Amelia was standing on her balcony and looked at the quiet city below her. She put her slender fingers to her lips and sighed.
'I wish it was Zelgadiss... but it can't be changed. He doesn't want me.'

The Princess was preparing for bed and never noticed the shadow that dropped something in her water glass by the bed.

Amelia walked over to the bed and sat down and looked at her talisman lying on the dresser. She sighed again, and continued her routines. And just before she was going to lie down she took the water glass and drank half of it. She made a face after words.
"That tasted weird... well I guess it's nothing." She laid down and made herself comfortable under the covers.

The next morning Amelia wasn't feeling weary well. She looked at herself in the mirror and was greeted by a weary pail reflection. She put on some makeup to cover up her pail face. Then she dressed for another day of planning. She wouldn't let some little sickness stop her.

-----------------
Later that day Amelia was really sick. She had gone from bad to worse in a couple of hours. Morgan was sitting by her bed and was frowning. The healers were talking and Lina and Gourry were standing in a corner talking to Prince Phil. Phil had a worried look on his face.
"The healers magic isn't working. It only seams to make her even more sick." Lina mumbled to herself.
'This wasn't planned. If she dies I don't have a chance to get the throne. I don't understand.... I didn't use that much.... Isabelle....' Morgan's face got even darker when he came tot think of his stupid sister. He closed his eyes and talked to his sister via the astral plane.

"Sister..."
"Yes?"
"What did you do to the Princess?"
"....."
"WHAT DID YOU DO?"
"I..I...I just slipped some of that stuff that was supposed to make her sick in her water. Wasn't that the plan?"
"NO! HOW CAN YOU BE SO STUPID! YOU WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO LOOK AFTER ZELGADISS! NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PRINCESS!"
"...sorry brother... "
"I don't want to se you in the castle from now on. You have cost enough trouble."
"As you say brother."
"And don't let Zelgadiss and that boy come near either. They won't interfere now. At any cost. DO YOU HEAR!?"
"Y..Yes brother."

Morgan slowly opened his eyes and looked at the sleeping girl.
"No one will interfere..."

The next day the healers had given up. There was no use. She was only getting worse. Lina observed Morgan closely. His face didn't tell much. If he was just acting he was doing a really good job. But she had heard what he said yesterday. 'No one will interfere...what did he mean with that?' She had her suspicions against him.

Amelia was tossing and turning as she dreamt. It worried everyone, but no one could wake her either. She mumbled as she turned. By the words they could make out she was having a bad dream.

~ ~ ~ ~
Amelia looked around. She didn't recognize where she was. It was too dark to see much.
"Hello? Anyone here? Miss Lina, Mr. Gourry? Morgan?"
There was no answer. She started to walk around. She tried to cast a light spell but nothing happened. So she stumbled forwards. She fell as she tripped over something. Something grabbed her ankle and she screamed. She turned and looked down. There was her mother clinging on to her for dear life. Amelia screamed and kicked herself loose. She stared to run, tears blurring her vision, she fell and didn't have the straight to get up. She sobbed and put her hands to her ears to escape the screams that were coming from nowhere.
"Stop it! Leave me alone!"
She felt something grab her wrists and dragging her up to her feet's. She closed her eyes hard. Not wanting to se what was standing before her now. What demon would terrorize her now?
"Amelia?"
Amelia's eyes shot opened. She stared into pail blue eyes. Those eyes that was so familiar to her.
"Mr. Zelgadiss! I'm so glad to se you!"
She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight.
"I was so scared. I thought I was all alone in this horrible place…"
She felt Zelgadiss body go limb and they both fell to their knees. She looked at his face and could se the pain in his eyes.
"Mr. Zelgadiss what's wrong? Tell me what's wrong!"
"....get out of here....Amelia....."
His eyes rolled back and he was dead. Amelia started to yell at him to wake up, not to leave her there. Her eyes welled over with tears then she hugged the lifeless body. She could hear the screams again. And she closed her eyes. When she opened them again Zelgadiss body were gone and there were an inferno of fire around her. Then she saw them, all tied up at different trees, screaming in agony. Lina, Gourry, Grey, her father, her sister, Filia even Xellos. And the last one was Zelgadiss. He was human and he and all her loved ones were burning. She could se Morgan standing and watching the whole ordeal. She ran to him and grabbed his arm and pleaded to him to help her friends.
"Morgan help them! Help me to help them! They are dying! We got to do some...." She stopped mid sentience and looked at her fiancé. He was glaring at her. And then his face softened and he gently put a hand on her cheek.
"Don't worry my dear..... you'll soon be joining them!"
Amelia's eyes went wide and tears streamed down her cheeks as she felt Morgan's hand slide down to her throat and starting to cut of her air. She heard her friends scream and she felt so helpless, so week. She closed her eyes and waited for death to claim her to.

Then everything went quiet and she opened her eyes slowly. She was standing in her room. She looked around. She saw Lina and Gourry talk to her father and she saw Morgan sitting by her bed. And in the bed she lay. Amelia inhaled and put a hand to her mouth.
"That can't be me...."
She saw Morgan's face change and he closed his eyes and concentrated n something. Then she heard it.

"Sister...."
"Yes?"
"What did you do to the Princess?"
"......"
"WHAT DID YOU DO?"
"I..I...I just slipped some of that stuff that was supposed to make her sick in her water. Wasn't that the plan?"
"NO! HOW CAN YOU BE SO STUPID! YOU WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO LOOK AFTER ZELGADISS! NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PRINCESS!"
"..sorry brother... "
"I don't want to se you in the castle from now on. You made enough damage."
"As you say brother."
"And don't let Zelgadiss and that boy come near either. They won't interfere now. At any cost DO YOU HEAR!?"
"Y..Yes brother."

Then he opened his eyes and looked at the Amelia on the bed. And said in a low voice.
"No one will interfere..."

Amelia fell to her knees. She were having a hard time breathing. She saw that the Amelia on the bed also chipping for air. Her eyes became heavy and everything went black.

Amelia closed her eyes and tried to get control of her breathing. She managed to take some deep breaths and than she stood. She looked at the bed. No one seemed to have noticed her breathing. She walked over to Lina and tried to get her attention. But she failed. She walked over to the bed and looked down at herself. She felt sick in her stomach. Then a healer came walked over to the bead and started to chant a spell. Amelia felt her chest tighten and she had to sit down because of the pain.
"Please stop... it....hurts....Zelgadiss....help me.....please..." Her eyes closed and she fell into a dreamless relm. No images no sound, nothing. It was complete nothingness.

~ ~ ~