A/N: Hmm…Well, umm…(answering Winged Knight's review) let's see…I haven't really thought out his part in this yet, but I'll come up with it soon.  Hmm…Let's just say…don't judge a book by its cover, ne?

*_* it's not my fault! (Moved on to Filing Sloth's review)  It just…sorta…happened that way.  I really meant to end it on the fifteenth chapter, but when I sorta let my fingers do the writing..(well, typing anyway) I kinda branched off…and well…that happened.  ^_^  I fooled you I fooled you! :P  Again with Blake?  Um…see comment above /|\ /|\

That it?  -_-  Come on, I'll respond!  Just review!

Disclaimer: Don't blame me for claiming what's rightfully mine.  If you can't see what that is, I can't either, but I know it doesn't include Slayers.  (At least I said it, right?)

To Help, or Not to Help?

            "Lina, what do we do now?"

            All eyes around the table looked towards the slightly aged but still vibrant redhead.  Lina cupped her chin in between her thumb and forefinger in deep thought.  Finally, she sighed and flopped her arms down to her sides.  Looking up at her companions, she said, "I guess the only thing to do from here is to split up and search for Liona and Val.  I think it's a mutual agreement that we can't let her stay in the grips of that…of that…mazoku."

            "Would it be any better if I helped you?"

            Everyone that was presently at the table jumped in surprise.  There, in the seat that Akuma had recently vacated, was Xellos.  His elbows were propped up on the table, with his chin resting on the bridge of his hands.  One of his eyes were open, and a sly smile was on his lips.  Lina was the first to regain her composure.  "Why would /you/ help us?  /You/ kidnapped Liona before too."

            Looking straight ahead, Xellos spoke in an even, serious tone.  "At that time, I had only offered to do it.  The remaining mazoku at the time, were all acting under the influence of Kollina, probably Liona's number one idol.  A bit ironic actually."

            As Lina had been standing, she finally found that her legs gave out under her and she had to sit down.  The rest shifted in their seats.  Xellos sighed as he leaned back.  "Do you have any idea where you are?"

            With a start, Lina-tachi looked around the room again.  They hadn't given it much thought, since Akuma had distracted them so much.  Before they could even shake their heads, Xellos replied, eyes closed in remembrance.  "This is…Hellmaster's Headquarters."  A collective gasp could be heard reverberating through the empty room.  Xellos continued.  "We're in the Desert of Destruction as I speak."

            Zel intervened.  "Wait a minute.  I scourged the whole of this desert a while back.  Hellmaster's headquarters disappeared when he died!"

            Xellos sighed again (I'm making him really OOC huh?).  "We mazoku would have liked to believe that as well, but it has been revived.  Perhaps only for a short period of time, but it has nonetheless been revived."

            Blake chuckled nervously.  All eyes suddenly turned to him.  "You say it like that and I'd think that this place is alive."

            "It is…in a sense.  All of the headquarters of Mazoku Lords, or any mazoku, really, are created from the minds of their owner.  In other words, the place that you are now in…was created by the current Hellmaster, exactly two months ago."

            That statement was what really made everything sink in.  It verified Akuma's plan, which went into action the day that Liona left the safety of her Zephilian home.  The question is… did Liona already know of this, and leave home because she didn't want to bring any unnecessary trouble home with her?  (I honestly have no idea right now.  What do you think?)

            Everyone was quiet for a spell (of silence not actual magic).  Suddenly, a realization hit Gourry (there's something new…).

            "Oi, Xellos?"

            Xellos raised an eyebrow and looked up.  "Why are you telling us all this?  Aren't you usually all secret-y and stuff?"

            There was a murmur of agreement.  Xellos looked as if he were hurt.  "I can't help my old friends just to help?"

            There was the slightest of pauses before the unanimous answer from the Slayers came "No."

            Xellos sighed hopelessly.  "Oh all right."  He slowly held up three fingers and spread them.  "I have three reasons.  First, my superiors have acknowledged what's happening, and aren't all that happy."

            Lina interrupted, "Why?  Don't monsters prefer to have more recruits?"

            Xellos frowned.  "Whoever becomes Hellmaster automatically is bestowed powers and strength to easily be the strongest mazoku, if they weren't already.  Can you imagine how much it'd hurt a mazoku's pride to be pushed around by a newbie?"

            Xellos took their silence as a sign to continue.  "Second, I happen to have grown quite fond of Liona.  I don't want to see her killed just to become a mazoku.  It would ruin all of the cute evilness that she has gained over the years."

            This, too, surprised everyone.  Looking around, Xellos raised an eyebrow at them.  "You haven't seen the signs?  Hm…I suppose you haven't spent as much time with Liona as we thought.  Angelina-san, you know don't' you?  The ways Liona takes advantage of her cuteness?"

            Angelina sighed.  "I wish I didn't, but I do.  She used it to get extra tips, free inn rooms, sometimes even free meals.  People underestimate her way too much.  I feel like I can only watch from afar, even though I'm usually at her side."

            Gourry scratched his head.  "I'm confused.  Umm… What?"

            As of yet, Luna had not said anything.  "Most people think of Liona as a mere child, because of the way she interacts with others, and her appearance.  However, those who can sense her energy and spirit, or can read her mind, know a little more of what the real Liona is like."

            Lina, too, was lost at this point.  "The real Liona?"

            Luna looked across the table at her sister.  "Lina, to be put simply, she takes after you, a lot more than you'd think."

            That one sentence made it startlingly clear what Liona was like.  Hiding all her emotions inside her, Liona only lets people see what she wants to be seen.  For some reason or another, she looks half the age she's supposed to be, and people underestimate her for it.  Liona would risk her life for her friends, her family, and her companions.  She doesn't care if she lives or dies, as long as the people she loves are safe.  She acts carefree and even dumb sometimes, but inside, she's a true, conniving, clever, mastermind.

            After another few moments of silence, Blake asked, "Hey, you said you had three reasons.  What's the third?"

            "The third?  Oh, simple.  I /really/ dislike your current opponent."

            Gourry asked the question for everybody, "Why?"

            "Why?  She was the only mazoku, when she was truly alive, that could annoy me.  That, and we are the only ones that know each other's secrets."

            At this, everyone suddenly became much more interested.  Gourry asked, "What kind of secrets?"        

            "Who's?  Her's or mine?"

            "Umm…Yours. (Gourry speaking)"

            "Sore wa himitsu desu!"

            "Fine.  Hers.(Lina speaking)"

            "Sore wa himitsu desu!"

            "Aren't you going to tell us any of either of your secrets? (Zel here)"

            "Sore wa himitsu desu!"

            "Ugh…Nevermind. (Zel again)"

            "^_^"

            "So how do you plan on 'helping' us? (Lina again)"

            "^_^ It depends, what are you going to do?"

            "Find Liona and Val, get Akuma off our backs, and go home."

            Xellos suddenly burst out laughing.  They were puzzled by this, as Xellos almost never did that before, let alone in such a serious time.  Upon recovering, Xellos made out an apology.  "I'm sorry.  Haha.  It's just…ha…that…She told you to call her Akuma?"

            Slowly, Lina nodded.

            "You don't really expect that to be her name, do you?"

            Luna and Angelina were the only ones that didn't nod their head once.

            Xellos laughed again at this.  "Her name is nowhere near that high and mighty in meaning.  Her given name is simply…Lina."

            "EHHH?!?!?!"

            Xellos chuckled again.  "Of course, after she left the mazoku, her name was changed again."

            Gourry repeated slowly, "Again?"

            Xellos nodded matter-of-factly.  "Lina is the name we gave her.  I really have no business giving away her first name."

            Lina's mind was whirling.  "Wait a minute."

            Eyes focused on her as she contemplated quickly.  "I know it's a long shot but… A long time ago, did those monsters want me, so that they could replace the old Lina, the one that we're fighting against this time around?"

            Xellos raised an eyebrow.  "Replace her?  I don't know if I would say /that/ exactly…Anyways, we should get going before she goes off and tries to get the other mazoku lords to agree to her candidates."

            From the puzzled looks he gained, he realized that they had a short term memory.  He picked up the roll of parchment that Akuma had left on the table.  "See the last line?  Nobody can become a mazoku lord without a majority consent from the remaining lords."

            It was light, but Lina-tachi gained a spark of hope.  "So…there's a chance that Akuma and Liona and Val are still here in this building?"

            Xellos shrugged.  "It depends."

            "On what?"

            "How long they can withstand it."

            "Withstand what?"

            "I couldn't see all that happened when you were in Liona's mind, but I felt her power being used.  Lina-san, at one point, you felt like someone was probing your mind, didn't you?  That was one of her highest skills."

            Lina's eyes widened with surprise.  Slowly, her hand made its way up to her face, and she stroked the side of her head carefully.  Looking straight ahead, Lina murmured, "Liona…."

            Gourry watched Lina with a pained expression.  He really had no idea what Xellos was referring to, but he understood that Lina was worried for Liona right now.  He tried to relay some comfort by putting a hand on her shoulder.  Lina sighed and rubbed her own hand on top of his, before clasping them together.  Lina still seemed to be in a lost daze.

            "Ne, Xellos?"

            "Hmm?  What is it Gourry?"

            "I was just wondering…Is that thing supposed to do anything?"

            Gourry pointed to the copy that Akuma had left.  The ball of energy had grown enormously; it was now the approximate size of a soccer goal.  It was currently hovering over the seemingly lifeless figure.

            Everybody jumped up again at the sight of that.  Lina murmured warily, "Through all the commotion, I had completely forgotten about that one."

            To which Luna murmured back, "Did you ever remember the copy in the first place?"

            Slowly, Xellos let down his guard and relaxed again.  Picking up his staff, he made his way over to the lifeless copy.  Once in close vicinity, Xellos smirked.  He raised his staff and thrust it hard into the copy.  Within seconds of contact, it shattered like glass.  The ball of energy also dissipated.  That was the Slayers cue to move in for a look if they wanted it.  It turns out, everybody wanted a look, but Luna and Angelina were a bit more reluctant.

            Zel kicked a piece of the remains.  It was made out of a strange material, as if it were a glass vase instead of a copy that had been broken.

            "If the real Akuma is this fragile, we really have nothing to worry about, do we?"

            Xellos shook his head.  "This was only a hard copy.  The 'Akuma' that's with Liona-san and Val-san, is close to a spirit copy."

            "Eh?!"

            Xellos nodded.  "Since she was previously a mazoku, she has also built up an immune system to deflect most harmful spells.  Nightmare magic won't work on her either."
            "What?!  Why not?"

            Xellos sighed as he turned to Lina.  "You should know why, Lina-san.  She's spent too much time with the Lord of Nightmares to have anyone using her magic be effective towards her."

            Luna spoke up.  "If not Nightmare or Black magic, then what about White, Dragon, Holy, and Shaman?"

            Xellos spoke simply, "Let me put it to you this way.  As of right now, her power and skill are higher than that of three Shabrinigdo pieces put together.  Since her last visit fourteen years ago, she seems to have trained harder than ever to complete her mission today."

            "14 years ago?!  Wait, are you saying that Akuma is really Mazolina?"

            "Bingo!  Correct!  It took you that long to figure that out?  Yare yare."

            Lina started to shake.  Then her knees gave out and she slumped down to the floor.  Zel asked, "You said she's that strong now…how strong was she last time?"

            "Hmmm…I'd say…A little stronger than one piece of Lord Ruby Eye."

            Lina looked down at her shaking hands.  "I fought her then.  She was really powerful even then.  And you say she's gotten three times stronger?  I'm not so sure we can win this one."

            Xellos' nonchalant response came, "Of course you can.  All you need to do is find one of her weaknesses and take advantage of it.  She still has a lot that she can't ever shake off you know."

            Lina raised her head.  "Like what?"

            Xellos waggled his finger.  "Oh I can't tell you that.  It's top secret.  I will give you a hint though.  When thinking of her weaknesses, think of the Inverses, Lina especially.  Well, I'd best be going now.  I shall visit again soon!"

            With that, Xellos disappeared into thin air.  Luna and Lina looked at each other.  Gourry helped Lina stand up.  Lina smirked.  "The same weaknesses as /both/ of us?  Do you even have a weakness?"

            "If you consider /that/ a weakness, I'm not sure where we'd find hers.  We can't diddle dawdle here though.  We can think about it as we search.  We'll split up at the door."

            Perhaps they hadn't noticed it before, but behind Val's seat was a large pair of double doors.  Gourry and Zel managed to push it open, and they looked at the hallway together.  It was fairly simple in design, just amazingly dark.  Luna, Lina, Angelina, and Zel all had to cast Lighting spells.  From there, Luna directed, "Lina, go with Gourry up the stairs to our left.  Angelina, go with Blake for the stairs to the right.  Zel and I will take the stairs up ahead.  Summon a messenger pigeon to the rest of us if you find them.  Let's go!"

            And so, the remaining travelers split up, each to go their own way.

            Meanwhile, Mazolina was having a bit of trouble convincing the two candidates to agree to the terms.

            "I want my mommy!"

            "We have nothing you want so leave us alone you old hag! (_ Bad choice of words there Val-kun!)"

            Mazolina's eye was twitching.  "Shut up you little brats!  You may not have what I /want/, but you're more than necessary for what I /need/.  Become mazoku lords and you shall be bestowed with powers beyond your wildest dreams."

            Both of them yelled, "I DON'T WANT IT!! I WANT TO GO HOME!"

            Mazolina's ears were ringing from the echo.  "No need to yell here, I can hear you just fine even if you whisper.  Geez.  What's so bad about becoming a powerful mazoku?"

            Sullenly, they replied, "Mom(my) wouldn't like it."

            Mazolina laughed.  "That's your only reasoning for it?"

            Liona added, "And I wouldn't want to be any more related to you than I have to be."

            Val was about to nod when he was struck by her statement.  He turned to his companion with a questioning look, but Liona offered no explanation for her words.

            Mazolina laughed again.  "Well, how's this for a deal.  I kill your parents, that way you don't have to worry about their opinion.  Then after you accept your positions, I'll leave and you never have to see me again."

            "NO!!"

            Mazolina raised an eyebrow.  "No?"

            Liona was shaking with rage.  "Don't you go anywhere near my mom and dad again.  If you don't, I'll…I'll…"

            "You'll what?  Kill me?  I hardly think so, considering I'm already dead."

            A new voice spoke from the shadows.  "Then you should have stayed dead, Mazolina-chan."

A/N: _ Soooo tired!  I'm sick right now and it's really affecting my sleeping patterns.  Yesterday I took two naps!  And also…ever since it started last weekend, I've been waking up at 4:30 AM.  Talk about crazy…_ Anyways…How do you like this chapter?  I know I'm a bit late in updating, and Xellos is surprisingly OOC, but you wanted him in there right?  Well, say hello to Xellos the anti-hero, because he's an important piece to this battle!  Please review!