"Lina?" Gourry said quietly. He could sense that something was wrong. She was walking slowly, without any of the self-confidence he had come to expect of her. "Lina," he repeated, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You're wound's open again."
Lina shrugged Gourry's hand off angrily and muttered, "I don't care Gourry. It's not too bad."
Gourry sighed in resignation and put his hands in his pockets. He said, "Well, I care Lina."
"Thanks," Lina whispered. "It's nice that someone does." She cleared her throat and asked, "So… what did Hellmaster show you back there? I heard you say my name." She chuckled dryly before continuing, "Do I really scare you that much?"
Gourry quickly shook his head and replied, "No Lina. It wasn't like that at all. I thought…" He remembered Lina lying dead in the street and shuddered before continuing, "I thought that I'd lost you."
"Lost me?" Lina whispered to herself. She could feel her face getting hot. "Your greatest fear was losing… me?" she asked as she stole a quick glance at her blond companion. She quickly turned away when she saw him smiling at her. "So," she said, trying to keep the happiness out of her voice, "I guess you were worried about me, huh?"
Gourry nodded and smiled at Lina. "Well yeah. I am your protector you know."
"Oh," Lina said quickly. "So it wasn't really about losing me. You were afraid of failing to keep your promise, right?" She nodded and sighed, "That makes sense. Well, I'm sorry you were worried, Gourry." Stepping up her pace slightly she mumbled, "Come on, it's almost dawn. We're supposed to meet the others pretty soon."
"Um…" Gourry said as he pondered the memory. Would it really have been the same if he had lost someone else, someone like Amelia, Zelgadis, or even Sylphiel? He shook his head determinedly. No, he decided quickly. Even if he had promised to protect one of them it wouldn't have been the same as losing Lina. "Hey Lina," he said quickening his pace to match hers, "I don't think you understand."
"Never mind, Gourry," Lina mumbled. She crossed her arms and looked down at the street in front of her. "Let's just concentrate on finding Phibrizzo, okay?"
"Well, alright Lina," Gourry said as he watched Lina slump a little more. Was she tired? He briefly considered asking her but decided that if she was tired, she probably didn't want to talk.
They walked on in silence as darkness began to become light.
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"I still don't understand why Lina stopped me from killing him," Zangulus muttered. "Wouldn't that have solved everything?" he asked Zelgadis.
Zelgadis shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. The Hellmaster isn't what you would call a run of the mill demon you know. Still it would have at least set him back if we had killed his body."
Amelia interjected, "His body, Mr. Zelgadis?"
Zelgadis nodded and said, "That's right. Demons don't have a physical body of their own. To enter our world they have to have a corporeal form. Possession is often the easiest way of attaining that form."
Amelia thought for a moment before continuing, "So what you're saying is that the form he's using is actually a little boy?" She glared at Zelgadis and Zangulus as she continued, "And you want to kill that child?! How could you be so heartless Mr. Zangulus? And you too Mr. Zelgadis!"
Zangulus growled, "Get off my back! I did save you people you know."
"As you've reminded us several times…" Zelgadis muttered under his breath.
"Oh dear, what seems to be the problem here?" Xellos asked as he stepped out of the shadows.
Zelgadis glared at him momentarily before growling and continuing on down the street.
"Mr. Xellos?" Amelia said quizzically. "What are you doing here?"
Xellos shrugged and grinned. "Oh, you know. I was just out for my morning walk when I heard voices."
"Morning walk?" Zangulus muttered while looking up at the sky. The night was barely becoming pink in the east. He turned his suspicious gaze back on the priest and asked, "Who takes a walk at five in the morning?"
Xellos looked momentarily startled but then grinned again. He massaged his neck and said, "Oh you know, we old timers don't sleep very well and my joints ache pretty badly sometimes. I'd hate to waste the time tossing and turning in bed so I walk instead."
"Oh that's too bad," Amelia said as she rushed to Xellos's side and gingerly took his arm. She sounded concerned as she yelled in his ear, "Do you need any help sir?"
Xellos looked at Amelia nervously and said, "Miss Amelia, I said that I was elderly, not deaf. However, I do appreciate the sentiment."
Zelgadis snorted and muttered, "Elderly my ass." He remembered how easily Xellos had made a fool of him back at the church. He opened his mouth to call his bluff on the elderly old man act, but saw Xellos grinning at him. Then he remembered the priest calling him Lord Greywords. If he revealed what he knew about Xellos, he was sure that the priest would reciprocate in kind. "Damn it," he mumbled angrily. "Well," he said loudly, "I'm sure that you have some reason for showing up right now, don't you 'old man?"
Amelia blinked at Zelgadis, startled by his rudeness. She admonished him, "Mr. Zelgadis! Why are you so suspicious? It's obvious that Mr. Xellos is here because his back hurts too much to sleep." She stole a quick glance at Xellos before whispering loudly to Zelgadis, "Besides, he might not even know where he is, so be nice to him."
Xellos frowned, "Um, Miss Amelia I can hear you, you know."
Zelgadis laughed out loud at that idea. He snickered, "You're right Amelia. We should be nicer to the old timer." He pointed down the street and shouted in Xellos's other ear, "Sir, are you lost? The old folk's home is right down the street!"
Xellos scowled for a moment before grinning again. He replied, just as loudly, "No, thank you sonny! I was actually looking for the Greywords home!"
Zelgadis had a look of utter horror on his face.
"Do you know him?" Xellos asked as he looked around at the surrounding buildings, "Lord Greywords? He's one of our fine city officials." He stroked his chin and pretended to ponder for a moment. "What was his first name again? Being so old, I tend to forget these things you know." He snapped his fingers and exclaimed, "Oh, I remember now! It was Zelg-ack!"
"Zelgack?" Amelia repeated doubtfully. She turned to Zangulus and asked, "Do you know a Zelgack?"
Zangulus shook his head.
Zelgadis had clamped the priest in a vicious headlock to silence him. He hissed in Xellos's ear, "What the hell are you doing?! I thought that you said you were my ally."
"True," Xellos said nodding painfully in Zelgadis's grip.
"Then why are you trying to blow my cover?" Zelgadis demanded while shaking the priest by the neck.
"Well, isn't it obvious?" Xellos pouted. "You hurt my feelings."
"Hurt your-" Zelgadis muttered until he saw the priest grinning at him. He growled, "What in the hell is wrong with you?! Do you think I'm someone to be trifled with Xellos?"
"Honestly?" Xellos said with a smirk. "I'd have to say…"
"Never mind," Zelgadis hissed as he released his grip on the priest. He sighed, "You're obviously not going to leave us alone until you get what you want, so why exactly are you here?"
Xellos nodded happily as he straightened his wrinkled cloak. He opened an amethyst eye and said, "Well its obvious isn't it? I'm here to help. Given your rather," Xellos eyed the teeth marks in Zangulus's nose as he continued, "embarrassing encounter with the Hellmaster, I thought that might give you some advice."
"And how do you know about that Mr. Xellos?" Amelia asked. "Nobody's seen him for a thousand years, right?" She chuckled and said, "You can't be that old can you?"
Xellos twitched at Amelia's question. He quickly laughed and said, "Oh my heavens, certainly not, Miss Amelia! I am merely a humble priest with an interest in ancient history." Seeing that Zelgadis was going to make some comment, he quickly continued, "A thousand years ago, the Hellmaster possessed a scholar by the name of Lei Magnus. He spread terror throughout the land and killed many innocents before he was finally felled by a heroic priest by the name of Rezo."
"Heroic?" Zelgadis snorted derisively.
Xellos glared at Zelgadis and muttered angrily, "Yes, I believe that's what I said Lord Greywords. May I continue?"
Zelgadis's eyes narrowed at the mention of his title. Glancing quickly at his companions, he noted that they both seemed to be too engrossed in Xellos's story to notice the mention of his name. He leaned up against a building and scowled at the priest for a moment before turning away to watch the approaching dawn.
Xellos nodded. "Thank you. As I was saying, the virtuous Rezo and the Hellmaster fought for a day and a night before the demon finally fell before the Sword of Light."
Zangulus removed his hat and scratched his head. He muttered, "Alright, now I'm completely lost. What's a Sword of Light?"
Amelia shook her head and said, "We'll explain later, Mr. Zangulus." She walked over to where Zelgadis was standing and sat down beside him before looking at Xellos expectantly. "Please continue, Mr. Xellos."
Xellos nodded at the acrobat gratefully before continuing, "Thank you Miss Seyruun. Now the Sword of Light…"
Amelia blinked in surprise. Had she told Xellos what her last name was? Or had he been at the circus and just assumed that she was a Seyruun? She shook her head in bewilderment. That didn't make any sense either. Not all of the performers were members of her family, so… Zelgadis's angry voice startled her out of her musings and she looked up at him.
"The Sword of Light is the only way to kill Hellmaster?" Zelgadis shook his head angrily and growled, "You're mistaken Xellos. We wounded Hellmaster without ever using the Sword of Light."
"Oh? I seem to recall that you were cowering on the ground Zelgadis." Xellos shook his head and smirked. "Hardly what I would call wounding him. What you hurt was the Hellmaster's host, Phibrizzo. Had you killed him, it's true that you would have temporarily set the Hellmaster's plans back, but he would have quickly found another host. No, the Sword of Light is the only thing that can banish Hellmaster from this world."
Amelia raised her hand politely and asked, "Just what is the Hellmaster's plan Mr. Xellos? You seem to know a lot about what happened last time. Do you have any idea what he's trying to do?"
Xellos opened his mouth, but quickly shut it again. He coughed and muttered, "I… I can't tell you that, Miss Amelia."
Zangulus drew his sword and growled, "Can't tell us or won't, priest? You do seem to know a lot about these incidents. The City Guard hasn't had a lead in this case for weeks and you suddenly drop in and explain everything? That's suspicious behavior if I've ever seen it."
Xellos gulped nervously as he eyed the point of Zangulus's sword. He quickly said, "You know, it is a capital crime to threaten a priest of Ceiphied." He tried to surreptitiously direct the sword away from his throat with the tip of his finger, but the guard was having none of it.
Zangulus shook his head angrily. "Don't change the subject! You're hiding something. Maybe you're that kid's partner. Or maybe you're something even worse."
Zelgadis smirked, taking immense satisfaction in Xellos's discomfort. He nodded in agreement with Zangulus. "That's quite true. You do seem awfully well informed for a simple priest, especially about knowledge hidden away in the Slayers' archive."
"Well yes, that is true," Xellos chuckled and held up his hands defensively. "But if you stop and think about it, does it really matter how I know what I know?"
Zelgadis and Zangulus looked at each other briefly before nodding.
Zangulus shrugged, "Yeah."
"I'd have to concur," said Zelgadis.
"Oh dear," Xellos muttered nervously as the two men advanced on him.
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The Hellmaster rotated his freshly bandaged shoulder and winced in pain. It wasn't nearly as bad as it had been though. He looked at Sylphiel and grinned. "Young lady, you are a credit to you profession. I've never seen better work." He closed his eyes and touched Sylphiel's mind again. "So pure," he muttered happily. "You're lucky that I found you Sylphiel. You're going to be the centerpiece in my display. Isn't that exciting?" He stroked her cheek lovingly, leaving a trace of drying blood.
Sylphiel continued to unwind gauze as if she hadn't heard Phibrizzo's words. Tears streamed down her face as she stared ahead blankly. She was alone. Hellmaster had shown her the truth. Nobody loved her. The world moved by without giving her a second thought. She was quite worthless and hardly worth noting.
Phibrizzo frowned and snapped his fingers in front of Sylphiel's face eliciting absolutely no reaction from the woman. He growled, "Hey! Are you even listening to me?" He shook his head and sighed, "No, I suppose you're not. I really hope that I haven't broken you just yet. I'd hate for you to miss the festivities." He cocked his head as if listening to some silent voice before grinning wickedly. "Is that hope I sense? You silly girl! Do you think your 'Gourry dear' is going to ride in on a white horse to save you?"
Sylphiel nodded silently with just a hint of a smile on her face. Her eyes shined with determination behind the tears as she began to tend to the gash on Phibrizzo's cheek. Despite controlling her mind, he had not broken her spirit.
Phibrizzo laughed until tears were streaming down his cheeks. "Oh, that is rich!" Getting his giggles under control, he leaned over and softly whispered into Sylphiel's ear, "I hate to tell you this, but 'Gourry dear' won't be coming for you. Why would he? He doesn't love you Sylphiel."
Doubt quickly replaced the smile on Sylphiel's face. She continued to impassively swab the wound on Phibrizzo's cheek as she reluctantly listened to his words.
"Don't believe me? Here, let me show you," Phibrizzo gloated. He sent a mental image of Gourry weeping over Lina's body in a moonlit street to Sylphiel. "Whoops," he snickered, "That's not you he's holding is it? Why it appears as if 'Gourry dear' has more important things on his mind than you Sylphiel." His grin faded and he shook his head in mock sadness. "No, I'm afraid that there won't be any knight in shining armor coming for you." He lovingly cupped her chin in his hand and said, "And now that we have that nonsense out of the way, it's time to get down to business. Let's see…" He looked around for a moment before grinning. "There it is!" He picked his knife up from the bedside table before turning back to his prey. "I find that humans and vermin have a lot in common. Show them some cheese and they'll both run through the maze without a second thought. They never see the cat until it's too late."
Sylphiel sat passively with her hands in her lap as Phibrizzo laid cold steel against her cheek. All she could think about was Gourry holding that other woman.
Phibrizzo whispered, "Now we just have to bait our trap," as he began to cut.
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"Leave him alone!" Amelia protested angrily as she inserted herself between Xellos and the others. "He's trying to help!"
Zelgadis shook his head impatiently. "Don't you think it's strange that Xellos knows what he does? You don't know anything about him."
"I know that Mr. Xellos helped us make the Sword of Light work back at the church. And he's trying to help us now," Amelia said as she glared at Zelgadis. "So leave him alone."
"You're kidding right?" Zangulus asked. "This guy basically came out and told us the whole plot and you're going to let him walk away?"
Zelgadis looked at Xellos who was grinning at him happily. He shook his head and sighed, "Amelia, he's not trustworthy."
"And who is?" Amelia retorted angrily. She crossed her arms and pouted, "You're so suspicious of everyone, both of you!"
"An excellent point, Miss Amelia!" Xellos added with a nod. "I think that it's just horrid that people are so suspicious of each other these days." He sniffled as he continued, "Especially when they suspect a poor old man who just wants to do something worthwhile in the twilight of his life. Besides," he said as he watched Zelgadis pull his hood up, "everyone has their secrets don't they?"
Zelgadis scowled at Xellos momentarily before pulling his mask over his face. The sun had just come over the horizon and it was beginning to become uncomfortable. He looked at his companions and growled, "I have to go. Tell Lina that I'll meet her tonight." He turned to leave, but was stopped by the sound of Amelia's voice.
"You're leaving? But why Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia asked a touch of disappointment in her voice.
Zelgadis's eyes narrowed briefly as he thought. "I have… other obligations that require my attention. Don't forget to tell Lina what I said." He turned to leave but stopped after taking a single step. He looked over his shoulder at Amelia and cleared his throat nervously. "Amelia? Will you be all right?"
Amelia blinked at him in surprise and asked, "What do you mean?"
Zelgadis adjusted his hood and muttered, "It's just that you should never have been involved in this thing with the Hellmaster and I, well I…" He shrugged hopelessly, unable to find a way to voice his concerns. He was helpless, unable to stay, unwilling to leave. The rising sun felt like an open flame on the bit of his face not concealed beneath his hood.
Xellos watched Zelgadis suffer briefly before smiling knowingly. He nodded at the cloaked figure reassuringly. No harm would befall Amelia while Zelgadis rested. He stepped a bit closer to the acrobat to emphasize his point.
Amelia smiled at Zelgadis shyly and said, "I'll be fine Mr. Zelgadis. You do what you have to do."
Zelgadis felt a wave of relief wash over him. Despite Xellos's mysterious nature, he knew that he could trust him with this task. Cold neutrality replaced the confusion on his face and he nodded at the priest tersely. Sparing a last glance at Amelia, he turned and disappeared into the retreating shadows.
"What's his problem?" Zangulus muttered as he watched Zelgadis retreat down a narrow side street.
Xellos just smiled.
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Zelgadis moved with unnatural speed down the rapidly brightening alleyway. He'd been away from home for too long this time. His entire body was awash in agony as the morning light caught up to him. Snarling defiantly at the sun rising behind his back, he increased his pace yet again, his feet striking the grime coated alley floor silently.
Zelgadis cursed his stupidity. Why had he lingered so long? He should have left an hour ago. At this moment he should have been back in the darkness slipping into dreamless sleep. He nodded angrily. Yes, that was what he should have been doing.
Why then, Zelgadis asked himself angrily, was he fleeing the dawn? Xellos, he thought angrily. The priest had shown up and delayed him. Somehow, the priest had known Zelgadis's true nature. Somehow…
Zelgadis shook his head angrily. No. That wasn't the reason and he knew it. It was the girl. "Amelia," he whispered softly. That was why he had stayed, to watch over Amelia. "Damn that fortuneteller," he growled. Martina had called him "the lover". Obviously, that had flustered him somewhat.
Not that he believed it, Zelgadis told himself as he easily leapt over a high fence separating the street from the cemetery. He darted down the overgrown path he had known for years. People had a habit of forgetting the dead quickly in Sairaag. Twenty paces in from the fence he hopped over a marker concealed by tall grass. It used to trip him every time he came through here. He looked up and smiled warily. "Home," he muttered.
Standing before Zelgadis was the crypt of Rezo the Red, the only high priest to be born in Sairaag. An enormous statue of a priest holding a sword glared down from atop the entryway to the vault.
As was his routine, Zelgadis spat on the ground before the tomb before entering. He had no respect for the fallen high priest. With the last of his ebbing strength, he shoved the door open just far enough to allow him to slip past into the blessed darkness.
"Master Zelgadis!" Zolf called out worriedly as he ran to his master's side. He took Zelgadis's arm to support him and helped him down the stairs.
Normally Zelgadis would have protested, but his strength was spent. If Zolf hadn't been helping him, he would have gladly tumbled down the stairs unconscious.
"My lord, I was worried about you," Zolf said as he helped Zelgadis to his throne. "When you didn't come back before dawn, I-"
Zelgadis waved dismissively and sighed, "You needn't worry. I do enough of that for both of us. I've pushed myself a little too hard this time." He collapsed in utter exhaustion on the cold stone. He closed his eyes and muttered, "Leave me Zolf. I hunger." He heard his most loyal servant quickly scurry away.
Finally alone, Zelgadis let all vestiges of civility fall away. He ripped his clothes from his body revealing raw pink skin that was peeling due to his extended exposure to the sun. He slid off his throne and knelt on the cool floor. Silently, he sent out a command.
Summoned by their master, dozens of rats scurried out of the corners of the room converging on the kneeling Zelgadis. They crawled across his still form, squeaking shrilly in the dark.
Suddenly Zelgadis's eyes flew open and he snatched one of the filthy beasts from off his shoulder. He quickly tore into its belly with his teeth, both savoring and detesting the coppery taste of blood. Finishing with the first of the vermin, he flung it into the gloom and grabbed another.
Zelgadis fed and his injured flesh slowly began to mend.
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Lina sighed as she watched the sunrise. Her body hurt all over, she was totally exhausted, and on top of that they hadn't seen any sign of the Hellmaster since he escaped from them the previous night. A bolt of pain shot up her back as she turned to face Gourry. She smiled wearily when she saw the swordsman fast asleep on his feet. "Hey," she said quietly.
Gourry blinked sleepily and looked around before focusing his gaze on Lina. He tried to stifle a yawn before grinning at her. "Hey," he said in return. "What time is it?"
"It's time to take a rest Gourry," Lina said tiredly. "We're not going to find the Hellmaster like this." She looked around hopelessly. The citizens of Sairaag were beginning to go about their daily business. Even if the Hellmaster hadn't found a hiding place yet, it would be next to impossible to find him in the steadily growing crowd.
"Well, at least we know what he looks like, right?" Gourry said hopefully as he looked around one last time. "Don't worry Lina. We'll find him again."
Lina nodded and forced a smile. "Right." She didn't mention that if Hellmaster killed again, and he almost certainly would, it would be her fault. She could have killed him during their confrontation, but pity had stayed her hand.
That boy, Phibrizzo, had sounded so hurt and scared when Hellmaster had let him out. Lina couldn't bring herself to kill an innocent child. She thought for a moment before nodding determinedly. She'd save him. It was as simple as that. Somehow, she was going to save that child from the Hellmaster.
A tall wiry man with an eye patch roughly shoved Lina aside as he moved hastily down the street.
Lina yelped as she fell back into Gourry's arms. She shook a fist at the retreating man and yelled, "Hey, watch where you're going you big oaf!"
The large man turned and glared at the young punk that had insulted him with his one good eye. Then he looked up at the large muscular swordsman that was scowling at him and smiled nervously. "Sorry Miss," he mumbled as he made a hasty retreat.
Lina looked up at Gourry with a grin on her face. "Maybe it's not so bad having a protector," she begrudgingly admitted. "I could have taken him though."
"Sure you could have." Gourry smiled and hefted Lina up into a sitting position on his shoulder. He jokingly asked, "Is that better little girl?"
"Gourry…" Lina muttered dangerously as she glared down at the swordsman.
Gourry chuckled. "Just kidding Lina, you can see a lot better from up there right? Look for that kid."
Lina nodded and scanned the crowd of people. "It shouldn't be too hard, right?" she muttered. "Just find the kid that looks like he got run over by a wagon full of knives." She pointed down the street dramatically and said, "Move out Gourry! We'll never find anything just standing here."
"Right," Gourry said enthusiastically. A few moments later, he was easily maneuvering through the crowd. "Where are we off to captain?" he asked.
"Sylphiel's," Lina answered. "We're meeting the others there remember?" She sighed contentedly as Gourry continued on his way down the street. She closed her eyes briefly and savored the warmth of the morning sun on her face. Being out here in the daylight made the events of the previous night seemed like a bad dream. It really was fun being carried around she thought. It was almost as if she were royalty or something. She looked down at the crowd and grinned. And these people were her subjects. "All hail Queen Lina!" she called out to the masses.
Gourry raised an eyebrow. "Queen Lina?" he asked with a grin.
"That's right," Lina said with a happy nod. She began to wave regally to the people in the street around her.
"Maybe the queen would like to get back to work?" Gourry suggested.
Lina pouted briefly. "You're no fun, you know that Gourry?"
"Sorry, but this isn't really the best time to be playing around."
Lina sighed and slumped slightly. "It's okay Gourry. Sometimes I think that if I didn't laugh, I'd never stop crying, you know?"
Gourry thought for a second before nodding. "I guess that makes sense. Just worrying about that kid won't do us any good, right?"
Lina nodded determinedly. "Right." She looked down at Gourry and tentatively reached out to touch his long blond hair. "So," she said hesitantly, "about you and Sylphiel…"
"What about her?" Gourry asked as he nimbly sidestepped to get out of the path of a much larger man.
"Well," Lina muttered, the color of her face rapidly changing to match her hair, "are the two of you, you know, serious?" A little more boldly now, she stroked his hair. She glanced up and her eyes widened in shock. She held her hands up and quickly stammered, "Gourry, stop! Hold on a sec-"
The painful sound of a human skull making forceful contact with a wooden sign cut Lina off.
"Hmm?" Gourry stopped and looked up at the sign. It was swinging rather wildly. Was it really that windy out today? It depicted a comically drawn dragon with a chef's hat stirring a large pot. He read the name written under the illustration silently.
The Dragon Slave TavernWe slave over a hot stove so you don't have to!
The sound of laughter emanated from the building. Apparently they were open for breakfast.
Gourry's stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since yesterday. Breakfast would really hit the spot right now. He looked up at Lina and said, "Hey Lina, do you want to stop for some… Oh boy." He saw a knot forming on the unconscious girl's forehead and quickly decided that breakfast wasn't an option. Hell, even being around when Lina woke up would be a bad idea. Grimacing in anticipation of the punishment that she would almost certainly be giving him, he hastily made his way down the street towards Sylphiel's clinic.
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"And you're sure that it's safe?" Zangulus asked for the twentieth time in as many minutes. He looked at the priest and acrobat warily. If that demon were to come back after he left, he didn't think that an old man and a ditzy circus performer would be able to put up much of a fight.
"Oh, we'll be just fine." Xellos said cheerfully. "See?" he said pointing up the street at the approaching Gourry. "There's Lina and Gourry now. We'll be fine."
Amelia smiled. "Thanks for staying Mr. Zangulus. You were a big help."
Zangulus nodded and frowned. He turned and strode off through the crowd towards the guard station. He sighed in frustration. How was he going to explain to the captain that the string murders that had stumped the entire department had been committed by a ten year old? "He's going to eat me alive," he muttered.
Xellos grinned cheerfully and waved to Gourry. "Hello! I see Lina finally fell asleep, huh? I guess that much excitement was too much for her."
Gourry chuckled nervously and muttered, "Yeah I guess you could say that. Let's get her inside."
The group entered Sylphiel's office together. A moment later, Amelia screamed.
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"Oooh, my head…" Lina groaned as she opened her eyes. She grumbled, "Why does this always happen to me?" She shook her head a couple times before focusing on the blond swordsman standing over her. "Gourry," she growled.
Gourry had a grave expression on his face. He shook his head and whispered to Lina, "No time for that Lina." He nodded at something to Lina's left. "Look."
Lina blinked in surprise. Usually Gourry would be backing away from her nervously at this point. Didn't he understand how much trouble he was in? She sighed and looked over at what he had pointed at. "Oh," she said flatly. There was really nothing else to say about it.
The room that Lina had spent the night in last night was a shambles of broken bottles and smashed furniture. Rolls of gauze had been unrolled and flung haphazardly about the area. Spelled out on the far wall in drying blood was a brief message.
L.I.
Go home.
H.
"Look," Gourry said as he bent down to pick something up off the floor. He turned and held it up for Lina's inspection.
Lina squinted at it briefly. At first glance, she had thought that it was a dead serpent or something. It was about a foot long and a glossy black color. A moment later, she realized what it was that she was looking at.
It was a bloody lock of Sylphiel's hair.
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Next Chapter: A message at home
Reader Response:
Otaku Girl, I thought that you just really liked chapter 8. Just kidding. Thanks for reading.
You guessed right Miss Gabriev. Zel's not a big fan of the sun. Yep, the kid's name is Phibrizzo.
Slash, that's just not true. I've seen plenty of stories without protagonists, like uh… I'll get back to you on that.
Stara, you weren't buying the whole "Lina's dead" bit huh? And how was the next chapter a giveaway? Maybe Hellmaster was triumphant. Nope, I've never read the Japanese mangas. What happens in the #8? And Sylphiel expendable? There's no such thing as an expendable character. Some are just less vital than others.
Pogo, you thought that our heroes recovered too quickly huh? They wouldn't be bone crushing heroes if they spent the rest of the night curled up on the ground shaking would they?
CT, did you read 9 & 10 at the same time? That's cheating! And things look pretty bad for Sylphiel don't they?
Dragonet, there aren't any dragons in the story besides Ceiphied himself. There are demons, but… um well, it's kinda long. Chapter 12 will have a lot of information on the gods and demons, so just be patient for a little longer, okay? As for Xellos, he's not the same as he is in the regular Slayers series. Here he's just a normal unassuming priest. He just happens to be very old. Yeah, that's right.
Masaki, I hope the next chapter won't be your last either. Nice try, but I can't tell you what Sylphiel's final fate will be.
As always, thanks to Boo for her beta reading.