Chapter ten

Groans Why does everyone always pick on the length? I told you! The sequel will have mush longer chapters than this. But for now the chapters are short!

Lina and Zelgadis hurried out to the hall. The sight that lay before them nearly shocked Lina. On the floor, there was a shattered vase with a few red roses scattered across the smooth hall. Before it, looking as pale as though she had never seen the sun, was Sylphiel, her small hands pressed against her mouth and her eyes wide.

Lina went to Sylphiel and grabbed her shoulders. Sylphiel didn't even notice. She only continued to stare, as though in shock.

"Sylphiel? Sylphiel! Snap out of it! What happened?" Lina demanded, shaking Sylphiel slightly.

"Can't… she's… dead…" Sylphiel muttered, almost in a trance. Zelgadis knelt down and began to pick up the broken shards. Lina looked almost panicked at Sylphiel's behavior. Finally, common sense came in and she did something a bit drastic. She pulled back and slapped Sylphiel across the cheek.

Sylphiel stumbled slightly and held her hand up to her offended cheek. Lina grumbled slightly and glanced away.

"Sorry Syl, but you were kind of… not there…" Lina paused, not entirely sure if the sentence she had just said made nay sense. Sylphiel shook her head slightly. "Now, what happened?"

"I saw…" Sylphiel broke off for a moment, but then resumed speaking, "Amelia…"

Lina looked at her in awe, startled. She was about to say something, when a sudden cold rush filled the hall and the candle Zel had brought, fearing the bright hall lights might of woken someone, blew out. On instinct almost, the girls huddled close and Sylphiel grabbed Lina arm.

"What was that?" Sylphiel whispered as Lina opened her senses.

Zelgadis chuckled at their behavior, "Aren't you two being paranoid? It was just a gust of wind,"

"From where, Zel?" Lina whispered harshly, moving Sylphiel to stand behind her.

Zelgadis shook his head. "You are paranoid, Lina, it was just a gust of wind. If there was something here, I would most likely know about,"

"Oh, I'm paranoid! What about you? I seem to remember you were constantly on edge ten years ago! Can you blame me for taking a few tips from you?! After all, I'm still considered a Wandering Sorceress, I never settled down, like the rest of you!"

"But this is Palace! There are guards around every corner! Nothing that can walk and be seen that could possibly be a threat could get in here!"

"Well maybe it was something you can't see! Maybe it was ghost!

"Both of you shut up!"

Both heads turned at the young shrine maiden's harsh tone. "This is getting us no where!"

Lina muttered something in response and closed her eyes. Almost instantly a familiar aroma filled the air. Roses. Her eyes snapped open.

"Do you smell that?"

She figured both Sylphiel and Zelgadis were looking at her now, though she couldn't see past her nose.

"Smell what?"

"Roses,"

"Yes, Sylphiel just spilled a vase with roses over the floor,"

Lina shook her head at Zelgadis' sarcasm. "No, it's coming from…" she paused and grabbed Sylphiel and Zel's wrists as she dragged them a little farther down the hall. "Over here…"

"I don't smell anything," Zelgadis said, looking around. Sylphiel, however, was quiet for a moment.

"I think I smell it too…it's coming from down the hall…"

Lina nodded, and slowly they began down the hall. Zelgadis had left the candle behind by accident, but paid no heed to it, as the girls didn't seem to notice. At one point, Sylphiel grabbed Lina's arm again and whimpered slightly.

"What's wrong, Syl? Are you afraid?" Lina said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"A little, I guess…" she stayed quiet for a few moments, which didn't last long. "Lina, say something…"

Lina jumped at Sylphiel's sudden words, but quickly regained her composure. "What should I say?"

"I don't know, anything!"

"Anything,"

Zelgadis chuckled at Lina's response as they continued to walk. Eventually, they reached Sylphiel's room. Lina insisted Sylphiel get some rest, and promised she would let her know if anything happened. After a few moments of resistance, Sylphiel saw she couldn't win, and went inside.

The two continued walking in silence. Zelgadis was thinking about just all that had happened since Lina had arrived. It was all so… random, and yet it was all somehow connected to the incident seven years back. Except her dream… he thought as he glanced at the woman beside him. She seemed fully content on whatever it was she was looking for.

"Remind me again what we're looking for," he said, watching her turn to him with a cross look.

"I told you! Gods, you can be just as stupid as Go—" she broke off as she realized what she was going to say and shook her head. "Roses. Anything to do with roses!"

"Does that count?" he asked, pointing to the wall at Lina's left.

Draped across the walls surface was a large tapestry. He could clearly remember Amelia refusing to allow it to be taken down; she had said something about promising her grandmother, or something like that. On the tapestry was a large image of a red rose.

Lina stared at it a moment, before coming closer to look at it clearly. She slowly closed her eyes and responded, "This is it! Whatever it is, this is it!"

"Alright…" Zel said, watching as she looked up at the large picture. "Now what?"

There was silence, and Lina stood there a moment, a sweatdrop forming. "Um…"

Zelgadis slapped his forehead and muttered something about "Thinking ahead".

Lina laughed embarrassedly before turning back to the picture. With a sigh, she walked over to it and began to look at it up close. "Well, there has to be something here. Help me look!"

Zelgadis shook his head and began to help. He figured that if he helped prove there was nothing going on, he could get back to sleep. And he really was tired.

After they had searched every inch of the tapestry, Zelgadis and Lina both sighed, one for relief, the other out of frustration. Slowly, Zel turned to look at the sorceress and saw she had a slightly disappointed look on her face. "Well, Lina, I'm going back to bed, I'll see you in the morning,"

Lina didn't respond, she only continued to stare at the picture. Just as Zelgadis was turning to leave, she made a sudden movement and lifted up the tapestry, looking under it.

"Oh my God, Zel, get over here!"

Hee hee, I'm so mean! Please review.

Lina-Marie Metallium Sorry about the length, but I'm trying. L/Z isn't that bad, at least you know there are others who support the idea and I know what you mean about the L/X thing.

Samanda Thanks Sammy, I emailed you, so reply soon, kay?

Ysengrinn You're one to talk about sparsely posted chapters. You haven't updated in forever! Oh well, I'm working on it. As for "Uncommon Vows", I'm at a Block as what to write next. It'll be updated as soon as I figure out what should be next.

:) Gourry is that specially little point I'm leaving up to the imagination. I like to leave a few things a mystery. I might give you a little insight in the sequel, though. I love twists!

Irusta I'm so mean! Here you go, hope you enjoyed it!