DISCLAIMER: … I do not own the Slayers or any quotes I have listed at the top of the chapters…
-x- Chapter Eleven -x-
Rewind that we just rolling with the rhythm...
Rise from the ashes of stylist division...
With these non-stop lyrics of life living...
Not to be forgotten but still unforgiving...
-x- "Nobody's Listening"- Linkin Park -x-
"Oh my! Well that was certainly a waste of time." Xelloss sighed with a dry grin as he incinerated the book in a haze of blue flame. "How very unfortunate."
"Wha! Xelloss! What did you just do!" Filia yelped, unwittingly rounding the corner just in time to witness the destruction of the fruits of their mission. Needless to say she was beyond furious.
"Saved my private collection from great embarrassment, I'd say." He muttered wanly, summoning another book from off the shelf and phasing it into his hand. At first Filia found herself balking incredulously as he licking his finger tips and flicked open a page, seeming to wish to ignore her entirely; but then she noticed he was able to do this because they were in a library, and suddenly she didn't mind being ignored so much.
"There are so many…" She whispered in awe, picking up a well-worn copy of what had been one of her favorite childhood novels and delved into it eagerly.
Xelloss sighed slamming his own novel closed loudly, unable to concentrate properly when the dragoness was beaming more and more happiness with every page turned. Thankfully the noise this action provoked made her loose her own concentration and he grinned at her smugly, propping up his legs and setting the book aside as he waited for her to come join him. As tempting as it was not too, Filia knew if she stood any chance at all of stealing the novel away to her room, she'd have to humor him.
Besides, she was learning the hard way that Xelloss really wasn't one to let himself be ignored…
"Tell me, Filia…" He stated wanly, mostly by way of conversation as she joined him, noting the way she clutched the book to her lap protectively. She was just begging for him to steal it back, really. "What bothers you more, the fact that I burned a book? Or the fact that said book is all you have left to show for your second mission?"
"Oh, I have my memories, and a headache." She countered dryly, arching a brow. "I have a feeling I'm going to have more of those each time."
"All the better to measure the experience, ne Filia?" He chided with a grin, arching a finger. "But now that you mention it, I do have another mission for you!"
"But I just got back!" Filia gasped, and Xelloss grinned as he noticed her grip tighten on the book.
"Oh?" He asked pleasantly, leaning in so his nose was nearly touching her own. "Well, if it's my company you'd prefer, I can't help but be flattered!"
Truth was, Filia would take spending time with Xelloss over doing the monster races bidding any day, but telling him that would make said company insufferable.
"Fine. I'll go." She pouted, her grip on the book going slack. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to steal something for me." He stated easily, open his eyes a crack and allowing her to see the greed present in their depths. She swallowed softly, but held his gaze, determined not to let that look frighten her forever. "Something… impressive…"
"Another tome?" She asked delicately, trying not to let her feelings of fear and annoyance seep into her tone. She was starting to understand this game, and thus she was even more determined not to loose.
Xelloss smirked coolly, his eyes opening a bit more. He could feel all of those feelings she was trying to hide but was none-the-less immensely pleased she was trying. He was beginning to think she was going to be more and more useful as time went on and once again he silently congratulated himself on his foresight for saving what most would have seen as a useless hindrance.
"Perhaps! Actually, I'm not really certain at all what you'll find hidden there." He replied with a little shrug, closing his eyes once more and beaming at her coyly.
"What I'll find where, Xelloss?" She asked, her curiosity peaked despite herself.
"I don't know that exactly either, but I know who does!" He chided with a grin, arching a finger. "And I know just where you can find him!"
"Him?" Filia flushed thinking of Xelloss' prior performance in Saigria. "I… I don't have to… seduce this him, do I?"
Xelloss grinned wanly at the feelings of embarrassment radiating off the gold. "Oh, I don't really think that's a weapon you have in your repertoire as of just yet!"
Filia flushed, now twice as embarrassed and not just a little hurt. "I… I didn't mean…"
"Not to worry, Miss Filia!" He chided with a playful titter, arching a finger. "I'm sure I can find some naive lord for you to practice your feminine wiles on!"
"No! Er… I mean… Oh! Just forget it!" She sputtered, now a violent shade of crimson, the book discarded as both hands tried vehemently to hide her face.
Xelloss let out another long titter at her anguish and she sighed, waiting out his amusement with a pained expression.
"Where can I find him then, Xelloss?" She asked with a defeated tone as his laugher finally ceased.
"A tavern just south of the Desert of Destruction!" Xelloss stated pleasantly. "I'll of course take you there, or as near as I wish to approach."
"Is this person powerful enough to sense you and run then?" She asked curiously, wondering just what sort of person Xelloss wouldn't want the pleasure of robbing in person.
"Oh, something like that!" Xelloss replied cryptically, arching a finger and giving her a lopsided grin. "This mission only has two rules. First, steal me whatever it is he's after!"
"Alright." Filia nodded, this being a given in her mind. She was just pleased this didn't seem to be a violent mission. It was a bit frightening that she now had to weigh the sins she was prepared to perform in his service…
Shades of gray…
"Second, he must never gain access to it in any form!" Xelloss warned, cracking an eye; seemingly oblivious to her inner monologue. "Not even a basic knowledge of what he'll be missing out on, and certainly not use of it!"
"So much secrecy…" Filia murmured, arching a brow. "But… I'm allowed to tell him who I'm working for then, this is not a secret?"
"If you want too, go for it!" He stated with an easy shrug. "Just don't break those two rules, under any circumstance, promise?"
Filia blinked, her mind beginning to collect just what sort of mission this was. She knew also, while he was choosing not to press the issue, should she break these rules the punishment could be quite severe.
Unwittingly her mind flashed back to the disturbing promise he'd made when he'd pinned her to the bed the morning of her last mission. She found even more disturbing that her mind had remembered his tone as promising rather than threatening. No matter the fact that they were sitting beside each other having a master-servant chat in a library, he was still Xelloss.
Greater dragons than her had crossed him, and none who survived would lightly do so again…
"I promise…" She whispered and the feelings he tasted wafting off of her told him she certainly try very hard to keep her word.
"Excellent, well, let's be off then!" He declared amiably standing to his feet and offering her a hand.
"Um…" She sputtered, her hands resting on the book as his waited pointedly. She flushed, glancing from her hands to his eyes hopefully. "May I take this with me?"
"Oh, let's just leave it as a reward for when you return!" Xelloss chided in bemusement, snatching the book from her with his other hand as the extending one motioned once more her to take it, and with a sigh she did.
Besides… Xelloss thought quietly, his grip on both her and the novel tightening as he phased them away.
This will give me the opportunity to find out why you like it so much while you're gone!