Blind Faith

Chapter: 1

Rebirth

Next chapter up and here we go.

A/N: For those that want to review just to argue cannon with me, you should really know that I don't care if it goes with the cannon my friends. My work is my work thus why I don't own the rights to the slayers...so if the only reason you review is to argue things about cannon and coupledom then just don't waste your time. I'll keep writing my way no matter what. Also might I note that yes Lina was willing to destroy the world for Gourry but the only people that were truly aware of the moment were Lina and Gourry. So the 'Barely can stand each other,' line for Zelgadis' point of view is not OOC.

Blackness washed around him as he slowly began to pull from the haze. He was not sure how long he had been out and was not sure if he wanted to awaken. The darkness called to his mind wanting him to stay in the void around him. Tendrils of midnight edged into his mind trying to hold him in place. As he floated in the vast blackness he could have sworn he heard a voice calling from beyond, "Time for you to awaken Zelgadis."

Eyes opened in the darkness as they looked for a way out. When there was no answer for the search the rest of him began to struggle more out of instinct than thought. He flexed his arms which ripped out of the dark enclosure without effort. As soon as light poured into the area instinct took over as he savagely ripped the material that kept him encased. With a mighty roar what was left of the cocoon fell away to reveal the inside of a cave.

He looked around before he felt like he was being watched. He spun quickly on his heel to glare at the other figure in the room. "Xellos...How long have I been here," he asked while not letting his guard down.

The other figure stood there with a smile on his face. His purple eyes glowed with triumph as he looked at his creation. He began to examine the creature in front of him as he replied, "Not long...about a week. Tell me Zelgadis what do you feel like."

Zelgadis raised an eyebrow as the memories started to come back to him. 'A week...that is a short amount of time for such a process,' he thought as he looked at Xellos. His sapphire eyes gleamed in the darkness as he looked down at himself. His skin was pale and glowed in the low light of the cave. Zelgadis shook his head slightly to see jet black locks of hair come into his view. He grabbed hold of some hair and examined it for a few moments as his mind started to remember. 'I have soft skin and hair again...but I'm still not human,' he thought before continuing, 'I hate the mazuko...I wanted to see all of them killed in front of me...and yet I don't care about that anymore. This...this power I can feel...it's the power I wanted when Rezo approached me...with this power I can be unstoppable.' His smile crooked upwards evilly as he thought of what he wanted so badly before he died. "I feel hungry," he replied with a slight growl to his voice.

Xellos' smirk grew as he thought of an idea. He moved closer to his new creation while saying, "Well, you're not ready to go after what you truly want. But, for the moment there is a village near here. It would be the perfect place for us to feed."

Zelgadis licked his lips as he thought about what Xellos was implying. The sheer pain and torment they could cause if they attacked the village without warning. The idea of causing the blood to flow like a river and then to feed off the despair of the survivors made him quiver with anticipation. "Let's make this the worst day of their lives," he replied as he turned and began to walk away.

"Not so fast Zelgadis," Xellos called as he caught up with the new mazuko. "You need to learn how to phase first. If nothing else it is the most important part about learning to be a mazuko."

Zelgadis growled like an agitated wolf as he looked back at Xellos. His teeth was slightly barred and his ruby eyes shone with bloodlust that wanted to be quenched. "There is plenty of time to learn that. I'm ready for my meal and I don't know how much longer I can hold off my hunger."

"Just listen to me and then you can feed as much as your little black heart desires. There will be enough fun in good time," Xellos replied somewhat clipped as his purple eyes narrowed at the upstart mazuko.

Zel turned after feeling a power emanate from Xellos which told him that he should listen to what the elder mazuko had to say. He huffed slightly before saying, "Go ahead and give your lesson so we can get this over with. The quicker I feed the quicker I can get to Lina."

Xellos' smile came back into place as he began the lesson, "To phase you simply have to picture where you want to move and then you move."

It was midday when the two strangers came into the small village. The noon day sun beat down upon the two as they stood at the entrance to the village. The first was an amethyst haired man dressed in the cloth of the priesthood. The creams and blacks of his outfit made him seem odd for a normal man of the cloth. His companion was even more interesting and out of place. The figure was dressed in a full black outfit over his muscled figure. A deep black hood covered his face from view with an impenetrable shadow that would rival the moonless night. He had on ebony shoulder guards that were made in the visage of skulls with rubies set in the eye sockets and spikes jutting out in all directions as he continued silently down the street with the priest. The final thing that stood out where the black gloves that came to just below his knuckles with punching spikes on the apex of his fists. The two made quite the frightening pair as they marched towards the center of the village. The priest smiled at passers by and greeted with a, "Good afternoon."

'Is it really necessary to speak with the prey Xellos? They are going to be dead soon anyway,' Zelgadis asked telepathically as he continued to march down the street.

'No, but I find it entertaining so let me have my fun before you have yours. That and if I at least act like a priest then they won't run until it is too late,' Xellos thought back as he waved at a few young ladies.

'For a creature that called himself a weapon your sure don't like destruction. I would've preferred to just attack with out giving them a few extra minutes of life,' Zelgadis jabbed at the elder mazuko

Xellos turned his attention to Zelgadis and glared with almost hatred in his eyes, 'Because these things are a waste of my power...I'd rather kill dragons my dear Zelgadis Metallium. That and it's much more fun to play with your prey before you kill it.'

They stopped in the center of the village and faced each other in a stare off. Zelgadis' figure clenched at the name used and asked, "Why did you call me by that name?"

"That is your name my dear boy. When you excepted my gift you became a Metallium...of course around Lina-chan and the others I will call you by your old name. But, now it's time to get started," Xellos replied before holding his staff above his head and gathering power.

Zelgadis watched as Xellos gathered the energy and used it to create a barrier over the small village. His predatory eyes shifted to some of the townsfolk as they screamed after seeing Xellos' eyes were the mark of a monster. He laughed deeply as he threw off the cloak to reveal what was hiding underneath. His face was pale as alabaster with jet black hair cascading down to his shoulders. His sapphire eyes glowed with excitement as he looked at the crowd that was trying to escape. "This will be fun," he announced as he took off towards a group of humans.

As he began to use his power his eyes changed color from their normal sapphire to the blood red that was normal of the mazuko race. Zelgadis reached the pack before they had a chance to scream. He quickly grabbed the largest man by the throat and lifted him into the air without effort. He then threw the man at a wall with such force that he went though it and caused the building to collapse. The rest of the group shrunk away from Zelgadis as he turned towards them. He laughed before goading, "Is there no one here brave enough to protect themselves?"

"You bastard," shouted one of the younger men as he came forward, "You are nothing but a monster and I'll fight you even if I die."

Zelgadis chuckled while replying, "Why does everyone say that? Is it because it makes you a man to say it or is it to cover up that you're about to wet yourself with fear?"

"You bastard," the young man shouted again before running at Zelgadis.

Before the young man could attempt to throw a punch Zelgadis lunged forward and kneed the young man in the stomach. He watched as the boy crumpled to his knees and coughed up blood. He inhaled, enjoying the irony smell of blood as he watched the boy cough again. Zelgadis then leaned down and lifted his victim's chin up with his hand. He looked into the desperate eyes of a dying boy and whispered, "A word of advice...You should've remained quiet...I might've let you live longer."

Zelgadis then pushed up harder with his hand to cause the boy to move up to his normal standing height. In a blink of an eye the new mazuko was in the air with a feral grin on his face. As he reached the apex of his jump Zelgadis executed a spin kick that connected loudly with the boy's head. The boy flew away at a blinding speed before hitting the barrier with a hard splat. The blood and brains flew in wide arches as the body slowly slid down the barrier. Zelgadis watched as the blood slowly ran down the invisible wall in a slow progression to join with what was left of the body. He looked at the rest of the group as he could feel his hunger being sated by the widespread fear. "That's it fear me like you've never feared anything before," he cackled as he walked towards a pretty woman near him.

The woman backed up until she hit the barrier. Feeling her fate had come she closed her eyes and looked away from her killer. She felt a warm breathe on her face and opened her eyes to be met with blood red eyes. She went to scream but was stopped when he covered her mouth. He looked at her for a moment before leaning in and whispering, "I think I'll save you for last."

Her eyes grew wide as she watched him turn and kneel next the young man he had just killed. He gathered some blood and made some odd looking sigils on the backs of his hands. He then smiled wickedly as he stood and began to concentrate. Out of nowhere two blades of dark energy formed and attached to his wrists. He took off after the next victim while cackling, "Now time for the true fun to begin!"

Xellos sipped his tea as he floated above the village and watched. It had been almost an hour and the village was destroyed. Most of the building were burning or had crumbled in on themselves. The emotion buffet that Zelgadis was feeding him was some of the best he had tasted in quite a while. He smiled as he heard more screams cut short by his underling. 'It does the boy good to let go of all that repressed anger he's had for so long,' Xellos joked to himself as he sipped his tea again.

After a moment he phased out and appeared where Zelgadis was. He smiled as he saw Zelgadis covered and dripping with the blood and sinew of his victims. Xellos was about to speak when he heard a whimper off to the side. He looked to see a pretty girl crumpled on the ground crying because of the horror Zelgadis had let her live through. He smiled evilly as he walked forward and asked, "And, why might I ask, have you spared this one for so long? Could it be because her long red hair reminds you of something or someone you want?"

Zelgadis smirked as he looked at the young girl and walked towards her. "Something like that...that and she makes such a wonderful meal because of her emotional distress."

Xellos stood over the girl and looked down at her for a moment. His purple eyes seemed to radiate evil as he lifted his staff and said, "I'm sorry my child but it's time to end this farce."

Just as Xellos was about to bring the staff down on her he was stopped. He looked up to see a black gloved hand with a dark blade holding onto the staff. He looked over his back and said, "This had better be good. I love fun and games just as much as the next mazuko but it is time to move on."

"I know but let this one live. I have plans for her to help us get what we are after," Zelgadis replied as he walked in front of Xellos and kneeled down to the girl.

The girl tried to move away but was trapped between Zelgadis and the barrier. As she continued to cry she felt her chin being lifted up. The girl opened her eyes to come in contact with those same red eyes of the devil that was before her. But this time they seemed to give off a feeling of warm and protection. She stared deep into those eyes as she felt like it was casting a spell over her. "That's it. Just give in and all your worries will be gone. Now, I have a mission for you, you are to find Lina Inverse and bring her to this village. Are we clear," the devil asked her with a threatening tone to his voice.

The girl nodded and stood up in front of the two men. As she waited she saw the purple eyed man smile and say, "Perfect thinking. This way you can train more while this lovely little angel brings our quarry to us."

Xellos waved his hands and dispelled the barrier he then looked at the young girl and said, "Now go. And, if she refuses to come tell here that there is a big reward offered to get rid of the demons that are attacking the town."

The girl nodded still under the spell that Zelgadis had woven in her mind. She turned and started moving in the direction that Zelgadis had last seen Lina. As the two mazuko watched the girl run off down the road they laughed before Zelgadis said, "I will also use that girl as a mental link. When she is near Lina I will break into Lina's dreams and see what kind of nightmares I can unleash."

Xellos clapped at what a good pupil he had. "That's the way to go about it. By the time she gets here she will be a nervous wreck and that's were good, old, cured Zelgadis Greywords will come into play," Xellos replied as the lovely plan began to take shape.

Zelgadis laughed evilly as his eyes changed back to their normal sapphire hue. He extended his hand above himself and towards the sun. "Yes, she will need comforting and that's what I will give her. I will earn her trust and slowly begin to tighten my hold no her," Zel replied as he started to make and fist and look like he was crushing the sun.

Lina yawned as she and Gourry walked down the path that lead to the next town. It had been another two weeks since the incredible storm and things were looking up for the duo. Lina smiled as she thought about the job they had just completed. They were given the task of getting rid of a bandit group that was terrorizing a town. Lina dealt with it her usual way and was very excited to find that these were apparently very successful bandits. Now her treasure bag was filled to the brim with gold and jewels and she could not wait to get to the next town so she could eat at the best restaurants. As they where going down the path Lina suddenly stopped. "What's up Lina? You hear something," Gourry asked as he stopped right behind her.

"Someone's coming down the path very quickly," Lina replied as she looked to the side of the road.

She quickly grabbed Gourry and began dragging him towards some bushes while saying, "Come on jelly fish for brains we have to get off the path."

"Okay, okay...Just don't hit me," Gourry complied for fear of Lina getting anger.

The two ducked into the bushes and waited for whatever was heading down the road. A minute later a young girl, no older than the age of fifth teen, broke through the forest. She ran frantically down the path until she accidentally tripped over a tree root. She landed with a loud thud and stayed motionless for a moment. She began to sob as she laid there; her body finally giving out after she had run so far. As she felt herself fading she heard movement and then a voice from over her, "Are you okay? What happened to you?"

Lina had rushed to the young girls side when she had collapsed. After asking if she was okay she turned and shouted, "Gourry go get some water from that river we just passed!"

Lina watched as Gourry nodded and ran down the path to go fetch some fresh water. Lina the looked down at the girl and rolled her over. She gasped at what she saw once the girl was looking at her. The girl was covered in drying blood as tears flowed from her eyes. The blood was matted in her hair making feel like a piece of rough bark. Her face was smeared with the vile fluid and held the only sign that the girl had been touched. There were outlines of hands in the red liquid that stained her young face. Lina looked her over to see if she was wounded but did not find a scratch on the girl. 'Then who's blood is this,' Lina thought as she repositioned so she could lay the girl's head in her lap.

Lina smoothed back the young girl's hair as best she could and whispered, "It's okay...I won't let anything hurt you."

The girl slowly stopped sobbing and looked at the red haired woman that was caressing her hair. Another sob wracked her body as she tried to speak, "He...he...he killed them."

Lina eyes opened wide at what the girl said and asked slowly, "Who kill them?"

"This...this demon that came into our village. He killed the men and is holding my mother and the rest of the women captive. He told me that if I wanted to see my mother again I needed to find Lina Inverse," the girl began to sob again.

Lina gritted her teeth together as she cursed in her mind, 'Damn those mazuko! They can't come after me and face me they have to take hostages.'

Gourry returned with a full water skin and replied, "Here ya go. Fresh water from the river."

Lina nodded her thanks as she took the water skin. She turned to the girl and said softly, "Don't worry I'll help your village. Now drink some water...I'm sure you are almost dehydrated."

The girl weakly accepted the water that Lina gave her. After she drank a few sips she looked at her protector and asked, "Are you Lina Inverse?"

"Yeah, I'm the reason they are here. The mazuko are after me...I'm sorry your village got pulled into this," Lina replied as she slowly caressed the young girl's hair.

The young girl shook her head and replied, "It not your fault. He had mentioned he had attacked because he was hunger...then he told me to go find you. What else could I do with those red eyes glaring into my being."

'Must be a lower level mazuko,' Lina thought as she asked, "What did he look like?"

The girl closed her eyes and whimpered like she was remembering a nightmare. "He was tall...about as tall as your friend. He was very pale with a decent muscle tone. He wore all black with two belts at his waist including two black gloves that were cut off at the knuckles."

Lina looked at the girl as the description sounded familiar. "Was his hair lavender and come out in wings," she asked before she knew what she had said.

The girl shook her head and heard Lina give out a sighed of relief. "His hair did come out in wings but it was black as night. The oddest thing was how his eyes changed color when he attacked."

Lina's breathe was short after hearing most of the description. "Please don't say that his eyes were sapphire," she almost begged fearing what the girl would say.

She nodded, "Yes, before he attacked his eyes were the deepest sapphire blue I had ever seen. But, when he attacked they changed to blood red."

Lina looked off to the north as she thought, 'Please don't let it be him...I don't know what I can do if it is Zelgadis and he has given into the mazuko in him.' She looked down at the girl before picking her up and saying, "We'll rest in town tonight and head for your village in the morning," before marching towards the next town.

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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