I don't own Slayers
=Chapter XVI=
Zelgadis felt a force of wind knock him to the side. He returned his attention back to Rezo, growling insanely, as his grandfather called upon more magic.
Zelgadis tried to dodge as best as he could, but with his wounds and his severely large blood loss, his movements were growing sluggish. It wasn't long before Rezo caught him in a blast of wind that sent him flying into the wall with a sickening thud.
He felt drowsy and tired and angry.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him and Zelgadis looked up into Xelloss' smirking face. How he hated that damned Trickster Priest. How dare that asshole betray Seyruun and Lina! He should've known, should have seen this a mile away, but his own life blinded him. He was too busy searching, fighting, and helping to notice what the hell Xelloss was doing all the damned time. Now, it was too late.
Xelloss picked Zelgadis up without a sweat and threw him against the opposing wall, a masochistic grin lighting his face.
Zelgadis tried to fight back, but it was useless. Xelloss would just step out of range for a bit or he would disappear and reappear whenever Zelgadis decided to throw magic at him. Finally, with sweat bathing his brow, Zelgadis whispered hoarsely, "Why?"
Xelloss grabbed Zelgadis' hand and pushed it against the painting. "It's a secret," Xelloss replied as Zelgadis felt his skin burn away. He felt darkness and pain spread through out his body. His skin cracked and shattered against the ground.
-
And a beam of energy burst forth from the work of art and hit Lina, giving her renewed strength.
Lina stood up shakily, seeing Gourry, rubbing his forehead, next to her. She then turned to Zelgadis--watching the stone skin slip off of him revealing human flesh--past out on the floor by Xelloss' side. Xelloss dragged Zelgadis' body to the table at the center of the room, the wound on his side spilled against the table and the room began to vibrate. From the top of the high ceiling, she could hear a tearing and a murmur. She glanced up briefly, seeing the space get torn and something dark and large trying to ooze into their world. She could hear the soft growls and feel the revulsion in the being that wasn't quite in her full vision. As her eyes continued to travel the room, she could see her sister standing by Rezo's side, her eyes a light as she watched Zelgadis and Xelloss. Then her focus landed on Rezo, who stood next to the third painting which had yet to give Lina any of her powers back. His eyes touched hers briefly before turning to the painting and placing a gloved hand over it.
Light erupted and the smile that had been on his face the entire time suddenly became a determined frown. Lina could feel the energy twine around her body and seep into her soul. Knowledge spread all around her into the tips of her fingers and toes. Words that she had learned in songs came flooding back to her, incantations of past spells that she had once known as well as knowledge.
Each painting was locked by a key…The three keys were Rezo, Luna, and Zelgadis…They were locking her magic behind each portrait…there blood was the key to opening up the other dimension…her own hands could influence each work of art…she could call in the Lord of Nightmares…she could hear the incantation in her soul…she could feel the power coursing through her blood as she slowly made her way to the table.
…I have to stop Dark Star…
The thought cut through all the chaos that she was feeling and Lina's steps suddenly wavered. Her eyes traveled up to the ceiling, seeing the body start to drip down toward the alter and hitting Zelgadis in the face, it's swirling dark mass almost nauseating to watch.
Rezo's voice sliced through her sick feeling and settled in the pit of her stomach. She felt each word, rather than heard it. "You see, Lina, the entity known as Dark Star cannot thrive on it's own…much like the Lord of Nightmares, it needs a hosts body."
Rezo glided in front of her vision, his tall frame seemed to grow in power. "However, this host should be weaker than you…that's why I nominated my grandson."
"Damn you," Lina hissed as her eyes darted to Zelgadis' still form that lay on the table. She knew, that heading into this fight, that she'd have to fight Dark Star--but to fight the form within Zelgadis--that would mean she had to kill him to save this world. She had to…
The growling of Dark Star got progressively louder, echoing through the enclosure. Lina felt herself falter for a second, felt her strength leave her as the enormity of the situation hit her. To fight or not to fight. One way, she would let Zelgadis destroy this world, the other, she would have to destroy Zelgadis and destroy her world…
"Or," Luna's voice seemed to vibrate around Lina, filling her with a sense of calmness. Lina glanced up into her sister's eyes and saw something she hadn't seen in a long time. It filled her with power, with strength. "Or," Luna repeated as she stepped toward the alter and passed her hands around Zelgadis chest, light illuminating in her hands, "I could take Zelgadis' place," she said with finality.
Zelgadis began to stir, and he sat up slowly, blinking rapidly, as he let his eyes adjust to the dim light. He caught Luna's face and he was about to say something when she bent down and whispered something in his ear. He seemed to grow stiff at her words, but nodded anyway. Luna turned to Rezo and gave him a triumphant look as she shoved Zelgadis off the alter and lay back. The dark ooze dripped on her face and she slowly closed her eyes, her breathing growing slower as she readied herself to take in the Dark Lord. She crossed her arms over her chest and began her incantation.
"Luna," Lina whispered as she took a step forward.
Zelgadis, however, was at her side and pulling her back. "You know what needs to happen," he whispered into her ear.
Rezo's face flamed with anger. He made a move toward the alter but was stopped by a translucent shield that protected it. "Xelloss, remove this at once," he bellowed as he tried to break through.
Xelloss shrugged nonchalantly. "Sorry, sir, but my boss says otherwise."
Gourry pushed himself up and stood beside Lina and Zelgadis. "Your boss?" he asked curiously.
All eyes traveled to Luna who began to convulse. More of the slime dripped on her body, hitting her chest, her stomach, her head, then diffusing into her. A flash of pain spread over her face and her mouth opened to cry out, but no sound could be heard.
Lina broke free of Zelgadis hands and banged against the shield. "Luna, you idiot," she cried out. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't go through the shield. "Xelloss, you lower this at once."
Xelloss shook his head, his eyes drifting down to the form of Luna's. "I cannot."
"Damn it!" Lina cursed as she tried to search for anything to break the barrier.
"Lina," Luna croaked as she tried to open her eyes. Black clouds swirled in the white parts of her eyes causing Lina to settle down. "Promise me…promise me you'll kill me."
-
Luna's body levitated off of the alter as dark light threaded through her skin. She cried out with tears streaming down the corners of her shut eyes.
"Luna," Lina cried as the shield fell away. She had enough time to pull back before a burst of energy engulfed Luna's body and blew up in a tight force around her. Behind her, the stone alter crumbled as if it were nothing but sand and the works of art were torn into pieces.
Xelloss watched darkly from his corner, his eyes opened and focused on Gourry. He tossed the blonde swordsman the hilt of a sword and said almost wordlessly, "Guard Lina."
Gourry called forth the sword of light and did as he was told. He stood in front of Lina, with Zelgadis next to him. Zelgadis was already calling out his own magic, a shield that could protect them for the moment from the swirling debris. As soon as it was cast, Zelgadis turned to Lina and whispered, "Lina, are you okay?"
From the corner of his vision, Gourry saw Rezo move as if to protect himself as well. Luna was advancing upon him, her body surrounded by dark energy that sparked like electricity around her. She held up a hand, her voice when speaking was laced with another deeper voice that bespoke of Dark Star's presence.
Whatever was in Luna's body it gave her power beyond that which she already had. Rezo, who was already a formidable magician, was throwing spell after powerful spell at her to protect himself, but Luna's body just absorbed it. She laughed slowly, methodically, and criticized his efforts.
Finally, as if she were bored, she turned to him and cast a spell. Rezo began to scream, grabbing his head in agony. He doubled over in pain and sank to the floor, his cries never dimming in sound. His body twisted and contorted, blood poured from his ears and nose. Whatever Luna was doing, it was certainly powerful.
When Rezo ceased to move anymore, Luna turned to them, her eyes, now black pools of eternal darkness, searching for her next target. She began to advance slowly. "Guys?" Gourry's voice broke like the time when he was going through puberty and he met some girl with really huge--
"What?" came Lina's irritated voice.
"She's coming this way," Gourry replied.
-
Energy burst through the barrier.
The force of Luna's magic was more powerful than he had expected as it scraped the side of his waist causing blood to spill. She was, of course, stronger than himself so his magic wouldn't do anything but slow her down. He could see Lina beside him readying her own magic, trying to think of a way to stop Luna without calling on the Lord of Nightmares and without killing Luna. They just managed to dodge another attack when they heard Xelloss from the side of the room. "Up here," he yelled as he turned up a flight of stairs. They needed time to think and up some stairs was as good a place as any--besides, if Lina did call the Lord of Nightmares, she needed an open space--not a place that would cave in the second she called on some real power…but what if Xelloss was betraying them. Zelgadis weighed the options quickly before her heard Gourry's voice.
"Go!" Gourry yelled as he stood held up his sword of light. Without any hesitation, Gourry advanced swinging his sword while dodging her attacks. Zelgadis, seeing no other way to help the blonde man, took a hold of Lina's wrist and hauled her up the flight of stairs, trying his best to perform a healing spell as well as thinking of a way out of that mess.
Lina suddenly pulled out of his grasp and turned. "She's coming," she whispered and focused all her magic inside her. She sang softly, manipulating her magic into a gigantic shield that separated them from Dark Star. "This might hold her for a few more minutes. Hurry, we have to get upstairs."
Zelgadis nodded and led her up the flight of stairs. When they burst through the doorway and into a large open space, Zelgadis looked around for any sign of Xelloss, ready to pummel him for answers, but Xelloss wasn't there.
"I have to do it."
Lina's voice sounded lost and empty. He turned to look at her, standing at the center of the entire area. She looked at him with sad but determined eyes as her hands shook with unknown emotion. "I know there's another way, but I just--" Lina broke off not knowing how to voice her thoughts.
"--don't have the time to think of another way," Zelgadis finished her sentence with a compassionate look. He placed a warm hand on her shoulder and gave her a comforting squeeze. "I know," he whispered. "You don't have to--"
A loud crash from behind followed by a wave of energy caused Zelgadis to jump and cover Lina's body with his. He pulled her to the ground, feeling the small debris slam into his back. He bit his lip to keep from crying out as he shut his eyes. He didn't know how much more his body could take. As a chimera, he was use to an endless supply of stamina, but his human body was weaker--it had more limitations and he was almost up to that point.
He glanced at Lina apologetically and said, "This is the final battle. You ready?"
He pushed himself away from Lina and turned around to face Luna for the last time.
--
Lina lay beneath Zelgadis, her limbs unresponsive at the moment. She could feel his sharp gasps of breath hitting her face, feel his muscles against her body as he pressed down on her. Her fingers could feel the smears of blood on his sides as it leaked from his body. He had blocked her from the blast of power that erupted from the door which caused particles of dust and rocks to fly at a dangerous velocity.
Suddenly, in an uncharacteristic manner, he had grinned at her devilishly and whispered, "This is the final battle. You ready?"
She had wanted to say, 'Of course I am. The real question is, are you?' but her throat felt constricted. She wasn't ready. Hell, who would be ready to kill their own sister, the person who had protected you when you were younger, the person who abandoned you, the person who came back to save you…?
She pushed herself up, her eyes glinting with much determination as Zelgadis flanked her. He was readying something as he eyed Luna with calm calculated eyes. How Lina wished she could feel the same way.
Luna dashed forward, but Zelgadis was quicker. He threw several spells at her which she merely absorbed. He effectively grabbed her attention as she turned toward him following his every move.
Knowing it was pointless to aim directly at her, he decided to focus on the landscape instead. He threw wind spells so that the rocks and other debris would fly at her, slashing at her mortal skin or blinding her for a few moments.
"Hmmm, your boyfriend's smarter than I thought."
Lina jumped with a start and stared at Xelloss who was standing next to her. Ready to turn on him, she raised her fist in the air and was about to make contact with his head when he suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind her. He grinned at her knowingly and said, "No time for the sadomasochistic stuff, we have to get you hidden."
He grabbed her wrist and teleported to another area. It was far enough away that she couldn't see Luna, but close enough to hear Zelgadis' continuous spell castings.
Lina yanked her arm away from his grasp and barred her teeth. "What are you doing--and if you say anything along the lines of it's a secret, your death will be forthcoming and don't think I can't make that happen."
Xelloss shrugged off her words and said, "Giving you time. This is what your sister commanded."
"My sister--"
"Is my master. She has been the one I've been working for since this whole mission began. She wanted nothing more than to see you protected from this, but due to circumstances, that didn't occur. Instead, you're here right now, facing her with Dark Star embedded in her, and your sister gave me two last orders before she let herself get possessed.
"The first was to protect you in this fight, until you call on the Lord of Nightmares."
Lina arched an eyebrow. "What was the final order?"
Xelloss rested a gloved index finger at his lips and thought. Carefully, he said, "That will be determined by the outcome of your battle…Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and help Zelgadis distract Dark Star."
With that said, Xelloss disappeared from Lina's view, leaving Lina with only her thoughts.
To save this world full of people she cared about, sacrifices had to be made. She knew that the second she had agreed to take on this mission, but now it was different. Now her sister was involved. She knew she had to save this world for Prince Phil and for Amelia who had helped her and had wormed their way into her heart. She also had to do this for Filia, Xelloss, and Gourry. They had proven more than once that they were friends. They had kept her company, had made her smile when she felt the most depressed, and had been there whenever she just wanted to rant.
And she had to do this for Zel, who she cared about more than words could ever describe.
Biting her lip, Lina closed her eyes and began her song to call in the Goddess, the creator of all.
=End Chapter=