I don't own Slayers
=Chapter XV=
They stood in a cavern, hidden from the light. Around them, in the hard surface of the walls, three paintings lay. In the center of the chamber was a long stone tablet with designs of dragons along the edges, flying and screaming.
Her master stood next to the table, caressing the surface lovingly. He had made it several years ago, with her help, using her magic to amplify it's power. Suddenly, his hand hesitated and he turned around, his robes billowing around his legs.
They stood, face to face, his sightless eyes glancing down at her. "Is there something you wish to say, Luna?" his haunting voice echoed around the chamber causing her to shake with anger. How she refrained from knifing him as he spoke, she did not know.
"No, Lord Rezo," she replied.
He cocked his head to the side as if listening to something far away. "What is it, child? You know I can still feel your hostility. Do you not trust me, even after all this time?"
Luna felt her anger rise, almost explode within her. How dare he say such things to her. How the hell could she ever trust a man like him! Her hand shook with rage as it slipped into the folds of her dress and reached for her dagger. Screw everything. Screw him, screw Zel, screw the world. She would take her revenge on this sightless asshole!
The corner of Rezo's lip rose a fraction and Luna hesitated. "Do you not care for your sister?"
And all at once, her anger fell away, leaving her feeling empty and cold. She did not answer his question, but she did take a few steps back. She bowed slightly to him and whispered, "I shall take my leave then, until you deem it necessary for my return, my Lord."
"Very good, Luna," Rezo whispered. "You've learned a lot since that time long ago."
Luna ground her teeth together and left the cavern, entering the light. She blinked rapidly, letting the rays of the sun warm her body and her soul. How she had missed this feeling, this sun light, this happiness. She hadn't truly felt happy in the longest of times.
Following a paved path, she could almost see her and her sister in the streets. Her sister was singing, powerful magic coursing through her voice, and she was playing a lute, her own magic interwoven with the hum of the strings.
But those times had long since disappeared since the day she made a deal with Rezo. He had used her magic, to power his own in his creations and in his lust for power. He had made her learn, through training and fighting and killing, the strength behind her magic and the powers that she held over mortal men, women and children.
She had embraced it, to some extent. She had enjoyed the feeling of power over those who had shunned her and her sister, who had killed her own parents and left herself and Lina for dead.
But, she never truly fell into the darkness and that was because of Lina, the guiding light in the sea of despair. She had done everything for Lina to make her stay safe, to make her enjoy her childhood…She had almost left Rezo…
=Flashback=
"No," Luna screamed as sweat poured down her brow. She pulled away from the bindings of the magic that Rezo had set on her, sucking away at her own power. She tried, desperately tried, to undue the magical binds, cutting and hacking away at it with her own mind. "I'm done with you. Promise or no promise, I'm leaving this wretched place once and for all!"
With one last push, the bindings vanished and she fell to the floor, exhausted. She crawled up to her knees, panting heavily, then to her feet. She still felt wobbly, but she took a few steps toward the exit of the building. She had just made it outside when she heard Rezo's drawl once again.
"I underestimated your strength. You still broke away from me with only half your power…however, there is more than one way to get you to follow me." Suddenly, he turned. Muttering quickly, fire engulfed his hands and he whispered, "Fireball."
Fire was flung from his fingertips and into his building. It quickly ate up the side of the walls, burning and eating everything in sight.
From the corner of her sight, she saw someone, a boy named Zelgadis, grandson to Rezo, hurling his way toward them. He stopped only a few feet away from Rezo and screamed, "Lina's still in there!"
Rezo's lip twitched into a smile. "I know."
Suddenly, Zelgadis' face turned into one of incredible hatred and anger. "She's just a child!" Pushing past his grandfather, he sprinted into the burning building, away from Luna's sight.
Luna tried to follow him, but Rezo's hand darted out of his clothes and grabbed a hold of her arm. She tried to break away, but his grasp was too strong. He then muttered more unintelligible words and she could feel more of her power drain into him. He summoned another fireball and aimed it at the building.
"Now, join me or else your sister is dead."
"But--You'll kill your grandson as well!"
"He is of no importance to me."
"Your insane."
"Join me."
"Promise you won't hurt her again."
"I promise I won't hurt her for now."
She hesitated. Suddenly, Rezo's hand was ready to fling toward the doors as two people emerged: Zelgadis held onto something--a small girl with red hair. She clung to him, tightly, her head tucked against his shoulder. "Lina!" Luna screamed tearing her arm away from Rezo's grasp. She quickly countered his spell and it disappeared into nothing but smoke. She made to sprint toward her sister--Zelgadis had set her down and was healing her--until she felt Rezo's restrain her once again.
Suddenly, Zelgadis turned around, hiding her sister behind his body, his own shaking with anger and hate. "They're just children," he cried out. "You can't do this to them!"
Rezo grinned wickedly, draining more of Luna's power and creating another spell. Before it could manifest into anything deadly, Luna turned to him, capturing Zelgadis' gaze with her own. She looked at Lina pointedly then said to Rezo, "Gods! I'll do anything! Just leave Lina out of this!"
"You broke your promise. Why the hell should I give you another chance?"
Suddenly, she couldn't say anymore. She already promised, and if she broke it again, Lina would be dead. She looked at her little sister, wishing there to be another way, looking for answers or anything that could be of help.
With his arm around Lina's shoulders, Zelgadis took a few steps forward and said, "Because you need them and me in order to complete the paintings."
Luna felt her jaw drop. Rezo had lied to her. He had said he didn't need his grandson, didn't need Lina, had threatened--but, she couldn't go back on her word. Not now, when Lina was still young, but later, when he least expected it. She would betray Rezo and get her revenge, this, she promised. She looked back at Rezo, suppressing her feelings and thoughts and waited for him to say, "Fine."
Then, he had Lina sing for him whenever he painted only certain paintings. He had her and Zel touch two of them, each sealing off a piece of themselves, giving them odd characteristics. Luna's magic was severely cut in half, and her body became scarred while Zelgadis had his magic cut and his body became that of a golem--signs that they were keys to open the paintings, while within, lay all of Lina's magic to be locked up until Rezo saw fit to call upon her.
Then, Lina's memories were stripped, replaced with something else and she was sent into the streets. Rezo had made Zelgadis always watch out for her, protect her until she was needed once again. Zelgadis had agreed, but Luna had saw the glint in his eyes. He had something else planned…
And her, her meticulous planning for revenge that had consumed her entire days, was slowly unraveling the stronger she got. In the end, Rezo would fall by her hand.
=End Flashback=
And now I'm here, Luna thought to herself as she stared off the edge of the cliff.
From the periphery of the land, she could see a cloud of smoke make their way toward her. Four people: three flying, one being carried. She grinned slightly, her plan being put to effect after all this time.
Turning on her heel, she disappeared into the cavern once again to wait for their arrival. Soon, she thought, it will all end.
===
Zelgadis dropped Gourry on his ass as soon as he landed next to Xelloss and Lina at the entrance of the cave. "This feels like a trap," he murmured to his companions.
Lina grinned and cracked her knuckles. "Well, what are we waiting for?" she entered into the darkness, Gourry (using his sword of light as a make shift torch) and Zelgadis flanking her, while Xelloss took up the rear.
Before entering, Xelloss turned around and stared up the walls of the cavern, at someone. He grinned at them before moving in.
Lina looked around at the sight before her, her breath catching in her throat. Standing in the center of the room, Rezo was leaning against the table with a dagger at his wrist. His lips quirked at their entrance and he slowly sliced his skin apart, letting the blood drip against the table in the center of the room. Behind him, all three paintings glowed dimly.
"Welcome," he said icily.
Lina stumbled in her walking and Zelgadis grabbed a hold of her arm. He narrowed his eyes at his grandfather then glanced swiftly at Lina. "Are you okay?" he muttered into her ear.
Lina nodded, although forcefully, and regained her balance. It felt as if a wall had hit her while her skin prickled with unknown energy. She felt sick and energized all at once and it was something that she wasn't use to.
From the mouth of the cavern, Luna entered, carrying another dagger that lay on a pillow. She passed by Xelloss, smiled at him, then up to the ceremonial table. She, like Rezo, cut her skin and littered her blood over the table.
Light energy flew out of one of the portraits hitting Lina in the chest. She could almost feel her skin almost tear as the light threaded into her skin. Dimly, she could hear Zelgadis' voice in her ear, feel the three men around her rush toward Rezo and Luna, hear the clashing of weapons and the casting of spells, but she couldn't move. She could only feel raw energy enter her and it was painful.
Zelgadis watched in horror as Lina crumpled to the floor, her hair was like a veil surrounding her body.
Gourry jumped down next to her and checked her. "She's alive," he murmured sighing in relief.
"What the hell are you doing?" he asked Luna, his breath coming in short gasps. He could feel his anxiety start to rise, his nervousness, his anger, his hatred. They were filling his veins, causing him to clinch his fists violently. If he weren't a chimera, he might have been able to draw blood.
"We are completing a ceremony," Rezo replied silkily. He glided over to his grandson and tilted Zel's face up so that they stared at each other, eye to eye. "And I need your blood."
"I'd like to see you try," Zelgadis spat and, swiftly, he pulled a sword from the side of his hip and slashed at his grandfather.
Blood splattered on the floor as Rezo backed away, a smile marring his face.
Zelgadis stared in shock as he felt the blade of light withdraw from his side. Zelgadis grabbed at his mid section and his eyes darted to behind him in where the blade had stabbed him.
Xelloss smiled happily at him as he withdrew the blade.
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End Chapter
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