Last Chance On The Stairway

Slayers: Not mine

Last Chance On The Stairway: As performed by Duran Duran

Story: Mine

I don't remember quite how I met you

Wasn't long ago

I just get a picture of sun in your eyes

The waves in your hair

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Zelgadis was heading back to see Amelia. He had not found his cure nor the courage to tell her how he felt about her, but a long forgotten memory. Seeing the bracelet she had given normally made him think of what she had first said about him.

(Who's that scary guy?)

What she had said hurt him in some deep part, but he wouldn't let it show. However, that was the harshest thing she ever said about him. Shortly after that incident, the young, clumsy, justice-loving princess had protected him, even though she hadn't had too. The feeling he got around her, then and now, was something he always hid though he hadn't been sure why. Now he was certain he knew why.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Maybe it's something said in a movie

Or you could've said last night

It just took me out on a limb

And I don't really know what I'm doing here

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She took the curlers from her hair, letting the deep violet curls fall to her shoulders. They framed her face in a way that made her look like her mother. Amelia took at the bracelet she had kept for two long years. She hid it away again, the sight of it hurting her as she thought of Zelgadis. He had come back to Seyruun with her, staying long enough to make her a promise and to give her that first kiss. The days of waiting were over now that she had turned twenty, now that she had to get married. She still had faith that he'd come. He only had a few hours before she was to be married. Amelia prayed and prepared for her marriage.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And sometimes I'm caught in a landslide

And my beats so in time

Can you look at me

I'm out of reach

I'll talk if it feels right

I've had my last chance on the stairway

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He collapsed, but got up again quickly. The things he was remembering tried to paralyze him, but the chance to see Amelia drove him to go farther than he imagined. When he reached the white city's walls, his heart froze. The announcements were everywhere and they had her name on it. The princess, the girl he had just traveled so far for, was getting married. "Amelia, Amelia..."

(Take this...then you'll have a reason to come back.)

The streets were deserted and silent as he walked along. "She's marrying someone else...she's-" He cut himself off as he looked closer at one of the announcements. He still had time, not much, but he thought Amelia could be convinced into postponing the wedding to check his word. Zelgadis began to run again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Funny it's just like a scene out of Voltaire

Twisting out of sight

Cause when all the curtains are pulled back

We'll turn and see the circles we've traced

Ain't no game (ooo-ooo)

When you're playing with fire

It doesn't seem right that we fight

So the party runs all night

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Her father came into her room, hating to see her this way. Amelia feigned a smile for him. "Hi daddy...Is it time already?"

"Not yet. I was just checking in on you."

"Oh." She wanted to open the drawer again, but she knew she couldn't. She had to be strong for her kingdom. When the cool metal touched her skin she jerked. "Daddy, what are you-"

"Your mother wanted you to wear this on your wedding day, just like she and her mother did." Prince Phil kissed her cheek and looked her over again. "I'll come back when it's time."

Amelia touched the locket. "Thank you." As the door shut and his footsteps faded she began to cry. Things were falling apart again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And sometimes I'm caught in a landslide

And my beats so in time

Can you look at me

I'm out of reach

I'll talk if it feels right

I'm so nervous to say

Tell me can't you see

And if you want I'll fall off forever

I can't say no more

Baby dance with me

And please don't say leave it till later

I've had my last chance on the stairway

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Zelgadis couldn't get in by any normal routes. All of the gates were heavily guarded and there was to be no entrance without an invitation or proper attire. Zel had neither. With his brain on overdrive and time running out, the task was twice as difficult as it would have usually had been to him. The chimera remembered that he had scouted the palace once, when Prince Phil was said to be dead, and things like that committed themselves to his memory whether or not he wanted it. However, it wouldn't come to him. Only Amelia's soft, sometimes timid voice came.

(Sometimes I get lost in the garden for hours and no one can find me...my sister showed me the way once, but she never came back.)

"The garden..." It was the only place where there had never been guards and he prayed that today would be no different, that she had left it that way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Wonder why (wonder why ooo-ooo)

What makes me rise so high

Maybe it's something they put in your perfume or the look in your eyes

It could be the atmosphere sinking

Ooo I don't even know what you're thinking

I don't even know what you're drinking

But it keeps this heaven alive

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The princess opened her window to let in the fresh air. The mixed fragrance of the garden's flowers made her feel refreshed. She stood on the balcony, once again thinking of the man she loved. It had been here where they had said goodbye and here she had stood as she watched him leave the palace. Amelia closed her eyes. She wanted to be in that moment again, even though it was painful. *What matters...the only thing that made it matter...is that he looked back.* She opened her eyes, blinking in disbelief at the disheveled figure in the garden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And sometimes I'm caught in a landslide

And my beats so in time

Can you look at me

I'm out of reach

I'll talk if it feels right

I'm so nervous to say

Tell me can't you see

And if you want I'll fall off forever

I can't say no more

Baby dance with me

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Amelia!" He knew she saw him, the only out of palace thing in the garden. "Amelia!" Her name was all he could manage.

When he saw the look on her face, his hope seemed to die away. The princess turned and ran away. *What was I thinking? What did I think she'd-*

"Mr. Zelgadis!"

He whirled, his legs nearly giving out as he did. She stood on the back steps of the palace looking at him and clenching something in her hand. Zel was in awe of how she looked in her wedding gown. "Amelia, there's something-"

"What are you doing here?" boomed a strange man's voice.

"-something that you have to do before you get married. There's something you have to remember."

She studied him for a moment, then turned and whispered to her father. He nodded and herded the gathering crowd back inside. "Mr. Zel-" He had come closer, but exhaustion overcame him. She caught him, lying him down on the ground. Amelia performed recovery on him, giving him one last chance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And please don't say leave it till later

I've had my last chance on the stairway

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

To be continued...