Chapter II

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I do apologize for the lack of updates. As you all know, I can never get a spare minute to write. I'm trying, though. I'm trying. Anyway, some more L/Z in this chapter, and a bit more of a substantial plot.

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Though it was still very late, Lina lay awake, finding no peace from sleep. Zelgadis lay behind her, his arm gently draped across her waist. She could hear his breath on the back of her neck; so calm and peaceful, she envied him. She never slept any more. She couldn't find the courage to. If she had to face that nightmare one more time…

With a sigh, she eased herself out from Zel's grasp and grabbed a robe. If she was going to be up, she might as well find something to do.

Deciding to go for a walk, she, after slipping on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top with her silky white rode tied around her waist, headed out of the small home she and Zel were staying in. Sylphiel had, eventually, moved out of the palace. She had built, with the help of Zel and some other people from the palace, a quaint home a bit far off from Seilloon.

The home was beautiful, and reminded Lina a bit of the home she had imagined owning as a child, along with a family and maybe a dog. She never would have guessed she would be living in a palace. It was small, just large enough for Sylphiel, her new niece and nephew, and the occasional visitor. It had a lovely garden beside it filled with numerous trees and flowers. Sylphiel had invited she and Zelgadis to come by any time, and they made it a habit to visit at least once every Solstice, and they always stayed for Christmas.

Lina shivered slightly, but smiled. She loved Christmas. And it was almost here. About a week of waiting left. And then, they would be drenched in snow, as it always snowed late in the season, and Zel would shovel it as Lina and Sylphiel would set up the tree and decorate it on Christmas Eve. And then they would all sit around the fire and talk and laugh about their past experiences.

But this year there would Gary and Pricilla. Pricilla was probably the smartest out of the two of them. She at least had a bit of common sense. She had blond hair that incredibly long, from her father's side, but her eyes were an odd green. Gary looked, and acted, the most like Gourry. His eyes were very similar to his uncle's.

As she walked, Line kept her senses open. She never liked to be alone at night or in the dark. Not after what happened three years ago.

She stopped, and listened. There! There was rustling in a nearby bush! Turning slowly, Lina kept her hands behind her back, posed for an attack if necessary. Slowly, she began to approach the bush. She easily slid her feet along the ground, silently, step by step. As she neared the bush, she craned her neck forward to try and catch a glimpse over the bush.

No luck.

Just as she got within arms length of the bush, something hopped out. Lina screeched and, without thinking, sent off a random spell, and then commenced in covering her eyes with her hands.

Slowly, she peeked out from her fingers. Sitting in front of her was a small dog. Lina let out a sigh of relief. And then sweat dropped at the sight of the bush that was now nothing more but cinders. Sylphiel wasn't going to like that…

Sighing, Lina knelt down and stroked the dog's head. "I'm a little jumpy, I suppose," she murmured, as though that explained her flaming the tree.

The dog only looked up at her and cocked its head. But something was reflecting off of the moonlight… something in its mouth…

Curious, Lina pried the object away and looked it over. It seemed to be some sort of amulet… There was a gem of some sort crafted into a stone base. It was so elaborate… some much detail… and it felt old. As Lina's fingers ran across the edges of the stone base, she gasped slightly.

Without warning, she jumped up and ran back to the house.

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"Lina, remind me again why we're up at four in the morning?" the slightly agitated chimera asked, yawning slightly. Sylphiel stood beside him, looking like the living dead.

Lina waved him off as she continued to flip through the pages of the book in her hand. Scanning the text, she finally came to what she was looking for, and let out a triumphant "A-ha!"

Sylphiel stiffened a yawn, "Lina… what's so important that it couldn't have waited until morning?" she whined.

"And what's with the 'A-ha!'?" Zelgadis added.

Lina turned to them and showed them the amulet. "I found this a little while ago in your garden, Syl."

Sylphiel nodded. "And it's very lovely."

Lina sighed and shoved the amulet into her hands. "Look at the inscriptive on the stone around it!"

"It just looks like a bunch of swirls and lines…" Sylphiel observed, turning the amulet, as she looked it over, now a bit more awake.

"That's because the language is very old…but I've seen it before…"

"So, would you mind enlightening us?" Zelgadis asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah, sure." Lina cleared her throat, and then lifted up the amulet and began to read. "' Aawit ko igivng sla edatn ia apin ia agp kle ilef koy(1)'"

Both Sylphiel and Zelgadis blinked, and then exclaimed, "What?!"

Lina laughed embarrassedly. "Oh, sorry. It means, 'Death and pain await the gap of the giving of life.' It could mean a number of things, but I think it's a prophecy."

"So…?" Sylphiel prompted.

Lina then thrust the book she had been going through into Sylphiel's face. "Look at this picture. It's of Xellas."

"Isn't she one of the demon lords?" Zelgadis questioned, looking over the picture.

"Yeah. Look at her neck! It's the same amulet!"

"So… this belonged to Xellas?" Sylphiel asked, looking over the amulet once more.

Lina nodded. "That amulet had some sort of importance. I just can't remember what."

"So, what are we going to do about it?" Zelgadis asked.

Lina took the book back and placed it on the shelf. "My sister has a book on the five demons lords. It's mostly legends and folklore, but there was a story about this amulet in there, I know it. I think we're going to have to go to Zelphiria…"

Sylphiel looked near the point of tears. "But… but Christmas! It's in a week! Will you be back by then?"

Lina smiled. "Of course! Zelphiria isn't that far from here. It'll take a day at most to reach there, if we fly."

Lina sighed. Facing her sister again wouldn't be easy… but she needed to figure out what was going on with that amulet!

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Okay! That it's it for two! I know it's short, but I'm really busy!

Anyway…

(1)- This language is Nexus, which is a language that I invented, SO DON'T STEAL IT! Not that you could. It's pretty hard to figure out!

Chalicity- Oh goody! Someone noticed! Yep! I did say that Xellos was dead in the QFK. That'll play a part in later chapters. Anyway, thanks for your review!

Mysticalflame- Gary and Pricilla actually wont play an important part in this story. They will, however, make some rather important appearances in the next story. Thanks for your Review!

Samanda- Hiya Sammy! Sorry this took so long!