Chapter eight

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Kay, this story has almost reached its end. A few more chapters and then the conclusion! Frankly, I'm already planning a sequel. But for now let's focus on this chapter.

Oh, and just in case you get confused, italics means thought, unless it's in quotation marks.

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"Lina!" Zelgadis looked up suddenly. He had been wandering aimlessly around the area, trying to avoid the gravesite. The voice rang out and sounded frightened, desperate. He broke into a run as she hurried to where the voice had come from; there were some advantages to being a chimera.

Sylphiel sat over Lina body, tears threatening to spill. She shook Lina over and over, struggling to bring her back to the world of the living. But Lina did not stir. She did not move. If not for the steady, though shallow, up and down movement of her chest, she could have been thought dead.

The raven-haired girl jolted up as she heard footsteps approach. She watched as Zelgadis hurried up, called by her shout. He stopped a minute to take in the sight before him before speaking.

"What happened?"

Sylphiel looked back down to Lina and lift one limp hand in her own. "I-I don't know! She won't wake up!" Sylphiel squeezed Lina's hand, hugging it to her chest. With her free hand she brushed away a few of Lina's bangs. It was then Zelgadis realized how close Sylphiel and Lina were.

The past day and a half they had spent most of their time together, talking and offering support to each other. Through out that time, they must have developed a sister-like bond. It didn't surprise him. At this time, it was good to have people there to go to for help or support.

He snapped back to reality as Sylphiel gasped and pulled back her hand from Lina's forehead.

"What is it?" he demanded. She looked up at him, this time with a tear glimmering on her cheek.

"H-her body! She's stone-cold!"

"Where am I?" Slowly, she peeked her eyes open to the world around her. She jolted up suddenly, looking around fearfully, her crimson eyes not bothering to hide the emotion. Lina was hovering in the midst of darkness.

There was nothing there. The area was completely void of everything. She was shaking.

"Where indeed…" Lina jumped at the voice. It echoed in the darkness, chilling her down to the bone. It was haunting, and oddly feminine. She shivered as she spun around, trying to find who ever it was.

"Who are you?" She demanded, glaring.

The voice laughed, sounding like the gentle ring of bells.

"Dear, I think the question is, who are you…"

"What are you talking about? I know who I am!" Lina countered harshly, continuing to glare at nothing.

The voice laughed again, though nowhere near as soft as before. This time it was wicked with a ting of magic haunting it in the after effect. But Lina was so busy looking for the person that she didn't feel the magic that had already bound her.

"Then who are you?"

"I'm…" she stopped. Who was she? Why couldn't she remember? What was happening? The voice chuckled softly and imitated a pitied tone.

"Poor thing.Don't worry; I'll help you. After all, it does you no justice to sit there and remember,"

Justice? Amelia…

"It's better to just forget,"

Forget? Gourry…

"All memories ever bring is pain. But if you forget, you can stay here with me. I'll never hurt you,"

These names are so foreign to me… but they seem important…

"Gourry… Amelia…"

"…who?"

"My… friends…"

"Friends? Do you even know who they are?"

"I do."

"Then who are they?"

"…" She stopped. Who were they? And then, the words just came to her and without thinking she spoke them aloud.

"Source of all power…"

"What?"

"Crimson fire burning bright…"

"What are you saying?"

"Let thy power come form within my hand…"

"What are you doing? STOP!"

"FIREBALL!!!"

The ball erupted wildly into the darkness. There was a flash of bright, white light that blinded her for a moment. The darkness was bathed in light and slowly Lina felt her body slip to unconsciousness. And then, a soft, music like voice that was so familiar to her spoke.

"Wake up Lina. Follow the roses,"

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Yay!!! Another cliffhanger! Now, you guys have to guess who the voice was. Could it be Sylphiel? Or maybe Zel? You tell me what you think! Please review!

Knight of L-sama How was this chapter? Lemme know! And I can use the Dragu Slave too! By the way, sorry about the length!

:) Neat name. Thanks for reviewing! You'll learn about the third gravestone either at the end or in the sequel, but I did hint at it earlier.

Yun Fei Thank you very, very much. It's wonderful that you think I got Lina's personality right. I'm not very good at keeping characters IC, and I usually end up screwing up their personalities.

Irusta So sorry for going so fast! But I'm really getting into this. It's almost done! Just a few more chapters! Can't wait for your review!