Chapter Three

The vessel was called the Blue Rose. It was not a passenger boat. It was a battle ship, but it was the oldest boat in the fleet, and had been sold by the Kingdom of Sayruun to a merchant for a good price. The merchant now used it to take merchandise to the new world and the new world sent its love, along with its wares, back to the merchant. So, now the once proud battle ship was used as little more than a cargo vessel.

Filia had to leave Sayruun. She felt herself on the edge of snapping and desperately didn't want Amelia or her fans in Sayruun to see her break down.

Finally, she confided in Amelia that she really missed home and had to leave right away. Amelia did her best to find Filia passage back to her country, but nothing was going at this time of year, except for this merchant ship that did not take passengers, and they were only going to pay a debt that came due at the end of the month. The merchant had to pay with cargo, so he had to make another trip even though it was the season for storms.

Amelia said that she didn't especially want Filia to take that ship as there would most likely be no other female on board, but Filia begged Amelia to ask the merchant if he would take her anyway. In the end Amelia caved, and arranged for Filia to ride the Blue Rose to the new world.

At the dock she said to Filia, "I really didn't want you to ride this ship, but I changed my mind," she said with a lighthearted smile. "About fifty or sixty years ago when it was in service, it was the golden ship of the navy. It wasn't the flag ship or anything, but everyone wanted to serve on the Blue Rose. The sailors said that when they were on the Blue Rose, that they forgot that they missed home. That they didn't worry about the battle that was coming. They said they didn't even think about it. Even now, it's like this ship is almost a dream. I know you will sleep well on this ship, and be able to find your future."

Filia looked at her. Amelia had really grown in dignity. I'm not the only one who has suffered, Filia thought, understanding for the first time that she was not alone in her disappointments. Amelia was getting old as an unmarried princess in the human world, and the man she loved was not with her.

Filia hugged Amelia and boarded the ship, telling her that she would come back to see her.

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Amelia watched Filia board the ship. She was right; there would be no other female aboard. It didn't really matter though. Filia would not be attacked. Amelia didn't think there was one sailor on board that ship that had not seen Filia in the arena that night. She would be safer than she had ever been.

Filia held onto the rail on deck and waved to Amelia. Amelia waved back wishing her a pleasant trip.

Suddenly, someone else she knew was standing beside Filia. It was a young man. A young man Amelia knew very well.

"Filia," Amelia called to her, "Don't forget – life is wonderful."

Yes, she ought to be safe, Amelia thought as she walked away from the marina, and put Filia out of her mind.

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"Welcome to the Blue Rose," Lex said to her.

Filia jumped a little with surprise, "Oh Xellos, er, I mean Lex," she said with a yawn as though she was very tired.

"You still don't believe me that I am not your little friend?" he said with a very earnest smile.

She sighed.

"He must have done a real job on you. Was he your husband?"

Filia coloured. She didn't believe it was possible any more for her to blush. "No," she said.

"Well, then where are you going?"

"I'm going home to Val," she said.

"So, then is he your husband?"

"I'm not married. Lay off."

She looked at him seriously. He had to be Xellos. He was perfect. Xellos didn't have a mark on him. He was a mazoku, so he didn't age or get scars like other people. Even though she had seen Xellos basically cut in half, he always wore a mask of perfection. Who knew what he really looked like in the astral plane where he really lived? The self he presented to the world was spotless. Just like this person in front of her now. No one could remain that spotless – it was an illusion.

"I'm just kidding. You don't look like you're married. You don't look like you've ever had a lover," he said easily. "You look like you had so many other problems that you never had a chance for that sort of thing."

"Val is my son," she said strikingly.

"Really? It's too bad that you are so vicious. You look like you could be a really nice girl. Too bad it got spoilt for you," he said turning to walk away.

"Wait," she said. "To be fair, I am not his real mother, his mother is dead."

"Now that makes more sense," he said turning a little to face her.

"Are you sure you're not Xellos?"

"Why do you want me to be him so much? Are you really that far gone over him?"

"I told you before," she stormed, "that is exactly the kind of thing he would trick me into saying for his own amusement. Well, I'm not biting. What are you doing on board anyway? This isn't a passenger vessel."

"Actually," he said, "I'm the first mate and the captain asked me to show our passenger to her quarters. Come with me," he said. "You're going to love the Blue Rose."

She frowned. How was she going to keep from killing him? Why did he keep on denying himself?

"Do you know the legend surrounding a blue rose?" He asked her, walking swiftly across the deck.

"There is no such thing as a blue rose," she said.

"You're absolutely right. There is no such thing, but there is a legend that if there ever was one that whoever smelled it would forget everything, and start out fresh with no memories at all. They could be anyone, and suddenly become no one at all."

"What a beautiful story," she said with a look out to sea.

"Do you believe it?"

"No. Nothing would ever let me forget who I am," she said dryly, looking away from him.

"Do you want to forget?" he asked standing in front of a door suddenly leaning across her and bringing his face very close to hers. He was opening his eyes, studying her very carefully. Years ago, Filia wouldn't have been able to look into Xellos' eyes like that. His direct gaze was something she always regarded as very dangerous. His eyes were slitted, like an animal's. A lot had happened since she had last observed a mazoku's eyes and she found that she had the power to gaze right back with her ryzoku eyes.

"If I could forget everything, I would," she answered with a steady tongue.

He turned the knob and opened the door behind her not breaking eye contact. "This is your cabin. You are welcome to spend as much time on deck as you like. I'll see you later."

He walked away.

Who was he? All the arrows she spotted identified him as Xellos, but there was something about him that made her doubt it now. She watched him tightening ropes and follow the orders of the captain. She estimated that Xellos had never been the type to take orders from a mere human like that. Something was not adding up. He was smiling. He was doing his duty. He winked at her as he relayed orders from the captain. He seemed like a perfect employee. Even she would have hired him. He was a mazoku no matter what else he was. What mazoku behaved that honorably in their tasks?

She went into her cabin and shut the door. She hadn't had enough sleep. She never felt like she had enough sleep. They had only given her a hammock to sleep in, but that didn't matter. At least it was a place to sleep, and she was very tired. Too tired to worry any more about Lex or Xellos or anyone.