There are a number of reasons why this is so late, but I'm just going to summarize by saying that Zelas is a surprisingly difficult character to write for, and that I'm now a lvl 27 Death Student in Wizard101. Hurray for procrastination!

I'm actually pleased with how this chapter ended up, considering that the first 3 rough drafts all stank. Again- Zelas is an really, really hard character for me to write. I see it in my head, it's just getting her on paper... gah!

As for Almost Lina, I'm having difficulty with that one as well. This next chapter was almost impossible for me to write the first time around, but now that I have to do it again... geh.

I do not own Slayers. I gain no profit from this, and I have no money to give anyone who wants to sue me. Sorry to disappoint.

After the awakening of Taforashia, and the death of the Dark Lord's ghost, there was only one matter of business left to deal with. Xellos would have liked to leave it unsolved, but of course, his mistress had other plans.

"Lina Inverse is a threat." She paced the expanse of her throne room, in the way she often does when giving new orders. He was kneeling down before her, with his head bent, finally being fully healed after a long month. He was dreading what he was about to hear. "She may have been useful to us these last few years, but without Rezo around to make any more foolish mistakes, we have no more goals in common. The bandit killer can only become our enemy from here on out."

She stopped in front of him. "She trusts you, Xellos, even if she pretends she doesn't. It should be easy enough for you to dispose of her."

He lowered his head even more. "My Lady, if I may." He was taking a risk here, he knew. But, it was too late to change that. "It is true that she could pose a threat to us, but…" He took a deep breath, a human habit that did little to calm him down. He knew she could sense his emotions, "But imagine how useful she'd be if she were to join us."

"Join us?" There it was, the twitch in her astral body. Her voice was full of false amusement. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"It will be difficult." He admitted. An understatement, they both knew. "She values her humanity more than her life. But given enough time…" He hesitated, unsure of whether the sentence was a lie, before deciding it was not. "I know I can get her to take the pledge with me."

Her displeasure pierced him. "The pledge?" She repeated. "How ambitious. You're starting to sound like my late brother, Phibrizzo. You remember what happened to him, don't you?"

He had threatened Lina and her friends, she called on Her power, and the Hellmaster was no more. To him, it was both a memory and a warning. "Yes, I remember. But, I cannot end up like him. I have something he doesn't."

"Oh?" One of her eyebrows went up. "And what would that be?"

"It is like you said." He raised his head, to finally look her in the eye. "She trusts me. And as long as I have her trust, I highly doubt she'd ever try to kill me."

His mistress' eyes narrowed. She didn't answer for a moment, before she finally said, "It seems you've gotten too attached to your toy, Xellos."

He hesitated, knowing that what she said was true, before he bowed his head once again. "Perhaps I have." He said slowly. "But, I do not regret it. I've enjoyed my time with Miss Lina, and I would not change any of it."

"We'd be better off with her dead." She spat.

Her anger hit him in a tidal wave. The suddenness of it surprised him, and he wanted to run and hide from it, but he knew he couldn't. She was about to give the order, and he had to find a way to persuade her not to. "But Mistress, I-"

That's when he felt it. Past her anger was something he had thought she could never feel- fear. He gasped in surprise as revelation hit him.

His mistress was afraid of Lina Inverse.

It made sense, he supposed. Lina was only human, yet many of the feats she had done were above even what the Monsters could do. She had killed Hellmaster Phibrizzo. She had defeated Lord Ruby Eyes, twice if you count his ghost. She had even killed the Dark Lord Darkstar. Given those facts, it would only be natural to fear her.

But still, a Demon Lord was a Demon Lord, and was one who was never supposed to be afraid. To feel his mistresses' fear shocked him to the core.

Zellas' anger died down. Xellos recognized the tactic she had used; she had forced her rage out in order to hide the real reason she wanted Lina dead. It was a common trick among monsters, but only someone like her could pull it off so well. He almost hadn't noticed it- if he wasn't so familiar with her, he wouldn't have at all. But now there was no point in hiding her emotions, so she decided to wear her heart on her sleeve, so to speak.

Xellos' hopes sank. There was a very small chance that she would let him keep Lina alive. Not when she feared her. To a monster, anyone whom a Demon Lord feared was best off dead.

But the silence lengthened. Xellos realized with a start that she actually was considering his idea. That surprised him just as much as sensing her fear did. Finally, with a sigh, she answered him.

"Fine. Have it your way."

Xellos' metaphorical heart leapt. He somehow managed to keep himself from blurting out the 'really?' that was on the tip of his tongue, instead opting for "Thank you, Mistress."

"Just remember, she's your responsibility, Xellos." She told him, as if Lina was a dog that had to be taken care of. "We don't want her to cause any unnecessary troubles. Whether she chooses to join us or not, I want her taken care of quickly. In fact, put her above all else."

He could feel her fear again, and it unsettled him. Her fear was undoubtedly the reason she gave him the order. After all, it wasn't like her to leave large loopholes for him to exploit.

But let him exploit she did. Under normal circumstances, he would have never gone through this trouble to persuade his mistress. A month ago, he wouldn't have cared whether or not Lina Inverse was killed. But a lot had changed within the last month, ever since the death of the Dark Lord's Ghost. Now, he was charged with either convincing her to join the monster race, or to kill her.

And he didn't realize it at the time, but two days later, he'd get his chance. A golden opportunity.

"Of course, Mistress." He bowed his head once again. "It will be done."

EDIT 2 minutes after the posting of the chapter: Oh geez, forgot I was doing this.

I'm putting up a poll on my profile concerning my Slayers stories and which one's I should focus on. I thrive on creative input from my readers, so please help me out!