Ashes to Ashes
Summary: "There was no way the age of magic would last forever." Xellos/Lina
Rating: T
Italics indicates a flashback or dream sequence.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Slayers. I don't own anything, really. Sad story, right?
Chapter Six: Beginning Travels
Zelgadis pulled back the sheets on his bed, frowning as he thought about the conversation he and Lina had over the phone a few minutes before.
"Zel, I know how you feel about all this," she had said, slowly, as if she was taking great care not to say the wrong thing, "but Amelia and I are going to go with Xellos. We're going to see if there's any truth to what he's been telling us."
"It's a bad idea, I'm telling you," he said, flat out. "You can go with him, but I'm not cleaning up after you when it goes wrong. Don't blame me if this goes bad."
In the end, Lina had hung up on him. There was nothing he could do to convince his friend to do something other than exactly what she wanted, especially not when she was in such a stubborn mood. Resigned to this, Zelgadis reclined on his bed, closing his eyes and allowing sleep to rush over him.
Zelgadis felt warmth spreading down his side: fresh blood made a trail from the base of his ribcage to his belt. He swore under his breath. Older weapons weren't able to hurt him, but these newer devices were causing trouble; he hadn't been prepared, and now he would pay for it.
A burst of pain flashed across his spine—he'd taken another hit. Swearing, he fell to his knees. It was one thing to run when he had the chance of getting away, but he was far too slowed now.
The band of witch hunters that had been following him was gaining. With two heavily bleeding wounds, there was no way he'd be able to get away from them, and he'd be damned if he died fleeing from a bunch of witch hunters.
Another attack hit his shoulder. He turned to face his assailants, teeth bared.
They were young—all of them. Probably first-time hunters looking to make a name for themselves by killing one of the last remaining sorcerers.
A grim smile crossed his stony features. What right had he to deny these boys infamy?
Slowly, Zelgadis pulled himself to his feet, facing his attackers full on.
Several flashes of light and bursts of sound followed; Zelgadis fell to his knees once more, light fading from his sapphire eyes.
The ghost of a sad smile was still present on his lips as he fell forward onto the ground.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Lina groaned, swinging her legs over the side of her bed and padding over to the phone.
"It's two in the morning; this had better be important," she snapped once she had picked up the receiver.
"I've changed my mind, Lina," Zelgadis's voice said slowly.
Lina nearly dropped the phone. "What?"
"I'll go along with you, Amelia and Xellos."
"Wow, great."
"I still don't trust him."
"I figured as much," Lina laughed. "I'm glad you're coming along, Zel. I really am. Now hang up the phone so that I can go back to sleep."
With a sigh, Zelgadis did just that, and Lina walked back to her room, collapsed on her bed, and went to sleep again.
Zelgadis threw the last of the bags into the trunk of his car. "When's Xellos supposed to get here?" he asked Lina as he pushed the trunk shut.
"He didn't say," Lina shrugged. She sat on the hood of the car, twirling a strand of her fiery hair around her index finger. "Hell, for all we know, he might not come at all."
"Ah, don't say that, Lina," the now familiar voice of Xellos said, sounding chipper as ever. "It'll make me think you don't trust me."
Xellos leaned against the car, watching Lina, Zelgadis and Amelia as they made the final preparations for their journey.
"Zelgadis, the drink cooler is still in the apartment," Amelia said, tugging at Zelgadis's shirtsleeve. "Will you help me get it?"
Casting a distrustful look in Xellos's direction, Zelgadis followed the younger girl back into the building.
Lina's eyes rested on Xellos; for several moments, he pretended not to notice her attention.
"Is something bothering you, Lina?" he finally asked, sitting next to her on the hood of the car.
"Amelia and Zelgadis both had dreams like mine," she said, getting right to business. "They've never had them before; why did they get them now?"
Xellos raised an eyebrow, grinning. "I'd say now is a good time for them to recall some of their past, wouldn't you?"
"That's exactly what I mean," Lina said. She stood and began pacing. "They just started having these dreams when it's convenient to you. That makes me think that you did something to them. Did you?"
"My, aren't you the suspicious one today," Xellos laughed. "Let me ask you this: in the end, would the fact that I ensured that they had those dreams make any difference? No harm has come to them because of the dreams, aside from a few hours' lost sleep, and now they're prepared to come with you to discover what they used to be. I don't see any damage done, do you?"
Lina opened her mouth to reply, but the return of Zelgadis and Amelia ended her conversation with Xellos.
"I'm pretty sure that's everything, Lina," Amelia said as she and Zelgadis shoved the cooler into the middle of the backseat. "So what now?"
The redhead turned her eyes to Xellos. "What now, Xellos?"
"Now we leave," Xellos said.
"And go where?" Zelgadis demanded, getting behind the wheel of the car.
The other man's grin broadened. "Let's just see where we end up for now."
Amelia raised her eyebrows. "You don't know where we need to go?"
"Of course I know," Xellos laughed. "Eventually, we'll be going to see my master on Wolf Pack Island, but we'll need to make a few stops beforehand, so that the three of you have more opportunity to remember what you were."
"And where will these stops be?" Zelgadis questioned, eyes narrowed.
Xellos grinned a placed a finger to his lips. "That's a secret. Now, let's go."
"We've been driving for three days, Xellos," Lina whined, slamming the book he had asked her to leaf through shut. "When are we going to take a break?"
A small laugh escaped the mazoku. "Soon, Lina, I promise. We're nearly to our first stop."
"And where exactly are we stopping?" Zelgadis asked, guiding the car into the neighboring lane. "Some death trap or mausoleum?"
Xellos offered no answer to the question. "Pull onto that road. We're stopping at one of those shops."
Begrudgingly, Zelgadis did as he was asked. Xellos directed them into the parking lot in front of what appeared to be a highly popular store.
The four of them got out of the car and stood, for a moment, studying the façade of the building.
Lina was the first person to comment. "A pottery shop? What the hell, Xellos?"
"Surprising, isn't it?" Xellos said lightly, leading the way into the shop. "Let's just see what's in here, hm?"
End Chapter Six
