Chapter 5
Following the collision, came a moment of stunned silence between the two.
Amelia's eyes blinked in shock.
Zelgadis? Here?
Impossible. It can't be. He'd already left the village to search for his stupid cure.....
But the more Amelia stared at this newcomer, the further her brain marched towards realisation. Yes. This newcomer was indeed Zel.
The princess' eyes widened with joy. He was still here! He hadn't left the village at all!
And if he was here now, then this would mean.....
He had indeed come back to her! Perhaps he had seen the folly of his actions in leaving her alone in such a haunted place! Now, at long last, she wasn't all alone in this accursed village!
Then, Amelia's frightened face broke into an expression of pure happiness. Zelgadis had returned - to her! She knew him well enough, all right. He wouldn't leave her alone! He wouldn't desert her! He wouldn't let her down! What could possibly be better?!
In an instant, all past injustices were now all forgotten. It didn't matter that Zel's previous actions had been so horrible or indifferent. It didn't matter that Zel had walked out on her hours ago. It didn't matter that he had left her all on her own and to the mercy of those ghosts. It didn't matter that he was oblivious towards her feelings for him. What mattered was that he had returned.
And she couldn't be happier.
But the chimera didn't share the same expression. Instead, he looked rather astonished.
"Amelia?" he inquired. "You're still here?'
Still maintaining her enormous grin, Amelia nodded. Then she got to her feet.
He's come back. He's come back. He's come back!
"Are you all right?" Zel asked, his voice radiating with concern for the princess.
Amelia blinked.
Hold on a minute here.
Did he just ask if she was all right? Did he just ask a question out of concern? Does this mean he hasn't walked out on her completely?
Does this mean he actually feels, in one way or another, for the princess?
It must be so! Why else would he still be here? Why else would he run into her like that? Why else would he act so concerned for the princess? A spark lit up inside the princess. A spark of hope. A spark of happiness. A spark that assured Amelia that she just may release Zel from his tormented prison.
Still with the warmest of all expressions and the biggest of all grins, Amelia nodded her answer.
Zel blinked. Suddenly his expression of concern vanished completely. The chimera's eyes hardened and his brow furrowed. He could tell what was coming up next.....
To be honest he wasn't exactly keen on seeing the princess again. He had originally planned on finding the secrets of this village as quickly as possible and continue on his quest. Yet he planned on doing this without attracting the attention of the other living human in the village - Amelia. He certainly didn't want the princess hanging on him when he was facing death and demons in his quest to find a cure. He didn't want to play babysitter. He didn't want to be stalked by an enamoured and amorous teenager. And he definitely didn't want any interference in his goals - whether they be searching for a cure or uncovering the secrets of this wretched village.....
Make no mistake, he wasn't exactly keen on seeing the princess again.
Particularly not in these circumstances.
"Well, it's good to see you're all right." the chimera said.
But that was a lie. He didn't really mean it. He didn't like to see her hurt but that wasn't for the right reasons.
But the lie was enough to conceal the truth. For Amelia's eyes lit up. He was actually worried about her well-being! He really did care for her!
Seeing Amelia's jovial reaction, Zel allowed himself a brief smile. But that smile was another lie. It was a fake smile. His mouth may have turned up at the corners but his eyes retained their cold indifference.
Fortunately Amelia didn't notice. Or at least she didn't seem to notice. In fact her smile grew even larger. Damn, she loved it when he smiled. When he smiled, he seemed like such a different person.
Zelgadis mentally cursed when he saw the enlargement in Amelia's smile. Great, now it seems that she would follow him around even more - Exactly what he didn't need.
Yet even as his mind was frustrated, his face didn't show it. Zel cleared his throat.
"Come on. Lets get out of here."
But that was yet another lie. Sure neither of them wanted to hang around here in this accursed village. But, to be honest, Zel didn't want to be stuck with the burden that was Amelia. The sooner they get out of here, the sooner she can return to Saillune and the sooner he can return to his quest of finding a cure.
Then, without a further ado, Zel turned around and headed off, determined to find a way out. Amelia followed, with enthusiasm. Yes, she shouldn't have reason to be scared now! She had Zel by her side, so why should she be paralysed with fear and lacking in confidence. Yes, those ghosts can now bring it all on!
Amelia, now bursting all over with confidence and enthusiasm, followed Zel as he led the way through the dawn and out of the village. And for a time, the two adventurers travelled on in silence. Not a word was spoken. Zel concentrated on finding his way out of this wretched village while Amelia followed. Yet what was even more frustrating on Amelia's case was that Zel walked on ahead with his back to her. Along with the frustration came confusion: If he was so concerned with her, like he was before, then why has he turned on her with ignorance?
Suddenly it struck her.
He was more interested in finding a way out then her herself!
Amelia blinked in astonishment. Suddenly, the illusion she had built up for herself suffered a huge crack across it's face. Was Zel ignoring her and her feelings.....?
Or was she just merely riding on her own delusions?
No matter, she must break down Zel's defensive shield.
Yes, something must be done and quickly....
"Zel?" the princess asked. "Have you seen any....."
"Seen any what?" the chimera asked, without turning around.
"....ghosts?"
Suddenly Zel stopped, surprised by the princess' question.
Amelia immediately caught herself. Why did she have to go and say something completely ridiculous like that? Everyone knows that there are no such things as ghosts. If she had asked a question like that to anyone else, they would've laughed in her face. They would've told her not to be so wrapped up in stories designed to scare little children.
However what Amelia saw was definitely no illusion. She knew what she saw and that visage certainly could not be denied. She had seen a ghost: pure and simple. No one could deny that.
And, if what that ghost told her was true, this entire village was full of ghosts- all bound under a curse most hideous. And a curse that needed lifting.
But what guarantee did Amelia have that Zel would believe her? Why would he, a chimera; a creature of the night and a grown man, believe a child's story?
Amelia had seen the ghostly inhabitants of this village. One such inhabitant had even made contact with her. It was this ghost that told the princess that the entire village needed help. The help of these two outsiders. So there could be a chance....
Then, in a slow tone, Zel gave his answer:
"Yes, Amelia I have seen......something."
Amelia grinned. Yes! He had seen something! Great! Now they were both in the same boat. Now that they both had seen the ghosts that made up the village she can now convince him to help them!
Yes they will now certainly help these doomed villagers - together.
Suddenly Amelia felt a sharp pain from the depths of her stomach. It was a pain, gnawing at her insides. A pain coming across from a lack of sleep. A pain that the princess ignored.
However, Zel didn't turn around. He continued to have his back towards Amelia. And it was perhaps just as well, because if he turned his head around, Amelia would've noticed that his face was screwed up in an expression of contempt. Indeed, fortune was smiling on the princess - yet it's smile was more of a cruel joke on her.
"Yes Amelia. I have seen something. Something quite extraordinary." Zel said.
Amelia let out a yawn. The pain was eating away at her. Sleep was beckoning.....
Oblivious, Zel went on: "There is a great evil force here in this village....."
Amelia fell on her knees. She was fighting a losing battle here. She couldn't stay awake.
Zel continued his musing: "A great evil force indeed....."
Suddenly his speech was interrupted by a loud thump. Zel flicked his head around to see Amelia, lying on the cobblestones, fast asleep. Her battle to stay awake had fallen through and now her defences lay in ruins.
Zel ground his teeth. Great. Just great. She had fallen asleep on him. Of course, by now he should be unsurprised that his plan of escaping this accursed village is constantly plagued with delays.
Oh well, perhaps he should consider getting her to safety.
Growling in frustration at his bad luck, Zel picked up the princess and carried on his way, his eyes retaining their vigilance. But it wasn't an exit the chimera's eyes were searching for now. Instead, Zel was now looking for shelter. After all, he couldn't leave Amelia out here when this night was owned by ghosts.....
It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for.
There, standing out in amongst the ruins, was a blasted, but still quite stable house. There was a gaping great hole in the roof, the walls were all scarred with burnt patches and the paint was peeling. But the house still looked quite capable of withstanding even a Dragon Slave spell hurled by a bad-tempered, red-headed sorceress.
Zel grinned at his discovery. Then, without any further ado, he ran into the house.
Zel pushed opened what once was the front door and found himself, and Amelia, in a darkened chamber. Using his demon powers to determine shapes within the darkness, it didn't take long for Zel to pick out the basic contents of the room. Basic contents that told the chimera he was standing in the entrance hall. However, the inside of the house wasn't much to speak of. There was no furniture, doors, curtains or any decoration of any kind. The floor, which perhaps was once made from the finest wood available, was now covered in dust, dirt and rubble - thus concealing any trace of the floor's previous glory. The walls were also looking quite scarred and had definitely seen better days - just like the rest of the building.
But what did it matter if this house was a decrepit wreck?! What mattered was it continued to serve it's purpose as a shelter to those who adopted this building as their habitat. Zel made his way into the building. He then made his way across to a corner and gently set Amelia down. Then he stood up, his mind setting about on task on deciding on what to do next.....
But what to do next? His primary goal at the moment is his never-ending search for a cure. But he can't continue on with this journey just yet. For, as far as he was convinced, there was a great evil force at work here. The encounter with those ghostly monks and the mere presence of the ghosts was proof enough! Furthermore, if this evil force was manipulating the souls of the dead villagers then that is something he couldn't stand for. He couldn't just walk away when such souls couldn't be laid to rest!
Then Zel caught himself. What the hell was he thinking? He wouldn't say something like that normally....
Would he?
Why should he help these people? They weren't alive, so to speak, so they couldn't provide any reward of any kind. They wouldn't accept him as human instead of a monster. And, like everyone else, what guarantee did Zel have that they won't shun him away as a monster?
But, in spite of these risks, something compelled Zelgadis to stay. Something that came from hanging around a Champion of Justice too long.....
Which now brings him to the second hazard in Zel's path: Amelia.
No matter how hard he tries, it seems unlikely that Zel would get rid of the princess. She seems determined to make him cheer up. But.....
.....he doesn't want to live in a world where he is deemed a monster. He doesn't want to live in a world where he's shunned from human eyes. He doesn't want to live in a world where he is judged no better then the countless monsters and mazoku that he has fought and destroyed. Thus it become essential that he locates a cure and makes a welcome return to the realm of humanity - As one of them.
Yet Amelia seems determined to cheer him up. But she is a princess. Yes, a princess, of all people. A high ranking member of society and a beacon of inspiration to the people. What would a princess have of a freak? A deformation? A monster?
As Zelgadis' mind went into overdrive, his eyes made their lazy way across the ruined house. It was these eyes that finally settled on the form of the sleeping princess.
As Zel gazed upon the sleeping princess, he felt a huge crack make it's way across his frozen heart. As she slept there, she looked breathtakingly beautiful. She looked so beautiful sleeping there. So delicate, so peaceful, so lovely...
Then he caught himself yet again. What was he thinking?! He certainly wasn't used to emotions like this....
And there was no way in hell he wanted to get used to emotions like this!!!!!!
Suddenly the chimera was overcome by a peculiar sensation. Zel feel to his knees clutching his head in pain. What was this? What was going on here?
Then it struck him.
Of course! He hadn't slept a wink during the course of the entire night! The lack of sleep was now catching up with him!
Having not slept in the past twelve or so hours Zel had no trouble succumbing to the demands his tired frame made. The chimera, then lay down beside the princess and closed his eyes.
It didn't take him long before he fell into sub-conscious and into dreams.....
Chapter 6
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