Protector

Chapter: 9

Truths Revealed


Next part of Protector is here.


Ristos rubbed his chin as he sat on a cliff above the town that Lina Inverse and her protectors were in. He pondered for a moment as he went over the loses his detachment had suffered, and trying to think of a new plan. 'We not only have her mazuko protector to worry about but now Xellos is on the job as well. We can't be as forceful now,' Ristos thought as he looked down into the town. He then noticed an aura that he knew quite well. "Lina Inverse is by herself and a good distance from her protectors...how can I pass this up," Ristos said as he phased out.


Lina walked down the streets of town trying to figure some things out and to just be away from her annoying protectors. 'Xellos is always annoying and that Durzan...oh I'm going to kill him next time I see him,' Lina fumed as she walked down the street. As she was walking in her angry trance she heard someone say, "You seem troubled there missy."

She turned to see and old man standing on the corner looking at her with that wise man look. He smiled at her and then asked, "Anything you want to talk about?"

Lina shrugged and sat down near the man while replying, "It just there are these two annoying guys that won't let me have time to myself."

The man chuckled and said, "Maybe they have feelings for you my dear."

Lina blushed a bit and then replied, "I don't think so they're not normal guys...um let's just say I know it's not because they feel for me."

"Well maybe they just want to..ahem...you know jump your bones," the old man replied with no change in his features.

Lina blushed five shades of red as she remembered that incident with Durzan about two days ago. She averted her gaze and said, "Um...I don't think that's an option either."

The old man thought for a second and said, "Then these are some interesting young men. Those two things are what men usually want when they act like that. I should know I used to be that age once," as he finished with a chuckle.

Lina choose to ignore the last comment and said, "Well these aren't your run of the mill guys."

"Oh so they're like me," answered the old man as his voice changed.

Lina quickly looked at the old man as his eyes shifted from normal eyes to slit pupils. Before she could do anything the mazuko moved and placed a piece of cloth over her mouth and nose. She smelled sleeping herb all throughout the cloth and knew that if she didn't get the cloth off she would be helpless. Lina kicked, jerked, scratched, and pulled but the mazuko's grip wouldn't give. Lina felt the world spin and things got blurry as the herb took hold of her until she slipped into a deep sleep.

Ristos looked down at the young girl, as she finally passed out, and thought, 'There was enough herb in there to knock out an adult bull in an instant...how did she last so long?' He then smiled and said, "Don't worry Inverse I will kill you soon, but not before I use you to get rid of two other nuisances," as he phased out with her in his arms.


A black cape swayed in the wind behind a figure perched on a roof in the town. He then leaped, looking like a large predator, to land on the next roof. His eyes scanned around feverously as he looked for his quarry. He leaped and landed again as he continued to look for her. He couldn't see her, he couldn't sense her, he had lost her totally. He completed one more leap and still hadn't picked up anything about her. He then stood and arched his back as he let loose an inhuman roar, "LINA!!"

His mind raced with anger and rage as he roared for the world to hear. She was his, she belonged to him, and no one would take her away. After he released his anger he began to cool off and started concentrating on finding her while wondering, 'Why have I become so possessive all of a sudden? Lina has never belonged to me but yet I'm reacting as if she was mine from the beginning.' He then snapped out of it when he felt Xellos' aura behind him. He turned, his eyes still full of rage, to look at the trickster priest. "Good of you to show up," Durzan said as he turned back around.

Xellos smirked as he looked at Durzan. 'Now I see why the knight made you like you are. The mazuko possessiveness fuels your anger which gives you more power,' Xellos thought as he floated next to Durzan saying, "Don't worry we'll find her, and make sure her abductors don't see another day," while opening his eyes at the end of his statement.

Durzan nodded and said, "I'll search the physical realm while you take the astral," as he leaped again.

Xellos nodded as he phased out to the astral plane while Durzan continued to leap from roof to roof in order to find Lina.


Lina stirred from her sleep and tried to move. To her surprised she was bound with some kind of weird energy. She looked around and spotted the old man she had been talking to earlier. The same old man that turned out to be a mazuko and had drugged her. She glared daggers as she shouted, "Let me up you damn mazuko or I'll..."

"You'll what Inverse," the mazuko countered, "Those bands of energy are magic negating."

"And why haven't you killed me already? I thought that was your purpose," Lina countered with a huff.

"That is one of my purposes. But, how can I pass up getting rid of your mazuko protectors as well," Ristos replied.

"Yeah you...I'd like to see that. Both Durzan and Xellos working together and you think you can beat them," Lina asked amused.

"No you're going to beat them for me," Ristos replied darkly.

"I think not," Lina shot back as she tried to attack the mazuko.

"Well you can do that or you can let your friend Zelgadis die," Ristos threatened.

Lina's eyes opened wide as she heard the threat and her heart seemed to slow. She looked at the mazuko and threatened, "If you touch him I'll make sure there's not one speck of you left when I'm done with you."

"A shallow threat I do believe," Ristos answered as he formed a ball in his hands.

Lina looked in horror as Zelgadis appeared in the ball. He was beaten and bloody on a mound of sand. He looked almost dead, only taking a few raspy breaths once in a while, while he was being watched by two mazuko guards. Ristos then dispelled the ball and said, "Either you fight or he dies."

"We'll see about that," came Xellos' voice as he appeared and swung his staff at Ristos.

Ristos quickly formed his own staff and parried the blow. He pushed against Xellos in a battle of might that let off black energy as they continued. After a few moments Ristos thrust forward and knocked Xellos back. He smiled and said, "Xellos my old friend how are you doing nowadays?"

"I wanted to asked the same about you dear Ristos," Xellos replied as he swung again.

To his surprise Ristos quickly dodged instead of parrying and hit Xellos in the back. Xellos spun quickly but found himself feeling weak. "I...I don't understand," Xellos commented as he dropped to one knee.

"Do you like the Hellmaster's gift to me. The staff of draining takes energy from any being and leaves them weakened," Ristos boosted as he rushed forward.

As he was about to strike a blue barrier appeared and shielded Xellos from the blow. Ristos looked up to see Durzan approaching. He turned and disbanded Lina's bindings saying, "Kill him or Zelgadis dies!"

Lina just nodded as she rushed forward screaming, "Fireball!"

Durzan was taken aback by this and was struck with the ball of fire. He was sent to the ground as Lina came closer. He tried to recover when he heard, "Flare Bit."

He quickly ducked, dodged, and phased away from the bolts of energy. He reappeared behind her and said, "Lina stop this."

Lina quickly turned and tried to blast again but Durzan dodged, now expecting it. She continued as she replied, "I can't...I can't let Zel die just because of you."

Durzan stopped and said, "Is that what this is about," before unsheathing Mortis and slamming it into the ground causing a large explosion.

All combatants stopped to raise shields against the blast and waited for it to pass. After the blast everyone looked towards Durzan to see his form had changed. He was now dress in full ivory, including that long ivory hooded cloak, and reminded them of someone. Ristos turned and asked, "Who are you."

Durzan chuckled in a familiar voice as he answered, "I've had many names over my life. The ivory shadow, child of darkness, cold hearted sorcerer-swordsman, but I prefer Zelgadis the best," as he lifted his head to reveal a human Zelgadis.

Lina went bug-eyed as she found out that Durzan, the one she hated so, was her traveling companion Zelgadis. She walked up to him and asked dumbfounded, "Ze..Ze...Zelgadis?"

"In the flesh you could say," Zel answered as he pulled Lina close to him and pointed Mortis at Ristos.

Ristos laughed manically and replied, "So it seems the knight beat us to finding Zelgadis Greywords...Wasn't he lucky."

Lina and Xellos looked at Zelgadis as he replied, "He did...now instead of trying to kill her for you...I'll protect her," as his arm encircled her waist.

Lina blushed bright red but didn't pull away. She was so glad to see him alive but she had so many questions. She just allowed herself to lean against him and wait for the next move. Zelgadis smiled and said, "I think it's time to disappear for a while," as he picked Lina up and phased out with her.

Xellos smiled at Ristos and said, "Looks like it's just you and me now," as he charged Ristos again seeming to regain his strength.

"How is this possible," Ristos explained as he defended against a rejuvenated Xellos.

"Let's just say Zelgadis gave me some of his energy while you where distracted by that explosion," Xellos countered as they continued the fight.


Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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