Things Past.

Hi everybody! Thanks for all the great reviews, it was appreciated, I will warn you now though there is implied rape in this chappy.

Chapter Two: Revelations.

Lina sat up in her bed and looked around, she was in an inn. She still felt tired but at least she felt better than she had done in weeks, she washed her face and got dressed and taking a big breath, walked out of the room she was in and went to find Gourry. She found him downstairs drinking coffee with Naga opposite wolfing down breakfast.

"Come on guys lets go!" Lina said receiving stares from her companions, she vaguely noticed that Gourry was still looking pale, "Are you okay Gourry?"

"I'm fine," he said sounding tired, "did you sleep well?"

"Just fine," Lina grinned, "Now then let's get on with our journey shall we."

"Oh and where are you going Lina?" Naga asked with her fork poised and ready to place the morsel of food on the end in her mouth as soon as she was able.

"Oh I don't know there's a rumour of a vampire in a village to the east which usually means a treasure trove and a big fat reward for saving whatever village he or she is pestering. I guess we could go there and slay the vampire." Lina said.

"Are you sure your okay to travel yet?" Gourry asked.

"Of course I am."

"What about the dreams Lina?" Gourry reminded her.

"What about them?"

"Well shouldn't we find out what's causing them?" Gourry said frustrated that yet again Lina was burying her feelings.

"I've been able to get to sleep fine so there's no need to worry!" Lina laughed nervously really not wanting to get on to the subject of her terrifying dreams.

"That's not quite the case Lina," Naga cut in, "you haven't had bad dreams because I cast a spell on you to stop the dreams forming in your mind. . ."

"How did you know a spell like that?" Lina asked suspiciously.

"That's beside the point," Naga snapped, "the point is that the spell I used hasn't been tested all that much yet and I have no idea how long it will last or how often I can re-cast the spell."

"Oh." Lina looked crest fallen.

"Which means we have to find out what's causing the dreams and stop them or . . . it?" Gourry surmised.

"I can handle this on my own they're just bad dreams!" Lina said quietly not really sure of herself for once.

"No!" Gourry growled. He stood up and grabbed Lina's arm pulling her back up to her room leaving behind a rather surprised Naga who shrugged and ordered some more food. In Lina's room; "Lina listen to me I can't . . . I mean well I . . ." Gourry closed his eyes and sighed softening his tome, "Lina I hate seeing you like this," he reached out with his left hand and stroked her cheek, she didn't pull away and his confidence grew, "your usually so strong but sometimes you can be so stubborn. . ."

"But Gourry I'm not. . ."

"A kid? I know that." Gourry sat down on the bed and ran his hands through his hair, "but Lina just because you're not a kid doesn't mean you can't accept help from people who . . . love you," Lina blushed and stared at the floor, he continued, "I may not be as smart as you but I can see when you need help and when you don't please . . . I promised to protect you," He pulled her closer and ran his right hand through her hair, "please let me." Lina blushed again she didn't understand it she'd always thought Gourry wanted to protect her as a sister, not like this and now, now she found she wanted to know what it felt like to be wrapped in Gourry's strong arms, to not have to act like the tough girl all the time, and for some unknown reason to her she felt tears falling down her face, "Did I say something wrong?"

"Oh Gourry," Lina threw herself at him and held on for all she was worth, "don't ever leave me, okay?"

"I won't Lina I promise." He whispered in her ear.

They decided to visit Felia and see if she could use her priestess powers to find out who or what was tormenting Lina. They'd been on the road for about five weeks and so far the dream catcher was working relatively well, Naga had re-cast it twice and only a couple of bad dreams had slipped through. The problem was that for the last week or so none of them could quite shake the feeling that they were being watched. They were in a busy market town at present and even though it was late at night it was still pretty busy Naga went to find a decent tavern to stay in whilst Lina and Gourry wandered around the town. Lina was sticking to Gourry like glue for the next few days as it was her time of the month and with someone following them she couldn't be too careful. She stumbled as a kid bumped into her then fell over when the same kid pulled on the string attached to her purse a little too hard. But instead of leaving it and running off the boy pulled out a small knife and cut the string then ran down an alley.

"Hey!" Gourry yelled soon in hot pursuit.

Lina went to run after him but stopped someone was watching her she turned around and scanned the area. She slowly backed up to the alley the Gourry had run down as she reached it she felt someone grab her from behind and pull her into the shadows, she went to struggle but felt cold metal against her throat.

"There's an old man who would very much like the pleasure of your company Miss. Celina." A voice said, "Great this guy thinks I'm someone else!" Lina rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the stomach; she spun round and ran after Gourry.

"Gourry!" She yelled hoping he hadn't gone too far. She reached the end of the alley and her attacker grabbed her wrist, Lina went to punch him but he was faster. He hit her hard across her face and she slumped to the ground.

When she came around she shivered her hands were bound and she was on the cold floor in what looked like an old barn. She felt sore and clothes were ripped in places, she shivered and tried not to think about what that might mean. She sat up and looked around and saw her kidnapper on the other side of the room drinking, he saw she was awake and approached her.

"Well you're awake now Miss. Celina?" He cupped her chin and she pulled away.

"My name's Lina Inverse not Celina." Lina said very quietly.

"Now maybe, but according to my employer your name really is Celina," He looked at her and a evil look crossed his face, "You know I did get a little bored waiting for my employer," he chuckled and Lina pressed her knees together and had started to feel sick, "Of course that was a while ago and I'm a little bored again."

"Won't your employer be a little annoyed if . . . if you sample the goods?" Lina asked suppressing the urge to shake and cry, the man before her laughed.

"So long as I keep you alive I can do whatever I like to you girly." He replied and advanced on her tearing at her clothes as she struggled and let out a few yelps. She felt the tears fall as he pulled her legs apart and she felt him against her bare skin.

"Diem Wind!" Naga yelled. Lina felt his weight lift off of her and she curled up into a ball. Gourry grabbed her attacker and held his sword to his throat with a murderous glare directed straight at the skinny dark haired man.

"Who the hell are you and why did you just try to rape Lina?" Gourry was trying very hard not to skewer him there and then. The man laughed, not really helping Gourry's state of mind much.

"I'm an employee of a powerful sorcerer who wishes an audience with that girl. . . "

"What sorcerer?" Naga asked wrapping her cloak over a still trembling Lina.

"I don't know his name he's merely employing me to obtain that girl for him not to ask questions."

"Where are you meeting him?" Gourry growled, conscious that he should get Lina as far away from this place as soon as he could.

"I'm not," The man grinned, "he informed me that once I had her he would find me." Gourry blanched.

"Gourry that means he could be here any second!" Naga shouted helping Lina to her feet.

"Exactly." The kidnapper said and laughed again, Gourry thrust his sword into the man's stomach and he made a small gurgling sound then slumped to the floor.

"Let's go." Gourry said to Naga, he walked over to Lina and went to pick her up when the wall behind them exploded.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to take that girl," Gourry and Naga turned to see an elderly man with long silver hair and long robs, "she is to come with me."

"I don't think so pal." Gourry growled as he pulled his sword and manoeuvred in front of Lina with Naga joining him.

"You honestly think you can challenge the great Naga the Serpent?" Naga laughed but was stopped mid laugh as the old man hurled a spell at her and it caught her in her stomach hurling her into the wall behind her knocking her unconscious. Gourry successfully dodged a couple of spells but was caught off guard by one that created a black creature from the shadows on the floor that grabbed him and sent him to join Naga, but Gourry was just dazed. Gourry pulled himself to his feet and started to charge again, ignoring the dizziness and the wet feeling at the back of his head, but before he could even get to Lina a barrier flew up between them and he slammed into it. The old man walked over to Lina choosing to ignore Gourry's constant banging against his magic shield.

"Do not be afraid my dear," he said in a voice that sounded just like an old grandfather soothing a grandchild after a bad dream, he held her chin with his right hand, "it won't last long." With that he and Lina disappeared in a flash of white light.

"LINA!"

Well what do you think, please review and tell me? Till next time, Angel xxx. P.S. Sorry it took so long to update.