Author's Note: Oh-Wow! Will you look at that? Another chapter, so soon? What's up with that, huh? Anyways, I'm sure a lot of you are looking forward to this next chapter as I am introducing one of the supporting characters! YAY! Let me know what you think! Also, for those of you who have seen the movie… if you look closely at one of the parts you may notice something funny! Let me know if you spot it!

Disclaimer: Xellos says that now that he's the Mazoku Prince, no one owns him. Oh-pooh! Sorry everyone, I can't share what I don't have…

Thank You's:

Mystical-Maiden: Ooh! 'Brilliant', eh? Careful, compliments like that could go straight to an author's head! I hope you like this chapter as well!

Sheba-chan: I've always thought that Jareth, The Goblin King (from Labyrinth) was similar to Xellos in the sense that they both are very mischievous, so it's not that much of a stretch! That, and the fact that they're both my favorite, is the reason I wanted to put Slayers and Labyrinth together! If you do end up watching the movie, let me know what you think!

Payne no Akuma: I'm so glad you like it! 'One of the greats'… boy, I sure will try! And, don't worry, I don't foresee my dropping this fic any time soon!

Bluediamond: Bossy is good! It keeps me going! Keep reading and I'll keep writing!

seh: Catacomb: n. 1. An underground cemetery consisting of chambers or tunnels with recesses for graves. Often used in the plural. 2. An underground, often labyrinthine passageway.

Thanks for the concern, though! As for the 'graves' part in the first part of the definition… you'll just have to wait and see just like everyone else!

Mistress DragonFlame: Oh, I'm so glad you like it! Of-course I like your work! It's outstanding! I'm really looking forward to reading both your Slayers/Labyrinth fic and your fic for my challenge!

Darling Chii: I'm so happy that your computer's letting you review now! Thank you so very much for all the praise and I agree, I also adore the movie & music from Labyrinth!

Lina Gabriev: The myth was just me fixing up the 'book' part with Sarah from the movie. I figure that I'll keep Filia along the same lines as a human to make the story easier, though the ranks & species types of the dragons are portrayed through social class and tribe (sorta)… so, no, Val isn't a 'golden' dragon. Does that make sense? Thanks for the review & I hope to hear from you again soon!

Serafin: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter as well!

Pyromaniac Bunny: I hope your Thesis paper went well! I'm trying to blend the two stories as much as I can and there will be times that it runs rather close to one or the other, and I can't help that… but, I hope this chapter is more to your liking! Thanks for your review, it made my day!

The Mazoku Prince and The Catacombs

Chapter Three: It's Like Trying To Talk To A Rock

Filia could feel herself falling into the darkness. Wildly, she started swinging her arm barely managing to keep her balance. The hillside was very steep.

Her mouth suddenly dry, Filia carefully sat down on the hard, rocky mound. She decided to wait until her heart relaxed it's frantic pace. Looking at the palace in the distance she knew she couldn't afford to wait too long.

The mountain before her was riddled with openings. Some of the holes were dark, while others were filled with brilliant colors of light. For a moment, Filia though she saw something cross in front of one of the openings that was filled with a pale blue light. Squinting again she could find nothing.

"Hmm, either it's gone already or I'm just imaging things."

Filia slid down the hill using her hands, feet, and backside. As she got closer to the base the air grew thicker and it wasn't long before she couldn't see more then a few feet before her.

After several minutes of this, she finally reached where the ground leveled out and stood. Walking a few feet out, Filia realized that the fog hadn't gotten any better. Turning around in hopes of finding some kind of landmark in which to direct her with, she screeched as a hand reached out to touch her face. Stepping back away from the protruding hand, she noticed that it hadn't moved.

Carefully, Filia moved closer only to find a statue of a girl dancing. Poised on the toes of one foot, the sculpture seemed to be that of a ballerina reaching out to take the hand of another unseen partner. The pillar, that displayed the girl, was sunk deeply into the ground.

"How strange," Filia wondered as she moved on.

Moments later she came across another figure, this one of a huge, shaggy beast. It had tusks sticking up from the corners of it's mouth and horns protruding from the top of it's head. The creature's eyes looked so sad that Filia couldn't help but wonder how something so big could seem so cheerless.

Walking to the next statue she found one of a small, wrinkly man standing on a box. He seemed to stand only a few feet in height with out the aid of his platform. Tied on his side was a bag and several pieces of dangly jewelry. The diminutive man had his hands clasped in front of him and he seemed to be peering down into them. Filia leaned around the man curiously to see what he held. A small, misshapen bracelet lay in the palms of his hands.

"How odd," she murmured, "I feel as if I'm missing a story somewhere here…"

Shaking her head, Filia moved onto the next sculpture. This one was of a man sitting on another pillar. He seemed to be intent upon reading a scroll of some kind. Filia studied the figure before her. Another monster, it seemed looking upon his complexion. There were stones of various sizes protruding on his face. She couldn't help but admire the work that went into it's creation, though, it seemed as if the man's cape simply flowed down the back of the pillar.

Filia moved to read what was on the scroll, 'Seems like some kind of spell…'

"Go away, freak," the statue said, annoyed.

Surprised, Filia fell backwards landing one her rump with a startled squeak of protest.

The statue-like figure turned abruptly and peered down at the girl.

"Pardon me," he apologized absently before turning back to the scroll in his hand, "I thought you were someone else."

Filia blinked owlishly at the man for several moments before standing and brushing herself off.

"Excuse me, but could you tell me how to get into the, uh… caverns?"

"This doesn't make any sense," he muttered to himself.

Raising an eyebrow, she tried again, "Excuse me?"

"Where the hell am I going to find fairies down here?"

"Sir?" she called, louder this time.

Rolling his eyes at the parchment he grumbled, "And how would one expect me to concentrate on important things when I am always bothered?"

"Well, now," Filia huffed, "You, sir, are rude!"

"No, I'm not. I'm Zelgadis," he smirked at his joke, "And whom might you be?"

"Filia."

"That's what I thought," he nodded before beginning to read again.

Filia glared at him. He seemed to know about her, so he must have something to do with Xellos, right? Maybe a spy of some kind? He didn't seem to be any kind of spy she'd ever heard of… Spies weren't grumpy, were they? Maybe she was wrong and spies were grumpy, weird people… That would mean that he was put here deliberately by the Mazoku Prince. But, if that were the case wouldn't he be trying to get into her good graces by at least being polite to her? Then he could throw her off track later when she would least expect it… So, maybe he wasn't a spy?

"Oh!" she moaned, "I'm going around in circles…"

Zelgadis looked up at her outburst, curiously.

Filia smiled tightly at him, 'Maybe he'll help me…'

His expression, in answer, went dark again. He looked at her mistrustfully as if not used to being smiled at.

'Well,' she thought, 'there's nothing else to do. Whether or not he is here to spy on me, he is the only person I can ask for help.'

Zelgadis raised an eyebrow at her as if waiting for her to do or say something outlandish.

"Do you know where an opening into the caverns is?" she asked.

He screwed up his face, "Maybe."

"Alright, then where is it?"

"Where is what?"

"The opening."

"What opening?"

"The opening into the caverns!" she exclaimed exasperatingly.

"The opening!" he laughed unkindly, "Into the caverns! Oh, that's a good one!"

Filia wanted to punch him, "It's hopeless asking you anything!"

Turning back to his parchment, Zelgadis smirked, "Not if you ask the right questions."

Pinching the bridge of her nose she tried a different tactic, "Well then, what are the right questions?"

Zelgadis flipped the parchment over to see if there was something he had missed on the back, "It depends on what you want to know."

"How do I get into the caverns?"

He glowered at the offending parchment and turned to her, "That's better."

In the distance a wolf let out a low mournful cry.

"Now," a slight smile playing at the edge of his lips, "You get in through there."

Zelgadis motioned behind her. As she turned she realized that the fog had dissipated sometime during their conversation. In the great wall before her, she saw a huge opening. It had taken the shape of a maw and had several stalactites and stalagmites that seemed to take the place of teeth.

Further away, another wolf-cry sounded and Filia shuddered involuntarily.

A hand on her shoulder startled her as she turned to regard Zelgadis' stony features.

"You've got to ask the right questions if you want to get anywhere around here."

Filia made her way towards the looming jaw and cautiously peered inside. She did not like was she saw, it was dark and forbidding in there. The very air smelled of things rotting.

Gathering her courage, she took two steps into the cavern then stopped short. The cave split into two directions immediately, one to the right and another to the left. It was narrow and in the gloom she heard the continual drip of water echoing. She approached the farther wall, touched it, and pulled her hand away. It was dank and slimy, like mildew.

Zelgadis' head poked through the opening behind her, "Pleasant, isn't it?"

Filia shuddered.

His eyes softened and his manner changed.

"You're really going to go in there, aren't you?" His voice was quiet and a hint of concern could be detected in it.

She hesitated, "Yes, yes I am. Do you… is there any reason why I shouldn't"

"There's every reason why you shouldn't," Zelgadis replied, "Is there any reason why you should? Any really good reason?"

"Yes, there is," she paused, "I must."

"Alright," he said with a neutral voice, "Now which way will you go? Right or left?"

Filia looked one way and then the other. There was no reason to choose either one or the other, both looked uninviting. The cavern walls seemed to extend into infinity.

She shrugged, hoping he would offer a suggestion, "Both ways look alike."

Zelgadis snorted, "You're not going to get very far, then, are you?"

"Well," she said crossly, "Which way would you go?"

"Me?" he laughed, "I wouldn't go either way."

"Some help you are," Filia grumbled.

"I never said I would help you, did I?" he pointed out, "Although you could probably use some. You'll probably end up back where you started."

She fumed, "If that's all the help you're going to be then you may as well be off and let me get on with it!"

"You know what your problem is?" Zelgadis growled, "You take too many things for granted."

Filia seemed to take no notice, but rather tried to determine which way she would set out on.

"Even if you make it to the top, which is extremely doubtful," he continued, "You'll never get down again."

She looked to her right, "That's what you think."

"It's a lot better then any of your thoughts," he snapped.

Stepping forward towards her chosen path, she called over her shoulder, "Thanks for nothing, Zel."

"Zelgadis!" His voice came echoing from the entrance, where he remained, "And don't say I didn't warn you!"

Jaw set, she strode out between the damp and dire walls.

She had only gone a few strides when, with a reverberating boom, the cavern opening closed behind her. She waited a few moments to see if it would open again, but it didn't.

Zelgadis was shut outside. The only sounds in the cave now was the steady drip of water and Filia's quick breathing.

AN: Actually, I would have finished this chapter sooner but I've been sidetracked with trying to find me a job! Cross your fingers for me, I know where I want to work & they're hiring… I just hope they do it soon! Leave me a REVIEW and let me know what you think! Don't forget to tell me if you spotted my surprise!