Immortal's Game

Chapter: 2

Competition Arrives

Next chapter up.

Filia Ul Copt, a hunter by trade, followed the carriage tracks through the desert. She had been hired to chase down the countess Lina Inverse. And, she had also heard the rumors, that this vampire had survived a meeting with the Dampeal hunter. 'She's either extremely powerful or lucky. No one's ever gotten away from him,' she thought as she started her motorcycle and shot off through the desert.

Zelgadis had been riding hard for three days and was still at least a day behind Lina's carriage. 'Where are you going,' he thought as the sun beat down on him. "Don't strain yourself Zel...Do I need to remind you of a lovely condition you suffer from called heat sickness," came the voice again.

"I'm fine. If you want to be of use then start suggesting where she's going," Zel replied as the horse continued it's break neck speed.

After a few hours Zel came to another small village. He had tracked her to and past this village. But, he could feel his need to stop for a bit. He slowly made his way through town, eyes watching as he passed, until he found an abandoned building. He knew that he couldn't get a room in a town like this. They wouldn't allow it even if he gave them the moon. 'That and it would be a waste of money for just a few hours,' Zel thought as he brought the horse into the small alley. He dismounted and tied the horse to a wooden pole. He then entered the abandoned building, found a place next to a wall, and sat down. He placed his sword on his lap and closed his eyes for his needed sleep.

Filia arrived in a small town by late afternoon. She parked her bike and walked into a tavern just down the street. She walked up to the bard and said, "Barkeep, bring me a beer."

Filia sat and waited for the man to fetch her drink. While she waited she over heard conversations of the townspeople. "Did you hear? That Dampeal hunter is in town," said one man.

"Yeah, I saw him come in earlier today. What is he doing here," continued another man.

Filia took note of the conversation but was drawn to another off to the side. A few young women were commenting on the same subject but with a different view. "Did you see that man on the black horse? I couldn't help but stare as he went by," commented one lady.

"I know, he was so attractive you could tell he was different. I wouldn't care what he is if he would take me away I'd be happy," giggled another lady.

Filia just shook her head as she accepted the mug of beer. 'Foolish girls. He doesn't love anything, not even the hunt. All he brings is sadness,' she thought as she finished the mug. She left the money for the drink and started walking down the street. "Let's go see what I'm up against."

It was true, even she had heard all types of stories about the Dampeal, she had never seen him. She walked until she heard a snort and saw his horse in the alleyway next to an abandoned building. She walked up, opened the door, and walked in to see that man sitting on the floor draped in black. 'So this is him,' Filia thought as she scan over the figure on the floor. Even sitting down you could tell he was a tall individual. His lithe body was covered from head to toe in black. His body suit was tight against his body and would probably show muscle movement if he where up and about. His wide shoulder pads where jewel encrusted with rubies. From the pads fell the long black cape that was wrapped around most of his body. The final touch was the wide brimmed black hat that obscured his face from view. After a moment of taking in the sight she stepped closer just to have him react and she was soon staring at the tip of the long sword. She back up slightly and met this cold gaze as he stood. His ice cold, sapphire blue eyes glared at her with mistrust as he took her appearance in for a moment before asking, "What do you want," in that unemotional tenor he was famous for using.

Filia just held up her hands and said, "I just heard my competition was in town so I thought I'd have a look."

Zelgadis looked the female hunter over without moving. She was a decent sized woman for a human with long blonde hair. Her blue eyes held a more emotional, yet hard, expression in them. Her skin was very tanned as an effect of traveling in the desert and wastelands for an extended period of time. Her outfit was something a bit odd to him. She was dressed in flowing white robes and seemed to look like a wandering priestess. 'Well flowing white cloth is one of the best ideas for desert travel,' he thought before replacing his sword back into it's scabbard. He then looked at her and asked, "So who hired you to go after Inverse?"

"That's information that you don't need to know," Filia said defensively now that the sword was away.

"Fair enough," he commented as he walked out a side door.

"Hey, where are you going," Filia interjected while following him.

"I've rested and now that I know I have competition I must be off," he replied as he saddled his horse, "Inverse is mine," and took off down the street.

Filia watched him ride off while thinking, 'He looks serious...I have my work cut out for me.' She got her bike and headed after him while saying, "We'll see who gets to Inverse first."

The lid moved off the coffin as Lina awoke and sat up. She looked outside the carriage to see the desert flying by as Gourry kept the horses moving at full clip. She smiled as she went over her plans for the Dampeal. She moved to the front of the carriage where a small dresser sat. She opened a drawer and took out a comb which she slowly ran through her hair. After getting all the knots out she set the object back down on the wooden dresser. She then began to braid her hair back into a ponytail and securing it with a blue ribbon. She smiled as she heard, "My, Lina-chan, this is a new look," as Xellos phased into the carriage.

She turned and said, "Now countess my name is Matilda," as she wove a spell to change her hair brown, her eyes hazel green, and made her voice to change.

"You are correct my dear," Xellos said in Lina's voice as his body changed to mimic her.

Matilda smiled and asked, "How long to the castle?"

"We should be there very soon my pet. And, hopefully company won't be far behind," Lina replied to the young girl.

Matilda pretended to swoon and said, "I hope so. I've heard he's so beautiful that he would rival a god."

Lina smiled and said, "I'm glad to hear that child. It's far past due for him to have some company."

"I can't wait," Matilda said as she uncharacteristically licked her lips.

"You're a bad girl at heart aren't you Matilda," Lina proclaimed with a smile.

"Don't tease me," Matilda said as she averted her eyes and did her best to feign a blush.

"Ah, here we are now," Lina replied as they rode inside the castle.

Zelgadis rode on as it got dark. He wasn't about to let Inverse get away. Nor, was he about to let anyone beat him to the punch. This was his hunt, his vengeance, and no one would stop him from catching this lone vampire that was able to escape him. "And, what do you plan to do once you find her? I mean without a decent plan she will just end up humiliating you once again and you'll be chasing after her for ages," came the voice again.

"I know what to do when I find her. Now be silent," Zelgadis replied as he tightened his grip on the reins once again.

He continued to ride into the night and then as the sun began to rise he saw it on the horizon. You could've missed it if you weren't careful but there it was. A outline of a castle showed as he quickened his pace towards the building. 'She has to be there...you are mine Inverse.'

"I again vote for cooling off and coming up with a plan before rushing into this Zel," The voice recommended as the horses speed increased.

"Well I didn't ask for a vote now did I," Zel replied as he continued towards the castle. "We'll be there by nightfall and that it."

"Okay, but don't blame me if we walk into a trap...You do remember that she can sense you correct," the voice reminded the hunter.

"I know what she is capable of and I know what I need to prepare for," Zelgadis commented as he stopped the horse in front of the castle and dismounted.

He placed his right hand to rest on the hilt of the sword and thought, 'Now it ends Inverse,' as he walked forward into the open gate of the castle.

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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