Chapter 17
The Terror of Revelation
The three adventurers glared at the diners. Even Gourry could tell that these two were in possession of an agenda most sinister.
Alana stood up and held her hand out.
"Ah, if it isn't the infamous Lina Inverse!" she mocked. "What an honour it is to finally meet you! Won't you join us for a little wine?"
But Lina wasn't in any mood for any nonsense! She strode over to the two evil masterminds with an expression as black as coal. The red-head slammed her fists down on the table in rage and leaned in towards these newcomers.
"And just who the hell are you?" she snarled.
If Alana and Adolphus were perturbed by Lina's fury, they certainly didn't show it. Adolphus stood up.
"Yes, perhaps it is time for introductions" he proclaimed.
"Allow me to introduce myself" he continued. "I'm Adolphus and this would be my associate Alana"
Lina blinked in astonishment. Hey, those names sound familiar....
She stood and slowly took several steps away from the table.
"Hey I've heard of you!" she exclaimed. "You were those bastards who have been following us! You've been looking for Amelia!"
Alana nodded. "Yes, you could say that....."
Gourry spoke up: "What did you want with Amelia?"
"And where is she now?" Zel growled.
"Ah yes" Adolphus replied. "Perhaps it is time for an explanation"
"You see" he went on, "I was once as young as you three. In that time, I had grown a fascination with studying magic. Therefore I set on a long and dangerous journey to learn all I could about this fascinating craft....."
"Cut to the chase!" Lina interrupted.
Adolphus blinked, before adapting a voice that radiated of danger.
"I thought you wanted answers!"
"I do!" Lina retorted. "But I didn't want your life story!!!"
"You sure have a way with people don't you?" Zel sighed.
Adolphus twitched with rage, at the sorceress' impudence. Yet he eventually found enough time to rebuild his composure and continue on with his story.
"Well my search for a greater understanding of all kinds of magic led me to unlock the tainted secrets of the dark arts. It was then that I discovered the wonders of necromancy. And after all my studying, I found a craft of magic that fascinated me. It was the ideal of using magic to create a walking life form that really appealed to me.
"Eventually, I met Alana" Adolphus explained, nodding towards his accomplice as he did so. "She too had a fascination for the art of creating life-forms."
"A fascination?" Alana interrupted. "I wouldn't call it a fascination! I am not some sick, demented genius of twisted intent! I am a scientist! The civilised world perceives the art of life-form creation as a undertaking of those with visions of delusions and corrupt ambition! But I am making it into a wonderful and beneficial science!"
Upon hearing this, Gourry, Lina and Zel all exchanged glances of sheer bewilderment.
"Anyway" Adolphus said, carrying on with his explanation, "Alana and myself decided to utilise our skills to create the ultimate life-form. It was our dream to merge both magic and science together so a creation of both talents could walk this...."
It was then that Adolphus received a third interruption to his monologue: Only this one came in the form in a series of coughing from the three adventurers.
Suddenly something inside the liche snapped. Adolphus then leaned forward and bellowed down at the trio.
"HOW CAN I GIVE YOU ANSWERS WHEN YOU KEEP INTERRUPTING ME?!?!!?" he roared.
Immediately, Lina and her friends fell silent. Satisfied that he will never face the frustration of interruptions again, Adolphus went on.
"In time, the path of research led me to discover the ruins of a laboratory. A laboratory that once belonged to the famous Red priest Rezo."
When they heard this, Lina and Gourry blinked. Zelgadis' expression hardened.
"And in amongst those ruins" Adolphus sneered, "I found a vial. A vial containing am enigmatic potion. And knowing full well of Rezo's studies with chimeras, I knew that this vial was a gold mine of opportunity!"
Lina shot a glance at Zelgadis, to see his face grow angry and his fist shake with rage.
"Meanwhile, Alana had become acquainted with a young man named Kurt. He claimed to know of a long-forgotten greater mazoku named Damenamecus. Damenamecus was once a great sorcerer who pioneered the science of mazoku creation! I knew that he was someone whom could provide us with a sheer treasure trove of knowledge!
"So we set about in bringing the long-forgotten Damenamecus back to life. But in order to do so, he had to provide a host body. And not just any host body: One with the right preparation! And the vial I discovered, just happened to be the vital ingredient that would aid in the summoning!
"But we still required a host body. However I knew how to get one. In my research I learned of an ill-fated chimera scientist, Diol. I sought him out and told him that I wanted to aid him in his studies. And he went right along with it! And without bothering to ask what I wanted his services for! And with that fool working for us, the preparations for the summoning came along much quicker!
"Finally, Diol gave us The Chosen One."
"You mean Amelia?" Gourry asked.
"That's right" Adolphus nodded. "And when the Chosen One fell into our grasp, we finally succeeded. The Chosen One became the host body to Damenamecus. But before he could grant us with a boon of knowledge, you attacked us and stopped us. Then your friend managed to banish Damenamecus from this realm."
Lina blinked. One of her friends?
He couldn't be talking about Syl could he?!
"But where is Amelia now?" Zel snarled whom was not liking this news at all.
"I'll answer that!" came a voice from behind the chimera.
All eyes turned to the door to see a young man, a teenager, enter the room. This man was well-groomed in appearance and bore a sinister grin. Upon entering the room, this newcomer was confronted with suspicious glares from three unfamiliar faces. Nevertheless, he continued grinning and marched right into the room.
"Ah Kurt!" Alana grinned. "It's so good for you to join us at long last!"
"As always!" the teenager replied. "And I'm pleased to report that my mission was a success! Now we can continue with our plans."
"Marvellous!" Alana cried in elation. "And where is it?"
"In it's quarters"
"And who the hell are you?" Lina snapped, at this newcomer.
Kurt flicked his gaze around to see the sorceress. When he saw who it was, he chuckled.
"Why Lina Inverse!" he sniggered. "It's certainly a pleasure to meet you in the flesh at long last! Why, we have so much to discuss!"
Unfortunately for Kurt, Lina wasn't in any mood. Instead she grabbed the teenager by his collar and hoisted him off the ground.
"Cut the crap, laughing boy" she snarled. "Just answer the question!"
".....I suppose I could...." Kurt giggled.
But, alas for Kurt, Lina wasn't the type of person who enjoyed being toyed with. The enraged red-head dealt the evil cretin a vicious uppercut! Kurt shot into the air and crashed through the ceiling!
Alana blinked at the strength of Lina. She had heard stories of the sorceress' short temper but none of those stories ever said something like this! Adolphus, however, emitted a series of short raspy noises - It was as if the liche was laughing.....
Seconds later, the hapless teenager found himself in the pull of gravity and came crashing down to the floor. Kurt blinked in a daze. Yet it didn't take him too long to find his gaze being met by the furious glare of a certain red-head.
Kurt managed a grin. "Perhaps I should explain...."
The teenager then struggled to his feet and cleared his throat.
"Your friend was to be our host body to Damenamecus. But you interfered with our plans. However you are too late to save her - She has already been altered by our mighty Damenamecus!"
Upon hearing this, Lina closed her eyes and turned away. No. No, it can't be.....It can't be!
Zel however began shaking with rage. He wasn't liking what he was hearing.
"No way!" Gourry protested.
Yes way!" Kurt grinned triumphantly. "And as long as she remains that way, we can always keep on with our attempts to resurrect Damenamecus! And once...."
Kurt never got to finish his sentence - For Lina finished it for him with a lethal backhand to the face! Kurt, along with several freshly dislodged teeth, fell to the floor.
"I think I've heard enough" Lina announced. She opened his eyes to face Gourry and Zel.
The red-head smiled evilly. Zel nodded in reply and drew his sword. Gourry, already with a good idea on what was going to happen, also drew his sword. Yes, a fight was on it's way. Yeah......
Lina turned around to face the two masterminds at the table with a look that said: "I'm going to fireball your arse like you wouldn't believe!"
But if Alana was aware of the impending doom that was seconds away from occurring, she certainly didn't show it. She didn't get to her feet, she didn't run, she didn't make a fuss. Instead she remained seated with a smug expression across her face.
"You three are such fools" she said softly. "You wouldn't dare lay a finger on us."
"And why not?" Lina retorted.
"This is why!" Adolphus answered, getting to his feet. He raised his hands upwards and muttered some unintelligible words underneath his breath.
Immediately, in the space that separated the adventurers from the table, an eerie purple smoke emerged from the floor. This smoke rose up from the floor, towards the ceiling. The smoke towered above the heads of the astonished friends.
Then the smoke began to inflate. It began to grow wider and fatter. It began to grow in density until it fully occupied the empty space between the table and three adventurers. Lina, along with Gourry and Zel, sensed danger and began moving back towards the door. What the hell was going on here?
Suddenly the smoke vanished. Vanished with a huge roar! Vanished into thin air! Vanished in a huge explosion and a blast of bright light!
Shielding their gaze from the effects of Adolphus' spell, the trio never saw the smoke dissipate completely. Nor did they see the room being enveloped into the bright light.
Eventually the light died down. Lina, Gourry and Zel all looked up to see what the effects of the spell had in store for them.
And what they saw made their blood turn to ice.
There, lying down on the floor in front of the table, was Amelia. Fast asleep. Or at least it looked Amelia. It had her familiar clothes and it had her distinctive shape but there was a difference. A difference that was most disturbing to the eye.
Amelia's flesh had changed in a way that was dramatic and horrific: Her skin, once being soft and light, had now turned hard and blue. It now possessed a texture that could only be found on rocks and it was also speckled with indigo studs of various sizes. Her ears had grown longer and sharper, revealing an obvious demonic influence. And her hair, once raven-black and smooth, had now changed into something needle-like: firm, thin and sharp.
Lina's jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Zel blinked, as he was certain that his eyes weren't lying to him. Gourry, bearing a look that was at once both astonished and terrified, dropped his sword.
Gourry's fell to the floor with a tremendous clatter. But even that could not break the trio from the silence that enslaved them.
Just then, Amelia stirred. She slowly opened her eyes.....
....Only to be confronted with the sight of her three friends. Her three friend whom bore the most horrified of expressions.
Suddenly, Amelia was swept in a tsunami of panic! Quickly she leapt to her feet, her eyes darting left and right. Amelia caught sight of Kurt knocked out, a dark woman and a liche sitting at a table and Lina with Gourry and Zelgadis.
Her friends! No! They can't be here! They mustn't see her like this!
"Miss Lina!" she exclaimed.
"Amelia?" Lina replied, her voice revealing signs of terror and disbelief.
"You know" Gourry stammered. "She looks exactly like....."
Both the swordsman and the sorceress turned towards the chimera. Zel was shaking with rage. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Amelia had, somehow, contracted his accursed chimera form. Everything that he had grown to love and depend upon had been destroyed by what was plaguing his every waking moment and blinding his life.
Zel locked a glare of hatred onto Adolphus and Alana. Then the chimera began to speak. But his words came out, one after the other, in a voice that was dangerously soft:
"Damn you bastards. DAMN YOU!"
"Hey look on the bright side chimera boy" Alana smirked. "Now there's two of you!"
"Enough of this!" Lina shouted. "Let's end this now!"
She turned towards the evil masterminds. "I was gonna go easy on you but now that I've seen what you've done to my friend, you better start saying your prayers to whatever sick, twisted deity you worship!"
She then closed her eyes and began mouthing silent words.
"No wait!" yelled Amelia. "Stop!"
Lina then stopped in surprise and looked up, all thoughts of Dragon Slaving Adolphus and Alana into next week all forgotten.
"Amelia?"
"....I.....I.... don't want you hurting them" Amelia said.
"WHAT?!"
"That's right" Alana chuckled. "You're friend has agreed to help us."
"They.... promised to cure my chimera form...." Amelia said, her voice radiant with guilt.
Upon hearing this, Zel raised an eyebrow.
"Enough of this!" Adolphus declared. He raised his skeletal arms above his hands and proceeded to cast another spell. A spell directed at the trio at the door.
Immediately, Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis all toppled forward. With their eyelids heavy and under the demanding call for rest, the trio fell to the floor in a deep sleep.
Amelia said nothing. Instead she stood in silence. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She had got herself mixed up in an evil plot and, for her trouble, wound up with her appearance altered in a way that was hideous and terrifying. Yet she didn't want this. She didn't want the same curse that was troubling Zelgadis. Thus, when the prospects of a cure arose, she jumped at the chance. Yet, as always, there was a price to pay: And in this case it was that in order to achieve this cure, she must betray her friends. She must turn her back onto Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis and become a slave to whatever insane plot these lunatics were hatching.
Amelia bowed her head and closed her eyes, as an enormous guilt gnawed away at her soul. She couldn't believe it. This so wasn't like her.....
She turned to Alana and Adolphus. The women raised her glass and smiled.
"Do you drink wine?"
Some time later, Amelia found herself pacing along the floor of a well furnished room within the depths of the mansion.
This room was made up especially for her. As long as she still possessed the chimera curse, she was still able to provide a capable host body for Damenamecus. Thus, she was still a vital asset to the vile plans of the evil threesome.
Amelia's gaze scanned the room. The room was nothing short of comfortable. In one corner was a bed containing the finest of silk sheets - finer than those she had back in the palace in Saillune. In another corner, there was a couch that would've hardly come cheap. And finally, there was a desk made from the finest mahogany. Considering that the three evils still had plans for her, they obviously wanted what was best for her.
Amelia sighed. Yes, this room was loaded with the most luxurious furnishings and yes she was certainly in a position of great importance but she couldn't hide form the truth. She was a prisoner here. A prisoner whom was to be utilised for some nefarious scheme.
Amelia sighed again, thinking back to the events earlier this evening.....
Dinner was hardly a cheerful affair. Amelia felt uncomfortable sharing the table with those she had to betray her friends for. What made the situation worse was that the people in question consisted of a lunatic scientist and a liche!
Man, this wasn't like her. She wasn't the type to betray her friends! She wasn't the type to give into the enemy that easily! She was a Champion of Justice for L-sama's sake!
However the prospects for reversing this chimera curse seemed to take a greater priority.
But just these bastards wait. Once she gets her normal body, she'll teach a lesson they won't forget in a hurry.....
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
Amelia sighed a third time. She could guess who was on the other side of the door. And she also had a good idea as to what they wanting.
Even as she was repulsed by doing so, Amelia nevertheless crossed the room and opened the door.
Her suspicions were correct: There, greeting the chimera, was the liche.
"Hello" Adolphus greeted. "Mind if I come in?"
"Oh let me think about it" Amelia replied. "NO?!"
"He's lying you know." Adolphus shot back, quickly.
Amelia, mere seconds away from slamming the door shut, stopped dead in her tracks. What was this?
"You mean Kurt?" Amelia asked.
Adolphus nodded. "Indeed I do"
"And yes I do have something to say" he went on. "However I can't tell you out here. These walls have ears, you know...."
Amelia sighed, before nodding her consent. Defeated, she stepped aside, thus allowing Adolphus entry to the room. The liche stepped into the room and turned to face the chimera.
"Kurt is lying to you" Adolphus said. "He offered you a cure for your condition so you could be duped into doing what he said.
"But you have been led on. He doesn't have a cure. He has been using you for his own ends. He has no intention of keeping his side of the bargain."
"But I have a proposition" the liche went on. 'Whilst Kurt doesn't have a cure, I do. I can break you out of that repulsive form! I can change your appearance to what it was before! I can restore your former body!
"However I need your help. I want to rob my allies of their knowledge and use it to create my own chimera - on my own. And whilst I have the means to pull such a move off, I do require your help."
Amelia blinked, thinking this over.
"So let me get this straight." She said slowly. "You want to betray your allies and you have a plan to do so, and you need my help to carry this plan out?"
And rid me of those ignorant, rude scum Adolphus thought.
"That would be it" he answered. "So, what do you think?"
Seconds later, Adolphus found himself being hurled out the door at fantastic speed! The liche came crashing into the wall opposing the door with a terrific thud! Adolphus fell to the floor as Amelia slammed the door behind him.
"I suppose not then....." the liche managed to mumble.
Elsewhere, away from the well-furnished prison that was Amelia's room, another soul was lurking in another prison.
Lina Inverse awoke with a sudden jolt. Adolphus' sleep spell had now run it's path and lost it's grip on the sorceress.
Now that she was wide awake and ready for action, Lina's eyes scanned the area. Looking for that bastard liche and that lunatic woman as well.
But what she saw was something unexpected. Instead of being in that elegant dining room, she was in an environment that was disturbingly familiar.
Lina jumped to her feet blinking in disbelief.
But no. It was true. She was stuck back in this rotten cell!
"DAMMIT!!!!!" she screamed.
"Jeez Lina" came a voice "Can you keep it down?"
It was then that the red-head came to the realisation that she wasn't alone. There, at her feet, Gourry and Zelgadis both got up from the floor, both free from the effects of the sleep spell.
"Gourry!" Lina grinned. "Zel! You're all right!"
"Yeah" Gourry replied. "But.....didn't that dining room look larger then this?"
"Huh?"
"I thought you must've trashed that room with a Dragon Slave! That must've knocked me out! And that must be why this room looks so shabby!"
"Gourry" Lina groaned. "We're not in the dining room any more, we're back in that cell."
"And Lina didn't cast the Dragon Slave" Zel added. "That Adolphus cast a sleep spell and they must've transported us down here."
Gourry blinked, taking all of this. Eventually he nodded.
"So what do we do now?" the swordsman inquired.
"What else can we do?" Zel growled. "We must rescue Amelia."
Lina raised an eyebrow at the chimera. He had his back to Lina and Gourry and, even though the other two couldn't see it, his face had adopted an angry expression and his eyes had grown furious. It seems the shock of seeing Amelia, under the same curse that had plagued him for years, had certainly had a tremendous impact on him.
Lina walked forward and placed a comforting hand on the chimera's shoulder.
"I know Zel, I know" she said softly.
"No you don't know" he replied.
Lina blinked, taken aback by the chimera' words.
"You don't know what it's like in this cursed form!" Zel went on as he turned around. "You don't know what it's like to walk this earth with a curse! You don't know what it's like to see this curse take away everything that you've grown to love!"
"Do you mean that?" Lina grinned slyly.
The red-head sniggered as the Chimera's face erupted in a bright red blush.
Just then Gourry spoke up: "Didn't that skull-head mention something about a cure?"
Zel blinked.
"You don't mean that do you?"
He turned away, to face the wall once again "After all this time....."
"Uh, Zel?" Lina said. "What say we go trash those cretins? They did that to Amelia after all."
Upon hearing this, Zel's hand moulded in a fist. Yes. Lina was right. Those bastards are responsible. It's time to make them pay.
Zel nodded in agreement.
Satisfied with this answer, Lina turned to Gourry. "You wanna come and beat those bad guys into submission too?"
"You bet!" the swordsman beamed with incredible enthusiasm. If that sounded like the prospects for some action, then how could he refuse?
"Then let's got outta here!" Lina grinned. "FIREBALL!"
Seconds later, the door was blown apart by the destructive force of Lina's fireball. And in it's wake came the three adventurers.
"Right!" Gourry grinned, with eager fervour. "Now for some action!"
"You go on ahead." Zel said, in an authoritative voice. "I'll catch up later"
"Where are you going?" Lina inquired.
"To find Amelia" came the reply.
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