I don't own Slayers…oh, and some of the characters may be OOC.

=Chapter IV=

Lina sat in the dining room, taking advantage of this moment to inhale all the food. Phil grinned at his daughter and Zelgadiss. "What a healthy little girl," he said as he took a bite out of an animal's leg.

Lina stopped at the word little. "I'll have you know, I'm eighteen." She then continued her little food excursion as the door opened.

In walked the other man Lina had seen in the tavern. He smirked at Phil and pinched Amelia's cheek. Amelia batted his hand away and blushed. "I'm not eight anymore, Xelloss. You don't have to do that every time you walk in here."

Xelloss pouted playfully. "You'll always be a cute little kid in my eyes, Ame!" He gave her a tiny peck on the lips and walked over to sit next to the Prince.

Amelia jumped out of her chair in full shock. "You stole my first--" she looked horrified, much to Xelloss' delight, and ran out of the room.

"Is that how you treat 'cute little kids,'" Zel asked tiredly as he arched a stony eyebrow. Xelloss just grinned.

"So," Xelloss began as he glanced at the blur of red shoot past him. "This is the thief?" Lina sat back in her chair, content, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "What a charming young thing. What's so interesting about her?"

Zelgadiss didn't reply. Instead, he poured more coffee into his cup and took a long sip.

Xelloss tapped his chin with his index finger. "Interesting…"

Lina stared hard at the chimera. She was wondering what was so special about her? Well, she was the supreme thief of all time, but still, what made her stand out. Xelloss' words finally registered in her head and she growled, "What the heck is that suppose to mean?"

"Well, my dear, that's a secret!" Xelloss grinned. Zelgadiss frowned as if it weren't the first time he had heard the phrase. In fact, he looked down right pissed that Xelloss had said it. Furthermore, Zelgadiss was casting a spell and aiming it at the smiling man.

"Xelloss Metallium, I'd like you to meet Lina Inverse," Phil announced, trying to defuse the situation.

BOOM!

It didn't work.

Xelloss stuck out one charred hand from the pile of mush on the floor. "Pleasure," he opened one eye and grinned slightly.

Lina glanced at the hand and turned her head. There was something that she didn't trust about this man. He was…too calm. "All yours, I assure you."

Phil stood up and stared at the three younger people. "So, let's get down to business. We are gathered here today to discuss what needs to be done."

Lina's red eyes bored into Phil's. "I haven't joined your motley crew yet. I want to know what I'm getting into before I stick my neb* into anything."

Zelgadiss nodded. "Fair request," he said as he took a sip of coffee. Carefully, he placed the mug onto the table before he started his speech. "My grandfather was one of the best artists/magicians in the world, although he was blind. He'd paint, sculpt, design several different objects while pouring a bit of himself into the artwork. It was rumored that he had created something, purely by accident, that had the ability to cancel any magic that was cast. However, he hid this object."

"Why make something and not use it?" Lina asked.

Xelloss stood up and grinned, much to Zelgadiss' annoyance. "That's a secret! Only people who are in the club can know."

Lina sat in silence for a moment and thought things through. Helping them would gain her a lot of money, food, and FOOD. 'Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself again,' she thought to herself. She had contemplated a lot of what they had said yesterday. Zelgadiss was awfully quick to agree to raising the price…'they needed me and me specifically.' "What do you need me for?"

Phil glanced at his hands. They folded and unfolded as if the subject were uncomfortable. "My spies have uncovered information. We have reason to believe that someone else is searching for these items. These items can leave Seyruun and all the other magically defended towns powerless to any attack. As a protector of this city, I can't have that happen."

Zelgadiss continued. "Rezo made a map out of three of his paintings. Separated, they don't mean anything, together, the reveal the location of the artifact that he had created. One of the paintings was reported stolen a few days ago. Two are held by some of the greatest Kings in other areas."

"And you can't ask for the paintings otherwise the people who work against you will know that you know about them. They'd target Seyruun right away, make you shut up about the artifacts by..." Lina stopped in mid thought. She had heard about a kidnapping a few months ago. A wizard named Zel something had saved her. "Taking the princess?" she asked hesitantly.

Phil looked away. "We promised we wouldn't say anything if they'd leave her alone. But, I can't stand idly by with them having that sort of power. If they were unjust enough to take my Amelia, then they would be just as unjust to destroy many of the cities."

Lina turned her eyes from Phil to Xelloss to Zelgadiss. Something didn't add up. Lina leaned on the palms of her hands and nodded slowly. She was getting a load of money for this, as well as free room and board…even an adventure. She'd be an idiot if she passed up this opportunity. Besides, the artifact did sound interesting.

"Fine," Lina said slowly, "but I just want you to know that I don't trust any of you. The second I don't feel up to it, I leave…with twice the promised money in my pockets…"

"Done," Xelloss squealed and clapped his hands. Zelgadiss merely frowned and downed the rest of his coffee.

"So, where do you want me to go first?" asked Lina.

=End Chapter=

Sorry for the delay of this chapter. J