Zelgadis' Gambit
Chapter: 4
The Heist
Time to get to the action of the fic. And, I know you people are out there how bout some reviews.
Travelers from all over had shown up in Sailoon to see the painting. There were merchants and entertainers all around the big city to distract the pilgrims until the time for the unveiling of the painting. Among the crowd was a auburn haired woman that slowly made her way towards the museum. Her emerald green eyes flashed back and forth as she surveyed the security on the streets as she moved forward. As she reached the steps to the museum she continued to look to see what security was in place. She finally reached the inside of the museum and it was just as crowded as the outside. She made her way towards the painting display that was covered with tarp until it was time to unveil it to the world. Once she found a good spot she stayed put and waited. 'Now to see what they have to offer,' she thought to herself.
After about twenty minutes horns sounded and guards made their way through the crowd. Behind the guards were three people. The blonde man on the right was unknown to Fox but she could tell he was a swordsman. The young girl on the right was dressed like a sorceress in an outfit of magentas, blacks, and yellows. Her wild, flame red hair cascaded down her back as she continued to walk with the group. Fox knew who this woman was by her reputation and that then gave her a clue as to who the swordsman was. 'So Lina Inverse and her lackey Gourry Gabriev are here. The Wolf might not like this,' she thought to herself.
The final character in the middle Fox knew well. It was the young princess of Sailoon Amelia. It made sense that one of the royal family was there so Fox turned her attention to her actual mission. She looked around to gather information on the security. She would bet that most of the windows and doors had magic alarms on them and it seemed that there would be a guard presence no matter the time. As the pack of guards made it towards the painting Fox saw what she was looking for. In the archway going to the painting there were three sigils in the stone. One on the roof, and two on either side of the archway. 'And, I'm willing to bet that there is one in the floor that I can't see,' Fox thought as she waited.
Amelia and her group made it to the painting before the guards pulled away to the sides. Lina and Gourry stood behind the young princess as she stepped up to the podium and began her speech. "Citizen of the world, we are happy and excited to have you in our fair city. It is a rare occasion that such a treasure can be shared with the world. It is because of this that we of the Sailoon royal family feel it is our duty to lead the way with such acts. Thus, it is with a full heart that I present to you the first painting of Lei Magnus."
Amelia then pulled the rope that caused the tarp to raise from the painting. All in attendance gasped as the painting was finally revealed. It was a beautiful painting of a young, black haired girl sitting under a willow tree. The full moon over head shone down on the young girl as she looked at a flower she held. The audience was caught in the beauty of the painting and could do nothing but stare. After a few moments people began to shift and talk. After nothing had happened Lina let he guard down and took time to look at the painting. To Lina the painting seemed somewhat sad. The young girl had her head down so that the it looked like she was crying. The moon shone onto the girl's black hair that continued to make her seem downcast and gloomy. 'Why would a man like Lei Magnus paint such a sad thing,' Lina asked herself.
Lina could not help but sympathize with the young girl. She could remember a time in her life when she felt like that. Felt like she was completely alone in the world. 'I was lucky I found friends and companions that I can confide in,' she thought as her mood brightened and she smiled.
Yes, Lina had found happiness in her friends though there were still times where she had her moments of gloom. It was then that Lina thought of someone that the painting seemed to match very much. The feeling of gloom she got from the painting reminded her of Zelgadis. His attitude was cold and aloof when it came to how he interacted with people. Lina could only imagine what type of life had caused him to take on the persona he did. 'I understand that it is part because of Rezo's betrayal and being turned into a chimera...but there has to be more to it. He wouldn't act that way around people he knew accepted him if his life hadn't been hard. I wonder,' Lina continued to ruminate over the painting.
Fox moved through the crowd so that she could verify the last thing she needed. After getting to the archway she stopped and looked at the painting again to act like a normal visitor. After a minute she quickly looked down to see the final sigil on the floor. Fox smiled as she began to slowly slip out of the museum and report to Wolf what she had found. She took her time to leave so that she would not be noticed. Once she got outside to the streets Fox slowly disappeared into the crowd and then into the back alleys of Sailoon. After navigating the back alleys she came to a two story house that looked normal as could be. She entered the home and then locked the door. Fox pulled her mask out of her cloak and placed it over her face. Once the mask was back in place she walked to a door that lead to the basement. She went down into the basement to be met with the Black Wolf himself. "So how did it go," he asked while sitting in a chair in the corner.
Fox smiled before saying, "Not bad. I was able to fit in with the crowd. Though I'm sure you'll be interested to know that the princess has some interesting friends."
Zelgadis sighed as he had thought that this would happen. "Let me guess, Gourry Gabriev the swordsman of light, and Lina Inverse were in tow," the wolf replied with a almost knowing sound to his voice.
"How did you know," Fox asked as she was surprised by this moment of clairvoyance from her leader.
Zelgadis smirked from behind his mask and replied, "I've done my research on the princess. I know of some of her powerful friends and I was willing to bet that Lina Inverse would be here with the unveiling of such a rare item."
Fox nodded before asking, "So do you want back up now that you know Lina Inverse is here?"
Zelgadis let out a bit of a snort before saying, "No, I just want your report on the security setup. Lina Inverse will not be a problem if I know exactly what measures I'm up against."
Fox sighed before taking a seat and saying, "The main security is a protection spell on the archway in front of the painting. It is controlled by four sigils that are in the floor, roof, and on both sides of the archway. Other than that there is a normal patrol."
Zelgadis thought for a second before replying, "I'm willing to bet that there is an alarm spell attached to each of the sigils. So to make sure everything goes as planned I'll have to take all of them out at the same time. I think I have the right tool."
It was late at night in the city of Sailoon and most were heading to bed. All the business had closed and now the few bars that were still open began their shut down processes. Above the street on top of the roof of one of the high temples the Black Wolf waited for the right moment. He watched as patrons walked home from their night of carousing. As the streets began to empty, and all that were left were the guard, the Wolf made his move. He bounded from roof to roof as he made his way towards the museum. He stopped every once in a while to listen and watch for the patterns of the guards. After he was sure that he was in the clear he began to jump from roof to roof using his demon speed. After about twenty minutes Zelgadis landed on the roof of the museum. He quickly moved towards the center dome. Once he got there Zelgadis looked through the glass to see and time the security on the inside. After sitting for over an hour he thought, 'Seems the guards move in thirty minute circuits. As soon as the first guard leaves I have thirty minutes to get in and out. I'm also sure that alarm spells are tied to this dome and the archway.'
Zelgadis looked at the composition of dome and could see the energy that crawled over the glass. He smirked as he waited for the atrium to clear of guards before casting, "Flow Break."
The spell washed over the dome breaking apart the spells that protected it. As soon as the flow break was finished Zelgadis pulled a decent sized suction cup from his cloak and attached it to a window pane of the dome. He then pulled a rope out and tied it to the end of the suction cup. Zelgadis then tied the other end of the rope around a protrusion in the roof until the rope was tight. Zelgadis moved back to the dome and waited. Once the next guard showed up and walked away Zelgadis pulled out a glass cutter and began to follow the shape of the pane so that the whole thing would cut out. After finishing his cut the glass came loose of its hold and the rope and suction cup kept it from falling to the floor. Zelgadis quickly but carefully pulled the glass to the roof before casting, "Ray Wing."
Zelgadis floated down to the floor and in front of the archway. He saw the sigils that Fox had warned him about and knew what to do. He pulled out the large crystal that he had stolen from his first job. He recast the ray wing on the crystal and used a lighting spell to align the crystal with the four sigils. He then pulled back before shouting, "Flare Arrow!"
The spell flew into the head of the crystal and then spilt into four separate arrows that hit their marks at the same time. Just as Zelgadis had thought once the sigils were destroyed an alarm sound throughout the museum. He moved quickly using the ray wing towards the painting. He grabbed the painting and tore the frame off the wall. He then moved back to the crystal and grabbed it as he heard, "Stop thief!"
"Not likely," he commented snidely before encasing himself in a ray wing bubble. He shot up through the glass dome and landed on the roof.
Zelgadis then took off using his demon speed to bound from roof to roof in the direct opposite direction of the safe house. 'If I have anyone following me I must throw them off before headed to the safe house,' Zelgadis thought as he continued on his way.
It was a few minutes after that thought that his hair stood on end with a familiar feeling. He quickly bounded backwards as a flare arrow flew by were he would have been. He turned his gaze to the sky to see Lina Inverse and Amelia Sailoon flying above him. Lina smirked before saying, "Not bad. You were able to grab that painting and get this far. And, you dodged my flare arrow."
The smirk under the mask was huge as Zelgadis could feel himself loving the idea of a challenge. He chuckled before replying, "Well, the security was second rate and the only alarm that worked was the one on the sigils. But, by the time those sounded the painting was mine. I might also suggest to try and hide yourselves from someone with superior senses like mine."
Lina cocked an eyebrow before saying, "And, who might you be that has such a stuck up view of himself?"
Zelgadis and Lina made eye contact before he said, "Why the Black Wolf of course. I thought someone of your stature would have heard of me."
Lina had heard of the master thief but knew that the original Black Wolf had dropped off the face of the world over seven years ago. This new Black Wolf could just be an imposter trying to use the name. Lina smirked before saying, "And, whose to say you are the real deal."
Zelgadis brought up his hand before saying snidely, "Because, only the real Black Wolf can beat Lina Inverse," before he shouted, "Dark Mist!"
Lina grounded her teeth at the slight to herself before watching closely as the mist built. 'He has to make a break for it. I'll be ready to get him.'
As the mist grew Zelgadis quickly made his move. He knocked the frame on its side to cause it to spilt open without hurting the painting. He rolled the painting up and stuck it in his belt before deliberately shouting, "Ray Wing!"
He surrounded the frame in the Ray Wing bubble before sending it flying out towards the city walls. As he controlled the bubble he crouched down and waited for the two sorceresses to take the bait. 'Take the bait Lina,' Zelgadis thought as he really did not want to fight Lina at this juncture.
Lina heard the shout for Ray Wing and watched to see the bubble jet out of the mist. It was moving at such a rate that all she could see was the frame in the bubble. Lina took off after the bubble while shouting, "Amelia keep watch in case this is a trick!"
Zelgadis smirked when he heard the command and crawled down the roof to were it would be hard to see him. He began to let the mist dissipate while hiding. He watched as Amelia slowly came down to investigate. Once Amelia was low enough he quickly stood up and shouted, "Flare Web!"
Amelia was caught off guard and was wrapped in the web of energy. She struggled even while the web burned at her before she saw the Black Wolf laid a piece of paper next to her before saying, "Ciao," and jumping down to the streets.
Lina flew hard to catch up with the bubble. As she was within five feet the bubble popped and all that came out was the broken frame of the painting. "Oh, Damn," Lina shouted as she turned around and flew back towards Amelia. Lina got back in five minutes to find Amelia wrapped in a flare web. Lina quickly removed the burning web from her friend before asking, "Which way did he go?"
Amelia sighed before saying, "I don't know...I couldn't move and he jumped down to the streets."
'Damn,' Lina began to think, 'He knew that Amelia might see the direction he went if he stayed on the roof so he ducked to the streets.'
Lina looked down and noticed a piece of paper on the roof. She picked it up to see a black wolf's head on the note before unfolding the note. On the inside she read, "Way too easy,' before looking lower and continuing, "Got ya. Sighed, The Black Wolf."
Lina turned read at the insulting note before crumpling it into a ball and then incinerating the ball of paper. She ground her teeth while thinking, 'Oh, it's not over I'll catch you you bastard!"
Zelgadis had stealthily made his way back to the safe house. He walked in the front door before closing it behind him. He quickly moved to the back of the house before going down into the basement. He sat down on the bed before he allowed himself to laugh. He had enjoyed the encounter with Lina. He had made the first move and he was sure that Lina would be hot on his trail soon enough. 'One down...five to go,' he thought as he pulled the rolled up painting from his belt and placed it in a travel tube.
After finishing his final task he laid down to sleep knowing that Fox and the other bandits that kept up appearances at the house would keep him safe until time to move out.
Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.
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