(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 35
THE SLAYERS
Friday, Sairaag.
They rode in silence, the gray sky lightening slightly with the late rising sun. Zel drove, Xelloss, playing the gentleman, sat in back allowing Lina to have the seat beside Zel. They had passed the 'Welcome To Sairaag…Home of the Giant Crater' sign and were now following the road which lay along the crater's ridgeline.
"Musta been some bomb to make a hole like that," Lina said appreciatively. "Okay, the address is…39th…so turn left here and slow down so I can read the numbers."
Zel stopped in front of a dilapidated hotel building. "We'll go up with you to be sure it's safe," Zel said locking the doors and checking them twice. "Hope the car's safe…"
Lina pounded on the desk bell until a tired man appeared from a room in back. He looked like he'd just gotten out of bed.
"Yeah, whaddaya get me outta bed for at this hour?" he grumbled.
"It's 10:00 AM and we are here to see a friend who is sick and needs medical attention, name's Nahga Seyruun. Ring a bell?" Lina asked and pounded the bell again for emphasis.
"Room 310. She's in, but she ain't gonna be glad to see your face this early," he growled.
"Yeah, well, betcher wrong, buddy," Lina growled back and led Zel and Xelloss up the stairs.
Lina was right, Nahga opened the door—after Xelloss offered to kick it in if she didn't—then flung herself into Lina's open arms and cried.
She was an eye-opener, even when she wasn't in the best of shape. Her kimono robe hung open revealing a great deal more of her anatomy than Xelloss was used to. Zel turned away to avoid her seeing him. Xelloss gaped.
Lina turned her attention to the two boys and, after slapping Xelloss to get his eyes off Nahga, she told them both to go on and return in a couple hours.
"I'll be fine. We got lots to do and talk about. Two hours, okay?" Lina said to Zel.
Zel nodded obediently and yanked Xelloss out into the hall, down the stairs, and into the car. As they drove away, Xelloss let out a low whistle and said, "Did you see those…"
"Yes. Unnatural," Zel said with his usual brevity.
"That is Amelia's older sister? Wow, do you think Amelia will look like that in… oof! "
Zel punched him in the stomach, "Shut up! Now help me find the new shrine. It shouldn't be hard…"
It wasn't. The shrine was the tallest building in the rebuilt part of town.
"Impressive for such a small town. Must be money coming from someplace to put that up!" Xelloss noted in a hollow tone. "Nice parking lot too."
~*~
"Oh Lina it's sooo good to see you again! Have I had a wiiiild time, OH, ho, ho, hoooooooooo," Nahga fell into peals of ear-splitting laughter.
"Yeah? Well, tell me all about it, starting with…the rumors I've been hearing…" Lina began.
~*~
After wandering the windswept courtyard and entry hall for a few minutes, Zel and Xelloss found an old housekeeper and asked for directions.
"Information? Won't find much of that around here. What kind of information are you expecting to find?" she asked while setting down her mop and pail of dirty water.
Zel's approach was to be honest, so he told her who he was. "My name is Zelgadiss Graywords. My Great-grandfather was known as the Red Priest. My friend and I are looking for information about him. We have learned that he may have died along with the parents of a couple of our friends and we'd like to know what happened."
The old woman looked long and hard at the two boys before making her decision. "You seem to be good boys and I'd like to help you. Come sit with me in the anteroom awhile and I'll tell you a story."
~*~
Lina sat on the unmade bed, since there was nowhere else to sit, and settled in comfortably to listen to Nahga's tales of woe.
"Pregnant? Noooo, ho, ho, hoooooo! That's a good one! Although I did have the stomach flu for several days…missed a lot of work too! Yes I work! Singer and exotic dancer, Nahga the Great White Serpent! What? Well, it pays the rent…Whaddaya mean I don't look so good? Well you wouldn't either if you'd been out till 4:00 AM -- and had some kid command you to open up or he'd kick in your door if you didn't --- and at 10:00 AM? Gahh! Though I have to admit he was kinda cute…"
Lina covered her face with a hand and shook her head, "Nahga, Nahga, Nahga…"
~*~
The old woman told the two teenage boys how the Red Priest had been greatly admired for his healing arts and teachings. It wasn't until he returned from a long tour of duty out of the country that he seemed…different, changed.
"The head priest and his wife… the Nels Lahda family, noticed it and demanded that he leave. He was moody, irritable and spent hours alone in the tower rooms pacing and talking to himself. I heard him…ranting on and on as if in an internal battle of wills with himself. He didn't leave."
"So…what happened to him?" Zel prompted. An hour or more had gone by and Lina wouldn't be pleased if they kept her waiting.
"Well, one night I remember a man…I'll get his name…Lawrence Inverse. He came looking for the Red Priest. He'd been trailing him all over the world—worked for the CIA he did. This Red Priest was involved with something evil, some crime lords trying to take over the shrine and its worldwide banking industry, I believe.
"Oh, were there some arguments in that tower! The Nels Lahda's had a little baby, girl I think…walking about…cute as a button…She was sent away that afternoon with her father's right-hand man. They were to go to Seyruun and take a message to the head priest there, who was also Nels Lahda's twin brother. I've never known what happened to them…
"Anyway the Red Priest wouldn't leave with the CIA man either. He screamed something about the 'evil within' and 'Shaby-nig-do' like a raving lunatic. He seemed determined to blow up himself and everyone around him in order to end the torment and stop the evil from taking over the shrine…or some such nonsense.
"Well… I've got the feeling you boys need to get moving along so I'll finish this up quickly… in the end, he detonated enough explosives to take out the entire shrine and half the town with him. That's the crater…can't miss it!"
"So how did you manage to survive?" asked Xelloss dubiously.
"Well, I was much younger then. When I heard the maniacal screaming from the tower, I dropped my rags and ran for it," she pushed up her sleeves revealing scars not unlike Zel's, ugly and red in places. "Just barely made it too! Looks like you've had a close shave yourself, young man!" She smiled warmly at Zelgadiss. "Well, that's my story. You'll not find any records of it anywhere around here. In this town, they say it was a meteor that struck. End of story. Now you boys run along and keep out of trouble. I've got cleaning to finish!"
~*~
"Yes, Nahga! He promised me personally that there would be no questions asked. He'd let me sit in and make sure you get a good deal…what? Well, how about going to a spa and drying out, for one thing! You like spas? You bet! Expenses paid too! Yeah, can't be beat…maybe you can get a job at one someday, okay?"
Lina paused to listen to the sound of pounding feet coming up the metal stairwell. "Oh, I hear the guys, wanna meet 'em? As soon as you're dressed…ahhh, how about buttoning up those buttons, these are my friends, got it? NO! NOT BOYFRIENDS! Geesh! How many times do I have to explain these things to you? You all packed too? ZEL?"
Lina opened the door, "Yeah, come on into the bedroom and meet my old friend Nahga… Yeah, he's a GOOD friend of your little sister's too! Well you ARE! So am I! Anyway, this is Xelloss. He lives with…shares a…Let me start that over, okay? He and Zel are stepbrothers of late. Yes, he's eighteen…oh, no…get your hands off of him, Nahga! He's a novice at the shrine, get it? Yeah, no girls!"
Zel shook his head as Xelloss made a face at Lina's back.
Lina pushed them all out the door, "Okay, ready everyone? Move it, Nahga! Time to go! We gotta drop you off and then we gotta play to rehearse!"
Nahga wrapped an arm around each of the boys' waists and laughed, "OH, ho, ho, hoooooooooo! So this is what you replaced me with! You know, I am a magnificent singer…Lina's been my greatest rival…"
~*~
Martina showed up, true to her word. She seemed practically meek. Zangalus was strutting around like a proud turkey, er…rooster with the prize hen. The teacher showed Martina what he needed her to do. She kept track of props, ran for water, cued from the sidelines, whatever was asked of her. Of course, she mumbled and grumbled around a few of her past acquaintances, but she kept her mouth shut around the teacher.
Sylphiel and Amelia made it PERFECTLY clear that they had NO romantic interest in Zangalus, although they had a difficult time keeping a straight face when they told her!
Chaos prevailed in the dressing rooms. The costumes were not put away in any particular order (by Martina the night she'd bagged them) and so everyone was grabbing and shouting. Lina, Zel and Xelloss had arrived a little late, but in time to see Martina, cardboard prop sword in hand, attempting to repel the crush of angry kids. Lina took in the scene, formulated a plan, and put it to action.
"Gourry! Val!" she shouted, pulling Xelloss and Zel through the crowd to the front.
Gourry and Val moved to Martina, forming a guard around her. Xelloss and Zel stood alongside their friends, extending the guard. Zangalus understood and took a position beside Gourry. Amelia jumped atop a stack of boxes and shouted, "Everybody stop!"
Lina yanked a costume off the bar, "This says…'fairy guard 1', yeah come and get it! The next is 'attendant to Theseus 3', sure… The next…"
Eventually Lina handed the job off to Martina when her costume came up, "I bet you can think of a better order to keep these in, right?" Lina winked at Martina.
"Just you wait and see!" Martina smirked. "Ah…thanks for the help…Next time I'll call in the bodyguards from the start!"
By the time everyone was in their costumes and ready to go, it was already late. They practiced through the first two acts, then called it a night. That meant an early 9:00 AM start for Saturday to finish the play and repeat it all.
"Great. Seven hours of play practice ought to get me in the mood for meeting the greatest swordsman of all time…" muttered Zel.
Filia walked by laughing about how much fun trying out the stage makeup on everyone was going to be tomorrow. Gourry froze. Zel shuddered and ran into him. Val grumbled something unrepeatable, which Lina heard and pounded him for.
Amelia and Sylphiel giggled, then Amelia whispered, "So who do YOU want to help? I don't think any of them are adept at makeup…except for Mr. Xelloss…He was made up to be a Harlequin…course he had a professional to help…"
"Yes I did! It's not my forte, at all! Ever!" he insisted from behind them.
"Well…Miss Filia will want to help Mr. Val, I think…" continued Amelia.
"Do you think Zel will let anyone touch him?" Sylphiel whispered.
Amelia shook her head, "Lina, maybe…"
Filia heard that, "Oh, yeah. She'll want to get her hands on him, all right. She'll strangle him first! Better leave him to me…or you Amelia. He seems to tolerate YOU up close and…"
"Shhh!" Amelia cautioned her friend. "He's got very good hearing and I don't want to offend him."
Zel had heard the discussion, of course. Oh joy! Another obstacle to overcome. Makeup, for God's sake! He looked freakish enough already. He'd talk to Lina…no, Amelia might be more compassionate, or at least more terrified of his wrath…
Gourry was trying to grasp the extent of this 'makeup' calamity. Sylphiel assured him that it was all under control and that she would be sure that he looked buff, not pretty. That seemed to satisfy him, although Zel wasn't looking happy about anything.
Val had latched onto Filia for a no-nonsense discussion. "Ya gotta promise that it won't be much and I won't look like a…you know…"
Filia smiled, "Of course not! Why would I want to make you look silly up there? Just some color so you don't looked washed out…CEPHIED'S honor, okay? And I can do you too, Xelloss."
"Or…I can…" Sylphiel offered shyly.
"Ah, thanks…what did you have in mind?" he smiled at both girls.
Zel shook his head, "Lina. Did you tell Amelia about Nahga yet?"
"OH! You're right I'd better warn her. Thanks, Zel for reminding me. You can be thoughtful sometimes!" Lina laughed.
"I wasn't! I was thinking of…" he stopped to come up with a plausible defense.
"Right!" Lina smirked and stalked off to hunt for Amelia. She didn't want to listen to his excuses again.
To everyone's amazement, Zel offered to drive anyone home who could use a ride. Sylphiel had her car and had invited Filia to stay over with her. Amelia already had the van outside sniff! .
She looked so despondent that Zel told her, "There'll be another time. It's my car now."
"Oh, yeah?" Val asked interestedly.
"Yeah, Xelloss did it, actually. He got in an argument with…Rezo…took the heat…he's kicked out of the house now… whatever that means. He cooks with me and eats at the table still. But the next day I'm rewarded with the car. I'm calling it the GUILT TRIPPER. No. Not really, Val."
Friday evening.
After dropping everyone off, Zel returned home, parked the car, and locked it up. He sighed and said to his friend, "You know, it's going to be hard telling Lina and Sylphiel what we've learned. We have no proof… a name on the Internet and the story of a shrine housekeeper. What if it isn't even true? We get them all riled up…over nothing maybe."
"You don't believe it?" Xelloss asked.
"I didn't say that. I just don't know how to tell them what I know based on how I feel without concrete proof," Zel clarified.
"We should tell them simply what we've got, at…my place and do it…Sunday afternoon. I have some ideas for proof, but I'll need tonight to hunt…"
"Checking this shrine's records…her uncle…right? I'll help…after you help with dinner. Indian. We start with rice and I'll make a beef curry and a bean dip. There's a package of flatbread and cucumbers to slice," Zel continued as they entered the kitchen and started preparations.
In a quiet moment, Xelloss left the house to call first Lina, then Sylphiel.
"O-kay, do-kay! It's all set. They'll be here at 1:00 on Sunday. We're providing lunch and entertainment. Sylphiel can't stay long. Curious? Oh yes. I warned them to bring Kleenex… that it wouldn't be all pleasant. Should I check the rice? EEP! " Xelloss snapped his hand away from the rice pot.
"Never open the lid while the rice is steaming!" Zel admonished him. "If you want to do something, mix these spices with one cup of yogurt and toss it all with the sliced cucumbers…it's called raiita. It's not hot, the curry is a little spicy and this tones it down. One bite of hot, one of cool… That's done then. It'll all be ready in half an hour or so. Me? Homework. Yes. I always do it. So do you. You can't fool me. Just bring it in and do it on the table with me. What? Oh, forget Rezo."
"I was thinking about my new song…horns maybe…" Xelloss as much to himself at to Zel. "Val can do that…bells…and the backup singers throughout all the chorus…Come on, let's go, everything will be all right…" he sang as he went out the door to get his math book.
"Next you'll want them dancing in go-go getup!" shouted Zel out the door.
"Good idea! I'll ask them at rehearsal tomorrow!" Xelloss laughed back.
"Oh, joy… he probably will, and attribute it to me…oh, no…XELLOSS!" Zel screamed and ran out the door after him.
Saturday Morning.
"Absolutely not!" Zel said as the two boys left the house. "We walk to school. Gasoline is expensive and it's not far. So what if I collapse of exhaustion tonight…I'll survive. So will you."
Xelloss smiled and changed the subject, "So who're going to let put make-up on you, hmmm?"
Zel glared at him, "You know you couldn't have picked a more disturbing subject if you'd tried. I don't want to think about it. Don't you think I'm frightful enough? Without it?"
Xelloss pretended to look him over closely, "Nope. Hey, did you hear them? I have two of them wanting to do my face! This novice thing is working out great. As long as I'm 'off limits', I'm interesting! Ha! What a scam!" he laughed but one look at his friend's scowl and he grew more serious. "But that really wasn't… isn't my reason for becoming a priest, you know that don't you?"
"Just a nice side affect, eh?" Zel smirked.
"Yeah! For a change!" Xelloss giggled.
They were among the first to arrive. Even the teacher wasn't there yet. It was cold and wet, the wind whipping up a new storm. Xelloss pulled out his keys, selected one and opened the door. This was done in a manner so that the other kids saw nothing of his activity.
"Ah, it's open now!" he smiled and held it open for everyone.
Martina ran to the door screaming, "WAIT FOR MEEEEEEE!"
He held it open a bit longer and said, "Good morning Martina! You're looking refreshed this morning!"
She wasn't sure how to take that. She was flushed and panting from the run, but he LOOKED sincere. "Uh…thanks."
"My pleasure," he smiled and let the door close behind them.
"So, who are you dating now?" she asked harshly.
"Me? No one. I'm a novice at the shrine downtown, and girls are on the 'no' list!" he chuckled.
"Oh? I've got lots of admirers, but Zangalus is sooo possessive, you know!" she said smugly.
"Is he? I wouldn't know about that. Ah, here we are…after you!" he held the door for her and smiled, thinking that it would be quite a strain to put up with her for the rest of the term.
Martina returned his smile thinking, "He's not over me…I can tell!"
Martina had the costumes arranged in alphabetical order, which made finding the right one much easier. As they arrived, the performers changed clothes then waited for the makeup artists, if necessary.
Zel stood arms crossed, resolute. He watched the proceedings with no interest. He was awoken from his reverie by a gentle tap on his arm.
"Mr. Zelgadiss?" It was Amelia. "I have an idea for you…" She pulled out a small jar and unscrewed the lid. "Look at this…" She stuck in a finger and wiped something slimy across his nose and cheeks. Zel winced, then looked in the mirror. Blue-green glitter gel. Not bad.
"It'll do…thank you," he added and hurried off to avoid letting her see the blush spreading beneath the glitter.
The teacher caught kids to look them over. He was thrilled with Zel, "Even more! Next time in the hair as well! Very nice!"
In fact, all the fairies ended up getting the sparkle treatment by performance time the following week. It unified them as 'non-humans' in a subtle fashion.
Gourry and Val found the attention 'okay' and the results 'fine', then scooted off the take their places for the first act. The teacher had everyone come out in groups with the stage lights up. He took digital snapshots and had Xelloss and Zel display them on the computer. "See how you look with the bright lights? I want no 'night of the living dead' show! Color! Brighter!"
Xelloss had let both Filia and Sylphiel consult over his 'look'. The long scarf kept his bangs out of his eyes but…purple glitter gel won out, much to his dismay. He passed the test, however, and the rehearsal began.
Spirits were high. This was it! The sets moved in and out. The props were in the right places at the right times. Lines were correct. They felt ready, excited, and nervous. Their teacher had made some notes and reviewed them in the last few minutes. They would practice each day in class the sticky places, to be ready for Friday's first performance at 7:00 PM.
While kids were changing and wiping off makeup, Amelia was seeing if everyone could go out to eat together, before dropping Zel and Xelloss off at the dojo. Food? Great idea. A done deal. Even Zangalus and Martina would join them at that wonderful all-you-can-eat-buffet. Xelloss called ahead and reserved a large table—it was a Saturday evening, after all.
Later that night, Zel and Xelloss walked home from the bus stop tired, but happy for a change.
"Kenshin's cool. No doubt about it. He want's to take me on as a student, but not until summer. His schedule and mine are too full, plus he wants me to get some Karate 'under my belt' –his joke, not mine—first." Zel shared his news.
"Sounds wise. We may be in for a…busy time, if I locate Gaav. I'm keeping a low profile until I do, although I'm finding that my name disturbs some people… yeah, like Sylphiel's 'father'. That guy must know who you and Rezo are too, don't you think? Rezo has the staff and cloak, albeit only some copy of the real ones if the originals got blown up, but someone in the shrine must know about that," Xelloss pointed out.
"From the records we found last night on the Internet, Rezo having his father's priest relics is no secret. The fact that they are actually MINE is. Course that was just something Zelas told you, so who knows…" Zel added. "So why would the head priest of Seyruun's largest shrine be uncomfortable with the Metallium name?"
"My guess? Mother-dear has been trying to get her claws into them for some time, but the Nels Lahda priest will have nothing to do with her…them…the organization. Unfortunately, he probably thinks I'm being used by her. I'm surprised he's agreed to accept me into the novice program and amazed that he's letting Sylphiel come over…I think I should have a talk with him before Sylphiel. If he's testing me, I don't want to jinx our band or anything…" Xelloss was keeping pace with Zel, voice serious.
"Talk to Sylphiel first. If she has driven over, offer to go home with her and then confront her father. I'll go too…I'd like to confirm our suspicions and be upfront with him about everything. If he's fighting Zelas, then he's on our side too, right?" Zel asked.
"And if we are entirely wrong about all this?"
"Then we'll feel pretty foolish…but we're just teenagers with active imaginations, right?" Zel smirked.
"Or…we have the strangest ways of picking up girls…" Xelloss laughed.
"That, deserves a defeat at the hands of the Master Gamer!" Zel challenged his friend.
"O-kay, Do-kay! But I thought I was the Master Gamer!" Xelloss looked fake-shocked.
"Not after your last loss!" Zel assured him.
"But I didn't lose! You did!" Xelloss corrected his friend and stuck out his tongue.
"Tonight…you lose!" Zel smirked. They weren't keeping track anyway.
Sunday morning.
"Let's plan a party!" Xelloss said Sunday morning.
Zel had crashed on the daybed in the loft the night before after playing computer games until the wee hours. He was only barely awake and listening to Xelloss' cheerful voice was no way to fully wake up. "Let's not."
"A cast party! We can do kareoke to CDs kids bring in, food…we'll take up a collection for pizza and soda…the gym?" Xelloss was on a roll.
"Do I have to do anything?" Zel groaned.
"Yes! Well, not much…donate some money and show up," Xelloss answered undaunted by his friend's lack of enthusiasm. "All my parties have been successful!"
"All WHAT parties? The one at the hospital? That was fun…both of them for me! What other…my birthday? That was Amelia's more than yours and it was marginal…" grumbled Zel.
"There was the overnight with the band…the storm? Well, you slept through the best parts…This isn't mine anyway, it'll be for everyone. The teacher said it's customary, but he wouldn't organize it. Come on, it'll be fun!"
Xelloss stared at Zel who stared back with one uncovered eye. "Sure,
why not?" Zel smiled. "What? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Xelloss laughed, "You're a bit blue and sparkly still!"
"Greeeeat. It's hard to get off…how did you get it off?"
"Cold cream. There were jars of it sitting open all around. It takes it off…and leaves your skin soft and smooth…" Xelloss giggled and jumped out of the way of a flying pillow. "But I don't keep that kind of stuff around here duck but you can ask Zelas. 'Oh Zelas? Crime lord of the western world, may I borrow your jar of cold cream? I'm having the hardest time taking off this blue glitter makeup!' How about that line?"
Xelloss had said that in a simpering falsetto, and made his friend laugh.
"Shit, Xelloss! You are such a goofball! I'm going back to my room and taking a hot shower and scrub off the outer layer of skin, glitter too. You can start breakfast…omelet."
"An omelet?" Xellos whined. "I don't know how to make that…"
"Oh, yeah, that's a tough one. Break four eggs in bowl. Beat them up…WITH A FORK! Pour into buttered frypan and cook until done. Salt, pepper, nothing else for me…all right, salsa on top. Toast, two pieces…yes, dry!" Zel cried out from the bottom of the stairs as he pulled on some shoes and wrenched on a coat over his sore shoulder.
Xelloss was doing homework in the practice room when Sylphiel and Lina drove up. "Okay, what's for lunch?" shouted Lina as Xelloss opened the door.
"Zelgadiss is putting the finishing touches on it as we speak…next door," he smiled and gestured toward the main house.
"Xelloss?" Sylphiel asked as she hopped the puddles on the walk. "Why do you call him that…instead of 'Zel' like everyone else?"
"Ha!" he chuckled, "At first…because it bugged him. Now? I think it's a cool name and fits him better and… well that's my name… 'Xel'…"
"But know one calls you that, do they?" she asked.
"Not at this school, but when I was a little kid…my name was too hard for some to say and that's what I was called," he explained wistfully.
"Not 'Xelly'?" she giggled.
"That too… I'm a bit old for that now, don't you think?" he grinned.
"I don't know… Oh, hi Zel!" Sylphiel entered the door to the kitchen and took a seat beside Lina.
Lina was cheerfully plowing through her sandwich and opening a bag of corn chips. "What's the dip?"
"Chickpea and sesame seed paste…lemon, salt – Middle Eastern," Zel answered between chews.
"You made pie? For us? Zel, what's up? I know you and you don't go to this much trouble for nothing," Lina began to pry.
"After dessert."
Back at the practice room, the girls settled into their beanbag chairs and waited. Xelloss was pacing like a caged animal and Zel was standing and pondering how to get started.
"I'm not good at tact, sometimes…so I'll just get to it," Zel began. "Sylphiel, do you know that your 'father' may actually be your uncle?"
To his surprise and relief, she nodded. "Yes. He told me a long time ago. He adopted me after my parents both died in an accident. He and his wife were the only parents I ever knew…then my mother…aunt…died not too long ago…"
"I'm sorry to bring up that… sadness, but I'm glad I'm not the one to break it to you. Well, what Xelloss and I have discovered…is the reason for your birth parents deaths and…that of Lina's father…at least we think so…" Zel's eye settled on Lina's face and he paused. "Do you guys want to hear the story?"
Both girls nodded and Zel and Xelloss took turns telling them about their encounter with the Sairaag housekeeper.
Lina was the first to speak, "That's…hard to believe, but…I gotta call my mom, she'll have to know something if I tell her this…His name, anyway…"
Sylphiel sat teary-eyed. Xelloss sank on the soft chair beside her and asked, "Are you going to be alright? Do you want us to take you home? Do you want to… hit something…or someone?"
She shook her head, "No…" then smiling she punched his arm a little, "Well, just a little, I guess… Actually, I'm glad to know, if that's the truth, but Zel! You must feel awful! To think that your grandfather was responsible for killing so many and OUR parents! Not that I hold it against YOU!"
Zel looked grim, as if he might fall apart. Then Lina's brain clicked into gear and she said, "The Red Priest said that Shabranigdo was destroying him, or something like that, right? Xelloss, that ancestral tree you made showed an ancient samurai guy with that name at the top…for both you guys. Now don't try and tell me that a weird name like that is just a coincidence!"
Zel shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, "It's not, but what it is…is… not a topic of discussion for now. Listen. If the wrong people find out that you two know what we have told you, it could be dangerous for you."
"WHAT!" Sylphiel wailed and clutched at the nearest thing, this being Xelloss. He didn't seem to mind much.
"Sylphiel, there are evil people out there, but they aren't mind readers. So far you only know how a big crater formed in the town of your birth and killed many people. Would you like Zel and me to sit with you and your father and talk about this? Your uncle's one of the good guys and I'd like him to know that Zel and I are too, despite our heritage," Xelloss smiled.
Sylphiel nodded. Lina piped up, "If you're going, I am too. He'd tell me more than my mom any day!"
"Are we set on doing this right now?" asked Zel frowning.
"If not now, when?" Lina said standing inches from him.
He backed down with a sigh, "If you insist. Shall we take your car, Sylphiel?"
"All right! Come on, let's go, everything will be all right…" sang Xelloss as he helped Sylphiel up and into a coat.
"That your new song?" asked Lina interested.
"Yep!"
"What's it about?"
"Ah…adventure and…food! Everything you like!" he said cheerfully.
"Sounds okay…" Lina said suspiciously.
Lina was quiet for the car ride to the shrine. She was sitting beside Zel in the backseat and he was concerned about it.
"Lina?" he said quietly. "You're taking this well. Too well…"
"What you expect me to say? Your grandfather murdered my father, both men we have never known, fighting a battle we can only barely fathom. You're my best bud, Zel, I'm not about to brand you 'murderer' because of that. I'm just stunned at the enormity of all this…CIA…priests…and somehow dark plotting I know nothing about," she frowned then smiled, " But…I'm gonna aren't I? YOU know more…and so does HE (poking Xelloss in the back of the head). So that means it's only a matter of time before I know too, heh, heh…"
The four kids and the priest sat around a table in a casually out-fitted office. Zel began the discussion by introducing himself as a long-time school friend and co-band member. In a somber tone, he relayed the story as he'd been told of how his grandfather met his dark end. Next, he introduced Lina, who was familiar already to Nels Lahda, but now as the daughter of the late Lawrence Inverse.
"And Xelloss…you've met before, and, yes, he is the son of Zelas Metallium…" Zel finished and let Xelloss take a turn.
Sylphiel's uncle/father, to his credit, simply nodded and did not interrupt either boy's speech. Perhaps he understood how painful it was and how difficult it was for them…all. Perhaps, on the other hand, he took his role of head of Seyruun's largest shrine very seriously. Perhaps… both were true.
Xelloss smiled briefly, then spoke, "I want you to know…I'm a sincere candidate for the novice program…just in case you…had reservations, and despite my last name. Only recently, I've become aware of our situation. When we learned what happened in Sairaag, we wanted to make amends for the past."
Nels Lahda stared hard at him before adding, "You have another agenda."
Xelloss met his gaze and said, "I'd like to hear from you first."
Nels Lahda smiled, "Yes, I imagine you've become more cautious of late…Well…"
So, he confirmed the housekeeper's tale, finishing with, "The Red Priest was like a man possessed. He was sure the crime lord Shabrinigdo was already integrating his organization into the Shrine worldwide and …that he, the most powerful priest, was going to stop him at all costs… He did do that, from all accounts. Nevertheless, to this day it requires a constant vigil on my part to maintain that sanctity."
The stern face softened and he wiped his face with his handkerchief, then went on, "I have to be honest…I wasn't pleased to know that my dear Sylphiel here was spending so much time with the sons of…murders. I also know that the evils of the past should not be blamed on the children of the present. So, boys…satisfied?"
Xelloss nodded. He closed his eyes to compose himself then said, "I'm posing as an incoming syndicate member…"
GASPS!
"Zelas has some…job for me …legal to start, but not safe. I'll be starting at the end of the month. I will use that to help a mutual friend, who's life is…in balance…" Xelloss spoke carefully so as not to reveal too much.
Nels Lahda guessed aloud, "That would be that other band member, Val Gaav, correct?"
Xelloss looked away.
Zelgadiss boldly continued, "We are determined to locate Gaav and…we have an officer who is on the case and a phone call away."
Nels Lahda sat silently thinking. Then asked, "What will happen to you, do you suppose, when Zelas discovers what you have done?"
"I'm afraid that…it's a secret…" smiled Xelloss with a significant look at both Lina and Sylphiel.
Nels Lahda nodded, "You don't wish to endanger others in your scheme, is that it? You both have experienced first hand how dangerous these people play. How many times have both your lives been imperiled already?"
"I have some proof that my life is worth zilch as of my 18th birthday, and I have the feeling that Zel's got the clocking ticking on his own as well. We are both worth more dead than alive. We are trying to change all that," Xelloss said as he stood and folded his arms to stop them from shaking.
Zel stood beside him and said, "I've spoken to Amelia. Her father is aware of some of this. His lawyer gave us the Sairaag lead, in fact. I hope that we have time to get the police and court system to support us…or finish the job if we fail."
Nels Lahda nodded in understanding, "But that may not be enough. I will speak to Phil and start building a safety net for you, since I can see you won't back down from this? No? I didn't think so. So I have two weeks tops…hmmm."
Xelloss smiled again visibly relieved, "Thank you. That's more than we hoped for from this meeting. Right, little brother?"
"Brother? You're not related, are you?" the older man asked, bewildered.
"Oh, but we are, and in two ways! My half sister, long dead, turns out to be Zel's equally long-dead mother! And just this last month Rezo and Zelas were married, bringing together the happiest little house of horrors you ever did see!" Xelloss spat with anger flashing from his eyes.
Nels Lahda covered his eyes with a hand and touched the intercom with another, "Refreshments, please for five." Quietly, he uttered, "That makes this all the more dangerous…"
Tea and cookies were brought in and the group relaxed and chatted about the play and school. Zel, Lina, and Xelloss said their good-byes and left to board the bus for home.
Sylphiel turned to her father, tears freely flowing. "Oh, father! You saved me…you can save them too, can't you?"
He looked at his lovely child and said meaningfully, "I'm going to try."
On the bus ride home, Lina was nestled safely between Zel and Xelloss.
"You know, guys…now I'm getting scared…I don't know about any of this stuff. It's so much bigger than selling drugs at a rave or stealing a kid's wallet…It's so much bigger than me or anyone…I'm feeling…lost," she said, looking down at her empty hands.
As if on cue, each boy took one of her hands and held it tight. Xelloss said, "Don't be. Nothing's happening until next semester starts…then I'll warn you."
Zel squeezed her hand a tiny bit then sang in a soft voice, "'Come on, lets' go…everything will be all right!'" Zel continued to sing soon to be joined by Xelloss and then Lina for the chorus. "'Are you okay? I'm sure everything will be all right…'" Moreover, Xelloss sang all the verses…and Lina knew that it was about her.
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val