Chapter Three

"I don't mean to start any blasphemous rumors, But I think that God's got a sick sense of humor. And when I die, I expect to find him laughing." -Depeche Mode, "Blasphemous Rumors"

It was a much rougher rain that plauged the Medina continent that same evening. No self respecting person dared step outside for fear they might either get pounded into the ground with the bullets disguised as raindrops or swept out to sea like a pathetic little ragdolls. It most certainly was safer indoors and all the creatures in Medina Village were inclined to agree wholeheartedly to the suggestion. Better to curl up by the fire and eat SlimeEels stew then chance a stroll outside in the temptuous weather.

High atop the cliffs perched a lone fortress of bleak granite hued rock. The waves crashed against it and tried to scale its walls but it was futile to even begin to mess with something that had been made to cast aside the intrusions of man and nature. A few lights shone from its windows but other then that it was completely dark and aptly blended in with the storm gales that pounded with no mercy whatsoever. On the other side of the Cliffs and fortress was acres of forested privacy and run-down gardens that looked to have seen better days. This wasn't by appearances a opulent or homey residence, in fact it looked to be quite opposite but then maybe it was the storm that was playing tricks of the light and illusion with it. Everything looked sinister in the light of a storm.

Tucked away in the library of this fortress, Magus sat in a huge purple upholstered wing chair and held a large leather bound tome on his lap. He was reading intently and his finger followed the words along with his eyes. Devoid was he of his scythe and cloak and he appeared almost human in nature albeit he remained silent as usual. The long sleeved light purple tunic that he wore was loose and flowing against his skin and the doeskin breeches stretched across his slim legs and narrow waist as if they had been born there. Beneath that cloak he had no deformities and he dressed like anyone else in that day and age, in fact if many people could see him as he was now, it would no doubt eliminate much of the fear factor that was associated with his name.

Magus stretched out his legs in front of him and let out a brief yawn. It had been a fairly uneventful day with him having sequestered himself up in his laboratory to mix up some potions and elixers and then finally coming down to the library to await his guest and read so as to not get bored with merely waiting. He glanced up from his book and stared at the large grandfather's clock ticking away in the corner. A quarter to nine and to think he had put off dinner for him. Magus frowned and returned to his book, tapping a few of his fingers against the wooden armrest somewhat impatiently.

His ears perked up as he heard running down the hall and then a shrill voice echo through the halls exclaiming. "Toma's here!" then a few more footsteps exclaiming, "Flea! Stop!". Magus chuckled lightly and shook his head, this is what happened -every- time Toma stepped on the premises. Perhaps for a birthday gift, a Flea repellant might be concoted.

"No doubt Toma will be forever in my debt." He mused to himself as he continued to read the book.

--

Meanwhile a young man hopped down from the carriage and grabbed his pack. He was fairly handsome in a boyishly wholesome way. Perhaps he even looked a bit too innocent, maybe it was those brown puppy eyes or maybe it was the way his short wavy hair fell around his face to frame it perfectly. His body was muscular but not sickningly so and he radiated a vitality that wasn't too forceful and intimidating. He flashed a charming smile up toward the coachman and rummaged around in his pouch at his belt, he drew out a few gold guineas and handed them to the man.

"Thank ya much. I promise that next time I am in the area, we will have a real race, my horse against your carriage." He winked and then slung his pack over his shoulder.

"I'll no doubt win and then you will owe me a bottle of Dendoro Ale." The coachmen called back as he set the horses in motion. Toma laughed out loud and waved his hand as the coachman disappeared down the rain curtained drive.

"We will see when the race actually starts" He said as he then turned around to face the entrance of the fortress and coughed just a bit. He pulled his brown cloak around him tightly and started in a roundabout way toward the fortress as if he was expecting for something to happen. Tree upon tree sheltered him as he cast furtive glances at the doorway and neared slowly but surely. "Damn it come out so I can go in." Toma hissed underneath his breath. "It's raining out here, I will catch a cold if he doesn't come out soon."

"TOMA!!!" A voice yelled and he blanched considerably as it came from behind and certainly not from where he expected it.

"Flea! Control yourself!" Ozzie's voice rang out in the night air after Flea's maniacal giggles.

"Oh dear." A very quiet and monotone voice interjected. It didn't have the inflections that the others did but it was said in a loud tone that was meant to carry.

"Oh shit." Toma murmured as he felt himself being picked up by dainty looking yet very strong arms and of course he was helpless to stop it. All he could do was hang there limply over Flea's back and stare down at his ass, which of course would of been a very nice ass if it hadn't been accompanied by a penis.

"Toma, I missed you baby!" Flea purred and started his trek back toward the fortress with Toma the self proclaimed rag doll in tow. Toma fixed baleful eyes on Ozzie and Slash who followed close enough to keep an eye on Flea and him and then mouthed the words "Help me." however he knew that they wouldn't. There was such a thing as monsters staying together. He -was- a human and therefore suspect.

'The feeling is oh so mutual." Toma said, his voice dripping with sarcasm that Flea just didn't get because he just giggled in that frustratingly female voice.

"He hasn't had anyone to ass rape for the longest time, he's been holding out for you" Ozzie leered and taunted Toma. Toma slumped even more so and sighed, the only one who remained neutral was Slash and that was because he rarely talked. Other then that Toma felt ganged up on.

"That comforts me quite a bit, thank you Ozzie for putting such a -wonderful- mental image in my head. I really needed that." Toma blahed semi-weakly and played dead as Flea carried him into the fortress with determination.

"Toma! We can find an empty room if you want.." Flea cooed and dashed up the steps of the grand staircase. Toma choked and dropped his pack, watching it flop down the stairs with intermittent thuds.

"Ummm.. no. And will someone get my pack please!" Toma sighed with resignation and watched Slash bend down to pick it up obediently. Toma smiled, Slash has always been a fairly good fellow if somewhat vauge and strange looking. He was tall and thin like a beanpole and his skin took on a bluish tint, his eyes were dark and full of mystery and he wore asian robes of a ceurelean hue that billowed about his form with unspeakable grace. At both his sides were sheathed swords that he always had with him and it was fitting since he was a renowned swordsman. He didn't say much but he didn't have to, his presence got the point across long after Ozzie had stopped prattling.

"Aww. You are no fun Toma." Flea pouted petulantly. Toma groaned, almost feeling sorry for the horny monster that couldn't get any.. until he felt Flea smack his doeskin clad breeches and it resounded in the hall like a testament to Toma's captivity. Toma let out a eep and started to squirm and flail with all his might however it didn't do much because his strength wasn't that monumental to begin with. He was only an adventurer.

"Lemme go! I don't want you, psycho bitch!" Toma yelled into the cooridoor and didn't notice that the double doors leading to Magus's library was fastly approaching. All that was on his mind right now was defending his person from being harassed or raped and the whatnot.

"Toma doesn't bat for that team, Flea." Ozzie snickered and toddled along as fast as he could judging the great mass he took up on a regular basis.

"So what. That hasn't stopped me before, besides that I have breasts!"

"That ain't all you have!" Toma fumed and kicked toward Flea's shin however it didn't work. He briefly pondered how such a petite pretty boy could be carrying him down the hall right now. It just wasn't right at all.

"You are still bitter about that night." Flea huffed and stood aside as Ozzie moved toward the doors to throw them open, he entered the office in a whirl of white robes and Flea followed right after.

"Of course I am bitter.. I found out you were a man!"

"You are such a hater." Flea sniffed and carried him over to Magus. Standing there and patting Toma on the butt repeatedly.

"Will you.. stop.. that!" Toma reached around to attempt to swat Flea's hand away.

Magus glanced up from his book and raised his brow. His face remained stoic however there was a glimmer of good natured humor in his eyes as he found the situation quite funny. This happened -every- time that Toma visited the fortress.

"It is kind of you to arrive. I have been waiting a good two hours for you and I am almost through with this book here." Magus closed the volume and tapped his fingers against the cover to punctuate his point.

"Please call him off." Toma whimpered, realizing that he was completely at the mercy of Magus's whims. Of course later he would laugh about it, but right now Flea's hand was inching its way along his inner thigh and it got closer and closer with every second.

"Very well Flea. Drop him, now." Magus commanded, having pity for his friend's plight.

Flea did just that. He dropped Toma right on the floor in front of Magus and sighed, knowing that there would be no fun for him tonight. Toma hit the ground with a thump and just lay there on the carpet, looking at the purple and silver flowers that weaved right by Magus's booted foot.

"You know I am starting to form this strange surreal connection with the carpet.. I wonder why." Toma said dryly and then pushed himself up from the floor. He gave Magus an indignant look and then realized he was also laying at Flea's feet. He scrambled off toward the other side of Magus's chair and put some sort of distance between himself and the psycho.

All three minions stood before Magus and awaited there orders. Toma peeked out from behind the chair and was consistantly amazed at the power that his friend held over others, Magus hadn't even spoken yet and still they were expectant of the order that would soon be issued forth from his lips. Toma grinned and leaned his head against the side, watching expectantly.

"Ozzie, take Toma's pack to the room that has been prepared for him. Slash, please bring up some repast as soon as possible for I haven't supped yet and I am sure that Toma hasn't either. As for you, Flea. Just leave." Magus said and nodded to each of them in turn.

Ozzie grabbed up Toma's pack and went away with it obediently. Slash executed a half bow toward Magus and then stiffly walked out while Flea just stood there for a few moments and crossed his arms over his breasts, obviously he was sulking. Magus grimaced slightly and the Flea sort of jumped back up, turned tail and scooted out of the room before Magus could think of casting a spell.

"Shut the door behind you, Flea." Magus called. Almost immediately the door was shut firmly and the two men were left alone to talk. Toma immediately got up from the floor behind Magus's wing chair and walked over to the opposite one to sit down. He sprawled in the chair and propped his feet up on the matching ottoman, breathing a sigh of joyous relief. Once he got ahold of his senses he opened one eye to peer at Magus lazily.

"Why can't you just tell him to set me down. Why must it always be, 'Flea, drop him!'. My back hates you." Toma said quite conversationally.

"Well I don't like your back very well either, that is why I do it." Magus chuckled and then set his book aside on the coffee table. Toma squinted and leaned sideways just a bit to catch the title of what Magus was reading.

"Poisons and Curses. Bedtime reading at its finest." Toma commented wryly and then came as close to a giggle as a manly man like him was able to. "Don't see how you can do it though, read that stuff. I think it would be rather dry to get through." Toma said and leaned his head against the back, closing his eyes once again. "But onto the subject at hand. What did you call me for? Do you need some more Belladonna, Moon Lilies or Yesaldra roots? Or better yet you want me grab some more rainbow shells. Perhaps I have to scoure the North Sea for Siren Scales. Whatever it is.. I am your man." Toma opened his eyes and waited expectantly for Magus's request.

Magus got up from his wing chair and walked over to the fire. Clasping his hands behind him, he stared down into the flickering flames of the hearth. His eyes stared through the fire or at least it seemed that way to Toma.

"I need a virgin."

"What?!?" Toma's eyes widened and he sat straight up in the chair. There was certainly no more slumping for him and Magus had his complete attention. "You didn't just say what I thought you said, right. You probably said 'virago'." Toma rationalized. "You know I am only a treasure hunter, right. Don't give me no monster hunting jobs, I'd get eaten for breakfast by them"

"I said 'virgin', Toma." Magus said and rubbed his temple with his fingers.

"Waitaminute. A virgin isn't the way to go for the first time.. let me get someone with a little more expirience. You have come to the right place though, I have the hook-ups" Toma chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest, his brown eyes sparkled with mirth.

"I don't want a virgin to -sleep- with, Toma. This is purely business."

"More's the pity." Toma lamented and leaned his chin against his fist in thought. "Of course, how could I expect you to be anything less then the poster boy for celibacy. What exactly do you have in store for this virgin?"

Magus turned around to fix on Toma gray eyes that were the same colour as the rain that poured from the sky and perhaps just as cold. It wasn't necessarily directed at Toma.

"Remember Cyrus and Melchoir? The fate that they met at my hands?"

"Ooh boy, yes I do. You for some reason fancied taking their souls and turning them into crystals. What a great way to make friends. You most certainly will be the life of every party."

"Quit it, Toma. I am not joking. I am summouning Lavos."

"What?!?" Toma once again popped straight up in his wing chair. "Two surprises in one day, this isn't a good thing Magus." Toma sobered completely and took his feet down off the ottoman. "I wish I could be joking when I say that summoning Lavos is no joke however I have heard all sorts of stories about him and none of them I like."

"I have to summon him, and most importantly I have to get revenge for what happened to Schala." Magus clenched his fists tightly with pent up rage.

"And so you think that placing yourself in a position of suicidal proportions is going to make everything better? Oh and lets not forget the entire world, all the helpless and innocent people that would stand to lose their lives if you mess up in the summons." Toma got up from the seat and stood right up in Magus's face and pushed a finger into his chest to emphasis his point. "It isn't worth it."

"It's safer to summon him now while he is still in larva stage. If he is allowed to just sit there, he will grow in proportion with all the earth's energy that he sucks up while he is burrowing. Believe me, Toma. Less lives will be lost if I do it now."

"Perhaps you are right but then what if you are wrong? What if all your speculations are incorrect and your actions blast the whole world to smithereens. Wouldn't you feel the tiniest bit guilty."

"I wouldn't feel anything, I would be dead." Magus said dryly.

"Hahaha.. very funny. Now where does the souls of Melchoir and Cyrus come into play?" Toma went straight for the point. Normally he didn't ask these many questions but he felt entitled to now.

"I need the souls of three to summoun Lavos. I need the soul of a Hero, I need the soul of a Wiseman and I need the soul of a Virgin. The first one I got was Cyrus and I had to kill him, Melchoir killed himself so that I could have his soul. As for the virgin. I am not picky. Any one will do I suppose." Magus shrugged carelessly. There was a knock at the doors to signify the arrival of food and Magus called out a brusque enter. The doors opened and Slash walked in with a tray cart laden with two bowls of beef stew and thick slices of bread smothered in honey and butter. One pitcher of water for Magus and a few bottles of soda pop for Toma. There were also half a chocolate cake to be shared between the two men. Toma's eyes grew wide as he saw the food but he didn't pounce it immediately. His stomach rumbled to announce how hungry it actually was.

"Thank you Slash. That will be all."

Slash executed yet another bow and then dodged out of the room and shut the door behind him with no promptly. Toma took that opportunity to wander toward the cart and pick up the bottle of pop. It was his favorite and everyone at the fortress knew it. He uncorked the cap and took a sip, more so it was a delay tactic so he could figure out how to answer Magus's request. Finally he set the bottle aside and took the plate with him back to his chair.

"The girl will die."

"Yes, that is the general plan."

"How can you be so willing to toy with people's lives like this? You treat us like chess pieces on the board between you and Lavos. How many will it take to destroy before you finally checkmate Lavos?" Toma demanded quite conversationally.

"It takes as many as it takes."

"What if it fails?"

"What if it doesn't?"

Toma choked briefly on a piece of carrot and then regarded Magus with solemnity or at least with much solemnity that one who had just choked on a piece of carrot can. "You have quite a bit of confidence. I just want to see if you have thought all angles through."

"I took 21 years to think everything through. I am sure that counts as something." Magus said and sat down at the chair, he wasn't exactly hungry right now.

"I know quite a few girls in Domino Village that are virgins but I am not going to resort to abduction. I am not a kidnapper and I want this to be the girl's choice. It is only fair."

"I would imagine that most girls don't relish the thought of dying." Magus remarked caustically, trying to make Toma see that kidnapping was going to be the -only- way.

"Damn it, Magus. This isn't going to be easy. Why do you force me into these types of situations." Toma sighed and stuck the fork in his mouth and let it dangle there comically. It was very hard to take Toma seriously even when he was being serious.

"Because you come through while others fail." Magus sighed and closed his eyes. Long fingers once again reached to his temple to massage, this was giving him the beginnings of a migraine.

"Alright. Now Toma, think rationally." Toma started talking to himself and not Magus. Stuff like that helped him think clearly. "Magus needs a virgin, but I don't want to kidnap one. We need one that would kill herself for Magus's cause. Gee magus don't know many girls that would do -that-." Toma groaned and banged his head against the back cushion of the chair.

"I don't want a suicidal virgin, I think that would defeat the whole purpose of a 'pure' soul." Magus commented.

"Damn you sure are picky. Okay so we need a virgin who isn't suicidal that would let you kill her. The prospects are not getting any better."

"Maybe a virgin with a fatal disease that cannot be cured. She dies anyway and I get the soul that I want." Magus reflected as he glanced over at Toma to see what he thought of that idea. "It wouldn't be murder if there was consent. I am sure there are a few out there that are in so much pain that they wouldn't mind the release of death."

Toma thought about it for a moment and then he remembered something in his mind and it chilled his soul to the extreme. Not wanting to broach the subject he just remained silent but he had a troubled look on his face.

~I haven't visited Corrine in a long time.~ Toma thought remorsefully and he felt bad, especially concerning the latest missive that he had recieved from Fiona. Fiona had told him that Corrine was sick and would likely not make it past the spring. When he had read it, he hadn't believed it and then thinking about it some more he realized it was plausible. That was when the tears started. He had anticipated going home to visit Corrine after this job for Magus was completed.

"Who is Corrine?" Magus asked quietly as he instinctively read into Toma's thoughts. At times he did have respect for other people's feelings though it only happened in rare instances such as these. He didn't make too much a habit of it.

"Damn you Magus, stop reading my mind like that! It is rude." Toma instantly became indignant but one look at Magus's sympathetic face and he faltered. "Corrine is a girl back home that I grew up with." Toma said with a wistful smile and his normally healthy appetite left without a trace. He set the plate on the table and sat back in the chair.

"I hit a sore spot I see. This girl is sick?"

"She has been consumptive all her life. It turned viciously ugly when her father died and she refused to move from his grave for 3 days. That was during the rainy season. When it was all said and done it left her weaker." Toma shook his head and sighed softly as a wave of helplessness washed over him. To say that he was sad was an understatement and Magus could see that much.

"She is a good friend? One that you care about." Magus continued as a way to get Toma to speak about the girl. A majority of him wanted to know the details, it was the selfish side of him that wanted to complete his goal and summoun Lavos.

"I care about Corrine greatly." He smiled just a bit and at this moment he was talking but not to Magus, only to his mind. "I was in love with her once.. I was even wanting to marry her."

"You still love her. That is why she wouldn't make a suitable virgin. It is because your heart is too attached." Magus got up and walked to the tray in order to pour himself a glass of crystalline water. He took a meditative sip while he thought.

"Of course I don't want to give her up to your cause, not when it isn't all that certain. It is called love and even though she no doubt will die, there is still that small sliver of hope that exists." Toma argued vehmenantly. He refused to listen to someone who had never professed to caring for anything in his life.

"Tell me, is this girl in pain?" Magus said as he picked up a piece of bread and ripped off the corner. He popped the piece into his mouth and then washed it down with another sip of water.

"Off and on. Some days it is better then others." Toma said as he fixated his gaze on Magus. These were the times when he wondered what kind of things went on in Magus's head, what motivated him.

"You profess to care about her and yet you condemn her to live in pain for the rest of the time that she is here? Have you even given her the choice yet? If I have to I will kidnap a virgin and kill her. It isn't something that I particular look forward to doing but mark my words, Toma Levin.. I will do it." Magus trailed off as he walked over to the window to look out at the rain that slashed against the window glass. The glass he still held in his hand even though it was empty.

"If I had to chose between a village girl and Corrine, it would be Corrine so don't try to manipulate my emotions like that." Toma scoffed and shook his head. "Don't get me wrong, I like you Magus. But you just don't have any scruples when it comes to human life and that is what bugs the shit out of me."

Magus swiveled on his feet to look over at Toma solemnly and it caused Toma to almost regret what he had uttered. In those eyes were things that he couldn't even begin to comprehend much less understand.

"Will you at least go home and ask her if she would do this for me. I know it is a gamble but I have time to spare until the time of the summouning, the Zeal Moon appears. I don't want to kill a female, I seriously don't. Cyrus was one thing, Melchoir was another but this is entirely different." Magus pleaded, it was the first time that Toma had seen Magus actually resort to begging and if this situation wasn't so serious then Toma would of been inclined to laugh.

Toma raked his fingers through his hair and sighed despondantly. What could he do, after all Magus wasn't asking him to gag Corrine and drag her back to the fortress. Besides that it gave him an excuse to go home and visit, to be there for her last days on this earth. "Yes Magus, I will do it. However if she -does- come back with me I have a few demands." Toma said and got up from the comfy wing chair and walked over to stand at Magus's side.

"Reasonable request.. what are they?" Magus inquired as he directed his line of vision at his friend's very determined profile.

"One, I know you don't like women at all -but- you will treat her with respect and try not to scare her. She has heard stories about you from me and so she isn't completely in the dark about you. She actually thrives on the infamous 'Magus' stories if you can believe that."

"She does?" Magus raised a brow. "Melodramatic female who thrives on the fanciful and whimsical. Frankly all that comes out of your mouth is utter bullshit so that doesn't surprise me." Magus commented wryly. Toma promptly hit Magus in the ribs with his elbow and Magus took a few steps back.

"I will ignore that comment." Toma waved his hand and continued onto the next provision. "I want the best for her, that means food, lodgings and by all means you better keep her entertained."

"I don't run a beachside resort." Magus rolled his eyes as the task seemed more daunting then at first he thought.

"You think I am asking you to dress up Ozzie, Slash and Flea in showgirl outfits and have them dance across the hallway for her. I am merely saying that she should have things to do while she is staying here, be it books or games." Toma interjected and then continued. "Third, I will be here the entire time to act as chaperone. If she stays, I stay too."

"What do you think I am going to do, ravish the girl? Now that is a real laugh and I am quite ashamed that by this time you don't know me better then that." Magus started to crack up and hand to lean up against the wall as he just lost it completely. "Of course in order to 'safeguard' your ladylove's virtue I consent." Toma started to flush and shook his head though of course he had been thinking that very thing but maybe it was just the way that he felt about Corrine that made him suspicious of the intentions of any other man that entered Corrine's life.

"It isn't that. It is just that I am here to safe-guard her best interests. I can more suitably do that being around her." Toma murmured and tapped his foot against the ground nervously. He figured that Magus knew already what he was thinking so it didn't matter.

"It is alright and I understand completely however you know that you are always welcome as a guest here in my domain. You didn't really have to ask for the third condition, it was already assumed." Magus smiled just a tad as the laughter subsided.

"A'ight!" Toma grinned and ducked his head sheepishly. "Well you aren't such a bad guy yourself. One can almost ignore the lighted skulls lining the driveway if they actually get to know you."

"That my friend, is a comment I will ignore." Magus tried to keep a smile off his face and he succeeded save if you looked closely enough you could catch the glimmer of it lurking in his deep green eyes.