A/N: Haha! This chapter is finally up! Thank goodness for showers. Someday I'm gonna buy a grease pencil for mine:) Though I'm not quite sure how I would explain all of the notes across the bathroom tile to my out of town guests. This was actually a really tough chapter to write—I hope it all came across right, shower tiles aside.
Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers. Or much of anything else actually. Give the glory, the fame, and the money to Hajime Kanazaka.
A faint whisper brushed across the chimera's thoughts, as Zelgadis finished diagramming circles on the back of a small mirror. A feeling of calmness flooded through him, easing the strain in his back, arms, and fingers—a necessary evil caused by the intricate exclusionary symbols both etched and drawn around the mirror's circumference. And, though he was under a strict timeline, Zel was grateful for the distraction the small voice currently brought. Then again, there was very little that he wasn't willing to stop doing when it called. The voice was light with fascination, a hint of gentle teasing, and a wealth of soft reassuring love.
"What are you tinkering with now?"
Zel put the marker down next to a small blue green jar of salve. Then he closed his eyes so he could hear the voice better. A peace descended upon him. It was the best that he'd felt in weeks. His mind finally stopped swirling in anxiety. But Zelgadis refused to open his mouth to answer—afraid the voice would slip away into nothingness at the sound of his voice. The chimera wanted to savor this feeling as long as he could. So he let the answer sit in the forefront of his mind, hoping that if he was still enough the voice would return once more.
"Something to keep my friend safe. At least, I hope that's what it is."
Trying to hide the answer, or the motives behind it, would instantly cause the voice to disappear. After all, it knew him as well as he knew himself. Better actually. And he counted himself lucky that it was so. It had always been that way. Its owner had claimed it was her duty to make sure he was completely honest with himself. And, as far as Zelgadis could tell, she'd been right. Unfortunately, nothing about this whole situation had fallen easily within the category of right or wrong. But what he was doing was necessary, if once more uncomfortably painting morality in shades of gray.
That division, however small it was, what was what made him different than Xelloss. It was what made him irrevocably and undeniably human. Still, Zelgadis worried that he was doing this out of concern for his friend and not for his own benefit. And, though the heartless mystical swordsman had never had any inclination to voyeurism, Zel was slightly worried that once he indulged it might quickly become a habit.
All questions of morality aside, Zelgadis did know one thing for certain. He didn't envy his future replacement the headaches that came with this job. The chimera was willing to bet that Keepers usually led a much more sheltered lives. It was oddly sad when his own reclusive life became an exacting standard of social success. Perhaps that was why the Keeper had been living alone before he had arrived. Maybe he was tired of having loved ones die or suffer from personal problems. It might have been too hard not to interfere. It certainly was for him. Then again, it could be that Zelgadis just had the unique luck to befriend a woman who regularly shaped destiny.
Zel waited a little longer, hoping for a response to his tentative offering. But his mind remained conspicuously empty. He was getting used to that. And the aching loneliness that usually came after the voice was no longer quite so sharp. Instead, it had become a dull familiar ache that lessened with time. Just as she had promised it would. Once again, Aja was true to her word. Now it was time for him to be true to his.
Honestly, Zel didn't feel as if he'd been a very good friend recently. Good friends were always willing to listen because they cared. Not because they were looking for ways to fix the universe. Friends were people you could trust and rely on. As of late, he'd kept Lina in the dark and then offered her up as a prize to the highest bidder. He'd done no better with Gourry, letting him become another expendable pawn in this accursed contest. And yet, he really was trying to help them.
And somehow, the chimera swore that he would. Even if it meant bending the rules a little bit. But shouldn't trust go both ways? Zelgadis looked at the little mirror in his hand. Another thought tenderly pressed itself upon his mind.
"I trust you to do what's right."
The chimera couldn't be sure if the words were actually a reply or just a fond memory of the past. But he decided to let it go. It was enough that he felt better. Even if the "heartless mystical swordsman" wondered about the ethics of what he was about to do. It wasn't that he didn't trust Lina. It was that he didn't trust that fruitcake of a mazakou.
Truthfully, the chimera was mostly worried about Lina's safety. Good friend or bad, he had gotten her into this mess. And while essence bound parchment made the rules sound pretty air tight, Zelgadis knew that that threat was only enforceable after the rules had been broken. Whether or not the contestants knew that was debatable. Nevertheless, it was a huge problem. He wanted desperately to keep Lina safe. But he had a fine line to tread as both the contest's judge and enforcer. Zel couldn't be present for each meeting (the awkwardness aside). Neither could he take it on blind faith that each participant would follow the rules. Once Lina was pregnant, it couldn't be undone.
Zelgadis wasn't sure he trusted Val, but he trusted Lina to handle the young dragon. Although, he had to admit, that had done nothing to alleviate his fears the first time she had met with the ancient dragon. He'd sat nervously by the windows long after both moons had risen. Like an overprotective father. He'd even turned the manor's lights off—embarrassed and unwilling to admit to his petite friend that he'd been anxiously awaiting her safe return.
However, Lina seemed to be doing quite well with Val. Every few days she'd make another trip out to go see him. If she felt that comfortable with Val, in spite of the initial fuss she'd made, then Zelgadis would trust her instincts. The chimera occasionally wondered what they did for hours at a time. But he hadn't felt an overwhelming temptation to check up on them. Besides, the magical warding around Val's cabin made this particular moral dilemma moot. It was good for eliminating outside interference from the dragon race, but it made it impossible to monitor Val from afar.
But trusting Xelloss with Lina was a different story. They'd had to institute all sorts of new rules—which was the real reason why there was currently a monster cooking in the kitchen. It had caused Xelloss no end of amusement. Lina couldn't leave this dimension without forfeiting her answer. So traveling to other worlds or dimensions was out. And the mazakou, accustomed manipulating dimensional space to his benefit, was now stranded of his more spectacular dimensional abilities to impress the sorceress extraordinaire. Any other monster would have been dismayed by such news. But Xelloss had smiled that infernally irritating smile of his and said it wouldn't be a problem. If he couldn't take the sorceress supreme out, he'd cater to her every whim inside the manor itself. Close enough for Zelgadis to monitor if need be. And, though this restriction certainly didn't limit the Trickster Priest from bringing entertainment to the manor himself, Xelloss had insisted on doing things "the old fashioned" way.
Zelgadis focused the small hand mirror for a trial run. A miniaturized purple haired mazakou appeared wearing a truly ugly green apron. There were pots and pans steaming all about him. Zelgadis frowned as he read the red words printed across the apron, "Kiss the cook." Probably thought it was a clever thing to wear, the fruitcake. From the look of it, dinner was just about ready and the sorceress supreme should be arriving any moment.
The chimera jumped as he heard the study's door creak. Zelgadis spun, one hand sliding the papers on his desk to cover the small mirror. His heart, which was already beating much too fast, suddenly stopped. Lina stood in the doorway, her small figure framed by the light in the hallway behind her. Her long dark purple dress was accentuated by thin golden earrings that dangled and swayed slightly as she cocked her head. Most of her fiery red hair was swept up off her neck, but a few errant strands stuck out here and there. She looked like a statue of an angel come to life. Lina peered about the study uncertainly,
"Oh, you are here." Her face was slightly perplexed as she squinted at him, but her voice was as confident as ever. "I couldn't tell. Nobody answered my knock and it's awfully dark in here. Any reason you're working with only one lamp on?"
He looked over to the solitary wall lamp that remained lit. Despite a large stupor of thought, he managed to form an answer. "Oh, it's for the spell I'm working. It's kind of light sensitive." No need to tell her exactly what kind of spell it was.
She frowned. "It smells funny in here, too. Like wood smoke and mint."
Zelgadis looked at the floor before mumbling, "It's for part of the spell's preparation."
"Ah, I see." His perfect eyes saw the offer starting to form in her eyes. Lina started forward in excitement, clearly itching to get her hands on some fascinating new spell. But she slowed as she saw his face. Zelgadis tried hard to keep it free of guilt, but purposely gave a discouraging shake of his head.
"Nothing you need help with, I suppose." She sounded a little disheartened, as if she already knew the answer. And she did—they both did.
Normally, Zel would have jumped at the chance to work with her in the lab. Though he had found it irritating at first, Lina had a way of working through difficult spells by complaining. Then, about half and hour or so later, her face would light up like the sun. Of course, she'd tease him unmercifully about missing the obvious before she'd finally share. Then she'd launch into a brilliant explanation that jumped haphazardly from point to point ending in a moment of grand realization. Quite different from Zelgadis' usual method of relentless and dogged pursuit. But she had a monster to meet. And he had a monster to watch. The thought of her helping him with this particular spell was distinctly unattractive. But he smiled anyway. "Maybe another time. I know you have places to be."
"Yeah—I guess I do.' She gave him a bittersweet smile. "It might be the first time in my life I can honestly say I'm not hungry."
Zelgadis shook his head as he remembered Xelloss' cooking contest in "Joe's" castle. Given that small demonstration of Xelloss' cooking, he couldn't blame her. "I'm sure you'll find some way to coax your stomach into it—if only to keep up your reputation."
"Right. At the very least, I suppose Xelloss owes us one for all the meals he's skipped out on."
Zelgadis had to smile at that. "Definitely make him pay."
Lina toyed with a loose wisp of her fiery hair. "I actually came down here to ask you if you'd check on Gourry later tonight. He's been so good about all of this. I know Xelloss in particular makes him nervous. But every time I ask him about it, he just shakes his head."
The chimera had to agree. It seemed almost impossible that anyone could be doing so well under the circumstances. Yet the blonde swordsman soldiered on. The thought of leaving Lina unattended with mazakou also weighed heavily on Zel's mind. Which was the same reason he couldn't possibly talk to Gourry later tonight. Still, Lina needed some kind of compensation for the sacrifices she'd been making. Zel decided to word his reply carefully. If he could he would, but not at the expense of her safety—a sentiment he knew Gourry shared. "I'll do my best."
"Thanks, Zel." With that, the red head turned and left.
Zelgadis sighed in relief. In a moment, he'd find out if all of his hard work would pay off. He gave the runes surrounding the mirror one last check. He'd never really mastered the art of refined spell making under Rezo. His great grandfather had always insisted on doing the fine detail work himself. But Zel thought that he could manage turning this little hand mirror into a divining bowl. It was a simple principle of shamanistic magic. Sound wasn't too much of a stretch over that. The problem was in the ethics of it all. It was really for Lina's protection and safety. Still, it sounded like an awful fancy way of spying on one of his best friends.
As much as he wanted to, Zel couldn't bring himself to leave the mazakou unmonitored with the red headed sorceress. So he'd decided to chaperone them without actually being present. He couldn't spy on Lina. It felt wrong. Like a betrayal of her trust. And the chimera couldn't think of how to ask her such a thing without implying he didn't trust her. So he'd come up with a compromise. He'd decided to design the mirror so it only ever focused on Xelloss.
Sadly, this sounded much easier to do than it actually was. Because the mazakou didn't really belong to this world, he couldn't just put a spatial fix on him. It wouldn't set. And an astral fix on anything that large would target everything smaller than it in size, effectively taking in Lina and anything else in the kitchen that had ever lived. The best he'd been able to manage was to get the mirror to only show Xelloss from the front. It limited the space Zel could see around the mazakou while still positioning him so Zel could watch without ever seeing Lina. It wasn't perfect, but it was certainly an improvement.
Zel jumped back with a cry as a black and purple iris filled the little mirror. Cursing, he checked the symbols around it. It had worked just fine before Lina came in. What had changed? A quick examination of the mirror showed a slight smudge over one of his distance marker. He carefully rewrote it. All at once, Xelloss came back into focus, mouth opening and closing noiselessly. With a sigh, Zelgadis checked the diagram for sound. Everything looked right. Frowning, he tapped the mirror twice with his finger and then turned it off and on again. Surprisingly, this worked. The sound was faint, but loud enough for Zelgadis' sensitive ears. Apparently Lina had already arrived, but was conspicuously absent thanks to the magical diagrams on mirror's back. Hopefully, it would remain that way. He had only missed the first few seconds of their meeting, but Lina's tone was already quarrelsome.
"…call me that!"
"But it suits you, Lina-chan."
"And none of that sly underhanded doubletalk you like to use. I have a reputation to think about."
"But that's what makes it so much fun to say."
"Fruitcake! You're just doing this to annoy me while I can't get back at you."
"You are free to stop me at anytime you want, Lina-chan."
Lina sighed before grumbling to herself, "I don't know why I even try. You'll just keep on doing whatever it is you want regardless."
"Exactly!" Xelloss smiled happily. "Your seat is over there." The monster gestured grandly at the little table. It was now covered in an elegant tablecloth, two place settings, and a plethora of food. A dark green bottle sat chilling and flames danced above two long stemmed candles.
Zelgadis could clearly hear a trace of awe in Lina's otherwise carefully neutral voice. In his mind's eye, he could see her slowly turning her head and taking in the surroundings.
"Well, this is unexpected."
Xelloss tipped his head to the side, that annoying smile predominant on his face.
"So you brought me here for fancy dining, huh Xelloss?"
"Given the situation, it seemed appropriate. You know what they say, 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'"
"I'm not a man." Lina's voice was dangerously pointed.
"And no one with eyes could possibly believe different, my beautiful Lina-chan. Especially not in that little ensemble." The monster gave a sigh—one borne from the effort of much practice since everyone knew Xelloss had no need to breathe. "I'm afraid that humans have a number of strange little sayings. That particular saying, for example, is quite misleading. The quickest way to a man's heart is actually through his chest between the fourth and fifth rib."
There was a short pause while she digested this bit of information. Then Lina gave a short strangled choke. Zel frowned. Was it disgust or laughter that she was biting back? Though his chimeric hearing often told him more than he wanted to know, it was hard to tell without being able to see her face. Her reply was no help, as it was laden with different emotions. "That's very perceptive of you, Xelloss."
"Yes. One of a million, I'm afraid. Humans are quite adept at making completely contradictory bits of nonsense and labeling them as truths."
This was the longest the chimera had ever known Lina sit at a table without demanding food. Zelgadis privately speculated when the topic would uninevitably arise. He didn't need to wait long. Lina's voice took on a slight patina of boredom.
"So am I here to help with a disemboweling or did I some for some other reason? Your note requested I come in something 'flattering.' I can only assume that you meant the dress your note was pinned to. I hope you don't think I'm going to dance with you."
Xelloss mimed shock without opening his eyes. "Of course, how thoughtless of me! By all means, please sit." The monster waved at the chair in front of him. "I'd offer to pull your chair out for you, but I think it would make poor Zelgadis even more nervous than he already is." There was a scrape as the chairs were pushed across the floor and the two seated themselves.
Zelgadis froze in shock. Did the monster know what he was up to? Zel examined him closely in the mirror looking for some sign that Xelloss was aware of his presence, but the monster gave no indication one way or the other. Xelloss just continued gaily on, as if he'd said nothing out of the ordinary. A random comment then. Or was it? That fruitcake always knew more than he let on.
"Actually, as lovely as you look, I thought that we'd make this dinner strictly business. Although, it is free to take any course you deem necessary afterwards. Dancing or otherwise."
The chimera firmly suppressed the desire to knock that smirk off of the mazakou's nonexistent face. On the other hand, he was glad Lina was sitting at the other end of the table. It might make it a little easier to remember not to toast the mazakou with a fire spell. Hopefully, she'd be able to take care of this suggestion with both hands folded neatly in her lap. Zelgadis could imagine the wicked steely glint that must be appearing in the petite sorceress' eyes. And he wasn't disappointed. Her voice was sickenly sweet as she replied, "So we're free to have a round with the Ragna Blade or two after dessert, if that's what I want?"
Xelloss gave a small theatrical sigh as if he was being put upon. "I suppose if you are really feeling up to it, you're free to try Lina-chan. But are you really sure that is wise in your condition?" Before she had a chance to respond indignantly, his voice dipped down suggestively. "Although fighting certainly does have a way of helping release pent up aggression and desires."
Lina responded with the most interesting combination of curses Zelgadis had heard since leaving the outer world. The tips of his stone ears were burning. Apparently, he wasn't the only one who was surprised.
The fruitcake's voice chided her cheerfully. "Now, now Lina-chan. What ever happened to making polite conversation before dinner?"
The sorceress supreme wasn't the least bit repentant. "My older sister doesn't believe in small talk. My father was the one to teach me that. But both of them taught me how to curse."
Xelloss opened one purple eye slightly. "Really? I thought that the Knight of Cepheid had some strong ideas about women who swear."
"Luna doesn't really think of herself as a woman. She has some strange ideas about monsters too. She's reckons there are still factions within the monster race itself."
Xelloss' face was as open as ever, but there was a faintly guarded tone to his reply. "That is interesting. Did she say where she came up with this theory?"
Lina snorted. "Not that it would matter if she did. You'd never admit if it were true or not."
"Now Lina, you don't know that." The mazakou scolded her playfully.
Xelloss leaned back in his chair unevenly, its front feet leaving the ground. The movement caused him to shift slightly to the left, revealing a partial image of Lina.
The chimera's mind began working furiously. Lina wasn't behind Xelloss, so it must be a reflection. Against what? It was a kitchen, for heaven's sake. But the figure was too clear to be the reflection off a pot or pan. The monster grinned as his chair tipped even farther to the left. All at once, everything, including Lina's skeptical face, came into focus. Mirrors. The monster had added several mirrors around the exterior of the kitchen—presumably to give it a wider and more open feel. And had effectively shot all of Zelgadis' careful planning to avoid watching Lina in the foot.
Zelgadis began to panic. He couldn't turn the mirror off. Not so early into the meeting. But he refused to spy directly on his red headed friend. He frantically began calculating a new distance adjustment to try remove Lina from his view. Perhaps, if he tried tightening it? His quill broke as he scratched numbers desperately on the parchment in front of him, all the while shooting anxious looks at Xelloss and Lina's reflection. Lina had fixed the monster with a disbelieving stare. Zelgadis knew exactly how she felt.
Xelloss sported a pleasant smile. "I don't mind being as open and honest as I can tonight. After all, my purpose is to convince you to align with the monster race."
Lina's tone echoed the amazement the chimera felt. "You mean there is no bar on the questions I can ask?"
"Well, there isn't to a certain point. I, of course, can't give away any trade secrets or anything my mistress would consider imprudent. But you are free to ask."
The surprise in her garnet eyes suddenly reminded the chimera what he had been doing before that grand announcement. Zelgadis hurriedly finished his calculations. He added a few more lines to the symbols on the hand mirror and his view of Xelloss narrowed. A sliver of the mirror remained in view, but that too disappeared as Xelloss sat up again. The chimera relaxed a little bit, hoping the tricky spell work was done. He'd narrowed the spell's field of vision as much as he could without losing his view of Xelloss' hands. Lina and the mazakou continued their conversation as if nothing untoward had happened. Which, the chimera supposed, in their view nothing had.
Lina's tone was considering. Zelgadis could hardly blame her. Through out all of their travels, what would they have given for Xelloss to willingly answer a question truthfully and in detail? He knew that the sorceress extraordinaire was weighing her options carefully. Despite this, Lina decided to be blunt.
"What do the monsters want from all of this? What would being the father of my child assure the monster race?"
"Why do you care?" For once, Xelloss sounded truly sincere. As if this was something he had puzzled over a great while, but had never really been able to fathom.
"I don't want to destroy the world, Xelloss."
"And yet most of our world seems to be convinced you're out to destroy it. I've always wondered if the humans on your world who indemnify your name have any idea of how often you have saved it."
"That wasn't really what I asked you, Xelloss."
"I'm sorry. You'll have to forgive me, Lina. Being honest and straight forward isn't exactly part of my nature. I guess I don't have much practice at it."
"Not even being perfectly honest with your mistress?"
Xelloss gave his glass a considering look. Then he leaned forward and whispered softly, "Her most especially of all."
Heavy silence hung in the air as Lina absorbed this latest shock in silence. Xelloss looked away and stared moodily at the candlelight. Whatever he was considering seemed too dark to indulge in conversationally. This honesty thing was apparently much more difficult to handle than either party at the dinner table had reckoned.
Lina abruptly realized that she was playing too hard and too fast. She cleared her throat softly. Xelloss abruptly snapped out of his fascination with the flame before him. His perpetual smile reappeared and his regarded her with a solicitous tip of the head.
"My, my, it seems that we were so wrapped up in conversation that we totally forgot about the meal. It would be a shame to let it go to waste. Shall we?"
Zelgadis watched in fascination as the monster artfully filled her plate. His own stomach actually grumbled as he watched the plate fill with vegetables he'd never seen before, as well as some of the strange outer world delicacies he'd only seen since his arrival.
Ever curious, the room's other diner soon piped in. "Xelloss, where did you get this food from? Did you bring it from a restaurant? Or did you use the cabinet here?"
"Don't be silly, Lina-chan. I made it."
Lina's voice was curiously small. "You made it? For me?"
Xelloss beamed back. "Of course, Lina-chan. Food is the universal unifier. And I wanted to do something for you I knew you'd like. Why are you so surprised?"
"I just never thought of you cooking for someone else."
"Why Lina, that hurts." Xelloss whined to good effect.
Lina remained impervious. "Can you even eat human food?"
"Of course, I can eat it. It's just not very satisfying. It's the difference between a fine wine and a mug of ale. Both quench the thirst, but not the desire."
The monster opened his eyes playfully. A mixture of amusement and possessiveness filled the mazakou's eyes as he watched his dinner companion. Zelgadis waited for the Dragon Slayer's inevitable outburst, but the moment stretched on. It was eventually broken by the sound of Lina fumbling with her fork. Xelloss immediately affected a tone of concern.
"Oh my! Lina, let me refill your plate." The mazakou leaned forward helpfully removing a pot lid and revealing long green stems wrapped in small strips of red meat.
Zelgadis nearly cursed again. Here again, cast against the steel pot's interior, was Lina's reflection. She was looking down at her lap, face slightly red. Was it due to the wine on the table? But the green bottle hadn't been opened yet, had it? Zelgadis was suddenly struck by the thought that Lina might not mind Xelloss' veiled flirting as much as he'd originally assumed. Which made the fact that he could now see her, despite his best intentions, even more mortifying. Guilt stabbed at him.
Where should he draw the line? If Lina wasn't openly rejecting Xelloss' advances, then he should let her be. But how could he justify the lapse in her safety in the meantime? After all, she wasn't supposed to use magic. He needed some kind of tangible rule. A guideline to help him keep within the boundaries of his job and his friendship. Unfortunately, the vegetable spears seemed to be harder to manage than they looked. The pot lid remained firmly in place, neatly framing his petite friend in all her unassuming glory. She sat beautiful as the flickering candlelight caressed her slight face and captured the majesty of her large innocent eyes. Her earrings reflected the flames like stars in the night sky. The chimera shook his head. It seemed no matter how hard he tried to give Lina a measure of privacy, Xelloss had unwittingly found a way to negate it.
Zelgadis felt like a naughty boy of six again, caught in some wrong by his great grandfather. The chimera's back shivered. He could almost hear the old man counting. And though he'd never admit to it later, Rezo became his sudden inspiration. If he could see Lina longer than the time it took to count to five, he'd call it quits. And turn off the mirror for good. Zelgadis began counting out loud. He guessed he should probably be on three by now.
Three.
It seemed improbable that the mazakou could reasonably hold the pot lid up so long. But hold it, he did.
Four.
Lina's reflection disappeared in one fell swoop, echoed by the muffled clang of the pot lid. Zelgadis let go of a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. Xelloss calmly cut his meat and ate it, again proving his point about food. From the sound of it, Lina followed suite. After a few minutes, Lina grew bolder. Zelgadis'd never heard her use that tone of voice before. It was polite and controlled. He recognized the tone as similar to the one he'd used with Rezo at the dinner table as a child. But the topic of conversation was far different.
"So how did you end up being chosen as the representative of the monster race? I distinctly remember you saying that your Mistress wasn't too fond of the idea."
Xelloss cocked his head to the side. "Well, I'm afraid that the poor monster in front of me wasn't quite up to the challenge. He seemed to have trouble thinking in long term objectives like survival. However, he proved quite adept in making decisions with long lasting consequences."
Lina growled, polite tone slipping a little in her impatience. "That wasn't my question, Xelloss."
"Then I'm afraid that you'll have to rephrase it for me. I'm used to dealing in ambiguities and hiding in half truths. If you want a clearer answer, you'll have to give me a clearer question."
There was a pause as Lina reconsidered. "You weren't on the original list of applicants for the monster race. Why?"
"That was the decision of my mistress. She wasn't too eager to put her most trusted bishop out on the board without a good incentive. So she was amenable when Dynast suggested Lazzaro for the job. Dynast's been looking for a way to strengthen his position as of late. Besides the remaining dark lords are a little short of help, a problem which your immeasurable talents seem to have exacerbated."
"I'll take that as a compliment. So what changed the situation?"
"All the odds shifted when Lazzaro died and a favor was called in."
By her tone, Lina was intrigued. As was Zelgadis. "Who does the monster race owe favors to?"
Xelloss closed one eye mysteriously and raised a tell tale finger. "Now my dear Lina-chan, is a secret."
"I should have known better than to expect a straight answer from you."
The General Priest raised both hands up placatingly. "My hands are bound. Neither my mistress nor the person with whom she dealt wants their identity disclosed."
"And that, Xelloss, is one reason I could never align with the monster race. I don't want anyone to tell me what I can and can't do."
Xelloss regarded her steadily for a moment. "Then you don't believe that the decisions you make sometimes force your hand?"
In his mind's eye, Zel could picture Lina grimacing in acknowledgment. Unfortunately, the fruitcake was right. One decision, once made, could effectively eliminate several other possible courses of action. Or push one into a position where no other choices were possible.
The monster chuckled. "The real trick, Lina-chan, is deciding what options will unlock others, and what options will will limit you, several steps in advance. From there is it simply a matter of teaching others to dance to your tune." He twirled an empty wine glass between his gloved fingertips before looking up with a considering smile. "That's something we have in common, believe it or not. Teaching others to dance to our tunes."
"I don't do that."
Xelloss opened his purple eyes in surprise. "Don't you? How many times have you impeded Zelgadis' search for his cure, only to drag him along as extra power on one of your adventures?"
"He's come along willingly. And departed when he liked." Lina sounded oddly defensive about this.
"Be honest, Lina. This is true of all your companions. Didn't you consistently use Naga as a distraction while you went straight for the goal?"
"Naga put herself into those situations. I just reaped the benefit." Zelgadis could hear the wince in the sorceress' voice. Apparently, Lina was not as immune to these arguments as she would like to be.
"Haven't you taught Amelia to tolerate applicative morality while in pursuit of your own gain?"
Lina's tone was quiet. "There are shades of gray to everything Xelloss. As you well know. Amelia had to learn how to deal with them at some point."
Xelloss' challenged her once again. "Isn't it the same thing you thought when you first met Gourry? That you'd teach him to succumb to your charm."
There was an uncomfortable silence before Lina whispered, "That's not the same thing."
Xelloss arched one eye in mock surprise. "Isn't it? He did. And you enjoyed the challenge. As well as the thrill of winning his heart. Did you not?"
Lina made no response. But this didn't deter Xelloss from continuing to speak. "We're not so different you and I. But you, Lina, dance to no one's tune." Aware of the Dragon Slayer's sudden vulnerability, he seamlessly diverted the conversation back to safer grounds.
"My, my, Lina-chan, you don't seem to be very hungry. Is the food up to your tastes? You're still only on your second plate."
There was no mistaking the guarded rebuke in her voice. "Actually, it's better than I anticipated. However, believe it or not Xelloss, I can eat in a restrained manner if I feel like it."
Zelgadis' eyebrows rose. This was certainly something he'd never heard, or thought he'd hear Lina say. Though, he thought a tad jealously, Xelloss certainly had a way of getting Lina to consider things she usually denied or ignored. Xelloss reached for the green bottle. There was a faint popping as he opened it and served both himself and the sorceress.
Zelgadis' sensitive ears could hear liquid carefully moving from her cup as she took a sip from her wine glass. It was as if she wanted to prove to Xelloss that she was capable of restraining herself. How Lina-like. She didn't care what it was that had been said. Whether it was about food, her personality, or her ability to cast a certain spell. For Lina it was all about proving them wrong. Her resolve gave away in a surprised exclamation of delight.
"Granite apple cider! How did you know?"
Xelloss smiled predatorily. "I know a lot about you Lina. I know that you favor this cider because you drank it when you were small." He continued seamlessly on. "Even when you decided that you hated apples. A mishap with a small slug, I believe. You almost swallowed it and you refused to eat apples for several years. Your sister decided to cure you by force feeding you six of her own homemade pies. That cured you of your aversion to apples, but not slugs. You still avoid them to this day."
Lina hissed angrily. "Don't you dare tell anyone that!"
Xelloss chuckled in delight as he held up his glass. His eyes opened slightly to peer into its depths. "Now Lina-chan, why would I do that? I'm positively miserly about sharing my secrets. There, are after all, very few things I want."
He leaned forward, the wine glass in front of him reflecting Lina's delicate face. Zelgadis thought about cursing himself. How many reflective surfaces could possibly be found in a kitchen? True to his word though, he began counting, albeit a little slower once he saw the deep, almost hungry look, in the mazakou's eyes.
One.
Zelgadis watched Lina's garnet eyes widen as she stared back at the Trickster Priest. He continued to whisper confidently.
"But what I want, I want with all my little black heart."
Lina looked intrigued and alternately embarrassed. Zelgadis resolved not wonder to himself why this was and failed miserably.
Three.
She cleared her throat, trying to regain control of the conversation. Despite the flush on her face, she still sounded intrigued. "Do you really have a heart?"
Four.
Xelloss paused before answering. When he did, his voice held a strange note of longing. "That, Lina, is a mystery even to me. Perhaps you'll be the one to help me discover that."
Fiv…
With that comment, the mazakou settled back into his chair and placed his wine glass back onto the table. Lina disappeared once again from the chimera's gaze. All of Zelgadis' precautions had almost been undone by a piece of kitchenware again. He wiped away the sweat forming on his brow.
The chimera flexed his fingers once more, tearing his gaze way from the mirror. He'd been worried about the detail work needed to be inscribed to effectively conduct both sound and sight. So he'd made sure he'd have all of his senses heightened. Unfortunately, he was still getting used to the side effects. Belatedly, Zelgadis turned back to the small hand mirror. He was unsure of what it was he'd missed, but the conversation had become much lighter in nature. Lina's voice had taken on a teasing tone.
"Dinner, cider, music—are there any other gifts you come bearing?"
The mazakou gave her a sunny smile, eyes once again closed. "Actually, there are one or two more. Tonight I've been officially authorized to grant you one request, as long as it doesn't violate the dictates of the monster race. As a token of our affection and goodwill."
"A token of affection and goodwill from beings that thrive on feelings of negativity?"
The mazakou rubbed the back of his head good naturedly before answering in chagrin. "Think of it more as an apology for Lazarro's attempt at kidnapping your older sister."
Zelgadis heard the sorceress supreme shift forward and the almost imperceptible groan of the table as it bore increased weight on one end. "More than anything, I want answers Xelloss. Gilded words, sugar coated lies, and deceptive half truths aside, I want to know what the monster race would really gain from you being the father of my child."
"That seems a simple enough request."
"That's not my official request Xelloss. I'm not going to let you cheat me. You're bound to tell me that anyway."
The mazakou smiled. "Perceptive as always." He opened his eyes to flash her a passionate look of amusement and approval. As if she were a favorite pupil, who had seen through their master's cleverly worded trick. "Then what is it you want?"
"I want to know how I can know for sure that you're telling the truth. Not just what you believe will happen, but an objective view of what would come to pass."
"As unpredictable and as cunning as ever, my Lina-chan. Still it's a hard request to grant."
"Are you saying it can't be done?"
Xelloss pondered her question. "Well, not entirely. But there are ways to come close."
"Tell me." Lina sounded eager. Zelgadis didn't blame her.
"It's not that easy, Lina-can. You're playing a game with the gods, the monsters, and the Creator herself. If I told you outright…" He shook his head. "Let's just say that it shouldn't be done. Humans were never meant to play with certain things."
"I'm not just any human Xelloss."
"A fact of which I am continually aware." His voice was oddly thick.
"Can't you even give me a hint?" Lina's tone was pleading.
Xelloss thought quietly. When he spoke, it seemed to be more to himself than Lina. "Perhaps, if I'm careful..."
"That's my request, Xelloss." Lina's voice was firm.
"Then it's a hint I'll give you. But I want to take care of some personal business first."
Confusion filled the sorceress' voice. "Is that really necessary, Xelloss?"
He laughed softly. "It is to me."
Lina sounded slightly disgruntled about the delay. "Be quick about it then."
Xelloss reached into the depths of his voluminous cloak. "I have a gift for you Lina-chan."
There was a sharp intake of breath as a thin golden chain emerged. A necklace, complete with a sparkling jewel, glinted in the candlelight. "This is for you."
Lina tone was skeptical, but Zelgadis could hear the strain it caused her to maintain it. It was no secret that Lina was attracted to shiny things. Especially when they were free. "And what is this for, Xelloss? A way to try to placate my greed? Another gift with strings attached from the monster race?"
The Trickster Priest walked around the table, stopping squarely behind Lina. Zelgadis cringed. There was no way to remove Lina from the picture now. The mirror had been designed to only observe Xelloss from the front. The chimera wondered to himself if that was because it was the easiest way to watch Xelloss at the dinner table or if it was because he'd never thought Lina would complacently allow the monster to stand behind her. Either way, he had a front row seat to this exchange. And, due to the mirrors Xelloss had so thoughtfully arranged around the room, it was one he could see from every angle. One.
Lina's face was slightly flushed. Zelgadis studied her face carefully, looking for a clue to exactly what it was she was thinking. The Trickster Priest leaned forward ,holding the necklace in front of Lina's face.
"No," Xelloss replied. "This is from me alone."
The sorceress' pale face was very still as the mazakou's cheek came to rest mere centimeters from her own. Two.
Xelloss' eyes opened again, showing a startling amethyst hue as he watched her hungrily. Part of Zelgadis wondered if she were afraid of the mazakou while another part of him pointed out that she seemed to be welcoming his attention. Either way, Lina froze, like a deer suddenly caught out in the open. The air was tense with hidden anticipation. She gave a tentative whisper which Zel completely missed as he suddenly realized that the lump was in his throat not Lina's.
The mazakou gave a delighted little laugh. Then the monster's lips began to move, starting to whisper something into the sorceress' tiny ear. Zel roughly wiped away the mark controlling the mirror's power. Five seconds or not, Zelgadis had reached his limit. His mind swirled with emotions he'd never had before and couldn't even begin to identify. Unsure whether it was because of the mazakou's proximity to Lina, or her response to it, Zel knew he had definitely seen enough.
Lina would decide what happened from here on out. It was time to trust his best friend and whatever her decision might be. There would be no more spying. Not even for the sake of this contest. He owed her that much at least.
Zelgadis left the small mirror where it was and turned off the light in his study. There would be time enough to clean up tomorrow. In the meantime, he was off to find Gourry. He'd made a promise to Lina. And that much of his word, he could keep. Besides, he found the swordsman's presence soothingly—something he needed after observing this exchange. The subtleties of this meeting posed new questions he hadn't even considered when he'd originally proposed this little contest. Zelgadis wasn't sure what he'd do when Lina picked Xelloss or Val. But deep within himself he knew he'd support her decision either way. Even if it killed him. The chimera closed the door behind him, shaking his head at the odd tenor of his emotions, and left his dark study faintly smelling of hickory and apple mint.