Title: Cross My Heart
Author: Yugure
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers. Like anyone would believe me if I said I did…
Notes: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I appreciate all reviews very much. :) You all have excellent ideas.
Chapter 5
Zelgadis stared at Juliana, his face an emotionless mask. After all that trouble, he wasn't even privy to information that could change his life?
"Don't worry, Zelgadis!" Juliana cried, sensing his internal distress and that things would not go well if she didn't do something to remedy the situation. "Just give me a few days to go through the books in the library, and I can help you. Really!"
"A few days?" the chimera replied quietly. Juliana nodded. Zelgadis sighed deeply. "Since it's the only lead I have, I might as well take it."
"That's great! Just… uh…" Juliana blushed and fidgeted with her hands. "Would you be able to take a room at the inn, in town? You can't very well sleep on pews every night, and I don't think we have extra guest rooms right now…"
Zelgadis gazed long and hard at the anxious priestess, who, in turn, stared at the floor. Without warning Zelgadis reached out and grasped Juliana's arm, holding tightly but not enough to hurt. Juliana jerked back and her breath came in with a ragged gasp. Zelgadis turned and began walking away.
"As I thought," he said simply. Juliana stood dumbfounded. As the words finally made sense, she ran to catch up.
"Look, I'm sorry, I'm just not used to being around people like you…" she tried to explain.
"People like me…"
"You know what I mean! I'm suggesting you stay at the inn because it would be more comfortable for you, not because… because…" Juliana was at a loss for words.
"Because you're ashamed of what I am? Because I might scare away patrons?" Zelgadis finished nastily, self-derision nearly palpable. Juliana frowned and didn't comment. She realized that no matter what she said or did, Zelgadis would continue to think whatever he wanted.
"If you're going to give me an attitude like that, you can just leave."
"…"
"I'll still help you, I'll even start today, but you better stop giving me such a hard time. I can't do everything in the world, you know."
*** Present ***
"I would've beaten you bloody if you'd acted that way to me," Lina exclaimed from her seat on the bed.
"Like you could," Zelgadis replied, with a smile on his face. "I was a chimera. I still am I chimera. I don't know how such a fact can continue to elude you…"
"Yeah, but you were a weakling then. I bet you couldn't even control most of your strength." The lack of response was enough answer for Lina. She grinned and patted the bedside next to her. "Sorry, that was pretty callous of me. C'mon, you look uncomfortable sitting down on the ground."
"I'm okay."
"Zelgadis Graywords, don't make me come down there and get you." Zelgadis raised his eyebrows and looked skeptical but got to his feet and sat next to Lina.
"Better?"
"Yeah. You may continue with your story."
"Thanks."
***
Zelgadis was lucky to procure a room at the inn. What with the terrible weather befalling the area, almost everyone had taken shelter with a stranglehold grip. Only the deranged, the stupid, and the suicidal took leave to forge through the winter storm. Juliana appeared later in the evening to join Zelgadis for supper. The tavern was nearly at its maximum capacity with so many visitors and customers holed up for the night.
"I have
some good news for you, Zelgadis," Juliana exclaimed as she pulled a chair up
to Zelgadis's table. The chimera, his face carefully hidden by the cowl of his
cloak, nodded his head in acceptance. He sipped from his decanter and continued
to eat. "I've convinced a friend of mine to help me translate the Obsidian
Rune. I trust her implicitly. She won't give away our secret."
"I'd rather not let more
people know about what I am," Zelgadis slowly stated, his mind shirking from
the idea of exposing himself once again.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Juliana replied, fluttering her hands in dismissal. "She won't know."
"What?"
"Um… nothing. Anyway, when you're done here, I can take you to meet her."
"Is there a catch somewhere in here? Why is she helping you, and what does she want?"
"Sister Dounia isn't like that," Juliana huffed. She crossed her arms and sunk low into her chair. "She's the nicest person at the sanctuary and she's the only person I ever really talk to."
"Your age?"
"No, she's much older than me."
"I see." The two adolescents lapsed into a tenuous silence. Zelgadis unhurriedly ate his food, and Juliana was nearly buzzing with energy. She wiggled her feet and tapped her fingers on the table. Finally, after a few aggravating minutes of this, Zelgadis looked up from his soup and glared at the priestess from within the darkness of his hood. Juliana grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, I'm just really tense. Are you done yet?"
"… No."
"Sorry."
***
Zelgadis allowed Juliana to lead him through the winding pathways of the temple. He would remember them, of course, by way of his photographic-like memory, but this was his first visit and he was as helpless as any patron.
"Please be
really, really nice to Dounia," Juliana was saying as she turned a corner and
approached a wooden door. "She's rather fragile and you have to be gentle with
her…"
"Are you implying that I
wouldn't be?"
"No, Zelgadis, I didn't mean it like that! Juliana turned to face the chimera, but when the man seemed neither inclined to accept or reject her words, she turned back to the door. She rapped thrice on the old wood. "Sister Dounia? It's me, Juliana, and my friend."
"Come in, dear, come in!" a kindly, muffled voice replied. Juliana opened the door, and they stepped inside.
Sister Dounia was, as Juliana had implied, considerably old. Her face looked the texture and color of an old boot. Wrinkles covered the old woman's countenance, making her seem wise and content. A smile appeared and pale yellow teeth peaked unevenly from behind gray half-moon lips. As Zelgadis stepped closer, he saw Dounia's eyes were a rheumy blue.
"This is Zelgadis, the… man I was telling you about," Juliana spoke up. She embraced Dounia lightly and stepped back.
"I see, I see. Come closer, child, closer," Dounia said. She beckoned Zelgadis with her gnarled hands, and Zelgadis complied. He followed Dounia's gaze as he moved closer and was disturbed to find Dounia's gaze only marginally followed him. Quietly Zelgadis stepped to the side. Dounia continued to smile at the doorway.
"She's blind," Zelgadis blurted, utilizing zero tact. Juliana's face hardened, but Dounia laughed and turned her head in the direction she heard Zelgadis's voice.
"Yes, that tends to happen when you get to be my age. No need to be alarmed," she explained.
"I don't know whether to be offended or relieved," Zelgadis muttered, shooting a look at Juliana. The priestess looked back at him defiantly for a moment, but her passive nature forced her to avert her gaze.
"Come closer," Dounia repeated. "I promise I won't bite." She laughed again. "Please, let me feel your face? It's my own way of seeing you."
"I'd rather not." Dounia's face settled into quiet displeasure and uncertainty as she faced Juliana. Juliana only paused a beat before she reached out, grabbed Zelgadis's arm, and yanked him down closer to Dounia. Caught unawares, Zelgadis hadn't a chance to use his chimera reflexes until Dounia's hands were already touching his face. Dry, gentle fingertips caressed his cheekbones and brow ridge. Zelgadis shuddered as he imagined what sort of picture was being painted inside the old priestess's mind. The rocks on his face surely jabbed into her skin, pushed into her conscious, needled at her sense of normality: no normal human had skin like him.
"A chimera." The words were objective and seemed to be completely unattached from emotion. "I can see now why you need the Rune translated…" Dounia's hands dropped back into her lap. Zelgadis straightened his posture.
"Pardon me for being rude, but if you cannot see, how can you read the Rune?" he asked. Juliana grinned, looking quite pleased with herself. Dounia smiled once more and tapped her right temple.
"I know things that you'll never dream of, Boy."
