Chapter Four: Sacrifice... Will they ever get there on time?!
Amelia opened her eyes and looked around as ten different flames surrounded her, four on each side and one on each end of her. She felt tight binds around her wrists and ankles. She also had a headache from the way Xavior had knocked her unconcious carried her off. She pulled at the rope only to find she was nearly electricuted every time she attempted it, "A binding spell..." she thought to herself.
"Haha, evening Princess Amelia, how are you?" a deep disembodied voice laughed.
"YOU! YOU TRICKED ME! HOW COULD YOU?! WHY?! WHY DO YOU WANT ME?!" she cried laying her head to the side.
"Haha, you have to ask? I need you. You were required for my mission." he laughed again.
"Why? What is it you need me for?"
"Oh, you'll see Princess." he said looking at her.
Just then he pulled from a dimensional portal, a small amulet. He waved his hand and the building began to shake. Amelia trembled and began to wonder what exactly was going on. Before she could think, a giant gap opened in the floor. From the gap emerged a giant wall with an oval shaped sort of hole in it. Connected to the wall was a big floor with ancient writing on it.
She gasped and realized exactly what was going on, "A...g-g-gateway...to..to ressurect...a god. Then...then I must be...a sacrifice." she breathed, "Oh, no! HELP ME! LET ME GO YOU, YOU HORRIBLE PERSON!!"
He waved his finger in her face, "No, no, no, no, no, Mazoku, Princess, I am a
Mazoku." he laughed.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU ARE! I'LL GET OUT OF HERE! MY FRIENDS WILL HELP ME!"
"YOUR FRIENDS?! HAHAHA! YOU REALLY BELIEVE THEY CAN FIND YOU! EVEN IF THEY DO THEY WILL NEVER, EVER, GET PAST MY DEFENSES! HAHAHA!" he laughed maniacally.
She sobbed, "Oh God...How will I ever get out of here?" she whispered tugging at her ropes.
Xaviour pulled out a giant book and began to flip through the pages searching for the proper spell while Amelia spent her time thinking of a way to get out of there.
Amelia tugged at her ropes once more and let out a half sob, "Oh please, Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis.....don't find me...if you do....you might...end up dieing...but if you do...be careful." she whispered.
"Oh don't worry they won't come Princess, I'll make sure they're too far of track to find you." he grinned mischeviously.
She jerked her head his way as her tears splashed her face, "What?! How did you? How could you?" she asked, her big blue eyes widened in shock.
"Hahaha," he pointed to his ears, "Extra censory hearing pays off." he laughed once more and continued his search of the spell.
Meanwhile at the palace Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis and Phil had been investigating the palace for clues.
Lina wondered around the area where Xavior had disappeared. She looked around the floor closely looking for a tattered piece of clothing, or a trace of magic, anything that might help them track Amelia. She growled in agravation and began to walk off. Just before she left the scene something caught her eye and she turned around. She peered in closely to the floor for a closer look, there laying on the floor in a small puddle was a silvery mass, she dipped her finger in it and smelled it, "Blood...Mazoku blood....But how..." she whispered. She gathered an energy ball in her hand and absorbed the blood. She pulled a small jar from her cape and let the blood fall into the jar, "There we go." She then stuffed the jar in her cape and headed off to get the others.
In the library Phil and Zelgadis looked in the books on how to trace magic. Zelgadis came across a blue book that had two swords crossed in a circle, behind the circle were flames. The book was titled " Magic Talismans, Tracers and Uses of Everyday Objects as Magical Ampliphiers ." Zelgadis peered at the book for a few minutes and looked in the contents, " This book seems to have everything, damn, maybe even a cure for my body..." he said. He flipped to page twenty-seven and read the title, " How to make Chimeras " his eyes widened in joy and began reading about how chimeras were made and how to change their shape. He was skimming when something caughts his eyes "Chimeras cures do not come about on their own will and cannot be cured by any sorcerer, sorceress, or wizard. The cure comes from the ones who made them, or if the chimera was once human, the cure can come from the depths of their heart." He stared at the text for a moment, "The depths of their HEART? WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?!" he blurted.
Phil looked at him strangely "Zelgadis is something wrong?"
"Uhm...no...I was just getting agrivated with a spell in here.." he said.
"Alright then, tell me if you come across anything." the prince said and went back to searching his pile of books.
"Oh yeah..." he sighed, ripped that page from the book and stuffed it in his pouch. He came across a page that was labeled "How to trace Magic" and began to read it's text. Just as he had gotten to an interesting part a loud yelling was heard, "Lina?" Just as he had spoke the name she burst into the door.
"HEY GUYS LOOK!! LOOK IT'S MAZOKU BLOOD!! I CASTED A CAPTURE SPELL AND PUT IT IN THE JAR!!!" she screamed holding out the jar.
"Calm down Lina. We'll get to the bottom of it!" Phil reassured her.
She blinked, "Wait...where's...Gourry?" she looked around, "Wasn't he with you guys?"
"No, we though he was with you." Zelgadis stated.
"DAMNIT GOURRY! Now we have to look for him.." She sighed. Just as she got ready to turn around and head out the library doors she heard a screaming, "What's that?" She looked to where the noise was coming from, "Above? What?" she almost screamed when Gourry came flying out the vent in the ceiling and landed on top of her.
He blinked, "Hey...what happened? Hey guys, where's Lina?" he heard a faint voice say " down here " and looked down, "Oh! HI LINA!" he laughed and stood up.
"GOURRY GABRIEV YOU ARE THE MOST EMPTY-HEADED, STUPID DUMBASS, JELLY-FISH BRAINS THAT I KNOW!!! I WAS RIGHT UNDER YOU DIDN'T YOU SEE ME? NOW I HAVE A BIGGER MIGRANE!!" she blurted face red with anger.
"Oh, I'm sorry Lina," he said as he leaned down, kissed her forehead then looked at her and kissed her on the lips, "I'm really sorry, forgive me?" he asked sadly.
She laughed, "Of course I forgive you." she said then kissed him.
Zelgadis smirked and shook his head staring at Lina.
Lina looked at him, realized he was staring at her and blushed a deep red, "You shut up and stop staring at me like I've never forgiven anyone before..." she said still blushing.
"I never said anything to make you say shut up and I certainly never said you've never forgiven anyone before. It's just that seeing you kiss Gourry is going to take some adjusting to." he said then laughed at his remark.
She blushed "I UH-SHUT UP!" she said and walked out of the library.
Zelgadis laughed and turned to Gourry who was also a bright red color, "Well, you had better go get her so that she doesn't blow up half of Seyruun."
"Right..." the swordsman replied.
Lina sat on her bed embarrassed and fuming over the chimera's words, "Little..jerk..." she said to no one in particular. She had just began ripping her pillow up when a knock came at the door, "Hello?"
"Hello? Lina?"
"Oh it's you Gourry, go on, come in."
"Hey Lina, are you okay?" he said taking a seat by her, "You looked really mad."
"He's such a smart ass! He always comes up with ways to piss me off!" she said.
"Lina, you're honestly mad about that? He was only kidding..."
"I know, I'm not mad he just embarrassed me a bit." she sighed.
"Come on, just forget about it. We're engaged now, we'll be doing things like that in public more often!" he laughed and kissed her gently.
She laughed, "You do have a point, but it will take some adjusting." she smiled and kissed him back.
He leaned his head on hers, "I love you, Lina."
She smiled and kissed him once more, "And I love you too, Gourry."
"Well," he smiled, "We'd better get back to the library with Phil and Zelgadis."
"Right." she laughed, "We have to get Amelia back."
He stood, took her hand and they walked to the library arm in arm.
Amelia woke up again, this time the ropes were bound tighter and were cutting off her circulation and causing cuts to form. She hissed as the pain throbbed through her body,
"W-What? Oh yeah...I'm in here... I need to get out... Or everyone's done for." she thought. She took a deep breath and realized that it was very hot in there and she was sweating emensely. She coughed and huffed and peered over to see a stack of books that were set aside. She then spotted Xavior as he flipped pages in another book and set it on the others in the pile, "Please, I'm begging you, please can I have some water? Please?" she asked and coughed once more.
He looked up at her, "Of course, I can't have you dieing now can I? After you finish you come back here..."
She gave him and odd look but decided not to argue, "A-Alright."
He snapped his fingers and her ropes came untied. She sat up, rubbed her wrists and coughed. She slid off the table and stood unsure of where to go.
He snapped his fingers once more and a man appeared. The man was dressed in a white peasant shirt and black pants. He had gentle light green eyes and white hair that was brushed to the right side of his head. The young man looked to Xavior and whispered,
"What can I do for you Lord Xavior?"
"Take this girl to the gardens. She needs water, food and she needs to bathe herself."
The handsom man nodded, "Yes, sir." He looked to Amelia, smiled sweetly and extended his hand, "Come now, we'll go to the fountain first, you look thirsty."
She nodded weakly and took his hand. Before she could say anything they were transported to the gardens. She looked around and sighed as she took in the picturesque view, "Oh my...it's beautiful!" she gasped.
The gardens were just that, beautiful. There were rose bushes to the right of her, to the far left there was an apple orchard. In the far back was a cliff, on the cliff hungs a beautiful water fall surrounded by green. In the middle there was a giant fountain, in the middle of the fountain was an angel with a horn. The water poured out the horn and into the pool of water. Suddenly a white unicorn with wings galloped across the field.
Amelia gasped in shock, "It's so beautiful..."
The man nodded, "Yes it is. Thank you for the compliment. The fountain is over there." he pointed.
She looked at him, "You created these gardens?"
He nodded again, "Yes I did."
She smiled and shook his hand, "Thank you, by the way what do I call you?"
He smiled back at her, "You're welcome. Call me Dareius."
She nodded and walked over to the fountain. She scooped up a handful of water, emptied it into her mouth and repeated the same motion over and over again. She sighed and soaked her wrists in the cold water. She quickly dried her hands on her gown and stood up, " Where do I bathe? "
Dareius pointed to a giant walled in area with a door, "Over there in that walled in spring... Here are the keys." he said handing her the keys.
She took them gratefully, walked to the door and unlocked it. As she opened it and shut the door behind her she sighed in relief as she peered at the hot springs. She undressed quickly, stepped in the water and relaxed in it's heat, letting it massage her bones and muscles. Her wrists began to sting due to the severe rash and cuts they had aqquired. She washed quickly and stepped out of the spring, wrapping a towel around her. Just as she walked over to get her clothes Xavior appeared.
He smirked, "Hello Princess. Are your batheing conditions allright?"
Blushing as much angry as embarrassed, she hugged the towel around herself tighter,
"W-What do you want?"
"Let's just say I'm checking up on your progress." he said.
"Spyng on me? You're sick and twisted! You'll never get away with this! We won't let you!" she yelled.
"What are you going to do? Your magic is sealed!" he laughed.
She gritted her teeth, "I don't care! You'll see the face of justice and good when Lina and the others find me!"
He grabbed her arm, " Your friends will never find you!" and with that he disappeared.
She slammed her hand against the brick, "I'll find a way! I will!" she cried. She dressed herself and came out of the walled in springs.
"Enjoy your bath, Miss Amelia?" Dareius asked as he planted more flora in the ground.
She nodded, "Where do I go from here? Back to the table?"
He shook his head, "You stay here. He had you bound down like that to make it easier to seal your magic."
"I see. Then do I have a staying place?"
"Yes you do, take my hand and I'll take you there."
"Alright..." she said taking his hand.
He grasped her hand tightly and they both disappeared.
Amelia opened her eyes and looked around as ten different flames surrounded her, four on each side and one on each end of her. She felt tight binds around her wrists and ankles. She also had a headache from the way Xavior had knocked her unconcious carried her off. She pulled at the rope only to find she was nearly electricuted every time she attempted it, "A binding spell..." she thought to herself.
"Haha, evening Princess Amelia, how are you?" a deep disembodied voice laughed.
"YOU! YOU TRICKED ME! HOW COULD YOU?! WHY?! WHY DO YOU WANT ME?!" she cried laying her head to the side.
"Haha, you have to ask? I need you. You were required for my mission." he laughed again.
"Why? What is it you need me for?"
"Oh, you'll see Princess." he said looking at her.
Just then he pulled from a dimensional portal, a small amulet. He waved his hand and the building began to shake. Amelia trembled and began to wonder what exactly was going on. Before she could think, a giant gap opened in the floor. From the gap emerged a giant wall with an oval shaped sort of hole in it. Connected to the wall was a big floor with ancient writing on it.
She gasped and realized exactly what was going on, "A...g-g-gateway...to..to ressurect...a god. Then...then I must be...a sacrifice." she breathed, "Oh, no! HELP ME! LET ME GO YOU, YOU HORRIBLE PERSON!!"
He waved his finger in her face, "No, no, no, no, no, Mazoku, Princess, I am a
Mazoku." he laughed.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU ARE! I'LL GET OUT OF HERE! MY FRIENDS WILL HELP ME!"
"YOUR FRIENDS?! HAHAHA! YOU REALLY BELIEVE THEY CAN FIND YOU! EVEN IF THEY DO THEY WILL NEVER, EVER, GET PAST MY DEFENSES! HAHAHA!" he laughed maniacally.
She sobbed, "Oh God...How will I ever get out of here?" she whispered tugging at her ropes.
Xaviour pulled out a giant book and began to flip through the pages searching for the proper spell while Amelia spent her time thinking of a way to get out of there.
Amelia tugged at her ropes once more and let out a half sob, "Oh please, Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis.....don't find me...if you do....you might...end up dieing...but if you do...be careful." she whispered.
"Oh don't worry they won't come Princess, I'll make sure they're too far of track to find you." he grinned mischeviously.
She jerked her head his way as her tears splashed her face, "What?! How did you? How could you?" she asked, her big blue eyes widened in shock.
"Hahaha," he pointed to his ears, "Extra censory hearing pays off." he laughed once more and continued his search of the spell.
Meanwhile at the palace Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis and Phil had been investigating the palace for clues.
Lina wondered around the area where Xavior had disappeared. She looked around the floor closely looking for a tattered piece of clothing, or a trace of magic, anything that might help them track Amelia. She growled in agravation and began to walk off. Just before she left the scene something caught her eye and she turned around. She peered in closely to the floor for a closer look, there laying on the floor in a small puddle was a silvery mass, she dipped her finger in it and smelled it, "Blood...Mazoku blood....But how..." she whispered. She gathered an energy ball in her hand and absorbed the blood. She pulled a small jar from her cape and let the blood fall into the jar, "There we go." She then stuffed the jar in her cape and headed off to get the others.
In the library Phil and Zelgadis looked in the books on how to trace magic. Zelgadis came across a blue book that had two swords crossed in a circle, behind the circle were flames. The book was titled " Magic Talismans, Tracers and Uses of Everyday Objects as Magical Ampliphiers ." Zelgadis peered at the book for a few minutes and looked in the contents, " This book seems to have everything, damn, maybe even a cure for my body..." he said. He flipped to page twenty-seven and read the title, " How to make Chimeras " his eyes widened in joy and began reading about how chimeras were made and how to change their shape. He was skimming when something caughts his eyes "Chimeras cures do not come about on their own will and cannot be cured by any sorcerer, sorceress, or wizard. The cure comes from the ones who made them, or if the chimera was once human, the cure can come from the depths of their heart." He stared at the text for a moment, "The depths of their HEART? WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?!" he blurted.
Phil looked at him strangely "Zelgadis is something wrong?"
"Uhm...no...I was just getting agrivated with a spell in here.." he said.
"Alright then, tell me if you come across anything." the prince said and went back to searching his pile of books.
"Oh yeah..." he sighed, ripped that page from the book and stuffed it in his pouch. He came across a page that was labeled "How to trace Magic" and began to read it's text. Just as he had gotten to an interesting part a loud yelling was heard, "Lina?" Just as he had spoke the name she burst into the door.
"HEY GUYS LOOK!! LOOK IT'S MAZOKU BLOOD!! I CASTED A CAPTURE SPELL AND PUT IT IN THE JAR!!!" she screamed holding out the jar.
"Calm down Lina. We'll get to the bottom of it!" Phil reassured her.
She blinked, "Wait...where's...Gourry?" she looked around, "Wasn't he with you guys?"
"No, we though he was with you." Zelgadis stated.
"DAMNIT GOURRY! Now we have to look for him.." She sighed. Just as she got ready to turn around and head out the library doors she heard a screaming, "What's that?" She looked to where the noise was coming from, "Above? What?" she almost screamed when Gourry came flying out the vent in the ceiling and landed on top of her.
He blinked, "Hey...what happened? Hey guys, where's Lina?" he heard a faint voice say " down here " and looked down, "Oh! HI LINA!" he laughed and stood up.
"GOURRY GABRIEV YOU ARE THE MOST EMPTY-HEADED, STUPID DUMBASS, JELLY-FISH BRAINS THAT I KNOW!!! I WAS RIGHT UNDER YOU DIDN'T YOU SEE ME? NOW I HAVE A BIGGER MIGRANE!!" she blurted face red with anger.
"Oh, I'm sorry Lina," he said as he leaned down, kissed her forehead then looked at her and kissed her on the lips, "I'm really sorry, forgive me?" he asked sadly.
She laughed, "Of course I forgive you." she said then kissed him.
Zelgadis smirked and shook his head staring at Lina.
Lina looked at him, realized he was staring at her and blushed a deep red, "You shut up and stop staring at me like I've never forgiven anyone before..." she said still blushing.
"I never said anything to make you say shut up and I certainly never said you've never forgiven anyone before. It's just that seeing you kiss Gourry is going to take some adjusting to." he said then laughed at his remark.
She blushed "I UH-SHUT UP!" she said and walked out of the library.
Zelgadis laughed and turned to Gourry who was also a bright red color, "Well, you had better go get her so that she doesn't blow up half of Seyruun."
"Right..." the swordsman replied.
Lina sat on her bed embarrassed and fuming over the chimera's words, "Little..jerk..." she said to no one in particular. She had just began ripping her pillow up when a knock came at the door, "Hello?"
"Hello? Lina?"
"Oh it's you Gourry, go on, come in."
"Hey Lina, are you okay?" he said taking a seat by her, "You looked really mad."
"He's such a smart ass! He always comes up with ways to piss me off!" she said.
"Lina, you're honestly mad about that? He was only kidding..."
"I know, I'm not mad he just embarrassed me a bit." she sighed.
"Come on, just forget about it. We're engaged now, we'll be doing things like that in public more often!" he laughed and kissed her gently.
She laughed, "You do have a point, but it will take some adjusting." she smiled and kissed him back.
He leaned his head on hers, "I love you, Lina."
She smiled and kissed him once more, "And I love you too, Gourry."
"Well," he smiled, "We'd better get back to the library with Phil and Zelgadis."
"Right." she laughed, "We have to get Amelia back."
He stood, took her hand and they walked to the library arm in arm.
Amelia woke up again, this time the ropes were bound tighter and were cutting off her circulation and causing cuts to form. She hissed as the pain throbbed through her body,
"W-What? Oh yeah...I'm in here... I need to get out... Or everyone's done for." she thought. She took a deep breath and realized that it was very hot in there and she was sweating emensely. She coughed and huffed and peered over to see a stack of books that were set aside. She then spotted Xavior as he flipped pages in another book and set it on the others in the pile, "Please, I'm begging you, please can I have some water? Please?" she asked and coughed once more.
He looked up at her, "Of course, I can't have you dieing now can I? After you finish you come back here..."
She gave him and odd look but decided not to argue, "A-Alright."
He snapped his fingers and her ropes came untied. She sat up, rubbed her wrists and coughed. She slid off the table and stood unsure of where to go.
He snapped his fingers once more and a man appeared. The man was dressed in a white peasant shirt and black pants. He had gentle light green eyes and white hair that was brushed to the right side of his head. The young man looked to Xavior and whispered,
"What can I do for you Lord Xavior?"
"Take this girl to the gardens. She needs water, food and she needs to bathe herself."
The handsom man nodded, "Yes, sir." He looked to Amelia, smiled sweetly and extended his hand, "Come now, we'll go to the fountain first, you look thirsty."
She nodded weakly and took his hand. Before she could say anything they were transported to the gardens. She looked around and sighed as she took in the picturesque view, "Oh my...it's beautiful!" she gasped.
The gardens were just that, beautiful. There were rose bushes to the right of her, to the far left there was an apple orchard. In the far back was a cliff, on the cliff hungs a beautiful water fall surrounded by green. In the middle there was a giant fountain, in the middle of the fountain was an angel with a horn. The water poured out the horn and into the pool of water. Suddenly a white unicorn with wings galloped across the field.
Amelia gasped in shock, "It's so beautiful..."
The man nodded, "Yes it is. Thank you for the compliment. The fountain is over there." he pointed.
She looked at him, "You created these gardens?"
He nodded again, "Yes I did."
She smiled and shook his hand, "Thank you, by the way what do I call you?"
He smiled back at her, "You're welcome. Call me Dareius."
She nodded and walked over to the fountain. She scooped up a handful of water, emptied it into her mouth and repeated the same motion over and over again. She sighed and soaked her wrists in the cold water. She quickly dried her hands on her gown and stood up, " Where do I bathe? "
Dareius pointed to a giant walled in area with a door, "Over there in that walled in spring... Here are the keys." he said handing her the keys.
She took them gratefully, walked to the door and unlocked it. As she opened it and shut the door behind her she sighed in relief as she peered at the hot springs. She undressed quickly, stepped in the water and relaxed in it's heat, letting it massage her bones and muscles. Her wrists began to sting due to the severe rash and cuts they had aqquired. She washed quickly and stepped out of the spring, wrapping a towel around her. Just as she walked over to get her clothes Xavior appeared.
He smirked, "Hello Princess. Are your batheing conditions allright?"
Blushing as much angry as embarrassed, she hugged the towel around herself tighter,
"W-What do you want?"
"Let's just say I'm checking up on your progress." he said.
"Spyng on me? You're sick and twisted! You'll never get away with this! We won't let you!" she yelled.
"What are you going to do? Your magic is sealed!" he laughed.
She gritted her teeth, "I don't care! You'll see the face of justice and good when Lina and the others find me!"
He grabbed her arm, " Your friends will never find you!" and with that he disappeared.
She slammed her hand against the brick, "I'll find a way! I will!" she cried. She dressed herself and came out of the walled in springs.
"Enjoy your bath, Miss Amelia?" Dareius asked as he planted more flora in the ground.
She nodded, "Where do I go from here? Back to the table?"
He shook his head, "You stay here. He had you bound down like that to make it easier to seal your magic."
"I see. Then do I have a staying place?"
"Yes you do, take my hand and I'll take you there."
"Alright..." she said taking his hand.
He grasped her hand tightly and they both disappeared.