Slayers: Final
Chapter Nine
My Hentai-Sense is Tingling!
Will the payoff be worth it?
Worth all of the anguish and pain I am putting everyone through?
Will being able to walk openly through a city street without being afraid fro myself and others solely because of my appearance be a fair trade? To be able to feel without it my senses dulled by my own accursed skin? To touch another without fear of hurting them?
Some how, without Amelia, I doubt it.
So why am I doing this? Sure I wanted to distance myself from them so I could carry out my plan easier. But now, sitting alone in this dark engine room, my only company being the loud humming from this peculiar flying ship's motor, I now have the privacy and relative quiet to analyze my behavior these last few weeks since we departed the Temple of the Fire Crystal.
Venturing into the most private depths of one's soul is never pleasant. Especially if part of yourself is wholly against your even trying. But I have to go to that revealing and naked place to find the answers to questions I fear.
Alright, I know I have gone way to far in the dealing with my friends. Hell I've flat out hurt them! But how did it get this far? Thinking back to the Fire Temple I remember I made my decision to leave after my conversation my Garirand. During the first leg of the trek to the mountains north of the desert where the temple lays I tried to distance myself from everybody, from Amelia, Naga and Garirand to even the temple personal who tried to get to know me. I rebuffed them all with hardly a thought.
That might be the problem right there. I wasn't thinking the entire time. And bu not really thinking, I let my defenses against the demon slip a bit. Then when dear Amelia came to try and help me, I must have subconsciously remembered to put my guards up and thus nearly ruining my distant facade which would have hurt my plans to leave in the long run. And of course, the demon, more than likely not in the mood for Amelia's good intentions, subtly coerced me into breaking her heart a lot sooner than I had originally planned.
I didn't even notice, but the demon has been playing me for a fool these last few weeks, causing much more trouble than I had ever intended.
But how do I stop? How do I regain control? Could I go back to Amelia? Would she even let me after all I had done to her? Demon or no, it was still me, ultimately, who made the decisions to do what I hade done. My constant tormenting of Naga, my lashing out at practically everybody and my false admission of not loving her, make convincing Amelia more than a daunting task by my measure.
Maybe if I can show her that I am at least trying to control myself, she'll soften up a bit. Maybe I can hide the fact that the demon is winning. But, if I try too hard, I risk the chance of her latching on too hard again. If that where to happen she might try to come after me when I leave, she might follow me to-
What the? I hear something. It is barely perceptible above the engine's din but. . .it is becoming louder. Is that. . .is someone crying?
There! Through the pipes I see a flash of brunette.
Lina.
She's actually out of bed! Ever since she has woken up from her coma she has been practically catatonic. She wouldn't acknowledge anyone, she would instead stare at the wall, ceiling or her bed, not really seeing anything, When we brought her food in the usually ten plate servings, she's only eaten two.
I have to get out of here. Her sheer sorrow is literally bubbling over and I do not no what will happen if I absorb too much of it. She's still stumbling her way over here, I should be able to sneak around the engine and too one of the hatches to the next deck.
Dammit! This is too much! It's growing stronger! Only a few more feet. . .but I can feel its presence smothering me like a thick, wet woolen blanket. Come on Zelgadis, you can do this. . .all you have to do is get through the hatch!
No! You are not taking over! This is MY body! I WON"T LET YOU!
"ARRRRGH!!!"
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"My, what a lovely leopard-skin throw! Where in the world did you get it?" Indeed this man has excellent taste, almost on par with I! Naga the White Serpent! This entire room, now Lina free, is a practical tapestry of skins, silks and mirrors!
"Would you like it for your bunk, Ms. Serpent?" Cid, the marvelously beautiful elf doesn't know who he is dealing with! We'll show him who's boss on this ship.
"I would have taken it anyways! It is the least you could offer in gratitude for being in the presence of one such as I!" Really, is it so much to ask of anyone?
"Well, I could show you my. . .personal collection in my room, if you would be so inclined." An odd look gleamed in those large angular eyes of his. He is up to something! Something odd by the look in his eyes!
"You are trying to sell something to me!"
"Well, no I-"
"It will not work! For I have the cunning of the agile rhinoceros and the intellect of the mighty shrew! If I see anything I fancy then I would take it as your homage to me, your new leader! Oooohohohoho!" Indeed, with Lina out of the way for the time being, I can now begin to establish myself as the new Queen of Explosions and Mayhem! But first I'll need an army of lackeys! Not just anyone Lina would pull off the common street, but beautiful and intelligent people like Cid here!
"A more beautiful sound, I have never heard!"
"Huh?"
"Your laugh! So regal and full of confidence! If I didn't know any better I would say you are a princess!"
WHACK
"Do not address me so ever again, lackey." I lost the right to that title long ago. But there are other more IMPORTANT thrones to rule now! Like that of Supreme Caster of Sorcery! One that could never freeze up in the face of adversity! One who could slay her enemies without fear of. . .One that could never let her mother die while she hide in fear her closet. . .
"Cid! I am in the mood for celebration! Take me to your finest spirits!"
"Celebration?" He was rubbing his new bump I bestowed him, in admiration of my lump giving skills, I have no doubt!
"Yes! In celebration of my soon to be ascension to the CROWN OF MAGICAL MYSTERY! Ooohohohoho!" I like that title, I think I'll rub it into Lina when she's done moping around.
"S-Sure, right this way, ma'am! Do you like brandy?"
"Oooohohohoho!" I do believe Cid and I will get along just fine!
A bunch of guys attacking one lady is downright pathetic
Okay, let's think this through one step at a time. There must be some perfectly logical reason why he isn't here with me right now.
Heh. . .she's just a kid
I was at the Temple of the Fire Crystal where everything was going honky-dory. Except for the fact that I nearly had my head caved in by a supremely pissed off demon lord.
You look as though you could use a traveling companion. I'll go to Atlus City with you
I must've blacked out for at least a few moments because when I woke up I was in Zel's arms and that Garirand character was fighting the BeastMaster.
What kind of man would I be if I slept on the bed while the lady sleeps on the floor?
Garirand got hurt, turns out he is a demon, no less.
That time of the month, huh?
Then. . .Gourry . . .
You are sooo bad
Then. . .Gourry . . .
I know, I wish it were like this forever
No.
Hey Lina, maybe we should go try a desert place first?
He promised me he'd protect me forever. He isn't the kind of guy who backs out on his word. He'll pop around the corner and say something incredibly stupid but cute like, "Hey Lina, you don't suppose they have any dragon cuisine on this flying boat-y thing, do you?" Or "All of these animal skins are making me hungry."
So you've been hurt all this time? You weren't just watching the clouds, you had your hands full healing yourself. I'm so sorry I misunderstood. . . .
But. . .there is no denying it.
Fancy meeting you here, little Lady! Miss me?
I saw him die before my eyes, trying to protect us to the end.
cough
Man, my throat is killing me.
I suppose its not too surprising, considering I've been holding back tears until I could be alone. Poor Amelia, the only reason I didn't respond to her after all she's done for me since I've been unconscious is that I would have started sobbing right then and there. I need to be strong. Gourry would've wanted me to be strong.
"ARRRRGH!!!"
What!?
Well, at least she is awake now. Which means my work load has been cut in half where she is concerned. Now I can concentrate solely on her emotional well being and no longer her physical well fare.
She seems so lost, like she has no place to go or no one to go to. I've never seen her like this before. She was very edgy when HellMaster held Gourry captive a few years ago, but at the very least, we knew he was still alive. Now, though, there can be no doubt. Poor, Miss Lina. Sure it hurts me, Gourry was always there for you, whether in righteous battle or just to listen, I'll miss that. But I can hardly fathom what must be going through Lina's head right now. Is she still in shock? Denial, maybe?
I don't know, though I tried to get her to open up soon after she woke. I don't think she knew I was talking to her for at least a few minutes. When she did realize that I had been trying to ask her how she felt, she just gave this empty look, like her soul had been torn out of her. Then, without saying a word she left, half walking, half dragging her feet.
She is really scaring me, and making me wonder if her coming out of that coma is really such a good thing. She looks like she is already dead, at least on the inside, and only a matter of time before the rest of her decides to stop living.
No.
No, I can't think like that. If I do it would mean I've given up. There must be something I can do. Maybe all she needs is time alone and in a few days, she'll snap out of her current state. Or maybe she really needs someone to talk to, even if she doesn't outwardly respond she may be listening. Or maybe-
What is that noise? Sounds like . . .giggling?
I wandered from my seat on Lina's bed over to Cid's quarters and placed my ear against the door.
There it is again! It is Gracia and . . .Cid!? What are they doing. . .alone. . .in his room!? Don't think like this Amelia. There must be a perfectly logical explanation for all of the bouncing around and giggling I hear.
Yikes! That final squeal is the last straw! This isn't the time for this kind of behavior! I'll bet Cid got my sister drunk and is now taking advantage of her! The nerve of that elf!
I backed up against the wall opposite of Cid's door, preparing myself for what I was about to see and mentally preparing a morality speech to end ALL morality speeches! I launched off the wall connecting with the door feet first, blasting the door into splinters!
I looked up from the wreckage and got a face full of feathers, temporarilly blinding me.
When my view became less obscured from the downy smoke screen I saw Gracia and Cid. . .look up blankly. . .from there interrupted. . .pillow fight.
"If you wanted to join in, you could have asked," Cid dryly stated.
"Really, Amelia, did you have to destroy such a marvelous door? It had a wonderful bas-relief of a woman entangled in serpents!" Gracia pouted.
"Those weren't serpents," Cid said.
"Right. . . but what were you doing? Having a pillow fight when our friends need us the most? I think we could be doing something a little more productive with our time! In fact-"
This time, I interrupted myself, as I noticed two tumblers of brandy -my sister's favorite- sitting on a table safely out of pillow fighting range. Two FULL tumblers! I looked hard at my sister, who was fast gathering a pillow arsenal for the next battle, and for the first time since I found her she did not have the half-defeated, half-crazed look in her eyes. For once she actually looked. . .happy. . ..
I looked over at Cid, who was also scrambling to get more pillows for his feathery armory, and noticed the same kind of contentment. He then threw the pillow as hard as he could at Gracia, catching her full on the face. Gracia just grinned and proceeded to spin her arms in a wide circular motion, launching a pillow with each rotation.
"PILLOW MACHINE GUN!" she yelled.
Oh my.
I think they are in love!
And the brandy! They haven't even touched it yet! Maybe this is all Gracia really needs? This is so awesome!
I was about to join in the feather filled but then the room was struck silent by a scream, of rage and pain. It was Zelgadis! And coming from the engine room, I think!
"Guys! Be quiet! I think I heard something from the engine room!" I yelled over there rising din.
"The engine room? Who'd be down there? There is nothing but the uh. . .engine." Cid said.
Without another word we ran to the engine room, praying that it isn't another demon. We made it to the hatch and I cast protection spells on everyone. From within the closed hatch, we could here something thrashing around and then a scream. Lina's scream!
Cid, didn't wait another second, he threw open the hatch and dived down head first, and ended up hitting the deck. Head first. Gracia and I came down the more conventional way, the ladder well. Gracia hauled Cid to his feet and smacked his already sore head in mild frustration, we then started quickly down the dark pipe lined halls.
As we moved in closer, the thrashing noise grew louder and was now accompanied by growling and occasional gasps of pain. Lina's whimpering grew louder also. Lina never whimpers, even in the face of death, not even when Gourry died. This realization made run even faster, not because of the danger involved (as it couldn't be that terrible) but because of Lina's current emotional state. I don't think she can handle much more stress before she completely loses it, or worse.
We turned the corner and what we saw made my heart collapse on itself. It wasn't just Lina, who was curled up in a ball half-sobbing half-shrieking, backed up against a piped clogged corner. No, it was whom Lina was screeching at, Mr. Zelgadis. He was writhing on the floor in obvious agony. Horns had sprouted on top of his forehead, strange protrusions were visible, ahh, protruding through his clothing at his shoulder blades and the backside of his trousers.
I motioned Naga over to Lina, who complied without question (thankfully).
"Cid," I said, "I need you to hold him down before he hurts someone or himself. I'm going to try something."
"Any ideas, on how to go about THAT?" he gestured to the convulsing Zel and rethought my plan of attack. Maybe this will work?
"Slow Time!" My spell worked perfectly. Mr. Zelgadis's body slowed down considerably, having an almost comedic effect as his balance and center of gravity seemed to be unaffected, making him seem as if he were underwater. He was slowed enough that Cid had no trouble tying poor Zel up to stop him from thrashing completely.
Now, what to do about this. . ..
SNAP!
His ropes! Has the spell been broken already!?
"ARRRRGH!" With a sick tearing sound, large bat-like wings erupted from Zelgadis's back, tearing through his shirt and mantel, making everyone, me included, involuntarily take a few steps back. But, the shock was only brief for me, and I ran to his again writhing form, trying to gather him in my arms, trying to tell him it is all right. But, it isn't alright, not by a long shot.
I was promptly thrown aside by another new appendage, a tail! A tail with a barbed tip. Along with his wings and horns he now looks almost exactly like a Brow Demon.
Oh, Mr. Zelgadis! I didn't know it was THIS bad! I should've tried harder to help you find your cure! I should've helped you more, even if it meant alienating your privacy! I should done something to stop . . .this from happening. He finally stopped thrashing, collapsing onto the deck unconscious.
"What the hell just happened?" Asked a visibly shaken Cid.
"I don't know. I've only seen something like this once before." Valgaav the half demon-dragon sprouted wings and scales when he attacked us at the Temple of the Fire Dragon. Maybe there is some connection? Maybe Ms. Lina knows something.
Lina was now on her feet, being supported by Gracia, looking very frightened at Zelgadis.
What the hell just happened!?
I heard a scream, and rushed down the corridor only to find Zel yelling in agony. But that isn't the worse of it, no siree. He actually looked like he blamed ME for what was happening to him. Even in his barely coherent state he actually attacked me, his teeth gnashing and fist swinging. I couldn't fight back, not against Zel. I was too afraid. What if he simply didn't recognize me? What if I had defended myself and he suddenly came back to his senses, realizing what he had done would probably have just added to his already substantial emotional burden.
So, instead I just coward. Me, the "great" Lina Inverse, enemy of all who live coward in the corner, waiting for Gourry to come help me. Gourry didn't come though, and I find myself supported by none other than Naga who is looking disturbingly wistful. What's up with her?
Staring down at the unconscious Zel, Amelia hoarsely whispers "What happened?"
I told her what I could in a pitifully broken voice. She then suddenly broke down like no one I have ever seen before, sobs racking her body.
Naga quickly went to her sister but in her rush she forgot about little ol' me and I quickly crumpled to the floor. I didn't have the energy or the desire to move, and I quickly fled to deep slumber, the place where all you can eat restaurants line the streets, bandits patiently wait their turn for me trash, and where Gourry is still alive.
Author's Notes:
Sorry for the late update but college has been murdering my time. But you could probably already tell that by these horribly rushed last few chapters. But do not worry! I am in the process of revising each and every chapter to make them all as good as the first 3 or 4. For those who think this story is getting way too depressing, be patient, things will start to look up in the next chapter. Sorry for the lack of Mog but this chapter went in a completely different direction than I had in mind. See ya's next time.
Tom the Mighty.