DISCALIMER: I still do not own The Slayers...
Alright, so here it is. Really different from where I started, I hope you, my fellow XelFi fans, like it. (n-)
Filia and Val fans, beware... you won't.
Enjoy! (nn)
- Nicci
Special thanks to the following:
raywing: Yikes! Sorry, sorry. Hope you like it! (nn)
Rêisi: Tada! Hee, hope you like it.
Story Weaver1: Ahem, I've already told you most of this but... Too true! Although that's why he and Lina work to begin with. Zel's situation comes up next chapter... and finally, I can't wait to see what you think of this chapter. (n-)
Thank you so much for your patience guys, you rock!
Chapter Ten
Misunderstood...
"It's getting late." Dade mused aloud, pausing mid-turn to meet the dragoness' gaze. "And we seem to be the only ones left."
"It certainly looks like they aren't coming back, doesn't it?" Filia replied with a light smile, using the opportunity to step out of his grasp. "Perhaps we should head to bed ourselves."
"Perhaps we should." He agreed easily, offering her his arm with a pointed smile. "I'll walk you too your room."
Filia blinked at the extended arm and swallowed nervously. She'd served as a priestess long enough to know that this was a statement, and not a request. She forced a smile, taking his arm.
"Thank you." She whispered softly, allowing him to lead them out of the ballroom.
The castle was seemingly as deserted as the ballroom but Filia paid it no mind. She had grown up in extravagance and knew that rarely was enough of it used. Perhaps this was why she had chosen to run both her business and her life out of the same dwelling, to really make it more personal.
The lack of intimacy here on the other hand, was something she found herself quite content with.
"I grew up in a palace like this." Dade spoke up softly, as though reading her mind and Filia tensed, wondering if he had.
"In a place far, far, away from here..." He went on, shaking his head sadly.
Filia breathed an inward sigh of relief, he was just homesick, not psychic.
"I miss it." He whispered, pausing at the window to stare off into the distance. He really did miss it. "I miss it more than I think anyone here knows..."
Filia smiled softly, joining him in viewing out into the night. "I'm feeling a little homesick too. I hope everyone is taking care back there."
Dade didn't respond, swallowing quietly and going on.
"I don't want to be here..." He breathed softly, so soft that Filia had to strain to hear him. "I don't want to be doing these things..."
"Then stop, Lord Dade." Filia urged softly, gently squeezing his shoulder. "I know there's still good in you. Seek it, and allow it to lead you and the rest of us out of this strange darkness."
Dade looked at the hand on his shoulder, and turned his chocolate gaze to her azure one.
"And will you help me?" He asked carefully, taking the hand in one of his, slipping the other under her chin.
She flinched but allowed him to tilt her gaze further into his.
"Would you keep me straight, Miss Filia..." His eyes were growing hallow and she felt herself slipping away into them.
He hadn't meant to call on the thrall of the power inside him but he had, and now he had a mission to complete, the talismans demanded it.
"You pity me, don't you Miss Filia?" He murmured and she nodded slowly.
"Yes..." She murmured softly, she felt so tired. "You... there is... still... good..."
"And pity is your weakness..." He mused wanly, leaning in closer. "Your pity turns to trust far too easily, Miss Filia."
"Hmm, my thoughts exactly." An irritated voice chimed in and Dade cursed inwardly, not daring to take his gaze from the dragoness'.
"Mr. Xelloss." He acknowledged coolly. "I'm afraid this is a private moment..."
"Oh. I don't think Filia would quite call it that." He replied easily, wrapping his free hand around the dragon maiden's waist and tossing her aside, the shock easily pulling her out of the thrall as he glared open-eyed daggers at the offending prince, his staff at the ready.
"Wha... Xelloss?" Filia asked, warily, shaking away the fog and blinking up at the two. "What happened?"
"And as for you, Lord Dade." He stated darkly, not taking his gaze from the prince, his eyes tightening into slits. "Why, it really seems you've had your hands on quite enough of my property already this evening. Run along or I'll put mine on yours. Please don't rush what I already consider a very unfortunate task."
Dade felt his pulse race under that cutting violet glare and gave a hasty bow. "Indeed."
Xelloss watched him go as he fled down the hall, his eyes still enraged.
Filia blinked, standing to her feet and pursing her lips. "Really, Xelloss. You didn't have to scare him so badly."
Xelloss turned his gaze on her, reveling in her terrified gasp briefly before re-adjusting to display his irritation.
"What is it with you, Filia?" He asked dryly, backing her up into against the wall.
"Wha... Xelloss..." She sputtered nervously as her back hit the wallpaper.
He glared at her coldly, his eyes narrowing in disgust. "All it takes is one pathetic sob story and you romanticize any megalomaniac into some poor broken and misunderstood soul. It's really quite disappointing."
"But they are!" She protested defensively. "Why poor Valgavv..."
"Had his entire race murdered by your kind." Xelloss cut in coolly, arching a brow. "Then got himself turned into a monster, and once his master was destroyed he decided to try and destroy the world. Tell me, Filia. Were you able to get through to him, in the end there?"
"Wha... I..."She fumbled, biting her lip nervously. "No..."
"No." Xelloss agreed cuttingly, leaning in, his nose inches from hers. "In the end he wasn't misunderstood at all. Otherwise, when you showed your concern he would have listened to you. Why, he would have cared that you cared."
Xelloss smirked cuttingly, giving the knife a final turn. "He would have cared enough about you to not destroy a world with you in it. But, no, in the end he thought this world was miserable place, with or without you. Now tell me, Filia, was he misunderstood, or just plain wrong?"
Filia stared at him in horror.
"You're a monster..." She whispered, her eyes shining in anger.
"Yes." He agreed with a short nod, pushing her back into the wall, her closeness as irritating as her self-righteousness. "A fact you so often seem to forget."
He broke off, observing her indignant flush, her ragged breathing as she attempted to control herself.
"What about me, Filia?" He asked softly, suddenly finding himself very curious about her answer.
"Aren't I misunderstood?" He whispered softly, snaking a hand into her hair, just to have her flinch away in disgust. He bit his cheek darkly, controlling himself from a counter attack. Had he really expected different?
"No." She hissed darkly, standing up tall. "You're evil, Xelloss. Pure and simple."
"Hmm..." He mused, reaching out again, this time reveling in her flinch and instead of snaking into her hair he slipped a hand behind her neck. "Is that really how you see me, Filia?"
"Yes." She whispered obstinately, this time afraid to pull out of his grasp.
How odd it was that animals made no attempt to move once you had them by the throat, it was as though they then realized they'd already been conquered.
"I suppose I am..." He mused wanly, tilting his head to get a better look at those blue eyes, so afraid and yet so defiant. "In fact, I currently can't really make up my mind on whether I want to snap your neck or throw you to the ground and have my way with you."
"You wouldn't..." Filia whispered, horror wining over, making her eyes grow twice as lovely.
"Oh?" He asked bemusedly, taking a step back and spinning her into his chest, his arm now linked around her throat as he reveled in her heavy breathing. "Tell me, Filia. Which prospect is more terrifying to you?"
The dragon maidens breathing hitched but she remained silent and he smirked coolly.
"Oh, dear. Can't decide, can you?" He whispered in her ear, enjoying the shiver that lanced through her body, pushing it closer to his own. "Well try this on as a distraction, if you will, Filia."
"Valgavv had a choice." He murmured softly, letting his staff fall to the floor as he slipped his other hand around the curve of her waist. "Our good Prince Dade, had a choice, and that was before they met you even."
Filia swallowed nervously, her face flushed as she stared in vain at the prints on the wallpaper, trying to block out the feel of his gloved hand tracing over the smooth fabric at her thigh.
"Then they met you..." He stated wanly, nuzzling her hair and pulling her tighter, her fear and desire melding together like milk and honey. "And yet they still chose to try and end you. That has to hurt a bit, doesn't it?"
Filia gasped in horror as it occurred to her that he was right.
At the time she'd been so focused in trying to save them that she'd completely disregarded the fact that in failing to do so, they had been willing to destroy her. Valgaav later rather than sooner, and who truly knew what Dade had planned... was she really that naive?
"And then there's me, Filia." He muttered, the arm around her neck tightening, pulling her close as the other slipping to beneath her bosom, causing her to gasp for air and grip the arm around her neck in fear. "Why I had no choice at all. Not once, not ever."
He smirked coldly, giving her some air, the hand at her stomach still holding her to him. "And in the end, I broke orders to save you.
"So tell me, Filia..."
He pressed his lips to her neck and she felt her eyes close against her will, her body betraying a breathy sigh.
His eyes glinted as he smirked into the dim hall, her golden locks framing his gaze.
"Am I not misunderstood?" He whispered softly, his lips tracing the words into her flesh, searing her soul as they echoed in her mind.
"Yes..." She breathed softly, gasping as the words had left on their own accord, far against her will. None the less, she'd said them, and Gods save her, she meant them.
Xelloss smirked coolly, appraising her knowingly as he gave her room to turn to face him.
She did so, eyes calm and collected, their azure depths displaying her new-found realization.
"I..." She faltered and tried again, tilting her head. "I want to understand you."
Xelloss smirked coolly, pulling her roughly into him.
"Maybe later." He replied dryly, capturing her lips with his own before she could protest.
O O O
...You did. Until you found more exotic robes to chase...
O O O
Wow, yeah so I hope it was worth it. I liked the way it turned out. Maybe I'll add more to it later. Heh, but not now. It was late enough as it was. See ya on Monday. (nn)