The second bit of bad news arrived rather swiftly after the first. Zelas had obtained some time to think things through, having an internal debate for a few minutes, each side demanding, with concrete evidence, that she should do something different. Suddenly something else popped into her thoughts. Something that did not hold her voice. Something that had told her the Dynast Grausherra had been killed.
Her initial reaction was one of surprise as the voice, unmistakable as the Lord of Nightmares', continued. It told her that a meeting was to be held in a few moments, and that she was required to attend. With a rather jostling silence, the voice disappeared, and Zelas was left to her own thoughts.
Grausherra... dead? How was that possible? He was the strongest of those three that remained, and certainly the wisest. How could he even allow the opportunity...
But then again, she thought with a wave of bitterness, the man had been so cold, there was no telling how deep his wisdom ran. No one had ever been close enough to tell. She would know. She had been one of the foolish few who had tried.
It had been nearly a year ago. Things were slowing down as far as mazoku wars went. Even Xellos seemed to appear more, for Lina Inverse was no longer on the move. Days sitting around in the cave she called home just weren't what they used to be, and Xellos proved to be no company. It seemed he was always busy with something. Probably doting over that dragon, she managed now.
Those serving below her were out of the question because in reality, there was only Xellos. Or at least he was the only one she knew well enough to talk to. But there were two other Dark Lords. Dolphin was out of the question. Ever since the war she and Dolphin had been on separate ends. It was a petty
feud, and for the life of her, she couldn't remember what started it, but she wasn't prepared to find out by dropping in for a visit. And besides, Dolphin was just as protective of her territory as she was.
That left Grausherra. The thought of even venturing as far as the Northern Footholds, and in the Footholds' prominent weather conditions, turned her
away from the idea initially, but boredom soon caught hold of her and she soon found herself leaving the small cave.
She never knew why, but she had always been attracted to human forms. Perhaps it was because for the mot part, she stayed within hers, and the majority of the Dark Lords, their priests, and their generals, stayed within theirs, as well. It had become commonplace.
Now, looking back on the mistakes she had made, the haughty assumptions that she could have anything she wanted, she wished she had never felt that attraction.
Particularly with Grausherra. She had stayed in the Footholds just to bother him at first, as it seemed to test his nerves quite well, but during that time she had observed him, and upon that
observation she noted that it had been quite some time since anything male, and attainable, had crossed her path.
She had set out with a simple plan. Seduction was no foreign word to her, and if she had any intuition whatsoever, she could bet Grausherra was just the same as any other hot-blooded male. But the more he avoided her as if she were hardly present the more she wanted him. And she had succeeded in her initial task. With a heavy dose of wine Grausherra had finally given in.
She had been set to leave that following morning, but something tugged as her
conscious mind. What she did not know was certainly a human longing for something more than just a one-night stand. Thinking back, she often-times wondered when she had ever become so disgustingly human.
Nevertheless, she had stayed, thinking little of it at the time. Every time she would try and speak with him on a personal level he would shun her, the glare that seemed ever-present in his expression somewhat disheartening. But no, she didn't learn from that. She kept testing her boundaries until, with the last of his patience, he had told her to leave.
Of course, she had refused, and what followed then were what turned her away from the entire idea of mazoku
ever feeling such a hurtful emotion as love. She had left then, still keeping her composure, until she had returned home, grabbed a large bottle of wine from a secret stash, and downed it in hardly five minutes' time.
Mazoku, she reasoned presently, could not feel what the humans called love. Mazoku, she reasoned, could only feel love's bitter sting.
***
Zelas was, not so coincidentally, the last one to arrive at the meeting. Ever since Shabranigdo's demise she had never felt comfortable coming to meetings run by L-sama. One was never to be sure which side she was on. Zelas assumed she was just
neutral and kept her mouth shut concerning any of the mazoku's plans. No one could tell whether she spoke to human or ryuzoku on the same basis, so it was best to be on the safe side.
She took her seat on the side of the table opposite Dolphin, ignoring the woman's cold stare. The seat on either end was left empty. No one ever sat in the one to her left, but just a few weeks prior, Grausherra had sat in the one to her right, staring at the table as if it held his interest more than she ever could.
"Glad to see you could make it, Zelas." Dolphin began in a taunting voice.
Zelas cast a look that clearly told every insult she wished to throw at the woman.
"Keep your petty
feuds to yourselves or I will be forced to simply rid the mazoku of your existence."
For a moment, as L-sama' voice drifted into her mind, Zelas thought her idea didn't seem like that bad of a choice.
"Now, you have both received word of the Dynast Grausherra's death. It seems he and his generals found their way
into ryuzoku territory and were killed there. Outnumbered, so to speak. Over one hundred to three."
How stupid, Zelas thought. So much for Grausherra being known as the wisest of the Dark Lords. Every mazoku knew better than to
purposefully trespass on ryuzoku land without at least fifty other mazoku for backup. Of course, Grausherra never was one to hide his arrogance very well.
"So I have taken the time to fill his position."
"Fill his position?" Zelas thought aloud. "And what of filling Phibrizzo's and Gaav's positions?"
"Three was a stable number for the mazoku to still have a fighting chance. Two, and a
feuding two, at that, will fall to the ryuzoku as soon as they all get word of Grausherra's death. It's only a matter of time now."
Zelas knew she was right, but another Dark Lord on such short notice? Who did she think was capable?
"In that respect," she continued. "this meeting was in essence called not for you to be informed of the dynast's death, for I could have simply told you that, but for you to meet the new Supreme King."
Suddenly the wall on the far right side of the small enclosure began a wave-like motion, fading into the picture of a
man with brown and black hair. Instantly Zelas felt something odd about him.
"He is human!" She blurted out.
"Partially," L-sama said in answer. "He is human and mazoku."
"And you think he is qualified to be a mazoku Dark Lord?"
"I'm positive he is qualified, and I'd suggest you take your seat, Beast King."
Zelas took her seat, staring
accusingly at the picture. The man looked entirely human except for a few select features. Patches of brown fur lined his dark brown shirt and light pants. Black boots
and brown gloves proved to be hardly suspicious. However the bushy black tail, the tail of perhaps a wolf or fox, though Zelas clearly assumed the former, and the pointed ears were what gave away, if any, a sense of mazoku.
"He is a superb fighter, good with a sword, something I think such a position needs more than outstanding wit. That's not to say he isn't intelligent, for as far as I've seen, he is. But he does have a tendency to argue, ever more so than you, Beast King, so I'm sure he'll fit in."
Before Zelas could think of a retort the seat to the right of her was filled after a brief flash of light and L-sama's instruction that they all 'play nice'. Zelas and Dolphin simply stared at
the new presence. Clearly uncomfortable, the man stood, and Zelas was now certain his tail was that of a black wolf's.
He cleared his throat before beginning to speak. "I know you all must not be entirely happy to see me, after the death of a comrade, but I promise you I can prove myself."
Dashing, Zelas thought, but not spirited enough to keep her quiet.
"And to whom do we owe this ... pleasant surprise?" Zelas asked, voice dripping with disdain as she asked his name in a rather complicated manner.
"People call me Wolf." He said simply.
Zelas suppressed a laugh. "People? And what 'people' would those be?"
"He's telling you his name is Wolf, Zelas, just deal with it." Dolphin said, just loud enough for Zelas to hear.
"Alright then, Mister Wolf..."
"Wolf will be just fine."
Zelas clenched her teeth together. "Wolf... what makes you think you are so qualified?"
"Obviously,
wolf woman, you have found something you utterly despise about me, so why do you even bother asking?" He taunted.
Her anger flared until her teeth were clenched together so that she thought they might shatter from the pressure, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms. How dare he call her such a name! She tried to remain calm... not let this... this human get to her, and for a moment, she succeeded, knowing that she would have her chance to get him back for treating her in such a manner.
"But just for the record, I don't think I'm qualified." A smug grin crossed his face.
"You're certainly right about that..." Zelas said almost under her breath.
"Is this meeting adjourned yet?" She asked, hoping L-sama's presence was still with them.
"If you wish to leave, Beast King," the powerful woman's voice interrupted her thoughts. "be my guest, but at some point in time you are going to have to cooperate with him."
"Then I will take my leave," she said before disappearing and finishing in thought, "we'll see how long he lasts. This 'point in time' may never even arrive."
| Author's Notes (cont): And finally, the second chapter. I apologize for any typos, as my keyboard is sticking. Thanks for the comments on chapter one. I'd like to hear your take and chapter two, and if I should even continue this fic. Let me know what you think of the new character so far. I would greatly appreciate it. (Oh, and yes, he seems like a smug jerk at the moment. He's supposed to. Don't worry, he's not that annoying all the time.) |
| Coming in Chapter Three: Dolphin decides another meeting will benefit all involved and threatens quite the binding situation if Wolf and Zelas don't at least tone down their arguments. |