Chapter 4. Explanations.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, especially after my trip, I don't have a dime.

AN: I'm back. Montreal is a beautiful city, I hope I can go back there sometime in the near future. This chapter sets the ball in motion, so it's detailed oriented. Also of note ETA is the Japanese word for outcast. Ja ne.

Last Chapter: Amelia deals with her grief as a dangerous game between her and Xellos begins.

I knew I had to move it felt like I was stuck under that piercing gaze. His breath was driving me crazy, stripping me of the presence of mind to run as my mind insisted and yet the body would not comply.

"Ano? Princess Amelia are you in there?" Came the familiar maid meekly voice. That blessed voice saved me from drawing too close to breaking my vows and my sanity. Was I close? Yes I know I was, that mazoku had a way of stripping me of my free will. It had to stop; I have to make sure at no time was I left alone with him.

"Yes" my voice barely audible responded. "Inform the Guards that the Prince, my father has been killed by some monster." I tried to sound commanding but I knew it was a lost cause.

"Yes Princess." The maid could be heard crying as she turned to leave.

"It's not a Mazoku, child, Its something much worse. The Lords have named them the ETA." His cool voice informed me. Dam it even when he is insulting me he sounds good. How could this injustice happen, that Fein taking advantage of a young maiden's heart.

"ETA, outcasts and your sure there not related to you Xellos, the resemblance is remarkable." Well I know the sarcasm is not fitting for a maiden of justice but quite frankly I was too overwhelmed at the time to care.

"I didn't say they weren't related to the mazoku, I said they weren't pure. And I know you don't mean those words, I'm much more handsome. Ne?" He was smiling with those closed eyes. What do you know the blind leading the blind?

"I disagree, how would you know anyway your eyes are closed, and what do you mean Pure?" I knew I was playing with fire but I just couldn't let that ego of his run free.

"I mean, they're mixed. You see mazoku are capable of love, just like the dragons can hate. We just choose to ignore those particular emotions." He opened his eye's at this point, I don't know why; to make sure I was listening or to see through my soul. His voice turned serious. "For both dragons and mazoku life bonds or partnerships are the way to go, because of our long life spans. Dragons are more likely to life bond than a mazoku, because we ignore the emotion of love. Some times you can life bond with the one you want. Most of the time life bonds happen at random. This would be the case of mix between mazoku and dragon or human and vise versa. This is what created the ETA, they were not accepted by either group."

Well to me it made sense but there was one thing I didn't understand. "Xellos why didn't those couples ignore the bond or simply bond to another." Curiosities clear in my voice.

His sounded annoyed. "You stupid humans and your frail bonds of marriage. You have to complete the life bond or it will eventually kill you and the same goes for taking another mate, the pain would be unbearable even for someone such as myself."

"Death what do you mean Xel......" Light and darkness blinded me and stopped my rant. When I opened my eyes there was a line of dark lords and elder dragons. All of them were looking at Xellos and myself. All their voices blended together in my mind. "You child of light and you son of dark, must work together to stop the ETA. This threat must be stopped now before it upsets the balance of the world further."

To say I was shocked was an understatement; I looked at Xellos to see that he was begging his master for another assignment, while she smiled on ignoring his pleas.

"So let me get this straight, you have an enemy you have trouble fighting so you don't want to get your hands dirty. Well I don't see why I should help you." Anger overpowering rational, telling off dark lords was never a smart move.

"Your father will only be the first, how many more must die before you'll act." Oh how wonderful a guilt trips. "Fine, but I'll do it myself without that mazoku help." After all travelling with him would not be a good idea right now.

"That is unwise, the combination of your powers is necessary to kill them, alone you will perish." Why was fate against me? "Alright, I'll do it as long as its someone other than Xellos." I was desperate, all the dark lords looked better than Xellos at this moment. "And I can not depart until after my father's funeral."

The voices stopped briefly, probably deciding if they should kill me for my insolence. "That is acceptable, Julius will be your companion, come here Julius." Julius appeared in front of me he looked human, he had long blond hair like Gourry's and green eyes, yes ladies he was a looker. Julius himself examined his travelling companion she was a little short for his tastes, but she had decent breasts. Large just the way he liked them in a girl, hum many if I seduce her she'll hop into bed with me, after all no one can resist these good looks. "My princess I am honored to be travelling with such a beautiful and intelligent woman." He smiled laying on the charm. I smiled back.

"This is acceptable," I think he would be a good alternative to Xellos, I even would want to mate with him, after marriage of course. Than it hit me pain stronger than anything I have ever experienced. Julius put his arms around me for comfort but this only made the pain worse. At this point it was unbearable. The voices seemed confused; I looked at Xellos shocked to see him down on the ground mimicking my expression of pain.

Julius pulled away to look at me, smiling enjoying my pain, he reached down to wipe away a tear. His hands never reached their destination as Xellos hit him with his staff, throwing him across the room. Voices turned from confused to amused. "Xellos will be your partner as Julius is incapacitated at the moment and he was the only one available, so good luck to you and Xellos. Farewell." The same light and dark effect and they were gone, including Julius.

Their disappearance didn't bother me as much as the mysterious pain I felt. It vanished with the disappearance of Julius. I had no time to ponder as the door burst open and the guards with tears in their eyes picked up my father's body to be put into the royal coffin. I didn't need to look to know Xellos had disappeared. A few minutes later Prince Christopher came to comfort me and for the first time since the weirdness started I mourned my fathers death and my friends.

The day of the funeral, I was dressed in a black royal gown. I stood in front of the coffin and gathered my courage to speak. "My father was a great man of justice. He tried his best to rid the world of all injustices. His mission will not end and his killer will not go unpunished. I will be leaving soon for that very purpose, in my stead Prince Christopher will mourn with you and lead you, as my father would have. I wish you my people well and I hope to see you soon." I turned to keep my courage with me; I could hear the people crying and wishing me luck, it gave me strength.

Taking small steps, I left my home, my comfort for how long I wondered.

"Well know shall we look for the ETA now Miss Amelia?"

"Fine I'll change and than we'll go." I turned to go into the castle, when a loud band could be heard and I saw the cause of it. Life has a way of going from bad to worse. A neighboring country decided to attack their intent clear as their soldiers stormed the gate.

AN: Amelia may seem very out of character, but she just been through hell, it hard for the happiest person in the world to get through that with out dealing with those antsy emotions. She been thrown off balance and like all of us will have to grow up and deal with changing world in our own way. Feel free to disagree. Reviews and flames always appreciated. Ja ne.

Next chapter: Lina and the others realize they're trapped in hell. Well not "hell" but it sure seems like it in the dimension there in.