Argh, another author's note at the end of the fanfic. I've had two reviews so far mentioning a certain thing, and at first I was going to ignore it but I've decided to address it. (sigh) Not that I want to rant, but it seems I'd better clear things up.
Chapter 28
Hong
Kong, China
June
8th, 2002
The bright, warm lights of a luxurious mall greeted Kendar. Rolling terracotta stairs and abundant trees and bushes lined the corridors, and across the wide expanse filled with milling humans, he could see her sitting at a little patio table beside a quaint restaurant set into the tiled wall. Her twinkling azure eyes seemed to absorb the luminance and reflect it back, long, tawny hair glistening in the amber glow.
The short demon growled slightly to see the man sitting across from her, his back to him, then looked once more. Splashing water from a nearby fountain seemed to jangle loudly in his head as he approached. Something about the straight purple hair, the sure movements of his arms . . .
Slurping up his soup, the man spoke as if continuing a discussion. "But I have hundreds of shoes already," he said in a melodic nasal voice, "I don't need any more."
Laughing, the blonde told him, "Yes, but this is the first time you let me pick out clothes for you to wear. Come on, humor me."
Kendar neared, fists clenching. That voice . . . He closed his gray eyes as a memory returned . . .
What was empty, suddenly filled, as they appeared before the uncertain lines of soldiers . . . Kendar's old comrade whimpering as she materialized to weakly hang within the astral plane, and the most feared Mazoku General phasing in to stand above her, a cold rage in his fluid stance. "This," that deceptively calm, dark voice began, "is what happens when you disobey my command."
Snapping violet eyes turned to face the troops, ebony cloak whipping, and the General stressed, "I don't care about who any of your Masters are. You were assigned to me, and until otherwise directed," his pale lips twisted into a cruel smile above his shrouded glare, "you are MINE."
He found himself backed into a cool tiled wall, eyes wide with that unknown sensation again, the same he had whenever Telgaln called for him, and now he knew, he knew, he KNEW what the feeling was—
"All of the shoes I already have will be far more interesting than anything you can find here," the turned away man spoke again, and Kendar whimpered.
No, it's not him, it's NOT, he's eating, he would never eat, he FEELS human, maybe with the potential for magic, but—
The angel rose from her seat, smiling at her companion as he followed her, and they began to walk towards where Kendar stood. Gazing up at them, Kendar's face grew white, their footsteps echoing on the stone.
Amethyst, narrow eyes . . . slender yet powerful frame . . . certain, controlled movements without any trace of excess energy expended, feline, lupine, dominant, AGGRESSIVE—
He felt himself swallow convulsively as they grew so close, only stopping to discard the remains of the meal in the waste receptacle, and then they brushed by, almost touching him—
The flaxen-haired woman chortled as she began to load up her husband with shopping bags while he complained good-naturedly.
But HOW, the demon wondered frantically, he is acting so different — but if he were in disguise, he would act different, I don't understand—
They walked away, the woman pausing to brush the surface of the water in the fountain with her fingers . . .
What do I do now? Kendar slumped to the ground, shaking his head. It has to be him . . . I fought directly under his command for so many years during the war. I could never forget that voice, his imposing gaze.
Clutching his hair, the Mazoku squeezed his eyes shut tightly. "What do I do now?"
(-(-(-)-)-)
"Oooh, look!" Filia exclaimed, pulling on one of Xellos' encumbered arms, "A lingerie store!"
He narrowed his eyes as she tugged, and shook his violet head, "No, you're NOT dragging me in there."
"But you wore makeup last night," she argued, blue eyes large and pleading.
"Yes," Xellos' voice dropped to a low whisper as he pulled close to her, "and normally I'd love dressing up for Rocky Horror Picture Show, but right now we're on a MISSION. I'm a businessman," the Mazoku gave her a flat look, "not a transvestite."
Pouting, Filia put her hands on her hips and began marching up the amber-tiled stairs. "But don't you want to see what some would look like on me?"
With a sigh, the demon followed her, then glanced around the higher level and sat down on a nearby bench, setting down the bags. "If you really want me to see them on you," he gave her a sly smile, "you can show me when we get back to the hotel room."
The dragoness sniffed and turned up her nose at him. "Fine. But how am I going to pay for anything I might want to buy?"
Rolling his eyes, Xellos leaned forward from where he sat to rest an elbow on his knees. "Here, take this." Reaching behind him, he removed his wallet from his back pocket and opened it. "It's empty, so for Christ's sake, don't max it out."
She rose a brow at him as she took the credit card, surprised to see her present alias beveled upon the plastic below his own. "'Christ'?"
"Well," he gave her a smirk and a violet wink as he leaned his chin into his palm, "we all know who that really was."
With a toss of her saffron locks, Filia began to saunter away, adding, "You'd better be here when I get back."
(-(-(-)-)-)
Filia wandered through the aisles of the lingerie store, glancing at the occasional piece and wondering to herself. I wonder how Xellos would look in lingerie . . . would he look sexy? Weird? Can a guy look sexy in lingerie?
Blinking, she shook her head as if to clear it. I never thought I would be so forward! she mused, blushing with a smile as she thought back on the past three days.Maybe Xellos is rubbing off on me, I've become so outgoing since only a few weeks ago! 'Zander', 'Zander', I have to remember to think of him like that, just in case I say his name without thinking. 'Zander'.
Pausing, the blonde gazed off into the distance, eyes unfocused. Zander. I know these are alter-personas, and yet, they are so like ourselves. I wonder, her head fell slightly, azure eyes saddening, what it will be like when this is over. How we will act then?
The recent memory of their time together on Wolfpack Island flashed through her mind, and the dragoness chuckled, pushing away her fear and sorrow. Ridiculous, it's not as if he'd stop being my friend. But . . . so many other things have happened lately, she reminded herself, pausing before a rack of night-slips much like the one she was borrowing from Zelas.
Running the fabric through her fingers, Filia dipped her head and narrowed her eyes. What if we become too used to acting so intimate? I've never had as close a friend . . . Lina was dear to me, but we grated on each other so often . . .
How should I act? How are women supposed to act with close male friends? I think Xellos—no, 'Zander' . . . is the best friend I ever had . . . or ever could have.
It was all so new and confusing for someone who had only ever followed her 'duties'. It had been her duty to the Ancients to raise Valgaav, it had been her duty to the world to keep Xellos in line . . . it had never been her responsibility, her duty, to make friends . . . to enjoy herself. To belong.
Something struck her as she looked past the silken cloth in her fingers, looked past everything around her and into her own thoughts. Maybe I never let myself have friends and relax because I still felt guilty over everything. Either way, I was doomed. Which can one choose? I could abandon my race because of their evil, or I could ignore the deed and live a life of lies. No matter what path I traveled, I would be left with guilt.
It was as if she had martyred herself, she realized, mouth slightly falling open as she gazed across the boutique. I ostracized myself FROM myself . . . I could not accuse the remaining dragons under the other Dragon Kings because I had already decided that I would be the one to suffer for my people's sins.
Her hand fell to her side, brows creasing anxiously. And now . . . Closing her eyes, Filia took a slow breath. I . . . I just don't feel the same about myself. I . . . I WANT to be happy . . . and I think I deserve it. It shouldn't be up to me how my race's crimes will be resolved. If the Lord of Nightmares is truly the one, great God above the others . . . then she would be the true judge, and would even be able to punish the Dragon Kings themselves if the orders to kill the Ancient dragons had truly come from them.
The weight of hundreds of years seemed to melt across her back as she opened her eyes, unshed tears glistening within them. Finding a nearby wall, the blonde leaned her back against it and wiped her eyes, a tiny smile breaking across her face.
"Ma'am?" a young woman with a nametag paused to approach her, "are you alright?"
Filia chuckled and nodded joyfully. "I'm fine."
Everything is fine.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Xellos sighed as he gave another glance to the lingerie store. I hope Filia hurries up, he told himself, another daydream of the blonde in a skimpy negligee imposing itself. NO, bad, cut that out. He shifted on the bench and shook his head at himself, crushing another fleeting image . . . this time Filia was starting to walk towards him in his imagination, barefoot as she began to remove the lingerie—STOP!
Adjusting the collar of his sable dress shirt, the demon unbuttoned it a bit, mouth tightening as he glared at the terracotta tiled floor. I can't even control my own imagination. What's wrong with me? I've never had this much trouble keeping my mind off of a woman. Filia is . . . he swallowed and pushed away another fantasy thought, NEVER going to do THAT, I'm sure. Not to me, anyway . . . probably . . .
. . . Hopefully . . .
Chittering and giggles announced the appearance of a small group of school girls, none possibly older than fourteen, as they sat down at another booth a few yards further down the hall. Xellos squinted with annoyance at their strident laughter. Inane children . . .
Past the wide-leaved potted plants, he could see them out of the corner of his eye; they sat and chatted, chewing bubblegum and twirling their long black hair. The daughters of wealthy Chinese government employees, I'd guess. While not the most interesting subject he'd ever considered, at least it kept his mind off of Filia and what she was trying on . . .
Their emotions changed, a flicker of shyness in one that swiftly spread to all of them, and giddy excitement burned through the school-girls.Great Lady, what the hell is going on now the Mazoku exhaled tiredly.
Wait . . . it's aimed at . . . He gave them a quick glance, then groaned silently. Me. Wonderful.
Turning his back on them, Xellos rolled his eyes and began studying his fingernails, Please go away, please go away . . . Lina, save me, they're getting turned on . . . they're just BABIES for the Lady's sake!
He could hear them shoving each other and laughing, the patter of feet hitting the ground as they chortled with embarrassment. Then it got very quiet behind him, and the sound of tiny, hesitant footsteps filled his ears. Dammit . . . The General-Priest shook his head and glanced up at the approaching girl.
Slight and slender, the Asian teen let her long hair hide her face as she shyly walked up to him, hands clutching at her pleated skirt anxiously.
"Hello," Xellos drawled, giving her a flat look. "Is something wrong?"
Giggling, she blushed. "No . . ."
I should just say "I'm not interested" and glare at her . . . a faint growl of annoyance sounded in the back of his throat. But then Filia will get mad at me for hurting her feelings, and I probably SHOULD try to be more nice . . . dammit . . .
"So . . ." Xellos looked up at her. "Can I help you?"
"Um . . . Well, me and my friends were wondering if . . . if you wanted us to show you around town, since you don't seem to be from around here . . ." Very pretty and wide brown eyes flickered up, then she returned to staring at her loafers.
The crowd of girls behind her began to whisper frantically, giggling and joyfully gesticulating.
With a sigh, the demon lifted a foot to rest his ankle across his thigh and patted his shoe aimlessly. "Well, that's a very kind offer,"go away and leave me alone, you stupid and rather strange child, "but I'll have to decline, seeing that my wife might be a little upset that I'm spending time with so many beautiful," he forced a smile, "young women."
Rubbing her loafer into the tiled floor, the Chinese girl frowned sadly. "You're visiting with your wife?"
"Yes."
She blinked and Xellos could sense her concentration. "So," she finally asked, "where are you from?"
Doesn't she GET it yet? Suppressing a sigh, the Mazoku paused as he realized three more little girls were venturing over. What the HELL do they think they're DOING?
"Are you from Amerika?" one of the newcomers asked, and he rolled his eyes.
Another teen beamed and added, "Are you a movie star?"
The whole group moved enmasse to press around him, bubbling over with youthful, saccharine happiness. "Do you have a sports car?"-"Do you have any younger brothers?"-"Your hair is so pretty!"-"How big is your mansion?—"
Standing to glance above them into the lingerie boutique, the violet-haired man narrowed his eyes and groaned. "Great!" He shook his head and urged, waving his hands, "Shoo, go back, if she sees you all, it won't be pretty."
The group of girls pouted and skittered away to their bench once more, leaving the General-Priest to winced as, within the store, Filia turned from the cashier counter and glanced out at him.
Walking out of the boutique, the blonde peered at her standing companion, a bag in her hand and a frown across her lips. "That eager to leave?" she asked, gesturing to his rigid stance.
He laughed nervously, "Um . . . no . . ."
A chorus of muffled giggles sprung up from his right, and Xellos grimaced as a dark look draped across Filia's features.
"So," the dragoness growled, casting a cold azure glance to the schoolchildren, "picking up young girls while I'm gone?"
"No!" he quickly raised his palms to her, "I didn't do anything, they won't leave me alone!"
Tossing her head, she closed her eyes and shoved her fists against her hips. "Whatever. Come on, we still have places to go . . ." With that, she marched off.
Xellos scrambled to get all the damn bags together and hurried after her. "Hey! Hey, I didn't do anything! I swear!"
Uproarious laughter followed him, and he glared back at the gaggle of girls. Damn idiotic, self-absorbed little harlots . . . "Vee!" he whined, catching up to her. "Come on!"
She sniffed and refused to look at him. "I'm not talking to you right now . . ."
Damn foolish fops . . . With a low growl, Xellos clutched the many shopping bags and fell silent.
Next time, I'll be REALLY MEAN, just you wait!
(-(-(-)-)-)
Yawning, Iyzeka blinked and opened her eyes. Oh . . . I must have fallen asleep . . .
She lay cuddled within Valgaav's arms, the young man's eyes closed and his breaths steady. His slightly damp t-shirt twisted around him, riding up along his stomach. I wonder if that's something I did, the demoness chuckled and smiled up at him.
Still quite exhausted, the petite redhead relaxed again and let herself rest against him on the bed. Shutting out the light, Iyzeka snuggled up to the sleeping boy, and joined his slumber.
(-(-(-)-)-)
As soon as they were past the girls, Xellos began to feel better. "So," he tried, "what did you buy? Can I see?" He beamed at her stern glance back at him, feeling energized by her anger.
"No, you can't see," the dragoness huffed, hiding the small bag under her arm.
"Oh, come on," Xellos sighed and pulled ahead of the woman, turning to face her. "This is ridiculous, Veria." He began adjusting the shopping bags, stringing them along his arms to free his hands.
Filia stopped up short, blue eyes peering up at him with irritation. "What is ridiculous?" The blonde watched him, foot tapping.
Amethyst gaze softening, Xellos could finally take her hand in his, bags hanging from his forearms. "I didn't want to talk to them," he told her aloud. —I really didn't, Filia,— he added in her mind. —You can feel me . . . my truthfulness.—
Frowning, she dipped her saffron head, then glared back up at him half-heartedly. "You still can't see my lingerie," she commanded, then started chuckling, Xellos joining her.
The demon tried to put his arm around her shoulder as he laughed, but the cumbersome bags prevented it. "Could you please carry some?" he begged her, showing off his troubles by waving his inundated arms at her. "Come on, I can't do anything, I feel like a coat-rack."
With a giggle, Filia took some of the shopping bags and slung them onto her arm, saying, "Fine, I guess I'll carry a few."
They began to walk down the luxurious halls again, weaving through the growing crowds of shoppers. "Well, if you didn't," the violet-haired Mazoku informed her, nearing to lay an arm across her shoulders, "I wouldn't be able to do this." He beamed as she sighed and leaned her head against his chest.
"Let's go up to the second floor," Filia lazily pointed out the escalator.
Shaking his head, Xellos rubbed her bicep with his free hand, arm still resting gently along her back. "Whatever you want," he smiled sweetly down at her, though she could not see his face.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Wolfpack
Island
June
8th, 2002
Holding out her palm, Zelas smiled as an intricately painted Lego appeared there. "Perfect," the bubblegum-haired Mazoku hummed as she studied it, "mimics the glazed tiling exactly."
Outside of the large room she sat in, the sun shone brightly, a breeze sifting into the chamber through the large windows. The Regent sat on her haunches before a huge sheet of green Lego terrain, spreading out yards before her. Already many buildings rose from the floor in arches and flowing patterns.
As Zelas descended upon her towering miniature palace, she spoke aloud to herself, "Should I try to take over the world, since I have a fragment of the Staff?" Frowning, she sat back on her bottom and rested her arms across her knees, glaring at the tiny castle of Legos. "Nah, Xellos would be so mad at me," she tipped her head up and gazed at the high domed ceiling, "and my Lady would be angry too, wouldn't you?"
Golden eyes wide, she inveigled, "But I'd make the world so much better . . . I'd instill birth control in the third-world countries, I'd make all these stupid humans finally switch to renewable-resource-powered automobiles . . . I'd even start some algae farms to feed the hungry."
No answer returned, so she sighed and stretched back. "Hmmm, ohhh . . . making a to-scale Taj Mahal is a lot of work . . ." Yawning, the pink-locked demoness mused, "Maybe I should go back to my DNA splicing . . ."
(-(-(-)-)-)
Hong
Kong, China
June
8th, 2002
Deep asleep on the bed, Val pushed the dozing Mazoku from him, rolling into a ball as he pulled away. His dreams began to twist inside his mind, curling and coaxing his thoughts . . .
Valgaav stood on a flat, windy plain, short grass dancing in the gale. Rumbling ferociously above him, waves of thick sable clouds rolled across the sky, casting shadow over the world.
Narrowing his eyes, Val realized that something sat in the distance, a small mass of pallid color. His movements like treading through water, the dragon struggled to walk towards it. Finally, he neared it enough to make out the object.
A young woman with long platinum hair lay, unconscious, upon an onyx altar, rippling black magic holding her in place against the pummeling wind.
"Wake up!" Valgaav found himself yelling, hands reaching out to free her.
Just before he brushed against her bonds, she stirred, head turning to gaze up at him with beautiful jade eyes. "I . . ." her voice was like silk against his jagged soul, "I'm not what you need, Val . . ."
The words slipped from him easily, a solid surety within him. "But you're what I WANT. Don't, please!"
She closed her pale green eyes to him, ashen face shutting down. "No. This . . . is all I am . . ."
The storm above began to churn with newfound frenzy, and the young dragon gasped and fell forward to seize her magical chains. "No, don't!"
Binds evaporating at his touch, Valgaav pulled the freed girl into his arms. "No. Jamey . . . don't . . ."
Her eyes fluttered open once more, and he watched as her flaxen hair skittered away in the wind, leaving her head bare, her skin becoming waxen and her features hollow, muscles disappearing and flesh sinking into the skeletal form in his arms.
"Val . . . let me die . . ."
And within his embrace, she faded away, a cold shell as light as paper in his hands.
"No . . ." Mouth hanging open, he let her withered body slide from his lap, tears pouring down his face. "N-no . . ."
He found himself awake, Iyzeka beside him and his face wet. "What . . ." Stunned, he sat up, holding his pounding head. "What was that?"
Yawning beside him, the red haired demoness blinked and murmured, "Hmm?"
The teenager rubbed his temples, golden eyes narrowing. What an odd dream . . .
Who was she?
I'm gonna say this once, so pay attention! LOL!! There is a good REASON that all of the countries that are spelled wrong ARE spelled wrong. Amerika is NOT America. Just like Kenda is not New York, though I'm starting to think that no one has noticed that the first city they were living in, Kenda, NY was actually NY, NY. The names are different slightly because the world is NOT OURS. Ejypt is NOT Egypt, and it's not because I don't know how to spell. Well, it's true that there are many things I cannot spell right, I always spell check. The only errors that slip through the cracks of the spell-check are usage errors, like the one I had a while ago with the difference between wrought and rot, and I think there was another one too. I think Grace pointed that one out, actually! o
One other thing, that I expected would eventually come up but I might as well address it at the present time.
In chapter 19, when Xellos cries in Zela's arms, that is not something girly or mama's-boyish. You see, you have to keep in mind what's happened to him so far.
In chronological order:
1: For the past 700 years, Xellos has slowly been realizing that his brainwashing of evil was mistaken and that the Mazoku are NOT evil. Yes, you heard me right. They were never meant to be evil in this fanfic. Whoever created them was a nice person, if a bit chaotic, and the Mazoku were supposed to be chaos, not evil. (Note to you Warhammer fans: this doesn't mean you! LOL!) In this fanfic, chaos is simply the opposite of stasis, the opposite of no change.
2: Now Xellos has to fight someone that everyone else of his race fears and, by fighting him, Xellos has completely ostracized most of his race. He is fully aware that he is on a fools quest that has a 99.9999 chance of getting him AND Filia AND Valgaav AND Zelas all dead. Very VERY dead. But he's doing it anyway. Now, how would you sleep at night if you were doing the same? o I sure wouldn't be able to!
3: Finally, in chapter 18 Xellos almost killed Filia. At least, he thinks that he almost did. Who knows if he would have gone through with sending a blow at her? Fortunately, Val interrupted, but Xellos still has to face that he just almost killed the person who was the most important to him in the entire universe.
4: And a mere half-hour perhaps after almost killing the person who meant the world to him, Xellos is struck with the concept that, even though Zelas created him . . . she doesn't approve of him or his violent nature. There he was, behaving for thousands of years in a certain way under the understanding that Zelas WANTED him that way . . . when all along she did not. (or so he thinks) This is the final blow to Xellos' faltering stability. While Xellos is very strong, even the strongest mind would probably not be able to withstand all the stress that has been inflicted upon Xellos' personal domain. No battle with the dragons could have ever become so deep cutting as what had happened to him, because these events are attacking his very mind and soul.
Alright, my rant is finished! Thank you to all that are bothering to read this and I hope things make a bit more sense now!
Love,
Ukchana
