Disclaimer: Slayers doesn't belong to me, nor do Lina or Gaav, or any of the others. However, the story is SOLELY MINE! And flames will NOT BE TOLERATED!

Enemies

Chapter 3: ...to be or not to be royalty..

"Gaav's the one I had a run-in with. But what did Xel mean, it shouldn't be there. Did the Beastmaster not know that Gaav and Phibrizzo were alive again? Hmmm. What to do? I can't tell them what happened, for fear that the same thing will happen with my mind blanking. Well, I might as well catch up on some information, if I can find any." Going outside, she told Zel where she would be and headed towards the Royal Library to look for books on Mazoku.

"Damn that Xelloss. He could ruin everything. Well, I'll have to be extra careful to protect my plans. They may know that I'm alive again, and certainly Grausherra knows that Hellmaster is alive again, but they shall not ruin my plans. Now, I think I'll pay her another visit." Laughing, he teleported into the library and waited.

Lina entered the library, and headed towards the more ancient section of the library. The light globes came on above her, and she saw the book she was looking for. But right as her hand pulled the book from the shelf, the lights went out. Cursing, she tried to cast a light spell and found that she couldn't. Realization dawned on her, and she swiveled on her heel. "Gaav, where are you? I know you're here." She heard someone laugh in front of her, or so she guessed.

"Lina, my darling, come to me."

Lina's mind revolted at the thought, but for some reason, a second later, she felt compelled to walk towards the voice. It was as if someone had erased her previous thought. She continued walking towards the voice, and felt two arms wrap around her.

"My sweet, I think you can remain human for now. There's no reason for you to be turned unless someone threatens you. In that case, I'll have to turn you for your own safety." One of his hands had moved up to her hair and was now stroking it.

Lina unconsciously leaned into his touch and stayed silent.

Gaav grinned and spoke once more. "I want you to be my queen."

She looked at him for a second, thinking about it, before her instincts kicked in. "What!" She screeched, intent on continuing her tirade. But she was cut off my the Mazoku Lord.

"Shhh. There are people coming."

"Lina-san? Zelgadis-san said that you were in here. Where are you?"

"Ah, damn that princess. I'll be back soon, my dear." He kissed her hand and teleported away.

Suddenly, Lina's mind worked in overtime, piecing together what had just happened.

"Gaav just…. He just…." The light globes came back on above her and she saw Amelia running towards her. Lina's mind was whirling, and the image before her blurred, sending her tumbling down to the ground.

"Lina-san!" Amelia ran towards her fallen friend, and cradled her head, before casting Raywing to carry her back to the protected room.

When Amelia came flying in the room, Lina in her arms, she surprised Sylphiel, Gourry, and Zelgadis, not realizing that it might look a little awkward. "Sylphiel-san, please help me cast a healing spell."

"Sure Amelia-san." Sylphiel ran over to help the princess lay the sorceress on the bed. After Lina was lying on the comforter, the two cast a simple recovery spell and left, posting both men as guards.

Several hours later, Lina opened her eyes. "Ugggh, what the hell happened?" Her memories come rushing back to her and she remembered what Gaav had said. He wanted her to be his queen! What the hell was he thinking! What the hell was she thinking, actually giving it thought! 'But then again, I was drawn to Xelloss and Valgaav, so maybe there really is something there.'

She thought about it before her logical voice, her angel side, kicked in. 'Are you crazy? There's nothing but hatred between the Mazoku you've had run-ins with. Or have you forgotten what happened before, the first time?'

'Oh shut up, you overgrown child. Of course I remember what happened with Rezo. I could never forget my encounter with Akahoushi Rezo.'

'Well, I'm glad that you have retained at least some of your sense, Lina.' Her conscience paused as she realized that her body was currently flying out the door. She sighed in frustration.

Lina raywinged out the door, cast sleeping on Gourry, and flew towards the palace gates intent on having some time alone to figure out what the hell was going on.

For the next few hours, she flipped through books in an old library on the outskirts of the city. She didn't know exactly what she was looking for but she figured she'd know it when she found it. She dropped the book she was holding, reading that it was rare for a Mazoku Lord to take a second but when they did, each one's power added to the other's. She started to bend down to grab the book from the floor and froze as two bulky arms wrapped around her waist.

"My love, I must have an answer." Gaav looked down at the woman in his arms, noticing how frail she seemed compared to his massive frame.

The phrase about the queens, the seconds of the male Mazoku Lords rang through her head. She had always craved power, even when that power hurt her body – as the black and chaos magic had. She was doomed to be short because of how young she had been when she initially casted the Giga Slave. At the same time, she wondered what L-sama might do. Would she take her Nightmare magic from her if she was turned? Could the creator even do that? Would the balance really shift that much even with such a change? After all, she had obviously not wanted the dragons to have such a huge advantage. That's why she had brought back the two vanquished Lords. There was a tug on her waist and she looked up into the red eyes.

"I -, I -." Her life ran though her mind's eye – her friends, her battles, her victories. The power being offered though. It was there, just out of reach. "Yes." It was as if a fog had been lifted from her mind. She could speak freely and she spun in the tight grip, opening her mouth to give conditions which were quickly cut off by the mouth covering her own.