Lina's Nocturne

Chapter: 1

Between Dreams and Reality

Next chapter up. Note: I'm using the japanese system of schools if that isn't apparent in my writing.

A/N: Zelgadis in this looks human...he doesn't have the chimera thing going on in this fic.

Lina stretched and yawned as she walked down the street in her college uniform as she headed home. Things had changed in the years she had grown up. Luna had moved to Tokyo after finishing a year; at what was called a cram college, to attend the university and leaving Lina the only child in the house. Zangulus, and Martina's families all moved away after they got into different levels of universities. So now it was just Gourry, Sylphiel, and Lina were the only ones left out of the group of friends. Today, Lina was alone while walking home from her normal day in the same cram college that Luna had attended. Gourry and Sylphiel had gone off on a date together and where happy as two peas in a pod. 'To think I thought I was in love with him a year ago...I would've gone insane,' Lina thought to herself but felt the loneliness that always came with the thoughts of her lost relationship.

"Why should I care about that I'm better off on my own," Lina said out loud, more out of pride then need, as she walked down the path towards her home.

Lina continued to walk as she came into view of the old forest where they used to play as kids. She sighed as fond memories came into her mind of all of them playing hide and go seek. Lina then stopped and looked at the forest as faint memories of the mansion she saw came back to her. It had been years since she had thought of the strange house that she may or may not have seen as a child, but the mansion and its mysterious owner were always there in the back of her mind. 'I searched the whole forest and I didn't find it...I'm not so sure I saw it...I probably just dreamed it up,' Lina thought as she started to walk again. She soon reached her home and walked inside.

Lina kicked off her shoes just inside the house and called, "Mom, I'm home."

Lina did not get a reply and walked into the kitchen to find a note. She picked the note up and read out loud, "Honey, your father has an important business dinner and I need to attend as well. We won't be home until very late. There are instant meals in the freezer and snacks in the pantry. Love, Mom."

Lina smiled after reading the letter and felt good to know that she would be able to be alone for the night. 'Not that mom and dad are a pain or anything, but it's nice to be on my own here and there,' Lina thought as she pulled out one of the dinners and put it in the microwave.

Lina set the timer and let the meal cook as she walked into the living room and turned on the television. Lina flipped through the channels until she found something she liked and watched until she heard the microwave signal it was finished. "Food time," Lina announced as she went back into the kitchen and began to devour the tv dinner.

After finishing off the first round of food Lina went back in the living room and picked up the sketch pad she always kept with her. She flipped through the pages until she found a blank page and began to draw. She slowly and deliberately crafted each line into the image that she wished. As she finished she held the pad out in front of her to criticize her own work. She looked at it and nodded to show her approval of the piece.

'That captures him perfectly,' Lina thought as she looked at the picture.

The sketch was of the cloaked and hooded man that guarded the mansion those years ago. His lithe form stood in a garden as his cloak pulled to the side because of the unseen wind. In one hand he held a rose up to the area of his nose and where the the rose went under the hood it was covered in shadow like the whole of his face. The other hand was clasped the opposite side of his cloak so that the wind would not pull the him by his neck. "One day I'll find you, and then I'll get you back for not letting me in," Lina said before adding, "If you do exist..."

Just as Lina put down her pad she heard the microwave signal that the second round of food was ready. Lina got up and went into the kitchen to eat again as the thought, 'Did that mansion ever exist?'

Lina stretched as she sprawled out on her bed as the sun began to set. She closed her eyes for a moment as she continued to relax. As she was about to fall asleep, she was awakened by her window rattling as a strong wind kicked up. Lina sat up and looked outside to see the forest had already grown dark with the coming clouds. She about passed it up when she caught sight of some strange lights in the middle of the forest. "No, way...It's come back," Lina thought as she ran downstairs and out the door feeling drawn to the mysterious light.

As soon as Lina stepped outside she had to brace herself against the strong gust of wind that whipped past her house. She started to slowly move towards the light as the winds continued. She made her way from tree to tree as she fought against being swept away by the wind. As she got closer she noticed that the wind seemed to pick up and pushed against her. 'It's like the wind is trying to keep me from proving if the mansion is real or not,' Lina thought. She continued to push forward as the wind continued to gust. As she was about to move once more the wind kicked up, but this time she lost her footing and was flung. She had attempted to hold onto a branch but she only succeeded in cutting her palm as the wind took her body for a ride. She actually left the ground for a moment and before she knew what happened she hit something and all went black.

Lina opened her eyes for a moment to notice the wind was no longer blowing. She closed her eyes again to fight the throbbing of her head. A second later her mind registered that her eyes noticed that she was no longer outside. Lina sat up quickly, regretting it soon after, to find herself in a Victorian styled bedroom. Her head was pounding due to the quick movement and so she slowly resigned herself to laying down and looking at the bed. She was in a grand four poster bed with a canopy and curtains covering the sides. She looked at the curtains and reached to feel that they were made of the finest silk. 'I don't know where I am but it looks expensive,' Lina thought as the sound of a guitar floated into her ears. Lina laid there and listened as the light notes soothed her and were soon joined by a light, airy tenor.

Who is this child
That I've never seen before
Who is this child
That I've not seen till this day

Who dares to fall asleep
Outside my door
If we should wait awhile
I'm sure she'll go away

To be involved with this
Would surely not be wise
For in the final word
She means nothing to me

I learned the trick is
That we just avoid her eyes
And the question
What she means to…

What is this life
There will be other lives
Soon to arrive
Surely some will survive
She is but one
And there are many more
Each the same as any other

Who is this child
What does she mean to me
I close my eyes
And still her face I see
She is but one
Her kind is everywhere
Can't you see there's no way I
Should care…

Lina listened to the lyrics as the voice sang them and was struck by the emotions described in so few stanzas of song. 'Those lyrics are eerie and yet beautiful at the same time. It shows the writers conflict between being kind and just walking away and not getting involved with the lost child,' Lina thought as she pulled a curtain back to be met with the singer himself.

"You," Lina gasped as she stared at the cloaked and hooded man from her childhood.

The man stopped playing his guitar and looked towards her, acknowledging that he heard her, but said nothing. Lina rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things and viewed the phantom from the past with great curiosity. He hadn't changed since the day she first saw him at the gate to the mansion. He still wore his ivory outfit complete with hooded cloak and mask. But this time she could see that his hands were cover by ivory gloves that tucked into the sleeves so that no skin was showing. Then she heard him say in his light voice, "So you're awake now. You should stay in bed for a while that bump you got was quite a big one."

"Who are you," Lina asked while staring at the man, "And, where am I anyway?"

The man lowered his head and said lowly, "You're in my room inside the mansion you so wanted to get into eleven years ago."

Lina's eyes brightened at the thought of actually being inside the elusive mansion from her childhood. She had so many questions she wanted answered and she had a feeling this man could tell her. The problem was that he did not seem to be too talkative or helpful. "You never told me your name," Lina replied wondering why this man seemed to still be on a downer even after eleven years.

"My name is Zelgadis," replied the man as he looked up at her and said, "I'm the caretaker of the mansion and I will be assigning you a room in a few days."

Lina arched an eyebrow at his statement and asked, "What do you mean assign me a room? I just live a small walk away from here."

Zel shook his head and said, "You used to...this mansion isn't just a mansion. It is a place for those who have lost their way."

Lina looked at him and decided to prove to herself he was crazy. She got up and walked to the window to see nothing but forest. She went pale and stuttered, "That...That...That can't be," as reality came crashing down.

She felt dizzy and then everything went black. Zelgadis reacted with his speed and caught her as she fell. He looked at the unconscious girl and sighed, "Welcome to your new home young one. You wanted to come in so bad and now that you are here you will understand the grave error you have made."

Zel then lifted her in his arms and carried her down the hall towards her new room.

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.

Feedback is requested, please send all comments to size=1 width=100% noshade>