I don't own Slayers.

Sorry for the delay of chapter, but life got in the way…

=Chapter XI=

Filia sat in front of the group. Her long hair was pulled into a bun and her clear blue eyes were searching each and every face in front of her. She was head of security for Corinth, the city that was guarding the last painting, and knew every little nuance of the place…she also knew that it was easy to get in and steal whatever was in there. With reluctance, she agreed with Xelloss that the safest place was to keep it with Prince Phil for the moment.

Amelia frowned. "Why can't we just ask them to give it to us or send some guards to protect it?"

Xelloss whispered in her ear while she tried to bat him away, "Because we don't want them to know the Phil is part of this operation. We can't hire people either, because most bounty hunters are thieves or don't know when to keep their mouths shut."

Lina nodded in agreement. "When I started out, I was a bounty hunter first…"

"Besides," Xelloss continued, "we don't want those dirty people to take you away from me, now do we?"

Amelia blushed scarlet and Filia stood up in anger. "You're dirtier than they are!"

Zel sighed. "Filia, sit down. Xelloss, shut up. Amelia, why are you even here?"

Amelia grinned. "Fashion consultant."

"Whatever. Filia, we need to get the information on the whereabouts of the painting."

Filia sat back down reluctantly. "Well," she began, "you guys are lucky. There's a masquerade for all the ambassadors their tonight. Each city is allowed only 3 ambassadors and since Amelia is the well known ambassador, she has to go. That means only two more are able to come."

"Me," Lina said, daring anyone to oppose her with her eyes.

"And me," Zel said reluctantly.

Filia nodded. "The first thing that you need to do is get into the building with any of your weapons. I can cause a power surge from 7:00 to 7:02 which is also the same time that there will be a switching of guards. You have to be inside before that because no one will be allowed in after that happens."

"What're these guards doing?" Xelloss asked.

"They're guarding an elevator that leads to the basements."

"An ele--wha wha?" Amelia piped in.

Filia restrained herself from strangling the closest person to her. Zel, seeing her distress, decided to reply. "It's a machine that can uses mechanisms like ropes and pullies, to bring people from one floor of a building to another."

"Is that the thing with that lovely MUZAC?"

When Filia calmed back down after almost pelting Xelloss, she cleared her throat and continued. "You see, the elevator leads to the basements where the last painting lies. There is a system that you need to hack as soon as you get down there. After that, getting out is all up to you."

Lina and Zel nodded as plans started to form in their brains.

===

"Why am I dressed in this again?" Lina asked as she glanced up at Zel. Currently, she was wearing a strapless, form fitting, red dress that flared at her knees. Her face, hidden behind a mask that looked almost like a sly cat, conveyed a look of anxiety and anger.

Zel wore something more conservative. His body was covered up in a beige uniform complete with mask and hood which he used to cover his face. His hard blue eyes, however, were directed at Lina's cleavage. He coughed slightly, and turned to look at her again. Luckily, she was paying more attention to the food cart than to what he was doing. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I said…" she was cut off as they hit the security line. Men dressed in dark suits with the emblem of Corinth etched into their jackets were taking each person and checking them all over. They patted a person down, opened handbags, did whatever necessary to make sure that no one harbored any weapons.

In the corner of her eyes, she recognized one of them. Gourry. What was he doing here? She had no time to assess when a burly female guard ransacked her and started feeling her up.

When that mess was over, Zel was once again at her side. "I think I hit third base," Lina muttered.

Zel grabbed two drinks from a waiter. "Ah, I beat you," he passed one drink to her and he took a sip. "I got to home."

They continued their banter as their eyes scanned the room. Near the end of the hall, they could see two men standing at the doorway, each checking their watch and looking as if they were ready to leave. Zel nudged Lina with his elbow and motioned for them to get a little closer. She nodded in agreement and threaded her arm through his once more.

They glided through the room to the hallway as if they were ghosts. No one really paid attention to them and Lina had a feeling it was because Zel was using a bit of his magic.

The guards, looking fed up, left their posts and made their way to the buffet table. Lina was in close pursuit until she felt a sudden jolt around her midsection. Zel had his arm around her and was dragging her closer to the hallway, when the lights flickered and everyone was bathed in darkness. A few cliché screams echoed around the room. Lina blinked several times until her eyes adjusted to the dim light.

Deftly, the both of them ran without noise into the hallway and found a metal plated door. Zel easily slipped his fingers into the crack and pushed the doorway open. He silently grinned at the irony. He couldn't have gone this far to bring down his grandfather like this without the strength that he had gotten from his grandfather. He motioned for Lina to enter before he got in himself. Shutting the door, Zel removed his cloak and a few garments that he had hidden in there. He handed some clothes over to Lina.

Both of them looked at the other, wondering how much they could really see before each turned around and began to change. Lina could feel his warmth so close to her and she almost felt like if she just leaned closer…

The lights came back on and she quickly slipped into the tight black shirt and baggy black pants that Zel had handed her. Suddenly, a soft, almost hypnotic song swamped the tiny space and Lina winced at the catchy tune. This had to have been the MUZAC that Xelloss was talking about.

The elevator door opened as Lina and Zel rushed out. The basement was a large, dark, labyrinth. Low hanging pipes dripped of fluid that smelled of rotten skin and the air felt cold and clammy.

As Lina stalked forward, she felt something surge through her chest. She couldn't breathe, couldn't see anything except for fire raging around her. She stumbled forward, her hands going out to stop her fall. Pain was blooming in her chest and she couldn't stop it. The pain was unbearable.

Zel was immediately by her side. He placed his hand on her shoulder and she felt a cool rush flood her veins, stopping the pain for the moment. She looked up at him, her eyes questioning. "We have to hurry," he muttered and pulled her to her feet and picked her up.

Lina was about to protest, when she saw the flicker of denial in his eyes. Denial?

He sped down the tunnels, turning every which way. Lina could no longer see…at least not really. The scenery became nothing but a blur, the wind began to whistle in her ears…Lina felt the need to close her eyes, to sleep.

=Flashback=

Lina sat next to Luna after the lights had gone out. Luna looked to be deep in thought and as she brushed Lina's hair that night.

"What is it?" Lina ventured. Sometimes her sister would snap at her, other times she would coddle her. It just mattered what mood she was in at the time. She caught Luna's eyes then and they softened.

"Lina, do you need me?" Luna asked.

Lina was taken aback. Was this a test? Her young mind worked quickly but as Luna began to narrow her eyes, Lina decided to just answer with the truth. "After Mom and Dad passed away, you're my only family…I don't want to be alone."

Luna rubbed her head affectionately. "Such a simple answer from a simple child." She brushed for a few more minutes. "What would you do if I were to disappear?"

Lina narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean? Where are you going?"

Luna shook her head. "Never mind. Don't worry about it. I'll always be by your side. I've just got to go and talk to somebody really quick, okay?"

Lina nodded absently. Sleep was already taking over her young body and her eyes were half shut.

"Just sleep, Lina. I'll be right back after I talk to Rezo…"

Then there was a fire…

=End Flashback=

Lina awoke as Zel slowed to a stop.

"Lina?" he asked, trying not to sound worried.

Lina wasn't looking at him but at the painting that was behind a glass case. It was a beautiful image of a child with red hair. She wore a white gown, that flowed like water, and was walking bare foot toward an unforeseen figure.

"That's me," Lina breathed.