Chapter 2: The New Place
Sunlight streamed down on the teen's face. She was laying belly down in the dirt on the side of the road, her face turned to the side. Blood from a cut on the underside of her arm and from a cut on her shoulder mingled with the dirt. As the warmth of the sun warmed her, she stirred slightly. The sound of footsteps and distant yelling assaulted her ears. Her eyelids flickered open, revealing large brown eyes flecked with green and gold highlights. Blood was matted in her pale brown/gold hair. She felt a sharp pain in her arm and she smiled faintly. Pain meant she was alive. Although, that might not have been a good thing. Why was she still alive? Hadn't she wanted to die? Did she still want to be alive? She groaned as the pain became more prominent and not as pleasant.
It was then she realized that she wasn't laying on her bed, in her nice, cluttered bedroom. She was in the dirt, the trunks of trees and shrubbery in her blurry line of sight. Those noises were getting closer, she registered. She tried to get up, but pain shot through her body. She passed out.
***
Lina Inverse was yelling. Not that that was unusual. In fact, it was a very normal occurrence. And it also wasn't surprising to whom she was yelling at. The Mazoku was turning an interesting shade of red at the colorful language Lina was using to describe him, his habits, his future, and his ancestors. Normally it wouldn't have bothered him, but he was distracted by a disturbance in the astral plane. It was some unknown presence, one he had never encountered or heard of, and Lina's yelling was breaking his concentration. The new presence had been heralded by a strange burst of a blood red, brilliant aura and some sort of a vortex.
"Lina!" Xellos's voice was sharp. Lina stopped, her jaw dropping in surprise. She started to say something, but was cut off when Xellos put his hand over her mouth. Lina scowled and bit his hand. Xellos grinned slightly, but didn't remove his hand. Then he caught it again. "It" was a powerful sense of despair and pain, followed by a whiff of self-loathing and loneliness. It was delicious. Xellos licked his proverbial lips, removing his bleeding hand from over Lina's mouth. The flesh healed quickly. It was coming from…there! Xellos popped out of existence. Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis, and Amelia stared for a minute, and then went on their way. They were used to Xellos popping up here and there. Odds were that he'd be back. Amelia looked over at Zelgadis.
"Did that seem a little bit…odder than usual to you, Mr. Zelgadis?"
"Yes." And that was the end of the discussion.
***
Xellos winked back into existence two feet from the unconscious girl. He smiled a not-very-nice smile. This was the girl, all right. Her aura had faded, not nearly as strong as it was before, but the hatred and the despair was still there. Briefly, she stirred, and her eyes flickered open, startling the Mazoku. He could see the extent of her injuries. Curiously, he noted that it seemed as if she had fallen from a great height. Her collarbone was broken, as well as her left leg. There were long scores across her upper arms and along a prominent vein. He doubted those were caused by the fall she had experienced. She looked young, maybe about fifteen or sixteen. Putting his mask of jolliness back on, Xellos picked the girl up and teleported.
***
Lina and company arrived at the only inn in Fergalum just as the sun was setting. Inside, they found Xellos sitting at a table, legs crossed and sipping a cup of tea. Lina stomped up to him.
"Just what was the meaning of leaving us out there? And the deal with you yelling at me! I'm the one who yells around here, not you!" Xellos smiled disarmingly and murmured,
"But, Lina-san! You know that is a secret." Lina fumed for a minute before suddenly grinning. Xellos felt unaccountably worried in that one minute.
"That's okay, Xellos, don't worry about it. I understand completely," she said, voice laden with sugary sweetness. Xellos opened one eye skeptically. "In fact!" she shouted across the restaurant, "Free drinks for everyone! My friend here's paying!" she finished, slapping the startled Xellos on the back. Zelgadis and Amelia sweatdropped as everyone in the restaurant cheered. Xellos looked like he was about to cry. Instead, he sighed heavily and turned to Amelia.
"Amelia-san? Could you do me a tiny favor?" Amelia blinked a few times before asking, genuinely puzzled,
"What can I possibly do for you, Xellos-san?"
"You," he said, pointing a gloved finger at her, "can heal people." Amelia blinked again. This day was just getting stranger and stranger.
"Why do you need me to heal?"
"It's not for me, it's for a friend of mine," he clarified. Well…I'm not lying. I'm sure that girl will end up being a friend, Xellos thought to himself.
"Well…" Amelia didn't want to leave anyone hurting, but she didn't exactly want to heal one of Xellos's friends. Xellos seemed to read her mind.
"If she is evil, then your Recovery Spell won't work on her," he reassured. Amelia nodded.
"I'll do it. Where is she?" Zelgadis listened to the conversation with only half an ear, that is, until Amelia agreed to it. She's such a bleeding heart, he mused.
"I'll come too," Zel announced. Amelia looked surprised, but Xellos didn't.
"What's the matter, big blue? Don't you trust me?" Zelgadis bristled, and replied,
"About as much as I trust Shabranigdo."
"I'm honored," Xellos replied dryly. Without further ado, he led the way up stairs to the inn's rooms. "She's in here." He opened the door ceremoniously and ushered in Amelia and Zelgadis.
On the room's single bed, a girl lay sprawled. Her clothes were unlike anything they had ever seen before. She wore wide pants that were too long and had many pockets. The material was undeterminable, and the hems were torn and ragged. Her shirt was torn, as if by branches, but there had been no original sleeves on the shirt, only thin straps. The material was cotton and dyed black. She wasn't wearing any boots or slippers.
"Is this her?" Amelia asked. She was pretty, with nearly white skin and a nice figure, but she was scarred all over and had considerable injuries.
"I should think that would be obvious," Xellos muttered, wondering as soon as he did what had gotten him in such a snappy mood. Zelgadis glared at him. Amelia went to the girl's side and began to cast a Recovery. Fortunately, it was enough to do the trick. Xellos watched as the girl's broken bones knitted together and the cuts healed.
"You might want to get a good healer, Xellos-san. I just cast a Recovery. I'm not entirely sure how she'll react to it, though it seemed to work. She looks like she's lost a lot of blood, but I'm not a true healer." Xellos smiled.
"I'm sure she'll be fine with some rest. Thank you, Amelia-san." Amelia smiled and waved goodbye.
"No problem," she said as she walked out the door and back down to the food. Zelgadis stayed for a minute later. Xellos took a chair and sat down by the bed.
"What could she possibly mean to you, Xellos?" Zelgadis asked coldly from the doorway. Xellos looked down at the girl, who had now passed into sleep, and he shrugged.
"That," he stated. "Is a secret." Zelgadis growled in frustration and walked out to join the rest of their little band. What, exactly, did she mean to him? He didn't even know her and her was, going around and asking people for favors. All he knew was the power he felt emanating from her. Besides, he thought with a snort, I'm a demon. I don't need reasons for helping her. He would bide his time, like he always did, and he would turn her to his side, and to the side of his Master.
***
I woke up after my little knife "accident," quite surprised to find myself still alive. I really hadn't wanted to kill myself. I don't relish going to Hell. At least, not by my own hand. I sat up and the memories began flooding back to me. This wasn't the first time I had woken up…the first time had been on a road. The second time, some guy had been looking at me. I had thought they were merely dreams. Maybe they were. I was a bit confused. I remembered the cuts and looked at my arms. They were healed. One scar went from the inside of my elbow, all the way to the top of my right arm. I wondered how long I had been out of it.
I looked around me. I was in a semi-comfortable bed, in a darkened room. Well, I sure as hell wasn't home. I noticed the man sitting in a chair next to the bed. He had silky purple hair with bangs that covered his eyes since his chin was touching his chest. A forked staff, with a ruby-type stone resting in the crook, rested next to him against the wall. His legs were crossed and his arms were folded across his chest. I had never seen anyone wear clothing like that before, even when I went to the Renaissance Fest. The man was asleep.
Well, this is my chance, I thought, gently pulling back the covers. My clothes were still on. That was a good sign. Carefully, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Good, no noise. I had nearly made it to the door when the man appeared in front of me, waging a finger.
"Now where do you think you're going?" I leapt back, startled. He had been in the chair…and now he was in front of me…my mind raced for a logical answer. During my hasty retreat, I tripped over my own feet and fell to the ground.
"Ah, shit!" I yelled. Yelling makes me feel better.
"Tsk, tsk. Such language from one so young." The man laughed at me. I hate it when people laugh at me. Unless I'm making a joke. I jumped back to my feet and looked around the room for anything I could use as a weapon. My eyes rested on the staff that the man had left leaning against the wall. If I could just make it over to the staff… I began edging towards it, talking to distract him.
"What do you care if I cuss?"
"I don't care." Oh, well, that didn't make any sense.
"Who are you, anyway?" The man wagged a finger at me and started to say something. He changed his mind, though and instead replied,
"Xellos."
"Just Xellos? No last name?" Cool name. I was almost at the staff. Just another inch and it would be behind me. There.
*** (POV change)
"Sore wa himitsu desu. What's your name?" Xellos was a bit peeved at having to ask. He had no idea who this girl was, and neither did his Master, which also upset him. She smirked at him and said mockingly,
"That is a secret."
*** (POV change)
The man, Xellos, looked at me, opening his eyes for the first time since we had met. I hadn't noticed he kept them closed until now. His eyes were frightening in themselves, being the color of his hair and having cat-like pupils.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Might be," I replied. Now was my chance. I turned and grabbed the staff. Power like I have never known shot through my arms. It was worse than the time when I got shocked by a lightening charge that hit our house, amplified by the metal door handle I had been holding onto. Lines of black and red energy streamed from the orb, creeping up my arms and soaking into my skin. I screamed. I didn't want to, but I did anyway. Then I struggled to move. It felt like needles, no, knives were stabbing me as I did so, but the staff was my only weapon.
"You idiot! Let go!" Xellos yelled, grabbing the staff from my hands, his face furious. I didn't faint. I thought I might, though. That blackness that tells you that you're losing consciousness started to creep around the edges of my vision, but I fought it. I looked down at my hands, expecting them to be blacked and burnt. They shook violently as I examined them, but they looked fine otherwise. Xellos grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me roughly. "You little fool! You could have killed yourself!"
"S-stop shaking me!" I tried to wrench loose, but my equilibrium seemed to be seriously messed up. Xellos stopped and looked at me, some unreadable expression in those odd purple eyes. "Besides," I muttered. "What do you care if I die?"
*** (POV change)
There was that question again. Why did he care if she died? The answer was simple. I don't care if she dies. She can die as soon as I figure out a way to tap into her power. And the silly girl wouldn't tell him her name. She was acting as stubborn as Lina, for the Beastmaster's sake!
But she had survived the power in his staff…sure it had shaken her up, but there was no other damage. That took power. Lots of power. Very, very interesting.
*** (POV change)
Xellos had the most interesting expression on his face. Now that he wasn't clutching my shoulders, I shook him off and made my way to the door.
"Where are you going? I thought we already went over this."
"We went over nothing," I spat. Then it occurred to me that maybe I was going about this the wrong way. I folded my arms across my chest and bowed my head. "I-I'm sorry I'm being so ungrateful," I sniffed. My eyes teared up appropriately. "It's just…I'm scared, Xellos. I don't know where I am and I want to know. I don't know you, or what's going on…" My voice trailed off and I looked up at Xellos. Both his eyes were open and he was laughing silently. It was a complete lie and he knew it.
"Don't lie, girl," he chided. "It's not becoming." I pouted and glared.
"I don't care whether or not it's becoming, Xellos." In a last ditch attempt, I whined, "Please let me go."
"We were going anyway. I was just waiting for you to hold still so I could give you some shoes. Shoes? I looked down. Sure enough. I hadn't any shoes. Oops, I forgot. Xellos concentrated briefly and black boots appeared around my feet. I cocked my head and wiggled my toes. The felt like good, comfortable leather boots. I lifted up my pants leg. The boots went as far as to just below my kneecap. I smiled in delight. Yea! I've always wanted boots like these! I genuinely smiled at Xellos.
"Thank you! They're beautiful." His eyes were closed and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ah, well…not a problem. Shall we go?" He bowed and held out his arm to me. I judged what I could see on his face and snorted.
"Now you're mocking me." He chuckled.
"You don't miss much, do you?"
***
Lina and Gourry were eating with their usual aplomb, Amelia not far behind. Zelgadis was drinking another cup of coffee and contemplating Xellos's sudden attachment to such an odd mortal. However, it was giving him a headache, so he stopped. Who knows why Xellos does what he does.
At that moment, the fruitcake in question exited the room he had rented earlier with the girl Amelia healed. The girl still had blood matted in her waist-long gold/brown hair, and she looked a little unsteady on her feet. They made their way down to the table, where Xellos held out a chair for the girl. She glared at him, but took it anyway.
"Who're you?" Lina asked, looking up from her meal. The girl hesitated for a moment before replying,
"Imbri. Who're you?" Lina wiped her hands on a napkin and then held out a hand to Imbri.
"Lina Inverse."
"Nice to meet you," Imbri replied, shaking.
"This pig here is Gourry," Lina said, motioning to the blonde. "This is Amelia." She pointed to the short girl. Next was the stone blue guy, "And that's Zelgadis."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Imbri murmured, on her best behavior. Xellos she could handle-but too many people at once, and it was better to be cautious. With a wicked grin, Lina asked,
"Do you want something to eat or drink? Xellos is paying!" Imbri shot him a look and nodded, a wicked grin on her face that mirrored Lina's.
"What do they have here? I think I could use a good, stiff drink." The waiter came and Imbri ordered sake , which she had never had before. Hell, looks good to me, she thought.
*** (POV change)
A few drinks later, my face was green from watching Lina and Gourry inhale so much food. I doubted if I ate that much in a month. Vaguely, I wondered how they could afford to pay for it all. Then, another thought hit me. I still didn't know where I am. It didn't feel or look like any place I had ever been. I looked around me and couldn't find any signs indicating where I was. Then I turned to Xellos, who was sitting next to me and sipping a cup of tea. On any guy I knew, this gesture would have looked ridiculous or gay, but on Xellos…it seemed to fit. Odd. Briefly, I wondered how much alcohol sake contained. I've never been drunk before.
"Xellos?" I said, hoping I wasn't slurring.
"Yes, Imbri-chan?" I didn't recognize the suffix, so I didn't comment on it.
"Where are we?"
"Why, we are in an inn, Imbri-chan. I thought you knew that." I glared at him.
"I know that. Where's the inn?"
"That-" I cut him off by grabbing him around the neck.
"Don't you dare say it! Now gimme a real answer."
"Ack! Are you sure you're not related to Lina?" he muttered before answering, "We're in Fergalum." I blinked.
"Where's that? I've never heard of it."
"It's in the Greaci Province."
"Never heard of that, either." Xellos's curiosity was piqued. He'd try a more well known place.
"How about Seyruun?"
"Nope."
"What about the Katahto Mountains?"
"Negative." Xellos frowned. It began dawning on me that I had never, ever heard any of these places. And I considered myself fairly well informed on my world geography. Then it hit me. My world. This wasn't my world. "Oh. Shit."
"You did it again!"
"Did what?"
"Foul mouth," Xellos replied, tone teasing.
"Pansy," I shot back. "Don't mess with me, now. I have to think." And think I did. I wasn't in my bed. Or my home. Or my country. Even more strange was that I wasn't dead, despite the fact that I had cut a major vein. The worst thing was that I didn't know how I got here.
Then, another thought dawned on me. I didn't have to go home. There was no Mom, no Dad here. A new chance, maybe.
*** (POV change)
Xellos watched with interest at the way Imbri thought. Her brow furrowed, she stuck out her lower lip and chewed on it, and she began to crack her knuckles. Her eyes widened, and Xellos wondered what, exactly, she was thinking about. Then, a minute or so later, her face broke out into a radiant smile as if a very pleasant thought occurred to her. Joyousness radiated from her, but that underlying current of darkness was still there, just biding it's time. Imbri looked back up at Xellos, her eyes bright.
"Have you thought?" he asked archly. She just smiled.
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" Xellos sighed. She was good. Very good. He'd have to be careful around her.
***
The next morning dawned bright and cheery. Imbri found herself waking, eager to discover what this new world held for her. She would have to get some new clothes if she was going to fit in. She wondered if Xellos could conjure up some for her, or transform her old ones. But she found that she'd rather keep the clothes she had, if only for the memories. Imbri certainly wasn't going to let on that she wasn't from here. She'd have to buy some maps to figure out the layout of the land. Where would she get the money, though? Her mind lingered on the idea of somehow conning Xellos into paying for it. That's what she would do. That's funny, she thought. I don't remember coming to bed last night. She looked down at herself under the sheets. I'm still wearing my clothes; that's good. Imbri got up and put on her boots, yawning as she did so. She made her way over to the door and walked out, stretching as she did so. Lina was already downstairs, calmly eating a bowl of porridge. Apparently, the competition didn't begin until Gourry came down. Imbri ordered a cup of coffee and a small stack of pancakes.
"Morning, Lina," she murmured.
"Morning, Imbri," Lina muttered in return. Neither one was very good about mornings. Imbri downed most of her first cup after adding sugar and milk, then, slightly more alert and comprehending, she asked Lina,
"Do you know where I could get some clothes? I feel a bit out of place, with these on." Amelia had come down and heard the question.
"Oh, Imbri-san, Lina-san! Why don't we go shopping today?" Lina looked up, interested.
"Well, since Xellos paid for last night," she smirked at the thought. "We could take a day off and just goof off. We should have enough. Besides, it's not like we have anywhere to go right now. There's kind of a lull." Imbri smiled.
"That would be fun. Has anyone seen Xellos?"
"At your service," a familiar voice said behind her. Imbri jumped, startled, and wrapped her fingers around Xellos's throat.
"Don't do that!" Lina laughed at the sight, while Amelia reprimanded her.
"Imbri-san! That's not nice!"
"Amelia," Lina said, exasperated. "It doesn't matter if it's nice or not…it's justice!" There. Lina had said it…the magic word. Amelia's eyes went starry and she began one of her "glorious" speeches about justice and righteousness. Xellos, Lina, and Imbri ignored her.
"So, Xellos…" Imbri began, "You wouldn't have to have any money left after last night, would you?" Xellos just smiled.
"That is"-
"Xellos."
"Nope. Sorry. All broke." He held up his hands in defeat.
"I have money," Lina interjected up. "I'll pay for you, Imbri. You can make it up to me later." Imbri looked at Lina skeptically.
"By doing what?"
"Helping out with the business, of course."
"Which is?" Lina blinked, looking surprised.
"You've never heard of me?" Imbri shook her head.
"She's Lina Inverse. Bandit-killer, Dragon-spooker…"
"I still don't know how I got that 'Dragon-spooker' title," Lina muttered under her breath as Xellos continued on dramatically.
*** (POV change)
I held my breath. This was too good. A bandit-killer? Dragons? Wow. Life is going to be a lot more interesting from now on. Gourry, the blonde guy who ate as much as Lina, stumbled down the stairs. Lina noticed and a glint appeared in her eyes. She motioned the waiter over and began ordering on earnest.
"Um…Lina, remember to save some money for shopping," I murmured to her. She nodded and then ordered everything on the right side of the menu. I began to feel sick. I looked at the waiter, who was leaving, looking a little green himself. "Excuse me, sir." He looked at me and my breath caught in my throat. He was gorgeous. Oh, wow, I thought to myself. What a hunk. "Could you tell me if there's a place where I can shower around here?" The waiter, whose badge identified him as Seth, smiled and nodded, giving me directions. I melted into a puddle of goo. Then I remembered that I wasn't home. I could flirt and not worry about the repercussions… I got up and winked at him, acting as flirtatious as I knew how. The appreciative look I received from Seth told me that my efforts weren't wasted. I smirked and sauntered off to where the baths were located.
*** (POV change)
Xellos watched Imbri flirt shamelessly with the waiter after she had asked directions to the baths. Then he watched as she sauntered over to the baths, her hips swaying gently and provocatively. Xellos raised an eyebrow. This is going to be interesting, he thought. She was pretty. And its not like there were any rules against personal relationships. It might, provided they turn her to their side, cause some problems later, but that was expected. Everything has its price. She looked like she might be worth it. Xellos smiled and sipped his tea to hide it. She's got spunk, too, he thought, remembering the way she mocked him so blithely and tried to strangle him. Her emotions were delicious…Yep. There were definitely too many plus sides to this relationship to let it slip by.
***
I slipped into the hot bathing pool, letting the soothing water wash over my body. The blood that still streaked my body began to wash away and I went to work scrubbing it out of my hair. Twenty minutes later, I was as clean as one soak could get me, and all of the blood was out of my hair. Satisfied, I got out and dried off, drying my hair as best as I could with the provided towel. I had to settle for putting on my dirty clothes because I was much to big for either Lina's or Amelia's extra clothes. As I zipped up my pants, a voice behind me announced,
"Here, this should fit." I jumped nearly ten feet into the air, whirling around as I did so.
"Xellos!" I screamed. Then I crossed my arms across my chest since I was only wearing my bra. Xellos handed me a clean shirt. I scowled, heart still racing from the shock. "Turn around, you pervert," I growled. Xellos obliged and I quickly pulled the shirt over my head and settled it properly.
"Done yet?"
"Yes," I muttered. The shirt was too big and too long, but it was soft and comfortable.
"Would you like me to shrink it?"
"NO! I like it big; it's cozy," I murmured in explanation. Xellos raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything else. I continued to glare, but followed him back to the main inn. "Have Lina and Gourry finished their little…" I struggled for a word, which Xellos supplied.
"…Chow down?" I nodded, feeling green just thinking about it. We walked for a minute more in silence before Xellos asked, "So, how did you get those scars all over your body?" I stopped walking and blinked. He had seen those? "How did you get the scars?" he asked again. My smile turned wistful and I looked fondly at my left wrist and hand.
"I gave them to myself. How else?" Xellos nodded. He had obviously thought as much.
"And the one on your right arm? The one that goes along your vein?" I shrugged.
"What can I say? The knife slipped."
*** (POV change)
I could sense what she was hiding. Those pent up emotions were raging again, feeding me well. She was a masochist. How fitting. She had tried to kill herself, saying it was an accident…interesting. Her mask was a good one. She must have been doing this for years. It was almost as good as mine. So cheerful and happy on the outside-a complete mess on the inside. It was slowly killing her and she knew it. She was miserable.
Xellos. I winced slightly. My master was calling me. Come here for a minute, dearie. I've got a new assignment for you. I bowed my head and gave Imbri an apologetic smile.
"I'll be back. My master calls." Then I disappeared, leaving a staring Imbri by herself.
*** (POV change)
He just disappeared. I stared in shock. I suppose I had suspected it before, but the fact that magic was a reality here finally began to sink in. I should have noticed when he made those boots appear on me… This world was magical. I wondered if any of my new companions, other than Xellos, possessed magic. I broke into a run to find Lina and Amelia. Shopping with them in this world brought a new light to my life. I nearly slammed into them rounding a corner.
"Hey, Imbri! We were looking for you. Come on, let's go," Amelia shouted excitedly. Lina was with her, looking full and happy, eager for a good bout at the market. I smiled-a genuine smile that was free of any hidden malice or hatred. I caught up with them and we made our way to the town's surprisingly extensive market place. Neither one of them commented on my change in shirts.
***
"Ooh, look at this!" Imbri exclaimed, holding up a pair of forest green breeches. Lina and Amelia came over and admired them. Lina glared up at the stall owner.
"How much?"
"2 silvers."
"Two??!!" Lina spat out in disgust. "I'll give you half a silver."
"Half! Look at this fine stitching. I'll go as low as one and a half, but only because you're pretty." Lina grew red and sputtered.
"Half a silver! No more. Look at this discoloring! What a shoddy dye job…is this a stain? Half a silver is pushing it, buster. Fancy stitching doesn't make up for this pitiful job." Lina crossed her arms and gave a discreet wink to Amelia and Imbri. The stall keeper looked flustered, then he sighed in defeat.
"Half a silver, it is, then." He spit in his hand and held it out. Lina spit in hers and they shook. Then she handed over the half-silver piece and handed the breeches to Imbri. Imbri looked at them incredulously.
"They don't look like anything is wrong with them," she mused thoughtfully, turning them over in her hands.
"That's because there isn't anything wrong with them. That's just the way to barter. By giving us such a good deal, he'll count on us to spread the word about his good prices and fine clothing." Amelia nodded wisely. She had been shopping with Lina countless times.
"Now let's say we find you a tunic to go with those beautiful pants." Amelia marched down the aisles, keeping out an eagle eye for the same shade. It was Amelia who found a perfect color match in a style that Imbri adored. They never sold things like this where she came from. It was a forest green leather bodice/shirt with sleeves that could be taken off, a laced up front, and a very short silver skirt with a slit in it. The skirt was actually more like a loincloth, but with the pants to go under it, it was perfect in Imbri's eyes. With her new boots, she would look more like she fit in here.
"Window" shopping prevailed for a time after that. Then Lina spotted the right stall. Without a word, Lina grabbed Amelia and Imbri's arms and dragged them into the back of it. It sold a smith's wares. Knives and all other types of weapons adorned the canvas walls.
"Now," Lina whispered to Imbri. "We're hear to find you a weapon you feel comfortable with. Look around and find something you could use in a fight." Imbri nodded seriously. Immediately, she went for the knives. There was a wide selection. Imbri's eyes gleamed with a light that had nothing to do with the forge that was set up in the tent. Then she saw it. It was a small dagger that was as nearly as wide as her forearm. The hilt cross-guard was silver and the hilt was wrapped in a braided rope of silver and gold. An emerald sat in the pommel, glinting dangerously. Reverently, Imbri drew the blade from it's black leather sheath and ran the blade along her forearm. It parted the skin easily, leaving a trail of blood beading up behind it. The grip felt right as she held it tightly. "Is that it?" Lina's voice said from her elbow. Imbri jumped, nearly cutting off a finger as she did so.
"Yes," she breathed. "This is it. If I could get this…I will pay you back in full and more. I swear it." Lina nodded seriously.
"It'll cost a pretty silver, that's for sure. But…" Lina trailed off. The knife was right somehow.
Twenty minutes later, Lina and Imbri came out of the stall, Imbri clutching the knife close to her chest protectively. Zelgadis and Gourry had been watching the girls from the inn's dining room.
"I don't think I've seen Lina that happy in a long time," Gourry said slowly, referring to Lina's happy expression as she bartered for Imbri's things. Zelgadis nodded.
"She's not even yelling at anyone."
"Wow."
***
"Mother? You rang?" Xellos looked up from kneeling at Juu-ou's feet. The woman took a drag of her cigarette and motioned for him to stand up.
"You know I don't like you doing that, Xel. Makes me feel old." Xellos stood up and smiled at Xelas.
"What did you want to speak with me about?"
"Would you care for a glass of wine?"
"Mom, you're hedging again." Xelas sighed.
"I never could fool you, could I?" Xellos shook his head. The woman got off her throne and began to pace, her white hair billowing slightly as she walked briskly back and forth. "This girl you found…Imbri. I can't find anything on her. No one has ever heard of her, yet you said yourself she's extremely powerful. She's not on the astral plane any longer-the only time I sensed her there was when she first showed up. Just a big red flash and then nothing!" Xelas threw her hands up into the air in frustration. "I just don't understand! You say she doesn't know that you're Mazoku? If she has that much power, how come she can't tell?"
"Mom, you're asking rhetorical questions again."
"I can't help it! I'm confused."
"Well…do you want me to try and turn her to our side? Perhaps her power just needs to be awakened or something. When that flash appeared, she was near death." Xelas perked up.
"Really? What happened?"
"She tried to kill herself. I don't know why it didn't work. When I found her she had lost a lot of blood."
"Hm. Turning her to our side seems to be the best option right now." She fixed her gaze on Xellos, making sure he was paying strict attention to her. "You are going to lead Lina and her gang on a nice little quest for Power-Enhancing jewels. A necklace, earrings, and a circlet, to be precise. Now, I will see to it that they only work for Imbri. Perhaps the rudimentary ability to use magic will spark something that will allow us to tap into that energy we saw on the astral plane. You'll find them near Zephilia."
"Zephilia? Lina's home country?"
"Yes. Luna's there. She still terrifies Lina." Xelas laughed.
"Are you two still friends?"
"Are you prying, Xellos?"
"No ma'am," he replied with a little grin. Xelas looked at him disbelief in her reproachful gaze.
"Right. Uh-huh. You can go, now." Xellos turned to leave, but was halted when Xelas's voice rang out. "Oh, and Xellos?"
"Yes?" He turned to look at her.
"Use whatever means you deem necessary to turn her to our side. Catch my drift?" Xellos grinned wolfishly.
"Yes, mother." With that, Xellos teleported back to the inn. Xelas watched him go, a thoughtful expression on her face. She shrugged it off and took a sip of her red wine.
***
Xellos was shocked when he got back to the inn, though he certainly didn't show it. Imbri had been shopping, he noted. He also noted her figure and her legs were very shapely in the dark green leggings and tight shirt she now sported. She was wearing the boots he had given her and had her waist-length hair pulled into a braid that draped over her left shoulder. A silver skirt was attached to the shirt. Imbri's aura was happy for the first time.
"Xellos! Welcome back!" Imbri said, running over to him. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him over to the table where everyone was eating lunch.
"Hi. I see you've been a busy little bee today." Imbri laughed and twirled around, model style and struck a pose.
"Ta-da!" Xellos grinned and turned to Lina.
"Didn't you get anything for yourself, Lina-san?"
"No, Xellos, I didn't. Where did you disappear to this morning?"
"That is a secret." Lina growled and Imbri glared. "However," he added, "I know of something that might interest you, Lina. There are two power-enhancing jewels located near Zephilia."
"Hey, isn't that where you grew up, Lina?"
"Wow, Gourry! I'm surprised you remembered!" Lina beamed at him and Gourry felt his face grow warmer, though he wasn't sure why.
"Are you going to go, Lina-san?" Amelia asked.
"For power-enhancing jewels? Of course I'm going to go!"
"But what about L"-Zelgadis was cut off as Amelia slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Ix-nay on the Una-Lay, Elgadis-Zay," she hissed. Zelgadis shut up.
"We start tomorrow!" Lina announced dramatically.
***
Later that night, Imbri was sitting up in her inn room. She had folded her old clothes and packed them away in a knapsack that Amelia had given her. A cup of lukewarm, bordering cold tea sat on the dresser. As she went for the tea, she felt pressure on her shoulders. She jumped and then stiffened.
"Xellos?"
"That's me." Imbri looked over her shoulder and glared at him.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Sorry, Imbri," he apologized, not sounding the least bit contrite. Imbri grabbed her cup from the dresser and sat down on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Xellos sat at the foot of the bed, placing his staff against the wall and crossing his long legs Indian style. Imbri smiled at him and took a gulp of her cold tea. Xellos noticed.
"Cold tea?"
"Yeah. It would be better if I had some ice, but that's all right."
"Why not drink it hot?" Imbri shrugged.
"I'm too lazy to ask for more. Besides, after what Lina spent on me today, I'm certainly not going to complain about anything or spend any more of her money than I have too."
"I'll do it," Xellos said. He sent a little tendril of heat and wrapped it around the bottom of the mug. It heated up quickly. Imbri watched in awe.
"How do you do that?"
"Sore wa him"-Xellos was cut off by a warning look. "Magic," he amended. Imbri's eyes were serious and she nodded.
"I thought so. It's different hearing someone else say it."
"Are you afraid of magic?" Imbri looked up, indignant.
"I'm not afraid of anything." Xellos opened his eyes and leaned closer to Imbri.
"Oh really?"
*** (POV change)
Xellos leaned closer to me, his eyes open and unblinking. I could feel my heart begin to beat faster. Our noses were nearly touching and his breath was warm on my face. I realized I wasn't breathing at all. I inhaled sharply. Of course, I promptly forgot to exhale. For what seemed like an eternity, we stayed like that. Then Xellos closed his eyes and broke the spell.
"You're not breathing," he said cheerfully, leaning back to his original position. I glared at him, not really wanting to say anything. "Ah, it seems I've upset you."
"No. You haven't upset me," I said with a sigh. Damn. Out of one confusing world and into another one just as confusing.
"Well, I've got something to cheer you up," Xellos said, standing. He reached into the leather pouch that hung around his shoulder. Then he pulled out something long and black, presenting it to me with a small bow. I took it, curiosity aroused. It was a soft, black leather belt. I examined it and then stood up and put it on hastily. It was beautiful.
"Where did you get this?" I asked him, eyes wide.
"That is a secret." He held up a hand to ward off my teasing blow. "However, look right here." He gently touched my left hip. I stiffened a bit. "Do you see this hole in the leather?" I lifted my arm and peered down at my hip. Sure enough, there was a break in the leather. "The belt is actually two pieces of leather sewn together. They left this gap in the stitching so that a knife's belt clip would fit securely in here." From nowhere, my new knife appeared in his hand. He lifted the clip and began to slide it onto the belt.
"I can do that myself, you know," I snapped. I was getting nervous.
"I'm sure you can." He finished attaching the belt clip to the belt and stood back to admire it. "Very nice."
I looked into the room's mirror. The belt was a little big, so it settled low on my hips. The weight of the knife made it lopsided. All in all, it was a rather nice effect. I smiled at him, more than a little puzzled.
"Why did you give this to me?" Xellos shrugged, still grinning.
"What can I say? It was something I just had lying around. I thought you might like it. You do, don't you?"
"Do what?" I tore my gaze away from the full-length mirror to look at him.
"Do you like it, little Miss Vain?"
"Vain? Me?" I asked in mock surprise. "Certainly not." After a minute more, I added seriously, "I do like it. A lot. Thank you, Xellos." After another moment's hesitation, I threw my arms around him and gave him a quick hug. Xellos was the one to stiffen under my touch this time. It only lasted for a minute before I let go, but he was much more tense than he had been before.
***(POV change)
"Is anything wrong?" Imbri asked me, her tone worried. I couldn't believe that I froze up like that. No one had hugged me since I was human. Including Juu-ou. Usually I was the one doing the touching. But such a simple gesture… I shook my head at her, grinning once again.
"No, you just surprised me, that's all." To my surprise, Imbri laughed. It was a nice sound.
"Me? Surprise you?" She kept laughing, apparently finding it extremely funny. She doubled up and clutched her stomach. Pain was radiating from her and she knew it, but apparently, that just made it funnier. Eventually it subsided, but she would look at me and keep giggling a little. "You must think I'm crazy," she said once she had calmed down enough to speak without bursting into another fit of giggles. Her voice was bitter, surprising me again with her rapid change in moods.
"No, I don't," I said soothingly. She looked at me suspiciously.
"Right. Your eyes tell me different." I opened one eye to peer at her.
"My eyes were closed."
"Well that one isn't and it says you think I'm nuttier than a pecan tree." I opened both of my eyes.
"Pecan tree?" Imbri's eyes shot wide open.
"Figure of speech where I come from."
"And just where do you come from?" I asked advancing on a retreating Imbri.
"Just a little nowhere town that's not even big enough to be a village. More like a group of houses, really." She was getting nervous. Even Gourry would have been able to tell she was lying. I had come to a dilemma. Either I could press her for information and risk alienating her, or I could play it safe and risk Juu-ou's wrath for not finding out all I could. I decided to play it safe. Juu-ou had said to use whatever means…
"Oh. Perhaps you'd take me there someday?"
"Perhaps I will," Imbri replied, relief evident on her face. I decided that nothing more could be done tonight, so I turned to go. "Wait!" she called. I turned and looked back at her.
"Yes?"
"Where's your room?" I smiled.
"This is." Imbri looked horrified for a moment, before a thought flashed through her mind. I could feel her aura changed briefly, but it returned to normal as she visibly shook her head to clear it.
"Well…where are you staying?" I shrugged.
"Here and there. Don't worry about it." Imbri moved in front of me, arms crossed in front of her chest. I eyed her…um, arms.
"I do worry about it," she snapped. "I feel guilty about stealing your room, especially after you've been so nice to me."
"Hey, I don't want you to feel obligated to me," I said, holding my hands up in defense.
"Well I do," she snapped again. A slightly pained expression flitted across her face before she looked at me apologetically. "Listen, I'm sorry about yelling. I didn't mean it. If you wanted…" she hesitated and looked at the floor, then focused her gaze on my face. I opened my eyes to give her my full attention. "Well, you could stay in here."
*** (POV change)
Oh, God. Did I just ask him to stay with me? Have I really lost it this time? These thoughts ran rampant through my mind. Consequences…You know what? I asked myself. I'm not home. Screw consequences!
"Well?" I asked again. Xellos smiled. Not that he had ever stopped…
"I believe I'll take you up on that offer." He leaned closer to me.
"Who gets the bed?"
*** (POV change)
Gods, seducing her was turning to be easier than I ever thought it would be. The loneliness was her prominent emotion when she replied,
"Well…" then it appeared that she realized what I was looking at. "My face is up here, Xellos," she muttered. "You get the floor tonight." I decided teasing would work in this situation.
"Aw…Imbri-chan! I'll be good, I promise!"
"But I might not be," she shot back, a grin on her face. "Tell you what, tomorrow night you can have the bed."
"We'll be on the road tomorrow night."
"Exactly."
*** (POV change)
Thank you, Lord, I silently prayed. Teasing I could deal with. Teasing sexual innuendo was something I was good at. This serious stuff…it made me nervous. I felt almost like Xellos could…I don't know…sense my moods or something. It was strange, but I was glad for it. I hadn't been joking about Xellos and I sharing a bed. I might not be a good little girl. I know myself well enough to be able to tell when that stupid romantic streak is beginning to rear it's fluffy pink head.
"Here." I tossed him one of the blankets on the bed. "Have fun!" I grabbed the shirt he lent me earlier, having decided to keep it. It saved me from having to buy a nightgown. Then I went down to the hall's bathroom. It was empty, thank goodness. I did my business and changed, finally making it back to my room for a good night's sleep…hopefully.
***
"Lina-san?"
"What, Amelia?" Lina was already sprawled out on the floor, it being Amelia's turn for the bed tonight.
"What do you think of Imbri-san?"
"Strange girl," Lina said after a minute of thought. "But she seems nice."
"Lina-san"-Amelia started to say but stopped, thinking better of it.
"What Amelia?"
"Nothing Lina-san. Good night."
"Night."
Amelia lay awake some time after that, thinking about what she had wanted to say. Her arm…Lina-san! You didn't see her arm's vein when I did. It was cut! She tried to kill herself, Lina-san! But she couldn't say it. It just wasn't right somehow…
***
Morning found Imbri in a surprisingly good mood, considering that she nearly stepped on Xellos when she got out of bed. Quickly, she dressed while he was asleep and went downstairs. Lina and Gourry had already begun inhaling their food. Amelia was quietly eating and Zelgadis was nursing his cup of steaming coffee. Imbri decided to join him in the coffee venture and was fixing her cup when a familiar voice announced in her ear,
"Don't you want some coffee in your sugar?" Startled, Imbri nearly dropped the cup, but recovered it just in time, screaming as she did so,
"XELLOS!!!! Don't ever do that!!!" Her eyes looked like fire as she pinpointed him with her glare. Xellos licked his lips. Tasty, tasty rage, he thought happily.
"Xellos-san! That wasn't very nice!" Amelia said, a small frown on her face. Xellos looked properly contrite.
"Gomen, Imbri-chan," he murmured in her ear. Imbri still wasn't sure about "-chan", but she nodded anyway.
"Fine. Just don't do it again," she growled.
"Of course not," he agreed. Imbri rolled her eyes.
"All right, folks!" Lina announced, standing up after polishing off a mountain of food. "Get your gear together-we leave in five minutes!"
Imbri took her leave and went back to her room. She surveyed her belongings-what she was wearing and what she had been wearing when she came here. The garments were all she had to link her back to her past. She thought about her mother and her father and wondered if they even missed her.
Probably not. They've got their hands full enough hating each other to even know I've gone. Besides, even if they did miss her she wasn't planning on going back. She'd never had this much freedom before. She felt hot hands caress her neck and shoulders and she stiffened.
"What are you thinking of, Imbri-chan?"
"Xellos!" she whined, turning to face him. "Please stop doing that!" He opened an eye and peered at her.
"Gomen, Imbri-chan."
"Right, I'm sure," she stuck out her lower lip and pouted. "You always say you're sorry, but you always sneak up on me again." Imbri crossed her arms and turned away from him. Xellos continued to peer at her from an eye, eyebrows raised. Imbri just pouted some more. Xellos decided it was time to make a move. Gently, he wrapped his arms around Imbri. Her narrowed eyes shot open in surprise and she reflexively flinched away. Xellos kept his hold on her, though. Laying his cheek against hers and resting his chin in her shoulder, he whispered,
"I am sorry, Imbri. I didn't know it upset you so much." His warm breath caressed her cheek and she tried to repress the shiver it sent through her body. Unsuccessfully tried, that is.
"I-i-it's okay," she managed to stutter. Xellos smiled, just out of Imbri's line of sight. He could feel her heart pounding, even as she willed it to slow down…unsuccessfully. If her heart could have seen her, she would have flipped it off. Imbri blinked, and Xellos could feel her long lashes brush his cheek, sending some strange and interesting feeling through him.
Then, as if the movement had broken some kind of spell, Imbri tugged Xellos's arms from around her and turned to face him fully, her face flushed. Xellos watched with detached interest the pulsing of a vein in the hollow of her throat. She took a deep breath and the pulsing slowed. "We should be going, Xellos," she said firmly.
"Of course." Imbri shouldered the small knapsack with her clothes and walked out of the door, Xellos directly behind her.
Sunlight streamed down on the teen's face. She was laying belly down in the dirt on the side of the road, her face turned to the side. Blood from a cut on the underside of her arm and from a cut on her shoulder mingled with the dirt. As the warmth of the sun warmed her, she stirred slightly. The sound of footsteps and distant yelling assaulted her ears. Her eyelids flickered open, revealing large brown eyes flecked with green and gold highlights. Blood was matted in her pale brown/gold hair. She felt a sharp pain in her arm and she smiled faintly. Pain meant she was alive. Although, that might not have been a good thing. Why was she still alive? Hadn't she wanted to die? Did she still want to be alive? She groaned as the pain became more prominent and not as pleasant.
It was then she realized that she wasn't laying on her bed, in her nice, cluttered bedroom. She was in the dirt, the trunks of trees and shrubbery in her blurry line of sight. Those noises were getting closer, she registered. She tried to get up, but pain shot through her body. She passed out.
***
Lina Inverse was yelling. Not that that was unusual. In fact, it was a very normal occurrence. And it also wasn't surprising to whom she was yelling at. The Mazoku was turning an interesting shade of red at the colorful language Lina was using to describe him, his habits, his future, and his ancestors. Normally it wouldn't have bothered him, but he was distracted by a disturbance in the astral plane. It was some unknown presence, one he had never encountered or heard of, and Lina's yelling was breaking his concentration. The new presence had been heralded by a strange burst of a blood red, brilliant aura and some sort of a vortex.
"Lina!" Xellos's voice was sharp. Lina stopped, her jaw dropping in surprise. She started to say something, but was cut off when Xellos put his hand over her mouth. Lina scowled and bit his hand. Xellos grinned slightly, but didn't remove his hand. Then he caught it again. "It" was a powerful sense of despair and pain, followed by a whiff of self-loathing and loneliness. It was delicious. Xellos licked his proverbial lips, removing his bleeding hand from over Lina's mouth. The flesh healed quickly. It was coming from…there! Xellos popped out of existence. Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis, and Amelia stared for a minute, and then went on their way. They were used to Xellos popping up here and there. Odds were that he'd be back. Amelia looked over at Zelgadis.
"Did that seem a little bit…odder than usual to you, Mr. Zelgadis?"
"Yes." And that was the end of the discussion.
***
Xellos winked back into existence two feet from the unconscious girl. He smiled a not-very-nice smile. This was the girl, all right. Her aura had faded, not nearly as strong as it was before, but the hatred and the despair was still there. Briefly, she stirred, and her eyes flickered open, startling the Mazoku. He could see the extent of her injuries. Curiously, he noted that it seemed as if she had fallen from a great height. Her collarbone was broken, as well as her left leg. There were long scores across her upper arms and along a prominent vein. He doubted those were caused by the fall she had experienced. She looked young, maybe about fifteen or sixteen. Putting his mask of jolliness back on, Xellos picked the girl up and teleported.
***
Lina and company arrived at the only inn in Fergalum just as the sun was setting. Inside, they found Xellos sitting at a table, legs crossed and sipping a cup of tea. Lina stomped up to him.
"Just what was the meaning of leaving us out there? And the deal with you yelling at me! I'm the one who yells around here, not you!" Xellos smiled disarmingly and murmured,
"But, Lina-san! You know that is a secret." Lina fumed for a minute before suddenly grinning. Xellos felt unaccountably worried in that one minute.
"That's okay, Xellos, don't worry about it. I understand completely," she said, voice laden with sugary sweetness. Xellos opened one eye skeptically. "In fact!" she shouted across the restaurant, "Free drinks for everyone! My friend here's paying!" she finished, slapping the startled Xellos on the back. Zelgadis and Amelia sweatdropped as everyone in the restaurant cheered. Xellos looked like he was about to cry. Instead, he sighed heavily and turned to Amelia.
"Amelia-san? Could you do me a tiny favor?" Amelia blinked a few times before asking, genuinely puzzled,
"What can I possibly do for you, Xellos-san?"
"You," he said, pointing a gloved finger at her, "can heal people." Amelia blinked again. This day was just getting stranger and stranger.
"Why do you need me to heal?"
"It's not for me, it's for a friend of mine," he clarified. Well…I'm not lying. I'm sure that girl will end up being a friend, Xellos thought to himself.
"Well…" Amelia didn't want to leave anyone hurting, but she didn't exactly want to heal one of Xellos's friends. Xellos seemed to read her mind.
"If she is evil, then your Recovery Spell won't work on her," he reassured. Amelia nodded.
"I'll do it. Where is she?" Zelgadis listened to the conversation with only half an ear, that is, until Amelia agreed to it. She's such a bleeding heart, he mused.
"I'll come too," Zel announced. Amelia looked surprised, but Xellos didn't.
"What's the matter, big blue? Don't you trust me?" Zelgadis bristled, and replied,
"About as much as I trust Shabranigdo."
"I'm honored," Xellos replied dryly. Without further ado, he led the way up stairs to the inn's rooms. "She's in here." He opened the door ceremoniously and ushered in Amelia and Zelgadis.
On the room's single bed, a girl lay sprawled. Her clothes were unlike anything they had ever seen before. She wore wide pants that were too long and had many pockets. The material was undeterminable, and the hems were torn and ragged. Her shirt was torn, as if by branches, but there had been no original sleeves on the shirt, only thin straps. The material was cotton and dyed black. She wasn't wearing any boots or slippers.
"Is this her?" Amelia asked. She was pretty, with nearly white skin and a nice figure, but she was scarred all over and had considerable injuries.
"I should think that would be obvious," Xellos muttered, wondering as soon as he did what had gotten him in such a snappy mood. Zelgadis glared at him. Amelia went to the girl's side and began to cast a Recovery. Fortunately, it was enough to do the trick. Xellos watched as the girl's broken bones knitted together and the cuts healed.
"You might want to get a good healer, Xellos-san. I just cast a Recovery. I'm not entirely sure how she'll react to it, though it seemed to work. She looks like she's lost a lot of blood, but I'm not a true healer." Xellos smiled.
"I'm sure she'll be fine with some rest. Thank you, Amelia-san." Amelia smiled and waved goodbye.
"No problem," she said as she walked out the door and back down to the food. Zelgadis stayed for a minute later. Xellos took a chair and sat down by the bed.
"What could she possibly mean to you, Xellos?" Zelgadis asked coldly from the doorway. Xellos looked down at the girl, who had now passed into sleep, and he shrugged.
"That," he stated. "Is a secret." Zelgadis growled in frustration and walked out to join the rest of their little band. What, exactly, did she mean to him? He didn't even know her and her was, going around and asking people for favors. All he knew was the power he felt emanating from her. Besides, he thought with a snort, I'm a demon. I don't need reasons for helping her. He would bide his time, like he always did, and he would turn her to his side, and to the side of his Master.
***
I woke up after my little knife "accident," quite surprised to find myself still alive. I really hadn't wanted to kill myself. I don't relish going to Hell. At least, not by my own hand. I sat up and the memories began flooding back to me. This wasn't the first time I had woken up…the first time had been on a road. The second time, some guy had been looking at me. I had thought they were merely dreams. Maybe they were. I was a bit confused. I remembered the cuts and looked at my arms. They were healed. One scar went from the inside of my elbow, all the way to the top of my right arm. I wondered how long I had been out of it.
I looked around me. I was in a semi-comfortable bed, in a darkened room. Well, I sure as hell wasn't home. I noticed the man sitting in a chair next to the bed. He had silky purple hair with bangs that covered his eyes since his chin was touching his chest. A forked staff, with a ruby-type stone resting in the crook, rested next to him against the wall. His legs were crossed and his arms were folded across his chest. I had never seen anyone wear clothing like that before, even when I went to the Renaissance Fest. The man was asleep.
Well, this is my chance, I thought, gently pulling back the covers. My clothes were still on. That was a good sign. Carefully, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Good, no noise. I had nearly made it to the door when the man appeared in front of me, waging a finger.
"Now where do you think you're going?" I leapt back, startled. He had been in the chair…and now he was in front of me…my mind raced for a logical answer. During my hasty retreat, I tripped over my own feet and fell to the ground.
"Ah, shit!" I yelled. Yelling makes me feel better.
"Tsk, tsk. Such language from one so young." The man laughed at me. I hate it when people laugh at me. Unless I'm making a joke. I jumped back to my feet and looked around the room for anything I could use as a weapon. My eyes rested on the staff that the man had left leaning against the wall. If I could just make it over to the staff… I began edging towards it, talking to distract him.
"What do you care if I cuss?"
"I don't care." Oh, well, that didn't make any sense.
"Who are you, anyway?" The man wagged a finger at me and started to say something. He changed his mind, though and instead replied,
"Xellos."
"Just Xellos? No last name?" Cool name. I was almost at the staff. Just another inch and it would be behind me. There.
*** (POV change)
"Sore wa himitsu desu. What's your name?" Xellos was a bit peeved at having to ask. He had no idea who this girl was, and neither did his Master, which also upset him. She smirked at him and said mockingly,
"That is a secret."
*** (POV change)
The man, Xellos, looked at me, opening his eyes for the first time since we had met. I hadn't noticed he kept them closed until now. His eyes were frightening in themselves, being the color of his hair and having cat-like pupils.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Might be," I replied. Now was my chance. I turned and grabbed the staff. Power like I have never known shot through my arms. It was worse than the time when I got shocked by a lightening charge that hit our house, amplified by the metal door handle I had been holding onto. Lines of black and red energy streamed from the orb, creeping up my arms and soaking into my skin. I screamed. I didn't want to, but I did anyway. Then I struggled to move. It felt like needles, no, knives were stabbing me as I did so, but the staff was my only weapon.
"You idiot! Let go!" Xellos yelled, grabbing the staff from my hands, his face furious. I didn't faint. I thought I might, though. That blackness that tells you that you're losing consciousness started to creep around the edges of my vision, but I fought it. I looked down at my hands, expecting them to be blacked and burnt. They shook violently as I examined them, but they looked fine otherwise. Xellos grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me roughly. "You little fool! You could have killed yourself!"
"S-stop shaking me!" I tried to wrench loose, but my equilibrium seemed to be seriously messed up. Xellos stopped and looked at me, some unreadable expression in those odd purple eyes. "Besides," I muttered. "What do you care if I die?"
*** (POV change)
There was that question again. Why did he care if she died? The answer was simple. I don't care if she dies. She can die as soon as I figure out a way to tap into her power. And the silly girl wouldn't tell him her name. She was acting as stubborn as Lina, for the Beastmaster's sake!
But she had survived the power in his staff…sure it had shaken her up, but there was no other damage. That took power. Lots of power. Very, very interesting.
*** (POV change)
Xellos had the most interesting expression on his face. Now that he wasn't clutching my shoulders, I shook him off and made my way to the door.
"Where are you going? I thought we already went over this."
"We went over nothing," I spat. Then it occurred to me that maybe I was going about this the wrong way. I folded my arms across my chest and bowed my head. "I-I'm sorry I'm being so ungrateful," I sniffed. My eyes teared up appropriately. "It's just…I'm scared, Xellos. I don't know where I am and I want to know. I don't know you, or what's going on…" My voice trailed off and I looked up at Xellos. Both his eyes were open and he was laughing silently. It was a complete lie and he knew it.
"Don't lie, girl," he chided. "It's not becoming." I pouted and glared.
"I don't care whether or not it's becoming, Xellos." In a last ditch attempt, I whined, "Please let me go."
"We were going anyway. I was just waiting for you to hold still so I could give you some shoes. Shoes? I looked down. Sure enough. I hadn't any shoes. Oops, I forgot. Xellos concentrated briefly and black boots appeared around my feet. I cocked my head and wiggled my toes. The felt like good, comfortable leather boots. I lifted up my pants leg. The boots went as far as to just below my kneecap. I smiled in delight. Yea! I've always wanted boots like these! I genuinely smiled at Xellos.
"Thank you! They're beautiful." His eyes were closed and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ah, well…not a problem. Shall we go?" He bowed and held out his arm to me. I judged what I could see on his face and snorted.
"Now you're mocking me." He chuckled.
"You don't miss much, do you?"
***
Lina and Gourry were eating with their usual aplomb, Amelia not far behind. Zelgadis was drinking another cup of coffee and contemplating Xellos's sudden attachment to such an odd mortal. However, it was giving him a headache, so he stopped. Who knows why Xellos does what he does.
At that moment, the fruitcake in question exited the room he had rented earlier with the girl Amelia healed. The girl still had blood matted in her waist-long gold/brown hair, and she looked a little unsteady on her feet. They made their way down to the table, where Xellos held out a chair for the girl. She glared at him, but took it anyway.
"Who're you?" Lina asked, looking up from her meal. The girl hesitated for a moment before replying,
"Imbri. Who're you?" Lina wiped her hands on a napkin and then held out a hand to Imbri.
"Lina Inverse."
"Nice to meet you," Imbri replied, shaking.
"This pig here is Gourry," Lina said, motioning to the blonde. "This is Amelia." She pointed to the short girl. Next was the stone blue guy, "And that's Zelgadis."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Imbri murmured, on her best behavior. Xellos she could handle-but too many people at once, and it was better to be cautious. With a wicked grin, Lina asked,
"Do you want something to eat or drink? Xellos is paying!" Imbri shot him a look and nodded, a wicked grin on her face that mirrored Lina's.
"What do they have here? I think I could use a good, stiff drink." The waiter came and Imbri ordered sake , which she had never had before. Hell, looks good to me, she thought.
*** (POV change)
A few drinks later, my face was green from watching Lina and Gourry inhale so much food. I doubted if I ate that much in a month. Vaguely, I wondered how they could afford to pay for it all. Then, another thought hit me. I still didn't know where I am. It didn't feel or look like any place I had ever been. I looked around me and couldn't find any signs indicating where I was. Then I turned to Xellos, who was sitting next to me and sipping a cup of tea. On any guy I knew, this gesture would have looked ridiculous or gay, but on Xellos…it seemed to fit. Odd. Briefly, I wondered how much alcohol sake contained. I've never been drunk before.
"Xellos?" I said, hoping I wasn't slurring.
"Yes, Imbri-chan?" I didn't recognize the suffix, so I didn't comment on it.
"Where are we?"
"Why, we are in an inn, Imbri-chan. I thought you knew that." I glared at him.
"I know that. Where's the inn?"
"That-" I cut him off by grabbing him around the neck.
"Don't you dare say it! Now gimme a real answer."
"Ack! Are you sure you're not related to Lina?" he muttered before answering, "We're in Fergalum." I blinked.
"Where's that? I've never heard of it."
"It's in the Greaci Province."
"Never heard of that, either." Xellos's curiosity was piqued. He'd try a more well known place.
"How about Seyruun?"
"Nope."
"What about the Katahto Mountains?"
"Negative." Xellos frowned. It began dawning on me that I had never, ever heard any of these places. And I considered myself fairly well informed on my world geography. Then it hit me. My world. This wasn't my world. "Oh. Shit."
"You did it again!"
"Did what?"
"Foul mouth," Xellos replied, tone teasing.
"Pansy," I shot back. "Don't mess with me, now. I have to think." And think I did. I wasn't in my bed. Or my home. Or my country. Even more strange was that I wasn't dead, despite the fact that I had cut a major vein. The worst thing was that I didn't know how I got here.
Then, another thought dawned on me. I didn't have to go home. There was no Mom, no Dad here. A new chance, maybe.
*** (POV change)
Xellos watched with interest at the way Imbri thought. Her brow furrowed, she stuck out her lower lip and chewed on it, and she began to crack her knuckles. Her eyes widened, and Xellos wondered what, exactly, she was thinking about. Then, a minute or so later, her face broke out into a radiant smile as if a very pleasant thought occurred to her. Joyousness radiated from her, but that underlying current of darkness was still there, just biding it's time. Imbri looked back up at Xellos, her eyes bright.
"Have you thought?" he asked archly. She just smiled.
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" Xellos sighed. She was good. Very good. He'd have to be careful around her.
***
The next morning dawned bright and cheery. Imbri found herself waking, eager to discover what this new world held for her. She would have to get some new clothes if she was going to fit in. She wondered if Xellos could conjure up some for her, or transform her old ones. But she found that she'd rather keep the clothes she had, if only for the memories. Imbri certainly wasn't going to let on that she wasn't from here. She'd have to buy some maps to figure out the layout of the land. Where would she get the money, though? Her mind lingered on the idea of somehow conning Xellos into paying for it. That's what she would do. That's funny, she thought. I don't remember coming to bed last night. She looked down at herself under the sheets. I'm still wearing my clothes; that's good. Imbri got up and put on her boots, yawning as she did so. She made her way over to the door and walked out, stretching as she did so. Lina was already downstairs, calmly eating a bowl of porridge. Apparently, the competition didn't begin until Gourry came down. Imbri ordered a cup of coffee and a small stack of pancakes.
"Morning, Lina," she murmured.
"Morning, Imbri," Lina muttered in return. Neither one was very good about mornings. Imbri downed most of her first cup after adding sugar and milk, then, slightly more alert and comprehending, she asked Lina,
"Do you know where I could get some clothes? I feel a bit out of place, with these on." Amelia had come down and heard the question.
"Oh, Imbri-san, Lina-san! Why don't we go shopping today?" Lina looked up, interested.
"Well, since Xellos paid for last night," she smirked at the thought. "We could take a day off and just goof off. We should have enough. Besides, it's not like we have anywhere to go right now. There's kind of a lull." Imbri smiled.
"That would be fun. Has anyone seen Xellos?"
"At your service," a familiar voice said behind her. Imbri jumped, startled, and wrapped her fingers around Xellos's throat.
"Don't do that!" Lina laughed at the sight, while Amelia reprimanded her.
"Imbri-san! That's not nice!"
"Amelia," Lina said, exasperated. "It doesn't matter if it's nice or not…it's justice!" There. Lina had said it…the magic word. Amelia's eyes went starry and she began one of her "glorious" speeches about justice and righteousness. Xellos, Lina, and Imbri ignored her.
"So, Xellos…" Imbri began, "You wouldn't have to have any money left after last night, would you?" Xellos just smiled.
"That is"-
"Xellos."
"Nope. Sorry. All broke." He held up his hands in defeat.
"I have money," Lina interjected up. "I'll pay for you, Imbri. You can make it up to me later." Imbri looked at Lina skeptically.
"By doing what?"
"Helping out with the business, of course."
"Which is?" Lina blinked, looking surprised.
"You've never heard of me?" Imbri shook her head.
"She's Lina Inverse. Bandit-killer, Dragon-spooker…"
"I still don't know how I got that 'Dragon-spooker' title," Lina muttered under her breath as Xellos continued on dramatically.
*** (POV change)
I held my breath. This was too good. A bandit-killer? Dragons? Wow. Life is going to be a lot more interesting from now on. Gourry, the blonde guy who ate as much as Lina, stumbled down the stairs. Lina noticed and a glint appeared in her eyes. She motioned the waiter over and began ordering on earnest.
"Um…Lina, remember to save some money for shopping," I murmured to her. She nodded and then ordered everything on the right side of the menu. I began to feel sick. I looked at the waiter, who was leaving, looking a little green himself. "Excuse me, sir." He looked at me and my breath caught in my throat. He was gorgeous. Oh, wow, I thought to myself. What a hunk. "Could you tell me if there's a place where I can shower around here?" The waiter, whose badge identified him as Seth, smiled and nodded, giving me directions. I melted into a puddle of goo. Then I remembered that I wasn't home. I could flirt and not worry about the repercussions… I got up and winked at him, acting as flirtatious as I knew how. The appreciative look I received from Seth told me that my efforts weren't wasted. I smirked and sauntered off to where the baths were located.
*** (POV change)
Xellos watched Imbri flirt shamelessly with the waiter after she had asked directions to the baths. Then he watched as she sauntered over to the baths, her hips swaying gently and provocatively. Xellos raised an eyebrow. This is going to be interesting, he thought. She was pretty. And its not like there were any rules against personal relationships. It might, provided they turn her to their side, cause some problems later, but that was expected. Everything has its price. She looked like she might be worth it. Xellos smiled and sipped his tea to hide it. She's got spunk, too, he thought, remembering the way she mocked him so blithely and tried to strangle him. Her emotions were delicious…Yep. There were definitely too many plus sides to this relationship to let it slip by.
***
I slipped into the hot bathing pool, letting the soothing water wash over my body. The blood that still streaked my body began to wash away and I went to work scrubbing it out of my hair. Twenty minutes later, I was as clean as one soak could get me, and all of the blood was out of my hair. Satisfied, I got out and dried off, drying my hair as best as I could with the provided towel. I had to settle for putting on my dirty clothes because I was much to big for either Lina's or Amelia's extra clothes. As I zipped up my pants, a voice behind me announced,
"Here, this should fit." I jumped nearly ten feet into the air, whirling around as I did so.
"Xellos!" I screamed. Then I crossed my arms across my chest since I was only wearing my bra. Xellos handed me a clean shirt. I scowled, heart still racing from the shock. "Turn around, you pervert," I growled. Xellos obliged and I quickly pulled the shirt over my head and settled it properly.
"Done yet?"
"Yes," I muttered. The shirt was too big and too long, but it was soft and comfortable.
"Would you like me to shrink it?"
"NO! I like it big; it's cozy," I murmured in explanation. Xellos raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything else. I continued to glare, but followed him back to the main inn. "Have Lina and Gourry finished their little…" I struggled for a word, which Xellos supplied.
"…Chow down?" I nodded, feeling green just thinking about it. We walked for a minute more in silence before Xellos asked, "So, how did you get those scars all over your body?" I stopped walking and blinked. He had seen those? "How did you get the scars?" he asked again. My smile turned wistful and I looked fondly at my left wrist and hand.
"I gave them to myself. How else?" Xellos nodded. He had obviously thought as much.
"And the one on your right arm? The one that goes along your vein?" I shrugged.
"What can I say? The knife slipped."
*** (POV change)
I could sense what she was hiding. Those pent up emotions were raging again, feeding me well. She was a masochist. How fitting. She had tried to kill herself, saying it was an accident…interesting. Her mask was a good one. She must have been doing this for years. It was almost as good as mine. So cheerful and happy on the outside-a complete mess on the inside. It was slowly killing her and she knew it. She was miserable.
Xellos. I winced slightly. My master was calling me. Come here for a minute, dearie. I've got a new assignment for you. I bowed my head and gave Imbri an apologetic smile.
"I'll be back. My master calls." Then I disappeared, leaving a staring Imbri by herself.
*** (POV change)
He just disappeared. I stared in shock. I suppose I had suspected it before, but the fact that magic was a reality here finally began to sink in. I should have noticed when he made those boots appear on me… This world was magical. I wondered if any of my new companions, other than Xellos, possessed magic. I broke into a run to find Lina and Amelia. Shopping with them in this world brought a new light to my life. I nearly slammed into them rounding a corner.
"Hey, Imbri! We were looking for you. Come on, let's go," Amelia shouted excitedly. Lina was with her, looking full and happy, eager for a good bout at the market. I smiled-a genuine smile that was free of any hidden malice or hatred. I caught up with them and we made our way to the town's surprisingly extensive market place. Neither one of them commented on my change in shirts.
***
"Ooh, look at this!" Imbri exclaimed, holding up a pair of forest green breeches. Lina and Amelia came over and admired them. Lina glared up at the stall owner.
"How much?"
"2 silvers."
"Two??!!" Lina spat out in disgust. "I'll give you half a silver."
"Half! Look at this fine stitching. I'll go as low as one and a half, but only because you're pretty." Lina grew red and sputtered.
"Half a silver! No more. Look at this discoloring! What a shoddy dye job…is this a stain? Half a silver is pushing it, buster. Fancy stitching doesn't make up for this pitiful job." Lina crossed her arms and gave a discreet wink to Amelia and Imbri. The stall keeper looked flustered, then he sighed in defeat.
"Half a silver, it is, then." He spit in his hand and held it out. Lina spit in hers and they shook. Then she handed over the half-silver piece and handed the breeches to Imbri. Imbri looked at them incredulously.
"They don't look like anything is wrong with them," she mused thoughtfully, turning them over in her hands.
"That's because there isn't anything wrong with them. That's just the way to barter. By giving us such a good deal, he'll count on us to spread the word about his good prices and fine clothing." Amelia nodded wisely. She had been shopping with Lina countless times.
"Now let's say we find you a tunic to go with those beautiful pants." Amelia marched down the aisles, keeping out an eagle eye for the same shade. It was Amelia who found a perfect color match in a style that Imbri adored. They never sold things like this where she came from. It was a forest green leather bodice/shirt with sleeves that could be taken off, a laced up front, and a very short silver skirt with a slit in it. The skirt was actually more like a loincloth, but with the pants to go under it, it was perfect in Imbri's eyes. With her new boots, she would look more like she fit in here.
"Window" shopping prevailed for a time after that. Then Lina spotted the right stall. Without a word, Lina grabbed Amelia and Imbri's arms and dragged them into the back of it. It sold a smith's wares. Knives and all other types of weapons adorned the canvas walls.
"Now," Lina whispered to Imbri. "We're hear to find you a weapon you feel comfortable with. Look around and find something you could use in a fight." Imbri nodded seriously. Immediately, she went for the knives. There was a wide selection. Imbri's eyes gleamed with a light that had nothing to do with the forge that was set up in the tent. Then she saw it. It was a small dagger that was as nearly as wide as her forearm. The hilt cross-guard was silver and the hilt was wrapped in a braided rope of silver and gold. An emerald sat in the pommel, glinting dangerously. Reverently, Imbri drew the blade from it's black leather sheath and ran the blade along her forearm. It parted the skin easily, leaving a trail of blood beading up behind it. The grip felt right as she held it tightly. "Is that it?" Lina's voice said from her elbow. Imbri jumped, nearly cutting off a finger as she did so.
"Yes," she breathed. "This is it. If I could get this…I will pay you back in full and more. I swear it." Lina nodded seriously.
"It'll cost a pretty silver, that's for sure. But…" Lina trailed off. The knife was right somehow.
Twenty minutes later, Lina and Imbri came out of the stall, Imbri clutching the knife close to her chest protectively. Zelgadis and Gourry had been watching the girls from the inn's dining room.
"I don't think I've seen Lina that happy in a long time," Gourry said slowly, referring to Lina's happy expression as she bartered for Imbri's things. Zelgadis nodded.
"She's not even yelling at anyone."
"Wow."
***
"Mother? You rang?" Xellos looked up from kneeling at Juu-ou's feet. The woman took a drag of her cigarette and motioned for him to stand up.
"You know I don't like you doing that, Xel. Makes me feel old." Xellos stood up and smiled at Xelas.
"What did you want to speak with me about?"
"Would you care for a glass of wine?"
"Mom, you're hedging again." Xelas sighed.
"I never could fool you, could I?" Xellos shook his head. The woman got off her throne and began to pace, her white hair billowing slightly as she walked briskly back and forth. "This girl you found…Imbri. I can't find anything on her. No one has ever heard of her, yet you said yourself she's extremely powerful. She's not on the astral plane any longer-the only time I sensed her there was when she first showed up. Just a big red flash and then nothing!" Xelas threw her hands up into the air in frustration. "I just don't understand! You say she doesn't know that you're Mazoku? If she has that much power, how come she can't tell?"
"Mom, you're asking rhetorical questions again."
"I can't help it! I'm confused."
"Well…do you want me to try and turn her to our side? Perhaps her power just needs to be awakened or something. When that flash appeared, she was near death." Xelas perked up.
"Really? What happened?"
"She tried to kill herself. I don't know why it didn't work. When I found her she had lost a lot of blood."
"Hm. Turning her to our side seems to be the best option right now." She fixed her gaze on Xellos, making sure he was paying strict attention to her. "You are going to lead Lina and her gang on a nice little quest for Power-Enhancing jewels. A necklace, earrings, and a circlet, to be precise. Now, I will see to it that they only work for Imbri. Perhaps the rudimentary ability to use magic will spark something that will allow us to tap into that energy we saw on the astral plane. You'll find them near Zephilia."
"Zephilia? Lina's home country?"
"Yes. Luna's there. She still terrifies Lina." Xelas laughed.
"Are you two still friends?"
"Are you prying, Xellos?"
"No ma'am," he replied with a little grin. Xelas looked at him disbelief in her reproachful gaze.
"Right. Uh-huh. You can go, now." Xellos turned to leave, but was halted when Xelas's voice rang out. "Oh, and Xellos?"
"Yes?" He turned to look at her.
"Use whatever means you deem necessary to turn her to our side. Catch my drift?" Xellos grinned wolfishly.
"Yes, mother." With that, Xellos teleported back to the inn. Xelas watched him go, a thoughtful expression on her face. She shrugged it off and took a sip of her red wine.
***
Xellos was shocked when he got back to the inn, though he certainly didn't show it. Imbri had been shopping, he noted. He also noted her figure and her legs were very shapely in the dark green leggings and tight shirt she now sported. She was wearing the boots he had given her and had her waist-length hair pulled into a braid that draped over her left shoulder. A silver skirt was attached to the shirt. Imbri's aura was happy for the first time.
"Xellos! Welcome back!" Imbri said, running over to him. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him over to the table where everyone was eating lunch.
"Hi. I see you've been a busy little bee today." Imbri laughed and twirled around, model style and struck a pose.
"Ta-da!" Xellos grinned and turned to Lina.
"Didn't you get anything for yourself, Lina-san?"
"No, Xellos, I didn't. Where did you disappear to this morning?"
"That is a secret." Lina growled and Imbri glared. "However," he added, "I know of something that might interest you, Lina. There are two power-enhancing jewels located near Zephilia."
"Hey, isn't that where you grew up, Lina?"
"Wow, Gourry! I'm surprised you remembered!" Lina beamed at him and Gourry felt his face grow warmer, though he wasn't sure why.
"Are you going to go, Lina-san?" Amelia asked.
"For power-enhancing jewels? Of course I'm going to go!"
"But what about L"-Zelgadis was cut off as Amelia slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Ix-nay on the Una-Lay, Elgadis-Zay," she hissed. Zelgadis shut up.
"We start tomorrow!" Lina announced dramatically.
***
Later that night, Imbri was sitting up in her inn room. She had folded her old clothes and packed them away in a knapsack that Amelia had given her. A cup of lukewarm, bordering cold tea sat on the dresser. As she went for the tea, she felt pressure on her shoulders. She jumped and then stiffened.
"Xellos?"
"That's me." Imbri looked over her shoulder and glared at him.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Sorry, Imbri," he apologized, not sounding the least bit contrite. Imbri grabbed her cup from the dresser and sat down on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Xellos sat at the foot of the bed, placing his staff against the wall and crossing his long legs Indian style. Imbri smiled at him and took a gulp of her cold tea. Xellos noticed.
"Cold tea?"
"Yeah. It would be better if I had some ice, but that's all right."
"Why not drink it hot?" Imbri shrugged.
"I'm too lazy to ask for more. Besides, after what Lina spent on me today, I'm certainly not going to complain about anything or spend any more of her money than I have too."
"I'll do it," Xellos said. He sent a little tendril of heat and wrapped it around the bottom of the mug. It heated up quickly. Imbri watched in awe.
"How do you do that?"
"Sore wa him"-Xellos was cut off by a warning look. "Magic," he amended. Imbri's eyes were serious and she nodded.
"I thought so. It's different hearing someone else say it."
"Are you afraid of magic?" Imbri looked up, indignant.
"I'm not afraid of anything." Xellos opened his eyes and leaned closer to Imbri.
"Oh really?"
*** (POV change)
Xellos leaned closer to me, his eyes open and unblinking. I could feel my heart begin to beat faster. Our noses were nearly touching and his breath was warm on my face. I realized I wasn't breathing at all. I inhaled sharply. Of course, I promptly forgot to exhale. For what seemed like an eternity, we stayed like that. Then Xellos closed his eyes and broke the spell.
"You're not breathing," he said cheerfully, leaning back to his original position. I glared at him, not really wanting to say anything. "Ah, it seems I've upset you."
"No. You haven't upset me," I said with a sigh. Damn. Out of one confusing world and into another one just as confusing.
"Well, I've got something to cheer you up," Xellos said, standing. He reached into the leather pouch that hung around his shoulder. Then he pulled out something long and black, presenting it to me with a small bow. I took it, curiosity aroused. It was a soft, black leather belt. I examined it and then stood up and put it on hastily. It was beautiful.
"Where did you get this?" I asked him, eyes wide.
"That is a secret." He held up a hand to ward off my teasing blow. "However, look right here." He gently touched my left hip. I stiffened a bit. "Do you see this hole in the leather?" I lifted my arm and peered down at my hip. Sure enough, there was a break in the leather. "The belt is actually two pieces of leather sewn together. They left this gap in the stitching so that a knife's belt clip would fit securely in here." From nowhere, my new knife appeared in his hand. He lifted the clip and began to slide it onto the belt.
"I can do that myself, you know," I snapped. I was getting nervous.
"I'm sure you can." He finished attaching the belt clip to the belt and stood back to admire it. "Very nice."
I looked into the room's mirror. The belt was a little big, so it settled low on my hips. The weight of the knife made it lopsided. All in all, it was a rather nice effect. I smiled at him, more than a little puzzled.
"Why did you give this to me?" Xellos shrugged, still grinning.
"What can I say? It was something I just had lying around. I thought you might like it. You do, don't you?"
"Do what?" I tore my gaze away from the full-length mirror to look at him.
"Do you like it, little Miss Vain?"
"Vain? Me?" I asked in mock surprise. "Certainly not." After a minute more, I added seriously, "I do like it. A lot. Thank you, Xellos." After another moment's hesitation, I threw my arms around him and gave him a quick hug. Xellos was the one to stiffen under my touch this time. It only lasted for a minute before I let go, but he was much more tense than he had been before.
***(POV change)
"Is anything wrong?" Imbri asked me, her tone worried. I couldn't believe that I froze up like that. No one had hugged me since I was human. Including Juu-ou. Usually I was the one doing the touching. But such a simple gesture… I shook my head at her, grinning once again.
"No, you just surprised me, that's all." To my surprise, Imbri laughed. It was a nice sound.
"Me? Surprise you?" She kept laughing, apparently finding it extremely funny. She doubled up and clutched her stomach. Pain was radiating from her and she knew it, but apparently, that just made it funnier. Eventually it subsided, but she would look at me and keep giggling a little. "You must think I'm crazy," she said once she had calmed down enough to speak without bursting into another fit of giggles. Her voice was bitter, surprising me again with her rapid change in moods.
"No, I don't," I said soothingly. She looked at me suspiciously.
"Right. Your eyes tell me different." I opened one eye to peer at her.
"My eyes were closed."
"Well that one isn't and it says you think I'm nuttier than a pecan tree." I opened both of my eyes.
"Pecan tree?" Imbri's eyes shot wide open.
"Figure of speech where I come from."
"And just where do you come from?" I asked advancing on a retreating Imbri.
"Just a little nowhere town that's not even big enough to be a village. More like a group of houses, really." She was getting nervous. Even Gourry would have been able to tell she was lying. I had come to a dilemma. Either I could press her for information and risk alienating her, or I could play it safe and risk Juu-ou's wrath for not finding out all I could. I decided to play it safe. Juu-ou had said to use whatever means…
"Oh. Perhaps you'd take me there someday?"
"Perhaps I will," Imbri replied, relief evident on her face. I decided that nothing more could be done tonight, so I turned to go. "Wait!" she called. I turned and looked back at her.
"Yes?"
"Where's your room?" I smiled.
"This is." Imbri looked horrified for a moment, before a thought flashed through her mind. I could feel her aura changed briefly, but it returned to normal as she visibly shook her head to clear it.
"Well…where are you staying?" I shrugged.
"Here and there. Don't worry about it." Imbri moved in front of me, arms crossed in front of her chest. I eyed her…um, arms.
"I do worry about it," she snapped. "I feel guilty about stealing your room, especially after you've been so nice to me."
"Hey, I don't want you to feel obligated to me," I said, holding my hands up in defense.
"Well I do," she snapped again. A slightly pained expression flitted across her face before she looked at me apologetically. "Listen, I'm sorry about yelling. I didn't mean it. If you wanted…" she hesitated and looked at the floor, then focused her gaze on my face. I opened my eyes to give her my full attention. "Well, you could stay in here."
*** (POV change)
Oh, God. Did I just ask him to stay with me? Have I really lost it this time? These thoughts ran rampant through my mind. Consequences…You know what? I asked myself. I'm not home. Screw consequences!
"Well?" I asked again. Xellos smiled. Not that he had ever stopped…
"I believe I'll take you up on that offer." He leaned closer to me.
"Who gets the bed?"
*** (POV change)
Gods, seducing her was turning to be easier than I ever thought it would be. The loneliness was her prominent emotion when she replied,
"Well…" then it appeared that she realized what I was looking at. "My face is up here, Xellos," she muttered. "You get the floor tonight." I decided teasing would work in this situation.
"Aw…Imbri-chan! I'll be good, I promise!"
"But I might not be," she shot back, a grin on her face. "Tell you what, tomorrow night you can have the bed."
"We'll be on the road tomorrow night."
"Exactly."
*** (POV change)
Thank you, Lord, I silently prayed. Teasing I could deal with. Teasing sexual innuendo was something I was good at. This serious stuff…it made me nervous. I felt almost like Xellos could…I don't know…sense my moods or something. It was strange, but I was glad for it. I hadn't been joking about Xellos and I sharing a bed. I might not be a good little girl. I know myself well enough to be able to tell when that stupid romantic streak is beginning to rear it's fluffy pink head.
"Here." I tossed him one of the blankets on the bed. "Have fun!" I grabbed the shirt he lent me earlier, having decided to keep it. It saved me from having to buy a nightgown. Then I went down to the hall's bathroom. It was empty, thank goodness. I did my business and changed, finally making it back to my room for a good night's sleep…hopefully.
***
"Lina-san?"
"What, Amelia?" Lina was already sprawled out on the floor, it being Amelia's turn for the bed tonight.
"What do you think of Imbri-san?"
"Strange girl," Lina said after a minute of thought. "But she seems nice."
"Lina-san"-Amelia started to say but stopped, thinking better of it.
"What Amelia?"
"Nothing Lina-san. Good night."
"Night."
Amelia lay awake some time after that, thinking about what she had wanted to say. Her arm…Lina-san! You didn't see her arm's vein when I did. It was cut! She tried to kill herself, Lina-san! But she couldn't say it. It just wasn't right somehow…
***
Morning found Imbri in a surprisingly good mood, considering that she nearly stepped on Xellos when she got out of bed. Quickly, she dressed while he was asleep and went downstairs. Lina and Gourry had already begun inhaling their food. Amelia was quietly eating and Zelgadis was nursing his cup of steaming coffee. Imbri decided to join him in the coffee venture and was fixing her cup when a familiar voice announced in her ear,
"Don't you want some coffee in your sugar?" Startled, Imbri nearly dropped the cup, but recovered it just in time, screaming as she did so,
"XELLOS!!!! Don't ever do that!!!" Her eyes looked like fire as she pinpointed him with her glare. Xellos licked his lips. Tasty, tasty rage, he thought happily.
"Xellos-san! That wasn't very nice!" Amelia said, a small frown on her face. Xellos looked properly contrite.
"Gomen, Imbri-chan," he murmured in her ear. Imbri still wasn't sure about "-chan", but she nodded anyway.
"Fine. Just don't do it again," she growled.
"Of course not," he agreed. Imbri rolled her eyes.
"All right, folks!" Lina announced, standing up after polishing off a mountain of food. "Get your gear together-we leave in five minutes!"
Imbri took her leave and went back to her room. She surveyed her belongings-what she was wearing and what she had been wearing when she came here. The garments were all she had to link her back to her past. She thought about her mother and her father and wondered if they even missed her.
Probably not. They've got their hands full enough hating each other to even know I've gone. Besides, even if they did miss her she wasn't planning on going back. She'd never had this much freedom before. She felt hot hands caress her neck and shoulders and she stiffened.
"What are you thinking of, Imbri-chan?"
"Xellos!" she whined, turning to face him. "Please stop doing that!" He opened an eye and peered at her.
"Gomen, Imbri-chan."
"Right, I'm sure," she stuck out her lower lip and pouted. "You always say you're sorry, but you always sneak up on me again." Imbri crossed her arms and turned away from him. Xellos continued to peer at her from an eye, eyebrows raised. Imbri just pouted some more. Xellos decided it was time to make a move. Gently, he wrapped his arms around Imbri. Her narrowed eyes shot open in surprise and she reflexively flinched away. Xellos kept his hold on her, though. Laying his cheek against hers and resting his chin in her shoulder, he whispered,
"I am sorry, Imbri. I didn't know it upset you so much." His warm breath caressed her cheek and she tried to repress the shiver it sent through her body. Unsuccessfully tried, that is.
"I-i-it's okay," she managed to stutter. Xellos smiled, just out of Imbri's line of sight. He could feel her heart pounding, even as she willed it to slow down…unsuccessfully. If her heart could have seen her, she would have flipped it off. Imbri blinked, and Xellos could feel her long lashes brush his cheek, sending some strange and interesting feeling through him.
Then, as if the movement had broken some kind of spell, Imbri tugged Xellos's arms from around her and turned to face him fully, her face flushed. Xellos watched with detached interest the pulsing of a vein in the hollow of her throat. She took a deep breath and the pulsing slowed. "We should be going, Xellos," she said firmly.
"Of course." Imbri shouldered the small knapsack with her clothes and walked out of the door, Xellos directly behind her.