(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 32
THE SLAYERS
The dinner trays rolled in.
"Ah, the last supper…" mused Xelloss to his roommate for one last night.
"Yes. What do you suppose this is? I don't recall marking the 'garbage' selection on the menu…" grumbled Zel.
"Noodle casserole with wild mushrooms and 'petite pois'. Wine with yours sir?" teased Xelloss.
"I'd have to drink a lot to eat this, and I don't drink. Oh, well… there's a roll and tea."
"And apple cobbler for dessert!"
"Oh, joy… yes, just take it!" Zel snapped. He pushed away the tray and opened his guitar case. "Ah..."
"Do I know that tune?" Xelloss, tilting his head in Zel's direction.
"No. I'm writing one of my own…about my friends," Zel closed his eyes and hummed while picking out notes and strumming cords as best he could with his left arm in a sling.
"Sounds sad."
"Wistful, I'd say. And sappy if I keep going…" Zel smirked.
"A love song?"
"No." He glared at his friend, and then shut him off by closing his eyes and retreating into Zel-land, humming his tune.
Xelloss had been thinking up one himself. He had many of the words, but he needed help with the tune. He knew Zel well enough by now, and had regained a sufficient part of his memories to know NOT to interrupt Zel at this time. Sure enough, ten minutes later, Zel had stopped humming and was tuning his guitar.
"Zelgadiss?"
"Yes."
"Would you consider helping me set my song to music? I'm definitely a lyricist, I'm afraid," he chuckled.
"Your song? You have a new song?" Zel sighed.
"Yes! It's about…Lina, but it's NOT sappy. It's funny. And clever. No one will know who it's about, except you, of course. I have a tune, kinda, but…"
"ALL RIGHT! Please stop jabbering! Gods, you talk all the time!" Zel shouted. He was exasperated with the closeness of another person over so many days, even a friend. Xelloss looked dismayed, but shut up.
"How about you tell me the words to your song, see what the rhythm is like, and then any tune you have…in that order, all right?" Zel asked in a kinder tone.
"Okay… It starts, um…
'Tell me, what is it that makes the places you are so special? Of course, since it's you we're talking about you've done you best to live heroically, right?'
Ah, then, it goes on…this part's like the chorus,
'Come on, let's go! Everything will be all right. Are you okay? No doubt, we'll be all right. I can't make any guarantees…but although I can't see into tomorrow…'
The part after that changes each time." Xelloss sang it a little, and then recited the rest of the words.
Zel thought it was interesting and a bit odd, just like him. "I do think Lina will know it is about her, but I don't think that she will mind. Now for the melody…"
"Zelgadiss?"
"Yes?"
"I'm glad you stayed this last night," Xelloss smiled sincerely.
"You're welcome. Anyway…does your song have a name?" Zel asked changing the subject away from anything personal.
"But, but, but…" snickered Xelloss, but he wouldn't elaborate.
Before they had to endure the lunch offering, Rezo and Zelas put in an appearance. Doctor Adams pronounced them fit to leave and wreak havoc somewhere else for a change. To the boys he whispered, "And you two boys may go also."
The nursing staff on the floor turned out to wish them a save journey. One, the youngest, dashed up to Xelloss and slipped a folded paper into his hand and giggled, "Bye, now! And don't you come back anytime soon, y'hear?"
When they were settled in the back seat, Zel asked, "So, what is it?"
"It's ah…her phone number!" he gasped incredulously.
"Well, I guess she liked what she saw," whispered Zel slyly.
"What? But she was the one that…Zelgadiss!" Xelloss sputtered, shocked at his normally rather prudish friend's insinuation.
Zel smothered his laughter in his sweatshirt sleeve. Xelloss stared at him, and then frowned slightly. "Enough already, come on… So what should I do? Should I call her sometime?"
Zel, still trembling with stifled laughter, gasped, "It depends…on whether or not your condition requires a follow up check or… ouch! Hey!"
Xelloss punched him a few times in the 'well' arm to stop the teasing.
"My, dear, isn't it nice to have the boys back? And in such good humors as well?" drawled Zelas from the front seat.
"Well, if they can't settle down back there I'll wallop the both of them!" Rezo growled. "Quiet in the car! You never want to disturb the driver! Or me!"
"Xelloss? I have something here that's yours. A note. I waited until we got home before giving it to you. I don't know what it says. It's personal, I'm sure. After you read it, well…I'll stick around and you call talk or…I'll leave you alone, if that's what you want…here," Zel handed Xelloss the note from Kiki.
They were sitting up in Xelloss' loft, Zel on the daybed, Xelloss stretched out on his beloved waterbed. It was evening and they were considering playing a computer game or two before Zel would go back to his room. Xelloss took the envelope and opened it. He sat up a bit and read it all the way through to the end, then read it again. He leaned back and closed his eyes. Zel turned away. He wanted to leave, but…
"I remember her now. Thank you. So I did have a girl friend after all. I had that in my head. It was confusing…all those faces but not quite… I HATE girls!" Xelloss spat with venom. Zel leaped about a foot. "I don't get them at all! Why tell me she can't get married, and then ask me to write and be friends…FRIENDS? She's so far away, I'll be forgotten in no time. Feelings don't work that way! I wanted a girlfriend, not a… penpal! I'm done with them!"
"I can't agree more," commiserated Zel. "Girls are basically nuisances in my book. The only time they're interested in you, is to get something you have…Kagome, Amelia, yes… Filia too and…Lina? Oh, especially Lina! What? You? Give up girls? I don't think so. You're just angry now at one. You are putty in the hands of any girl with a pretty face…How do I know? Trust me. I've watched you fall, repeatedly. You are too weak. Me? Well, the fact that most girls sicken at the sight of me… Oh, yeah, I can hear one say "Oooo, Zel, your wiry hair and ugly skin are so appealing!' Someday, perhaps, but not in high school where looks reign."
"Well, I'm finished…for awhile, anyway…So, what games do we want to play?" Xelloss asked, turning to the computer for solace from his feelings of loss and disappointment, freshly revealed.
There was time for one more gathering of the band before school started back up. Saturday. Amelia's van rolled up about the same time as Gourry and Lina arrived. Val hopped out with Sylphiel and Filia, then unloading the band equipment. "Hey! I all ready loaded this crap in here from the f*^&^%&^-ing RV so someone had better give me a hand here!"
Gourry hauled the first load into the practice room, where Lina had extricated Xelloss from him entombment in the loft. "Get your ass out there and help carry your kit in! I KNOW there's nothin' wrong with your arms!"
"Okay, Lina! Stop yelling! I'm on my way, " he winced as she gave him a little kick out the door. She had no time for invalids, especially healthy ones. She looked around the room. No sign of the past struggles, no blood on the floor, all the evidence was collected and the mess washed away.
"ZELGADISS! Where is YOUR worthless butt?" she screamed out the door.
"Hauling drinks for your worthless gut," he grumbled as he turned from the sidewalk to the house carrying two heavy bags. This had been a struggle for him considering he was still only one-armed. He set the bags on the floor near the refrigerator and collapsed beside them. One by one he removed each can or bottle and placed them into refrigerator until the bags were empty. He folded up the bags and closed his eyes a moment before rising and… "What are YOU staring at?" he growled at Lina.
"Ah…sorry, Zel. You still hurting, huh?" she asked.
"No. I tire easily. I'll be fine. It's good to be back."
"So…does he know what planet we're on now?" Lina nodded toward Xelloss, who had re-entered carrying drum boxes.
"Yeah, he won't give away what he doesn't know, though. As far as the music goes? We'll find out soon enough…"
Amelia bounced into the room glowing with fulfillment. Everything was right again, "Life is WONDERFUL! Isn't it? We are all back here together and there are two more days of vacation before school starts and then we have two weeks until finals and the PLAY and we probably…"
"The play?" wondered Xelloss.
Lina turned to Zel, who sighed, "All right…so he's not all 100%…He'll be fine…"
"Lina? Are you in a play too?" Xelloss asked as he sat on the floor surrounded by drums and hardware.
"Yes…we all are… and you are the leading man, er….fairy, God help us all…" Lina moaned, a bit out of sorts.
Val stomped into the room and stood over Xelloss, arms folded. Xelloss looked up and smiled weakly, "Hi?"
"Do ya have any damned idea what the f^$*^ yer doing with the drum hardware?" Val sneered.
Xelloss winced under the verbal assault, "Ah…no. Do you?"
Val looked ferocious. His golden slitted eyes narrowed dangerously. His arrogant stance was taut as a lion about to pounce. "Ah, yeah, sure…lemme help ya, yer damned fruitcake…I taught ya once, I kin do it agin." He sighed and knelt beside Xelloss, purple hair and green converging over a bag of shiny parts.
Everyone let out his or her breath. The tension passed, for the moment. Lina thought about the play again. "So, you don't remember the play?"
"I will if you start telling me about it, " Xelloss smiled.
Zelgadiss shook his head, "I've done more talking in the past few days than in the previous two years. Your turn, Lina," Zel passed Val a toxic-blue colored drink to settle him down.
"Okay, then, here goes… it's called the Midsummer Night's Dream and it's by William Shakespeare. I am the Queen and Zel is the King of the Fairies. You are his faithful sidekick, called Puck. Zel wants you to nab some magical plant and use it on me to steal some kid from me and turn him into a servant or something close. I won't give up this kid and he and I have had a big stinking fight. So he goes a bit further and has you boot some poor slob my way so that when I wake up I fall in love with the first thing I see, which is the poor slob.
"Who? Gourry is. He has to wear a donkey's head. He is part of a bunch of idiots mangling a play for the wedding of King Theseus and the Queen of the Amazons, played by Filia. Course Zel's had some kind of a fling with her and just about every other girl around so… Oh shut up! You wanna tell it? I didn't think so…"
"In the meantime, Zel gets it into his head to FIX a few relationship problems for the inept human population. Val's this stuck-up snob who snubs Amelia who is bonkers over him, for some stupid reason I can't fathom… Zangalus is… What? Yes, Gourry's fencing partner… stuck on Sylphiel, which seems reasonable since she's a simpering idiot like him. Course her dad wants her to marry Val, and Zangalus is thinking of running away with her when…" she took a deep breath before rushing on."
"Zel suggests you fix up ole Val's way of thinkn so that he falls for pathetic little Amelia. You however manage to screw up everything, whether on purpose or not…well, you're having a good time… You get Zangalus with the magic love potion instead and he wakes up to see poor little Amelia as his one true love. Fighting ensues. Amelia and Sylphiel have a little cat-fight as well. "
"So Zel is disturbed by the change in events and wants it all set to rights. But first you two get in a few laughs at my expense, nab the kid, and I drift off, thankfully, into slumberland again. Let's see…So you dance and prance and undo the spell and redo Val's so that he's nearly tolerable and falls for the right girl. And in the end everybody's married off to the right other person and the fools put on their play and it all ends happily every after…cause it's a comedy, and in the end, everyone gets married! I suppose that that's the humor in it…"
Gourry was aghast. "So that's what's going on…I never got the whole thing at once like that…whoa…"
Everybody laughed.
"What's this?" asked Amelia. She had settled into a beanbag chair during Lina's rant, and now discovered that something was making the chair uncomfortable. She stood up, pulled it to the side, and found… "The fog machine! Now how do you suppose it got there?"
No one knew. Val looked askance at Xelloss, who smiled benignly from his throne seat. He picked up the drum sticks and executed a drum roll and crashed the cymbals, "Shall we try some music?"
Zel had some trouble, but played well enough to hold his own. Xelloss was close to pre-road trip. He didn't remember Val's newest grunge piece, but that didn't take long to get down.
With that success under her belt then, Lina suggested a change of venue, "Gourry has something to show you all. Wanna take a walk? Lunch is included!"
"Yeah, but I gotta leave after that. Music store's doin' inventory an' they're kinda short of man-power, so I gotta be there," griped Val.
"Can they use extra help?" asked Lina, dollar signs in her eyes as she pranced out the door.
"Yeah, maybe…come with me an' I'll do intros. They'll decide, 'kay?"
"Well, Amelia and I have other plans," said Filia. "I'm staying over at her place and escaping the settlement for a day."
"I might…" Sylphiel began, looking toward Gourry for his confirmation.
"So we'd have to count stuff, right?" Gourry asked.
"Yeah, maybe use an adding machine," Val answered. "Last year they ordered pizzas for us, but …business has been slow this year, I guess."
"Sure they won't mind you bringing in a whole bunch of strangers, Val?" asked Zel as Gourry's home came into sight.
"They know you guys, you bought stuff there before. If they don't need ya, they'll send you away, that's all. We can take the bus," said Val.
"Here we are!" said Gourry leading them to his 'private' outside entrance. They climbed the steep stairs, which had railings much to Zel's relief and inner happiness.
"This is great, Mr. Gourry!" shouted Amelia. "Look at all the room…and a view too!"
"Yeah! But it hasn't any furniture yet, 'cept my bed an' dresser from before. I need a desk and curtain things to keep the sun out in the morning, and ah…what else?" he gazed at Lina for ideas.
"There are some second-hand stores walking distance to the music store, Let's look and see what we find. Take some measurements…those windows, for instance. Maybe wooden shades, like Zel's, right? Yeah, you like his. Where did you get those, Zel? Zel? Yeah, I'm talking to you! Where did you get the shade thingies in your room? A what? Speak up! A decorator store…INTERIOR decorator store near the MALL? The one with the movie theater, right? Come on Zel, you've been to the movies, don't play dumb with me!" Lina was near to throttling the embarrassed boy.
Filia came to his rescue, "Amelia and I were going to see a movie there tonight after dinner, but if you're going to the mall… We could meet you there after you do inventory…"
"Good idea, Fill, but it'll take us too long to get from downtown to the suburbs, and we don't know how long the inventory will take. I opt for tomorrow—we'll go to the mall tomorrow, after work for me and all…What do you say, Amelia? Van it there about 1:00?" Lina schemed along. "Good. Then it's a plan. Check out some second-hand shops this afternoon during inventory breaks and 'do the mall' tomorrow!"
Filia, Amelia, Sylphiel, and Lina continued to discuss the mall stores, while the boys stared sternly at one another.
"I had successfully avoided the mall all my life," mused Zel, tragedy written across his face as he glared at the view out the window. "And now twice in only a few weeks time. And with Lina…perhaps if I find the food vendors and start stuffing her…"
Gourry looked sheepishly at him, "It wasn't my idea, you know…"
"Oh, I don't blame you…" moaned Zel.
"I think it will be fun!" chirped Xelloss.
"Would somebody drag him off and kill him?" Zel suggested to Val.
"Didn't someone just try that?" Val chuckled. "His kind can't be gotten rid of so easily. Not those types. And if ya try an' help em, well…look at what happened to Zel…"
"What? I don't think I've been to the mall…Do I like shopping? Lina? Have we ever been to the mall together?" Xelloss scooted over to the more cheerful company.
"What?" she asked, being so rudely interrupted. "Together? Not with this bunch, and I don't think you've been much of anywhere you can't walk to, Xelloss." She looked over at the grim-faced males, "At least you have a good attitude, but then you usually do, dontcha? That's one of you better qualities!" she grinned at his smiling countenance.
"Kids?" came the voice of a middle-aged woman from the interior stairwell. "Lunch is ready, if anyone's interested!"
"Yeah, sure Mom!" shouted Gourry enthusiastically. Escape! "We're on our way!"
He introduced his mother to the kids she'd never met before, Xelloss, Filia, and Amelia. Val, Lina, Sylphiel, and Zel were familiar and welcome guests. She expressed sorrow for Xelloss and Zel's recent calamity, and pleasure to see them in such good spirits. She chatted a few minutes then excused herself to attend to the younger children.
The kids attacked the sandwiches, salads, chips, and fruit with the voracious appetite of pro-wrestlers. Gourry poured milk and juice and pulled out a couple sacks of cookies. While Xelloss and Sylphiel helped clean up, two of Gourry's little sisters, pre-teens at best, ran giggling in, chased by two of the younger brothers, about 7 and 9. "Gourry?" one little girl sidled up to him and punched him in the arm to get his attention. "We want to meet them!"
"OH? Who? Oh, the band, okay…ahh…Well, there's Lina…" Gourry began with a grin.
"We know her, stupid!" the girls squealed.
"Okay…. Then there's Sylphiel…"
"WE KNOW her TOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Well, then… there's Filia and Amelia…"
"Backup singers, yeah!" the girls shouted. "We practice all the time!" And they swung into a deadly rendition of some pop song from the depths of commercialized hell. Gourry quickly went on to cut that impromptu karaoke as short as possible.
"Then there's Val…and Zel…and Xelloss…" Gourry pointed out the guys, most of whom the little girls had seen.
"Your picture was in the paper cause you got kidnapped!" the youngest boy pointed out to Xelloss. "And you got hurt…does it hurt?" He asked Zel, whose arm was still in a sling.
"No, Chuckie. It's just a nuisance now. So where's Joey?" Zel knew them all.
"Basketball practice. He's taller than you an' he's only 11!" Chuckie informed Zel.
"But I'm a lot scarier!" Zel shouted and chased Chuckie around and out to the front room where he tackled him and wrestled him into submission. "See? And with only one good arm!"
The little girls were mystified over Val's punky garb, but his glares kept them at bay. They could tell Xelloss was afraid of them, and so was approachable.
"Are you growing your hair out to look like hers?" one little girl asked him as he finished drying the dishes. Gourry laughed as he took the plate out of his hands and put it away.
"Ah…no! Filia over there promised me a trim, but has forgotten…besides, Sylphiel's hair is a different color!" Xelloss insisted.
"Oooooo!" one little girl ran over to a drawer and showed off a veritable salon-full of cutting tools. "Fiya! You can do his hair now…here!"
Filia eyed the array of scissors, then Xelloss' terrified face, "Since you insist…" She smiled cagily, "have a seat and let me have a look."
Xelloss was outnumbered and over-ruled. In a flash, he was pushed into a chair and a towel wrapped around his shoulders.
"Shall we go with something extreme? Short and spiky or…" Filia grinned.
"Eep! No! Just off the shoulders, okay? And…" Xelloss explained, holding his hair down protectively with both hands.
"How 'bout I expose your eyebrows for once…get the bangs out of your eyes, unless you're planning on growing them out the length of the rest of your hair, like Val?" Filia suggested, running her fingers through his hair. "You take good care of your hair. It's so soft and silky… conditioner?" she purred in his ear.
"Eep! Ah…yes…ah…not above, touching, ah…midway through the eyebrows…ah…" Xelloss was nervous as hell and never liked having anyone touch his hair, but hers hands were gentle and she was so close. And so, with an audience, Filia trimmed Xelloss' hair. She did a very neat, quick, and precise job. No blood anywhere!
He checked in the mirror and nodded his approval. "Thanks, Filia. You did a very professional job. I owe you…"
"Nothing! But if you would tell me…" she whispered something into his ear.
"Sure!" he grinned and "Lavender Castile soap with vinegar rinse!" he answered grinning. He didn't mind giving away his secret hair formula.
Val was oddly annoyed by all the attention Filia was giving Xelloss. Normally he'd just shrug it off, but Filia was starting to prey on his mind. Also, she wasn't in hate with Xelloss anymore and so was trying to make up for her past attacks. It was the way Xelloss looked at her that bugged him the most, adulation? Well, lotsa guys looked at her that way. Zel talked with her in an easy manner Val could never pull off, Gourry had mentioned her attractive figure on more than one occasion, but Xelloss was…challenging her. That was it! Open, yet secretive…he'd play naïve, yet be calculating every…
"Val? You coming? The bus'll be at the stop in five minutes and we gotta run if we're gonna make it!" Gourry reminded his friend gently.
"Yeah, sure!" Val growled, awakened from his reverie.
The manager of the music store greeted them at the door. "Place is about to close, glad you could make it, Val. I tried to get a hold of you earlier. Seems most of the employees couldn't stay tonight, so I'll have to do inventory counts and close up tomorrow. Hate to lose the business…"
"I brought friends, Mr. Dan. Most you recognize. They'll help…work cheap too! We can get it all done today, yer be open like normal tomorrow, and save bucks too, right? You've met Zel and Xelloss…bought stuff here a few weeks ago…"
"Oh, I read the papers too! You two are out of the hospital already? And you two…you were the quick thinkers that got the principal's help…who's your mother, right?" Asked the shopkeeper.
"Ah…yeah…I'm Lina and this is Gourry…and Sylphiel's a singer in our band," she finished with the introductions.
"Fine, I can use you all…shouldn't take too long…" Mr. Dan handed Val the inventory sheets and explained what he wanted done. After the drum hardware and music books were counted, he wanted Xelloss and Zel on the adding machines, extending the numbers and totaling the pages. Sylphiel and Lina were assigned the tedious counting of cables, strings, cables, and other accessories. Gourry had to list the band equipment, then guitar section. Val was in charge. He assigned new duties as old ones were completed and answered questions concerning prices and labeling. Around five o'clock, pizza's were delivered and they all took a break. Val told them about the equipment.
"Yeah, ya need some new stuff. Both of yer amps are shot. Look at this baby, a 'Tuck-n-Roll' from the sixties in sparkle gold! Cheap, though, 'cause its solid state. Hate solid state. Can't be fixed. Those things were built by robots so if somethun goes wrong ya gotta pull out the whole board. Don't sell no boards anymore…this one has tubes and was wired by hands…Tubes? Yeah, they're still making em in Russia, hah! I ken fix em up fine. This one's ten times bettern what ya got, Zel. And it's reasonable. Gourry, the bass amps are here. This one's just got new speakers and sounds great…worth the price. And Xelloss? Ya gotta replace that tom-tom head and ya need ta replace the cheap hardware and the bass drum pedal. Yeah see the cymbals? That crash is mighty sweet! Would improve my song to whack on that baby."
Zel was amazed that Val was so well versed in musical equipment. "I'd like to try out the amp, if I may…"
"Sure, after we're done, which is soon, right? Half and hour? Hey, Mr. Dan? Okay if they check out some gear? Yeah, when we're done…'bout half an hour…I know ya wanna go home…about fifteen minutes? They've got some crap to trade in… Yeah, they could trade tomorrow and pickup stuff…they'll have a van," so Val arranged the deal. Zel, Xelloss, and Gourry would trade old gear for new plus their work that day, plus a bit more cash, depending on the condition of Zel's amp. Good deal.
Sylphiel wanted to donate her earnings to the cause, but Xelloss refused. Zel agreed. He knew Lina would do it too, but she really needed the cash. "Thanks, girls, but you save your money for new outfits…probably going to need changes, right?" Xelloss smiled.
The kids finished up the inventory, checked out the gear, then left to check out the one re-sale shop remaining open. They found the desk of Gourry's dreams, which he paid $6.50 for and arranged to pick up the next day when he came for the new amplifier.
"My Dad said he'll get me a computer. He want's me to learn how to run his stuff that way…ordering and all?" Gourry told his friends on the bus ride home.
Val got off at his stop, and the rest rode on. "Xelloss or I could set you up in no time, Gourry, you know that. Just let me know. I could help you pick out what you need, if you want…" offered Zel.
"Yeah, thanks," Gourry smiled, relieved. The prospect of picking out thousands of dollars of computer equipment was a daunting task ahead of him. Now he looked forward to it. "I think Dad was hop'in you'd say that…"
"So…see ya guys tomorrow!" Lina yelled as she and Gourry reached their stop and got off. "A mall'n we will go, a maulin we will go…heh, heh, heh!"
"I'm not sure where my stop is!" cried Sylphiel, suddenly aware of her surroundings.
"I'll stay on and see that you get home, okay?" offered Xelloss. Zel looked at his friend, as much as to say 'so you know where you're going?' Reading his mind, Xelloss added, "It's not far from the dojo…actually."
Zel chuckled, "Yeah, which was not all that far from the music store downtown. Have fun you guys! And Xelloss? Call me if you get lost!" Zel smiled and hopped off at his stop.
"Oh, thank you, Xelloss," Sylphiel sighed, settling into her seat. "I just got on with all of you and forgot where I was going. I can be so scattered sometimes…"
"That's okay, If you stay on any of these city buses, they all end up at the downtown station eventually and the shrine is visible from there. So you see? You'll never get lost again!" He smiled. He liked knowing things. Helping others was a luxury he'd never had before. So they talked on about the Shrine and her duties. Finally, he got around to the topic he wanted to discuss.
"Sylphiel, if I wanted to become a priest…how would I get started?" he asked serious for a change.
"What? Do you mean that? I mean…it's so unexpected…well, I can see you've been giving it a lot of thought…There's a program. You become a novice. You know that means no, umm…dating for awhile. The priests can marry but the novices are, well…celibate…Okay, then… You come certain days and learn stuff. It took me awhile, but you'd probably pick it up real fast…There are ceremonies that you'd be expected to perform in…When were you thinking of starting? That soon? I'll ask my father for details, okay? What? My stop? Oh! Thanks again, 'night! See you tomorrow! Bye!"
Later that evening, when Xelloss was certain most everyone had gone on to bed, he put in a rare appearance in the living room. Xelloss leveled a purple gaze at his mother, pulled up to a chair, and asked, "Rezo around?"
Zelas lit up a cigarette and gestured for him to sit, "No. He's gone to bed, poor thing, to read, heh heh. This is an unusual visit from my son…"
"Yes, something was bothering me," Xelloss began. He glanced at his mother to be sure he had her undivided attention. He did. "You never considered me for recruitment into your organization."
Much to her credit, Zelas did not gasp or drop her ashes. She took a long drag on her cigarette, then whispered, "Oh, God…"
"I'm no unskilled, idiot kid," Xelloss continued, satisfied that he caught her off-guard. "I'm intelligent, technologically capable, and I am amoral enough for any quasi-legit association."
That was true. "Perhaps too bright…However…maybe I have been overlooking a potential ally to exploit in my only son. How about Zelgadiss?" Zelas asked, testing his resolve.
"No. Leave him out of this…for now anyway. He has a strong sense of honor that would get in the way. Val on the other hand… No he's staying clean these days. You have me." Xelloss' eyes flashed dangerously.
"I see…so, what would you have me tell you?" Zelas asked.
Xelloss smiled, "Wolfpack Island, Gaav, Rezo, the Red Priest…this pendant…the works, please."
Zelas did not expect this. She had no idea how he had gathered and linked those names and things to her…perhaps he would be a valuable asset. He was certainly proving himself hard to kill. Well, if things didn't work out, there would be time for that…"My, my you have picked up a few names, haven't you? Well, Wolfpack Island is MY base of operations for North America."
Looking carefully at her strange son's eyes for a reaction, she paused. Getting none, she continued, "Gaav was centered in the Far East, though it doesn't matter since he broke with the syndicate ages ago to start his own…bunch of hoodlums. Ah…the youngest member, H.M. Fibrizo…hmmm? No, he is not related to the Mayor's lawyer, different spelling, dear. Fibrizo holds together our oil interests in the Middle East, centered out in the desert somewhere."
Zelas, puffed on her cigarette before continuing, "The family Dauphin, yes that's French dear, controls all sea trade routes and shipping…and the Grauscherra Dynasty has the northern polar offices, including Europe. These five groups all reported to the original Shabranigdu Family. Once, a single man headed this, but after his death, the wealth of his empire was divided into seven parts, five of which were the groups I described."
Zelas smiled catlike, "This isn't boring you, my dear? Good…Another part was distributed to the man known as the Red Priest in order to buy the benevolence of the Shrine. It seemed to work; they often looked the other way…until the priest's death. His inheritance did not go to his son, as was expected, but to his grandson whose mother was also an heir in the Dauphin family. You do know I'm speaking of Zelgadiss now? That's right, that one.
"Your father married into the Dauphin family and brought his wife here to remove her from the bad influences. He was a good man and wanted no ties to the underworld. Neither did Rezo for the longest time; that is until that missing inheritance gnawed away at his resolve to fight it any more," she sighed, puffed on her cigarette, then continued.
"Well, when your father's first wife learned her father had died unexpectedly on a cruise ship, she also learned that she gained a portion of that original inheritance. On her death, the inheritance flowed to her only daughter and eventually, her stepson, you. But her daughter died, as you know, in childbirth, and so, that child inherited her share. So as you can see, Zelgadiss is entitled to two inheritances on his eighteenth birthday. Rezo wants it all, but…we were talking about you, weren't we?
"Hmmm, with Gaav's defection and departure from the syndicate, I acquired some of his holdings. Dauphin's trade expanded to include Gaav's routes. The Fibrizo family snagged his few operatives who didn't go with him, I believe. So the important question is…where has Gaav gone? With his eastern drug cartel, I think he's either going to South America or looking for African gold. I need to know where."
She flicked of some ashes and cleared her throat, "So you see, I have an opportunity for an up and coming newcomer to prove his worth…" Zelas broke off and stubbed out her cigarette. She lit another and waited for her son's response.
"I'm listening…" Xelloss said in a soft voice, the smile dropped, his face serious.
"I want to locate Gaav, draw him back into the fold or…we'll see… There's a lead, a slim one, an old man with connections and once a close friend to the Red Priest. He lives in a nice retirement home by the river, you know the one? The old man won't speak to anyone we put in…but he likes to play chess. You play quite well, don't you? Yes, of course… Through school, you could be assigned a 'community service' project there."
Xelloss woke up, "What? A retirement place? Won't I look a bit out of place?"
"Just be charming, smile, be helpful…a couple nights a week." Zelas smiled.
"You know, I'm considering becoming a priest…" Xelloss admitted.
Zelas was surprised. She crushed out her cigarette in irritation. He's good, my boy…
Xelloss continued, "I'm looking into the novice program where Sylphiel is a shrine priestess. You know, the big one. I could start immediately…any problem?"
Zelas stood to end the conversation, "I don't believe so… I might even be able to put that to use too. I have no agents in the shrine these days…"
Xelloss rose to leave, "Okay…so when?"
"I'll have the office prepare the paper work at school next week and personally call the retirement center…Whispering Oaks. I'll let you pick the times you work…Well, this has been a most…arresting and interesting evening, my dear. You have truly surprised me, and no one has done that in a long time. Good night, dear. What? How did I become so important? That's a secret, of course. And dear? Let's keep this information between the two of us, hmmm?"
"Of course…Zelas," he smiled and watched her saunter out of the room. He exited the house, locking the door, and walked over to his own place wondering what the hell he had just done.
Zelgadiss was wondering the exact same thing. He had heard the entire conversation from his listening post. He had made certain…modifications in his room's walls. His room had an interesting location. One corner was located directly over the living room. His lamp and a beanbag chair (housewarming present from Lina in bright burnt-orange) were situated beside a hole drilled through the floor and covered by a thinning piece of carpeting. He had other spots of similar construction and value. This one was special. Xelloss had warned him to stay alert. Had he known! He could barely contain his trembling as he heard Zelas come up the stairs and down the hall. She paused at his door, knocked softly, and then opened the door. He pretended to be awakened from a light sleep.
"You should go to bed, dear…that isn't a good place to sleep…Yes, I know, I used to fall asleep reading too. What is the book? Candide by Voltaire? How droll. Well, goodnight, dear."
Zelgadiss slowed his heart rate and climbed into bed. "What has my friend got himself into? And me? I wonder how much of that was true?" He drifted off wondering about the tales he had listened in on. Few people slept well that night!
The next morning Zel was quietly strumming his guitar, working out the words to his song, his song to his friends. Xelloss crashed into the kitchen, looking for food. "Hey!" called Zel.
"Hey, yourself!" echoed Xelloss. "Want to walk and get something?"
"Sure…Let me put this away first…" said Zel closing the case. "I'll take it back up later, I guess."
"I guess… Let's get out of here," rushed Xelloss.
Feeling safer halfway down the block, Zel sighed, "I heard it all, Xelloss…I don't know what to believe. But you have put yourself in grave danger, my friend."
"Then you know how important you are in all this. Stay out of it, go to McGywn if you don't hear from me sometime…" Xelloss said looking furtively around him as if Gaav was lurking in the shrubbery.
"I'm getting a cell phone. At the mall. Today," Zel had decided. "Amps, cell phone…a car will have to wait. Course with all that inheritance, I should be able to afford an entire fleet of cars at year's end," he smirked.
"Not to mention a load of henchmen, mercenaries, and cannon fodder…" Xelloss smiled.
"So what do you think goes on, on Wolfpack Island?" Zel asked.
"Raising wolves?" Xelloss smiled more.
"Yeah, THAT'S the work of the Mafia or whatever… Nice family ties we have, hmmm?" Zel shook his head.
"Quite distinguished. At least my father sounded like a good guy, once…"
"I wonder if any of them ever died of natural causes…" Zel wondered aloud. "I hope we do…"
The Amelia Van rolled up to the house at one o'clock. Only Lina and Gourry were left to pick up so it was pretty full. Zel and Xelloss climbed into the back seats, leaving the ones in front open for the other two kids. The mall was teaming with like-minded teenagers—one last flight to freedom before school the next day. Zel found it depressing.
Gourry was acting like a petulant child, "No! I'm not going into a clothing store with…"
"A bunch of girls," finished Zel curtly. "It's demeaning."
"What?" shouted Lina, grabbing Gourry by the coatsleeve and dragging his head closer to hers.
"You heard him," Zel continued. "And nor am I. I have a purchase to make. Gourry? Coming with? Xelloss, you have to help too."
Val was torn. In the end Zel encouraged him to watch over the girls to make sure they remembered to meet up in an hour.
"So…ah, what do you need?" Gourry asked, skeptical that Zel had anything to buy.
"This store will do…cell phone. I want one too. All right. What do I need, and no expensive extra gadgets, Xelloss," Zel warned.
Five minutes later, Zel was done and ready to go home. Gourry wandered into a shoe store. "Hey! These shoes have water in the heels! Look!" Sure enough, the sport shoes were interesting…for about two seconds.
Xelloss discovered the software store. Gourry was amazed at the choices and looked forward to getting some games on his computer…Zel flipped through the selections, snorted and left. He could download better.
Next they found a bookstore. Gourry bought himself a copy of the Lord of the Rings. Xelloss was perusing the magazines.
Zel pointed out the girls on the cover of one magazine, "They look like they came from a mold," he turned a page or two.
"I'm giving them up and becoming a novice in Sylphiel's shrine," Xelloss smiled. "I just decided last night, by the way so, no, you haven't missed anything."
Gourry joined them. "He's going be a priest," Zel stated flatly. "I just thought of something, however. Once they know you are…out-of-bounds, they'll probably start fawning all over you. Just a warning…"
Xelloss made a face and picked up a copy of GUNZE TODAY!.
"So…we meet them in half an hour…Where's that décor place?" Gourry asked.
Zel found in it a series of unattached buildings. He showed Gourry the book of window treatments he had looked through. "Yeah, wood slats like yours but this lighter color…Ah, yeah…ah how much will it cost to have these made to ….these dimensions? Really? Ah, okay…do I pay now or…20%…ah…could you figure that…oh, okay…I got it…Yeah, my name's Gourry Gabriev. Yeah, that's our family business… I'll fill in the address… When will they be done? Great. Do I pick 'em up or…deliver that's good. Someone's always home. Oh, yeah, I can put 'em up fine, thanks…Well, that's done!"
They met the girls and Val at the food vendors. Val looked a little worse for wear, but happily munching a hamburger and fries. Zel sat beside him and demonstrated his new toy. Xelloss picked up their SUBWAY sandwiches and drinks and brought them over. Gourry couldn't decide, so he had pizza and hamburgers. Lina and Amelia were fighting over a bag of fries, while Sylphiel worried over whether or not to eat even a salad.
Filia warned her not to, "The dressing is ALL FAT!"
All was well. Gourry explained that the shade issue was over and done with, which seemed to set off Lina. He bought her a milkshake and quieted her down, "If ya hadn't made me come, it wouldn'ta happened. Thanks, Lina."
Xelloss chose this time to inform the uninformed of his plans to enter the priesthood starting next week. Lina exploded into laughter. Amelia's eyes nearly popped out. Val shook his head, "I don't believe it…"
Filia's eyes watered up, "That's…just….so …beautiful. See? Kiki's gone and if he can't have her then…he'll have NO one!"
Amelia got this. "Oh! It's so sad and romantic! Oh, Mr. Xelloss is so brave!"
"I'm gonna throw up…" growled Val.
Gourry looked up from beneath his bangs, "Uh…somewhere else, okay?"
Zelgadiss ignored them all. He had a manual to study. There wasn't much to the cell phone, but it kept him occupied and out of the fray.
"And you should see the robes and stuff he gets to wear for the ceremonies!" Sylphiel squealed, welcoming the attention now that she had the scoop on his attire. "The novices wear plain tunics and pants with a dark cloak…they carry staffs… Oh, that's right…no dating…or…you know…" The giggles were getting to Zel, but he didn't let on. Xelloss managed only an eye-twitch. He was waiting for Lina. She would want the last word.
"Xelloss! What God-awful plan are you mixed up in now!" she hissed. "Why a priest? Why now? Why Sylphiel's shrine? Why…you?"
Xelloss smiled benignly. "Why, Lina! I didn't know this would bother you so much. For your information, my close encounter with death lately has made me more…spiritual let's say. This is an undertaking I do not take lightly. And as for giving up anything, well, what I haven't had, I can't miss. Now I look forward to a life of service in Seyruun's greatest Shrine. Can't you wish me luck anyway?"
He looked so sincere. Lina caved in, "Yeah, good luck, Xelloss. I hope this choice is a good one. It won't do you any harm, anyway…"
"No? I hope not!" he smiled. "I'll also be starting a community service project next semester."
Val looked aghast. Amelia actually put her hand to his forehead to see if he was okay, "Mr. Xelloss? Are you sure the doctor said you didn't sustain any brain damage? You aren't quite the same."
"Thank you. I'm fine, Miss Amelia," he smiled and continued eating.
The discussion moved to classes the next day. Amelia couldn't wait to get back to hers. Lina shrugged, "Yeah, it'll be pretty tame after this holiday, right?"
"So, what are you taking instead of acting next semester, Lina?" Filia asked.
"Cooking. Zel got me to thinkin. I like to eat, so might as well learn to cook, eh? How about you?"
"Silk screening," said Filia. "Sylphiel? You too? Val? Come on… it'll be fun. We'll make more t-shirts with the logo of our band…"
"And I'll sell'em all!" laughed Lina.
"Okay…" Val agreed. No backbone, that one.
Gourry said he'd 'think' about the cooking class, but that woodworking sounded more macho. Xelloss agreed, but thought the cooking class had possibilities. Zel nodded, but said, "I'm not cooking at school too! There must be something else…pottery. I'll make pots. There, it's decided."
Lina moaned that it would be more fun if he joined them anyway, but he stood tough and resistant. Well, she had a few days to work on him, wear down his resistance, until sign-up time…
After lunch they roamed the mall in a huge group, overpowering the smaller kids, larger kids, and everyone in-between. They shouted noisily, pushing and pounding one another. Val was in a terrific mood, now that he knew that Xelloss was not going to be a problem for him. The coast was clear. The Goal was in sight and no other runners were even close. He was the man.
"Val? What are you grinning about?" Lina demanded.
"Who me? Nothin'…ya gotta problem with that?"
"Yeah, you're all grinny like that nutcase," she said pointing to Xelloss. "Like you think you've got some clever idea…Well, it won't work. Not without my help. Think about it!" She moved on to another client. She had no idea what Val was up to, but she knew he couldn't pull it off without her help. He needed to remember that, and start thinking about what he could do for her!
Val shook his head, "How does she know?" He looked at Gourry who wouldn't meet his eyes, "How does she do that? Mind reading? Ya gotta tell me!"
Gourry smiled faintly, "It's Lina."
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val