Mythical

Chapter 11

Lina finally opened her eyes. She sat up slowly and rubbed the back of her head, she cringed at the sudden pain.

"What the hell?" Lina groaned. She opened her eyes fully and gasped. Where the hell is she? Lina stood up from the comfortable bed and stared at the extravagant jewelry around her. The room was lit up in royalty and beautiful ornaments. There was even a balcony in the room. Lina walked to the edge of the balcony, bracing herself by holding the rails with her hands, she looked outside. The fluffy clouds beneath the city and people happily walking around, Lina watched with wide eyes at the familiar scene. She looked back at the room, she thought it was all too familiar.

"I'm home." Lina gulped. She finally looked at what she was wearing. She had on a beautiful red evening gown that trailed behind her and silver heels. She choked in tears when she saw her two large white wings covering half of her body, Lina touched them generously and smiled. "I am home." She fell to her knees and cried. She did not realized how much she missed her home.

"Lina." Lina lifted her head up. It was Gourry. He stood at the doorway. "Lina, come on." Gourry motioned for her to follow him. Lina stood up and followed him, compelled to his soft gentle voice. She watched Gourry walk in front of her, her eyes clouded with emotion. Gourry was in his royal blue warrior armor, his sword at his belt and a white cape. He turned the corner and Lina rushed forward, she noticed Gourry entering a room and walked cautiously to the dark hallway.


"LINA-SAN!" Amelia screamed with big droplets of tears rolling down her face. She gasped when the elderly men chanted louder, their hands touching Lina's cold body. Her blood flowing out of her deep cuts on her body making a pool around the hardwood floor, she coughed blood and it traveled down her neck. Amelia sobbed. She was chained to the wall with her hands tied to the back. She watched as Lina's eyes grew cold, her body trembling and her lips turning blue.

"SHE'S DYING!" Amelia screamed. "STOP IT!"

"Shut up." Yuiko slapped Amelia hard on the cheek. She fell to the ground and continued to cry. "After her, it will be you next." He grabbed Amelia by the back of her head and pulled her up.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Amelia whimpered, she gasped when Yuiko spit in her face. "What have become of this place?" Amelia asked. She blinked when he lowered his face to hers.

"What have become of us?" Yuiko growled. "This village used to be filled of violence and gangs. But when a demon killed a villager here, there was order in the streets. Just one murder and everything in this village was in order. To retain the order to this village, we made believe that this demon was still in the premise of our village and every week, we kill a female and dump her body in random places. We keep this village in order and everyone keeps in check."

"Female sacrifice…" Amelia gulped.

"This red head is going to be this week's sacrifice and you will be next week's." He snickered.

"You monster…" Amelia cried. "You will not get away with this! Gourry-San and Zelgadiss-San will come after you and-"

"Oh yes, the men." Yuiko rolled his eyes. He dropped Amelia on the ground and smiled. "After we tell them that the demon have captured you and killed the red head, they will be eager to join our hunt of the demon."

"They will see through your lies!" Amelia shouted. "They are not stupid!"

"Of course." He chuckled. The chanting has finally stopped and he walked to the center of the circle to Lina's body, he grabbed her neck and picked her up. He pressed her ear against her chest and smirked. "She is finally dead."

"NO!" Amelia screamed. "WAKE UP, LINA!"


"Gourry, where are you going?" Lina entered the room. She gasped loudly when she saw a ball room filled with people in fancy clothing, they were dancing happily on the ballroom floor and laughing as the orchestra played. She spotted Gourry standing a few feet from her, his hand reaching out towards her. He smiled and motioned her over.

"Let's dance, Lina."

"Dance?" Lina took his hand and followed him to the center of the room, the floor was empty of people and the orchestra started playing a ballad. She took Gourry's hand and followed his lead around the room, her eyes getting lost in his deep blue pupils. Gourry pulled her closer, their hips touching and his face inches away from hers. Lina smiled, it was the happiest moment of her life. She shut her eyes and danced with Gourry. When the song finally finished, Lina opened her eyes and stared at Gourry's big smile.

"Lina, it's almost time." He whispered. Lina tilted her head.

"Time for what?" She asked. Gourry chuckled and took her hand in his. He kissed the back of her hand and smiled.

"You will see." He motioned for another song. "But right now, let's keep dancing."

"Yes." Lina shut her eyes and placed her head against his shoulder. "Let's keep dancing."


Zelgadiss and Gourry sat across from each other during breakfast, their food untouched and silence between them. Zelgadiss stared at his lukewarm tea, his face leaning against his fist. Gourry continued to play with his food, his eyes deep in concentration.

"Did we really search the entire village?"

"We went around 5 times last night." Zelgadiss muttered. He watched Gourry's fork play against the uneaten food, Gourry yawned softly and rubbed his eyes. "Couldn't sleep last night?"

"No, I slept great." Gourry chuckled wearily. "I have always shared rooms with Lina because she never wanted to buy another room. Last night was the first time I managed to sleep for a full 4 hours." Gourry frowned and looked down at his food. "When I woke up, I thought Lina was next to me and when I rolled over, I remembered that she wasn't."

"At least you got 4 hours." Zelgadiss stared at the dangling gold necklace tangled between his fingers. "I couldn't sleep from that irritating chanting."

"Chanting?" Gourry lifted an eyebrow. "I didn't hear chanting."

"Your ears aren't as sensitive as mine." Zelgadiss sighed. "Throughout the entire night, there was a loud chanting from the center of the city. It lasted till morning." Zelgadiss dipped his spoon in the tea and stirred slowly. They did not take notice when somebody ran into the restaurant. The man saw the two frowning men and ran to their table.

"Thank god I found you!" The stranger toppled Zelgadiss's tea and Gourry's plate over.

"What do you want?" Zelgadiss growled deeply, the stranger sweat dropped to see Gourry's glare.

"U-Um… I heard you were looking for your friends." He frowned. "We had another attack from the Demon and your red head friend-"

"You found Lina?" Gourry stood up suddenly.

"See, it's about that-"

"Take me to her!" Gourry gulped down his drink and dragged the stranger out. Zelgadiss sighed and followed them. They were lead to the center of the city, a large crowd surrounding the scene.

"Lina!" Gourry pushed ahead while Zelgadiss sneak past, they finally got to the center of the crowd. "Lina, I'm here!" Gourry smiled large, he brought to a halt when he spotted Lina on her back. Her clothes drenched in her red blood, and her emotionless eyes looking straight at Gourry. There was open cuts everywhere on her body, blood was still leaking from her mouth and cheek. Gourry stared at the lifeless body. He dropped to his knees suddenly. He sat back down on the ground and hung his head between his legs. Zelgadiss look intently at Lina's body. He walked over and knelt beside her. Checking her pulse, he glanced at Gourry and saw his silent rapidly flowing tears.

"She is-"

"Shut up." Gourry choked on his tears. He lunged forward and pushed Zelgadiss to the side. He grabbed Lina's shoulders and shook her roughly. "Wake up, Lina! WAKE UP!"

"Gourry, she is-"

"SHE'S NOT DEAD!" Gourry screamed. "She's just sleeping. Lina sleeps like the dead. No one can wake her up except me. R-Right, Lina?" Gourry smiled wearily, his tears splashing on her face. "So… So, wake up, already…" Gourry whimpered, he shook her again and gnawed at his lower lip. "L-Lina? Why aren't you waking up…? Lina…"

"Gourry." Zelgadiss grabbed his shoulder and stopped him. "She is gone."

"No… No, I'm not going to give up!" Gourry pushed his hand away and continued shaking her limp body. "WAKE UP!" Gourry cried, he pressed his face against her neck and sobbed. "Wake up… Please… Please, Lina… Please wake up…" Gourry wrapped his arms around her body and pressed her against him, his tears running on her bloody face. "Lina…"

"Gourry." Zelgadiss sighed. He blinked when he heard someone around him chanting softly. He glanced around and spotted an elderly man chanting beneath his breath with a wide smile on his face. Zelgadiss unsheathed his sword and was instantly in front of him. He pressed his blade against the man's neck and growled. "Why are you smiling?"

"I-I wasn't!" The old man fell on his back. Zelgadiss pointed his sword at him and snarled.

"I know that chant. You and your friends were chanting it last night when Lina was captured." Zelgadiss grabbed the man's collar and lifted him to his face. "Did you kill Lina?"

"No!"

"I can smell her blood on you, old man." Zelgadiss smirked. "Where did you kill her?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Tell me who killed her or I'm going to kill you." Gourry threatened, he was suddenly pressing his sword against the man's neck. "I'm going to slice your head off and keep killing everybody in this city until someone tells me who killed Lina." Gourry drew blood from the man's neck. The old man stared at Gourry's emotionless eyes and gulped, he was a killing machine.

"I-I don't know-" Gourry's blade ran through his neck and the headless man fell to the ground, his blood spilling everywhere. Gourry walked over the man's twitching body and looked for another bystander. He grabbed a stranger by the neck while the crowd disbanded. "Who killed Lina?"

"Don't kill me! I know who killed her!" The man confessed aloud. "It's the city elders. They killed your girlfriend."

"Why?" Zelgadiss walked up to him.

"T-They kill a person every week to keep order in this village. That redhead was-"

"Lina was a sacrifice?" Gourry growled.

"I swear, I don't know anything more than that!" The man whimpered.

"Where do they have these sacrifices?"

"The underground dungeon at the Government House! All the kidnapped are taken prison there!" He choked when Gourry squeezed his neck. Gourry snarled and flung him to the side, his body slamming against a building wall.

"Let's go, Gourry, Amelia is kept there." Zelgadiss said. He watched Gourry walk back to Lina's destroyed body. "Amelia has the power of resurrection. She can bring Lina back."

"Okay." Gourry nodded as he shut Lina's eyes carefully, he pressed his forehead with hers and sighed.


"Gourry, you feel so warm." Lina smiled. She looked up at Gourry's smiling face and giggled. "Why are you smiling?"

"I never told you this, Lina." Gourry gently dipped Lina back and pulled her back to him, his face a few millimeters away. "You are so beautiful."

"Gourry." Lina embarrassingly smiled. She reached up and touched his warm cheek, she giggled when Gourry kissed her open palm. "Gourry… You are so handsome."

"Lina…" They stopped dancing. Lina smiled with a light blush and wrapped her arms around his neck. Gourry hugged her tightly, his lips touching her ear.

"Are you ready to go?" Gourry asked softly. Lina smiled and nodded.

"Yes-"

"LINA!" Someone suddenly screamed from the entrance of the ballroom. The music stopped and everyone pushed to the side of the room. Lina looked and her eyes widen.


"Gourry, there is a staircase that goes down." Zelgadiss stood at the doorway. They were at the Government House and successfully broke in, injuring everybody in sight who wanted to stop them. Gourry carried Lina's limp body bridal style and walked after Zelgadiss down the stairs. They entered a dark room, Zelgadiss casted a light spell and brighten the entire area. It was an underground prison. There were large prison cells with chains linked to the wall. The room lead to another doorway at the end of the hall. They stopped in their tracks when they heard a soft whimper in one of the cells, they looked through the bars. Curled up in the corner, Amelia hugged her knees to her chest with chains locking her ankles and wrists together. Her clothes was coated in blood and her body had open cuts, blood dripping from it and pouring down her legs and arms.

"Amelia." Zelgadiss gasped. He rushed to the bars and gripped on them. "Amelia!" Zelgadiss shouted. Amelia lifted her eyes and gasped loudly, she lunged forward but the chains pulled her back to her bottom.

"Zelgadiss-San…" Amelia cried.

"I'm getting you out, right now." Zelgadiss performed a powerful fire spell and burnt the bars to char. He slammed his fist against it and was easily broken. Zelgadiss ran to Amelia and knelt beside her. "Hold still." Zelgadiss grabbed one of her wrist and placed it on the ground. He unsheathed his sword and carefully broke the chain. With one hand free, Amelia lunged forward and wrapped an arm around his neck.

"Zelgadiss-San…." Amelia sobbed loudly. "T-They killed Lina-San… A-And I couldn't do anything… I wanted to save her b-but they killed her…" She choked on her tears, her face pressed against his neck. Zelgadiss lifted his shaking hand and patted her back. He was still unfamiliar with her touch.

"It's okay. We have Lina." He pushed her back and met her wet eyes. "You can still save her. You can bring her back, Amelia."

"B-But what if… what if I can't?" Amelia cried. She gasped when Zelgadiss suddenly pressed his fingertips against her lips, stopping her from gasping for air and crying.

"You brought me back, remember?" Zelgadiss whispered, he smiled softly and leaned forward, Amelia's eyes widen when he pressed her forehead against hers. He reached into his pocket and took out her gold necklace. "You forgot this." Zelgadiss untangled the jewelry and placed it in her free hand.

"Zelgadiss-San…" Amelia whimpered.

"You can bring her back." Zelgadiss continued freeing her from the chains. Gourry had placed Lina's limp body behind them. He held her hand as Zelgadiss led Amelia to her body. Amelia knelt beside Lina and sighed deeply, she looked at Gourry.

"Amelia, bring her back to me." Gourry muttered. "I need her."

"Me too, Gourry-San." Amelia nodded. "Please talk to her while I try to bring her back. She needs more than my voice to lead the way."

"Yes." Gourry looked down at Lina's cold face and gulped. "Lina… come back."


Standing at the doorway was Gourry but he was wearing the clothes he wore on Red Orb. He was dirty, his hair was messy, and his armor looked worn out. He panted loudly and rushed over to the center of the room, he stopped a few yards away from Lina and the other Gourry. "Lina."

"Gourry…. But this is Gourry." Lina looked at the handsome Gourry in front of her, he smiled at her and she smiled back. "I want this Gourry."

"Lina." The dirty Gourry grabbed Lina's wrist. "Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere…" Lina touched the handsome Gourry's cheek and blushed when he caressed her cheek as well.

"Lina." Dirty Gourry pulled her away from him. "Come back to me." He whispered.

"What are you talking about, Gourry?" She was suddenly standing in the middle of the clouds. Lina stared at the bright light ahead of her and smiled. "I want to go there."

"No." It was dirty Gourry again. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her slightly away from the light. "Don't go there, Lina."

"But why… I want to go there." Lina sighed deeply. She stared at the shining light.

"Don't leave, Lina." Gourry said aloud. Lina looked back at him.

"Why?"

"Don't leave!" Gourry shouted, the grip on her wrist started hurting now. "Don't leave!"

"But… The light." Lina looked back at the light. She smiled and reached her hand towards the light, her fingertips touching the bright light. "It's so warm and… I'm so happy."

"LINA, I NEED YOU!" Gourry screamed, Lina's eyes widen but her fingers were still touching the light. "DON'T GO, LINA! PLEASE, I NEED YOU! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE! I WANT TO BE WITH YOU!" Gourry let out big droplets of tears. Lina continued to stare at the light.

"Lina…" Gourry sobbed. "I love you." He whispered. Lina froze. She carefully pulled her fingers back and looked back at Gourry. "Lina… Come back to me." Gourry cried.

"Gourry." Lina smiled and went to him. He gasped when her hand touched his cheek. She leaned upward and kissed his cheek. "I love you too."


"She's not responding." Amelia choked on her tears.

"It can't be too late."

"I-I'm sorry." Amelia removed her shaking hands off Lina's chest. She fell back and buried her face in her hands. "I was too late... She's... She's accepted her death." Amelia sobbed. Zelgadiss sighed and looked at the other way, he leaned his body against the bars. Amelia may have the power of resurrection but she can only show a pathway away from the light, it is the person's choice to either walk toward it and an Arch Angel, like Lina, who died on Red Orb would not be able to go to the golden gates of heaven. They go somewhere else to an unknown dimension.

"No." Gourry growled. "No, she wants to come back." Gourry grabbed Lina's cold hands. "Lina has to come back."

"Gourry-San, I-"

"SHE'S GOING TO COME BACK!" Gourry screamed, he bit his lower lip and glared at the floor. "She's going to come back… She can't leave me here alone..." Gourry dropped on his bottom and covered his face with his hand, he wept silently. "She can't… She can't leave yet… I never told her… how I feel."

"I already know." The three comrades gasped loudly and looked back at the red head. The color had returned to her face and her eyes were bright with happiness.

"Lina." Gourry choked. He grabbed Lina's limp body and held her tightly in his arms. Lina leaned her head against Gourry's neck and smiled. Gourry cried loudly, his tears falling on her face. "Lina… you came back." Gourry whimpered. Lina shut her eyes, she sighed and enveloped in Gourry's warmth.

"I had no choice." Lina smiled. "Who's going to keep you company, you Jellyfish-Brain?" Lina giggled. Gourry smiled wide, he nodded and continued to hug her, his tears not stopping. Amelia smiled brightly, she blinked when Zelgadiss came to her side and his arm touched hers. Amelia giggled softly. She wrapped her arm around his stiff arm and leaned her face on his shoulder.


"YOU... YOU CAN'T BE ALIVE!" Yuiko pointed at Lina. Lina grinned evilly and cracked her knuckles. She snapped her neck loudly and snickered. The elders cowered in fear as Lina walked towards them, her eyes burning in anger. Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadiss sweat dropped when they heard a familiar chant escaping from her lips.

"Time to run the other way." They ran out the room. The elders screamed when they saw the large flare ball developing in Lina's hands.

"BUT YOU ARE DEAD!"

"FOOLS! NOBODY CAN KILL LINA INVERSE!" Lina laughed. "DRAGON SLAVE!"


"You over did it, Lina-San." The four comrades stood at a mountain ledge, they stared at the destroyed city from above. Lina rolled her eyes and turned her back to the city.

"They TRIED to kill me and this is their punishment." Lina put her hands on her hips. "Justice has been paid."

"This is not justice. This is a massacre from a demon woman." Zelgadiss commented on the side. Lina growled at him.

"I shouldn't have spared you. You are annoying." Lina watched him walked away, Amelia joining his side. Lina pouted and crossed her arms. "Zel thinks he is so cool but he's not." Lina grumbled. She blinked when strong arms wrapped from behind, she smiled and looked around her shoulders.

"Don't ever leave me again." Gourry whispered in her ear. Lina blushed red. She grinned at him and turned around.

"You better be there to pull me back then." She giggled. Gourry smirked and bent his head, his lips a few inches away from hers. Lina gulped and shut her eyes. Gourry leaned forward and brushed his lips with hers. They pulled away slightly and looked into each others eyes. Lina smiled and punched him playfully at his cheek. "Come on, you idiot. I'm hungry."

"Alright, Lina."