Chapter One: Following Just Isn't Enough

Atlas city was full of hustle and bustle that breezy, bright afternoon as Lina and her companions strolled into town. It was the warm sun that beckoned the humans out of their homes, encouraging them to relish the day as if such warmth would never grace their skin again. Cheers and laughter rose through the air from a nearby playground, the sounds echoing off the buildings until they resonated around Xellos.

Perched atop the inn, the monster sipped as his tea complacently as Lina entered through the door beneath him. Several years had passed since their battle against the ghost of the great Chabranigdo in Taforashia but only a few months had transpired since he had finished his quest for Lord Beastmaster: eliminating the pieces of the Claire Bible. It was a task in which he found great purpose and satisfaction, knowing that he was pleasing his master and mother. With it complete, he found himself unusually bored and had taken a liking to following Lina around when he had free time which was quite often.

It was something that his master vaguely knew about, but still permitted for reasons Xellos did not fully understand. Though he followed Lina's group, he never made them aware of his presence. Feeding on their angst and irritation with each other was more than enough, until that day.

Inside, he could sense them digging into copious amounts of food, as they always had. Zelgadis' demeanor grew brasher by the minute, probably because of his obsession with curing himself and Lina and Gourry's desire to cure their hunger. They were always at odds, it seemed, and it made for delicious treats. Xellos longed to be closer to them to partake in their emotional meal fully, but he dared not appear before them. Not yet. Without purpose, he felt that he could not travel with them or even interact with them directly. It was something Lord Beastmaster would probably not permit: the permanent and willing association with humans.

Instead, he had created a fun game of cat and mouse. By controlling lesser demons, he was able to lure them around, forcing them into small skirmishes on a whim. It was never anything horribly dangerous and he could have pulled the plug at any time. After all, it was great having a fiery and powerful sorceress like Lina Inverse in his back pocket should things with his master's war turn south. Lina was a trump card for Lord Beastmaster, should his master require her. Knowing that he could offer her up at anytime pleased him greatly. But there was no indication that his offering would ever be needed or required. Lord Beastmaster was strong enough to hold her own, not even requiring her only retainer to fight for her. In a sense, Xellos felt like his talents were wasted working for her, but he had no other choice. The life she had given him a thousand years ago could easily be taken away. It was a life he had come to enjoy through his servitude.

But he grew bored in such a short time upon completing his task. As frustrated as he was, he needed to find ways to entertain himself. Messing with Lina and her companions was the easiest way to fulfill that necessity. But he knew he would grow bored of just watching them eventually. He wasn't sure what he wanted exactly, but watching would no longer be good enough. He opted to face the fact sooner rather than later that he would have to reveal is presence to them in order to fully enjoy the meals they provided him. If things ever got too heated or boring, he could always leave. There was no reason to stick around if not for his satisfaction. In short, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. If there was at least purpose, he knew his Master would permit it.

It wasn't hard to sense that they had retired to their rooms for the afternoon for some alone time. Keeping himself concealed, he decided to pay Lina a visit. As he teleported to her location, he found himself watching something interesting develop. Instead of materializing in Lina's room, he found himself in Gourry's and, thankfully, completely hidden from their view. His presence went completely unnoticed.

Lina stood a few feet from Gourry, her hands balled into fists at her side. Her head hung low, her eyes fixated on the ground. The room was thick with their emotions. Though Xellos couldn't tell exactly what they were thinking or feeling, the mood was incredibly heavy and delicious. Still invisible, Xellos hovered and watched them interact.

"I've always cared for you as someone I have to protect, Lina." Gourry said, stepping forward, his hand outstretched toward Lina. "I didn't know that you felt that way about me."

Lina shook, her negative energy seeping from her, providing Xellos a delicious meal.

"So, you think nothing of me as a woman then?" Lina asked, her body rigid, as if bracing herself for a physical impact.

Gourry moved quickly toward her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I don't know right now. Can I think about it?"

Lina's negative energy seemed to subside slightly, but Xellos could taste the conflict exuding from every pore. It was, clearly, not what she wanted to hear, but she seemed more receptive to that than a rejection. Appearing now would do him no good so Xellos waited, watching them interact. He felt satisfied that this was a side of them they could not show to the others and he was secretly the only audience member. It pleased him greatly to share in their private lives. He smirked as he realized that, if they knew he was there, they would be distraught. It was something he knew he could reveal to them in the future when he needed something to savor.

Gourry tightened his grip on the sorceress, lowering his head to rest on hers as she buried hers into his chest. She let out a long sigh and released him. She pulled away quickly and faced away from him. "Sure. But don't string me along forever. Just because you aren't smart enough to figure out how a girl feels doesn't mean you should let her wait." She exited his room but her energy lingered long after.

Xellos hung out in Gourry's room, still able to feed off of Lina's anxiety and frustration even though she was across the hall in her own room. Part of him was interested in Gourry's reaction to Lina's weakness. It was a side neither of them saw often and her emotional display had shaken the swordsman enough to have him lost in thought. Though amusing, Gourry's emotions weren't enough to justify hanging out in his room, especially now that he was getting undressed.

Deciding to get closer to the source of the tastiest treat, Xellos transported to Lina's room. She sat on the bed, her legs pulled up to her chest with her arms crossed around them. She looked sadder than Xellos had ever seen her. Like a fine wine, he drank her negativity up, grateful that he had chosen that particular afternoon to peek in on their lives. The satisfaction of consuming her emotions was much more satisfying now that he knew the reason. She sniffed from time to time, not holding back tears now that she was alone. They streamed down her face which had reddened slightly. It a rare weak moment for a powerful sorceress and Xellos was glad to partake in her depression. It wasn't as delicious as her rage, but it had its own flavor and purpose. It was something he knew he could never turn down taking in.

As he watched her sob quietly, he felt a strange urge well inside him. He wanted to lick her tears from her face. He wanted to physically taste her sorrow. But showing himself would only lead to unnecessary conflict and an immediate end to his feast. The afternoon faded into dusk and the town fell silent as Lina sank into a tormented sleep. After he was quite sure that she was unconscious, he materialized in the physical plane, standing over her. Her face was still damp from her tears. Leaning down, he very slowly and quietly licked her cheek where it was the dampest, eliciting a soft moan from the sleeping magic user. Her tears were salty and whet his appetite for more, but he couldn't stay any longer. He felt the need to cause her unnecessary pain in order to garner the same sorrow from her that the swordsman had. But he knew it was impossible. That type of emotional hurt could only be caused by someone Lina cared for deeply. He could only hope that Gourry would further hurt her. Perhaps Gourry could string her along for years, giving her small hints that he could care for her until he dealt the final blow to her, breaking her heart. It was something Xellos definitely wanted to witness. It would be the first time she would experience such pain.

This desire to see her broken became his purpose he decided. Passing his time would become far more entertaining now that he knew where it could potentially end. It was unlikely, he thought, that the swordsman could reciprocate feelings that deep since he had always treated Lina as a child, as something that needed protecting. Xellos knew far better than that. He could sense what Lina wanted, even if it was still unclear. He could tell that she needed the swordsman to lust for her and he could also tell that dense Gourry was simply not attracted to Lina's body. It was a drama that should end in complete tragedy, one he definitely wanted to witness more than anything else.