Author's Notes: Hell!!! That's what I've been through the past few days!! So.. The chapters will be coming a little slower now ;_; gomen nasai!! Now on with the torture!!! ^^;;V

Of Black Chains and Scarlet Letters

Link 8

Filia had been looking for Val in the forest after he had taken off. She cursed herself for not telling him all the secrets she knew. It was true they had moved when he was three years old… after he…

She was standing in the charred doorway of the preschool classroom. The room was still burning in some area as the firemen continued to put it out. There were charred bodies in the corner and some parents were heard weeping outside. Val was in the center of the room, crying and surrounded by small black feathers. Running over to him, she checked him over and found that he was perfectly fine. She started to cry and then noticed a small horn disappearing into his forehead.

'This child is cursed and may cause strange phenomena to occur around him…'

The cloaked man's words rang through her mind as she ran out of the building with her son.

Since then she had always been over protective of him and watched him as much as she could. Nothing too strange happened since that day and Val had aged rapidly right after that. He looked about ten years of age after the incident and had enough knowledge to go into the sixth grade. His amazing growth didn't seem to phase him at all, but from then on he aged at a normal rate. This always troubled Filia because she was afraid it would happen again, and it did…

Filia tripped over a stone and twisted her ankle. She started to curse and suddenly she realized she wasn't alone. Trying to get up, she stumbled again and leaned against the tree. "Who's there!" She was shocked at the fear in her won voice and started to tremble as a man with purple hair man appeared before her. He wore a priest's cloak and he grinned down at her.

"Why Filia, its amazing to see that this is what you were reduced to," the man said in started to circle her. "Of all the things the Lord of Nightmares could have made you… she made you human. That's just sad." He stopped walking around the tree and stood in front of her. "Well, it's of no consequence to me. Now, do you remember who I am?"

Filia bristled at the obvious insult he had given her, and yet she could not seem to figure out why it was an insult. This man was giving off a dark aura that made her want to break and destroy things. "How dare you talk to me that way!" Her tone was bitter and she started to become enraged. The man snapped his fingers and black chains came out from the underbrush to tie her against the tree. "Why are you doing this to me?!"

The man dropped his smile and opened his violet eyes. He raised his hand and wagged a finger. "Now that… is a secret! But, I can tell you that I don't intend to hurt you… badly…"

"XELLOS!!!!" She screeched his name at the top of her lungs and started to fight against the chains. They held her so tightly that she could barely breathe. Filia's anger continued to surge and suddenly she could get the chains to move a little bit. Then the chains shrank again and she screamed out in pain.

Xellos smiled again but kept his eyes open. "Well done Filia. You remembered my name," he said and started to circle her again. Leaning slowly towards her, he placed a small kiss on her lips and her tail popped up above the chains. "Oh my, you are still a dragon aren't you? Silly me for over looking that," he said and jumped into the shadows. Filia could no longer see him but was released from the chains. "Now Filia dear, just don't get in our way. It's our turn you know," Xellos's voice just barely reached her ears as he phazed away.

She screamed again and grabbed for her mace… which wasn't there. Her anger got the better of her and she smashed the tree, to which she had been tied, to the ground. Filia's memories were slowly returning and she slowly started to walk towards town. 'I think I need to find miss Lina…'

+++

Valgaav was shaking and stared at the area which Zelgadiss had disappeared. The forest was calm again and he was slowly coming to terms with all that had happened. His darker side chuckled and said that Val didn't need him or want him. Val refused to believe his darker side was correct. Lina was just staring at the area for a moment before a white dove flew past her face. The bird was gone in seconds and it had snapped her out of shock. "Valgaav," she whispered quietly and attempted to approach him. He looked over at her with sad eyes that held no hint of his former self at all. She put a hand on his shoulder and he didn't bother to move. "I don't know what's going on," she said a little louder, "but I think we need to work together to get Zelgadiss back. It seems to me that you've changed a little…" Lina let her voice trail off as Valgaav turned slowly towards her. Even though he was pain stricken, Lina was fascinated by him. She had always though Valgaav was good looking, even in the past, but this new side of him made her confused. And yet, she liked him more this way.

Valgaav noted that it was odd Lina seemed to care for him. His dark side spoke up and started showing memories of the past about Lina and some of the selfish things she did. The evil side was also fascinated with her because she was letting her guard down. If she continued to do so, there might be a chance for him to kill her. Val struggled for control as some coherent thoughts flowed through his mind. "Since when do you care how other people feel?" His tone was not accusing and was only a simple question.

To Lina, that question seemed more like an insult than anything else. She removed her hand from his shoulder quickly and said, "What that's that supposed to mean!" Her tone went back to normal with a strong undertone of annoyance. "Jeez, you just can't be nice to some people!" Turning quickly she started to stomp off and realized that Valgaav wasn't following. She turned back to him and sighed. "Well, are you coming or not?"

Val was hurt by her comment only because she seemed so different moments ago. He wasn't very good at reading people, even though he had been able to get along with most. His dark side was still trying to convince him to just kill her now, but he wanted to learn more from her. When she stopped and turned around, he was very surprised. "Where are we going?" He tried to sound happier but he ended up sounding half hearted.

'Now he's acting like Zel. They must have spent too much time bonding or something.' Lina smirked and said, "I think we should check out this town around the Grand Canyon." She nodded and cast a levitation spell. Val only stared at her for a moment and followed her example. They both took off and were flying west. Valgaav flew up to her and was about to ask a question when Lina turned to him and said, "I heard there is this secret village there that has many fortune tellers and philosophers. I need to stock up and maybe we can get some information. Race ya!" Val just watched as Lina sped off ahead of him. 'Maybe I can find out more about my past life...' His own thoughts were interrupted by his darker side, 'and maybe you can get close enough to kill her. Just don't get to close, or I'll take over…' He started to feel sick as the voice talked onward and then Val tuned him out. The sun was starting to set just as they reached the Great Plains.