Blind Faith

Chapter: 3

Seeds of Doubt

I'm such a terrible author I know. It's been quite a while since I've updated this one. Well, I guess you can throw something at me. Anyway let's continue.

Lina smiled as she walked down the road with Charlotte walking next to her with Gourry right behind. Lina had learned the name of her newest ward a few days after running into her. Now the group was traveling towards the village that Charlotte had come from with the mission of expelling the mazuko from that village. Lina walked along side the young girl while saying, "Are you sure you're okay with this? I mean I wouldn't want to go back after going through what you have."

Charlotte looked at Lina with her freckled face and gave a weak smile. "I have to...if I want to see mother again then I have to go back," she replied in her low tone.

Lina frowned as she watched over the young girl. It had only been a week since the two had met and Lina was already acting as if she had a little sister in Charlotte. Everywhere Charlotte was Lina was not far behind and everywhere Lina was Charlotte was right there as well. The two had grown close in the small amount of time that they had spent together. Even Gourry had noticed and could not help but smile as he watched the two walk together. 'They look so much alike and are together all the time...it's no wonder people mistake them for sisters,' Gourry thought as he followed behind the two towards the next town.

The group sat at a table in the tavern that was attached to the inn they were staying at for the night. Lina and Gourry were eating at their usual pace as Charlotte took her time on the small meal she had ordered. After a few more minutes Charlotte had finished her meal and she pushed back from the table. "Lina...," she called with her low, nervous voice.

Lina stopped eat for a moment and looked to Charlotte before asking, "What is it Charlotte?"

"I'm going to go to my room now," replied Charlotte as she stood and began towards the stairs.

"I'll be up soon," Lina called as she began to finish off her last piece of chicken.

After finishing Lina stood up and headed for the stairs while saying, "I'll see you in the morning Gourry."

After Lina got the the top of the stairs she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Gourry standing behind her. Before Lina could say anything Gourry pulled her neck in to an embrace and whispered, "I think Charlotte will be okay for a little while."

Normally Lina would have hugged Gourry back and gone with him but right now she was hesitant. 'I don't know...Charlotte is acting normal but that's what has me worried. If she saw her town torn apart I would think she would need someone,' Lina thought as she stalled.

"Lina," Gourry asked as he looked at the redhead.

Lina pulled a hand up and replied, "I'm sorry Gourry but I don't think I should leave Charlotte alone until we get her back to her mother."

Lina began to pull back but Gourry held on before asking, "Are you sure your okay? I mean ever since that attack in Drindale you've been rather distant."

"Who's being distant," Lina shouted as she took offense to Gourry's comment.

Gourry back up a bit at Lina's shout and replied, "Look...this was a bad idea. Just take care of Charlotte," before walking towards his room.

Lina huffed as she walked to her room and opened the door. As she walked in Charlotte was sitting up in bed and asked, "What was that shout about Lina."

Lina sighed as she sat down on the bed. She ruffled Charlotte's hair playfully before replying, "Don't worry Gourry and I just had a bit of a disagreement."

"Was it because I'm here," Charlotte asked as she dropped her head.

"No, no honey it wasn't because of you. Gourry and I have a decent number of arguments so this is nothing new," Lina replied while thinking, 'Damn you Gourry! If you make Charlotte feel bad because you can't hold you libido down...'

Lina did not finish the thought as she began to prepare for bed and to help Charlotte sleep.

Zelgadis' eyes flashed to life as he felt his mind link with the girl kick in. 'So we are having a bit of a spat are we,' he thought as a wicked smile came to his face.

Zel stood from his resting place on the only intake roof left in the village. He looked down upon the village before he was to begin. The corpses of the villagers still laid in the street. There faded eyes gazed up at the sky in a morbid reminder of the god they had prayed to save them before they were cut down. Putrid pools of blood and sinew still littered the ground as the foul stench of decaying flesh rose from the streets. Zelgadis smiled before saying, "Don't worry my dear victims you'll have another chance to relive your lives."

After that moment Zelgadis sat down on the roof in a cross-legged position. He began to concentrate as he wanted to link with a mind near Charlotte. 'Now to cause some problems,' Zel thought as he found what he was looking for.

Gourry tossed and turned in his bed as he was plagued by a nightmare. Gourry saw the village in its terrible state. Bodies littered the ground as the fires raged in the background. The fetid smell of stagnate blood and ichor hung in the air as he tried to walk without stepping on a body. As he came closer to the village square he heard the sounds of combat. After a moment he heard a shout, "Look out!"

"Lina," he shouted as he broke into a sprint towards the sound of Lina's voice.

As he was about to break through to the square he tripped and fell. As he looked around to come face to face with a corpse. He froze as a moment of panic went through his mind. The faded and puss covered eyes of the dead stared right at him. He regained his thoughts and went to stand. Half way in his stance he felt something grab him. Gourry turned to see a corpse holding on to him before it opened it's mouth and moaned. "Stay dead," he shouted as he cleaved off its arm.

Gourry tried to move but other corpses began to come to life. The moans of the dead rang in his ears as broken fingernails clawed at his arms and legs. Gourry continued to swing and hacking at the dead. Old blood splattered out at him and covered his shinning armor. The stench grew in the air as his hair began to become matted down with old stagnate blood. After a few more minutes of swinging Gourry cleared a path and charged. He out ran the slow shambling undead as he broke into the village square. As he entered he saw a sight that made his blood run cold. He watched as Charlotte charged at Lina with a black dagger in her hand. Lina was busy taking care of the undead when Charlotte connected with Lina's mid back. He watched as Lina began to fall in shock as the blood gushed from her back. "No," he shouted as he went to run to her.

As he began to run the scene went back. Gourry stopped and looked around before he heard a low and dangerous voice say, "It's too late. She is in my trap now."

Gourry turned to see nothing before the voice came again, "Don't worry...if Charlotte doesn't kill you then I will put you out of your misery myself."

Gourry shot out of bed with sweat running down his brow. 'Charlotte is a mazuko agent...it can't be,' Gourry thought as he began to get up for the day.

Lina tossed in a dream but it was not a nightmare like the last time. Lina sighed as he stretched in a large bathtub as she relaxed in the hot water. She sighed as the water helped to undo the knots and sore muscles that she had after a day of travel. 'This is wonderful the only thing that would make this better would be a massage,' Lina thought as she sat up a little and put her arms on the rim of the tub.

As if on cue Lina felt a rubbing sensation on her shoulder blades. She quickly turned her head to come face to face with someone that she had not seen in a long time. Sapphire blue eyes stared at Lina as the massage continued in its slow motion. "Ze...Zel," Lina said as she looked at him.

"Hello Lina," Zel replied as he sent his rubbing a little lower on Lina's shoulders.

Lina then noticed the outfit Zel was in and cocked an eyebrow. Zel was dress in a long button up shirt with a black bow tie and a pair of black slacks. He reminded Lina of a butler as he continued to rub her shoulders. It was after Lina got over the moment that she felt how good Zel was at giving the massage. She shivered slightly before turning around and enjoying the attention Zel was giving her. After a moment she asked, "This is a dream isn't it?"

Zel smirked as he continued to rub and replied with a question, "What do you think?"

Lina looked at Zel out of the corner of her eye and sighed, "That's the answer you would give...I would have to guess it is. I haven't seen you in quite some time and I don't think you would ever dress like that."

Zel smirked before saying, "Maybe...mabye not. At least in this dream I dress like this."

Lina sighed as she took in the last statement. "And, you reply as stiffly as Zel."

"I'm here because you dreamed I was here," Zel said as he continued the massage and his reply, "I will be like you remember or how you want me."

Lina could only smirk as she thought, 'Yep...it's unnerving how much my mind gets right. Might as well enjoy the massage.'

Lina relaxed for a while as she enjoyed the light pressure Zelgadis applied to wherever she requested. After about twenty minutes Zel was rubbing her shoulders again before his hand slid down Lina's skin. She gasped right before she let out a low moan, "Zel...what...?"

Zel's hands slowly rubbed on Lina's breast as he leaned closer. He rubbed his lips on Lina's ear before whispering, "I'm here to take away all your worries."

Lina squirmed but did not stop what Zel was doing. After moaning again she leaned her head back until she looked into Zel's eyes. "No, I can't...Gourry's already been hurt because he is close to me. I can't let it happen to you."

Zel smiled as he lowered his lips to Lina's ear again and whispered, "You don't have to worry I am here for you and you alone. No matter what your pain, what your worry, or what your problems might have I will be here to wash them away. All you have to do is dream."

Lina gasped as she felt Zel's hand slowly run down her stomach with the same pressure. "Just dream," Lina replied with a light smile on her face.

"Just dream," Zelgadis replied as he place a hand on Lina's chin.

Lina leaned her head back a bit more as Zel moved closer before giving Lina a soul-searing, upside down kiss.

Zelgadis' eyes snapped open as he came out of the mind link. He cackled to the morning air as he thought, 'Wonderful...all I needed was a little lovers spat and my trap takes on a whole new level.'

He stood on the roof as he began to think again. 'Now I just need to put forth the idea that the only lover that will be safe with Lina is in her dreams,' Zel thought as an evil smirk appeared on his face.

Zel quickly summoned his cloak and pulled the hood over his head thus shadowing his appearance from view. He then began to concentrate and drew power to himself. "Minions of the beast appear before me," he called to the air.

A moment later three beings appeared in front of him. These creatures were best described as naga. Half-men, half-snakes that had the upper body of a human and the tail of a snake. Their upper bodies held a putrid shade of light green. Their snake tail were dark green with many scales running up and down the length. Their eyes were diamond shaped like all predators. And, the final piece were the forked tongues that flicked in and out to taste the air around. They scanned the area before they found Zelgadis. Each naga; two males and one female, flicked out their tongues before hissing, "What do you wish of us mazuko of Zelas?"

Zelgadis disguised his voice while thinking, 'Though I'm sure they would not reveal my identity I will not trust them.'

"I want you to track down Lina Inverse. Once you find her I want to attack both her and the blonde man with her. Try to injure the blonde man as much as you can," Zel replied in his deep, disguised voice.

"As you wish," the female hissed as the naga slithered away.

'Now just stay with the motions of the dance Lina,' Zelgadis thought as he watched the naga leave.

Lina shot up from her sleep with a sweat working down her face. She looked around to be reminded that she was sleeping in the floor of her room while Charlotte took the bed. 'Am I having that smutty a dream because Gourry made mention of spending some time together,' she asked in her mind as she stood up.

She looked to see that Charlotte was still asleep and peacefully dreaming. Lina smiled before heading to the dresser. She blushed as she remembered the dream to the smallest detail. She poured some water in the water basin and splashed it on her face. 'But, it was nice...I just wish I could care for someone without knowing the only way they will be safe is if they are a dream,' Lina thought as she looked out the window.

She sighed as she went to grab up her bath things and headed to the bathroom attached to the bedroom. 'I'll at least fulfill a bit of that dream,' Lina thought as she ready herself for a nice hot bath before starting the day.

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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