Snowless Winter

A loud knock echoed through wood that had grown swollen from the vast amount of moisture in the air. Small chips of paint fell silently in the rain and the tall swordsman released puffs of breath. His hair was matted to his face in a wet drench and his lips a slight blue from the quick change in temperature. He looked the equivalent of a drenched cat, his clothes sagging beneath the thick frame of his armor. Besides him his beautiful wife looked even smaller, her eyes full of fire and fury as she shook violently beneath the pelting cold.

Gourry! Are you sure this is the house!

I'm sure Lina! It has to be!

Well maybe you don't quite remember, Can't we go check an inn or somet-

No! Lina, this is my home, I'm sure of it. My parents should be opening the door any minute now.

His voice was stern and determined and he stared at the peeling paint chips with an unwavering devotion. She couldn't help but feel something tug at her heart. He came all this way only to find that no one was home. It was rare he took a tone with her, but when he did she knew that it was something important to him, sighing, she nodded and placed her hand on the golden doorknob.

Well, I suppose they are out somewhere Gourry, we can wait for them inside can't we? I don't think they'd want their prized son standing in the rain.

She glanced up at him, and waited for a response. The matter, of course, was in his hands. She hated being cold and wet, but this was something he wanted, so she wouldn't hold it away from him. Instead of a response his eyes became soft and a small smile spread across his lips. Yup, they would wait inside the home.

She pushed the door lightly and it swung open, giving off a deafening creak. The house released fumes of musk and odors that seemed to overwhelm Lina's nose. She choked back a sob and flinched sharply in the air, her whole body going stiff at the condition of the house. She wanted more than anything to turn away from the home, and return to the road and travel elsewhere, but it was the first time Gourry had truly decided to go some place, and he so determined. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the home and into the unknown darkness.

The first thing she noticed when she entered the home was that the floor boards were just as loud as the door. They had deteriorated after quite a bit of time and it seemed that the walls were in the same condition. The wallpaper had been peeling in cracking heaps revealing breaks in the cement of the wall. The chandelier which seemed to once hold the class of that of a queen was hanging by its last strand, begging to be destroyed on the terrorized floor. Furniture that looked to be created with such skill was thrown about the room or broken in its place, as if a terrible struggle had gone on. Lina could help but gasp and back up into Gourry.

Gourry, maybe we-

Hm, just like I remember it! Home! Come on, I'll show you to my room, and we can put our things away. Mom and Dad would want us to be comfortable until they returned.

Gourry took off up the steps, his hand leaving deep trails in the heavy dust that lay on the banister. She wanted to speak, yell at him or knock some sense into his silly self. But she knew it'd be a waste of time. When his heart was set on something he'd have it, and drag her along with him. Taking a deep breath of the clogging air, she followed him up the steps and down the hall, and finally entering the room that held Gourry as a small child.

The door itself seemed to be in a better condition then the entire house. Its hinges were well oiled and they seemed to glide open, inviting her into its chambers. He had managed to light a small oil lamp on his night table and it gave the room a more dramatic and scary look. His bed was large, no doubt a king-sized equal in length to Amelia's. There were large cherry wood dressers that seemed to tower her in height, as various swords hung around his room in an enchanted decoration. Small rugs lay at the end of his bed and at the side, welcoming her to the soft sheets. She had mixed feelings about the room. It looked lovely, an absolute dream yet something had obviously been off about it. It was… clean… yes that's it. There was no dust in its depths except what Gourry and herself had just tracked in. And there at the head of the bed high up on the wall was a picture of Gourry, a young boy in small armor with a bright and cheerful smile that could only be described as him. She wanted badly to get a bad vibe for the room, the way she had a bad vibe of the house, but it wouldn't come. Instead it subdued her thoughts and eased her tired mind like a mother wrapping a child in a warm and secure blanket. Well she shrugged her shoulders and dropped her bags on the floor besides the room and turned to her darling husband.

So this is your room huh Gourry?

Yup! I grew up right here and slept in this bed since I was out of diapers!

She glanced again at the bed and felt a pang of jealous. She had to share a bed with her sister for years before she finally left and managed to make the ground her own bed. Yet he seemed to have a king sized bed fit for a king given to a toddler?

It's lovely Gourry.

Hey she was jealous but why should she make him upset? He was happy to finally be home, a place she may never return to, and she wouldn't rain on the few parades that Gourry had. The reaction he made caused her heart to jump. He gave her a warm smile, and his chest slightly stuck out. It was usually the reaction he would give when someone complimented how they made such a wonderful couple. Those were rare, but when they did come, she would blush like crazy while Gourry pulled her tight to his side.

Hey, you're shivering Lina. Maybe you should get out of the wet clothes. I have extra robes in the house!

He quickly walked to the door she had seen and swung it open, revealing a closet that shamed her life collection of clothes. He had slippers and nightcaps, robes and satin sheets, all of which were his favorite sky blue color. He pulled a terricloth robe and waited until she removed her clothes before slipping it over her arms and doing the same with his own clothes. As promised, since there was no feast waiting Lina prepared the laundry in a basin she carried and hung them in various places throughout the room as Gourry retold tales of his life in this home, and village from the warm bed sheets.

As he spoke she thought back to not but a few hours ago when the damn donkey driver dropped them off miles from where they were supposed to be. Could have been because he was fireballed, but Lina thought it was simply because he was a jerk. It wasn't long afterwards that heavy rain began to fall, and the temperature dropped quickly as the sun went down. She felt disgusting and sick, feverish and cold, and yet she didn't complain knowing it would hurt her husband's feelings. Throughout the two years they'd been married, her heart became tied in his emotions and she did anything possible to make him happy. It was a change that went unknown to her, simply because she still practiced that complaining on everyone else she knew, and probably hadn't realized the change. She glanced up from her deep thinking and saw her husband nodding off to sleep. His hair was a knotted mess and she knew if it was every going to get combed she'd have to do it now while he slept.

She placed the last cleaned shirt on a coat hanger and climbed besides him, comb in hand and tired etched on her face. Taking a soft chunk of wet mass into her hand she began the long task of untangling and drying his golden locks.

The towel was drenched by the time she reached the next patch, and her sweet voice filled the room in a soft hum as her mind traveling back to the wonderful times they had been spending together. She didn't even realize his head had began resting on her lap until she heard his voice bring her back to reality and the wetness of his hair drenching her robe.

Lina? Tell me about it.

About what Gourry?

You know…

Oh Gourry! Come on not again!

Please Lina!

His voice had cracked a bit when he said it and she felt something dreadful in his voice. Something was definitely wrong here and yet, she couldn't place her finger on just what it was. There was a desperation in his voice she couldn't deny and she began the soft tale that she told him not too long ago.

It should be around the summer months. Not late in them, still early enough to be cool during the nights. By then, we'll have a beautiful house to call our own, in a wondrous village where we're loved by the neighbors. No one will fear us, or call us names. Instead they'll welcome us and beg to sit upon our porch and tell stories of our many adventures. He should have been born by then. A little boy, that's what the dream told me. You'll name him. Something strong and courageous just like your name. And he'll look mostly like you. It shouldn't be long after, but then, a little girl, who will look mostly like you, but with eyes of fire from me. And they both will grown big and strong like their parents, and will do wonderful things in the all districts. And the name of Gabriev and Inverse shall be praised and loved all across the land.

She smiled smugly at the last part, their names across the land! Just like they are today huh? Gourry however lay quietly in her lap, his eyes closed tight as he tried to envision what she saw. It wouldn't come to him, and he worried. He always saw it, when she spoke, and couldn't wait to see it later. Yet it seemed like a dreadful nightmare. He heard Lina call his name, but he pretended to be asleep instead. Tomorrow he would get up early, and send for Amelia and Zel. Then he would come home, right before Lina awoke, and would try to fix the house as best he could. He couldn't have anything be born in this dirty house. How could anything live in the filth of the house. Where had his mother and father been? His aunt and Grandmother. Tomorrow they would travel to town, and he would solve the mystery once and for all.

The rain was heavy when he left, and he made sure to close the door tight behind him. He didn't want a draft in the house, and he was sure she was coming down with something. She felt warm this morning, and her breathing was heavy and labored. He didn't want to leave her, was terrified of what would happen while he was gone. But he knew he should send for their friends, ASAP, incase something terrible were to happen. Everything seemed wrong here. The entire village was gone, the Gabriev home in disarray, and the change in weather. Everything seemed to tickle his nerves and he knew that 4 heads would be better than two. Or rather one. With Lina in her delicate early state, she was reduced to nothing more than fireballs, Those attacks rarely being fatal against humans let alone larger forces. He wouldn't go to the village though, instead he would go straight back to the house, and protect his wife. Maybe another day when she felt better, but for now he wanted to stay inside the home. The pigeon he capture let out a tired cry as he tied the message to its leg. He sternly told the bird exactly which way to head and where exactly to stop, all in a language he picked up as a small child. It took great skill to have these birds send messages and yet his never seemed to fail. A simple nod to the bird and it was off his arm and into the heavy air, heading to the royal palace in Seyrunn.

He turned to walk back to the house, and in the same instant lightning shot across the velvet sky and a howl was heard from behind him. He instantly pulled his sword from his hilt and slid into a fighting stance. He turned suddenly and felt a sharp pain in his ankle, as he quickly tumbled to the ground. A cry escaped his lips, one of both surprise and pain, as he watched a darkness settle over his figure. On his arm his felt a soft wound open to a razor sharp metal, and his warm blood ooze and warm the cool metal. He was left handed and the attacker knew it. Before he had time to do anything else, it was upon him again and cries escaped his lips again as claws dug into the flesh of his legs. The trees surrounding had been dark and shadowy, disguising who or what was upon him. He only knew he had to get away quickly because it wanted a taste for blood, and he was the only thing around.

He kicked his legs out, and caught the thing in its jaw, producing a blood curling scream from its throat. He staggered to his legs and dashed from the mass of trees and into the field right before the house. What if soemthing what happening to Lina! He needed to get home and make sure, rearm himself and fight this beast. His blood was pounding heavily in his ears and he staggered more and more with each step. He knew if he stopped he would be shredded to death and yet his body wanted nothing more than to rest. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, relieving some of the pain, but just not enough. It was behind him. Sniffing his scent, grinning and chasing him with slow tantalizing steps. It wanted him and would have him, if it was the last thing it did. Gourry staggered forward once more, his mouth opened to call for help one final time, before he felt sharp claws enter his back and force him forward into the wet grass of the field. It cool wet, autumn blades offered a bit of comfort as his body phased out of the pain. He heard the cry from the thing on his back and the beautiful flower that laid besides his face, the last one. It was a crimson, the shade of his blood. He reached his hand out to touch it, and felt the name of his wife on his lips before a loud blow echoed through the field and everything went dark.

So terrifying! What happened to Gourry! What was Attacking him? Wheres Lina, and if she okay? Why the erie feeling about the house and whre is the villagers, and Gabriev family! I'd love to answer all these questions, but alas I cannot yet give away my plot! But I do hope you guys are enjoying my story! Oh, yes, Please! R&R you guys, muahz thank you! Hope to hear from you all, see ya!