Chap 7 - The Lord of Beasts
A feeling of dread filled Xaina's whole body as she felt herself fading from the safe reaches of Lina and Gourry. She tried to call out to them, but they hadn't heard her and then...and then it all turned black, but only for a second or two. Then it was lighter...
The girl snapped out of Xellos' grasp by slapping him as hard as she could. He dropped her on the floor...the cold, stone floor. Xaina scrambled up to her feet, terror running through her veins, never taking her eyes off the monster. He dropped on one knee and bowed his head.
"This is the girl, Lord," he stated coldly. The smile was gone from his face.
"Good," a female voice replied from behind Xaina. The black haired girl whirled around, almost tripping over her own two feet as she did so. Sitting in a large throne was a woman unlike any Xaina had seen before. She was tall, thin, almost perfect in appearance, but she wore very small, revealing clothing that the girl knew her mother had told her only women who should be avoided wear. Her dark eyes that stared down at the girl had the look of a hungry scavenger on an old carcass. All around her were wolves, some sitting, some laying down, but all with green eyes focused on the child. Normally, she wasn't afraid of wolves, but something about them seemed strange and frightening to her.
Xaina backed away from her, but then remembered who was behind her and stopped. she hurriedly searched the room for an escape route, but saw nothing but a large, heavy wooden door she doubted she would be able to move, and a few glass doors that led to a balcony. Outside, the moon shone over what looked to be an elaborate garden covered in a thin mist. They seemed to be on the third floor of a balcony. She couldn't jump down from here.
"Wh-what do you w-want?" Xaina studdered.
The woman's bright red lips curled up in an almost sinister smile. "Hello Xaina," she responded.
"H-how do you know m-my name?"
"Xellos told me, of course." Xaina glanced back at Xellos who half smiled. "You can leave now, Xellos. I have no more use for you at the moment." Xellos didn't move. "I said you can go," she sighed irritably.
"I know," he replied respectfully, "But I'd rather stay, if it is all the same with you."
The woman's smile grew bigger, far more amused. "Afraid I'll lay claim to your tiny toy."
"Not at all." His violet eyes found their way up to gaze upon the woman.
"Then what keeps you here."
He twiddled his fore finger and winked at her. "That's a secret."
"Should have know," the woman sighed again.
Xaina, meanwhile, had tried to draw in on herself and pulled her hands up in a tangled ball to cover her heart as if she were going to pray. Praying was not something that came naturally to her, but the thought of doing so had crossed her mind. She watched the wolves far more carefully then the woman or Xellos. Wolves were not normally dangerous, but there had to be at least ten of them, maybe more, and that could easily have spelled out the end of her life if they chose to make a meal out of her.
"Come here, Xaina," the woman said coldly, drawing the girl's focus back on her. Xaina held back. "I wont bite," she teased. "At least, I haven't yet." Xaina's eyes flickered to the wolves and back to the woman. Sensing part of what was wrong, the woman stated, "They wont attack either...not unless I tell them to, anyway. Now come here." Still, Xaina didn't move. She was paralyzed by fear. The woman sighed. "Xellos."
Xellos hesitated, Xaina quickly noticed. He seemed almost nervous about something...but Lina had said monsters don't feel emotions like people did. How could he be nervous? After a few tense moments and a glare from the woman, Xellos complied and took hold of the girl.
"No!" Xaina cried as he lifted her in the air. She struggled and kicked but it was no good. He held her at a long enough distance away that she couldn't reach him. He dropped her in the woman's lap, where a pair of slender, sleek hands with bright red nails took hold of her. One wrapped around the girl's back while the other rested on her knees to keep her from kicking. Xaina went stiff all over, petrified. Her nostrils were assaulted with the familiar scents of liquor and cigarettes. Xaina's aunt had smoked and drank a lot, so she knew the smell well.
"There, now that's better," the woman commented. Sensing the girl wouldn't move, she lifted her hand from the girl's knees and brushed some of the tangled ebony hair back out of the girl's eyes. "Hello, Xaina. Do you know who I am." Xaina tried to form words in her mouth and she could hear herself saying them in her mind, but no sound came out. Panicking, she shook her head. "I am Zelas Metallium, Lord Beastmaster of the monster race. are you hungry? I know that teleporting like that can sometimes shred off energy. Would you like something to eat?" she asked in an almost motherly tone.
*****
Lina slammed her fits on the front counter in Filia's store. It was all she could do. With no way to track Xellos, it was pointless in leaving her looking for him and Xaina. It was so frustrating. she was the great Lina Inverse! The bandit killer! The slayer of dark lords! The killer of Darkstar! No one stole from her! No one! How could she have not seen it? How could she not have known? She repeated these questions in her mind over and over again. The way he had looked at her...hadn't it been obvious that he was after her? He had tried to win her over. She was going to rip in to a million pieces with her own bare hands! If one hair on her head is so much as out of place, she mentally swore, that worthless monster won't live to tell about it.
Filia rocked Val gently in her arms. He had stopped crying but was still upset. He seemed to know something was wrong. She hadn't said much for the past two hours, since Xellos had stolen Xaina. Gourry had been the same way. He watched Lina with great concern, knowing he felt the same she did.
"Damn it!" Lina swore for the tenth time in the past five minutes. "Damn it Xellos! Come back here you coward!" She knew he wasn't there and couldn't hear her, but that didn't stop her from yelling. It was all she could do now.
*****
The girl shook her head. She had yet to speak, something that annoyed Zelas. Perhaps she wasn't the one...The Lord of beasts glared at her general/priest. He didn't move, but averted his eyes. She knew he wouldn't betray her, but he had lied over this child already and he may very well do something he would regret for this strange girl. She really wished she had had a drink before commanding him to bring the girl here. She turned her attention back to the girl. She was a small child, very thin and small, though Lina Inverse seemed to have been trying to rid the girl of that. She was very clean and smelled faintly of flowers and clay. No doubt from that little dragon's shop, she had concluded. The girl's eyes were a brilliant violet, much like Xellos' and her own. Her hair was jet black and very soft, which Zelas guessed she probably got from her mother.
"Alright then, if you're not hungry, then perhaps we could just talk. What's your full name? I only know your first," she questioned patiently. The girl didn't make any sort of response at all. She didn't even move. she was too terrified. She shot another look at Xellos. "I know your not mute. I heard you yell before. Come now, I'm not going to bite." She rubbed a hand gentle across the child's cheek, trying to calm her. "I promise, I wont hurt you. I never intended to harm you." She caught the slight relaxation in Xellos' stiff form.
There was a long pause and the room was almost dead silent. "Xaina Nanse Fenrie." Xaina's voice was so quite that it was barely heard.
"What was that?" Zelas demanded.
"Xaina Nanse Fenrie," she repeated a little louder while looking down at her hands resting in her lap.
"Xaina Ann Fenrie," the lord repeated to herself, testing the sound of the words. "I see. Alright, Xaina Fenrie, how old are you?" The girl held up four fingers, her eyes never leaving her lap. "Only four? You said she was older!" she snapped to Xellos.
"I said she acted older then she was," he corrected. She sneered, knowing he was probably right.
She turned back to the child that rested on her lap. "Xaina, look at me," she commanded. The girl shook her head, closing her eyes as she did so. Xaina was near in tears from terror. She was so far past the point of fear that even the monster lord was feeling sorry for the poor girl. She had told Xellos to bring her willingly for this exact reason. Alright, perhaps it's time for a little bribery, she thought. She snapped her fingers and just in front of the girl appeared a worn, gray stuffed wolf toy.
"Booie!" Xaina cried and seized the toy from the air, clutching it against her body like letting it go meant death.
"Booie? Is that's it's name?"
"Yes," the girl whispered. A single tear slipped down Xaina's cheek. The fear had boiled up and let lose in several tears that welled up in her eyes.
"Well, he's a fine animal. I've always loved wolves myself. That's why I keep a pack here with me." Zelas gestured towards the wolves at her feet. She gave a pat to the alpha female who was sitting just to the monster's left. "My island is even named after them: Wolf Pack Island. That's where we are right now. Do like wolves, Xaina?" The girl nodded. "Good. I couldn't live with someone who didn't like wolves."
The sudden jerk of the girl's movements caught Zelas off guard. Xaina tumbled off the woman's lap and on to the stone floor, hitting with a hard thump. All the wolves leapt up and began circling the girl. Several of them growled. Xaina scrambled back, only to have her back pressed up against the woman's chair. Zelas flicked her wrist a couple of times and the wolves back down and settled into their places before. She grabbed the girl by the back of the shirt and cape, lifting her off the ground and making the girl look her in the eyes.
"I suggest not doing that again," she commented. "Usually when I drop something, it means they get something special to eat." She set the girl back on her lap, keeping a firmer grip on her this time. Zelas wasn't about to let this child get away so easily. Xellos seemed nervous again. "Now look at me, Xaina." The girl didn't. She was focused on her lap again. Zelas slipped her fingers under the girl's chin and made her look up in the monster's eyes. "Do you know why you were brought here?"
"To kill me," Xaina meekly replied.
"What makes you think that?"
"That's what everyone else..."
"I'm not everyone else," Zelas hissed. Xaina flinched when she did so. Zelas sighed. Scaring the girl further would not do her any good. "You are very important, Xaina. You are not like the others, and the frightens many of my people."
"What others?" Xaina weakly demanded, gaining a little confidence.
"All the others. Your not the first..."
"First what?"
"What do you mean first what!?" Zelas snapped in annoyance. She really had little experience with children and it showed.
"She doesn't know," Xellos stated. "She hasn't been told. Her mother didn't tell her before she died."
A flash of anger passed over the woman's face. No wonder she was so frightened. She hadn't even any notion of what was happening around her. She sighed. Xaina had to know, or more trouble could be done then harm.
"Well, that explains a lot," she snorted. She turned back down to the terrified girl. "Well, then I suppose I should start explaining this to you then. Now relax, you'll be here for a while." She released hold of Xaina's chin, letting the girl's gaze fall back to her lap where she was still clutching hard to the toy wolf. "Xaina, you're not human..." She paused, waiting for the girl's response to this information. She had expected the girl to deny it outright, but no resistance came. "Not fully human anyway. Your mother was human, and that makes you part, but your stronger half is not..." Again, she paused. Still, the girl offered no response at all. Aside from her breathing, she barely moved. Zelas wondered if she was even listening. "In your veins flows the blood of a very powerful monster, though, for the moment, it's best that you not concern yourself with who. He's not important. The fact was, only a handful of monsters knew you existed, not that we would normally care
since half breeds with most other beings always turn out to be mortals like their mortal parent. However, the ones who knew of your existence, Xellos being among them, quickly noticed of the power you possessed. Your monster blood was stronger then your human."
"Which was why we suppressed it and made sure you appeared to be human," Xellos commented.
Zelas glared at him, scowling as she added in, "And never once mentioned anything about your power to their lord, even lying to her when she asked." Xellos winced slightly. Good, she thought, He deserves some discomfort. "Which of course they are going to be paying a high price for later." She looked back at the girl and smiled again. "Though they kept a good eye on you and prevented harm from coming to you. There are monsters who are afraid of you, if you haven't figured out. This, a half breed like you, has never had power before and no is sure how strong you will get. This frightens most of them. Some of them want to kill you. No doubt you've been attacked many times in your life." The girl nodded. "And a wolf always protected you, didn't it?" The girl nodded again. "Yes, Syrin is a good girl, even when she's being used by others." Again she glared at Xellos briefly, while one hand gently stroked the alpha female again. "You've attracted a lot of attention lately, my dear
girl, now that you've been wondering around and the suppressor spells are wearing off."
"Shame you didn't just come with me when I bought you from that sniveling woman who had you when your mother died," Xellos grumbled. Xaina became a little more stiff.
Some of this new knowledge was shocking to Xaina and the girl needed some time to think about it, Zelas was certain of that. "You're safe here, child. Now, get some rest. You must be tired. Xellos, take her to your room and put her to bed. Return to me when you're done." She held the girl out.
Xellos easily took hold of the girl, cradling her close to him, and bowed. "Yes master." Then, he disappeared. When he was gone, she leaned on the plush arm of her chair, putting her chin in her palm, and sighed. There was still far too much planning to be done...
*****
Why exactly she had wanted Xaina in his room, Xellos wasn't sure, but he knew better then to question Lord Beastmaster. He gently set Xaina down on his soft bed covered in purple silk sheets. Xaina was still dazed from everything that had happened and made no attempts to try and run from him. Instead, she just sat there, motionless. He didn't like her like this. He was so use to seeing her happy, laughing, playing. Even if he got nothing from seeing her jumping around like a wild four year old should, he still preferred her that way.
Through all the years he had watched her, he had only once ever seen her like this before and that was when her mother had died. That had left a scar on the child that would last all her life. It was on that day that she had become so quiet and withdrawn much of the time. Lina had changed that somehow, even if not much. Being ripped from someone who cared so much for her again didn't seem fair. It's for the best, he tied to remind himself. She can't spend the rest of her life pretending to be human... especially with the suppressing spell breaking down. She needs training. She'll have time to play...just, later.
He brushed his fingers through her hair. "Here we are," he said softly, smiling as usual. He was hoping that might ease her fear. It didn't. "You don't mind sleeping in your clothes, do you? I think going back to Filia's to get some of your things might result in my death," he laughed.
"Then take me back," she whispered. Her voice held no emotion at all. It, somehow, sent a shiver down his spin to hear her so cold.
"I can't," he admitted in a more serious voice. He leaned down and looked carefully at her face with open eyes. "I know this is confusing, Xaina. I know you want to go back and stay with Lina and Gourry. You have no reason to want to leave them. They took good care of you. But you can't stay with them forever. You're not like them." She stared at him with expressionless eyes. "Don't worry," he smiled in his attempt to calm her. "You'll see them again real soon. We just have to work a few things out with the other monster lords. I promise. Once this is all taken care of, we'll go back and see them, and Filia too. Maybe we can rearrange that little shop of her's while she's sleeping..."
"I don't think she'd like that," Xaina commented, trying to suppress a smile.
"Of course she wont. That's why we should do it," he said a little more mischievously. "After all, I am the trickster priest. I can't just appear with out some mischief in mind." He picked her up and scooted her to the head of the bed. He unhooked her cape and tossed it over a chair in the corner. He pulled back some of the sheets and pulled them over her. "Now get some sleep."
"I'm not tired, though. It feels like the middle of the day even though it's dark out," she said, pointing to the glass door that led to the garden. Sure enough, it was dark. He'd forgotten about the time differences between the two places. She was right for not being tired. She had just had lunch no more then an hour ago.
"Then just lay there and be quiet," he sighed. "Think about what Zelas and I told you, ok?"
"Kay," she sighed, laying down. "Hey, Xellos?" she called just as he was about to leave.
"Yes?" he sighed.
"If monsters don't sleep, then why do you have a bed?"
Xellos smiled and twiddled a finger. "That's a secret." The he disappeared.
He reappeared in front of Lord Beastmaster and bowed, per usual. You never appeared before her without bowing unless you were another lord. He'd already been on thin ice with her for the past few weeks and he didn't need to cause anymore trouble...with her anyway. In one hand she held a glass of fine wine which she seemed to be studying.
"Is she asleep?" the monster lord asked.
"No, but she wont be a problem," Xellos replied, standing up again.
"Good. She needs to stay put."
There was a long silence and she took a sip of the wine. "You don't think they'll agree to you keeping her, do you?"
"Of course not!" she snapped. The recent events were wearing on her, though Xellos didn't know quite why. He knew she kept things from him and he was pretty sure she was keeping something very important this time. "Dolphin has never exactly gotten along with me, and well, we all know how Dynest will react. He already thinks we're all out to get rid of him, and knowing that you kept HER from them wont help. Then there's Vereus. The little twit doesn't know the first thing about anything. He's a poor replacement for Phabrizzo. I don't know how he was selected. He never even served under the over grown brat." She chuckled slightly to herself. "He even tried to kill her. Fool. Ignorant fool; that's all he is." She looked down at her priest. "They'll all try and claim her, you know."
"I know," he sighed.
"They'll take you're little toy." An evil smile spread over her face. "And what will you do when they try?"
"IF they try, then I'll just have to kill them," he answered without hesitation.
Lord Beastmaster laughed outright. "You will kill them? That's the most amusing thing I've heard in quite a while. And why would you TRY and kill them? YOU have nothing to gain from her life."
Xellos paused, thinking about his response. He really didn't know why he had thought he would do that. He knew he couldn't let any of the other lords have her, but then again, he didn't really like the idea of his own lord having control over her. He would not have brought her if he hadn't been forced. "I'm not sure," he finally answered. "I have little to gain from her life, true, but I can't let any lord have or kill her."
"Good," she sighed, looking back at her wine. "Make sure you keep it that way."
"Master...?"
"Don't let anyone have her." She took another sip of her wine. "I wont you to teach her to use her powers. Make sure she trusts you. I don't want her making any attempts to leave. If they should try and take her by force, they'll have the hardest time doing it here." She looked back at him with a cold, determined stare that sent a slight shiver through him. "DON'T let anyone harm her, Xellos. That's an order."
Now he was certain there was much more to this then she was letting on. "Yes master." He would settle for being in the dark, for now anyway. He would find out the rest on his own if she did not tell him. He always did.
"You can go. I need time to think...I only have two days...And so do you. She needs to be convincing..." she sighed, focused back on her wine again. He nodded and disappeared. "Only two days..." she repeated to herself.
A feeling of dread filled Xaina's whole body as she felt herself fading from the safe reaches of Lina and Gourry. She tried to call out to them, but they hadn't heard her and then...and then it all turned black, but only for a second or two. Then it was lighter...
The girl snapped out of Xellos' grasp by slapping him as hard as she could. He dropped her on the floor...the cold, stone floor. Xaina scrambled up to her feet, terror running through her veins, never taking her eyes off the monster. He dropped on one knee and bowed his head.
"This is the girl, Lord," he stated coldly. The smile was gone from his face.
"Good," a female voice replied from behind Xaina. The black haired girl whirled around, almost tripping over her own two feet as she did so. Sitting in a large throne was a woman unlike any Xaina had seen before. She was tall, thin, almost perfect in appearance, but she wore very small, revealing clothing that the girl knew her mother had told her only women who should be avoided wear. Her dark eyes that stared down at the girl had the look of a hungry scavenger on an old carcass. All around her were wolves, some sitting, some laying down, but all with green eyes focused on the child. Normally, she wasn't afraid of wolves, but something about them seemed strange and frightening to her.
Xaina backed away from her, but then remembered who was behind her and stopped. she hurriedly searched the room for an escape route, but saw nothing but a large, heavy wooden door she doubted she would be able to move, and a few glass doors that led to a balcony. Outside, the moon shone over what looked to be an elaborate garden covered in a thin mist. They seemed to be on the third floor of a balcony. She couldn't jump down from here.
"Wh-what do you w-want?" Xaina studdered.
The woman's bright red lips curled up in an almost sinister smile. "Hello Xaina," she responded.
"H-how do you know m-my name?"
"Xellos told me, of course." Xaina glanced back at Xellos who half smiled. "You can leave now, Xellos. I have no more use for you at the moment." Xellos didn't move. "I said you can go," she sighed irritably.
"I know," he replied respectfully, "But I'd rather stay, if it is all the same with you."
The woman's smile grew bigger, far more amused. "Afraid I'll lay claim to your tiny toy."
"Not at all." His violet eyes found their way up to gaze upon the woman.
"Then what keeps you here."
He twiddled his fore finger and winked at her. "That's a secret."
"Should have know," the woman sighed again.
Xaina, meanwhile, had tried to draw in on herself and pulled her hands up in a tangled ball to cover her heart as if she were going to pray. Praying was not something that came naturally to her, but the thought of doing so had crossed her mind. She watched the wolves far more carefully then the woman or Xellos. Wolves were not normally dangerous, but there had to be at least ten of them, maybe more, and that could easily have spelled out the end of her life if they chose to make a meal out of her.
"Come here, Xaina," the woman said coldly, drawing the girl's focus back on her. Xaina held back. "I wont bite," she teased. "At least, I haven't yet." Xaina's eyes flickered to the wolves and back to the woman. Sensing part of what was wrong, the woman stated, "They wont attack either...not unless I tell them to, anyway. Now come here." Still, Xaina didn't move. She was paralyzed by fear. The woman sighed. "Xellos."
Xellos hesitated, Xaina quickly noticed. He seemed almost nervous about something...but Lina had said monsters don't feel emotions like people did. How could he be nervous? After a few tense moments and a glare from the woman, Xellos complied and took hold of the girl.
"No!" Xaina cried as he lifted her in the air. She struggled and kicked but it was no good. He held her at a long enough distance away that she couldn't reach him. He dropped her in the woman's lap, where a pair of slender, sleek hands with bright red nails took hold of her. One wrapped around the girl's back while the other rested on her knees to keep her from kicking. Xaina went stiff all over, petrified. Her nostrils were assaulted with the familiar scents of liquor and cigarettes. Xaina's aunt had smoked and drank a lot, so she knew the smell well.
"There, now that's better," the woman commented. Sensing the girl wouldn't move, she lifted her hand from the girl's knees and brushed some of the tangled ebony hair back out of the girl's eyes. "Hello, Xaina. Do you know who I am." Xaina tried to form words in her mouth and she could hear herself saying them in her mind, but no sound came out. Panicking, she shook her head. "I am Zelas Metallium, Lord Beastmaster of the monster race. are you hungry? I know that teleporting like that can sometimes shred off energy. Would you like something to eat?" she asked in an almost motherly tone.
*****
Lina slammed her fits on the front counter in Filia's store. It was all she could do. With no way to track Xellos, it was pointless in leaving her looking for him and Xaina. It was so frustrating. she was the great Lina Inverse! The bandit killer! The slayer of dark lords! The killer of Darkstar! No one stole from her! No one! How could she have not seen it? How could she not have known? She repeated these questions in her mind over and over again. The way he had looked at her...hadn't it been obvious that he was after her? He had tried to win her over. She was going to rip in to a million pieces with her own bare hands! If one hair on her head is so much as out of place, she mentally swore, that worthless monster won't live to tell about it.
Filia rocked Val gently in her arms. He had stopped crying but was still upset. He seemed to know something was wrong. She hadn't said much for the past two hours, since Xellos had stolen Xaina. Gourry had been the same way. He watched Lina with great concern, knowing he felt the same she did.
"Damn it!" Lina swore for the tenth time in the past five minutes. "Damn it Xellos! Come back here you coward!" She knew he wasn't there and couldn't hear her, but that didn't stop her from yelling. It was all she could do now.
*****
The girl shook her head. She had yet to speak, something that annoyed Zelas. Perhaps she wasn't the one...The Lord of beasts glared at her general/priest. He didn't move, but averted his eyes. She knew he wouldn't betray her, but he had lied over this child already and he may very well do something he would regret for this strange girl. She really wished she had had a drink before commanding him to bring the girl here. She turned her attention back to the girl. She was a small child, very thin and small, though Lina Inverse seemed to have been trying to rid the girl of that. She was very clean and smelled faintly of flowers and clay. No doubt from that little dragon's shop, she had concluded. The girl's eyes were a brilliant violet, much like Xellos' and her own. Her hair was jet black and very soft, which Zelas guessed she probably got from her mother.
"Alright then, if you're not hungry, then perhaps we could just talk. What's your full name? I only know your first," she questioned patiently. The girl didn't make any sort of response at all. She didn't even move. she was too terrified. She shot another look at Xellos. "I know your not mute. I heard you yell before. Come now, I'm not going to bite." She rubbed a hand gentle across the child's cheek, trying to calm her. "I promise, I wont hurt you. I never intended to harm you." She caught the slight relaxation in Xellos' stiff form.
There was a long pause and the room was almost dead silent. "Xaina Nanse Fenrie." Xaina's voice was so quite that it was barely heard.
"What was that?" Zelas demanded.
"Xaina Nanse Fenrie," she repeated a little louder while looking down at her hands resting in her lap.
"Xaina Ann Fenrie," the lord repeated to herself, testing the sound of the words. "I see. Alright, Xaina Fenrie, how old are you?" The girl held up four fingers, her eyes never leaving her lap. "Only four? You said she was older!" she snapped to Xellos.
"I said she acted older then she was," he corrected. She sneered, knowing he was probably right.
She turned back to the child that rested on her lap. "Xaina, look at me," she commanded. The girl shook her head, closing her eyes as she did so. Xaina was near in tears from terror. She was so far past the point of fear that even the monster lord was feeling sorry for the poor girl. She had told Xellos to bring her willingly for this exact reason. Alright, perhaps it's time for a little bribery, she thought. She snapped her fingers and just in front of the girl appeared a worn, gray stuffed wolf toy.
"Booie!" Xaina cried and seized the toy from the air, clutching it against her body like letting it go meant death.
"Booie? Is that's it's name?"
"Yes," the girl whispered. A single tear slipped down Xaina's cheek. The fear had boiled up and let lose in several tears that welled up in her eyes.
"Well, he's a fine animal. I've always loved wolves myself. That's why I keep a pack here with me." Zelas gestured towards the wolves at her feet. She gave a pat to the alpha female who was sitting just to the monster's left. "My island is even named after them: Wolf Pack Island. That's where we are right now. Do like wolves, Xaina?" The girl nodded. "Good. I couldn't live with someone who didn't like wolves."
The sudden jerk of the girl's movements caught Zelas off guard. Xaina tumbled off the woman's lap and on to the stone floor, hitting with a hard thump. All the wolves leapt up and began circling the girl. Several of them growled. Xaina scrambled back, only to have her back pressed up against the woman's chair. Zelas flicked her wrist a couple of times and the wolves back down and settled into their places before. She grabbed the girl by the back of the shirt and cape, lifting her off the ground and making the girl look her in the eyes.
"I suggest not doing that again," she commented. "Usually when I drop something, it means they get something special to eat." She set the girl back on her lap, keeping a firmer grip on her this time. Zelas wasn't about to let this child get away so easily. Xellos seemed nervous again. "Now look at me, Xaina." The girl didn't. She was focused on her lap again. Zelas slipped her fingers under the girl's chin and made her look up in the monster's eyes. "Do you know why you were brought here?"
"To kill me," Xaina meekly replied.
"What makes you think that?"
"That's what everyone else..."
"I'm not everyone else," Zelas hissed. Xaina flinched when she did so. Zelas sighed. Scaring the girl further would not do her any good. "You are very important, Xaina. You are not like the others, and the frightens many of my people."
"What others?" Xaina weakly demanded, gaining a little confidence.
"All the others. Your not the first..."
"First what?"
"What do you mean first what!?" Zelas snapped in annoyance. She really had little experience with children and it showed.
"She doesn't know," Xellos stated. "She hasn't been told. Her mother didn't tell her before she died."
A flash of anger passed over the woman's face. No wonder she was so frightened. She hadn't even any notion of what was happening around her. She sighed. Xaina had to know, or more trouble could be done then harm.
"Well, that explains a lot," she snorted. She turned back down to the terrified girl. "Well, then I suppose I should start explaining this to you then. Now relax, you'll be here for a while." She released hold of Xaina's chin, letting the girl's gaze fall back to her lap where she was still clutching hard to the toy wolf. "Xaina, you're not human..." She paused, waiting for the girl's response to this information. She had expected the girl to deny it outright, but no resistance came. "Not fully human anyway. Your mother was human, and that makes you part, but your stronger half is not..." Again, she paused. Still, the girl offered no response at all. Aside from her breathing, she barely moved. Zelas wondered if she was even listening. "In your veins flows the blood of a very powerful monster, though, for the moment, it's best that you not concern yourself with who. He's not important. The fact was, only a handful of monsters knew you existed, not that we would normally care
since half breeds with most other beings always turn out to be mortals like their mortal parent. However, the ones who knew of your existence, Xellos being among them, quickly noticed of the power you possessed. Your monster blood was stronger then your human."
"Which was why we suppressed it and made sure you appeared to be human," Xellos commented.
Zelas glared at him, scowling as she added in, "And never once mentioned anything about your power to their lord, even lying to her when she asked." Xellos winced slightly. Good, she thought, He deserves some discomfort. "Which of course they are going to be paying a high price for later." She looked back at the girl and smiled again. "Though they kept a good eye on you and prevented harm from coming to you. There are monsters who are afraid of you, if you haven't figured out. This, a half breed like you, has never had power before and no is sure how strong you will get. This frightens most of them. Some of them want to kill you. No doubt you've been attacked many times in your life." The girl nodded. "And a wolf always protected you, didn't it?" The girl nodded again. "Yes, Syrin is a good girl, even when she's being used by others." Again she glared at Xellos briefly, while one hand gently stroked the alpha female again. "You've attracted a lot of attention lately, my dear
girl, now that you've been wondering around and the suppressor spells are wearing off."
"Shame you didn't just come with me when I bought you from that sniveling woman who had you when your mother died," Xellos grumbled. Xaina became a little more stiff.
Some of this new knowledge was shocking to Xaina and the girl needed some time to think about it, Zelas was certain of that. "You're safe here, child. Now, get some rest. You must be tired. Xellos, take her to your room and put her to bed. Return to me when you're done." She held the girl out.
Xellos easily took hold of the girl, cradling her close to him, and bowed. "Yes master." Then, he disappeared. When he was gone, she leaned on the plush arm of her chair, putting her chin in her palm, and sighed. There was still far too much planning to be done...
*****
Why exactly she had wanted Xaina in his room, Xellos wasn't sure, but he knew better then to question Lord Beastmaster. He gently set Xaina down on his soft bed covered in purple silk sheets. Xaina was still dazed from everything that had happened and made no attempts to try and run from him. Instead, she just sat there, motionless. He didn't like her like this. He was so use to seeing her happy, laughing, playing. Even if he got nothing from seeing her jumping around like a wild four year old should, he still preferred her that way.
Through all the years he had watched her, he had only once ever seen her like this before and that was when her mother had died. That had left a scar on the child that would last all her life. It was on that day that she had become so quiet and withdrawn much of the time. Lina had changed that somehow, even if not much. Being ripped from someone who cared so much for her again didn't seem fair. It's for the best, he tied to remind himself. She can't spend the rest of her life pretending to be human... especially with the suppressing spell breaking down. She needs training. She'll have time to play...just, later.
He brushed his fingers through her hair. "Here we are," he said softly, smiling as usual. He was hoping that might ease her fear. It didn't. "You don't mind sleeping in your clothes, do you? I think going back to Filia's to get some of your things might result in my death," he laughed.
"Then take me back," she whispered. Her voice held no emotion at all. It, somehow, sent a shiver down his spin to hear her so cold.
"I can't," he admitted in a more serious voice. He leaned down and looked carefully at her face with open eyes. "I know this is confusing, Xaina. I know you want to go back and stay with Lina and Gourry. You have no reason to want to leave them. They took good care of you. But you can't stay with them forever. You're not like them." She stared at him with expressionless eyes. "Don't worry," he smiled in his attempt to calm her. "You'll see them again real soon. We just have to work a few things out with the other monster lords. I promise. Once this is all taken care of, we'll go back and see them, and Filia too. Maybe we can rearrange that little shop of her's while she's sleeping..."
"I don't think she'd like that," Xaina commented, trying to suppress a smile.
"Of course she wont. That's why we should do it," he said a little more mischievously. "After all, I am the trickster priest. I can't just appear with out some mischief in mind." He picked her up and scooted her to the head of the bed. He unhooked her cape and tossed it over a chair in the corner. He pulled back some of the sheets and pulled them over her. "Now get some sleep."
"I'm not tired, though. It feels like the middle of the day even though it's dark out," she said, pointing to the glass door that led to the garden. Sure enough, it was dark. He'd forgotten about the time differences between the two places. She was right for not being tired. She had just had lunch no more then an hour ago.
"Then just lay there and be quiet," he sighed. "Think about what Zelas and I told you, ok?"
"Kay," she sighed, laying down. "Hey, Xellos?" she called just as he was about to leave.
"Yes?" he sighed.
"If monsters don't sleep, then why do you have a bed?"
Xellos smiled and twiddled a finger. "That's a secret." The he disappeared.
He reappeared in front of Lord Beastmaster and bowed, per usual. You never appeared before her without bowing unless you were another lord. He'd already been on thin ice with her for the past few weeks and he didn't need to cause anymore trouble...with her anyway. In one hand she held a glass of fine wine which she seemed to be studying.
"Is she asleep?" the monster lord asked.
"No, but she wont be a problem," Xellos replied, standing up again.
"Good. She needs to stay put."
There was a long silence and she took a sip of the wine. "You don't think they'll agree to you keeping her, do you?"
"Of course not!" she snapped. The recent events were wearing on her, though Xellos didn't know quite why. He knew she kept things from him and he was pretty sure she was keeping something very important this time. "Dolphin has never exactly gotten along with me, and well, we all know how Dynest will react. He already thinks we're all out to get rid of him, and knowing that you kept HER from them wont help. Then there's Vereus. The little twit doesn't know the first thing about anything. He's a poor replacement for Phabrizzo. I don't know how he was selected. He never even served under the over grown brat." She chuckled slightly to herself. "He even tried to kill her. Fool. Ignorant fool; that's all he is." She looked down at her priest. "They'll all try and claim her, you know."
"I know," he sighed.
"They'll take you're little toy." An evil smile spread over her face. "And what will you do when they try?"
"IF they try, then I'll just have to kill them," he answered without hesitation.
Lord Beastmaster laughed outright. "You will kill them? That's the most amusing thing I've heard in quite a while. And why would you TRY and kill them? YOU have nothing to gain from her life."
Xellos paused, thinking about his response. He really didn't know why he had thought he would do that. He knew he couldn't let any of the other lords have her, but then again, he didn't really like the idea of his own lord having control over her. He would not have brought her if he hadn't been forced. "I'm not sure," he finally answered. "I have little to gain from her life, true, but I can't let any lord have or kill her."
"Good," she sighed, looking back at her wine. "Make sure you keep it that way."
"Master...?"
"Don't let anyone have her." She took another sip of her wine. "I wont you to teach her to use her powers. Make sure she trusts you. I don't want her making any attempts to leave. If they should try and take her by force, they'll have the hardest time doing it here." She looked back at him with a cold, determined stare that sent a slight shiver through him. "DON'T let anyone harm her, Xellos. That's an order."
Now he was certain there was much more to this then she was letting on. "Yes master." He would settle for being in the dark, for now anyway. He would find out the rest on his own if she did not tell him. He always did.
"You can go. I need time to think...I only have two days...And so do you. She needs to be convincing..." she sighed, focused back on her wine again. He nodded and disappeared. "Only two days..." she repeated to herself.