A/N: I'll take this time to address some of the comments I've gotten in the reviews from my lovely readers. Yes, mazoku feed off negative emotions-but Filia is a new mazoku in this story, so it seemed plausible to me to have her eating food, as she wouldn't yet be trained in how to feed. And yes, it's a bit IC for Xellos-on purpose. If you read the last line of the second chapter, you'll get what I mean. This won't be a songfic like the others were-I can't find a suitable song for this chapter. I do have three songs picked out though for future installments though! ^^ Enough rambling. Insert disclaimer! Read onward!
I reclined in the chair in Xellos' office I had first sat in when I came to him for aide six months ago. Idly twirling a lock of blond around my index finger, I awaited his arrival, staring blankly at the desk with my still open blue eyes.
How strange it is…to be allied with someone who I once called namagomi.
I couldn't help but smirk, reflecting on our relationship in the past. The taunting, the abuse. But now, he was my mentor. The last person I would ever pick to teach me in the ways of the world, but fate can be funny sometimes.
We were still dead set on stopping the war. Xellos phazed in suddenly, frowning. I leaned forward in my chair, the black robes with crimson flowers rustling around me. He sat behind his desk slowly with the weariness of an old man.
Well…he is old, I mused quietly. "What's wrong?" I inquired fluidly, staring him down across the magnificent desk.
"We will have some visitors soon, Filia-chan…"
"Wonderful!" I replied, a slight smile gracing my features. "We never get anyone from the outside. It grows a bit dull, no offence, ensnared up here with only you and the other mazoku, working on a way to finish the war with our powers and…" I trailed off in my ramblings, uneasy at his uncharacteristic silence.
The tension grew, and my eyes widened suddenly with realization. "Lina-san?"
"Yes," he replied. "We've finally figured out why she hasn't been here yet. Her elder sister, Luna, forbade her to get involved in the war, and she has been in her hometown instructing combatants in magic, much to her displeasure. But-Luna, on higher command, told Lina she was to gather the old gang."
"Why are they coming here?"
Xellos sighed again. "There's rumors going around that I'm holding you against your will. They want to come free you."
I laughed. "Well, I'll simply tell her what's going on then! She'll join our side, and the war will be stopped even sooner."
Xellos shook his head. "Filia, you are a new mazoku. The powers have only begun to affect your wonderful personality a bit, so far. Oh, my darling, I so wish I didn't have to involve you in this mess."
I blinked in surprise. "Um. It was my choice to join you, even though you turned me, incase you don't remember," I informed him.
He smiled, the old genki grin back suddenly. "I know. Lina-chan will not be joining us though, this I guarantee."
How can he say that with such certainty…? "But…couldn't we convince her?"
"Convince Lina?" he echoed. "No. I'll take care of this," with that, the purple haired mazoku phazed out again.
A flash of doubt rattled to my soul. Am I making the right choice in joining him? If Lina will not help us…perhaps I'm on the wrong team.
Then, just as suddenly, the doubt drained. No. I have powers now, more effective than those when I was a dragon. We will succeed. We will stop the war. I gathered my concentration and too phazed out.
Xellos strolled down the hallway and reached the front door of the castle in which the mazoku lived. With a wave, the front doors opened, revealing a petite red haired sorceress, about to blow them off their rusty hinges.
She scowled. I grinned back, silently surveying the companions. She had rounded them up magnificently. Zelgadis and Gourry stood just behind her, Amelia loitering just behind them and glancing uneasily at a tall large breasted woman. I hoped I was mistaken, but that seemed to be the infamous Naga.
"Xellos," Lina growled. "What the hell are you doi-"
I cut her off with an impatient clearing of my throat. She glared at me angrily. "I will allow Lina and Lina only to enter. The rest of you must wait outside. She will return in an hour, and if she doesn't, you may come and perform all sorts of bodily harm on me," I promised with glee.
Zelgadis' nose twitched, but he remained silent. He seemed to be debating whether or not it would be worth it to beat me senseless. I grinned wider.
Naga opened her mouth and seemed to be about to laugh, but Amelia jumped up in horror and clamped both her hands around the woman's mouth.
Lina sighed. "Fine, whatever." She strolled in through the doors confidently and stood next to me.
"Bye Lina! Have fun!" Gourry called brightly, offering a cheerful wave.
Zelgadis sighed. "Please get back here soon," he said exasperatedly, evidently annoyed he would be left with the troop of idiots.
"Have fun, Zel-kun!" I crowed, waving my hands so the doors slammed shut ominously.
As soon as they shut, Lina turned and flung a fireball at me with out a word. "Oh, Lina-chan, that tickles," I sighed with a quiet laugh, stumbling slightly. "Follow me, if you wish to see Fi-chan."
"What have you done to her?"
I managed to keep the genki grin on. "Sore wa…himetsu desu," I replied evenly as she followed me back down the hall.
Almost boring…how everything is falling perfectly in place, I thought as we walked in silence. Lina's wary, my own reflecting. Filia, blissfully unaware. Lina will try to persuade her and drive Filia further into our side. And then…
"This is Filia's room," I announced happily as we reached it, tenderly placing my hand on the brass doorknob. If Lina looked stunned at the beautifully carved door…imagine once she saw inside the room. I turned the knob and pushed the door in slightly. "Fi-chan…visitor," I announced unnecessarily, and phazed away.
I glanced up from inside the dim room as Xellos announced Lina's arrival. She stepped inside and shut the door, and I listened as she gasped. The dull light reflected off the objects in the room-the crystal lamps, the beautiful desk I sat at, the furniture, the thick plush rug.
"Filia! You sure don't seem to be a prisoner," she announced admirably, crossing the floor to stand next to my chair.
"I'm not, Lina-san," I informed her quietly, making sure to keep my eyes downcast. "I am here of my own will, although I did come here out of necessity of staying alive."
"What in the nine hells do you mean? Everyone on our side is saying you were nearly killed and Xellos took you prisoner."
"…No," I whispered.
"No?" she repeated, her anger momentarily quelled by confusion.
"Not 'our side,' Lina-san,"I informed her, slowly turning in my chair to face her. "Your side," with that said, I looked up suddenly, staring directly into her flame-brown eyes with my own cat blue ones.
"L-sama!" she gasped in shock. "Filia-Filia, no! You're a…you're a…"
"Mazoku is the word you're looking for, I think," I replied with a slight smirk, delighted at the revulsion emanating from her.
Xellos was right…Lina does provide great amounts of energy. "But why? You hate mazoku! You think they're vile, rotten, spineless, slimy scum of the earth!"
"Thought," I corrected simply as I rose to my feet, gazing at Lina with a mixture of amusement and pity. I had stunned the famous sorceress.
Lina just shook her head, a dead set look crossing her face as she grabbed my arms. "No. Your brainwashed. We'll take you out of here and free you from whatever spell they put on you. Come on Filia! Snap out of it!" she entreated, shaking me for good measure.
I shook my head, the braid snaking against my back in a comforting manner. "No, Lina-san. This is where I belong now. I know you would never consider joining our side to end the war, so I won't bother asking. But please…don't hinder our progress. This has to end. I promise I'll come visit you once this is over."
Lina stared up at me with betrayal in her eyes. "I never thought you would join all these…creatures. Your better than this!"
"No…not any more. Please leave, Lina-san," I whispered. "I'm staying with Xellos."
A sudden shift seemed to come over the room. I no longer stood with an old companion. It was now a relationship held by sworn enemies-one for the mazoku, one for the magic world.
Lina sighed. "We won't give up."
"I know," I replied as I turned to stare out the window.
The sorceress left without another word, anger shimmering in her wake.
I began to take deep calming breaths as Xellos phazed into my room. "What's wrong, Filia-chan?" he asked.
I turned slowly and stared at him, eyes sad. "Xellos…I just turned away one of the only friends I ever had. I feel…so empty."
Xellos frowned and stepped closer to me. "After the war, you all will be reunited," he promised.
I nodded. "But is it worth it, Xellos? To continue this way? It doesn't seem we're making any progress."
"Yes. We are coming closer to our goal every day, Filia-chan. You may not see it yet, but tomorrow, I will show you what I mean."
I nodded again, content to leave it at that and return to my silent thoughts. He stepped closer to me still and I glanced up, surprised. "Xellos…?"
He smiled and pulled me into his arms suddenly and I gasped, blushing slightly. Even to my own shock, I did not pull away. He waved his hand and the lights in my room brightened and I winced.
He raised his gloved hands to my face and rested them on my cheeks. "Filia-chan…how many times do I have to say it? It's easier if your eyes are closed," he said, changing the topic suddenly.
He slid his thumbs down my eyelids and I shivered at the surprisingly gentle touch. Even after all these months speaking to only Xellos and a few others…he still was so different than I remembered. To my surprise, I could still see perfectly-even better than before, I would guess, as I could see behind, above, and below me as well.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Much easier," I purred again, gazing down at the blissful expression on Filia's uplifted face, careful to keep the familiar happy grin in place.
Much easier to deceive you…if you cannot see everything with the clarity of a human.