a prologue to catch my readers' attention if I were to write a fanfic about this triangular relationship. The results of this pondering is what you've already read.
The title is in no way connected to the story. Zelgadiss and Xelloss were both labeled "monsters" in the story, so I just changed the word to beasts and called Amelia a beauty, and, voila, I have a title.
As for the story behind this short writing. There is no story.
And no, this is not one of the "might be finished someday" fanfics.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this. More writings will be posted soon.
