Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer here, I wish I owned Slayers and everything with it, but I don't. If I was making money off this, I'd be rich...but I'm not. I'm just a poor college student with too much free time. Also, the song 'Silhouette' is by Driveblind, and I definitely recommend a listen to it.
A big thank you to everyone that has commented so far! (More C&C is always welcome) Don't worry if updates are slow, it's just due to health reasons. (Bug me and I'll
get to work!)
Blind Leap of Creativity - Chapter 9
Zelgadis didn't miss the faint sound of the front door being closed. Rolling over a bit, he immediately focused on three bright red numbers that stood out across the dark room.
"5:03. I don't care how liberal her school is with their open door policy…even they won't be open this early. It can't be breakfast, not with the speed she eats at. So that means…" He swung his legs over the edge of the couch, struggling into a sitting position, blankets wrapped around him like a cloth cocoon.
It didn't take long to shuffle his way into the kitchen, grumbling over the low temperature all the way. Only Lina would choose to save money by turning down the thermostat so much, not that it really affected her, as she was hardly ever home. In the last three days it had gotten even worst. Either she was still furious about the incident at Slyphiel's, or something else had happened during that talk the two women had had…one he had struggled to listen to, only to have his body betray him for a bit of sleep.
Absently he hit the heat tab on the coffee machine, other hand fumbling about for a mug from the cupboard. Selecting his favorite, he set it in the appropriate slot, already imagining the comforting taste of his favorite drink.
A few minutes later he was back on the couch, drink in hand. He took a few sips, savoring the slight burn that accompanied his caffeine fix. Staring over the top of his mug, he noticed the clock again.
No matter her motive, it was obvious that Lina was avoiding him. It didn't matter what ungodly hour he woke up at, how late he forced himself to stay up waiting, she still managed to avoid him each day. She woke up earlier everyday, came home later, somehow managing to outmaneuver him on instinct alone. He'd even thought about cornering her during the night, but visions of the resulting fight had stopped that plan cold.
With a sigh of irritation, Zelgadis set his empty mug down on a nearby end table, the stoneware and polished wood meeting with a sharp sound that made him wince a bit. Really, why did the issue matter in the first place? He was Muse, being ignored came with the job. Hadn't he been the one to point out to Lina just how long she'd ignored him in the past?
Ah, but that was different.
Zelgadis gave a start at the sudden thought. What was so different about it?
She knows you exist now. She's not ignoring inspiration…she's ignoring you.
He scowled darkly, trying to ignore his new line of thought. What did it matter if some mortal ignored him? She was just an assignment, one that came with a time limit even before he accepted the job. He only cared about the artwork, took pride in being the inspiration behind some wonderful artistic creation. He didn't care who the artist was.
Bullshit. Now you're just spouting that whitewash they print on the starter's handbook.
The sound of something breaking cut through his reflection. Looking down, he noticed his white-knuckled grip on the handle of his coffee mug…a handle that had been cleanly separated from the mug itself.
"Damn! That was one of my favorites too…" Starting at the broken cup a bit more, it finally sunk it that he had done the damage.
Who was it that was just saying they didn't care? That she was just some mortal, some assignment?
Dropping the bit of stoneware in disgust, he got to his feet, stalking toward the bathroom. A nice, hot shower would clear his mind. Then he could worry about how to deal with Lina. One way or another he would talk to her before the week was out, even if it meant walking to her school and dragging her out of a classroom.
Halfway through his shower, Zelgadis swore loudly to himself. "Okay, change of plans. First I'll replace that mug, even if I have to glue the damned thing back together by hand…then I deal with Lina. Bad enough I have to confront her on this…I don't need her killing me for breaking something as well."
- - -
Lina wandered in the general direction of her car, a slight dancing lightness to her step. Eyes half-closed, she dodged around parked cars with familiar ease. MP3 player blaring in her ears, she mouthed the chorus to Silhouette perfectly, the male tenor line easily within her range. One nice thing about an art college, there wasn't much she could do that would warrant a strange look from the other students. Choir students were always running through songs in their head, often mouthing the words without realizing it; while art students would often walk cross-campus splattered in a bizarre mis-match of paints, looking more like some odd throwback to the 60s than anything else.
As the song drew to a close, she flicked off her player and removed her headphones. As much as she loved music, she also hated headphones; the larger models were itchy and collected every stray bit of hair and fur imaginable, the smaller ear bits were just uncomfortable and usually fell out at the worst times. If she didn't need music so much, usually to keep her sanity during a particularly boring class or frustrating painting, she wouldn't bother.
"One of these days they'll drop that stupid rule about no stereos. We don't all enjoy listening to heavy metal as glass-shattering volumes…"
After making a face, she pushed the issue aside in favor of finding her keys. If memory served, her car was only another aisle or so over, most likely hidden behind some giant pickup truck or SUV. Awkwardly balancing her backpack in one hand, it only took her three tried to fish her keys out of the front pocket, freeing them from a sea of crumpled food wrappers. Staring at the wrappers a moment, she made a mental note to stock up on munchies on the way home. She couldn't always expect Sylphiel to bail her out with free food in the middle of the day.
She reached her car a minute or so later, unlocking the door and throwing her bag in without really thinking about it. It wasn't until she was in the middle of putting on her sunglasses, one foot inside the car, that she felt someone watching her. Pulling out of the car sharply, she looked around, all the while shifting her keys in her hand, until a blade stuck out between each finger, her hand in a fist. Common sense told her to just get in the car and drive off, but instinct told her to stand her ground, that this was something she needed to deal with.
Just as she was about to give up her search, she noticed someone. The man was taller than her, slim in an athletic sort of way. He was dressed in tailored black pants and a cream dress shirt, a dark purple tie dangling from the collar. Except for the fact that he was missing a suit jacket, he looked like some model for a business apparel catalog. By the time she looked at his face, she'd thrown out the model idea. Like Zelgadis, the man had an odd hair color; dark purple rather than lavender, a style that hung perfectly straight, with bangs that cut off just above his eyes, the rest cut off just above his shoulders. On an impulse she tried to catch a glimpse of his ears, but they disappeared behind his hair.
"Is there something you want?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Lina winced at the question. The phrasing left her wide open for some snide remark or dirty taunt, but the stranger had unsettled her enough that she hadn't thought of that beforehand.
Instead of some crude comment, the man only smiled, a thin thing that didn't quite reach his closed eyes. After a moment he opened them, the dark purple a striking sight, but the style was clearly nothing human. The combination of the two was enough to make Lina gasp softly. Thinking back on it, Zel's eyes were a bit odd as well, an in-between cross of the two styles. Even with the recent advances in eye surgery, it seemed unlikely that this man was human.
Great, as if one mythical creature weren't enough in my life. First a muse and now…what, a sprite, a demon?
"You weren't supposed to be a painter, you know."
Of all the responses Lina had expected, that wasn't it. Dumbfounded, she raised her left hand to her forehead, fingers rubbing her temples. Just what she needed, another headache in her life.
"What are you talking about?" She forced out the words, biting them off sharply. "And explain quickly, before I decide that beating the tar out of you might make me feel better."
His smile only widened more, turning into something half-way authentic. "Such fire…you're wasted on those fools." With a sigh of regret, he shrugged before continuing. "Blame it on fate, destiny…whoever you believe pulls the strings of eternity. You were cheated out of your true purpose in life, all to save a bit of face for the company. You see, they made a mistake, one they didn't want to deal with. So they shuffle some employees around, pull one unfortunate mortal from her true path only to stick her on another, then they sit back and breathe easy…the problem neatly swept under the rug."
Lina blinked several times, trying to digest his explanation. "I sure as hell hope you plan on elaborating, buddy."
"Ah, buddy already? My, my Lina…you move rather quickly." Still smiling, he leaned forward, folding his arms on the top of her car, head nestled atop them, tie flopped out across the sunny metal.
"I'll show you how 'quickly' I move!" Jumping up a bit, her arm darted across the roof of her car, neatly snagging his tie in her hands. Pulling sharply, she smiled at the variety of strangling noises he managed to make. Finally she let go, snickering a bit when he took the time to straighten out his tie.
"Ahem, as I was saying…" He resumed his former position, though only after carefully tucking away his tie, firmly out of her reach. "You see, it all starts with a mistake Zelgadis made regarding his latest charge-"
Lina cut in. "I know all about that, so you can drop that look."
He feigned innocence. "What look?"
"The look for someone ratting out the biggest secret they know about a rival."
The stranger pouted, managing to look halfway cute and innocent.
Blinking a few times, Lina bit back a slight curse. Cute? Where in the hell did that come from? Come to think of it, I don't even know this guy's name! What is it with these people and skipping introductions?
Before he could continue, she held up a hand to stop him. "Wait, first thing's first. Just who in the hell are you, anyway?"
Pulling back from the car, the man gave bowed with a slight flourish. "Xelloss, at your service my dear."
"Cut the flattery, we both know better than that."
"Sharp eyes, as I expected."
She didn't rise to his bait. "I take it you're a muse as well?"
"First rank, of course. Several specialties."
Deciding that she didn't like the look he was giving her, Lina blushed a bit before clearing her throat. "You were saying, about some mistake?"
"All work and no play, Lina-"
"If you keep dancing around the subject, I'm going to drive home. You had something to say, so say it already!"
He opened his mouth, then closed it abruptly. Letting his smile fade a bit, he started again. "As you wish, though you're taking all the fun out of it. So Zelgadis made a mistake, one big enough that the higher ups decided that they needed to stick him with someone else, immediately. Who better than another local talent, one with no connection to any sort of drawing? You were a singer, it seemed a safe enough alternative. But as with your friend before you, he made a mistake."
"And?"
"You have a passionate soul, my dear…one that Zelgadis is hardly equipped to handle. No offense to your friend, but he is used to a gentle, tame sort of spirit; a fiery flower such as yourself is out of his league. You needed, need, a Muse with the ambition to lead you to the future you deserve. Not to mention that extra spark to help you show the world just what you're truly capable of."
"I suppose you're referring to none other than yourself?"
He just smirked. "If Zelgadis had been paying attention, instead of sulking over his previous charge, you wouldn't be here now." At her inquiring look, he explained. "The higher ups noticed the change in Zelgadis, they figured that enough time had passed, that it would be safe to steer you into art. You had the talent, it was just that singing was supposed to be your primary instead. So they switched things. An attentive Muse could have kept you on your right path, given you the strength to overcome such a hurdle. I assume you remember a certain backstage fight?"
Lina gasped, eyes wide. "You're telling me that was a setup!?"
Xellos was at her side in an instant, one hand covering her fist. Lina didn't even realize she was bleeding until Xellos's hand forced hers apart, pulling her keys away. The metal had cut open her palm in several places, shallow cuts that were more blood than anything else. Ignoring the pain, she pinned Xelloss in place with a dark stare.
"Why are you telling me this? Do you have something against Zel, or are you just wanting to take his position?"
"I just hate seeing good talent go to waste. You were meant for great things Lina, things that they had no right to rob you of. I'm a Muse; to see such talent wasted…it is a crime of the highest order."
"I don't buy that high and mighty goal for a second, but I'm too furious to dig up the real reason." She snatched her keys back, hissing when the metal hit her cuts. "Okay Xelloss, you got my attention. I'm going to think on this a while, so you can back off for now. Come back later, maybe we'll talk about it more. I make no promises though."
He smiled again, eyes closed, emotion unreadable. "Of course." Then he was gone.
- - -
Lina drove home in silence, too busy thinking to be bothered with any sort of distraction, even music. As much as she hated the idea, Xelloss had given her a lot to consider. He'd also reopened the door to her past, specifically the idea of singing.
"I promised to give up singing that day. To go back now…what was that argument with Luna for, then?"
Luna…there was a person she hadn't thought about in a while. It wasn't as if they hated each other, more that they respected the others' personal space. Luna had her own life, one taken up by her restaurant and her boyfriend, teaching the odd evening class when time allowed. They still visited now and then during the holidays, shared a phone call now and then.
Back when singing had been her life, it had been Luna of all people that supported her. Her older sister had driven her to every show, paid the bill for every lesson. After tearing into that final irate mother, it was Luna that sat her down, asked if singing was really her dream.
"Lina…"
Looking up, Lina managed some sort of reply in-between sniffles.
"Do you really want to be a singer, Lina? More than anything else in the world?"
"Y-yes."
"Tell me the truth now. Are you willing to stand up to anyone for your dream? That mother won't be the last to attack you, Lina. The farther you walk down this road, the harder it will get."
"…Really?"
Luna gave her a hard look. "I won't always be there to help you Lina. If you aren't willing to stand up for your dream…then maybe this isn't the right thing for you."
"But-"
A single look from her sister silenced her. "Lina…my restaurant will open a month from now. I won't be able to help you as much. If you want my help, you have to earn it. You have to make a choice and stick with it. You've been doing well in art lately, haven't you? Your teacher mentioned the upcoming show."
Lina brightened noticeably at that.
"Okay, let's make a promise. If you take first place in that show…do you want to focus on art after that, or stick with singing? I'll only have the time to support you in one, not to mention the cost. You pick one or the other after that, okay?"
"Okay, Luna…I promise."
It seemed like such an obvious choice at the time. She could keep dealing with the world of singing; the cold and jealous looks of the other contestants, the angry accusations of the various mothers, or she could go into art. She never saw her opponents at the art shows, never had to deal with angry parents. You just turned in your work and the teacher handled the rest. Oh, she could choose to attend the show, but it wasn't required. Why deal with the social politics, when instead she could focus on the artwork itself?
Now, knowing that such a path had been chosen for her…didn't that ruin things? She should be angry, furious at the world for ruining things. But had she really been happy before? Instead of just enjoying the songs, she had always worried about the others, about the dark looks and whispered insults. Did she really love singing enough to put up with all of that? But was the art circuit only as easy as it was due to some outside tampering?
"Enough!" Slamming her hands down on the steering wheel, Lina cut off her circle of thoughts.
She'd been sitting in the driveway for ten minutes already, oblivious to the outside world. Now, focused once again, she glared at her home.
"Well, there's one person I can ask to shed a bit of light on this mess, and he's in my house."
After Sylphiel's story, Lina had avoided the muse, afraid of giving something away. It was an awkward subject, one she wasn't sure about. Was the whole thing a secret, something best left in the past? Her curiosity wanted to know Zel's side of the story, her caution wanted to leave well enough alone. Now, with the addition of her own problem, it was time to sit down and have a long talk with Zelgadis.
"Good thing I don't have any important classes tomorrow. I have a feeling it will take more than an hour or two to go through everything."
Grabbing her bag, Lina headed to the door, satisfied for the moment with her choice.