In Her Honour
Author's Note: Xellos and Lina scene in this chapter.
Lina spent the next day following the ceremony in her room. She lay on her bed with her blood talismans locked onto her wrists, neck and waist. The remnant of her makeup was caked on her neck and shoulders. Her braided hair was coming undone in strands and entangled itself. She refused to eat, move or speak.
Her silent protest continued until a knock on her door and a figure slipped through and approached her bed.
"Have you been broken?" Xellos, as the imposter Manny, asked.
Lina turned her head and shot him a deathly glare. She looked back up at the ceiling and held back angry tears.
Xellos inhaled deeply, he took in her anguish and despair. He knew her spirit was breaking and without his help now she would surrender.
"Lina..." He whispered and then left her room. Outside, Xellos teleported to the Beastmaster's lair.
Zellas was waiting her minion's return, "Welcome home darling."
"Mistress." Xellos said and bowed.
She stood with her hand on her hip in her usual fashion of impatience and clicked her tongue to signal that Xellos might as well spill it and forget formalities.
"She was cooperating with the Bishop Phenwick but he's double crossed her." Xellos hissed. "They're using her to regain power for the church and the monach but it's gone too far."
"So?" Zellas scoffed. "Lina Inverse agreed to play a Goddess and now she's gotten herself into a mess. We're not her rescuers Xellos. In fact, I am enjoying her plight. The little brat is no ally to the mazoku."
"Then why am I following her?!" Xellos yelled.
"It was suspicious but if you feel it's trivial, and I'm starting to think you're right, you can forget about that mission. She'll fix her own damn mess and you'll stay away from her."
"They cursed the demon blood talismans." Xellos said pointedly. "They've got her at their mercy..."
Zellas chewed her index nail in hesitation then chose her words carefully, "Then...that changes the ball game..."
Xellos reappeared in Lina's room in his regular form. It only took a moment before Lina sat up and yelled his name.
She jumped out of bed and stared at Xellos for a long moment. He felt like a statue and didn't move while she inspected him. She reached out to touch his arm but Xellos teleported onto the bed and watched her spin around.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I was sent by the Beastmaster to monitor your situation. I've been under your nose the whole time." He smiled, "I'm a little surprised you didn't sense me."
"I've been cut off from magic for months now." She said. "But hell, that doesn't explain why you've been monitoring me."
"Don't you think reports of a lost goddess and Lina Inverse wouldn't be enough to raise some serious questions? You're sort of high profile, Lina" Xellos said.
"So suddenly the mazoku felt they were threatened by a fake goddess."
"No, we're concerned about what a person like Phenwick will do with a cursed and vulnerable Lina Inverse who happens to know chaos words."
"I thought you liked chaos." She sneered.
"We like being the cause of chaos; we don't need self serving humans manipulating powerful magic."
"The more I learn about your race the less I think you actually want destruction. I mean, Phibrizzo was punished for trying to destroy the world and you and obviously Zellas have something to gain by going against your nature."
Xellos hesitated but decided he could divulge this piece of information to Lina, "We're not for the destruction of the world. Chaos to humans only equals annihilation because you're only concerned with your own survival. We see chaos as a choice of control and greater power over other beings. If we so choose your destruction, that's only part of us exerting our power."
Lina smiled, "Of course, if only we would accept our fate as you see fit. I'm surprised you haven't killed me yet to ensure no one can use the chaos words. You wouldn't be in this predicament if I were dead."
"Oh but you're much more useful to us alive, Lina." Xellos smiled. "Who else could we get to do our bidding?"
"Right, so that's why you're here. To make sure your investment survives."
Xellos stood up and approached her and leaned in close to whisper in her ear, "Does it matter why I'm here? You should be flattered that you matter so much to m- us."
Lina leaned back and looked up at Xellos' face. He stared her down with his cat-like eyes; Lina raised an eyebrow and held his gaze for a moment before turning away.
Xellos placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in again, "Do you accept my help Lina?"
She inhaled sharply and Xellos felt her small frame expand against his chest, "Yes." she whispered back and turned to face him. She lingered in front of him, daring him to move but he stood still with her pressed against him.
The door knob clicked and turned and in a flash Xellos disappeared and Phenwick and Balthazar entered.
