Lina and Gourry ran past the now black walls of the once white palace, trying to remember the layout of the castle. It had been ages since they had last been here, with no idea where they had ended up. They turned a corner and flew down a set of stairs, only to find themselves in another empty, unfamiliar corridor. The silence was eerie; their breathing sounded loud and ominous to their ears. Glancing around himself, and itching to find someplace familiar, Gourry began to turn towards the left, but Lina grabbed his arm, saying, "No…this way."
Windows and doors flew past them as they ran, as blurs of black and grey, as their hearts beat loudly in their chests. Turning around another corner, they continued to run, when suddenly, Lina stopped. Gourry, not noticing that the red head had stopped, continued running until he realized that he could only hear his feet pounding against the floor. He stopped abruptly, turning to look at Lina.
"Lina…wha-" he began to ask her, clearly confused.
Lina stood before a window, staring outside. She could see the streets of the broken city just slightly below her, and realized that they were on the second floor of the castle. And, overlooking the city, she knew where in the castle they were. She'd been in Saillune so many times, even before meeting Amelia, that she realized that she was looking at the Eastern side of Saillune.
"Come on Gourry," she said, obscurely glad as she ran up to him. "I know where she is."
"Wha," Gourry began, a little out of breath from running, "are we… going to… do… when we find her?"
"Help her, of course! That… should have been… obvious… even to YOU!" Lina replied, annoyed by the question.
They turned another corner, and ran towards the end, where a dark arch stood.
"No…I mean…HOW…are we going to…help…her?"
They stopped at the arch, and could see another flight of stairs.
"I…" she began, unsure of herself. But she shook her head, saying, "Well, we'll figure that out once we get there, now won't we?"
The stairs circled up and down, and was set in one of the castle's towers.
"Down we go," Lina said somberly. But as soon as they stepped through the dark archway, a loud noise reached their ears. Their hearts began to pound loudly in their chests. They could hear someone else running down the set of stairs above them. Looking up, Lina and Gourry both took out their swords, ready for the worst, their faces hard. Lina's heart beat fast, the adrenaline pumping through her as it always did. It coursed through her, like fire blazing through her veins.
The footsteps were getting closer.
And then it was there, flying down the stairs at them. Lina gasped.
A vision of white, pink and gold was running down the stairs, and stopped, gasping, in front of them. Filia was out of breath; she had been running the length of the castle, also. Relief flooded their faces, as they smiled sadly at one another.
"W-we…still have to find…Z-Zelgadis…and Amelia," she rasped, and grabbing the two of them, continued down the stairs, searching, the loud echoes of their footfalls surrounding them.
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Zelgadis was horrified. He felt his heart stop, his eyes turning away from the gruesome sight before him. Lina, Amelia, Gourry and Filia lay dead before him; his own sword dripping a dark crimson. A maniacal laugh resounded in his ears, its pitch so high and ear-splitting that he longed to scream out in pain. But his body only laughed, and he knew he was trapped within his own body. One of his worst nightmares had come true – something had taken over, the monster in him. Quickly, as if only slightly interested, his body stabbed at the dead, mutilated bodies once again. Inside, he tried to stop, tried to take control of his body, but found that he couldn't. He was helpless; and worse, found that he was reluctantly enjoying it.
What is wrong with me?! He asked himself, horrified. He could feel power and delight course through him, mingled with disgust, and horror.
He sat up quickly, cold sweat pouring down his face. Just a dream… he thought, taking his sword and leaving the room. He was in a black maze – hundreds of doors lined the dimly lit and tight, long corridor. His breathing quickened. Where was he? He had to find his cure. He didn't want what had happened in the dream to become real. He ran through the hall, opening doors, only to find himself reliving horrible memories from his childhood. There he was, small and alone. His mother dead from giving birth to him. He watched as if he were there, in the room, looking down at himself in his dead mother's arms. The cries rang through his ears.
And then, there he was; hoping to be stronger because the other kids mocked him. Didn't like him.
"What's the matter, lil' baby? Ya gonna cry?"
"Hahaha, maybe he's gonna run off to his Mama!" another one cried out. More kids came to see what was happening.
He glared at them; his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Hey," an older kid pointed out as he walked by, "Doesn't that guy not have a Mama? That ain't nice, ya know," He added before joining the other older kids.
"No Mama? So ya gonna run off to your Daddy, instead?"
Zelgadis didn't say anything – He just stood there, looking daggers into them.
"We asked ya a question!" Someone else cried, which added to the jeers of others.
"What are ya, a mute? Haha, look at 'em, he can't even speak!"
The kids laughed and shrieked at him, slowly circling him until he was surrounded. 'Stop it' he thought to himself, willing the other kids away. Why did they keep picking on him? One of the girls, breaking the circle dancing around him, went up and pinched him on the arm.
"OWW!" cried Zelgadis, swatting at her. The girl joined in the laughter as she jumped back.
"Aww, what's tha matter, huh? I thought mutes didn't feel no pain!" He barked with laughter, launching forward to pinch him too.
"Leave me alone! I'm NOT a MUTE!" Zelgadis cried, hitting some of the kids' arms away.
"Hey, mute's can't talk!" One of them cried out, stepping away from the circle to stare. And soon all of them just stopped and stared. But later, they'd always find an excuse on why they picked on him. Always.
They said he was too quiet. A know-it-all. He trained. He hoped. He prayed. He even saw himself almost impaling himself with his sword the first time he swung it. And then he was turning into a chimera. And then again, stones were being thrown at him. And now he was hiding with Rezo. His only living relative, and a man he loathed. Abhorred.
All he felt was hatred.
A deep, dark hatred.
He burned with a desire to kill. To hurt. To cause everyone who had hurt him as much pain as he had felt throughout the years. He could hear a voice whisper to him, Yes! Yes!! You have a right to want to cause pain. You have the right to hurt. And you have the power to make it all better…
He drifted through the memory of trying to kill himself, so many times, but Rezo would always save him.
"What of revenge?" He would ask, his mouth curled into a snarl. "You don't want to give them the satisfaction of your being gone. You'll show them that you're still stronger, and that they'll never be rid of you."
Yes!And then there he was, laughing hysterically as he slaughtered them all. That's what he wanted. To slowly torture them, to throw stones, to attack and hurt and find a cure. He'd show them what they already saw – him as a monster. And when he'd be done, he'd find a cure and be rid of his cursed body…
…Zelgadis started. His eyes were clouded – he couldn't see. A sound filled his head, causing him to cringe. A scream? Maybe someone needed his help…. someone he knew…
But he heard the children's mocking laughter again, and his body seethed; that fear and anger filled his every pore. The images of the ones he hated, and feared, clouded his mind. And his vision turned completely black, just as he saw himself killing one of those stupid kids from his childhood. He could feel the seduction of the power he could hold over those kid's – of the power he did hold. Anger, hatred and fear sang through his blood. He laughed at the pleading and fear in the boy's eyes; revelled at the cracking voice as he cried, begging for "Mercy". He wanted to dig out this boy's heart and cut him up. Zelgadis wanted to shove the heart down the boys' throat. He wanted to cause pain, draw blood, and become the best. And nothing, nothing, would stop him.
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"Should we check each room?" Filia gasped as they ran, eyeing the closed rooms nervously.
"No." Lina's reply was curt, and as the strangled silence continued, she added, "They wouldn't be in a room by themselves. Not anymore." Amelia least of all…
Their pace was slowing. Lina stopped every now and then, to look out of the window to make sure she knew if they were still heading the right way. "We need to find another flight of steps somewhere on this side of th…"
She stopped. The three of them tensed, hearing a twisted laughter. Coming from a door not so far away. Something about it had sent an eerie shiver down Lina's spine. They stood still, their eyes drawn to the door, waiting. No one moved, and so Lina began to walk warily towards the door. She felt a tap at her shoulder – Gourry nodded to her, his sword at the ready. She looked Filia, who also nodded her head as she swung her mace, before Lina stepped forward. Her heart was in her throat, the adrenaline rushing through her again. She swallowed, calming her breathing. Whispering softly, she felt the power surge through her.
"Source of all power."
Magic swirled around her, growing, and forming in between her hands.
"Light which burns beyond crimson."
She smirked at the familiar thrill that passed through her whenever she used magic.
"Let thy power gather in my hand." Fire before her hands grew. His hands gripped the sword tightly; hers shifted the weight of the mace just slightly, and…
"FIREBALL!"
The door blasted open in front of them. Magic crackled in her fingertips as she stepped through the haze of smoke, taking up the spot of where the door had been. She looked around, but there was nothing. Her heart was still pounding loudly.
Thump thump. What had she heard? Had she only been imagining it?
Thump thump. I could've sworn I heard something…
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a glint of steel, then-
"Lina!" A crash of steel on steel resounded in her ears as Lina jumped away, the tip of her cloak sliced. Gourry pushed the man back, his sword held at the ready. His muscles bunched, prepared for anything. His opponent lunged, feinted, parried, sliced, and growled; he was a good swordsman, but not as great as the blond. Gourry eyed his opponent evenly, but the ones that stared back were wild and crazy. Lina and Filia could only look on in stunned silence.
Their deadly dance with steel brought them up close as their swords grinded together, before they lunged away and once again began the drill of steel meeting steel again. Gourry sliced up as his opponent sliced down, the clash ringing through the air.
"Gourry…stop!" Filia exclaimed, horrified. Lina could only stand and gape, unsure of what was happening. For Gourry's opponent was the person they had been looking for; it was Zelgadis.
And yet, it wasn't.
"Stop it Zel!!" Lina cried. "What the hell are you doing?! Snap out of it!!"
But he didn't stop. He didn't even register her voice. All that he could hear in his head were the mocking cries of the children who always made fun of him. Kill…
"STOP IT!!!" Lina cried, pulling Gourry away. "FOR L-SAMA'S SAKE!! IT'S US! ARE YOU BLIND?!?!"
But Zelgadis just lunged once more, craving to hear screams, to draw blood, and get revenge…and the darkness surrounding him enveloped him in a black mist.
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"AHHH!"
Amelia slammed into the wall, falling to the floor limply. Pain shot up her back, clouding her mind. The laugh resounded in her ears, and anger surged through her – for a moment. But then it died down, replaced by fear and despair. She felt so helpless…so utterly alone…
Please! Someone… help me!! Please…
"'Tis such a shame that your friends' mind's are all so filled with fears. And so much hate. They fell into my illusions so easily, don't you agree?" She laughed cruelly, before continuing in a grotesquely sweet voice, "Now, if only you'd expose your mind to me a bit more, dear…it'd be such a better way for you to die. Well, perhaps not for you…but it would certainly be more fun, and interesting, for me."
The darkness once again tried to seep into her, to cloud and block her. She was falling again, and she couldn't seem to right herself. The cold tendrils were back, once again trying to crush her… Fight it again, Amelia…just once more; at least, clear your mind just once more. Block her off!
But…I can't…
I should try to…I did it before…
It's so… hard…
Fight! Justice always wins! I can make it again…
…can't I?
…I…I know…
I know I…
…I…I can't!
If only I could breathe…The miasma-like darkness choked her, its deadly caress crushing her once more. She had been able to break free of it once, but she couldn't anymore…
Reirs…how could you?
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A/N: Wow, is it just me, or has it been almost a year since the last chapter? Where does the time go? I can't believe I've been away from this story for so long! I'm really very sorry!! To all those who reviewed and asked for me to finish, well, I know I promised I would, and so I hope you did enjoy this chapter. I've been thinking that I might edit this story after I finish it (which, I hope, will be soon). I don't think it'll take me another year for the next chapter, so fear not. And I know that this chapter isn't as great as it should be. But it's getting there. Anyways, since I wanted to get this chapter out as soon as possible, I'm not going to be thanking individual people…yet. Maybe next chapter you'll all see your names. After all, you do deserve to be acknowledged, for taking your time to do the same for me. Thanks, and I hope I won't disappoint you.
-Vivi