~Chapter 7~

"Oh Gods it hurts!" Filia moaned to herself. It was a few days later after her accident and she was still bedridden. Not only did she hurt but also she was bored out of her mind. In her condition she couldn't do much of anything except lie down and allow Val to spoon-feed her. She didn't mind the attention she got from Val in fact she started depending on him for everything just to make sure he and Ailah didn't spend much time alone together. She was jealous of the pretty young girl whom Val seemed intrigued by, even though he made Filia a beautiful necklace that she was twisting around between her fingers. If the thought of Val making her a gift and not Ailah was to make her feel better, it didn't. She just kept imagining the two of them together far away somewhere where Filia would not bother them and how happy both of them were.
With that image burned in her mind's eye, Filia vowed that she would regain her strength and find someway to get Ailah out of the picture. She didn't want to admit it, but she would find a way even if it meant hurting her.
"My, my, Filia-san why do you have such an awful scowl on your face? It is very unbecoming for a dragon of your caliber!"
Filia's eyes widen till there was nothing but a slit of pupil at the sound of the impossibly too-cheery voice that came from her side. Against her good judgment she turned her head around, although it was rather painful, to face her tormenter.
Xelloss was beside her in her bed, acting in a fashion that they were lovers, with his thrice-accursed mask on as if there weren't a thing wrong with this picture.
Slowly he ran his fingers through her hair while his other hand gently caressed her bandaged arm, aggravating the wounds. Filia let out a silent hiss between her clenched teeth as the pain shot up and down her arm. One has to give credit to Xelloss for being both cruel and kind in the same exact moment and by the smile on his face he was enjoying her pain, feeding off of it.
Filia tried in vain to call out for help but the words would not come out. In her mind however she was screaming her head off at the realization that ihei came back and most likely to finish what he started.
"You didn't answer my question Filia-san!" The way Xelloss said that was more of a demand than a request.
The only answer Filia could muster was a tiny whimper as she mentally called out for someone to come help her, save her, ianythingi so she did not have to face whatever the wicked mazoku had in store for her. She prayed that Val would sense the dark presence Xelloss gave off and check on her.
'Val please! I need you! Please hurry!' her mind chanted over and over hoping Val would pick up the telepathic message.
"I'm afraid Val won't be coming this time Filia-san, no matter how hard you pray!" Filia grew silently still as his words hit her.
"Where is he? What did you do to him?" At last Filia found her voice.
"Sore wa hitmitsu desu!" Xelloss purred against the side of her face.
Tears began to pool in her clear blue eyes as Filia let her imagination run wild. She thought Val could be injured or worse ideadi for all she knew. But she couldn't dwell on how he fared as yet another wave of pain shot through her battered arm from Xelloss toying with it. She thought it best to not try to provoke him since she was injured already, not to mention he was sufficiently more powerful than her even in her full dragon form. For her sake and Val's she decided to just wait it out a little longer and see if he would leave on his own for once.
Not like that was going to happen.
"My, my Filia-san you really made a mess out of yourself didn't you? Oh well I guess accidents can happen." After saying that Xelloss leaned in closer to her ear and quietly whispered… "And sometimes they idoi!"
If Filia could be anymore shocked than she already was, now was it.

~Elsewhere~

"I should go check on Filia and see if she needs anything. I have the strangest feeling that she needs me." Val put down his ax from cutting firewood for the next couple of nights and set off to leave the forest to go back to the cottage. He stopped after seeing a pretty yellow daffodil and stooped down to pick it for Filia. They were very rare this time of year and they were Filia's favorite. Val beamed and just knew she would feel even better than she had been the last few days when she would receive the precious flower. Val just gazed lovingly at the flower and thought how Filia's hair was almost the same exact color. As he started out for the cottage again he noticed a flash of pink from around a tree and saw Ailah peek her head from around it. With a smile, Val gestured her to come with him so that they could walk back together. After the candle incident Ailah had been extra shy around Val almost to where she was avoiding him on purpose. Val just brushed it off as her being embarrassed or something and left it alone. He knew when she was ready she would act like her normal self again.
As she walked towards him, Val noticed there was something different about her. He couldn't put his finger on it as she walked with a cat-like grace and had a mysterious glint in her eyes. Val couldn't stop the thought that although she wasn't acting normal she looked very sexy. Before Val knew what hit him, Ailah covered his lips with her own, sealing them together in a kiss. After the shock of it, Val gave into the kiss and the daffodil he was holding fell to the ground.
When the kiss was over Ailah just stared deeply into Val's eyes, twisting a lock of aqua hair. Val needless to say was speechless, as he stood dumbfounded at the girl before him. Turning around and throwing a seductive glance at him Ailah started back towards the cottage. Val, like a mindless drone, followed quickly after her, not noticing the trampled daffodil under his foot.


A solitary petal falls.


To be continued…


A/N: Ohmigod she actually got another chapter out and it didn't take more than 3 weeks. Wow I must be sick or something lol. Actually I have been sick the past couple of days but I'm much better now. Anyways let me know what you think of the newest chapter! I hope you all liked it, I'm very proud of it actually. She's getting to the good part folks. ^_^
For GoldenAmbrosia I brought Xelloss back earlier than I anticipated just for you. Hope you liked it and I'm sorry that I haven't been much of a reviewer I just wait till a couple of chapters are out that way I can read a lot all at once. It's just my way.
Ok peoples again I'm doing my little reviewer contest thingy. For the 100th reviewer they will have their choice of a teaser or for me to answer a question even if it's a spoiler. So till then minna and please keep those reviews coming in!!!