Instert standard disclaimer here. Everyone should know that I don't own these characters. Except, of course, the original ones. Also chopped the story up into chapters. Sorry if the transitions are rough. If you want to read it without chapters, head over to vejiitasei.com. Because of this, this particular chapter is really short. Whoops. *grin*
Absolution- Part 1, Chapter 15
by the Prime Minister
During the next few months, it became increasingly apparent to Lina that Xellos' strain had not eased after their talk. He was, however, much more honest with her, and she appreciated that. He was often gone on missions, but whenever he was home she felt as if they were truly friends once again. Their conversations about magic, history, literature, and whatever else she had a mind to talk about fulfilled her greatly, and she felt as if she was being intellectually stimulated in a way she hadn't been for quite some time.
She also hit her studies with a vengeance. It was obvious that Lecia was becoming more and more attached to her father, and she could tell that it was difficult for Xellos not to be able to return her affection. He did his best to playact, but it wasn't hard for her to see that he was worried that the child would be able to detect his insincerity. If only she could find a way to give more power to the human in his soul. It would mean the world to all of them if he could feel again, but her studies were fruitless. That didn't keep her from trying. She had been uncomfortable with the fact that Xellas was caring for Lecia at first, but the Greater Beast seemed to have a genuine interest in Lecia's well-being, and she knew that Xellos would never leave the baby with his mistress if he thought Lecia would come to harm. Lina had never met, or even seen, Xellas, but she was beginning to trust Xellos enough that she was no longer opposed to the idea. Besides, as time wore on, she realized that the longer he was away, and Lecia was with her , the more time she had to work on helping Xellos.
It was an evening like any other during his absences. She was sitting at her desk, poring over some old texts Xellos had brought her and trying not to think about him. Becoming attached to him once again was not something she wanted to be, but as soon as he left she found herself wondering when he would return. She was only human, she realized, and therefore a part of life and its cycle, and that's where she placed the blame when she found herself thinking about him coming through the door before going to pick up Lecia and putting his hands on her breasts or drawing a line of kisses up the side of her neck. Unfortunately her memory was pretty good, and she had no difficulty at all in recalling the way it felt to have him move inside of her, to have his hands run up and down her spine as he kissed her. She also knew that he most likely hadn't lost his talents. An incident when he was still a Monster the first time crossed her mind on occasion, a memory of him trying to seduce her in an inn. He had seemed interested in taking her then, but he didn't seem to be now. Perhaps it was his frustration at other things that was getting in the way.
She shook her head to clear it of such thoughts. Even though she hadn't made love in roughly half a year, she didn't see any reason she should try and begin that sort of relationship with Xellos again. She fervently wished she hadn't thrown the ring he had given her away, because then she could have just touched it and he would have been an open book for her. Speaking of books, she realized for the umpteenth time that fantasizing wasn't going to help Xellos' situation in the least. She had to concentrate at the task at hand, not the clean lines of his body.
She had been reading for an hour and making no headway at all when she heard a soft noise. Spinning around in her chair, she looked expectantly at the door, waiting for Xellos to step through it. Nobody appeared, and she instantly felt foolish. A blush stained her cheeks, but then she heard the sound again. Was Xellos trying to sneak up on her? The thought disappeared from her mind the moment she had it. If Xellos was trying to sneak up on her, he would have done a flawless job. she called, rising from the chair and readying a spell. Her heart began to pound in her chest as only silence met her ears. It wasn't Xellos, of that she was sure. He wasn't due for another week at least, and if he had come home early, he most likely would have announced himself. As sneaky and conniving as he was, he was also very polite, and smart enough to know that it was usually a bad idea to try and mess with her.
She paused at the door, ears straining for sound. A tiny thread of relief wound through her as she remembered that Lecia was with Xellas. She was fairly sure that no harm could befall Lecia while in the Greater Beast's care. Still, she was alone, and had no idea who might be in her house. Their home was hundreds of miles away from other people, and so that left only one possible intruder: a Monster.
Pressing herself against the wall, she listened intently. There it was again- a slight shuffling sound down the hallway. Her blood pounded away in her ears and she considered readying a spell. No, if she did that they'd know where she was for certain, especially if it was a single high-level Monster. Depending on who it was, she probably wouldn't have a problem taking care of them, but the uncertainty bothered her. As many times as she had crashed into adventures without looking, it still troubled her when she didn't know what she was up against.
The shuffling sound moved further away and she carefully schooled her breathing. She wished that she wasn't wearing one of the soft, filmy nightgowns Xellos had given her, thinking that it would be cumbersome to fight in, but was glad for her bare feet. The kitchen grew nearer as she crept down the hallway, the house around her completely still and dark. The moon shone faintly through some of the windows, but it wasn't even close to being full. Less light could either work to her advantage or land her in trouble. Creeping ever nearer to the kitchen, she took a deep breath and kicked in the door, rushing inside. The spell in her hands fizzled out as light flared around her and she gasped in surprise.
Covering every single surface of the kitchen, including the walls, floors, and ceiling, were underlings.