Part 3.

It was dark, Filia could tell...and cold...and she was running...running from something large that she was trying to aviod. The darkness was closing in on her, and she struggled to reach her hand into the safety of the light before her, but the darkness grabbed her...the next thing she knew, she was falling...falling, and the darkness was pushing her down into a dark pit at the end of the fall. But just as she was reaching near it, a hand grabbed hers and pulled it to the surface. On the surface, in the safty of the light, she collapsed and the hand began stroking her head murmuring, it's okay...it's okay.... *** Filia stired herself and felt a sharp pain on her lower back. The hand began stroking her forhead again, and she painfully opened her eyes. What she saw around her, was a bit of a surprise. She was lying on a cot in a large room with ancient markings and symbols on the stone walls. The room looked almost bare at first, but as her eyes ajusted to the dark, she could pick out several hudled figures in dark robes conversing with each other. She wanted to call out to them, to ask them where they were, where she was, but again, the hand began stroking her forehead and she fell back into a deep sleep.


It was noon now. Filia should have been back nearly an hour ago from her walk into town, Zelgadis though. By now he had become fairly worried. She was a strong chick, he thought to himself, but at the same time...the place they lived wasn't exactly known for Its purity. Granted the town gangs often wouldn't attack women, especially not a dragon like her, but the roadside bandits were a different matter. Zelgadis had even heard a rumor of a bandit king, "Xavier" who had dared to to rob a mazoku! A man who dares something like that on a mazoku has either got to be incredibly powerful, or dead stupid, Zelgadis thought to himself. And I don't want a man fitting either of those traits touching my wife, he thought firmly. After all, he reasoned, I'm her husband, I've got to protect her. And with that thought in mind, he crossed the tiny room to the closet which kept his cap and sword. I'm coming Filia, he thought as he turned onto the road into town.


The dusty road lay stretched before them, winding endlessly into the horizon. The sun beat down on them, burning their face, their hands, everything it could reach. Even the grass lay withered on the side of the road, and the rivers ran dry with dust. Dust, everything here was dust. All they had found on this trip was dust, Amelia thought to herself. Not that she minded the dust, though, it was simply that, well, there was nothing else. It had been a week since they had left the green lands to the north, and the far distant mountains were at least a few days away. But she could not complain. It was her duty, her service to her country. She owed this to her people. She was their guardian. She had heard, from a scout in the mountains, that a band of mountain men had set up camp there, without a decree. Any such movement shall be thought of as a voluntary act of agression against the common people. And her duty was to the common people.

Xellos's eyebrows turned up in surprise as his mouth turned sharply down to resemble a snarl.* He glared at his master, not caring now whether he looked to be disloyal or not. How...how dare she?! He thought to himself. The very nerve! Zelas was still in her seat, looking at him with a rather amused look on her face. He glared at her, wishing with his every thought that he could kill her right then and there. Then he could be free. But he knew he could. He wasn't nearly strong enough...yet. But soon, he promised himself, soon I'll get you for everything you've done to me. You'll regret ever saying that! But he had to keep these thoughts to himself. He knew what happened to the last person who dared challenge lord beastmaster. Knowing he could not stay there a moment longer without surely making some rude comment, he turned his back sharply to his master and said in a rather monotone voice. "Of course lord beastmaster, I'll be in my room getting ready," and stalked out.


Zelas, beastmaster, leaned back in her chair, satisfied. Her job was done for now. She languidly reached her hand down and petted her wolf, Zorin, who was always close at her side. He opened his eyes, revealing his violet irises and opened his mouth into a grin which revealed a deep red tounge. She gazed affectionatly at him as Xellos stalked out of the room. He was her pet, her toy. Xellos had always been her favorite, but she thought of him more as a squire. Soon he would outgrow her and move on. His power had already far surpassed her own and only her denying it had kept him from this realization. She had keep him dumb from himself in hopes to keep him for her own, thought she knew, ultimatly, he would leave. It would be hard, being there, by herself. No Xellos to listen to her, or to fetch her things on silly errands. It was silly to do so, but she really thought of him as her son. She had created him, raised him, watched him grow, and soon she would let him go. She knew it was time. She was reluctant to admit it, but watching him there that afternoon she had seen in his eyes something that she had been waiting for for many years. Something that she had been dreading, yet realishing while it lasted. It would not last for long. Soon he would be free, and the look in his eyes would be replaced by something which he could choose for himself. But for now he was hers and she bathed in that thought as she lay her hand softly on Zorins back and stared into the fire glowing before them; only one small doubt crossing her mind. Xellos had never prepared for any assignment before, why now?

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* just try to imagine David Moo pissed ^-^

Note: Don't worry my loyal fans (wherever you are) I'm working on it! I actually have an ending in mind. Only a few more chapters to go! ^^'

Oh, and also, I still haven't decided which coupling to use. The reviews are in a tie vote and even though I don't have to decide till the last chapter, I'd love some more votes to come in. Just a thought, thanks!

Wanderer