DISCALIMER: I still do not own The Slayers...
On time once more! Hooray! Only two more chapters to go after this one...
Time to really push on! (nn)
Enjoy!
- Nicci
Special thanks to the following:
Rêisi: Thankies! Hope this Melzel and Gourrina Action make you grin! (n-)
Story Weaver1: Poor Filia, but no, she's not the only weak one. The more power they absorb, the greater the pull... as this chapter will demonstrate. As for what they double, your are so close! All will be revealed next chapter... or the one after; we shall see how that goes. Good eye on noting the foreshadowing. DOWN WITH MEGALOMANIA, UP WITH CALCULATING STUDS!!! (nn)
Heh, thanks guys, enjoy! (n-)
Chapter Eleven
One Last Seduction...
Zelgadiss followed her quietly down the hall, watching her dress meld in with the shadows, the red seeming to darken the further on they went.
He had wanted to talk to her so badly, so much he had needed to say, and yet now all he could bring himself to do was silently follow her lead.
He hated that about himself, he hated that in the end he was always such a coward.
Weak, more like it. Weak and vulnerable, but terrified of anyone finding that out. Surely there were thousands of men exactly like him, and if he saw any of them... well that was really why he hated Xelloss so much wasn't it? Xelloss pretended to be that way, but underneath it all the monster knew exactly what he was doing. They look so much alike and yet couldn't be further apart.
He really hated him, nearly as much as he cared for Amelia.
He was unaware of when he had first taken a fondness to the princess, maybe it was just something that happened inevitably after you spent long amounts of time with a compatible personality, but that was just it, he had begun to find her compatible. Before Lina only his men had shared that kind of bond with him.
It was unnerving at first, and so naturally he had tried to distance himself from it, but in the end...
He glanced at her haunting profile as she paused at the stairs to smile back at him.
In the end I find myself following her down a dark hallway that positively screams trap. I do that so often when I'm with her I suppose it's just second nature now... He mused dryly, crossing his arms with a tired smirk.
"How much further, Amelia?" He asked tiredly and she smiled, a bit of her old shyness back in play.
"Just a little bit further, Mr. Zelgadiss." She replied merrily, turning with almost a twirl as she stepped down the stairs.
He sighed wearily, a bemused smirk quirking the corners of his mouth as he followed her down.
... Just a little bit further... She went on silently to herself. ... And you'll finally be home Mr. Zelgadiss...
...Home for good...
O O O
Lina smiled, looking up at Gourry.
"Do you hear that?" She asked coolly, looking over her shoulder towards the door. "Why it seems little Amelia's brought Zel here afterall. I really wasn't sure she had it in her."
"Where do we go from here?" Gourry asked, his countenance darkening.
"Oh wow, Gourry. You're even more protective now." The sorceress smirked, lazily holding up a hand from him to take.
He did so obediently, helping her to her feet with a graceful flourish.
"Heh..." She grinned wanly, tilting her head to appraise him. "My King..."
He met her calculating gaze, his eyes an open ode to submission, eyes only for her piercing and yet no harm to her at all.
"Lift me up." She ordered coolly, holding her head high despite her racing heart.
"Do we have time?" He asked darkly.
"Oooh, Gourry, so serious now." She stated dryly, smirking coldly and holding out her arms. "There's always time for you to serve your Queen, never forget that."
"I live to serve you, Lina." He murmured wrapping his arms around her small waist and raising her to meet his adulating gaze. "In this life, and in the next of need be."
Just once, her eyes flickered threatening to break and release the old Lina at this honest declaration, and then he kissed her.
The talismans flickered mischievously in the light, knowing that the two thralls intertwining together would easily drown out their former selves.
It was only a matter of time and the world would be theirs.
"There's a back door, through here." Lina stated calmly, breaking away and he compliantly set her back down, his gaze following her pointing hand.
"It leads to the servants' quarters." She explained as he easily broke the lock. "We'll exit, and circle around, she'll have turned Zel by the time we return."
"No one will be safe from us, will they, Lina?" He asked expressionlessly, holding open the door for her.
"Oh, Gourry." She muttered with a dry grin, eyeing him with two shades from saddened eyes. "They never were. I just never wanted the world before now. A bit silly really, when it was there for the taking all along."
Gourry stood tall, his eyes flashing something unreadable to the prominent sorceress. "I'll give you the world, Lina. I've always wanted too."
Lina swallowed, her eyes flashing once before hallowing back out as she gave a dry laugh.
"Well it seems the talismans have turned you into a poet, Gourry." Lina replied, heading out of the room, knowing he'd follow. "I'll have to get them some fresh blood to thank them."
O O O
"Through here, Mr. Zelgadiss." Amelia stated holding open the door with a smile, leaning against it nervously. "It's so amazing; I can't wait for you to see it."
"See what?" Zelgadiss asked, growing mildly suspicious as he stuck his head in the darkened room. "Amelia wha..."
He trailed off, the haunting red glow of the lone talisman drawing him in. "That's Dade's bracelet, isn't it Amelia?"
"Yes." She replied calmly, gently closing the door behind her as he walked slowly to the table. "He no longer needs it."
"How can he not?" The chimera whispered in awe, picking it up gently, as though it were made of glass. "It's beautiful..."
"Put it on, Mr. Zelgadiss..." The Princess whispered pleadingly, clasping a hand to its partner at her throat. "You're the one who really deserves it... please..."
Zelgadiss swallowed in awe, turning to peer into her pleading and insistent gaze.
He wanted to put it on, he could feel the power emancipating from it, the promises it held, confidence, love... a cure...
Amelia saw his hesitation and reached out gently taking it from his slack hold, he let out a murmur of protest and she met his gaze with a small smile.
He looked down, feeling her soft hands on her wrist and watched as she clasped it closed around his stone pulse.
Amelia smiled up at him merrily and then her gaze broke in horror.
"Mr... Mr... Zelgadiss..." She whispered softly, the horror never leaving her bright blue orbs.
"Don't look at me..." He hissed darkly, covering his face. "I'm a monster... a weak pathetic monster..."
He lifted his head in rage, slamming a hand on the table causing her to let out a startled gasp. "Do you understand, Amelia? I'm a monster! But I need power, and lots of it!"
"O... of course..." She whispered, giving a slight curtsy out of impulse.
This side... She had no idea that he had been hiding this from all of them…
Was his own image all he really cared about?
Zelgadiss smirked darkly, crossing his arms. "Relax, Amelia. You've been such a good girl, adoring me even despite this weak and pathetic form, when I'm finally powerful I won't forget that.
He waited calmly until she met his gaze. She saw the coldness there and flinched, giving what she hoped appeared to be an understanding nod.
He grinned icily; moving past her roughly and tossing open the door. "Good, now let's go..."
He focused his sharp, yet hallow gaze out into the dimness of the hall, his ears twitching as he heard Lina's approach.
"It's time I showed Xelloss how I truly feel about him..."
O O O
I really liked writing "Dominant Lina", but I'm not really a fan of submissive men… (oO) However, Lina is, so hey! (nn)
Yes, I believe that is what's really under Zel's coldness, I believe that's how Rezo got to him in the first place. The self-hatred anyway, not so much the power lust I'm sure his encounter with Rezo killed that; but then again I don't really feel any of the Slayers have that, or their world would have been doomed long ago…
Heh, imagine Xelloss on a power trip… -x- shivers –x-
See ya tomorrow! (nn)