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Ukchana


Chapter 12

Wolfpack Island
June 5th, 2002

"I'm sorry Mom went nuts like that," Valgaav ducked his head apologetically. "She's kinda high-strung."

Zelas smiled and took a long drag from her slim cigarette-holder. "That's alright, Valgaav. Anyway, I think your mother needs some time alone, or at least, as close as she can get at this point."

The green-haired teenager looked uncomfortably around the room they had teleported into. It was basically a large hemisphere, indigo walls - inlaid with gold and silver stars and moons - reaching up to the top, fifty feet up. Light glowed from the celestial shapes, illuminating the round pool of dark water in the center and the golden plush stools circling it.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Zelas commented, slowly walking to sit upon one of the benches.

"Um, yeah. It's amazing." He joined her, and looked into the deep water. "What is it for?"

Giving him a golden wink, the Hellmaster cocked her head . . .

. . . And it was night, the room plunged into blackness with only the lights above glowing softly to show the surroundings. However, slowly, the pool began to glow as well, as if lit from below. Tiny bits of light began moving leisurely through the air, twirling and looping around each other.

"I'm not really sure what it's for, really," Zelas whispered. "I just felt like making it, and sometimes I come here when I'm troubled by things." She smiled and her golden cat-eyes reflected the watery light as it shimmered below them.

The Ancient Dragon nodded slowly, and let out a long breath. "I guess I do feel a little troubled. I never wanted to dwell on what was happening to me."

"Of course not. But now you must. YOU are amazing, Valgaav. This room is just a toy, but you are a being of great power and emotion and logic." She leaned closer to him, a grin on her face. "You could be so much more than what you think you are capable of."

Leaning back a little, Valgaav blurted, "Why do I feel like a reject from Star Wars?"

She whooped with laughter, head tossed back, then returned a naughty gaze to him. "Come to the dark side, Luke."

"Um," the young dragon began haltingly, looking past her uncomfortably, "maybe we should talk about, uh, the memories and clairvoyance and stuff?" Gods, please, please make her stop being so weird right now . . .

"Oh, just teasing, and I like having people fear me occasionally," Zelas leaned towards him with a sultry smile. "Emotions are the spice of life; for Mazoku, anyhow."

He smiled nervously. "Heh, heh . . . yeah, I kinda figured."

Rising slowly, the blonde woman smiled in the darkness, and, for an instant, her eyes glinted like an animal's in the light of the pool. "Very well, young man. We must delve into your memories. Obviously, if you could remember everything that your gift 'collected' over the centuries, you would have mentioned it long before now. Therefore, I believe I am assuming correctly when I say that you don't consciously have access to those memories, yes?"

"I don't think so," Val answered, tugging on the collar of his suit-coat. "I mean, I think you're right."

"Of course I am," she replied smoothly, holding out her hands to him. "Here we are," the Mazoku smiled at him as she glided towards him, touching his forehead with slim, cold fingers. "Now, relax. Alright? Think of nothing, and I will scan your memories."

"Um, do we have to?" stuttered the green-haired youth, leaning backwards. Man, I wasn't really prepared for this!

"Very," she cocked her head with a frown, "strong. Your fear," she whispered, "is causing you to output a great deal of power. Hmm . . ."

"Can we not study my psychosomatic responses to stimuli at the moment?" he whimpered.

"Oh, poor thing." Tisking, she flashed her eyelashes at him and breathed, "Sleep, now, precious dear, it will make it easier on you."

The room became hazy. Struggling to stay awake, Valgaav felt himself being lowered to the ground . . . then sleep enveloped him.

(-(-o-)-)

Filia stood uncomfortably at the doorway to the spa, tail retracted and looking fully human again. "Um . . . shouldn't we go get my . . . um . . . bathing suit first?"

"Oh, yes." Xellos snapped his fingers as he turned back to look at her from within the foyer. He wore his full priest's robes once more, cape fluttering as he spun and reached into the folds. With a flourish, he held out the bottoms to her bikini. "Ta da!"

"Give me that!" She grabbed it, blushing, and hid it under her arm. "Don't you have any shame? Wait, why'd I even ask, of course you don't!" She glared at him and he smiled back.

"Well, now that we're here . . ." Xellos paused as, a short distance away, a man appeared, bowing before them. Unconcerned, the priest faced him. "Wonderful. What was your name, again?"

"Unli, Lord Beastmaster," the monster spoke demurely. "I am at your service this afternoon."

Xellos glanced to Filia, brows raised. "Well, Unli, the first thing you should know is, this is Lady Filia: Lady Hellmaster's guest, as you have probably heard." Filia blushed at this and waited for the lesser demon to remark, but he remained bowed. The General-Priest continued. "She is touring the castle and was given permission to experience the facilities at the spa. What do you have to offer? Oh," Xellos waved his hand and sat down in mid-air, "you can stop that bowing stuff." He crossed his legs and looked expectantly towards Filia, powerful staff laid casually across his lap.

She blinked and looked around, but the strange lesser-demon began talking. Shrugging, she glanced at Xellos thoughtfully. I wish I could sit in air like that. I probably could . . .

"We provide a plethora of massage types along with facials, manicures and pedicures," the bowed man began, "steaming, wraps, skin toning, body masks, exfoliation, hydrotherapy, lava rock therapy – are you alright, Lady Filia?"

Dazed, Filia blinked and looked at the servant. "Um, I'm not really too familiar with all of those."

Xellos chuckled. "True, Lady Filia never really spoiled herself very often. So, which would you like, Filia?"

She turned to glare up at Xellos. "How am I supposed to know? Can't you suggest something?" Her stomach sank as the floating Mazoku smiled brightly.

"Of course! It's been a while since I was here, but I always enjoyed the pain sticks . . ."

"Xellos!" Filia growled as he laughed. "Be serious! Something that I might enjoy, thank you!"

"Yes, yes," he waved his hand at her as if dismissing her, then a thoughtful expression graced his features. "Well, you need relaxation. You don't have any skin problems, so nothing uncomfortable like a mud mask is necessary. You do rely on a physical body, so we should target stress areas."

Xellos' calm voice was very soothing in the otherwise silent room, and Filia felt herself becoming tired again. This really has been very taxing, she said to herself. I haven't had to save the world since the knight of Cepheid was chosen by those foolish elders. I'm just not used to it.

"Filia? Are you all right? My, you are exhausted, and it's barely mid-afternoon." He unfolded and lightly stepped to the ground beside her. "I think you definitely need the full treatment." His violet eyes looked to her expectantly.

"What's that?" she asked, blinking slowly. My eyes feel so heavy.

"Everything! Well, almost." He began to count on his fingers enthusiastically. "I'd suggest a Thai oil massage, a Moor body mask, and an elastic mineral body wrap. And maybe after that, you'll feel energized enough to soak in the hot springs."

Filia looked at him with slight surprise. "Real hot springs? Natural?"

"Yes," he nodded, eyes closed happily.

"Um . . ." she looked around and sighed. "I'm not really sure what those other things are, but they don't sound too bad."

"Great!" Xellos took her hand in his and waved his staff dramatically. "Let's get going, then!"

"But—"

Filia looked around the new room, past the walls lined with plastic white hooks and the little benches on the tiled floor, and blushed. "Xellos!" The blonde turned to shout at him, and of course he seemed to be expecting it happily. "Why are we in a changing room?!"

"You have to change into, ahem, that item I gave you," he grinned, "and a robe. Oh, and you should shower first. It's inappropriate to not. You really never went to a health spa?"

She narrowed her blue eyes, silver panties clenched in her fist. "You would know, right? You were always spying."

The monster laughed sharply, unamused, and released his staff as it melted into the air. "I had other duties beyond annoying you, Filia. My entire existence didn't revolve around you. You know," he smiled as he removed his cloak, eyes gazing into her own, "I didn't need to watch you constantly in order to make you feel as if I was. Psychological warfare; just one secret that I would only share with you."

Floored, Filia stood there, dazed, and watched as his cloak disappeared. He then removed his satchel, and it vanished also. "Wait," she said finally, as Xellos began unwrapping the bindings around his slim stomach, "what are you doing?"

He looked at her with innocent surprise. "Undressing. I have to be with you, so I'm going to have all the treatments as well."

"WHAT?" She stood there, gaping at him. "No! Unacceptable!"

With a tired expression, Xellos just looked at her flatly and began to remove his gloves. "Filia. You've already seen me naked, remember? So what's the problem?"

"That doesn't mean you get to see me naked!" she fumed, crossing her arms. "No, there's got to be another way."

"Wear a towel."

Narrowing her eyes, she sputtered, "I have to, to, get undressed! You can't leave me, so you'll see!"

"I'll close my eyes!" Xellos shrugged.

"Right," she snorted, "like that would keep you from seeing anything."

Xellos pulled his long-shirt up and over his head, then tossed it to the floor. "I give my word." He then began removing his boots as the shirt melted away.

"Give your word, what?" she demanded, a flush creeping across her face. I can't believe he's just, just, undressing! Right now, in front of me!

"I give my word," he sighed as he untied his ankle-straps, "that I will not look at you while you are undressing . . . today."

Turning scarlet, she looked away, arms folded tightly across her chest. "Fine. Good."

"Do you want to shower first?" he asked good-naturedly.

Glaring up at him, Filia growled, "Sure. But you'd better turn around! And remember, you promised!"

"Right, right." He sighed again and turned away, the muscles of his bare back shifting as he raised his hands before him in a placating manner. "Okay, I'm not looking, and I'm not using my senses to look at you either. Happy?"

Filia's eyes shifted across his form and away. "Yes." She began disrobing, watching him nervously as she removed her clothes. "So," she said, wanting to break the silence. "what should I do with the stone fragment while I shower?"

"You could give it to me and I'll try very hard to not want to take over the world," he said, still turned away, "or you could keep it with you, possibly risking losing it. What did you do earlier today when you took a shower?"

"I kept it in the pouch. The pouch got wet, though."

"Up to you. Wet pouch or all-powerful Xellos."

Completely nude, a blushing Filia hurried towards the shower, calling back, "I think I'd rather have a wet pouch, you're pretty strong as it is."

Xellos laughed as she started the water. "As you wish."

0

As Filia showered, Xellos kept his senses actively searching for the presence of hostile monsters. However, those that were nearby were merely the servants in the spa, readying their treatments.

He removed the last of his clothing and sent it to his subspace pocket, carefully monitoring Filia's mood and life-signature as he went.

This "fun time" isn't going to last long, he told himself with a sigh. Lady N, I don't know what to do with myself. I almost feel as if I'm more stressed than Filia. This whole situation has caused all of us to confront things that we'd previously ignored. Valgaav as a clairvoyant, Filia trusting Monsters she doesn't know, and me . . . I get to feel these wonderfully hard-to-control emotions. Joy.

"Xellos?" He heard Filia's muffled voice, and realized the sound of rushing water had come to an end.

"Yes?" Turning to the shower and plastering a smile on his face, he joked, "I'm still here. Would you like me to bring you a towel?"

"Um, yeah," her voice came from behind the curtain. "Thanks."

He got her the towel and tossed it over the curtain, then waited. Filia emerged fully covered by the large swath of fabric, but the blonde turned red when she looked to him. "Xellos!"

He shrugged, comfortable now with his nudity, since he was naked before her by choice and not by duplicity. "Yes? Come on, don't hog the shower!" he smiled cheerfully.

She got out of the way quickly, then sat down on a bench, eyes on the floor. "Hurry up."

"Well, this is a sight different than you were before," he commented as he entered the shower. "Not as enthusiastic now?"

"It's just a little unsettling how you just . . . stand there, so comfortable with it."

"Why shouldn't I be?" he said, starting the shower and enjoying the feel of the hot water running over his body. "While I can still be affected by social taboos, and the body does have hormones, I have to inform you that your assumptions are incorrect; I was never human. This body is just something to change and manipulate, more of a tool than anything else."

"Really?" Her voice was curious but still upset.

"Yes. The power I have can convert matter to energy and back again. I can also convert kinetic energy to electromagnetic and visa versa."

"So why do you always look the same?" she asked quietly.

He turned off the shower, finished, and slowly pulled back the curtain. "Because I like to. Those who know me by my looks and know of my past are filled with terror by just my presence. If I were to 'disguise' myself as someone else, I wouldn't have the infamy that I do now, and that's very satisfying."

Her cerulean eyes gazed up at him, disturbed and surprised at once. "But . . . you could be so much more intimidating if you wished. You could make yourself taller, you're only five-eleven-"

"Six feet, thank you," Xellos corrected dryly as he wrapped a towel around himself, then used magic to become instantly dry.

"Whatever." She blushed again but continued. "You could make yourself more muscular, also. So why stay the way you are?"

He walked, barefoot, to the wall and took down two white robes. "I lost most of the 'male ego' problem a long time ago, refusing to become a victim of a mere social bigotry. I like this height, I like feeling light and slim, I like my purple hair and eyes." He grinned as he turned to her and handed her a robe. "I like being able to touch my toes easily because I don't have huge muscles in the way."

Filia took the robe and stood, wrapping the robe around herself, then shifted oddly as she tried to remove the towel without exposing herself.

Chuckling softly, Xellos watched as she turned her back to him and called out, "Don't look, pervert!"

"Sure, I'M the pervert," he laughed, and reached into subspace for his garments. Filia continued to struggle with her robe, panties and towel, occasionally muttering angrily. "You know, Filia," Xellos teased her as he put his shorts on, "every second you seem to be getting more and more tense. It's a good thing I thought of this."

Grumbling and finished with her adjustments, the blonde turned to face him and threw the towel on him. "Right! Thanks!"

He tried to not laugh and covered it up by removing her towel from his head. Still grinning, he said, "At least you didn't hit me again."

"Don't tempt me!" Filia threatened, soaked dark pouch hanging prominently at her chest. She tightened her robe and glared at him until he put on his own. "Good. Let's go. I really need something relaxing, even if it has to include you!"

A robed Xellos sighed and led her from the room. "I'm sorry, Filia," he admitted, and gave her a little smile. She sniffed and looked away as they walked down a dimly lit hallway, but he continued nonetheless. "I get carried away sometimes because you're so easy to tease. You remember what I told you a few days ago, right?"

"No," she said coldly, looking at the trees that lined the corridor.

Knowing that there was no way a more powerful monster besides Zelas could get into the shield, he merely said softly, "I'm trying to find ways to tease you that won't hurt your feelings. Remember?"

She nodded, ignoring him in favor of the cream and silver surroundings. "Why don't we teleport?"

"Scenic route. Here we are!" He opened a door, and light spilled through. "First stop, your massage."

(-(-o-)-)

The café he chose was the one that overlooked the widest canal; gondolas spotted the dirty waters, holding smiling gondoliers with contented lords and ladies sporting ruffled parasols. The sun was high in the aqua sky, and a cool breeze cut into the surface of the waterways.

Valgaav sat in a wrought-iron chair at the edge of the elegant shop, and sighed as pigeons fluttered overhead. The wind helped fight the sweltering heat of the high collared, form-fitting shirt, and the brown over-coat he wore above it.

A the edge of the canal, a gondola slowly came to a stop at the dock. The dark-haired gondolier climbed up from the boat, then reached down to help someone up onto the street.

The young dragon watched curiously as an alabaster parasol appeared first, then a slim young woman in a high-necked cream bodice. Long lace-sleeved arms reached out to balance as the lady stepped onto land.

Resting his chin upon his hand, Val studied the woman as she neared, stepping lightly in tan high-boots, her long, thin white skirt clinging to her legs and the sun-umbrella shielding her face from him. "Buon giorno," she said with a lilting voice, "mi permetta?" she gestured towards a free chair.

"Per favore," he stood and bowed slightly, a confused wrinkle crossing his brow. The woman raised her parasol just a smidge, and he could see her coral mouth smiling as she sat down at the table.

"Did you live in Venice as a child?" she chuckled.

"Yes, for a time. We lived most anywhere that two people who looked Caucasian could live, without seeming out of place. That left only Europa for much of history."

"Do dragons always look Arian?"

"No. Do demons always invade people's dreams?"

The lady chuckled again, and lowered the umbrella back to reveal sparkling gold eyes. "I didn't know you were a lucid dreamer. Very lucky, I don't think even Xellos can control his dreams; when he does dream."

Valgaav snorted. "When he sleeps."

The Hellmaster giggled and leaned back in her chair. "So, how shall we search your memories?"

"I don't know." He sighed and folded his hands in his lap.

"How about this? Imagine the first memory you have," her voice lowered, husky and deep. "Call upon the furthest back you can go."

He closed his eyes, and in his mind, he could hear the clop and squeak of a horse-drawn wagon as it passed, and the spatter of rain.

When Val opened them to glance around, they now stood in the darkening evening of a small village, rain beginning to fall. He shivered in the encroaching night, and pulled the heavy brown coat tightly around him, then turned to his companion.

Zelas wasn't shivering in the bitter wind, but she was wearing a thick shawl and a long, full gray dress. Her eyes were on the opposite end of the street, and she smiled suddenly. "There you are. My, these clothes are ugly."

The young dragon followed her gaze, then took a deep breath.

At the other side of the road, he could see his mother, her tan and white winter cloak tied at her throat and her long hair pulled close to her. She was carrying a young child with sea-green hair, and he could hear her whispering to the boy. "Don't worry, Val. You'll have a wonderful time visiting Aunt Lina and Uncle Goury."

The youngster shook his head, and huddled closer to his mother. "Mamma," he pleaded. "Maaamma!"

Valgaav sighed as the blonde dragoness began walking away with her crying child. "I don't remember much else. My memories of visiting Goury and Lina for the first time are hazy and vague."

He turned to look at Zelas, but found her gone. "Zelas?" Suddenly nervous, Valgaav searched the darkening village street, but saw no signs of the Mazoku.

"Valgaav."

He whirled to see her, translucent in the shadows, her image wafting in and out as if she were smoke. "Zelas. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied, distracted. "I'm trying to look deeper, into the knowledge you collected. You remember . . . many things. But the stone . . . the fragments were still in this land at this time. We must go forward. . ." Her image solidified, and she dropped her head, fatigue in her eyes. "I know the imprint of the two that Dolphin and Dynast had, so those can be ignored. The one your mother has is also familiar to me. That leaves the one Telgaln somehow discovered, and the last fragment you seek."

"Are you all right?" he asked tentatively.

With a bright smile, she shrugged. "This takes a lot of energy and concentration. I also am a little out of practice in memory scanning." She lifted her hands before her as if calling out to a god, and closed her eyes. "Think back again, and I will lead us to the next movement of those fragments."

He closed his eyes again, and almost stumbled as he felt the ground shift.

They stood within a darkened church, dust rising in the streams of light through the windows.

"This is the next movement," Zelas said, then turned to look past him. "Where are we?"

"I . . ." Valgaav shook his head and followed her gaze to the altar. "I don't know."

Two figures stood by the altar, a third crouched down behind it. All wore chain-mail and metal helmets. The smaller person sitting was digging into the ground determinedly, and Valgaav could hear one of the soldiers say, "Estce que c'est prés? Jeane?"

"Oui," the small figure gasped in a feminine voice, and a hush fell throughout the deserted church. The soldier stood slowly, turning to face them, and Valgaav could see bright cerulean eyes in a pale, round face. "Vois."

The girl - for it must have been - raised her gauntleted hands and held out a rusty sword. In the hilt flashed a small, jagged stone.

Valgaav gasped, but it was as if he and Zelas were ghosts. "This can't be . . ."

"It is," the Mazoku woman replied softly. "The fragment is in the sword's hilt. This is the first time it was in the hands of someone since it was separated from the whole."

"But . . . this happened in the fourteen hundreds. We were living in Scotland, I wasn't even near here. . . I wasn't here."

"Yet you seem to have a memory of it. Of Jeane." Zelas put her arms on his shoulders. "I remember her. She was fiery and determined."

"I was only a little kid at the time. I don't really recall much about it."

"Your mother hoped she would succeed. Xellos spent much time watching the child, reporting her progress. He never realized she had a fragment of the stone; however, nor did I. Its aura is very weak for such a strong instrument."

Valgaav turned to peer at Zelas darkly. "And what did you want of her?"

"I wanted chaos, of course," the blonde replied smoothly, cat-eyes glistening in the dark. "She gave that. Through confusion, and hope, and despair. You know that her body did not burn."

Frowning, Val returned to watching the young girl in armor as she slowly walked from the church, her companions behind her. "Because of the stone?"

"Perhaps. Or maybe the Lord of Nightmares truly was calling to her . . . wanted her to find the sword with the stone within it."

His hands tightened into fists as the looming doors of the church ponderously swung shut, drenching them in darkness. "How do I . . ."

"We'll find out eventually. Come."

Hanging his head, Val closed his eyes, and felt himself fall.

(-(-o-)-)

Filia blinked at the light and looked around the room. The first things she noticed were the two human-looking demons standing against a far wall, one female and one male. The room itself was fairly large, with peach walls and warm lamps. There were two padded mats on the floor and the dense groups of potted trees gave the room a wooded feeling.

"Welcome," one of the demons said softly, and they both bowed deeply over their ivory gowns. They radiated darkness.

The dragoness looked to Xellos, who smiled at her. "Well, Filia. Choose who you would like to give you the massage."

Filia glanced around, hands tightening. Their power . . . I can feel the evil in it. At least Xellos' is familiar. . . It's so . . . disturbing. She blinked, mouth hardening as she tried to not gasp. What do I do? Irrational fear began to build inside of her.

Xellos stepped closer to her and put an arm across her shoulders gently. "They can't hurt you, Filia. Zelas wouldn't let them live if they tried." Only her dragon hearing could pick out his words.

"They could take the stone," she murmured worriedly. "I just . . . I don't feel that I can trust them."

"Well, at this point, you don't have much choice."

At his words, her terror caused her to grab his hand and hold it tightly. "No. Please, Xellos," she whispered, gazing up into his eyes fearfully.

He sighed and gently laid his free hand on her shoulder, his other still clenched in hers. "You only have four options at this point. You can have one of the masseuses work on you . . . we can get Valgaav to try, though he might feel uncomfortable and I don't think he has the skill, and there's always Mistress Zelas, but she likes pain sticks and she might say no depending on her moods. And then . . . well, I could give you a massage."

She blinked at him, but he seemed serious. "Do YOU know how to give someone a . . . a professional massage?"

He looked down at her solemnly. "You learn a lot of things when you live for millennia. One tends to get rather bored."

Filia glanced away, What can I do? and took a deep breath. "I don't feel comfortable asking Zelas and I'm pretty certain that Valgaav doesn't know how to give someone a massage, even if he was alright with his mother being mostly naked in front of him."

"So that leaves me or them. As long as you can trust me to not do anything you would disapprove of," he said, amethyst eyes gazing deeply into her own.

Filia felt a hot shiver flow down her back and arms, and she pulled her eyes away only to find that her hand was resting upon his chest. "Um . . . I don't know that I can," she whispered, smiling tightly as she remembered the party and why she should be angry with him. "You seem to have trouble controlling yourself sometimes."

His hand on her shoulder moved very slightly, but didn't tighten as she'd expected. His mouth did, however, and his eyes narrowed as they dropped to her lips. "Only when I think you're not around."

0

I can't believe I just said that, Xellos inwardly groaned. How does Filia cause me to drop my guard and spit out stupid things so easily?

Filia was looking at him with an angry yet disturbed expression. "Well, it's nice to know that you feel I deserve more restraint," she whispered vehemently. However, Xellos could feel the passion it masked, and it worried him.

We both feel this way. Maybe we've just spent too much time together, and with all the stress surrounding us, we're latching onto sexual desire as a catharsis. I'm to blame more than Filia, in that case. I just have to find a way to be more distant without hurting her or physically separating us.

"You do deserve more restraint than complete strangers," he agreed, forcing his emotions away and slowly loosening his grasp on her shoulder. "And I'm sorry that I've failed on that count. Come on, no use talking when you could be relaxing!" He dropped his arm and took her hand. "I'll be giving you the massage, then, right?"

She blinked at him and her head wavered back and forth slightly as if she was thinking very hard. "Um, yeah. I think that would be good."

Giving her a cheery smile, Xellos turned to the attendants and announced, "you're dismissed for now."

Previously totally silent, the two servants bowed even lower, then quietly exited the room.

The blonde dragoness was still looking at him with confusion, so he led her to the mat. "Filia, don't worry. I know this past week has been very stressful, but it will get a lot easier from now on."

She let him sit her down on the floor mat. "How is that?"

"Relax," he said softly, thinking back on his lessons. "Here, lie down on your stomach," he gently ordered, supporting her as she did so.

"Answer me."

Xellos sighed slowly. "Alright. You'll have a relaxing day today, and then we'll locate the other fragment. If Valgaav has memories of the past stored inside him, we'll be sure to find it. Everything will be smooth sailing after that." He touched her shoulders and added, "I'm going to remove your robe, now, alright?"

"I don't believe you," her muffled voice answered. He took that as consent, and carefully removed her robe, exposing her bare back.

"What don't you believe? It's true, Filia. I know everything will get better. Just don't think about it right now, alright?"

"I guess," she murmured.

"Wonderful. Just let yourself be limp on the mat, alright?"

0

Filia relaxed and took a deep breath, the smell of flowers surrounding her. Eyes closed, she could tell the lights had dimmed in the room.

"This massage uses herbal oils," Xellos' low voice told her. "The oils will be heated and probably seem a little odd at first."

He sounds distant, she thought. She felt his hands on her back, warm and wet, the smell growing stronger. I wonder what all that was earlier. Why does this keep happening? she asked herself. The hands on her back began to gently and firmly rub into her muscles, and she gasped inadvertently. I know I've been lonely lately, but Xellos is just a friend. I just have to convince my body of that. Not only that, but he's also Mazoku. It's ridiculous to even consider anything more than friendship.

The massage grew deeper as Xellos pressed strong, fluid strokes along her shoulder blades. The dragoness let out a deep breath, and her thoughts began to degrade. It's . . . not possible, she told herself drowsily. Nope. That'd be like . . . like Romeo and Juliet. Drifting into sleep, she felt relieved at her discovery. Impossible.