Here we go. Fourth chapter up. I'd like your appreciation and/or hate mail in the form of reviews.

Dance Of The Dead

Chapter Four

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

Lina was in her office, mentally preparing herself for the upcoming bout with Zelgadis. The knock came as she was thinking about her newest victim.

Lina had always been quick on her feet when thinking. She also was an expert at shooting a scathing retort dead center at her target. She loved to deflate people who really needed a reality check.

She was going to have a lot of fun with the FBI agent. He was the sort of person who took everything seriously and was the most in need of puncturing, in Lina's opinion. Now all she had to do was find his weaknesses and poke them with a long, shiny needle.

A second impatient knock sounded. Lina collected herself. "Come in."

Zelgadis entered her office. "The painting is in the back. Your assistant showed me where to put it."

"Disgustingly punctual, I see." Lina said as she rose from her desk chair.

Zelgadis shrugged and let her precede him out the door. "Stable people are punctual people."

"It lacks adventure." Lina argued as she walked out the door. She headed towards the back room. "Punctual people are boring people."

Zelgadis was a little irritated. "Then I must be boring."

"You said it, not me." Lina said smugly.

Zelgadis was losing patience. "Can you just look at the painting. Please." He added at her arched eyebrow.

"Fine." Lina said a little ungraciously. "Stay out here while I work my magic."

Zelgadis frowned. "No."

"Yes." Lina insisted. "Otherwise you'll distract me and I might miss something."

Zelgadis gave up. "How long will it take?"

"It depends." Lina shrugged.

Zelgadis sighed and sat down on the couch along the back wall. "This better be worth my wait."

"It will be." Lina grinned then shut the door.

Amelia approached him timidly. "Can I get you anything to drink while you're waiting?"

"No, thank you." Zelgadis said politely.

He had already taken Amelia's measure the first time he had met her. But there were several things about her that he saw anew. Amelia was the sheltered and happy Daddy's little princess that grew up into the cheerful, nice young woman that parents were always telling you to snatch up and marry.

In all honesty, Zel thought, Amelia was more his type.

She was pretty, polite and tactful. She thought things out and made plans, which was right up his alley. So why did his eyes seem to involuntary follow Lina wherever she went? He didn't know but he didn't like the feeling at all.

"Damn." He muttered, looking at his watch. "How long is she going to take?"

Amelia heard him and moved towards him. "She takes her time to double check again and again to satisfy herself. Lina is a perfectionist about her work."

"Wouldn't have guessed." Zel told her. "She plays it off like she doesn't care."

Amelia was earnest. "Oh, no. Lina can be very serious if the situation requires it. She's just in a bit of a rut right now. I'm sorry that she's using you as an outlet for her frustration."

"What happened?" Zel was curious.

Amelia's expression was sad. "Her ex-husband just married a mutual friend of ours. I'm happy that the two of them got married but I feel bad for poor Lina."

"That's rough." Zel said.

Amelia nodded. "Yeah. Lina met Gourry in college, although how he got in is anyone's guess. They married after Lina graduated. Gourry managed to scrape enough credits together to get a job as an athletic coach. I always wondered to myself how the two of them stayed together so long. They were like night and day with very few interests in common. Lina's finally realized she needs to share common ground with a boyfriend now."

"But Lina's gotten over it and moved on?" Zel spoke without thinking. He winced when he realized how interested he was in Lina's past.

Amelia shrugged. "Yeah, to an extent. But Gourry getting back together with his childhood sweetheart then marrying her, has thrown her a bit."

"I don't blame her." Zel said dryly.

Amelia smiled. "Lina is a good person. It just takes a while to get below the surface. Besides, I think she really likes you."

Zel's eyebrows shot up. "Now I'm really scared."

"Quiet, you." Amelia said with her usual good nature. "I'm going to indulge myself and meddle a bit. Lina respects people who don't back down from her bullying."

Amelia smiled. "Do what you want with that piece of advice. I have to go back to work."

Zel watched Amelia walk back to her desk with eyebrows that felt permanently frozen into a surprised expression. Amelia had given him a few puzzle pieces of information about Lina and her past. Amelia also gave him romantic advice. Was she trying to get him romantically involved with Lina? Zel hoped not.

He would take her advice and use it to his advantage. But he wasn't interested in seeing if Lina Inverse was as hot in bed as his instincts insisted, Zel reassured himself.

Amelia sat behind her desk. Her chin rested on one hand as she stared at the sexy FBI agent's profile. He was handsome, well mannered and obviously spent a good amount of time at the gym considering his toned body. He reminded Amelia of a fairytale prince, at least from the forehead down.

Amelia sighed wistfully. If only he was hers. But it wasn't to be.

Amelia wasn't stupid. She saw the way Lina and Zel were looking at each other. For each of Lina's provoking glance towards Zel there was a considering, heated one. Then there was Zel. The burning in his eyes was not always irritation, sometimes it was passion.

They are going to end up in love, Amelia thought. And if I help them as a good deed, I'm sure to find love next!

"One good deed deserves another." Amelia sang to herself as she focused on her work.

The opening of the door startled Zel. He looked up in surprise to see Lina coming out of the room. She looked really pissed. Zel had seen the look enough times by now to recognize it. He followed her to the front of the gallery. He stopped and waited by Amelia's desk while she stalked to the front door and turned the lock. She flipped the sign to Closed then turned to face Zel.

"Damn it." Lina muttered. "I was right."

Zel's smile turned predatory. "Really?"

"It's a fake." Lina slammed her fist against the wall. "An excellent one."

"Good." Zel almost purred. "I haven't had someone worthy of my expertise in some time."

Lina glared at him. "Arrogant jackass."