A/N: Insert the standard "I don't claim the rights to these characters" spiel here. Beware, this story contains adult themes (i.e., big chunks o' lemon) and gets VERY explicit at times. Read at your own risk. Also, this story only covers the exploits of Lina and Xellos. Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis' adventures during the time frame that "Penance" takes place are detailed in a fic called "Pursuit of Merit", which is about halfway written but probably won't be done until '05. "Penance" is followed up by "Reckoning" and then "Absolution" series, all of which are available here on fanfiction.net.
You can view this story in its un-chaptered form at my website, also. I went back and broke it up into chapters because I was getting complaints that it was too long. Sorry if the chapter divisions seem awkward in places, or if some chapters seem too short or too long. That's what happens when you write a story without chapter divisions, and then later chop it up.
Reviews are welcome!!
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Lina stood, struck dumb, for several moments. It was over, it was all over. She couldn't be with a Monster. So many things had played over his face as he had stood before her, his beautiful eyes looking at her with slitted pupils. If she tried she could still feel his warm hands on her skin and his full lips upon hers, his silky hair falling around them like a curtain as he bent to kiss her.
She clutched the ring in her hand, feeling her heart shatter into a thousand pieces at her feet, and bowed her head. Xellos was gone, and she had only just realized she loved him. She wondered what his real punishment had been- condemned to death as a human, or condemned without love as an immortal. She wished the choice had been his to make. Perhaps it someday would be, and she wondered what he would truly choose.
Lina sank to her knees, the sun's last rays dying behind her, and watched the light catch the dull gold of the amurium in her hand. she breathed into the wind, and cried her heart dry until nighttime overtook her.
