Chapter 13
"This place is huge! Do you really need all this space?" Filia asked in awe as she and Xellos proceeded down a large hallway big enough to comfortably fit her in her dragon form, even allow a bit of room for flight if she wanted to. 'Or was even capable of,' Filia thought sadly to herself. She was still getting over the loss of her wing and it still hurt to think about it.
"Not really, but Beastmaster does like to show off for the occasional guest sometimes. Otherwise half this place we wouldn't even bother to have cleaned," Xellos said mercifully dragging Filia's thoughts away from her lost wing.
"Oh. Well what do you do when you don't have any guests?" Filia asked.
"Nothing much," Xellos said shrugging, "The space is pretty much just there. Ok right down that hallway at the very end is the throne room. Two huge double doors, you can't miss it," Xellos gestured down an adjacent hallway to her right. She could indeed see a pair of double doors reaching from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. Although it was a far way down the hall and it was very dark, so she had to squint to see it. "That's also usually where Beastmaster is, so I suggest you don't go down there unless you are sent for, understood?"
"I guess so," replied Filia. A nervous shiver ran down her spine with the knowledge that the Beastmaster was so close to where she would be staying.
"Alright. Now down this hall a bit further to the left is my study, apparently it's also where I'll be staying if you need me," Xellos said, playful sarcasm evident in his tone. Filia simply smiled and nodded.
They then arrived at a large empty square room that acted as a cross section with three other passages leading in different directions, one at each of the walls, not including the one Filia and Xellos had entered through. "Now pay very close attention Filia, this is very important. The passageway we just came from was the entrance to the west wing, it's where most of the living quarters are, also the throne room. Straight ahead is obviously the east wing, down there you'll find the main dinning room and a ball room which both also lead out to the east garden. We really only use that wing when we are entertaining a large number of guests, usually visiting Monster Lords. The east garden is also one of the safer gardens, so you should be able to go out that garden alone without being attacked or eaten by one of the carnivorous plants," Xellos explained.
"Carnivorous plants!?" Filia asked in shock.
"Yes well, mistress Zelas has a hobby of collecting unusual animals and plant life, among other things," Xellos stated, shrugging his shoulder slightly. "Moving on, to the left is the north wing. Do. Not. Go down there, there are things in that wing that you do not need to see, nor would you wish to see. Same goes for the north garden, just stay well away from the north side of the island if you can help it," Xellos warned, his tone and face showing that he was serious.
"Why? What in the north wing? Is that the area where the man eating plants are?" Filia asked, nervously glancing down thee hall Xellos had indicated.
"The north wing contains all the dungeons and the war room, trust me Filia, you do not want to go down there, that is the one place that you should never go, for your own safety as well as your sanity. And yes, the larger of the man eating plants are restricted to the north garden, even the local wolves know better than to wander too far in that direction. That bracelet will protect you from most things everywhere else, but the creatures that live on that side are far too powerful for it to fully work on them," Xellos added, placing a hand on the small of Filia's back, whose eyes had bulged, staring down the hall as if all her nightmares were contained within its walls. 'Which might not be too far from the truth,' Xellos thought to himself as he turned her towards their right.
"Now lastly is the south wing. This whole entire wing of the castle is actually more forest than building. This is also where nearly all the wolves of the island reside. Beastmaster has a sort of affinity for wolves and has given them a whole wing for themselves. It is essential that you do not go down there by yourself. Only go down there if I am with you, and no one else. Except maybe Mistress Zelas, but I don't see why she would take you down there so you don't have to worry about that. Just make sure I am with you if you want to go exploring that wing. If you do go there without me, the wolves would most likely attack you as an intruder, with or without the bracelet, is that clear?" Xellos asked as he opened one eye and stared at her.
"Crystal," Filia's voice sounded more like a squeak as she stepped a little closer to Xellos and held onto his arm with her free hand. Xellos had to admit that he may be exaggerating the truth a bit, but it was well worth it to see the look on Filia's face, and he wasn't complaining about her latching onto him either.
"Right, well how about we start with the east wing first. Then in a day or two once you're a bit more comfortable with your surroundings, I'll take you down the south wing for a while, just so you get to know the wolves a bit, and so they get to know you," Xellos explained as he guided Filia straight ahead and down the east wing hallway.
"What? You want to take me to meet a pack of wolves!? Ones that would rip me to shreds if they catch me alone? Are you serious?" Filia asked, panic lacing her tone at the thought of getting up close and personal with a pack of wolves that would gladly have her for supper.
"Relax Fi-chan, they won't even bare their teeth at you as long as you're with me. And besides once they get used to you, you would be able to come and go as you please without fear of being attacked, but admittedly that may take a while, so I suggest you wait until I say it's safe for you to go down there on your own, ok?"
"Ok," Filia replied, she was feeling a lot calmer now, but she was still a little wary of meeting the creatures. They made their way down the hall which looked very similar to the one that they just came from, except that this hall had a few tapestries and paintings from what appeared to be different time periods. There where scenes from bloody battle fields, portraits of past monsters of high power, she could of sworn she saw a tapestry illustrating the War of the Monsters Fall. "You have…interesting tastes in art," Filia commented, not quite sure how to voice her opinion without it sounding like an insult.
"Why thank you Filia, but I would call it more of a historical record than actual art. Every piece is a representation of actual events, dating as far back to a short while before The Great War, some even before I was created," Xellos said, his tone sounding like he was rather proud about this fact.
"Wow. How did you come into possession of all of them? I didn't even know that people where painting at that time," Filia said in awe. She may not be a fan of the battle fields, but even she can recognise how valuable such artwork would be in the outside world.
"Who said that it was humans that painted them? Some of these where painted by Beastmaster herself in her younger years. As to how I acquired them, well let's just say I know a few people," Xellos said, giving Filia a wink as they made their way through another pair of large double doors to their right.
"Now this," Xellos said as he opened the doors for Filia, candles all around the room and on the chandelier alighting as soon as he entered the room, "is the main library".
When Filia looked into the room her draw practically dropped to the floor and her eyes where nearly popping out of her head. 'It's gigantic,' Filia could not believe the size of the room. The ceiling must have been 65 feet high and she couldn't even see where the walls ended. All she could make out was what looked like a large number of glass windows at the other end of the room with a glass door leading out to what she thought was a patio, at least that's what she could see from this distance. And the whole room was filled with thousands of book shelves reaching from the floor to ceiling, even the walls either side of the doors where lined with books.
"Ahem, Filia, you're gonna catch flies if you do that much longer," Xellos said as he gently poked her arm to snap her out of her daze. Filia's mind returned to earth at the sound of Xellos's voice and she clamped her mouth shut.
"This is…amazing! It's a scholars dream!" Filia said as she started to wander into the library, looking as if she didn't know where to start her crusade to read every book contained within it.
"Yes, I suppose it is. After a couple of hundred years you tend to get rather bored, I find that this is the best way to relieve that boredom," 'among other things,' Xellos added to himself with a mischievous grin as he walked up beside Filia and gestured to the whole room as he spoke. "Now since the east wing is pretty much a safe zone you can come in here anytime you wish and browse to your hearts content. Just don't get yourself lost in here, ok?"
"Uh-huh," Filia mumbled as she continued to stare all around her. Xellos chuckled slightly to himself at Filia's dazed expression. She looked almost cute when she was like this, the stars in her eyes and her lips parted in wonder. Although truth-be-told Xellos thought that she looked much cuter when she was in a fiery rage with her eyes set aflame and her hair strewn all about her as she attempted to turn him into a monster pancake. 'Good times, good times,' Xellos chuckled again at the memories, Filia herd him and snapped out of her revere.
"What? What's so funny?" Filia asked in accusation as she glared at Xellos.
"Oh it's nothing Fi-chan, no need to worry," Xellos replied, his mirthful smile still present on his features.
Filia threw one last suspicious glance at Xellos before returning her attention to the library. "Now if you're done gawking at the library, shall we continue on our tour?" Xellos said, motioning towards the other end of the library where Filia could see the afternoon sunlight streaming through the glass windows and doors. Filia simply nodded her head and followed Xellos across to the patio.
As Filia got closer to the doors she began to make out a few white glass tables with wicker chairs to match. There was also a white stone railing separating the patio from the rest of the garden. The scene reminded Filia of the posh gardens the wealthy people would have their afternoon tea in. Even though seeing this type of garden would make sense since this whole castle screams wealth, Filia was still a little surprised to see a place of peace and quiet in a monster's lair.
"This is the east garden. There are also other entrances into the garden further down the main hallway out of the dining room and ball room. They also have patios although those ones are a bit bigger than this one," Xellos explained as Filia wandered between the tables looking all around her. She then made her way to the stone railing and gazed out into the garden. There were countless blooms of all colours, shapes and sizes. A stone path wound its way around rose bushes and small trees until all the paths converged at a water fountain in the centre of the entire garden. There was also a small hedge running along the railing that separated it from the rest of the garden. Filia also noticed a maze further out. It wasn't a huge maze in terms of height, but it was tall enough that she probably wouldn't be able to see over the edge unless she jumped. And finally at the very edge of the garden was the beginning of a forest. There was a space of open grass before a thick crop of trees stopped all lines of vision beyond their blackened depths.
"And that's the start of the east forest," Xellos said as he suddenly appeared beside her, making Filia jump slightly.
"Would you please not do that Xellos. It creeps me out," Filia said as she exaggerated a shiver running down her spine.
"But Fi-chan, that's all the fun in doing it in the first place," Xellos said with his usual wink and finger wag.
"Why do I even bother," Filia mumbled as she rolled her eyes. Xellos just chuckled again and looked out into the garden.
"Another quick note Filia. While this garden is considered safe. It would still be a wise idea not to be out here at night by yourself. Particularly midnight is the worst time to be outdoors. But before and after that you should be fine," Xellos said as he glanced at her from the corner one of his amethyst eyes.
"Oh, how come?" Filia asked as she faced Xellos.
"Filia. Remember where you are. This is monster territory. Around the time of midnight is when the island is at its most active. And while that bracelet will protect you, truthfully I'd rather not risk it, would you?" Xellos asked as he fully faced her, raising one of his eyebrows at her in question.
"No, I suppose not. You know for a species that's known for creating and thriving on chaos, you seem to have a lot of rules around here," Filia commented as she raised her own eyebrow at Xellos, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Well technically, I can do whatever I want. So far all the rules have been for your protection. The monster race doesn't have that many rules, besides following your master's command of course, so they truthfully only apply to you," Xellos said as he crossed his arms and smirked down at Filia's flustered face.
Filia humphed and crossed her own arms as she looked away from Xellos's amused features. 'Why does it seem that no matter where I go there are so many rules and boundaries? Even in monster territory I'm subjected to so many regulations it's making my head spin' Filia thought to herself as she and Xellos left the patio back through the library and out into the main hall again. As they both exited the doors Filia noticed that the lights seemed to turn put themselves out as if blown out by a sudden gust of wind as the giant doors also closed of their own accord. 'I don't know if I'll ever get used to that,' Filia thought as a slight shiver ran down her spine.
The rest of the tour continued without much excitement. After the library Xellos had shown her a few smaller sitting rooms around the east wing, also where about the dinning room and ball room were, but he didn't take her inside, saying that there wasn't much need at this point and if he showed her everything today then she wouldn't have anything left to explore later in her stay.
"Alright now, I think that pretty much covers the basics of the place. The rest I think I'll leave up to you to explore on your own at your leisure," Xellos said as they exited one of the small kitchens which where scattered throughout the castle.
"Oh my, you mean there's more? Xellos we've been walking around for hours, and you're telling me we haven't even finished!?" Filia exclaimed, not even bothering to hide her exhaustion as well as her astonishment.
Xellos chuckled. "Why Filia there's always more. Heck I've been here my whole life and even I don't know every part of the castle. But that's mostly because I haven't worked up the enthusiasm to go exploring it much when I am here," Xellos said as he shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant fashion.
"Well, what should we do now?" Filia asked as they proceeded back down the hall towards the cross section.
"Hmm, firstly I think we'll head back to your room-"
"XELLOS!" screeched Filia as she raised her mace (which she somehow grabbed out of Val's basket without disturbing the cushion, do not ask how) above her head ready to pound him flat.
"You didn't let me finish! I mean so you can rest up a bit and eat Fi-chan or else you're gonna collapse on me," said Xellos, his hands rose in front of his head in self defence.
"Oh! Well I suppose that's all well and good," Filia said sweetly as she put her mace back in it's place under Val's cushion. Xellos could not help but wonder how that thing hasn't cracked the kid's egg yet even with the pillow between them.
"My, someone's quick to jump to conclusions. And so violent about it too. Tsk tsk that is very un-lady like Miss Filia," Xellos said as he smiled down at Filia's slowly growing rage.
"Why you…" Filia growled. Honestly if looks could kill, Xellos would be a black smudge on the ground at this point. Filia then turned away from Xellos and started walking down the hall away from him.
"Ah Filia, the west wing is this way," Xellos said as he pointed in the opposite direction to which Filia was stomping.
Filia growled again slightly and mumbled something to her self as she turned back the way she came. "I knew that!" she hissed at Xellos as she passed him and headed down to the west wing, still mumbling to herself along the way.
Xellos himself was trying his very best not to break out laughing. Filia was just so hilarious when she was furious. Not wanting his afternoon snack to get too far ahead he followed her down the hall, albeit a few paces behind her now.
They eventually made it back to Filia's room, Filia still in a bit of a huff but she had cooled down a bit by now. She opened her door into her room, leaving it open so Xellos could follow her in. She walked over to the bed, laid the basket down on the nightstand and fell backwards onto the covers, completely exhausted.
"What? Tired already? Is it just me or are you getting rather lazy lately Filia?" Xellos chuckled as he leaned against the door frame, his staff resting beside him against the wall.
"I am not getting lazy!" Filia yelled, bolting upright as she glared at Xellos.
"Oh I beg to differ. Back during the Darkstar campaign you would run Miss Lina and the others into the ground, always wanting to travel non-stop night and day barely breaking a sweat. And now look at you. You've spent so much time sleeping for the past few days anyone would think you're trying to hibernate. We went for a short walk and you're so tired you can hardly stand up. You've gotten lazy Filia, keep it up and you're going to get fat soon," Xellos said, a grin slowly making it's way across his face.
"I'LL SHOW YOU WHO"S LAZY YOU PIECE OF TRASH!" Filia screeched as she retrieved her mace and charged at Xellos. By now Xellos was openly smiling, his eyes slightly open as he watched his dragon charge at him, murderous intent clear on her face. Just before Filia made contact with him, Xellos fazed out of harms way, narrowly missing Filia's mace as it completely destroyed part of his wall. 'Hmm, I'll have to fix that later. Oh well, this is so worth it!' Xellos giggled as Filia tried to dust herself off of the debris that was once his wall.
"Oh come on now Fi-chan, you used to be so much faster than that. Has old age finally caught up with you? I can already see the wrinkles from here," Xellos teased as Filia went rigid, her aura seemed to be electrifying the air around her.
Filia let out a shrill battle cry as she charged again and again, Xellos constantly dodging her blows. "You're one to talk you filth! You're much older than me, if anyone's getting wrinkly is YOU!" Filia yelled as she continually swung her mace, aiming for Xellos's head.
"Ha! Wrinkles, on this handsome face? Not on your life sister." Xellos retorted as he dodged another one of her swings while holding up a hand held mirror, checking his reflection.
"Botox," was the one word Filia said, a sadistic grin spreading across her face. Xellos, who was floating in the air at the time, dropped a few feet, loosing his grip on his mirror.
"What did you say Fi-chan?" Xellos said, his voice eerily calm.
Filia didn't realize the danger she was putting herself into as she repeated herself, raising her chin in defiance. "Botox, you know, what people use to get rid of ghastly wrinkles, botox," Filia said rather smugly, feeling triumphant that she struck a nerve.
Xellos lightly lowered himself to the ground, his bangs hiding his eyes and a fist clenched at his side. Filia was starting to get a little worried by this point, slowly moving towards the door should she need to bolt.
"Oh Fiiiliaaaa? Why don't you come over here and say that," Xellos said eerily, motioning with his finger for her to come towards him, his eyes still hidden in his purple fringe.
Filia was now officially spooked. She began to back out the door as she tried to utter a response, "Ah, actually…I think I'm...gonna go…explore…out…away from here…somewhere else…hehe," Filia nervously giggled as she backed out of the door. Once she was in the hall she sprinted down the hall as if her very life depended on it.
Xellos chuckled darkly into the room, "Oh dear Filia, you think you can run from me? Fine, let's see how far you get". Xellos then walked out of the room into the hall, catching sight of Filia's golden hair as it disappeared down the hall. Xellos took off on a light jog after her, it would be too easy and not much fun if he just teleported and caught her, so he thought he'll give her a fighting chance, looking forward to the thrill of the hunt.
/
Filia ran as fast as her legs could carry her, sweat trickling down her face and back as she ran to find a hiding place. She knew she couldn't outrun him, but she may be able to hide from him for a while. Filia noticed that she had run into the east wing and she had an idea. Locating the doors to the library she stopped and pushed as hard as she could against the doors. Slowly but surely the started to open until she could fit herself through the gap between them. She didn't even bother to try and close the doors again as she bolted to the other end of the library towards the garden, the candles lighting up as she ran.
When she got to the glass doors blocking her way to the garden she herd the library doors behind her crash open. She whipped her head around and saw Xellos standing in the doorway, his amethyst eyes focused on her. As Xellos began to slowly walk towards her Filia wrenched the glass doors open and sprinted out onto the patio. She leapt clear over the railing into the garden and headed straight for the maze she spotted earlier.
'I can lose him in the maze,' she thought as she ran into the maze, her breaths coming in gasps as she quickly made her way through the maze, hopefully losing her pursuer in the process.
Xellos appeared at the entrance of the maze Filia just ran into. "My my Filia. First you think you can outrun me, now you think you can hide from me? Tsk tsk, well I guess I'll just have to show you how wrong you are my young dragon," Xellos said as he walked calmly into the maze.
Filia went in every direction possible. She turned left and right, she doubled back a few times and took as many possible trails as she could, hoping that Xellos would lose track of her. She ran into a dead end and decided she had to stop for a rest. She sat down and leaned her back against the hedge, trying to catch her breath and slow her pounding heart.
"Fiiliaaaa," Filia's head snapped up as she herd Xellos call her name. He sounded far off, and yet so close, too close. "Fi-chan, where are you Fi-chan? You can't hide from me forever you know," Filia started to panic. "I can smell your fear Filia, won't you come out and play?" Filia quickly stood up and started running again. Xellos smirked as he licked his lips, "I can taste your adrenalin Fi-chan, don't forget whose territory you're in little dragon," Xellos called as Filia felt another wave of panic course through her body as she ran down another trail. His voice seemed to be everywhere and no-where at the same time, completely surrounding her.
She rounded another corner and stopped dead in her tracks. There stood Xellos, his posture completely relaxed as he glared at her with his amethyst eyes glowing in the late afternoon sun. He chuckled, "I told you I would find you". Filia backed back out of the channel and ran into an adjacent route. However when she rounded another corner she was stopped by him again, this time he was hanging upside down, his face level with hers as she forced herself not to scream of fright. "Nope, try again," Xellos grinned as Filia again backtracked and took another route. Her heart sunk to her stomach when she realized she had run into a dead end. At the sound of approaching footsteps her heart rose back up into her throat when she realized she had nowhere else to run. She faced the entrance to the dead end, pulling her mace out as she waited to confront The Beastmaster Xellos.
A shadow began to form behind Filia, reaching out towards her unawares. Wisps of darkness slowly wrapped around her ankles as Filia continued to concentrate on the sound of the footsteps. The darkness then carefully wound itself around her wrists and waist. Then with a sudden jerk Filia felt herself being yanked backwards onto the hedge as the shadow tightened its hold on her, pinning her. Filia could feel her mace being taken from her hand as she struggle against the restraints that bound her in place. She herd a chuckle as Xellos materialized out of the shadow, eerie smile firmly in place. Filia felt a sense of deja vu along with fear (and excitement?) as Xellos eyes glowed at the sight of her. "Gotcha!" Xellos exclaimed as he stared at Filia's still struggling form. "It's no use struggling Filia, I caught you, I won," Xellos said simply as Filia slowed her struggles, but she didn't stop.
"Yeah, because you cheated!" Filia retorted, still squirming slightly, but the bonds Xellos had used to catch her where still wound tight around her, she wasn't allowed much movement.
"How did I cheat? I merely used what comes naturally to me," Xellos said with a playful wink sent her way.
"I still think it's cheating," Filia mumbled as she looked away from Xellos's piercing eyes.
"Well whether you call it cheating or not really doesn't make a difference. I won and that's that, end of discussion," Xellos said as he crossed his arms.
It was then that Xellos noticed something strange. Filia was…laughing. At first it started of as a small giggle, then it quickly grew until Filia was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes as she subconsciously strained against the bonds he put on her. "What? Filia what is so funny?" Xellos asked as he looked at Filia as if she suddenly grew an extra head.
When Filia finally started to quiet down she let out a small sigh and looked at Xellos's puzzled features. "Where always fighting about something, aren't we?" it was more of a statement than an actual question.
Xellos gave a small smile of his own at her. "Yeah, I suppose we are. But you have to admit that's just what makes it more fun," Xellos said as he closed his eyes, returning to his usual trickster smile.
And Filia found that this was one of the rare things they where in complete agreement with. Now that she thought about it, life without her and Xellos's constant feuding seemed rather…dull.
"True. Now would you please let me go Xellos. It's getting kind of chilly and I'm famished," Filia said, indicating to the black bands of energy that still bound her to the hedge.
"Hmm you see, this is where we have a problem. You see Filia I really didn't appreciate that botox comment, so I think as punishment you can spend the night there. That sounds fair don't you think?" Xellos said with a sinister smile as he slowly turned around and started walking away, leaving Filia where she was.
"Oh ha-ha-ha Xellos, very funny. Now come back here and let me go". Xellos continued to walk away. "Xellos, hey wait! Xellos look if you want me to say I'm sorry then ok, I'm sorry, please just let me go. Xellos? XELLOS!"