Chapter 7.5
With or Without you
As the grip of night further tightened, the moon climbed into the darkened sky to shine it's light onto the city of Saillune. The rays of moonlight blazed their way onto the palace at the heart of the city, illuminating the massive construction in magnificent light.
The palace had been a hive of activity and noise mere hours ago. But now, all noise and light had died down. All residents in the building, had all retired for the night and lost themselves in the comfort of sleep.
And considering all in the palace were asleep, none could see or hear any activity that occurred outside.
Consequently, no could challenge the black shape as it scaled it's way up the palace walls.
With a dagger in each hand and utilising the light of the moon, the assassin Innotenti made his way up the wall of the palace.
Perspiration dripped down from his forehead. But still he carried on. Being so far up this wall, he had no intention of turning back. He had come so far and wasn't prepared to give this latest mission for anyone or anything. His master wanted the head of Lina Inverse and that's exactly what he'll get!
As the assassin climbed further and further up the wall, more perspiration dripped from Innotenti's forehead and onto his bare chest. He blinked. What was going on here? This wasn't like him at all! It wasn't usual for him to feel nervous in the build up to a mission. What was happening to him? Was it the fact that he was positioned at such a mind-boggling height? Or was it the fact that he was ordered to kill Lina Inverse? The infamous, bad-tempered, bandit-killer, mazoku-slayer, with an enormous appetite....?
Now the assassin could feel his hands growing sweaty.....
But it didn't take him long to grit his teeth in determination. Now was not the time to procrastinate. He had a job to do.
Even if the job in question could probably kill him....
But if he succeeded, then he could truly be a Prince of Assassins.....
And such a prospect spurred Innotenti on.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, the chimes in the clock struck. in a series of loud bongs.
Zelgadis raised an eyebrow in a curious manner. Twelve o'clock. Midnight.
The chimera sat in a wonderfully furnished lounge room. The room was made from wooden panels with framing royal blue squares. The carpet and curtains were also royal blue - made to match the panelling. In the terms of furniture, there was a complete lounge suite, a table and a roaring fireplace. At one end of the room, at Zelgadis' right, there was a series of four doors. One was situated in the north wall and led outside into the depths of the palace. The other three were arranged, in the eastern wall, in a row.
Zel relaxed back in his chair basking in front of the glow and the warmth of the roaring fire. It had been a few hours since the dinner with Philionel and now everyone had retired to their seperate pursuits. Lina and Gourry were still at the dinner table polishing off some leftovers whilst Sylphiel and Aldebrand had already gone to bed, in this guest quarter of the Saillune palace. Between the five adventurers (Amelia and Naga had their own rooms in the main body of the palace), there were three rooms linked by this lounge room. Zel and Gourry agreed to share one room whilst Lina and Sylphiel took another. This left Aldebrand with a room to his self - perhaps due to the fact that Zel, Lina and Gourry still maintained their suspicions about him.
Zelgadis remained silent as the thought of Sylphiel's newfound friend crossed his mind. Who was this Aldebrand? If anything, his hardened-appearance practically screamed out the definite possibility of him being a warrior. He also retained a grim aura - marking him as not being the trustworthy type. He didn't seem comfortable around anyone. Anyone, that is, but Sylphiel.
Indeed, this is what Zel found most perplexing about Aldebrand, is that ever since he had dropped into their lives, his presence had worked changes onto Syl. Previously, her magic skills were somewhat awkward, her reactions to dire situations were questionable and she was blinded by her hero-worship of Gourry. But now.....now she seems to have taken quite a shine to Aldebrand. But why? To Zel, Sylphiel seemed more so the gentle type - so why the hell would she start hanging around someone who no one else wanted to be near someone with such a grim disposition?
If anything, Aldebrand seems to have something to hide. And all the more reason for Zel to be suspicious.
Zelgadis chuckled to himself. If he didn't hang around people with questionable motives and an equally ambiguous past, then he wouldn't be hanging around anyone at all!
Just then the chimera's thoughts were interrupted. For into the room strode Lina and Gourry, making as much noise to wake the whole palace. They were both still in their dinner clothes and they were looking well fed.
"Man, am I stuffed!" Lina was saying.
"No kidding?" Gourry replied.
"Man, these rich folk certainly know how to live!"
"Well, maybe you should be thankful that your friend Naga is going to succeed Phil, eh?"
To this, Lina spluttered. She immediately turned to Gourry with a ferocious glare.
"Gourry? Two things: Firstly, Naga isn't my friend! Secondly, she couldn't rule her way out of a paper bag, let alone a kingdom!"
Just then, Lina noticed Zel in his chair and keeping an interested eye on the altercation. Immediately, her expression changed, into one more cheerful.
"Hey Zel!" she grinned.
"Good evening Lina, Gourry" the chimera answered softly, as he got out of his chair. "Finished up all those leftovers hrmm?"
"Ah, yes!" Lina chuckled. "Can't leave them lying around now, can't we?"
"Good" Zel replied, now standing right in front of his friends. "Because there's something I would like to discuss with you both. Urgently."
Lina and Gourry exchanged glances before nodding.
Zelgadis' eyes quickly darted around, before he lowered his voice: "I assume that you aren't the only one's whom are suspicious of Aldebrand."
Upon hearing the name of the enigmatic newcomer, Lina frowned.
"Why's that?" Gourry inquired. "He doesn't seem like a bad sort of guy to me!"
Of course, this reply only got answered with simultaneous groans from both the sorceress and the chimera.
"Oh come on!" the swordsman said. "Ever since he has shown up, I have never seen Sylphiel happier!"
"That's what I'm worried about" Zel replied grimly.
"I don't know what you're getting so upset about" Gourry said. "I like him!"
"All the same, I reckon she should be on our gaurd" the chimera replied.
"That's nonsense!" the swordsman retorted. "You're just being paranoid!"
"Guys, guys!" Lina interjected, sensing an argument mere seconds away. "Break it up!"
Both the guys turned to the sorceress as she moved to stand between them.
"Listen to me both of you" she said. "I don't trust Aldebrand any more than you Zel, but what I have seen so far, has me convinced he may be a good person. Therefore I am prepared to give him a chance"
"You have a too easy judge of character Lina" Zelgadis snorted.
"Let me put it this way Zelly boy" Lina said, fixing the chimera in a steely gaze. "If I didn't, I would've already toasted you already over that incident with the Orihalcon"
Zel sighed in defeat before nodding.
Satisfied with this answer, Lina grinned.
"Anyway" she said. "I'm going to bed! G'night!"
"Good night Lina" the chimera answered.
Lina then turned and headed into her room leaving Zel with Gourry.
"Yeah" the swordsman said. "I think I might go to bed too! Goodnight Zel!"
"Goodnight Gourry" the chimera replied before turning around and heading back to his armchair.
But before he got there, he heard a loud and very angry voice:
"GOURRY! This isn't you room! Yours is NEXT DOOR!"
"Okay Okay! Geez...."
Zel eased back into his chair as he heard the sound of footsteps followed by the sound of a door closing.
The chimera chuckled at the thought of Gourry, walking in on Lina like that.
Still, it shouldn't be long before he himself retires for the night as well....
A few minutes passed.....
....Before Zel picked up the sound of the door opening and closing.
Followed by the sound of footsteps entering the room.
Zelgadis raised his head to cast a watchful, vigilant eye on the intruder.
And there was Amelia, still in her dinner clothes and fixing the chimera in a rather concerned gaze.
"Hi there!" she grinned. "Still awake are you?"
"I could ask you the same question" the chimera replied. "Shouldn't you be in your own quarters right now?"
Amelia let out a soft chuckle before adopting a serious expression. "I wanted to see how you were doing."
Zel raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Regardless, Amelia strode towards him.
"And from the looks of it." she added. "You look like you could do with some company."
Gently, she lowered herself into the chair and onto the chimera's lap. Then she lowered her head until it was resting on Zelgadis's chest.
She sighed happily and closed her eyes, taking in his presence, his warmth and his breathing pattern.
Zel didn't make kind of protest whatsoever
Slowly the chimera wrapped his arms around the princess to establish, and seal, a tender embrace.
And for a while, silence hung between the two. Not that it mattered: both were enjoying every second of this intimate moment and the pleasure of each others company.
"Amelia?" Zel asked. "What do you think of your father appointing Gracia as the next in line to rulership of Saillune?"
The princess opened her eyes to face the chimera.
"I feel happy for them both" she smiled. "It's great to know my father has appointed a succesor and Gracia is looking forward to a marvellous future."
"Do you think you might achieve that position one day?"
Amelia chuckled. "I know that if I do, I would want a chimera by my side."
And with that she reached up and planted a kiss on Zelagdis' cheek. Then she lowered her head and resumed her intimate position in the chimera's arms.
Zel blinked. A chimera by her side? A princess like herself? He wasn't liking the sounds of this.
Innotenti slowly crept along his way. Already his mind was worried. He had no idea what he was looking for, the whereabouts in the palace his target was residing in and whether they would be asleep. Indeed, knowing Lina Inverse, the best time would be to strike when she would be at her least alert.
But the search wasn't going so well so far. The assassin had scaled every square inch of this colossal wall, casting his gaze into every window that resided in his path. But so far, none of these windows gave him what he was looking for....
He cast a lazy eye into yet another window.....
.....when he suddenly stopped.
There, illuminated by the light of the moon, were two humans.....
....well they both looked human. One was definitely human but the other was something else...
But what did it matter? These two were in a position of weakness. They were both residing in a comfortable-looking armchair in each other's arms.
Innotenti grinned evilly. This was just perfect. If he acted now, they wouldn't know what hit them or how to react to it.....
Suddenly, Amelia raised her head. Her expression was somewhat anxious and her eyes and ears alert.
Zel blinked. "Amelia?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Did you hear something?"
Suddenly, no sooner then a split second since those words escaped the princess' lips, the window shattered with a tremendous crash! As a rush of night breezed into the window, something else came into the room. Something that was heavy and full of murderous intent. It was this something that thudded into the chair and knocked it off it's feet.
With a cry of alarm, the chimera and the princess fell out of the chair only to land on the floor on top of each other! The chair came down upon them, thus providing a makeshift shield.
"What the hell was that?!" Amelia said, bewildered by this suddenly chain of events.
Before Zel could answer, a long blade suddenly burst through the cushions of the armchair, barely missing the two prisoners.
Both blinked in a startled manner before Zel, with a roar, kicked the armchair off himself and Amelia. the chair went airborne and into something solid. A muffled shout emerged from behind the chair before it came crashing down onto the floor.
Zel got to his feet and answered Amelia's question.
"An assassin I believe"
"I see" The princess sighed. "I guess that's what happens when the title of Crown prince is a highly sought after position."
"But then again" Zel noted. "You've survived numerous attacks from many assassins. Why should this time be any different?"
"You're right" Amelia grinned. She got to her feet as the chimera drew his sword.
Suddenly, a series of quick sword movements emerged from behind the chair. Immediately afterwards, the chair exploded! A cloud of stuffing and fabric filled the room, providing obstacles for any fighting environment.
It was the perfect cover for an sudden attack......
And an attack did come! The assassin burst out from the remains of the armchair and charged at Zelgadis with his blade directly aimed at the chimera!
Zel grit his teeth and weld his sword to counter the assassins blade. The two swords clashed with a loud clang and locked the two combatants in a stand-off. It was here that Zel got his first good look at his attacker. His face was of cruel features and he sported a black moustache and a top-knot set upon a shaved head. He was in black trousers and sported a bare chest which boasted an impressive array of scars. And, most striking of all, he had a belt loaded with a deadly selection of various blades.
The stand-off continued - until the assassin quickly lowered his left hand and pulled out a small dagger. And it was this dagger that he plunged into Zelgadis' stomach!
But the dagger never reached it's intended target. No amount of sharpness or power behind the dagger, could make it penetrate the chimera's stone stomach.
The assassin blinked at this unexpected obstacle. Sensing a drop in guard, Zel lunged his sword at his attacker, only to have him leap out of harms way.
Raising his eyebrow, Innotenti caught sight of the princess whom was perplexed by the cloud of the chairs remains and dazzled by the swordplay before her. The assassin grinned as he launched his dagger at the hapless princess.
"AMELIA!" Zel shouted. In a blaze of unnatural speed, he sprinted into the flight path of the dagger. Then, he reached out his hand and caught the dagger - as it was mere inches away from the princess' face.
Innotenti blinked before leaping up into the air.
"Z-Z-Z-Z-Zelgadis?" Amelia stammered, the dagger leaving her in a state of shock.
Zelgadis looked up at the darkened ceiling - it was the only place in the room that the moon's light didn't touch. Therefore, it was the perfect hiding place.
Growling in a frustrated manner, the chimera grasped his newly-acquired dagger and threw it, randomly, into the darkened shadows of the ceiling. A dull thud of a dagger hitting a wooden beam was the only reply he got.
Just then, a soft growling voice emerged from the shadows of the ceiling.
"You" the voice said. "You don't seem bothered about grasping a blade with you bare hands"
Zel paused, trying to detect the source of the noise.
He turned to Amelia before nodding upwards and motioned for her to keep him talking.
The princess blinked. What could she say? This sudden intrusion and the urgency of the situation had left her mind blank.
"He's a chimera!" Amelia spluttered, without thinking.
Upon hearing this, Zel's eyes widened in both alarm and annoyance. Regardless, Amelia continued.
"He's got skin of stone! You have no chance of defeating him!"
"Is that so?" the voice replied, now in a sneering manner. "Perhaps I should be careful. I mean, it would be shame if THIS happened!"
Suddenly, the assassin dropped in from above and landed right behind Amelia. Then, before anyone could stop him, he grabbed Amelia in a headlock and directed a knife at her throat.
Innotenti grinned triumphantly as Zelgadis' face hardened.
"Drop your sword!" the assassin demanded.
"I think not" Zel replied with complete and utter confidence.
"DROP IT!" Innotenti thundered. "Or it's your girlfriends blood that's gonna be spilt!"
The chimera raised an eyebrow.
"Would you dare do that to a Champion of Justice?" he said with a wink.
Amelia caught the signal. Then, in a burst of courage and movement, she brought her foot down on the assassin's own. Innotenti yelped in pain - before he found Amelia grabbing onto his headlock. Seconds later, the assassin then found himself being grasped in a massive over head throw!
The Princess sent the assassin down onto the floor with a terrific crash. But the princess wasn't finished with him yet! Still grasping on his arms, Amelia, utilising the strength that the power of Justice could provide, immediately threw Innotenti across the room and into the wall!
The assassin hit the wall with a horrendous crash and slid down onto the floor. Innotenti groaned with pain - until a huge foot came crashing down onto his chest!
He looked up to see a big man with a shock of blond hair gazing down at him in an inquisitive manner.
"Aha!" the man said. "I thought I heard something!"
The assassin growled from his prostrate position.
"Gourry, look out!" Zel warned. "That man is dangerous!"
"He is?" the swordsman replied diminutively.
"That guy is an assassin!" Amelia yelled urgently.
And to prove this point, Innotenti drove his feet upwards to knock Gourry in the crotch and off his feet. The swordsman went down with a thud.
The assassin then pulled yet another blade from his belt and leapt onto the swordsman....
Suddenly a pair of arms emerged from the darkness and pulled Innotenti back from his attack path.
Gourry, Amelia and Zel blinked at who held the squirming assassin in check.
"Did I miss anything here?" Aldebrand inquired.
Innotenti blinked. That voice.....
Both the assassin and Aldebrand caught sight of each other - much to their bewilderment!
"Aldebrand!" Innotenti gasped.
"You!"
Thinking quickly, Zel raced over to a particular door and threw it open.
"Aldebrand!" he yelled. "Throw him in here!"
"Huh?" the mercenary inquired.
"Don't think about it, do it!" Amelia said.
Shrugging his shoulders, the mercenary threw the assassin into the darkened room. Immediately, Zel closed the door and threw his weight up against it.
Seconds later......
"FIREBALL!"
Instantaneously, the room shook from a massive explosion
Aldebrand blinked in astonishment
"What on earth was that?"
"That would be Lina" Amelia chuckled. "At her tempermental best!"
And to prove the point, Zel stepped back from the door and opened it.....
...To reveal Innotenti looking well and truly fried. The assassin stumbled in a daze before falling onto the floor.
Lina followed soon after, looking rather tired and therefore grouchy.
"What the hell was that?" she growled.
"Obviously a professional assassin" Gourry replied.
"Wow Gourry, you can work that out?"Amelia asked
"Who else would look like that? And carry so many blades?"
"Got a point there"
"But if that guy is an assassin then someone wants us dead." Zel said. "I want to know who..."
"ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT!" Lina yelled. "Right now, I'm too tired to think. Lets just go to bed and discuss in the morning."
Gourry and Aldebrand nodded before all three retired to their respective rooms - This leaving Zelgadis with Amelia.
The chimera exchanged glances with the princess.
"Are you all right?" he inquired
"I feel a bit....shocked at that assassin....but...."
"Listen" Zel said gently. "Do you want to stay the rest of night here with me?"
Amelia blinked at this offer - before smiling the warmest of smiles and nodding.
"I will do that Zel" she said. "Oh and more thing...."
"Yes?"
She didn't reply. Instead she reached up and planted another kiss - this time on his lips.
She then withdrew them and grinned at the chimera.
"That's for saving me"
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