Hey, there, everyone. Time for another chapter. This last one I posted up with the Interlude and the Omake certainly turned a few heads, I see. LOL! In any case, here are the review responses.

Inverse-chan & Yukke: I'm not sure if you got what was going on, but I hope you did. Thanks for reading!

Tiggs: Oh, please, my readers NEED spoilers. It appears that half of them thought the Omake was actually part of the real story, and half of those thought that it fit. (Readers: Yes, I saw you! Waggles eyebrows) Glad you liked the Omake, Tiggs.

Clover: Lol, of course the plot thickens, lol. Glad you didn't make any assumptions . . .in the written word, anyhow. As to CEP, I've sort of given up on him ever writing again. I've done what I could, but he doesn't really have much devotion. Hopefully he'll get back on track.

Bob: Who said it was Amelia? BWA HA HA HA – ahem. As to straight D&D, let's go ask the specialist, CEP. (There's actually a D-20 Slayers system that we have, and in it they give Xellos 17 D-10 for one area attack, and the area is about 100 yards in diameter. Can you believe that? 17 D-10 for everyone in a 50 yard radius??!!! Okay, it doesn't sound like that much but at 50 pts of damage at once, you have to make a fort save to not die regardless of how much hp you have.) But anyhow, with straight D&D we think that Xellos would be a multiclassed lvl 20 fighter, lvl 20 sorcerer, lvl 20 ranger and 10 lvls in bard. So that's a level 70. The other guys aren't nearly as good as you would think, though.

Gourry: lvl 25 fighter with all feats towards combat and an intel of 8 but a wis of 20.

Lina: lvl 28 sorceress, (neither the ragna blade nor the giga slave exist in D&D, being more powerful than a wish-spell)

Amelia: multiclassed lvl 5 monk, lvl 12 cleric, and lvl 10 sorceress = 27.

Zelgadis . . . is a pain. No, seriously: multiclassed Lvl 5 cleric, lvl 14 sorcerer, lvl 7 fighter, lvl 1 rogue = 27. He's a munchkin.

Filia: According to CEP, the standard golden dragon hit dice are replaced with clerical ones since she's a cleric. I say this is jipping her, but he says her dragon abilities make up for it and also that as a young adult she would be lvl 20 automatically as a golden dragon. Her holy magic is a granted power from her deity, to be considered an exclusive Domain for the golden dragons.

Kanti-sama: read previous authors notes for why Xellos eats. And glad you got that the Omake (extra) was fake, lol.

Grace: Oh, Xellos was definitely annoyed at her in the past, but not truly at the losing his temper stage. After all, he seems to have marvelous emotional control to me. Oh, go look at the "flashbacks" for Val: when they were in Peru they were definitely pissy at each other. The interlude is just that, an interlude that gives everyone a pause to reflect and to see another place. You might consider Lina to be . . . something, BWA HA HA HA, ahem. I can't say right now, you'll see. PS: I can't publish it without going through the American distributor, and first they have to have some kind of system set up for publishing books based off of Slayers.

YueMichiruNaragisawaMiko: Is this a joke? Ahem, in any case, I only have one thing to say: If you don't know what a hymen is, ask your doctor or your health teacher at school. Don't ask your mom: she'll ask you where you read about it and then won't let you read my fanfic anymore.

Eishirou: You're smart! I like you! Thanks for everything, especially the fact that you understood that the Omake was NOT REAL. falls over. And that the kid IS more than just "Amelia".

Death is only the beginning: You obviously miss the point if you think that either a: Filia really lost her virginity or b: Xellos would be happy about it. (HINT: Dark Jedi do not exist in slayers. Really. Not as of yet, anyway. As far as I know.)

Mistress DragonFlame: Have you ever considered renaming yourself to Mistress Dragon Flambe? Anyway, Glad you liked the humor. If you can't handle Zelas and Luna, lol, too bad.

Beast Master Zelas: Lay off the heavy liquor, and you might see that it was just a humorous extra that NEVER happened!! LOL!!! Or maybe those cigarettes have more than nicotine in them. Peyote, anyone?

Deep Sea Dolphin: I'm not sure if you got it either, but thanks for reading, lol.

Aoluas: Keep reviewing and you'll keep getting mentioned, lol. Yeah, I know, it's not fair. You think YOU'VE been imagining little children, just think of what Filia is going through! And finally, for the most important question: English voices or Japanese: (this is directed to everyone)

ENGLISH IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO IN SLAYERS!! THE JAPANESE LINA (Megumi Hayashibara) SOUNDS LIKE A STUPID 9 YEAR OLD AND THE JAPANESE XELLOS SOUNDS LIKE A GUY THE PREPS WOULD MAKE FUN OF IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHO WOULD HAVE REALLY BAD ACNE AND PARENTS WHO BELONGED TO A CULT AND MADE HIM WEAR PLASTIC WRAP OVER HIS HEAD AND WHO THE CHESS CLUB WOULD FEEL SORRY FOR!!!

Ahem. Normally I like the Japanese voices, (ie, Ranma ½, Blue Seed, both main girls were played by Megumi btw) but sometimes the English is just better. Anyway, who can take Xellos serious when he gets scary if he sounds like his voice is about to break due to going through puberty? Not to mention that it makes him seem younger than Filia, and while we know that time-wise that's not true, come on, would YOU want to date someone who had a voice like your 10-year-old little brother?

On to the show!!! Remember: annoying nasal is GOOOD!!!! And David Moo's evil laugh is the most frightening thing I'VE ever heard . . .

Chapter 38

Hong Kong, China
June 9th, 2002

The night air around them was filled with the scent of animals in cages. Unnerved, Iyzeka shied away from Val slightly as he turned to look around the empty zoo grounds. Whoops, hope he didn't notice that, she worried, emerald eyes narrowing in fear. Must block emotions, must not let him feel my fear . . . She closed her eyes and began her mantra. Val is not going to kill me; Val is nice; Val is not the same person . . .
"So, where IS this center for Chi, Lon?"
"That's Elder Ku Lon to you, sonny," the voice of the tiny old woman sounded in Iyzeka's ears.
Eyes blinking open, the little demoness glanced around in sudden curiosity. "Yes, where?" Concentrate on the mission. Afterwards, you can go yell at Mommy for not telling you that Valgaav was the Ancient Dragon. Mean Mommy!
The snowy-haired matron smiled a ghastly grin at her, then waved her pogo-staff in the air. "Right there, dearie."
They both turned to look at where she gestured, only to find a lone vending machine standing in the darkness, its black plastic glinting off the distant streetlights.
"Wait a second," Valgaav's deep voice grew terse as he glowered down at the old woman, "A toy dispenser is the center of CHI?" His golden eyes narrowed and he shoved his hands onto his hips.
Cackling, she waved a wrinkled hand at him. "Now, now. I've brought you here, it's up to you to do the rest. Isn't it?"
He blinked, then his gaze grew more considering and he dipped his turquoise head to stare at her. "Right." Shrugging, he approached the machine, calling over his shoulder, "C'mon, Iyzeka, let's go check it out. Thanks, 'Elder Ku Lon'," he smarmily addressed the ancient witch as he stopped before the device. "I really needed a toy machine."

((()))

Filia winced as Xellos slammed back another glass of wine, her hands shaking in her lap. What do I do . . . Maybe I should try to . . . . cheer him up? She shook her head, the slight night wind tossing her waves of tawny hair around her. I . . . I don't know what to do . . . At least she could be thankful that the strange emotional link had disappeared moments after occurring.
Then, of course, there had been the minutes that felt like hours of Xellos pacing back and forth like a trapped wild animal, staring at the iron railing surrounding them as if he wished very much to break it down and jump from the balcony. Filia could only thank the gods that he seemed to understand that this would be a bad idea.
A clinking sound roused her, and she glanced up tentatively to see the violet-haired man grab the wine bottle again from where he sat. This time, however, he brought the lip of the glass container to his mouth and began drinking from the bottle itself.
Cold shot through the blonde as she watched him take a long pull, then set down the bottle on the table again. Without his magic, he'll quickly become intoxicated. Even if the physical body isn't really him, he probably won't be able to pull out when it's drunk. Gripping the ivory flare of her mini-skirt, she stood and began stepping cautiously towards the turned-away Mazoku.
"Ze-Zander?" she murmured, biting her lip as she made her way around the balcony to look down at him. His eyes were hooded by the fringe of amethyst hair, and a cruel scowl curled his alabaster mouth. "Zander . . ."
Received no reply, Filia sucked in breath and approached him, reaching out her hand slowly to ever-so-carefully touch his shoulder. The evening zephyr once more caressed their hair as she stood before him, silence surrounding.
"Don't be angry," she spoke gently, bringing both hands forward to warily touch his neck beneath the long cascade of purple hair.
One pallid hand rose from his lap to cover hers on that side of his neck, then his head rose, eyes revealed and meeting her own. She inhaled sharply at the glittering vicious glare they gave her, then gasped as he grabbed her waist and pulled her into his lap.
"Zander!" Filia cried out in fear, one of his hands on her waist and the other pulling her head to one side. She fought against him as he bared his teeth and sunk them into the soft flesh of her neck, then cried out as they gently scraped across the skin, the caress of his tongue a sharp contrast to the increasingly firm grip with which he held her. "P-please," begged the dragoness, terror coursing through her as his left hand slid beneath her skirt to clutch at her bottom, his nails nicking her skin through her underwear.
The guttural growl that sounded low in his throat spurred on her struggling, but even her inhuman strength could not budge him in the slightest. Oh, Gods, Filia's breath rasped as tears began filling her eyes, he must have tapped into his magic . . . It was as if she were a mere rag-doll in his hands; the blonde could do nothing against him.
Suddenly, Xellos picked her up as if raising a feather and stood as well, then shoved her back against the outer wall of the hotel suite, the bricks cracking beneath her weight. His sinister mouth descended upon her own, crushing her lips against his, just as the sensation of his full demonic power struck her.
Filia whimpered as he held her against the damaged wall with his hips, his once-gentle hands roving over her body. Has he abandoned the mission? her thoughts jumped in a frenzy. If he has, then he might start doing ANYTHING!
With a groan, the dragoness let him force her mouth open with his tongue, and against her will, began to kiss him back, his masculine scent strong in her nostrils. Even through his man-handling of her, the unusual lust caused by menstruation still remained, and with an outlet it returned powerfully. I hope, her hazy inner monologue began to melt, that he . . . doesn't start using his magic . . .

((()))

The darkness around them seemed to mock Valgaav as he stared at the decrepit vending machine. "Okay, now what?" Sighing, he shook his teal head and began rubbing the bridge of his nose.
At his elbow, the tiny Mazoku gazed up, then narrowed her green eyes and hopped over to the front of the plastic casing. "Hey, those things look neat!" she said, all traces of nervousness suddenly gone. "Can I have one, Val? Please? Please?" she turned to him and began bouncing up and down, red bangs dancing with her glee and ultramarine dress rippling.
Slouching further, the tall young man slowly exhaled. "Fine. Christ, the things I do for you . . ." Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he found a few Amerikan quarters, then peered at the machine. "Yep, it takes Amerikan money, of course." Tisking, he shoved the coins into the slot, then turned the handle. A little clear plastic ball popped out, bouncing slightly on the metal drawer that caught it.
"Oooh!" Iyzeka clapped, then bent to pick up the ball. "What's inside?!" She pulled off the top of the container, then blinked at the contents. "Hey. This isn't a toy." Glancing up at the pictures on the machine, the two teens scratched their heads at the plastic ball.
Taking it from her, Valgaav stared at the bit of charcoal inside the clear container. "It's just a piece of rock," he scoffed, about to toss the plastic ball into the nearby trash.
Suddenly, they both blinked, and Iyzeka grabbed his arm before he could let go of the container, their eyes meeting. "Wait," she said, "what did you say?"
In concert, they breathed, "A piece . . . of rock?"
Behind them, Lon began to cackle quietly.

((()))

Above them on a higher balcony, a wild party raged on, music blaring; but at that moment, the dragoness heard nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat.
So enraptured by Xellos' smell, by the caress of his fingers and the feeling of his evil miasma around her, Filia lost all coherent thought and pulled her legs apart, one calf raising to wrap around his hips. His mouth left hers and fell upon her neck again, one hand roughly fondling her breast above the crimson blouse.
The heat flowed over her, some section of her mind noting the substantial moisture increase in certain areas of her body, but her whole world was Xellos. "I want you," she found herself murmuring, fingers clutching tightly to his solid form shoved securely against her. He kissed her ferally once more, then with a suddenness that shocked her, grasped the front of her blouse and teared down.
Like cold water splashing her into cognizance, Filia inhaled sharply as the two top buttons of the crimson shirt popped off, then turned a deep red while he paused at the unexpected noise and blinked at her chest. "You BASTARD!" the blonde screeched, and pulled back her arm to backhand him with all her strength.
Tossed across the balcony, Xellos landed in a sprawled heap on the concrete. Shaking his violet head, the man rose to his feet slowly, clutching his jaw.
The saffron-haired woman stared at him as he hesitantly began to walk closer; the eyes that rose to her face were a complete transition, large amethyst orbs filling with tears that began to roll down his pale cheeks. Somewhere above them, throbbing rave music played.
Holding out his hands to her palm up, the purple-haired demon began to sob. "Why did you marry me if you didn't want to have sex with me?"

((()))

In one far section of the grand Hylton Hotel's foyer, an older man sat on a plush settee. He wore an immaculate suit and an ebony trench-coat, a white scarf draped around his neck and falling down the front of his double-breasted suit-coat. Glancing at his watch, he smoothed his salt-and-pepper hair with a smile. "Eight o'clock," he drawled in a deep voice. "It's about time."
In his ear, he heard a British voice chuckle. "Jolly good, Rykker. Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"
Standing languidly for a man of his age, the gentleman headed down the hall, then slowed before the elevator. Pressing a button, he waited as the 'lift chimed, beaming charmingly at a pair of young woman who stepped up from behind him to ride as well. "Good evening," Rykker said, and they giggled. "Beautiful night for a party."

((()))

Kendar's jaw dropped as he watched the children remove the stone fragment from the plastic ball. "No! Mother of All, they found it." A bitter smile crossed his ugly features. "They found it!"
Hanging his head, he cursed and exalted at the same time from his spot dangling between the astral plane and reality. "They have it, but . . ." he ran a quivering hand through his matted brown hair, "will they survive? I must tell Telgaln. Mother, please, let General Xellos and his Mistress win this war . . ."
With a sigh, he disappeared, heading for his King . . . his doom . . . and his betrayal.

((()))

Filia stared at the crying Mazoku, jaw dropping. All thoughts of the mission vanishing from her mind, she blurted out the first thing she could think of.
"We're NOT MARRIED, you IDIOT!" Her fists clenched and she glared down at him, aura flaring. Selfish, stupid, drunk JERK!
Sniffling, the grown man sat down in a nearby wrought-iron chair and dropped his chin into an open palm. "Why do you hate me?" he cried, voice becoming even more nasal as the tears collected at the tip of his nose. "You always hate me, for the past seven-hundred years you've hated me . . ."
Shocked, Filia could only stare at him as he cried, her mouth dropping. "But . . ." Shaking her head, she rushed over to the Mazoku and wrapped her arms around him, their assignment completely forgotten. "No, no, I don't hate you!"
The General-Priest pulled her into his lap, and she sat across it, cuddling his head against her breast as he cried. "I gave you chocolates," he sobbed, "and flowers, and candies, and statues of naked women, and TONS of engagement rings," he wept into her chest, "but you still hate me!"
With a sigh, the blonde flushed as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began to rock him like a child, embarrassed at the heady sensation of his warm breath upon her bosom. "No, I don't hate you. Really. I'm just having my period!" Why does stuff like this always happen?
Silken violet hair splayed over his tear-drenched face, Xellos shook his head, raising his eyes to gaze up at her sorrowfully. "I even got you large, succulent ponies . . . perfect for grilling! But it's never enough!"
The sobbing began again, and he returned his nose to her chest, his woeful cries muffled in her bust. This is ridiculous, Filia told herself as she ran her hand through his silken locks, brushing his violet bangs from his eyes. How am I supposed to get him to stop?
Kissing his forehead gently, she continued to rock him against her bosom, closing her eyes at the warm sensation of his arms so firmly around her. Oh, Xellos . . .

((()))

Holding the fragment carefully, Iyzeka beamed up at Valgaav, then over to Lon. "Thank you, Elder," she said sincerely, dimples showing beneath her bright viridian eyes.
"Oh," the ancient woman chuckled, "it was nothing. But I really should be going, now. As should you."
Val lowered his eyes, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "Honored Elder Ku Lon . . . before you go . . ."
Her glinting ebony eyes studied him from the expansive darkness surrounding them. "Yes, my child?"
Sitting down suddenly on a nearby wooden bench, the Ancient Dragon slouched into the shadows, dropping his head into his hands. "Did . . . Did Xian really find happiness? After I left?"
Slowly, the Chinese woman took out her cigarette holder and lit the cigarette within, then took a long drag. "Yes, my boy. Xian Pu ended up marrying Kiang Mu Tsu. You remember him, don't you?" she laughed and shook her head. "You two were pretty bitter enemies for a while, there."
"Until I left," Valgaav whispered. "It's for the best. Really."
She nodded. "Yes, it is. She . . . is not like you."
His eyes began to glitter with unshed tears and he turned away. "Yeah. She's human."
Nodding, the aged monarch sucked in another mouthful from the cigarette. "Mostly."
His head jerked up, but she was gone, and the demoness next to him was gaping at the spot where the old woman had stood. "What the hell?"
"She just disappeared!" Iyzeka chattered gleefully, "that was neat, do you think she has magic? I didn't sense a thing!"
Standing, the tall dragon shook his head, then ran a nervous hand through his spiky sea-green locks. "She's always been like that. I've never been able to sense any aura from her." He stopped suddenly, then swore. "Shit." —We've been talking out LOUD about this kind of thing! — he told her in his mind, then hurriedly began heading for the exit to the zoo. –C'mon, we have to get out of here, Lon turned off the alarm but who knows when it will turn back on when she's not here as well!— he took off at a sprint, the red-haired girl following closely after.
As if reading his mind, the security lights instantly blazed on, and sirens filled the air around them.
"I think you spoke," Iyzeka gasped from behind him, "too soon!"

((()))

"Hello," Rykker smiled at the young, slightly inebriated man who swung open the door to room 515, revealing the writhing bodies of young people dancing to atrociously loud and jarring music. "Is this where the party is being held?"
"Dude," said the youth, shoving his hands into the pockets of his khakis, "no old people allowed. Sorry, man." He shook his head, bloodshot blue eyes barely registering and a bit of ivory powder on the edges of his nostrils.
"Hmm, sounds distasteful, old chap," came the voice of his partner as the young man began to close the door on him.
Grimacing, Rykker attempted to beam at the less than stellar individual and pulled out a wad of British pounds from his trench-coat. "Will this change your mind?" he drawled, ice blue eyes glinting.
Re-opening the door, the kid took the money, then winked overtly at him. "Sure, sure, Pops, come on in!" Laughing a storm, he stepped aside, allowing Rykker to enter the maelstrom.
"Thanks, kid," he growled under his breath, then began maneuvering through the crowd. "I'm in, Stedman. Lost a few hundred, but . . ."
"Not a problem, that was expected, old man. How do the women look, anyhow?"
"As young as your daughter," Rykker chuckled as he passed a few grinding on the 'dance floor' of the strobe-lit living room. "less muscular . . . more wealthy."
"And all strumpets, the lot of them, unlike my Katia."
"Of course," Rykker answered dryly, avoiding a disagreement with his associate. "Well," he beamed at a rather alluring young brunette as she brushed past him, "I believe it's time for me to get a drink."

((()))

The night air, crisp and dancing, flowed around them as Filia cradled and rocked her 'husband'. "Really," she exhaled slowly, relishing the feel of his soft hair between her fingers, "I don't hate you. Not at all."
Fluctuating back and forth between crying and sniffling, the demon in her arms hadn't spoken since it had began; almost ten minutes had passed, a span of time that felt much longer to the blonde dragoness. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take, she told herself with a wince, flushing as Xellos nuzzled her chest in a particularly sensitive area. "Please, Xellos . . ."
This time, however, he seemed to have heard her, and he raised his head to gaze up at her with tear-filled purple eyes, sobbing, "But you won't have sex with me!"
Filia hung her head, closing her eyes, and ended up resting her forehead against his. "Xellos, they're NOT mutually exclusive!" Her voice rose at the end and she sat up straight, glaring down at him. Ridiculous!
Blinking with a decidedly pleased expression crossing his pallid features, Xellos wiped at the tear-streaks across his face and queried, "Then you'd have sex with me even if you hated me?"
With a heavy groan, the fair-haired dragoness lifted one hand from his hair and covered her forehead. "Noooo," she drawled, azure eyes quirking down at him angrily. Smug bastard . . . leave it to Xellos to distract and confuse me, then take advantage of it. "Listen, I don't hate you at all, I just . . ." She hung her head, fingering her hair absently and picking apart the saffron strands. "I'm having my period."
"So," came Xellos' expectant nasal voice from below her, his arms still tightly slung around her, "when your period ends, THEN we can have sex?"
"No!" She returned her glare downward to the suddenly buoyant 'businessman', amazed that he could switch so quickly from angst to joy. "Whatever gave you THAT idea?"
Frowning back at her, Xellos tipped his head up and demanded, "Why not?"
With a huff, Filia rose from his lap to turn her back on him, hands on her hips. "Come ON, Xellos. You're my best friend. It wouldn't be right and you KNOW it!"
With a melodramatic sigh, Xellos clutched his chest and gasped, "Oh, the death-blow . . ."
Dropping her forehead into a palm, the dragoness moaned and shook her head. "This is insane." But there's nothing I can . . . Wait a second . . . Her head rose, then she turned pale. Why CAN'T I cast a Purification Spell? She rolled her eyes as the answer smacked her in the face. Because we're on a MISSION!
The jarring sounds of the uproarious party churning above them drowned out her thoughts as her shock and dismay sunk down to the core of her being. This is exactly why I didn't want him drinking so much! All of this emotional contact is getting to the both of us.
Behind her, she could hear the General-Priest groaning, "That means I'll NEVER be able to get into your pants!"
"WHAT?" Teeth clenched, Filia spun to glower at him. "Why, you little-!" She began to stalk over to him, once again forgetting her reason for being in China.
Another cool wind blew across the balcony, and just as the blonde reached her target, his purple cat-eyes tightened. Looking up at the landing above them, where the youths were dancing and laughing with the raucous music, he snapped his fingers and grinned. "I bet those guys upstairs would know how to make it okay to have sex with your best friend!" he announced smugly.
With that, the violet-tressed man shot up out of his chair with sudden energy, and, locking his jaw tight, strode over to the glass doors. Filia watched in uneasy distraction as he seemed to study his reflection for a moment in the clear surface, then pulled back his right fist and smashed it through the glass door, shards flying with the crystal sound of shattering ice.
"Xellos!" she gasped, mouth falling open as she staggered over to him. "Oh, Gods . . ." She brushed back a slip of tawny hair from her eyes and reached towards the damaged hand he held before him silently, his head bent as he peered down at it in bemusement. Quickly, she leaned over to gaze up at his face, one hand tenderly touching the wrist of his right hand. "Xellos."
"It hurts," he told her flatly, amethyst eyes watching the thick ruby blood seep from the slits along his fingers and the back of his hand. Thick pools of vermilion began to collect beneath them on the concrete.
Wincing, Filia grabbed a napkin from the table and pulled his arm to her. "Let me wrap it up for you." Dammit, she cursed herself, I screwed up again. I called him his real name . . . AGAIN. As quickly as she could, she folded the white fabric around his hand and started to tie it.
"This is a waste of time!" the violet-haired man declared before she could finish, pulling his arm from her and taking the ivory napkin with his uninjured hand. He pushed the remaining pieces of glass from the frame, then grabbed the handle on the other side and turned it.
With a click, the handle rotated, door unlocking, and Xellos removed his hand with a smug grin. Lightly kicking open the door, he stepped through the doorway, glass crunching under his shoes. "Thanks," he snapped over his shoulder, then covered his wounds with the bloodied cloth and wrapped it over the back of his right hand as he walked through the living room and towards the door.
"Wait!" Filia cried, carefully stepping over the glass and following after him. "Xe-Zander, at least let me change my blouse and visit the lady's room!!"
The demon waved absently behind him, opening the suite door and swinging it wide. "Whatever." Clenching a fist around the once-snowy fabric, the amethyst-locked Mazoku marched through the archway and down the corridor.
"DAMMIT!" the dragoness hung her head, then raced after him. "MEN!"

((()))

Turning a corner, Val stopped and breathed heavily, casting a glance behind them. "I'm not sure, but I think we might have lost them."
Beside him, the demoness leaned against the brick wall, viridian eyes wide and lungs burning. "Right, right . . ." Oh, I really wish I was allowed to use my powers . . . Raising her head, she watched him as he began race-walking down the lamp-lit streets. "Hey, wait up!"
"We can't afford to stay here," he told her curtly as she stumbled after him. Golden eyes hard, he glanced back at her then continued marching forward. "We have to get back to the hotel. I have a really bad feeling . . ."
Iyzeka's eyes flickered through the darkness around them, and every so often she swore she could see vermin undulating in the shadows, their chittering just on the edge of her hearing. "Yuck," the redhead murmured, then blinked as the noise melted into another, the sounds of a child crying out and pleading in a language that seemed awfully familiar . . .
"Stop!" Iyzeka demanded, gazing into the inky blackness around them. "Don't you hear that?"
Valgaav halted, spinning to stare at her. "We don't have time!" he snapped, then looked down guiltily as, somewhere nearby, they could hear soprano sobbing. "Shit." Hanging his turquoise head, he growled low in the back of his throat, then raised his head to glare at her. "Okay, let's go save the day, Super Girl."
Wincing, she laughed nervously, clutching the back of her neck. "Boy, you sure look like . . . your 'father' when you do that." Oh, Mother of All . . . I'm scared! Hand shaking slightly, she nodded to him, then darted down a thickly-shadowed alleyway. Sometimes, the demoness glanced behind her at the silhouette following with a slow, skulking lope, I wonder how HE is the child of the gods while I am the demon.

((()))

Beneath the Ocean
June 9th, 2002

Outside the audience chamber, Kendar touched the coral walls and hung his head, empathizing with their moans and cries of pain. Drip . . . drip . . . drip . . . The water never ceased its falling, as the air-filled chamber defied physics, so far under the sea.
Shoving his thick hands through the mess of dung-colored hair on his head, the Mazoku looked up with haunted eyes as the coral groaned louder. "Do I have to go in?" he asked the walls around him. Silence enveloped him, and he glanced behind himself into the darkened halls of the watery kingdom, his only answer the stagnant stench of rotting sea-weed and fish.
How am I to tell him? he asked himself, slumping onto the damp floors of the corridor. Fingering the mottled and torn coat he wore, Kendar sniffled, feeling the tears of self-depreciation pricking at the eyes of his human body. I hate myself . . . I hate this form. I hate being a Mazoku. Pulling at his ragged hair, he grunted and squealed in pain and mental anguish. I hate it! He dropped to the ground as he sobbed, feeling the human heart beating fast in the chest – his chest. MY chest. I . . . created it.
How easy it would be to abandon the body and hide in the astral plane . . . easy to convince oneself that it was safe there. But it wasn't. Brown eyes wide, the demon contemplated his fate as tears poured down his face. Betraying my General is the last thing I want to do . . .
Standing with a sigh, the miserable creature rubbed his eyes and straightened the ragged clothes on his squat frame. And now, I must do the most hateful thing of all.
Squaring his bent shoulders as much as he could, he brushed aside the curtain of seaweed covering the doorway into the audience chamber, and stepped through.

((()))

Hong Kong, China
June 9th, 2002

"So," Xellos drawled as he leaned his hands against the two sides of the doorframe, "I see you're having a party up here."
Filia winced behind him as blood seeped through the napkin on his hand and coated the wooden frame. "Please, Zander," she began, "let's go back down-"
"Shut . . . UP!" he snapped back at her, glare caustic, and the wide-eyed dragoness pulled away quickly, back thunking against the other door. "As I was saying," he smiled and turned back to the bleary-eyed young man who had answered his knocking, "I'd like to come in."
"Dude," the black-haired kid blinked at him as loud music poured into the hallway, "you can't get in without the password." He took a long swig from a bottle of Guinness, then ran a hand roughly through his messy ebony locks. "And you're bein' pretty harsh to the lady, there." From behind Xellos, the blonde tentatively approached again, this time remaining silent.
"I said," a cruel smirk touched the demon's mouth, and he licked his upper lip lightly, "let me in." His gaze flickered back to Filia, and a warning seemed to linger within the violet depths, enough that she clutched her hands to her chest and looked down at the ground, eyes wide with fright.
"C'mon, man," the youth drawled, "what's the," he hiccupped, "password." His dark glance rested on Filia, and he smiled blearily at her.
Rolling his eyes, Xellos said, "How about 'abracadabra'?"
With a frown, the young man shook his jet head, then scratched behind his ear, absently kicking the doorframe with his toe. Beyond him in the darkened room, the music changed to a slow song and giggling rose into the air. "I donno," he finally said, ignorant of Xellos' tapping foot and his increasingly furious expression. "I can't remember what the password's supposed to be."
"Well I can," the Mazoku smiled mock-sweetly, "so let me IN."
Shrugging, the man threw his hands into the air, sloshing beer over his arm as he turned away. "Sure, whatever."
"THANK you," Xellos beamed, tossing his amethyst locks back as he shoved past him and stepped into the suite, leaving Filia behind in the hallway.
"Hey!" the blonde cried as the door began to close, "what about ME?!" She forced it open, leaning up against it and glaring at the dark-haired kid with the beer. "Let me in!"
"I donno', lady, do you really wanna go chasing that guy?" he asked, burping rudely. "He's a dick." Another gulp from his bottle and he was staring at her again with bloodshot indigo eyes.
Glaring, she turned up her nose at him and folded her arms. "Yes, I know." With a moan, she suddenly slouched, golden hair falling to cover her face. "But I can't leave him ALONE like this!"
"Sure, sure," nodded the strange kid, "yeah, I understand. Well, you're hot enough, I guess I'll let you in." Smiling in what could possibly be construed as a sensual manner if one was also drunk, he added, "And maybe we can share a dance later, huh?"
"Right," Filia growled, pushing him aside and entering the chaos within. "When Hell freezes over."