To Become a Monster

Chapter 3

The Cold Eyes of Zedres

Next chapter up and you finally get to meet the mysterious Zedres.

Author's Note: This fic is going to be using some ideas I used in a fic that didn't make it to finished product. And, so if this seems somewhat familiar to some of my earlier readers it's because I'm borrowing ideas from my fic, 'From the Edged'

Lina marched with the old general as he escorted her to the throne room. 'Maybe I'll be able to talk some sense into Lesia herself instead of her getting diluted information from her diplomats,' Lina thought as the large ash double doors opened to reveal the throne room. It was a large open room with plenty of space and many tapestries hanging from the top of the walls. The ceiling was held with giant marble columns and the middle of the floor marked by a flowing crimson carpet. At the end of the carpet was the throne where sat the young queen known as Lesia. Lesia was a normal looking eighteen year old girl. She had waist length brown hair, and forest green eyes. Her pale skin showed the mark of a pampered life, but her gaze showed that of wit and cunning. As Lina approached the throne she noticed the figure that flanked the queen on the right, "So that must be Zedres," she whispered to herself.

The figure stood next to the raised platform that the throne sat upon. The figure was dressed in a black robe which was long and flowing. The bottom of the robe stopped just above dragging the floor. The sleeves where long and wide as if to hide something within them. The top hung off the upper body and was crowned with a deep hood. The face was replace with the cold, unmoving visage of a porcelain mask. The mask was pure white with a border of twisting black lines that where adorned with thorns jutting out here and there. The final touch was that of a thorn jutting out from the right eye with a tear of blood hanging from it. As Lina stopped in front of the queen the figure spoke in his cold tenor, "Your majesty, this is the head diplomat of Sailoon, Miss Lina Inverse."

Lina bowed before speaking, "Your majesty, I wish to request that I be returned to my nation as outlined in the treaty of Sailoon from eight years ago."

The young girl sighed and said, in an uninterested voice, "Zedres could you please explain."

The figure in black, now known as Zedres, nodded his head before stating, "As much as we wish we could the treaty of Sailoon only counts towards diplomats and not prisoners of war."

Lina arched an eyebrow while keeping her temper in check before replying, "I'm head diplomat to Sailoon and under the treaty I am allowed safe return to my country."

Zedres chuckled then said, "Yes, until you joined the battle. Once, you joined the battle you became a combatant, and not a diplomat. It is by the power invested in me, by the queen Lesia, that I sentence you to be held a prisoner until your country bargains for your release."

Lina was about to jump up when two guards rushed up and clapped Lina's wrist in manacles. As the guards lifted her up and began to take her away, Zedres came up and whispered something into one of the guard's ears. After that the guard nodded and said, "Come on, we've got a good place to take you."

Lina found herself in a fancy room with all the comforts anyone could want. She had tried the door only to find it locked and that the manacles around her wrist to be magic nullifiers. She sighed as she looked around the the room to try and see anyway of escape. It was during this planning that her eyes fell upon a familiar object. In a glass case on the wall was held a sword Lina remembered quite well. It was a longsword with a wide golden hand guard and a ruby at the end of the hilt. 'Wait a minute that's Zelgadis' sword,' Lina thought before she was interrupted by Zedres' cold tenor, "So you remember that sword I see."

Lina spun around to be met by the unemotional gaze of Zedres' mask. She glared at him before shouting, "Where did you get that sword?"

"I once said we would never meet again," Zedres began to reply as he removed of his mask to reveal the face of Zelgadis, "But, it would seem you have proven me wrong."

Lina eyes went wide as she stared into the face of her one time friend that was now her enemy once again. "Zel...," was all she could say as she back up out of reflex.

"What's the matter Lina? Not going to shout at me and tell me how much of a jerk I am for leaving," Zel began as he started towards Lina with an unreadable expression on his face.

Lina was struck with surprise but as she backed away something came over her. She felt herself stop and move towards Zel saying, "Zel..."

Zel opened his arms and wrapped Lina in an embrace. The big sleeves of his robe covered her top half and he lowered his head to make it look like she was only legs. He lowered his lips to right above her ear and whispered, "Have I been missed that much?"

"Yes...yes you have. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again," Lina replied lowly as she clutched onto her once long lost friend.

"Well isn't that interesting," Zel whispered lowly as he brought his head away from Lina.

"What are you talking about," Lina asked confused and wondering why Zel looked at her that way.

Zel's face beamed with something that could be described as sinister. His lips arched up in a evil looking smile as his hand grabbed the chain on the manacles. In one swift moment he lifted Lina off her feet and dangled her in the air. He then laughed as he said, "To think the infamous Lina Inverse would become this sentimental and weak."

Lina was so shocked and caught off guard that she didn't even try to fight back. She hung there as her eyes grew wide at Zel's hurtful words. As Zel started to move forward she started to kick shouting, "What are you doing Zel? Why are you like this?"

Zel's cruel smile stayed on his face as he walked towards the bed. He then stopped and flung Lina onto the bed. He watched as she bounced when she hit and then moved to straddle Lina's hips. He then lowered himself to where he could place his lips near her ear once again, "You know I must thank you for that argument ten years ago. If it hadn't been for that then I wouldn't have gained the power I do now."

Lina heard his whisper and began to struggle against him. She kicked, beat, and squirmed but she couldn't get away. After a few moments she stopped and whispered, "Why are you doing this?"

"Because, back when we traveled together I always wanted to be this close to you. But, you never wanted that, you wanted me around for a useful sideshow. You had your blonde bodyguard there for you. When we argued and separated I went along my way on finding my cure. I didn't find it but I did find that I was right...the group was holding me back," Zel replied coldly as he laid his cheek on Lina red hair.

Lina felt the moister brimming in her eyes as Zel's words came. 'What's happened to Zel? What made him this cold,' she thought as she turned her head from him. She then whispered, "Why do you say those things? We didn't do anything to hold you down we only tried to help," while leaving out the part about him being near her.

Zel lifted his head and moved his hand to cup Lina's chin. He then moved Lina's chin until she was looking at him before saying, "But, you did hold me back. If I had stayed then I would've wanted to hang onto the foolish thought of remaining human. A monster can only be a monster."

Lina looked into Zel's eyes as he explained his way of thinking and thought she saw a twinge of sadness. Whatever it was it was banished away as quickly as it came. She then sighed and whispered, "I never saw you as a monster."

When those words were spoken something happened and Zel moaned. He then released Lina's chin and held his head in his hands. It looked like he was going through some sort of mental battle as he arched his back and let out a yell. As he lowered his head a bit it was received by the waiting arms of Lina. She pulled his head to her chest and laid her cheek on his hair. She slowly rocked as she asked, "What did this to you Zel," then whispered lowly, "My Zel..."

Zel sighed and whispered lowly, "Velsicar got loose," before he moved his head away from her.

Lina watched as that cold expression came back to Zel's face and he moved from her before he said, "Nice try Inverse but I'm in control now. Zelgadis...the Zelgadis you knew is no more," and then walked out the room.

Lina watched as Zel walked out the door while dawning his mask again. She blinked and thought, 'Velsicar got loose...what could that mean.'

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

Feedback is requested, please send all comments to findelhe@hotmail.com