Title: Refuse to Dance

Author: Yugure

Rated: PG-13 for language

Disclaimer: If you think Slayers et al belongs to me... you need professional help...

Author's Notes: Err... I'm sorry, I didn't know the ending was going to be confusing like that. ;; Zelgadis wasn't exactly going soft at the end. He was asserting his power. He's been offered everything that he wants EXCEPT Lina. He tells Lina that he loves her because he wants to finish his "collection" of power and status. It's like thinking of Lina as a possession, not a person. He desires her, but he also desires all that wealth and power. I hope that makes a little more sense.

Part 3

Lina threw a pebble into the fountain and watched as it sank to the bottom, mingling with other waterlogged debris. The soothing sound of the waterfall helped a little to calm her jangled nerves, but she couldn't shake the oppressing feeling that everything had gone to hell in a hand-basket.

"What's the matter, Lina?" a soft voice interrupted Lina's dark musings. Lina looked up to find Sylphiel bent over her, a worried expression on her face.

"Nothing," Lina lied, turning back to watch the waterfall in the fountain.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. Please, Lina, I want to help you," Sylphiel sat down next to Lina and took the sorceress's hands into her own. Her innocent eyes were nearly too much for Lina to take. She wouldn't know what to do anymore than you do, prodded a voice in Lina's head. Look at her. It would probably send her into convulsions at the sheer twistedness of it.

"It's about Zelgadis," Lina blurted, just to spite the voice.

"Oh, is that all?" Sylphiel looked relieved. "Well, I know he's not around very often, and he's always hiding, and it's not very proper because his wedding is just a few days away, but Zelgadis always has his own way of doing things..."

"No, that's not it," Lina ground out, just barely keeping the irritation out of her voice. "It's about him and me..."

"Oh! Miss Lina, goodness gracious!" Sylphiel's eyes widened in shock. "You don't mean to tell me that you have feelings for him, do you!? Oh, what terrible timing!"

"NO! That's not it! I don't love him!" Lina yelled. "I mean... I do, but I don't... well, I did... but... ARGH!!!" Lina buried her face in her hands.

"There, there, Lina," Sylphiel awkwardly patted the small girl's back. "I know how terrible it feels to suffer from unrequited love, but-"

"You just don't get it," Lina mumbled. "He's marrying Amelia because she can give him wealth and power and status and a family – not because he loves her! He loves me, he said so, I heard him say it, and yesterday I would have felt elated but now I feel terrible and I don't think I love him anymore!"

After a long pause, Sylphiel finally spoke up.

"But Zelgadis does love Amelia, Lina. I don't know if this is some sort of ploy to break them up, or if you're just jealous, but what you say can't be true," she said quietly. Lina's head shot up, and she glared at Sylphiel.

"You're calling me a liar?!"

"A woman in love can be the most treacherous creature alive."

"Sylphiel!"

"I can tell you this much, Lina: I won't allow you to ruin what there is between Zelgadis and Amelia. You're my friend, and I love you as much as I love them, but I simply cannot condone such treason." Sylphiel stood up as if to leave.

"Can't you just consider that it MIGHT be a possibility?!"

"Everything will be okay, Lina." Sylphiel stooped to give the livid sorceress a tight hug. She departed with a small, sad smile.

Lina dropped her head back into her hands and allowed the tears to run across her palms.

The next few days were nightmarish. Lina walked around in a veritable daze, unable to contribute any help whatsoever. Zelgadis became more agitated as the days passed, snapping at anyone who spoke to him, even Amelia. Lina made sure she was never in a room alone with Zelgadis. Sylphiel acted as if nothing had transpired from their conversation beside the fountain. For that small favor, Lina was glad. She still wasn't sure how she should broach the subject with Amelia, or even if she should try at all. Most likely, Amelia would respond like Sylphiel did, or even worse.

Nobody seemed to notice how despondent Lina became. The internal chaos was driving her insane and she could barely walk in a straight line. If she told Amelia, and the wedding was cancelled, Lina could be with Zel... but did she want to be with a man who was going to marry a princess for the power that came with the union and not for love? If she didn't tell Amelia, she would be allowing this travesty to continue, and how could she NOT let Amelia know the truth? And... the most important question of all, the one that would ultimately decide everything... did Lina still love Zelgadis?

"Oi, Lina-chan, what's wrong? You look as though someone has died!" Xelloss's voice surprised Lina. She turned around to see the Trickster Priest leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing here? Did Amelia invite you?" Lina asked. The fire normally in her voice was nothing more than a glowing ember. Everything about her spoke lethargy.

"Well... yes... although I have the feeling it was more a formality than any real desire to see me again," Xelloss replied. He didn't seem the least bit upset at this fact. "Tell me why you look like I just ate your dog."

"It's about Zelgadis," Lina said. Her brain shook off the dust and started working overtime. Xelloss would believe her, wouldn't he? He always believed the worst about anybody. Surely he wouldn't be surprised.

"Oh? Yes?"

"And me."

"Is this going where I think it's going?"

"Probably not. Come with me, I want to tell you something." Lina led the floating Mazoku out the nearest door and down into the garden.

"If this is about your undying love for that chimera, let me stop you here," Xelloss remarked. "I'm well aware of it."

"No, it's not," Lina replied sullenly, resisting the urge to Fireball the annoying nuisance. "Although how you could know that is completely beyond me."

"So what, then, is consuming your every waking thought?"

Lina told him. She told him her feelings for Zelgadis. She told him about their conversation the other day. She told him about Sylphiel's reaction and disbelief. She talked until her throat was dry and her eyes were wet.

"How oddly twisted," Xelloss murmured to himself when Lina finished.

"Don't just stand there and look demented, Xelloss! Help me out here! What should I do?" Lina felt like smacking herself in the head, unable to believe she was asking Xelloss, of all people, to help.

"Don't worry, I know exactly what to do."

"You... do?" Lina, dumbfounded, cocked her head to the side. "You? Have a solution? Something that won't end in chaos and mass destruction?"

"Oh, you never said I had those limitations," Xelloss amended.

"Quit being difficult. Do you have an idea or not?"

"Yes, I do." Lina continued to stare at Xelloss suspiciously.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Are you going to tell me this plan?" Xelloss seemed to consider this for a moment.

"No, I don't think I will."

"ARGH! You're hopeless!"