It was a long
walk back to Sayruun, but they finally made it back. Filia had spent most of
the time looking over her shoulder. Most of the adults knew Xelloss was
following them, but they had yet to catch him. Xelia wasn't happy about what
her mom had told her. Filia had told her Xelloss was a Dark Knight, one who
pretended to be a real knight, but would lead her astray. Xelia really didn't
believe but had dropped it for now
The moment the
castle came into view, they saw something was wrong. "Where are all my guards?
They should be back by now!" Amelia said in a terse whisper. Lina looked up at
the nearby tower, just in time to see a shadow duck back down out of sight.
Come on guys." Lina made her way to the back. After she reached a sufficiently
deserted area, she grabbed Gourry and levitated over the walls. Filia,
Zelgadiss, and Amelia followed, taking the kids. The group made their way
quietly to the throne room. They felt kind of silly, sneaking around in a
completely empty castle, but they weren't taking any chances. Even the kids
were quiet. When they reached it Lina and Amelia peeked over the edge of the
wall. They saw Gaene talking to an unknown tall man with a large black
mustache. "So you give me the princess Amelia in exchange for this kingdom,
correct?" The man smiled darkly. Gaene nodded, "Of course."
***
"Oh it's nice to see you." She said, voice dripping sarcasm.
Her guest smiled sweetly, "The same to you." mimicking her tone of voice, she
settled her self on the velvet couches. "Xelloss, Be a dear and fetch us some
tea for me and our 'guest', will you?" the first woman sat down across from the
other. "Yes Zelas-Sama." Xelloss disappeared. "Cute subordinate you got there."
Her guest giggled, "Sometimes I think I should have gotten a guy too." As
Xelloss returned with a tray of hot tea, Zelas leaned forward towards the other
girl, eyes narrowed, "What are you doing here anyway? Nobody has even heard
from you in years, Dolphin." Deep Sea Dolphin laughed, "Oh my dear sweet,
though naïve Zelas, Don't you know?" Zelas swallowed, but kept her mask of
indifference on, "Why no, Dolphin, do explain?" She did nothing but laugh
again, "You're not needed anymore Xelas, and you know it. Shabby-Sama? Gaav?
Phibby? You're just next in line babe. L-Sama tires of you." "We all meet all
fall eventually." Xelas examined a nail, "Even you, Miss high and mighty."
"We'll see." Dolphin shrugs, and then stands up, "It's been a lovely chat, but
I've told you all I wanted too. Goodbye." She waves, and then blows a kiss to
Xelloss, "I'm gonna miss you cutie, ta!" she disappears. Xelas clenches a fist,
"Witch." "So what are we going to do, Xelas-Sama?" Xelloss asked. Zelas shakes
her head, "Fight til the end. Dolphin doesn't know we have aces up our
sleeves." She smiles grimly.
***
"So that's your
husband that just sold you out for the kingdom, Amelia?" Zelgadiss Asked.
Amelia didn't answer. Meanwhile Gaene's
conversation was ending quickly. The group made their out of there, and into
the banquet hall. Lina picked up a turkey leg and bit into it. "So *Munch* what
are we *Chew* going to *Swallow* Do to him Amelia?" Amelia sighed, "I don't
know. He's my husband for L-sama's sake! What am I supposed to do?" "We could
just get rid of the guy he's dealing with." Gourry said. "But he might just
turn around and make a deal with someone else." Filia said. "What I want to
know is, what's his plan?" Lina muttered. Amelia turned a quizzical look to
her, "He wants the kingdom…" "Well if that's all he wanted, all he had to do was
make sure Phil and Tenya had an accident while they're away. And then get rid
of you sometime later. While go through all this trouble?" Lina ended. "He has
something else in mind." Xelloss said, appearing beside the small group.
"Really? What then? Tell us." Zelgadiss glares at him. "Now what would be the
fun in just telling you?" Xelloss asked innocently. "Listen you-" He grabs the
front of Xelloss threateningly. "Ah ah ha." He wags a finger at Zel, "You can't
kill me, Dolphin-San would not appreciate that much." "Dolphin? As in Deep Sea
Dolphin?" Lina cuts in. "Who?" Gourry asked, but nobody was paying attention to
him. "Yes, of course." Xelloss smiles, opening one eye. "Don't tell me, another
Mazoku lord is ready to unleash destruction upon the world? Can't they wait
until I'm dead?" she demands angrily. "Not, I'm afraid that's not quite it
Lina-San." With that statement, he disappears, leaving Zelgadiss' hands empty.
****
"He came to
visit!" Xelia whispered excitedly to the other kids. "I don't think the
grown-ups like him much…" Valgaarv says doubtfully. "I don't care. I love him
and I'm gonna marry him!" His little sister exclaims, clutching her hands to
her chest. "How r'mantic!" Amanda sighs, "Can I be the flower girl, like I was
at grandpa's wedding?" Xelia nodded enthusiastically, "And your brother can be
the ring bear too!" "What about me?' Gina puts her hands on her hips. "You can
be the bridemaid!" Gregory and Val looked at each other, "Girls…" The parents
walked over and picked up their kids, Just as Gaene walked in. They stopped and
looked at him. Gourry put his hand on the hilt of his sword, and Lina readied a
spell. Gaene looked back at them. "Hi daddy!" Amanda exclaims, breaking the
tense silence. "Hi Amanda." He smiles and ruffles her hair.
***
"Why is
everyone so quiet? Could they know?" Gaene thought, staring at each quiet
hard face around him. As if to answer his silent question, Lina spoke up,
"Don't try anything. We know Gaene." Instead of looking guilty, or making a run
for it, or trying to fight them, oddly enough he broke into a smile, "Thank
goodness, That means I don't have to explain what's going on." "Oh no you still
have to explain." Zelgadiss grabbed his arms and pinned them behind his back,
"How could you sell out your own wife?" he demanded. Gaene's mouth opened, but
no words came out. The man he was seen talking with walked in then, cutting off
conversation. "So you told them? What a turn coat you are." The man didn't seem
angry, just amused. "No of course not." Gaene spat, "They were spying." "Ah."
The man nodded, "I see." "Who are you?" Amelia asked. "Elerot." "Why do you want Amelia?" Gourry now had his
sword pulled out, ready to use it on either Elerot or Gaene. "I don't think
that's any of your business." He answered shortly, still with that annoyingly
calm voice. "Fire Ball!" Lina shouted. It smashed into the doorframe beyond,
The man had disappeared. "Lina! My door! Amelia shrieked. Lina rolled her eyes,
"Amelia we have more important things to deal with." Lina makes a gesture at
Gaene, still held hostage by Zelgadiss. Amelia sighs, "Let him go Zel." Gaene
stumbles forward, as Gourry ushers the kids out, but to their disappointment.
"Mommy? What happened to Daddy?" Amanda asked fearfully. "Mommy just needs to
have a talk with him." Amelia soothes, as the kids leave. "Throw him in the
dungeon, until we deal with Elerot." He then said, turning back to the adults.
"But-" Gaene looks at Amelia, whos glares evenly back at him, "I don't think
there is any argument you could make for yourself." He drops his head, and says
only one thing, "I'm sorry…"
***
"This is 'aful"
Amanda sniffled, ignoring her brothers attempts to calm her down, "Mommy hates
Daddy!" she burst into a fresh bout of tears. The kids had stuck their ears to
the door to listen in, and hadn't liked what they heard. "I can't b'live it."
Gregory muttered, "The dungeon.." he sniffled also. "What's a dungeon?" Xelia
asked, fidgeting uncomfortably beside the 2 crying kids. "It's a big, stone,
dark place. And it's where Mommy and Grandpa put people who are bad." Gregory
says, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "But what did your daddy do?" Xelia looked
bewildered. "Baka." Val muttered, Why weren't you listening?" Xelia shakes her
head, "I was watching for Knight Xelloss. He was watching over me the whole
time we were walking back to Seyruun you know." She smiles. Val put his hands
on his hips, " But you're always supposed to listen when grown-ups are talking
about important stuff." "Oh." Xelia tucks that way in her mind for future
reference. Amanda sniffles again, "We'll see Daddy again won't we?" Val patted
her shoulder, "Of course. He probably didn't even do anything." Amanda rubs her
eyes and then hugs Valgaarv, "Thank you Val-chan!" Val sweatdrops. "Ok there.
See? You'll get your dad back and everyone will live happily ever after. You
can let go of Val" Gina grumbles, pulling lightly on Amanda's arm. Amanda let
go grudgingly, "But Val was just making me feel better, like the gentleman he
is." She smiled at him cheerfully. Val turned pink and Gina rolled her eyes.
***
Xelloss sighed as
he watched Amelia's guards throw her husband in jail. "They really have no
idea what's going on, do they?" he thought with a queer smirk. I really
should help them along, shouldn't I?" Then what Dolphin said came back to
him with a shiver. This was no time to push Lina-tachi down the right road. He
had things to do, and not much time left to do it in. he disappeared quietly,
but still one person, Just one person noticed him. "Xelloss, what are you up
too?" Filia thought, looking up at the space he had just vacated.
***
Elerot slit his
wrist and let a few crimson drops fall into the bubbling potion below. "Silly
fool, that Gaene. Leaving his own wife at my mercy…" he laughed as he healed
his hand carelessly. "And I don't even need him. I just need him out of the
way. Once I have Ms. Amelia, I can finish what I started too long ago…." He
laughed again, as a deep growl from the darkness beyond him echoed also…..
***
There. Nice cliffhanger
for you all right? I had such a writer's block for this chapter so it's all
written pretty hastily *sigh* The next chapter will be better I promise…^_^
Disclaimer:::: The
adults don't belong to me, and My kids exist in a world not of my own either,
so please don't sue. I have a handful of change, and I don't think that'll
bribe me out of anything *sweatdrop*
