Disclaimer: Seeing that I can't afford to buy the concept "the Slayers", it still don't belong to me.
A huge mansion
Where are we going?
"How do you feel, Sylphiel? You holding up ok?" Lina asked. They had spent several hours inside their prison. The shrinemaiden had always been at bit delicate, and Lina was starting to worry about her. She had been starring out in the empty air for a long time now. "Oh I'm fine miss Lina" Sylphiel snapped out of her silence " I was just meditating, Eruk taught me…." Her voice trailed of. Lina swallowed hard, she could see where this was going. "Hey, it's ok" Lina assured her friend "I'm sure that he is just fine". Sylphiel shook her head "I don't know, miss Lina, I just don't know".
Lina put her arm around the shrinemaiden "Trust me on this one, it takes a lot more that a crumbled building to stop that guy". Sylphiel said nothing. "besides isn't him and that Damien guy the same?" Lina droned on "And you've seen how powerful he is". Sylphiel sighed "I guess so…". They were interrupted by a knock on the door "Hey, keep it down in there" Ascard shouted "It's bad enough that I have to stand guard here like some mindless drone. I don't want to hear you drowning each other in sympathy as well".
Lina stood up and walked over to the door "oh yeah? I'd like to see you come in here and say that strait to my face!" She shouted "If we want to drown in sympathy, then we will!".
Sylphiel couldn't help but smile at her friends behavior. Even though she was powerless, she still had such fighting spirit. It was no wonder that she had always secretly admired the redheads fierce determination. No matter how bad the odds were, she never gave up hope.
"Miss Lina it's no use. We have to save our strength" Sylphiel said. Much to her surprise Lina actually listened to reason. "I'm just so hungry!" she complained. Had it been any other than Lina, Sylphiel would have been amazed that she could think of food at a time like this. Instead she started humming a tune she had learned long ago. Time passed. Sylphiel humming had gradually turned into a soft spoken song.
"I never imagined that you could sing" Lina whispered. Sylphiel blushed a bit "I… I'm not that good. I just like to sing sometimes when I feel lonely". Lina sat down beside her "Are you kidding? You have a real talent there. How about another?". Sylphiel smiled shyly and started another song from her childhood.
Outside the small prison even Ascard and Neela listened to the song from inside. " I know I told them to be silent, but I actually don't want to interrupt" Ascard said to himself. Neela nodded in agreement. If you knew what kind of temper the bluehaired girl possessed, you wouldn't believe that this was the real Neela. She was sitting down with her back to the prison, eyes half closed. It had really been awhile since she had felt so peaceful. So both of them just relaxed, content with listening to the song from inside.
"Hurry master, I'm sure this is the right way" Nimph flew in front of Eruk as he ran through the countless corridors and rooms in the mansion. "You have said that at least ten times by know" he sighed "Last times we ended up in a holding pen for werewolves". Nimph laughed nervously "Anyway, I'm sure it's right this time". She turned around a corner and vanished into yet another room.
Another group of people were at the same time running through another part of the mansion. "Would you mind telling me who you are, again?" Zelgadis asked the ravenhaired sorceress. "Why of course" Naga beamed with pride "I'm the great Naga, the white serpent. I'm sure you must have heard of me?". Behind them the clones were laughing their insane laugh. "Sorry, never heard of you" Zel shrugged. Naga almost fell over "What? You've never heard the exploits of the great white serpent and her useless sidekick Lina Inverse?".
Simultaneous 3 people stopped running "Lina Inverse??" they shouted. "Uhh who's that?" Gourry also stopped running, and scratched his head. "For once I'm with you Gourry" Zel agreed "She can't be talking about OUR Lina". Taki and Filia quickly agreed. "Oh, so you have heard of us then?" Naga concluded. "Yes and no" Zel cut her of before she could initiate another of her ear-piercing laughs "I'm sure Lina never mentioned you around me". Again Filia and Taki agreed, and Gourry was still clueless about everything.
"What? you know Lina?" Nagas mood was starting to get worse. Ever since Lina had vanished four years ago, she had been traveling alone. She spent the time convincing herself that she really didn't need a small breasted sidekick anyway. But as time passed she started hearing the rumors about a red haired sorceress. "Hey, look at that" she pointed forward "I see the exit".
"Nimph" Eruk growled as he dodged an attack from one of the overgrown chimera creatures he had fought outside in the ruins. He had surprised two of them by accident. He actually managed to hide before they knew he was there, but thank to Nimphs constant chatter, he was discovered. "The next time I say hide…" He slashed out at the creature "you don't ask why, and insist on doing it so everyone around can hear you". Nimph nodded nervously and hid herself behind a vase while Eruk was fighting. He was having more and more trouble dodging their attacks. It was like they were getting smarter all the time. At the same time he felt his rage build up inside. The unpleasantly familiar feeling of being taken over by another being started to creep into his mind.
His attacks gained more power. The two creatures staggered back under his assault. He made another attack, almost unaware that he had charged his weapons with magic energy. With one swift strike, he cut the monster in half. Even it's enormous healing power could not do anything to save it. The other chimera looked with disgust at it's fallen comrade, almost as it was saying "you were weak". It picked up a chair and flung it in his direction. "Master, look out!" Nimph cried a warning. Eruk however didn't move at all. Just before the chair would have collided with his face, he vanished.
"Master?" Nimph looked around in the room, hoping that he would show up. The seconds ticked by, but nothing happened. "Ummm Master?" Nimph squealed as the chimera started advancing on her. "Ahh hi there" the fairy smiled broadly as the chimera picked her up. "You are not going to hurt me are you?" She tried her best to charm the giant creature, even though she feared the worst. The chimera started to close his hand, determined to crush the fairy little by little. "This actually hurts a bit" Nimph was starting to lose the smile on her face. Suddenly it stopped squeezing, and it's eyes widened. Slowly it loosened the grip around her and she managed wrestle herself free. The chimera fell to it's knees and slumped down on the floor. It was dead. Eruk stood behind it, ready to strike again if needed be. "Master!" Nimph flew up and punched his nose "Don't you ever do that again!". He took a few steps back "Don't bother me right now" he managed to say.
"You having some kind of trouble?" she asked. It's wasn't the first time she saw him like that. As long as he used his natural abilities he was safe from the chaos inside him, but using the power he had gained as a chimera came at a prize. Whenever he used that power, it started to struggle for domains over his body. "Maybe I should…?" Nimph started to move towards him. "No, stay back!" He struggled to get away "I can do this on my own!". He curled up on the floor, muttering something to low to hear.
A little time passed, and he seemed to be getting better. Nimph flew over and landed in front of him "How do you fell, Master?" she asked carefully. He raised his head slightly "I feel a bit better" he whispered " did I… Did I do it by myself?". The fairy nodded eagerly "but you cheated me of a meal, you know" she added with a smile.
He stood up and dusted himself off "I'll keep that in mind for the next time" he said with a tired smile. Even though it had taken a lot of his strength to recover on his own, he still managed to act somewhat normal. "Oh and you can even smile at a time like this?" Nimph was flying all around the room. In other words just being her normal self. For some reason it didn't matter at all to her that she was almost squashed a few minutes ago.
"Master, it's that way, I'm sure of it!" She grabbed a little lock of his hair and dragged him down yet another not so promising corridor. Sighing heavily, he let himself get dragged along. He figured that they had been almost all over the mansion by now, and sometime she was bound to get it right.
"Nimph, hold a minute" Eruk slumped down on a chair "I have to ask you something". Nimph landed on his legs and looked up at his face. "What is it?" she asked. He cleared his troath "Look Nimph, we have been wandering around here for Ceiphied knows how long. Do you know you way around this crazy mansion or not?". Nimph didn't say anything for awhile then looked away, blushing a little bit "I only know of the basement, but I don't wanna go there, it's creepy".
Eruk shook his head "You mean you have dragged me all around for nothing". She turned away from him "y…yeah? Are you mad at me now?". He could tell by her voice that she was on the brink of tears. His expression softened. She had been around for a while now, and even though he had tried to convince himself otherwise, he had grown attached to her. "Look, don't worry about it" he held out his hand "At least we have made so much trouble that the others could escape". She looked at him with big teary eyes "You really mean that?" she sniffed. "Of course" He smiled "why don't you climb aboard, and show me the way to that basement, huh?" She jumped up in his hand "I don't like that place one bit" she scowled, bit a few seconds later her face brightened "but since it's for you master, I'll do it". He lifted her up and placed her on his shoulder "Let's go, partner". Nimph nodded "Right!".
"And then you go into that room!" Nimph was doing her best to guide him to the basement. It actually went a lot better this time. Maybe it had something to do with her having an actual destination this time. "There is nothing in here?" he asked as he looked around. Much to his dismay he looked at the birdcage in the corner. This was the same room where he had met the Naga clones. "I don't want to sound as if I don't trust you, but I've been here already" he carefully asked. Nimph took of from her place and flew over to a wall panel "Did you look in here too, master?" she asked happily. She pushed the panel. He watched in silence as she continued to try pushing the panel in.
"Move you dumb thing!!" she shouted, and started kicking the defenseless piece of wall decoration. "Maybe you need a little help with that?" he suggested. "Not" *kick* "necessary" She shouted, her face had turned red with anger. While the fairy was occupied with the secret entrance, Eruk took the opportunity to search the room a bit more careful. The last time he was interrupted by the Naga clones, and he didn't really have time to find out anything. "Stupid magic door!!" Nimph cried "Dragon Slave!".
Eruk waited, but nothing happened. He figured that even if she was some kind of magic creature, she possessed no magic powers of her own, at least no powers like those of a human. While Nimph was shouting every possible spell she knew, something interesting caught his attention. "Hey Nimph, look over her" Eruk smiled as he opened the wall panel in front of him.
"It's over there?" Nimph asked in amazement "how did you find it?". He pointed at the panel "look at the color. It has been painted separately from the rest of the room ". Nimph flew closer "I don't see anything master" she admitted. He let his finger trace the strokes the paintbrush had made "Look at those strokes, they are horizontal, while the rest are vertical. And to be honest, the paintjob is rather poor". Nimph sat down on his shoulder "Smart aleck" she mumbled. "Can't win every time Nimph" Eruk smiled a bit of her pouting, and crawled through the little doorway.
"See, this is why I hate being here" Nimph shuddered while Eruk was examining an operating table. "Sometimes master Loid would strap a creature to that table and…" Eruk slowly nodded. He realized that he too had been strapped down to a table much like this one. He decided that this was one memory that he hoped never would return to him. Suddenly his body tensed. "No, it can't be…" he whispered. "Yeah, you are right master. How could anyone do this to a living creature? I don't think…"
"Nimph be silent!" Eruk cut her of "listen". The fairy fell silent. Even though she tried her best, she could only hear a distant sound. "What is it master?" she whispered. "It's singing" he told her "And just maybe… I think, I know that voice". Nimph tried harder to isolate the sound "I think it's coming from that way" She pointed down a dark corridor. Eruk nodded " I agree". Before he started walking, he shot the fairy a look "you know, this could be dangerous?" He asked. Nimph quickly caught his true meaning "I guess that means it's pocket time again?" she asked carefully, while giving him a sad look. "Look, think of it this way, it's only to keep you from getting hurt. I can't fight if I have to worry about your safety all the time". Nimph smiled widely "you are really that worried about me master?" she was beaming with joy. "Yes, at least something like that", he admitted. Nimph flew up to his face and planted a small kiss on his cheek before she settled in his pocket. "Let's go!" she shouted.
"Do you even know why we are standing guard here?" Neela growled. Even Sylphiels singing couldn't keep her calm long. Ascard shook his head "I haven't got a clue" he admitted "but I hope Shadowheart has some kind of plan with all of this". Neela leaned back on the wall "He's got a plan alright" she growled "he's planning on getting us all killed in some dumb war". Ascard joined her "I thought you loved battle?" he asked. "I like battle, yes" she spat "but starting a war with both the gods and mazukos? That's suicide!". Ascard sighed "I guess you are right, at least I know that I will go down fighting". Neela gave him a weird look "That's so typical of you men" Neela mumbled "Always thinking of dying a glorious death and all that macho crap…"
"Then why don't both of you just leave this place?" a voice interrupted their conversation. Both of them jumped up. "Who's there?" Ascard demanded. Eruk stepped out from the shadows. Ascard saw him and took a step back "Lord Shadowheart! I'm sorry m'lord". Neela pulled him to his feet "Get a hold of yourself you moron" she snapped "That's not lord Shadowheart, that's the failure!". Ascard raised his head and gave him a closer look "So it would seem" he nodded "how were you able to survive?". Eruk shrugged "Let's just say that I have a few tricks up my sleeve".
Ascard chuckled a bit and drew his sword " I must admit that you are better than I ever imagined". He charged forward. Eruk readied himself for battle. He nimbly danced out of the way. "Why do you want to fight me?" he asked "I heard you before". Ascard spun around "Just shut up and fight!" he shouted.
Lina instantly woke up from her trance like state. There was something going on outside. "Sylphiel listen!" she interrupted the shrine maidens quiet song. "What's the matter miss Lina? She asked carefully "you are not bothered by my song, are you?" Lina shook her head "No, of course not! But listen, I'm sure something is going on outside". Sylphiel stopped talking and pressed her ear against the door. "I think you are right miss Lina. But what is it?". Lina shrugged "How should I know? It sounds like someone is fighting. Could it be Gourry and the others?".
Eruk dodged another attack "I'm offering you a chance here. Leave now and you'll live". Ascard took a step back "lord Shadowheart may be a bastard, but I'll follow his orders nevertheless". Eruk also took a step back "In that case, you'd better prepare yourself". Ascard nodded and smiled "I'm not the one that needs to be prepared". The two of them clashed together. Their weapons locked together and they stared each other in the eyes. Eruk was the first who broke the stalemate. With a swift movement he dropped to the floor and used his legs to swipe his opponent of his feet. Ascard fell to the floor. He struggled to get back up, but Eruk held him down. "I told you to just give up" he hissed and prepared himself to deliver the final blow.
"Master don't!" Nimph flew from his pocket "you can't just kill him". Eruk hesitated, but didn't give up on his advantage. "Nimph? So that's were you have been?" Neela came up to them. Despite her personality, she was being unusually calm. The fairy turned to face her former mistress
"Mistress Neela?" she swallowed hard. The two of them stared at each other for a while. "What are you doing here Nimph? It was Neela who broke the silence first. The fairy flew up on Eruks shoulder "I'm… I'm helping him to find his friends". She threw her hands around Eruk neck. He could feel Nimphs fear of the woman in front of her.
Neela looked away for a second "are you happy?" She turned around with a small smile on her face. "y…yeah…" Nimph was caught by surprise. Neela wasn't usually like this. "Why do you help him? He's the enemy" Neelas voice was calm when she spoke. Nimph shook her head "no, he's a good guy! And I want to help him, no matter what". Neela moved closer "Even if it meant you would have to fight me?". Nimph silently kept hugging Eruks neck.
"I see…" Neela turned to leave " I owe you a favor for taking care of Nimph, I'm leaving" she said as she passed him. Eruk stared after her in disbelief. Just before she reached the door she turned around "are you coming? Or are you gonna die like an idiot?". Eruk understood her meaning and released Ascard from his grip. The warrior stood up and looked after Neela. He was torn between his duty and his feelings.
"Don't make me regret this" he growled and shot Eruk an angry look. He started following Neela. "Let's go find master Loid" he said. Neela nodded, and both of them vanished in a flash.
Eruk looked at the place where they had vanished "They weren't that bad after all" he said.
"What happened miss Lina?" Sylphiel asked "Everything just became silent". The redhead shrugged "how would I know? I can't see what's going on either". Before any of them could say more, they heard someone hitting the door. "Sylphiel, get away from there!" Lina ordered "I don't know who's out there, but they are trying to get inside". The ran up to the opposite wall, from there they could see that the door was about to give in to the massive attacks from outside.
"Ok, just hit it once more, and I think you've got it" Nimph were busy encouraging Eruk as he tried to break the door.
"I don't think that door is going to hold much longer miss Lina" Sylphiel had moved closer to Lina. Even though the sorceress were younger than herself, she often looked at Lina as some sort of older sister, someone who could protect her from anything.
The door finally gave in to the attacks, and with a loud bang it fell. Both girls were hiding their faces with their capes to avoid the cloud of dust that flew their way. "You did it master!" Lina desperately tried to place the voice. Because of the dust, she still couldn't she who had destroyed the door. "Sylphiel, miss Lina? Are you in here?" A familiar voice called. "That voice! It's that guy!" Lina whispered. Before the smoke could clear away she jumped at the person who had just entered. Eruk fell to the floor, while an enraged Lina sat on his back and tried to strangle him. "How dare you lock me up in here?" She shouted "Did you really think that I would let you get away with that?".
Eruk struggled to talk, but failed. Lina suddenly felt someone pull her hair. "Don't you dare hurt him, you big meanie!" Nimph shouted and pulled with all her might. "huh? A fairy" Lina looked at the tiny creature " I thought they only existed in the old legends?" The distraction Nimph provided was all Eruk needed. With a sudden movement he threw the sorceress off, and pinned her to the floor. "Miss Lina, it's me!" he shouted. Sylphiel came closer "Eruk dear? Is that you?". He let go of Lina and stood up "yeah, it is…" he smiled sheepishly "Sorry I took so long".
"I can't believe that it's really you!" Sylphiel cried and threw herself at him. He staggered back, a bit surprised. "Easy there…" He whispered. She hugged him tightly "I thought you were dead…". Tears had started running down her cheek. He returned the hug "Almost, but not quite" he admitted "It takes a lot more than that to get rid of me". Nimph was watching the two of them with a scowl on her face. She landed on Eruks head "You keep away from the master! She shouted, and tried to push Sylphiel away. "Nimph…" Eruk growled, trying to get rid of the fairy. But the moment was broken. "Nimph? Who is that?" Sylphiel asked in confusion.
Before Eruk could answer, Nimph flew down in front of her "I'm Nimph" She sent Sylphiel an evil look "And who do you think you are? Hugging the master like that? Huh?". For a while she just stared at the fairy, but then grabbed her from midair. "A fairy? It's just soooo cute!". She hugged the tiny creature tightly "where did you find it?". Nimph struggled to break free from the hug "Excuse me? I'm NOT an *it*. And he did not find me anywhere, I'll have you know".
"Look, it's all well and good, but what I wanna know is, why are you here now?" Lina had finally regain her composure. "I thought you knew already, Miss Lina, I came to find out about myself. Finding you here was purely a coincidence" He said, he knew better than lying in front of the-enemy-of all-who-lives. Lina suddenly remembered something "The others! We have to go save the others!". Eruk held her back "I've done that already. If I'm not wrong, they should be outside now, waiting for you two".
"Well ain't that sweet? Let's see how far they get". They spun around. Damien was standing in the remains of the doorway looking them over casually. "Just try me buddy" Lina growled, and started to move forward. "Miss Lina, wait!" Eruk held her back "This is my battle". Lina spun around "Are you kidding me?" She shouted "Do you have any idea how powerful he is?". Eruk smiled a bitter smile "Of course, I do. We are the same person after all". He walked forward "Nimph?" he asked. The fairy flew up to him "yes, master?". He allowed her to land on his shoulder "I need you to guide them outside" he ordered. "But I don't like that girl…" Nimph pouted and pointed at Sylphiel. "But I do" Eruk gave her a hard look. "Sorry, master" Nimph whispered.
He sighed "Listen Nimph" he whispered "It doesn't mean I like you less, just do this for me, ok? I'm counting on you!". Nimph nodded. "Lina, Sylphiel, Follow Nimph. She'll take you outside". Eruk took a step forward and blocked Damiens path. "But what about you?" Sylphiel asked. "I'll be fine" he assured her "just get out of here". Nimph started moving, just as she passed Eruk, Damien tossed a knife at her. Without any effort Eruk blocked it "I wouldn't try that" he hissed "you don't want to make me mad…". Nimph turned around in midair "Thank you, master!" she shouted. Quickly Lina and Sylphiel followed her. Just before Sylphiel reached the door to the ground level she turned around "Be careful Eruk dear" She shouted "I'll see you outside". He nodded, and followed her with his eyes.
"That leaves only you and me" Damien readied himself for battle.
Authors notes:
Ohh a cliffhanger!! I guess It's quite obvious that the next chapter will be the battle between good and evil! Isn't it exiting? Will Eruk prevail against an enemy so much like himself? And will Lina and Sylphiel ever get outside with Nimph as their guide?
Almost at the end people. Keep reading ok?
