"HE SAID WHAT?!"
There was a vast amount of opinions that came from Lina's friends as she explained what had happened, and everything Xelloss revealed to her.
"It can't be possible! Cepheid could never…" Sylphiel fainted.
"This is exactly why you need to repent your ways Miss Lina! I always said you live a very corrupted life!" Amelia declared.
"… This presents a problem, but I have a feeling Xelloss isn't telling us everything." Zelgadis folded his arms across his chest.
"… So who exactly is this Cepheid guy again?" Gourry's response of course made everyone smack their heads against the table, except Sylphiel who was just barely recovering and pulling herself back up to her chair. "Because after all Lina's afraid of her sister, and if this guys scares her sister then he must be really bad news."
"Yeah… Well the thing is this is pretty serious if already Dynast sent out his general to make me an offer." Lina sighed, waved her hand carelessly. "Deep Sea will be next, besides the fact that Sherra will most likely tell Dynast that I rejected her."
"And what about Mr. Xelloss?" Amelia shivered. "Do we have to worry about Zelas ordering him against us?"
"Not yet, like I said he's yet to come back to tell me his direct offer." Lina explained with a smirk.
"You're not thinking of taking it are you?" Sylphiel gasped.
"Of course not!" Lina hissed. "I would never just outright sell myself to the monster race so easily! Think about it though…" she raised a single finger. "Xelloss's orders are to protect me until I make a final decision on his and Zelas's offers. I already declined the one offer before knowing this… But now that I do, all I have to do is NOT decide on Xelloss's offer and he has to protect me, right?"
Zelgadis snickered at that. "Leave it to the master manipulator to come up with that solution. But I think it serves that blasted Mazoku right, make him useful for once!"
"It's not nice to use people, Miss Lina." Amelia scowled.
"Hey if I don't, we might end up having to fight Xelloss, and have you guys already forgotten how that went last time?" Lina argued. "I'd much rather keep the guy on our side, it might just be the difference between if we survive through this or not."
"Though, what were you two arguing about when you came back here?" Gourry asked. "Something about you're his Soul Munch?"
"SOUL TOUCH JELLYFISH BRAINS!" Lina smacked him on the head.
The blonde rubbed the sore spot on his head. "Ok… But what is that?"
"I've never heard of such a thing." Sylphiel shrugged.
Amelia shook her head. "Neither have I."
"I recall Rezo mentioning it once, something about how Mazoku find humans that are useful to them I believe he said." Zelgadis looked thoughtful. "He never looked into it or spoke much beyond that, said it wouldn't help to research it further."
"… There's a bit more to it than that." Lina finally spoke with a sigh, her arms folded across her chest.
"HUH!?" all eyes were on her as the four looked utterly confused.
"Remember back when I went to see that sorcery doctor and told you guys about how I read part of that Clair Bible Manuscript?" Lina explained, looking up at the group. "I recall seeing a small pass regarding something called the Soul Touch, I kinda ignored it at the time as I was more focused on reading about the Ragna Blade… But I do remember what I did read about it."
"S-so what is it Miss Lina?" Sylphiel asked.
"Well…" Lina's eyes strayed away, rubbing her cheek with her finger. "… If I recall, it said that the Soul Touch has to do with how Mazoku find…" she exhaled before finishing. "… Their mates."
"WWWWWWHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTT?!"
"Hey I'm just as shocked as you guys are!" Lina waved her arms frantically. "Why do you think I was screaming at that fruitcake Mazoku?"
"B-b-but I thought monsters can't love!" Amelia gasped.
"Yeah I mean didn't Xelloss get all ill that time we praised life?" Gourry rubbed his head.
Lina raised her eyebrow, she was surprised he remembered that. "Um, about that…"
"He was faking it, wasn't he?" Zelgadis grumbled in a low tone.
"Not exactly, just it only makes him feel uncomfortable." Lina explained, going on to repeat what Xelloss had told her. "I think it means if there's enough negative energy around it can balance out."
"But Miss Lina, does that mean this monster is going to ask you to…?" Sylphiel was shaking slightly.
Lina pursed her lips together. "I don't know. Like I said that's all I had read about it, in a way… It makes sense." She sighed. "He's saved my ass how many times now? I always thought he acted a bit odd for a Mazoku, I mean even a little over a year ago when he fought us did it ever occur to you guys he ONLY struck at all of you and not once at me? Even when he stole the Dark Star Weapon all he did was knock me out, he could have killed all of us long ago and never did."
"So… Xelloss has a crush on Lina?" Gourry asked, obviously not figuring this out as usual. "Is that why he kissed her when he left?"
Lina's face flushed red. "H-he only kissed my cheek! And it's not like it was the first time he had done that!"
"He kissed your cheek again?" Amelia blinked twice. "Like the time with the doll tower?"
Lina's eyes widened, that's right he had done that earlier just before Sherra attacked so they hadn't seen it! "I errr… Well I made sure I gave him a piece of my mind for it and for that other harassment he's gonna get it when he returns!" she growled. "… He caught me off guard and then suddenly told me I was his Soul Touch, we were attacked before I could ask him about it."
"Lina you do know he's probably just trying to trick you." Zelgadis narrowed his eyes.
"Trick or not, I can't ignore the situation with Luna." Lina shot a glare at him. "That and I want to know more about this Soul Touch thing and exactly how it works… All I read was it's a connection between Mazoku and other beings, as they find a mate that is useful to them." Her eyes lowered, straying to the side. "… And if we can use it to our advantage to make Xelloss actually help us."
"Miss Lina!" Amelia stood suddenly. "You're not actually talking about stringing Mr. Xelloss along and use his feelings for you against him are you?!"
The crimson haired sorceress blinked. "Ehh…? Amelia he's a monster for crying out loud! He freaking uses us everytime we see him!"
"It's not nice to play with someone's feelings! Even a monster's!" Amelia glared straight at her.
There was suddenly a clapping noise heard. "Well said Miss Amelia!"
"Xelloss…" Zelgadis grit his teeth.
Which the priest did appear suddenly, sitting in the chair Amelia had abandoned with a smirk on his face. "I see you've been talking about me while I was away. So quick to reveal everything Miss Lina?"
"Hey you're the one with the secrets, you told me so I'm keeping them up to speed." Lina shrugged her shoulders, then eyed him suspiciously. "That was one hell of a quick report."
"Lord Beast Master feels I should remain by your side in the event more messengers arrive." Xelloss stood for a moment. "Now, I believe we had a discussion to finish?"
"Oh hell no Xelloss, we are NOT going into another pocket dimension." Lina waved her hand. "You can explain right here and now."
The priest sighed. "I'm afraid that goes against my orders, perhaps in another room then?" he pointed his staff towards the upstairs area of the inn they were at.
"Fine. We'll go to the room Amelia and I were staying in." Lina announced, walking up the stairs. She made sure to wink at the group as she allowed Xelloss to move ahead of her.
The group knew what that meant… Well outside of Sylphiel of course. As soon as Xelloss and Lina were out of sight they all stood.
"Aren't we going to wait here for them?" Sylphiel asked, rubbing her head.
"We found out last night the walls are rather thin in the room, Lina's snoring could be heard all night." Zelgadis groaned.
"And I could hear Mr. Gourry's snoring in the other room." Amelia sighed. "I mentioned it to Miss Lina earlier, that's what she was signaling us for so we can listen in if we go into the neighboring room."
"Come on guys let's go!" Gourry cried, as they rushed up the stairs.
Lina plopped herself down on the bed as she waited for Xelloss to close the door and sit across from her. There was a strange awkward silence for a few moments.
Lina coughed finally, looking up at him. "So anyway Xelloss…"
"You're curious about the Soul Touch, aren't you?" he suddenly asked with a chuckle. "I'm not surprised."
"You eavesdropped." She growled.
"Only a few moments before I showed myself to be honest." The priest shrugged his shoulders. "But I'm not surprised, I expected you knew something about after having touched the Clair Bible yourself."
"But I don't know all the workings of it." Lina said, looking at him more serious now. "How can a monster…"
"Love? Well our definition of it would be different than yours, Miss Lina." Xelloss explained, laying his staff on the bed. "We cannot love exactly like humans can, that's why it's easier to just say we can't. Because we are pure astral beings, we don't exactly get…" he seemed to be searching for the right word. "Aroused like humans do. If we are attracted to another being it goes on a more intellectual level and capability. The Soul Touch helps us find a mate that can help us with that balance."
"Like I thought, you guys need enough chaos and negative energy from a mate to be able to stand being around them so much. Everyone has negative emotions sometimes, so if there's enough balance even a full Mazoku can handle it." Lina rested her hand on her chin. "But it's also for the benefit of your race isn't it?"
"Exactly." Xelloss snapped his fingers. "As to us Mazoku nothing is higher priority than our goal. A mate that can help us further achieve such is of course allowed."
"… Just how deep does this connection go anyway?" she pressed.
"It can go anywhere from between a simple crush, a one night stand, a lover to a true connection which binds that person to their soul, the very essence of a Soul Mate." Xelloss explained, slowly opening his violet eyes. "But, once the object fulfills everything that the bond became to aid the Mazoku and is no longer useful, the attraction can vanish."
Lina shivered, she paused for a moment to take this in. "… And just how strong is… Our…?"
Xelloss chuckled softly at her hesitation. "Oh do not worry Lina…" his amethyst orbs pouring into her crimson. "Ours is a very deep bond at that, and I highly doubt you could ever not be useful to me."
Lina took a sharp gasp from that, she really had expected him to tell her they had a simple connection. She wasn't the only one shocked, in the next room Amelia, Zelgadis, Gourry and Sylphiel all gasped at this.
Xelloss smirked at her reaction, slowly closing his eyes. "I've been sworn to keep my Soul Touch with you a secret all this time, my mistress has always feared you'd exploit it. I would have offered this to you a few years ago but I was forbidden."
Lina narrowed her eyes. "There's more?"
"Oh and like you'd take the pledge with a simple promise of being your eternal lover?" Xelloss laughed in a mocking tone, waving his forefinger. "I've known you for a long time now Miss Lina, you obviously cannot be swayed for such a small price."
Her mouth twitched to a slight grin. "You've been paying attention."
"Well to start off, should you take the pledge with me I have other means of compensating you..." Xelloss smirked slightly. "Such as personal modifications I know you would love to have, along with a good amount of my own power added to yours from myself."
Lina blinked rapidly at that, her hopes rising at his words. "… Just what kind of modifications are we speaking of?" obviously her eyes strayed down at the one part of her body that always taunted her…
Xelloss rubbed his hand over his chin. "Well while I think your body is perfectly fine the way it is, I could make some alterations to those areas you consider too small including your height and…"
"… My breasts?" Lina gulped, she was obviously thinking it was too good to be true.
The Mazoku shrugged. "Whatever way you'd like… That and I was thinking if we go through this trouble of saving your sister I might be able to convince her to forgive you for a little incident involving a bathing Luna projected image you sold to some boys…"
"What the hell is this fruitcake talking about?" Zelgadis mumbled.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!" Lina gasped in shock and covered her mouth.
"That is a secret." Xelloss waved his forefinger.
Amelia sweatdropped. "Wow… Is that why Miss Lina is afraid of her sister?"
"Would explain it, no girl would like their modesty destroyed that way." Zelgadis shrugged.
"Knowing Lina I'm sorta not surprised she'd do that for money…" Gourry rubbed his cheek.
Lina though shifted in her seat. Everything she was being promised was well too good to be true… "But what do you get out of this Xelloss? Me?"
"You could say that." Xelloss mused. "I've had my eyes on you for a good long while now. Make the pledge with me, and become my mate for life and I will deliver everything I have offered… Perhaps even some more."
"… Did Xelloss just ask Lina to marry him?" Gourry asked after a moment.
Zelgadis facepalmed. "Gourry, have you been paying ANY attention to this?!"
"And you mean it by Zelas can't use me for her games… Or you for that matter?" Lina still looked unsure.
"Hmmm, would it be better if I added I would never harm your friends while I'm at it?" Xelloss patted his fist into his other hand. "As long as they don't pose a threat to my mistress, she would not mind. That is sort of like the arrangement I have with your sister."
"My sister?" Lina blinked.
"Yes, her and Lord Beast Master have a sort of 'Don't attack me and I won't attack you' agreement." Xelloss shrugged. "I could easily apply this to your group of friends. In fact you could even accompany me on a few missions if you'd like, usually mistress is constantly sending me to find and destroy manuscripts of the Clair Bible, you know so humans don't get their hands on it."
Zelgadis's ears perked up at that. "What?!"
Lina closed one eye and looked at him suspiciously. "… Would I be able to read them first?"
"I wouldn't see why not if you're pledged to me, you wouldn't be considered a threat being on our side." Xelloss chuckled. "So how about?"
"This is bad… He's appealing to everything Miss Lina would possibly take…" Sylphiel shivered. "What if she takes it?"
"M-Miss Lina wouldn't join the monsters… Would she?" Amelia didn't sound so sure.
Lina closed her eyes and lowered her head for a moment. "… Xelloss, do I have to decide right away? You said something about having to protect me until I give my answer, does that mean you need me to answer immediately after your offer?"
Xelloss twisted his mouth for a moment as he thought about this. If he pressed her now, odds are she'd say no and he'd never get her. Best to let her think she has the upper hand, but not too long. "… I will give you one week. Miss Luna is on her way to Seyruun and if my calculations are correct she'll be there in about a week's time. I plan to confront her there and see if we can assist in the situation with the Flare Lord at that time. By then I would need your answer before continuing with my task."
A week huh? Well that might be long enough to get the other Mazoku Lords off her back. Lina smirked. "That'll work. Girl has to explore her options you know?"
"Just know Lina, I cannot protect you if the Monster Lords themselves come." Xelloss warned, opening a single eye. "Going against them would be pure suicide, you saw how well I faired against Gaav and he had been bounded to a human form."
"No, but you can protect me from ones like Sherra." Lina pointed out.
Xelloss smirked, he had a feeling she'd do this. Oh well, this gave him a week to try to… Seduce her. "But, I have my own condition for this prolonging, Miss Lina."
Lina glared at him slightly. "… And that is?"
"Now that you know about my Soul Touch, I'm allowed to give you a… Preview of what to expect should you take the pledge?" Xelloss grinned, rising to his feet and strolling over to sit next to her.
Lina shifted a bit, trying to back away from him. "I… I don't know about that…" he silenced her with a finger over her lips.
"I'm Mazoku Miss Lina, never forget that. While I shall wait for you to choose me willingly, that doesn't mean I won't do anything to get what I want." Xelloss opened his eyes again and looked seductively into her crimson orbs.
She felt the blood rushing to her cheek from his closeness. Quickly she shoved her hands against his chest in a futile effort to push him away. Her heart was pounding by this point as he was leaning closer to her, she should have attacked him with a spell but her eyes were caught up in the spell within his. For some reason she found herself unable to speak through the finger on her lips, was he using a spell? Or was she just that taken off guard?
Wrapping an arm around her back, Xelloss closed the distance between them and inched his face closer until their noses were touching. His other hand grabbed her wrists to stop her shoves, his gloved fingers rubbing her hands gently and placed them onto her lap. They stared for a moment, foreheads touching, then he suddenly kissed her nose playfully and pulled away, removing his finger off her lips and releasing her.
Several minutes went by in silence.
"Hey what's going on?" Gourry whispered. "They stopped talking."
"Is Miss Lina ok?" Sylphiel looked worried.
It took another moment for Lina to regain her composure. "… WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" she suddenly growled, wrapping her hands tightly around Xelloss's throat, threatening to rip his head off. Her face was beet red, and when she tired of ringing his neck, she kicked him into the floor.
Xelloss chuckled and rubbed his head as he stood up. "My, my, Miss Lina is this how you're always going to treat me when I show you some affection?"
"AFFECTION MY ASS! YOU'RE JUST PLAYING ME YOU MAZOKU BASTARD!" Lina stood, pointing an accusing finger at him.
Xelloss smirked and grabbed her wrist, pulling her forward in a swift motion that she lost her footing. But he grabbed her before she crashed, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close. "See? Even lust and affection can have negative reactions to them. You asked how a Mazoku can handle the positive feelings of love, there are negative ones too like just now." He smiled his usual grin, tilting his head to the side.
"Asshole." Lina hissed, growling as her face was painted scarlet.
Xelloss smiled at her. "Ahhh Lina you know just how to flatter me, for that I'll give you a little parting gift as actually I must cut this short after all Lord Beast Master wishes to see me."
Lina though by this point had enough of his damn game. "Just go already Xelloss and screw the gif-" she was cut off by his lips meeting hers.