Author's Note: sigh Another chapter just for you! I hope you like it! Actually, I would like to thank Sheba-chan for being my inspiration to get off my lazy butt and get back to work on this! Much love to you! Go check out Sheba-chan's stories!

Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I owned one cute little Priest! But alas, I do not! Neither do I own any story rights to the movie Labyrinth. That belongs to the late, great Jim Henson.

Thank You's:

Bluediamond: I'm so very glad you liked it! I hope you like this chapter as well!

Mystical-Maiden: I don't know about it being a 'work of art' but I hope it lives up to your expectations!

Kiadi: Thank you so much! I'm implying that the wolf wouldn't have scared her because the temple/school has wards up on it and so, having lived there her whole life, she wouldn't naturally be afraid of the wildlife that would come around… wolves included! Sorry I wasn't as clear on that part! Thanks for the tip on the Slayers dolls!

Cecelia: YAY I'm a pusher! I guess if I were going to be someone's dealer of something it may as well be Slayers Fan Fiction! I'm happy to hear that you've read and liked my other stuff!

MOI: I'm not going to get too far from the original story, so don't worry about that! I'm not sure which other Slayers characters will put in an appearance yet, but I do agree that Amelia would make an excellent Sir Didimas!

Mistress DragonFlame: AGH! I'm so sorry! I'll tell you what, if you still write yours I'll still read it! I love your work, always have!

Sheba-chan: You should really try to see the movie, it's really awesome! Jim Henson was (he's dead now) a guy who did movies with Muppets, that's who created Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy! The Labyrinth is a movie that was made in the 80's that involved David Bowie (the singer) as the Goblin King! Try looking it up online, you'll find LOTS of info on it there! As for whether Filia is a dragon or not, I'm still not sure… though if she is she probably won't turn into one, but may have her powers.

The Mazoku Prince and The Catacombs

Chapter Two: Be Careful What You Wish For

The chorus of howls grew louder and more intense. The room was far too warm, as if it were filled with dancing people rather than flitting shadows. Filia backed up, bumping against the crib behind her. Carefully, she set Val into the crib and turned to ready herself to defend the two of them.

"Go away!" she shouted over the Val's insistent cries, "I'm warning you, leave us alone!"

The shadows seemed to only move faster, as if gaining momentum. Suddenly, everything was quiet and still. The air froze and Filia could see her breath escape from her lips.

"Val!" she turned back to the child's bed and drew back the covers.

Nothing, no Val.

"Oh-my-Gods!" Filia cried.

"My, my," came a smooth voice, "It seems that you've lost something."

Quickly, she whipped around at see a man smiling at her. Tall, with shoulder-length violet hair, he stood wearing black leather, tight-fitting pants with riding boots. His shirt seemed to be made of fine, black silk that hung open loosely and he had on a silver pendent that held three red jewels.

"What's going one? Who are you? Where's Val?" she demanded at once.

He smiled, "I think you already know that, my dear Filia, don't you?"

Filia found she had no where to back up to when he took a step forward. A low growl brought her attention to behind him. Several wolves sat on their hunches looking at her as if daring her to attack their master.

"You're him, aren't you?" she asked, forcing her eyes back to his slitted irises, "You're the Mazoku Prince."

"Xellos," he bowed.

She resisted the ridiculous urge to curtsy in return.

"I have done as you bid," he said, "I have freed you from your task of caring for one who is unworthy of your attention. You're free now, Filia."

Her eyes widened with shock, "No, I don't want to be free," she answered, "I mean, I do, but… I want Val back, please, he must be so frightened!"

Xellos leaned against the crib next to her, "What's said is said, dear Filia."

"But I didn't mean it," she quickly replied.

"Didn't you?"

Filia froze, did she?

"Please," she tried again, "Where is he?"

Xellos grinned, showing off his canines, "You know very well where he is."

She did, she knew that little Val was probably already deep within the Mazoku Prince's realm.

"Please," she begged, "Please, bring him back."

"Filia," Xellos frowned, his expression was filled with concern for her, "Go back to your room. Sleep and dream your dreams filled with magic. That is what you deserve. Forget about the baby."

"I can't do that."

They stared at each other, adversaries each trying to size the other up at the outset of a extensive challenge.

Xellos raised his left arm and gestured with his hand. Filia glanced at the wolves in fear that he was instructing them to attack her. When she looked at him again a glowing, red crystal had appeared in his hand.

"I've brought you a present, Filia," his eyes sparkling amethyst as he held it out to her.

She looked at the orb as if it were covered in poison, "What is it?"

"A jewel, nothing more," he replied smoothly, "But if you look into it, it will show you your dreams."

Filia's lips parted in a small 'oh'. With a teasing smile, Xellos watched her face, while he spun the shining crystal around in his fingers. Her hand started to reach out for it and he smiled a little more, withdrawing the sphere from her.

Raising his other hand to stop her, he continued, "But this is not a present for a mundane girl who takes care of a crying baby."

Xellos' voice lowered and seemed more husky, as he held it out for her again, "Do you want it, Filia?"

The inner conflict was apparent in her eyes. Her dreams, what could she hold that was more precious to her then that?

"Then forget the child," Xellos said firmly.

Filia hesitated, the promise of the crystal was seductive. In the deep recesses of her mind she understood that he was asking for a trade. He would take the offensive child, who made endless demands upon her and her life. In return the Mazoku Prince offered understanding, someone who cared about the secret places of her imagination and knew how infinitely much more they meant to her than anything else. The jewel was spinning, glowing like fire.

She pulled what willpower she could and closed her eyes. In the darkness the crystal stopped and she heard a voice that sounded like her own, but seemed as far away as a memory.

"I… I can't," she said, opening her eyes, "It isn't that I don't appreciate everything… but, I want Val back"

Xellos snorted. With a flick of his wrist the crystal disappeared and a dagger took it's place.

"Don't resist me," he growled as he threw the blade at her exposed neck.

Filia cried out as her hands went to stop the coming blood-flow but found only a scarf wrapped hungrily around her neck. Pulling off the piece of silk, she vaguely noticed that it was the color of star shine.

A few of the beasts barked at her, while others lolled their tongues out in wolfish laughter.

"You're no match for me, Filia," he spoke, sounding impatient, "Leave the child, take my present. I will not offer it to you again."

Before he could conjure another red crystal Filia cut him off, "No."

Xellos glowered but she continued, "Thank you all the same, but I cannot leave him. Can't you see that? I must get Val back."

The Mazoku Prince calmed and looked at her squarely, "You will never find him."

"Ah," Filia breathed a sigh of relief; "Then there is a way."

Just for a moment, Xellos' face flinched. She saw it, the merest trace of fear fleeting across his eyes. Was it possible? She could not quite believe it, but the suspicion that the Mazoku Prince could be afraid of her, even if only momentarily, was encouraging. He appeared to hesitate slightly before answering her.

"Yes," he said, "There is."

His hand shot out and pointed directly behind her, "There!"

Filia turned, not even mindful that the crib and wall that should be there were not, and saw dark caverns that seemed to honeycomb through the inside of a mountain that grew deep within the underground. At the very top she could barely see a castle that seemed to be made of obsidian.

Warm breath tickled her ear and sent chills down her body, "Do you still want to look for him, Filia?"

"Yes," she swallowed, "Is that… Is that the palace in the crux?"

When no answer came she turned to see the Mazoku Prince watching her intensely. The walls of the room had vanished and all around her was the steady drip of water echoing off of cavern walls. Looking back towards the mountain she noticed that they too were on a hill. She peered down the expanse only to find that grey mists had settled there and her gaze could not pierce them.

Xellos' voice drifted towards her, "Come back, Filia. Come back before it's too late."

"I can't," she sighed, turning to face him yet again, "I can't, don't you understand?"

"What a shame," longing and concern clouded his voice.

Filia looked towards the palace. It seemed so very far away, but not so impossibly far that she didn't think she could make it. She wondered what lay under the cover of mists at the base of the mountain, how far would she even be able to see once she entered it?

"It doesn't look all that far," she told herself, reinforcing her resolve.

Xellos was next to her now, "It's further than you think," he stated pointing to a nearby stalagmite, "And time is fleeting."

Cut into the side of the rock formation was a large hour glass. Black sand streamed through the hole in the center at an alarming rate.

"You have thirteen hours in which to solve my maze," he told her, "before little Val becomes mine forever."

"Yours?"

Xellos nodded, "Forever."

Filia turned and began to make her way to the base of the catacomb-ridden mountain.

The Mazoku Prince disappeared leaving the hour glass counting away at the sand it held.

"What a shame," he whispered.

She looked out across the recess between her and the mountain as she made her way down the steep hillside. In the distance she thought she glimpsed the figure of a wolf running far away from her.

Continuing on she stepped forward, but there was no ground beneath her feet. She began to fall.

AN: I know, I know… It's just getting good! Hopefully I'll update faster then I did the last time! Why don't you REVIEW and let me know what you think so I'll hurry it up!