Princess Zelgadiss?!

The Red Curse Inn That Was Not an Actual Inn (so to speak)

As I was saying before Amelia came into my room; I had run into Lina and her bodyguard as I entered the city of Foren. Botching my chance of escape I was now in there company indefinitely as well. Looked as if it was my destiny to always be traveling with Lina and co. So I resignedly trailed after the sorceress and her swordsmen towards the Red Curse Inn. Red Curse Inn huh? Interesting name. Maybe the owner knew a little something (I'd take anything) about curses and/or cures. Small hope I had been sure, but still, it was a hope.

Lina was weaving in and out of the throng so fast I would never have been able to catch up with her if it wasn't for the fact that the people parted in fear as they saw me. I couldn't even imagine how Gourry was keeping up; a lot of practice most likely being the key. Then, out of nowhere, she stopped causing Gourry to collide with her back, and myself to crash into Gourry's in turn. The day sure had started to look up.

I muttered a curse, and was preparing to yell my annoyance to the pesky red head when IT caught my eye. Ah! So that explained Lina's unexpected loss of inertia. The Red Curse Inn was obviously not any ordinary inn. Before the three of us stood the most commanding building I had ever seen, and that meant something (think of how much I travel!) Every inch of the building had been stained a red so rich and dark that it looked as though the place was coated in dried blood. That wasn't all. The 'inn' was ten stories high, and spanned from one wall of the city to the other. Atop the roof were gargoyles of the most hideous kind. From what I could see from below, the figures appeared to be humans with disfigurements. The one that stuck out in my mind was the one third from the left. A female kneeled with her head thrown back in rage, or maybe pain. Her left half was completely normal, but her right half was definitely not human at all. Because her head was thrown back I couldn't see her face, and for that I was thankful. What I could see were limbs twisted in ways that shouldn't be possible, nails that were so long they curled around and stabbed the lady's own body, skin that was covered in wart like bumps, and hair made out of millions of needles stabbed into her head. It made even me, the heartless mystical swordsman sick to look at. Even for all this horror one could not mistake this Red Curse Inn for anything other than the city's palace. How could any sane person choose to live near that thing, wake up to its forlorn sight?

"This is the Red Curse Inn? Stupid me, because its name says inn I was expecting an actual inn!"

Lina had stolen the words right out of my mouth.

"You mean this isn't an inn? What makes you say that?"

Trust Gourry to ask the about the obvious.

"Jellyfish brain! Is an inn that big? Does an inn have royal guards patrolling its walls?"

"Ummmmm. Hmmmmmmm,"

"The answer is NO you idiot!"

"It is a pretty big inn now that you mention it."

"Aaaggghhhhh! Why do I even try getting through to you! Do you even posses a glimmer of a brain in that thicker-than-stone head of yours!"

Amusing as it was watching Lina ask questions without really asking a question, it was time I stepped in. People were beginning to stop and gape at us and I hated that. "So what do you suggest we do now Lina? You did say Filia was meeting us here right?"

Lina's anger cooled from broiling to simmering as she drew a breath and turned towards me. "Why didn't Filia mention this to me! Why didn't she just say, 'meet me at the city palace' for L-sama's sake! As to what we do: we go in of course. We were invited," and with that she proceeded to march past the guards and into the 'inn;' ignoring the shouts of "Who goes there?" and "Stop! Halt!"

With a shrug I followed and I soon heard the pitter patter of Gourry running after us as well. At least those arrows they were shooting at us wouldn't have been able to hurt me. At last, something had gone right that day.

**

"Mister Zelgadiss?"

"What? Oh, sorry, what were you saying Amelia?" Looks like I had gotten lost in contemplation again. Time to get back to the present. Hopefully I didn't miss anything important while I was away.

"I asked you if you hated me. You still haven't answered."

"I- no. I don't hate you . . .I'm just a little upset that you didn't warn me about this."

"That's reasonable I guess."

"Well?"

"Well what Mister Zelgadiss?"

"Why didn't you warn me. Now you aren't answering me."

"Oh," a blush spread across her nose and cheeks. "I didn't forewarn you because I thought it wouldn't matter to you."

"Why would you assume that?"

"I wasn't assuming anything! You said once, and I quote, 'I'll do anything for my cure' I mean, you were even willing to serve the Dark Lord Shabrinigdo to get it. This is nothing at all compared to that."

I wince. Can't argue with that. Why is this upsetting me when the thought of fighting Lina, taking Amelia prisoner, serving evil, etc. didn't faze me? Damn it! This conversation is getting me back to square one. I've got to keep re accounting the story before I finish this talk with Amelia.

"Amelia?"

"Yes Mister Zelgadiss?"

"Can you leave now? I need to change for the ball."

"Of course! How rude of me! We'll talk more tonight. Gomen." The blush on her cheeks that had been fading suddenly came back full force as she jumped up to rush out of the room. What had I said that had embarrassed her? Women.

**