Chapter 4
Darkness Looming
Some time later, the four adventurers found themselves back at the inn, celebrating their victory over Diol with an enormous breakfast. They were situated in a booth, with Amelia and Zel at one side and Lina and Gourry, both enjoying the prospect of a second breakfast, on the other. And it was during this feeding frenzy that conversation blossomed.
"An invitation?" Zelgadis asked.
"Yeah, to a party!" Lina grinned.
At the mention of a party, Amelia's eyes lit up. Zel, on the other hand, didn't look terribly excited. With the frustration that was his cursed appearance always taking up every square inch of his mind, the prospect of such a social gathering did little to excite him. Instead he retained his usual stoic expression.
"Whose party?" the chimera asked.
"Martina's!" Lina answered. "She and Zangulus are celebrating a wedding anniversary!"
At the mention of the lunatic princess, Zel's head came crashing down on the table. Sure the prospect of such a social gathering was bad enough (Considering the chimera's obsession with to keep a low profile with such a cursed form) but a social gathering organised by Martina?!?!.
Ever since the afore-mentioned wedding, he'd thought he had seen the last of that demented princess. How fickle fate can be.....
Amelia on the other hand was overjoyed at the news. She clasped her hands and her eyes sparkled.
"Their wedding anniversary!" she sighed. "How romantic!"
Lina slapped her forehead in disbelief. Amelia was a good friend but damn, she can get so embarrassing at times....
Zel raised his head off the table.
"You can't be serious!" he groaned.
Amelia returned his expression of contempt with a sly grin. She knew exactly what he was thinking. He wasn't well-adjusted to the discussion of all things romantic. Zel found such a discussion embarrassing and avoided it at all costs. Oh, how he hated it!
Yes, Amelia certainly knew what the chimera was thinking.
And she also knew how to deal with it! Immediately, a large blush worked it's way across Zel's face.
Damn, he hates this romantic stuff....
Zel turned away from Amelia, readily convinced that she had turned against him. But Zel glanced across the table at Lina and Gourry. The chimera didn't want to go to this wedding anniversary at all. He needed support for his cause.
And if such support is required he'll have to find in the sorceress and the swordsman.
"Lina? Are you going too?"
"Yeah Zel, as matter of fact, I am."
Zel blinked in astonishment. He knew for a fact that Martina and Lina weren't exactly the best of friends. Why, as Zel recalled, the majority of their time spent together was invested in bickering and arguing - While a small minority of the time was invested with cooperating with each other. Yet why would the sorceress want to get involved with that princess' company?
Lina caught his gaze. Smiling in a satisfactory manner, she reached over the table and picked up a piece of toast. Still smiling in a cunning fashion, she then proceeded to shake it before her face.
Zel groaned. It was pointless arguing with Lina as the food ALWAYS overrules.
Seeking support, the chimera turned to Gourry. Fortunately for Zel, the swordsman shared the same expression of contempt. He too was not exactly keen on seeing Martina again.
Zel let out a small sigh of relief. Yes, there could be a chance he won't lose this argument entirely!
"Gourry?" Zel asked, hopefully. "Are you going to Martina's party too?"
The swordsman, opened his mouth, ready to deliver his distaste for not going....
....And it would've come had not Lina butted in.
"Yes Gourry" the sorceress said, making sure the swordsman could clearly see her hand mould into a fist. "Are you?"
It didn't take long for Gourry to reach a decision. Without any hesitation whatsoever, he nodded his head.
Much to Zel's annoyance.
Defeated, he slumped back in his chair. His arguments had fallen on deaf ears. All prospects of escaping this fate came crashing to the floor.
Well, it would appear that he'll be going too....
Just then, the table was approached by a the tavern waiter. He was a young man with an appearance tht was tidy and clean cut. He was well-shaven with a clean haircut and dressed in trousers with a shirt and waistcoat.
The waiters name was Antonio and it was he who presented the table with the bill.
The four adventurers turned away from the window and towards Antonio.
"Did you all enjoy your meal?" Antonio inquired.
All four of the diners nodded.
Pleased with such a reaction, Antonio presented Lina with the bill.
She was just about to pay....
When a loud noise thundered from outside.
In an instant the four adventurers got to their feet and took off outside, eager to investigate. Antonio, along with a few other curious diners, followed.
What awaited Lina and friends was nothing short of unsettling.
Outside, a group of people marched down the street. They were led by a young man holding afloat the severed head of an old woman.
"The murderer has struck again!" the man shouted. It was this sentence that he shouted over and over again, informing the world of a crime most dreadful.
The people that followed the young man were at once shocked, revolted, distrubed and distressed at the horrendous deed. They also joined the messenger in marching through Dakeyras as the world was informed of this atrocity.
Near the procession, another group had gathered. It was a mixture of ordinary dressed people and some dignitaries - Obviously the dignitaries represented the village elders. The group itself was involved in a rather heated discussion. The expressions of the people was a mixture of anger, fear and annoyance. The townsfolk looked absolutely appalled with the situation and the dignataries tried to establish order.
Lina, Gourry, Amelia and Zel all blinked at this bizarre sight. Antonio, who was standing close by, bowed his head.
"What the....?" Gourry asked, more confused then usual.
Amelia quickly turned to Antonio.
"What's going on here?" she asked. "What's he saying about a murderer?"
Antonio looked up and blinked. Then his expression turned grave.
"For the past few day's Dakeyras has been threatened by a murderer." Antonio said solomnly. "He has been murdering one person every day for a week now. Yet upon every murder, he severs the head and throws in our midst."
Lina took in this information caefully, before tunring a round and heading back into the tavern, not wanting to see another moment of this bizarre procession. Her friends followed.
"So" Gourry asked. "What do we do now?"
"What do we do?" Lina echoed, as she laid the money for the bill on the table. "We go to Martina's party of course!"
Amelia blinked in astonishment.
"You mean to tell me that while this village is threatened by a murderer, we are just going to turn our back's on it?!!?" she cried.
Lina nodded.
"WHAT?!?" Amelia yelled. "You are telling me to turn my back on my duties as a Champion of Justice!?!?"
Lina groaned. Here we go again....
Better duck out.
"Do what you like." Lina said slyly. "But I'm going to Martina's party!"
And with that she pushed past her friends and headed for the door. Gourry shrugged before taking off after the red-head.
Amelia was now left with Zel. She turned to the chimera.
"What are you going to do Zel?" she asked.
"I'm staying here!" he replied in a definitive tone.
"Really?" Amelia asked, with eyes sparkling. Does he really want to help her in her cause a Champion of Justice?!
Zel nodded.
"There is no way I'm going to see Martina again!"
Upon hearing this, Amelia's high hopes can crashing to the floor. They were not the words she was expecting.....
The now distraught princess covered her eyes with her plam and shook her head.
Suddenly, two pairs of arms descended upon the chimera! And before Zel knew what was happeneing, these arms were dragging him out of the tavern! Then, from outside the tavern came a voice that was familiar but radiating with triumph.
"Really?" said the voice. "We're not going to let you escape that easily Zelly boy!"
Amelia, now feeling quite upset at neglecting the Call of Justice, sighed heavily. Then she took off after her friends.
Elsewhere, many miles away, an evil force was brooding.
In a cave somewhere, a tall robed figure was concocting some evil plot. He stood before a crystal ball, upon a plinth, with his hands outstretched and ready for casting a spell....
Knowing that fool Diol, he would've, by now, applied the elixir to his chimera design. Once he saw the pay he was gong to receive, his agreement to assist in this devious scheme wasn't too difficult to obtain.
And he didn't even bother to ask what this elixir was going to do!
The tall figure allowed himself a victorious chuckle. He still couldn't believe his luck on finding that elixir, even after all this time. It was during one of his many travels that he stumbled upon it....
It was on a day that he experienced the best luck in ages. It was by pure luck that he had stumbled upon some ruins. Upon closer examination, these ruins proved to be the remains of the lab of the legendary Rezo! Amazing! Remarkable! It was still here! Just think what treasure troves these ruins can reveal!
With such a find, Lady Luck can only bestow such wealth. And indeed she did!
It wasn't long before he made a discovery of the rarest kind: A crystal vial. Untouched, unscratched, undamaged. And that was more astonishing: It had managed to survive the destruction of the laboratory and still contained it's cargo, in an intact container.
Still marvelling at his incredible luck, he left the ruins with his newly-discovered elixir.
An elixir that had now found itself into the naive Diol's hands.....
Yes, things were just getting better and better....
More better then anticipated, for both himself and his associates.
The tall figure grimaced at the thought of his "associates". No doubt about it, they were certainly not the best choice of companions. Sure they exhibited the highest level of intelligence anywhere. Sure they seemed interested in the pursuit of science. Sure they, unlike everyone else on this forsaken continent, seemed to have got their act together. Sure they have contributed crucial input to this project.....
Yet they weren't exactly the most trustworthy people in the world.
What was worse that these other two seemed to look down their nose at him. They saw him not as a colleague but as a maggot, a slave, a pawn, someone not destined for success.
No matter how much he contributed to this project, his part was always overlooked.
But one thing's for sure. He will make them pay. Yes, he certainly will.....
Suddenly the robed figure sensed the presence of another.
Looking up, he saw another robed figure enter the cave. The tall figure glared with intense hatred at this newcomer.
"You." the tall one rasped.
The newcomer nodded.
"Has it been done?" the newcomer inquired, bearing a voice rich in femineity.
The tall figure nodded.
"Yes, that fool Diol seemed quite eager to incorporate an extra ingredient into his chimera plan."
"Once he saw the money, I guess." The woman chuckled.
The tall man nodded.
"So where is our little puppet now?" the woman demanded.
"That is what I'm trying to find out"
Suddenly a third voice rang out through the cave. This new voice was more masculine compared to the shrouded woman but was still fairly high-pitched.
"Really?" mocked this new voice. "You couldn't find anything even if you tried!"
Upon hearing this comment, the tall man growled and lowered his head, as plots of vengeance began again sprouting in his head.
Within seconds, the owner of this new voice came into view.
He too was bedecked in a hooded robe - just like his compatriots. But he did not share the same stature. This newcomer possessed the body of a young man, a teenager. Even if he was concealed by a robe, one could tell, without much difficulty, the age of this newcomer's body.
But, unlike the tall man, the woman received this newcomer more warmly.
"Aha, it is good to see you again!" the woman greeted.
"And what a pleasure it is to see you too!" the teenager answered.
Then, this newcomer walked around to the tall man and slapped him on the back.
"And how are you, Bag-of-bones?"
"Don't call me that, Dammit!" the tall man roared.
"Yeah whatever, Bag-of-bones" came the reply.
"So tell me" the teenager went on, now addressing the woman. "Is everything proceeding according to the schedule?"
But the woman did not give a direct answer. Instead she looked past the teenager and towards the tall man.
"Yes, is everything according to the schedule?"
The tall man let out another soft growl. This was totally unbelievable. Why would they care about the events that he brought about? It was not like they did any recent work. It was not like they had done a thing in recent months. It was not like they treated him as anything but an underling. Why would they care?
Nevertheless, the tall man gave his rasping response.
"I successfully paid Diol off into utilising that elixir, in to his chimera plan. Thus it shouldn't be too long before we three begin to reap the benefits of that little venture..."
"And what did that elixir do anyway?" the teenager demanded.
"As far as I know" the tall man answered. "It will bring that creation of Diol's under our control. It will produce us with a puppet!"
"And where is the chimera now?" the teenager asked, impatiently.
Suddenly, before the tall man could answer, the crystal ball lit up with a blaze of orange, fire and yellow. A blaze that burned with such ferocity that it illuminated the entire cave in a bright glow. The three robed figures all turned to gaze upon this out-burst, their eyes revealing a mixture of bewilderment, anticipation, wonder and fear.
Eventually the blaze settled down within the ball. The glow that emerged from the ball's depths had now died down. The cave had now retained it's original gloom, yet the crystal ball still burned with this newly-discovered fury.
The three onlookers approached the plinth cautiously, they movements intoxicated with fear, hesitation and curiosity. As they stared, their eyes grew larger in astonishment. For within the flames of the crystal ball, images grew into focus. Where was once just a raging flame now produced shapes. Shapes that could be easily identified......
"Well" the tall man proclaimed smugly. "Does that answer your question?"
As the three robed figures watched, their eyes adjusted to the change in the swirling shapes and established the element of focus required. As the images registered within the brains of the trio, their eyes grew ever more surprised.
"What's this?"
"I don't believe it!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Can this be real?"
It was there, within the flames of the crystal ball, that the trio was presented with the first glance of the puppet. The first glance of their newly-acquired too. The first glance of the vital cog in their devious scheme......
"SHE'S our puppet?" the tall man rasped.
"How on earth did Diol acquire her?!" the teenager gaped.
Only the woman seemed undisturbed: "Oh well, at least she's a pretty one."
"Hold on." The teenager said. "It would appear that she isn't alone."
That was true. Not only did the crystal reveal the identity of the puppet, but it also established the fact that she wasn't alone.
"It seems to me" the tall man mused. "That our little puppet is on the move and she isn't travelling alone."
In the silence that followed, the tall man silently cursed. This was indeed a most unpleasant change in events. They finally acquire their puppet but it now seems to be moving away from them. Worst still this unexpected transportation was being conducted in the company of others. This made things difficult and indeed created a rather large hazard in the trio's nefarious scheme.....
It seems their luck has finally run it's course....
The woman blinked at the images of the people accompanying their "puppet".
"Who are these other people? I think I've seen them some place before....."
"Who cares?!" snapped the teenager. "What matter's is that they have our puppet and it is falling out of our grip! We must get this puppet back and quickly!"
The other two nodded.
"Right." the woman grinned. "I think it's time we had some fun with our puppet....."
Chapter 4.5
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