Well, much fewer reviews this time. PLEASE REVIEW! I know many of you are so eager to read that you don't leave a review, or you are shy, but I really appreciate all of the reviews. I love them and hold them close to my heart! That sounds sooo cheesy . . . .
Anyhow, onward and, er, downward . . .
Iponly: NOPE! Not the end, by far!
Kaeru Shisho: You're the best. I'm glad I can still thrill and delight. I hope that this new installment isn't quite as late as the last, lol.
Tanwen Whitefire: I WUV YOU TOO! Well, 2 months is pretty long, but I'm going to shoot for 1 month installments from now on. I have to catch up, after all. They're still 3 years behind us. As for heartfelt and passionate . . . it's angsty . . . will that do?
Legona: I'm so overjoyed that this is your favorite Xellos fanfic! That is very high praise and I cherish it. Please let me know what you think of this chapter!
Ahria: Keep up the reading, I'm sure you'll like the rest, too. I hope you get time to finish it, it's a long one!
Ami Metallium: Greetings! Yes, I did update. Um, I kinda forgot a bit too. Rereading makes it fresh. winces Sorry?
Mistress DragonFlame: Nope, didn't die. Thank God. I haven't even finished a story yet! Especially my pride and joy, Modern Day. As to Filia . . . it was more a combination. And the fact that Telgaln didn't expect the grenades to have Holy magic, a magic long, LONG lost to humans.
YueMichiruNaragisawaMiko: I guess I could try to draw and ink Filia that way . . . but there are so many artistic things I need to do! There will definitely be new sparks between Xellos and Filia, and new plans on what their next steps will be. There is still much more to come!
Grace7: Oh, I missed you Grace. I have had a hankerin' for a long review. You might want to de-select it for alerts and the re-select, they've done a new story alert thing and you might have to "remind" the system. Anyhow, I'm so sorry you got a speeding ticket! That's rough. As to Xellos' control, yes, it is quite tenuous sometimes. He is still, after all, learning how to not be so demonic. I'm glad, also, that you like Iyzeka so much. To be honest, I didn't really know what to do with her and I didn't actually like her too much in the beginning, but she's definitely grown into something.
I liked that line of Xellos' too! His last line to Lon was part goodbye, part warning, and part threat. It shows that he still is very vicious and likes to make certain that people are afraid of him . . . he wanted to make sure that just because Lon's kind helped him, that didn't mean they were not taking him as seriously as before.
It is totally true that Xellos and Telgaln are different. Xellos always had a reason to live that was beyond himself, I think. But Telgaln only had himself, so he lost any concept of reality. I will try to show more dichotomy between them, but I'm not sure just how I can achieve that. I'll do my best. But to be honest, I think that they actually think similarly in some ways. I will have to really think hard about a way to more obviously show those differences.
As to your pic, I would love to see it! And I hope that my scenes have meaning such as that sense of togetherness, as well as meaning to others. There are some deep rooted, far-spanning truths that I am trying to put across, and I am glad to see you catching them. Hopefully you aren't the only one.
And now onto the story. Any reviews would be highly appreciated!
Chapter 44
Above
the Ocean
June
9th, 2002
He hurt . . . all over.
The deep azure of the ocean hung below them, the island an emerald jewel in a huge, sea-blue setting, a crystal sphere hiding it away from any thieves intent on snatching it away.
Xellos held his family within his arms, tightly clenched though his form still ached with astral wounds so recently inflicted. "He'll be here soon," he murmured to them. "There's only one chance left."
Filia gasped and gripped his arm, desperation in her gaze. "What are you going to do?" she demanded in the airy silence. The wind began to pick up, blowing wisps of gold across her features.
Shaking his head, Xellos looked at her sadly. "Val, take your mother and Iyzeka away from me, and protect them," he told the boy, and Valgaav nodded sternly, taking his mother's arm.
"Mom, we have to go. Xel will be fine, he can take care of himself."
"But-" the dragoness began to argue, yet her deep blue eyes gazing into his own appeared to reconsider, and she halted her fight. "You'd better know what you're doing," she told him shakily, glare holding his own.
Xellos nodded, and looked to the silent girl behind them, her turquoise dress dancing in the wind as she floated within the sky, and her deep green eyes gazing into his own. Her eyes were of the island below, a sanctuary, and something within them felt familiar. I'll be home soon, Mother. We all will.
"Alright," he told them all. "Go. I have the stone, that's what he wants. He'll come for me. If he tries anything with the three of you, Val . . . I expect you to fight well, and I'll be there."
The boy nodded, and began to float away with the girls . . . and the bright blue of the sky took on a faint tinge of black.
An insistent wind blew, whipping through their hair and clothes and forcing the dragons' eyes closed. Clouds dark with moisture billowed in as the air was cast in a shroud of ash and gray, the blankets of mist obscuring the light from above as they deafened the ear with the rage of the tempest.
A last glimpse of the bright sun was all Xellos had before the only illumination against the rumbling, torrential storm clouds was the glittering azure shield below, dying the blackness a dim, glowing blue.
Eyes reflecting that shimmering globe, the General Priest gazed out across the haze, the shrill screaming wind tossing his hair about his face. He couldn't even see the others, but he could feel them. A strange calm filled him and he clenched his fists, feeling the power of the stone as he brought it into the universe and held it within his palm. Give me power, Lady. And I will be with you again. Forgive my weakness and lend me your strength.
A rattling of bones, and it was upon him. A gust of wind shattering into ice against him, and the booming of light reverberating within the plumes of black, undulating clouds. Boom. Boom. Boom. . .
. . . like a heartbeat, the heartbeat of something monumental, and ominous.
Xellos' head bent thoughtfully, waiting as he hung, suspended within the storm, feeling the air around him as it changed, as a sepulchral breath settled over him, with an almost whisper carried upon it.
-You are mine . . .-
And a scarlet pair of glowing orbs appeared from within the deepest, thickest cloud, as laughter reverberated over the sounds of the roiling thunder.
Slowly, the violet head rose, and a thin, amused smile pulled taut the pallid lips, and the General Priest began to chuckle softly. As the cackles faded, he placed his hands upon his hips. "Is this really your plan, Telgaln," he spoke . . . gently, softly even, but his voice carried somehow in this place of unending, torrential sound. "This doesn't scare me."
-No . . . but perhaps I never thought it would.-
The vapors suddenly began rushing towards him, and he began to phase away, into the astral plane – but he could feel this energy – and an angry hiss escaped his lips. "Val will protect them. You deal with me, here and NOW."
Drawing up his power and plunging it through the stone, the priest sent out his strength into a huge encompassing wave, a sphere that traveled through each dimension and gathered what it held, throwing it into the azure shield. "DO . NOT . UNDERESTIMATE ME, TELGALN."
The black billowing clouds were thrust along with the frigid, stale air of the specter, and Xellos found his force fractured by a rush of ice, and he was picked up by the unseen Demon King.
Electricity shattered and skittered between them, and Xellos reached out, across the plains, until he found what he sought – grasping, he tore a path between astral and reality and thrust Telgaln into his world.
They hung together, within a storm to overwhelm all storms, a vortex of lightening and crushing winds, boiling sky and burning energy flaring and flashing. Grappling, Telgaln tried to escape, but the General Priest strengthened his hold and began wrapping power around them both, tightening and burrowing until the black, crackling energy slipped and slid, covering every inch of them until it snapped into a solid sphere.
"No escaping, Telgaln," Xellos growled, and he watched in their prison as his enemy's sanguine gaze darkened in surprise. "You think you and your minions are the only ones who can create a Halcyon Field? Yes, Iyzeka told me about your little trick. But now, we are the ones inside my field. And I'm going to keep us here."
The only way to break it is to break ME, he mused, seeing his opponent begin to consider him more seriously. But he won't get the chance.
After the split second that remained since he finished speaking, Xellos suddenly tossed a huge pillar of energy at Telgaln, shoving him further towards his destination, and pulling himself along with the obsidian sphere of energy – the Halcyon Field that barely fit the two human forms thrust the both of them directly into the path of the incredible magical barrier encircling the island.
As the shield crackled through the Field, Xellos' mind and eyes filled with light, a pain akin to nothing he had ever experienced. He could hear and feel Telgaln's agonized screams, and his own instantly joined as his astral form and physical body began to deteriorate.
Only have a few more moments, he forced the thoughts through his dying essence. Got to make them count . . .
(-(-(-)-)-)
"As soon as I redirect the power, enter the shield. You won't have much time before it begins to react to you. Just trust me – it's the only weakness the shield has, and we're going to make use of it."
Valgaav watched the battle, every muscle in his body taut with a need to stop it. But he couldn't. Xellos had a plan, he'd made that clear . . . and Val was going to follow through on it.
By normal means, no one would be able to see through the billowing torrents of wind and fog that enveloped the two, but the magic of his gaze showed him what frightened him the most: a Halcyon Field made of Xellos' own magic, encircling them both. The field, invisible to the naked eye, radiated with demonic power to his enhanced senses, a black ball of energy.
His mother in one arm and Iyzeka in the other, Val forced himself to watch the fight. Just as Filia started to struggle, tears becoming sobs as they all felt that familiar essence begin to bleed away, the shield weakened and he cried, "Now!"
Gripping the girls firmly, Val swiftly flew straight into the glittering mass of light, plunging them through it as it crackled along their forms – and they were within the barrier, spinning to watch the opposite side of the conflict.
Beside them, Zelas appeared, a frown upon her youthful features. "Xellos!" she gasped, emotions warring within her eyes. "Lady, no . . ."
Tears pouring down her face, Filia fought her son's grip, flooded azure gaze locked upon the ball of night that hung along the snapping wall of current. "Let me go! I have to stop this!"
"No, mom!" Val shook his head and held her tighter, though his voice broke with his own suffering, "if you break the field, Telgaln will be able to pass through the shield!" His own saffron eyes shined as liquid began collecting there.
Pulling from them, Iyzeka went to her mother, and the two demonesses held each other, the girl starting to weep as well, while Zelas simply looked on bleakly, her blush head bent with sorrow. "We can't stop it, or Telgaln will destroy us all." Her golden gaze collapsed as she covered her mouth with a free hand. "My baby," she whispered, and began to cry. "He's dying . . ."
"NOOO!" Valgaav's mother became a wild animal in his arms, kicking and pushing against him where they hung in mid-air.
The teen struggled against her ferocity, fingers bruising her arms as he refused to let go. "Mom, please!" he began to sob himself, "stop! Don't do this!"
"You have to save him, Val!" she begged, collapsing into his chest as her saffron locks settled around them like a shroud. "Please, he can't die. There must be a way to save him!"
The Ancient Dragon closed his eyes, and the tears and sorrow surrounding him suddenly became distant and faint. A way to save him, and keep the Betrayer at bay, he heard his mind utter, and a dizzying rush enveloped him, and he knew . . .
Gold eyes snapping open, the teen tossed his mother at Zelas, and all three girls gasped as he darted forward towards that ominous orb of black. "Valgaav!" Zelas gaped, "no!"
Reaching the sphere of darkness, the lanky boy bled inertia instantly and pulled his hands together, gathering every ounce of his energy between two hands. "I won't abandon you, Xellos!" he screamed above the roaring winds and crackling lightening, the thunderous crash of the storm threatening to overcome him.
"YOU ARE COMING BACK HOME WITH ME!" Val roared, thrusting both hands into the churning ball of magic, body shuddering and jolting as volts of current flooded his form and started melting through his astral self. Thunderously, his voice boomed, "GOD . HELP . ME" cracking across the sky as he reached inside - senses drawn to the darkness he desired, hands grasping and aura wrapping around arms and legs and demonic energy - and with one great pull, releasing an echoing explosion of force – he pulled a swirling, shattered form of obsidian and ichor from the sphere, a dripping and frothing and unrecognizable blob that swirled around itself before clinging to the teal-headed boy and wrapping tendrils along the exhausted teenager's form . . . but the aura was one that none of them could mistake.
"Val!" Filia flew forward and began to sob even harder as she reached out a hand to them, Iyzeka following soon behind.
Instantly Zelas phased to the nebulae's other side to take it from the wincing dragon, a brittle smile threatening to fall from her face. "He's hurting you, let me have him," she told Val, who gladly released the amoeba-like thing before collapsing into his mother's arms, his teeth clenched and skin as wax from the pain of holding unadulterated chaos within his hands.
Beyond them, the black ball of energy slowly moved away, detaching itself from the wall of the shield and floating into the distance, before popping like a bubble. Within seconds, the storm crescendoed, and an enraged yowl enveloped them all with a deafening intensity before fading away into the billowing blue clouds.
Holding his mother gently, Valgaav watched as she reached out a hand to the glittering black amorph, then winced as the raw demonic energy began to eat away at her aura. "Mom, it's okay. He'll be alright." He glanced up to see Zelas' eyes close, and Iyzeka draw up to the blob's other side and shut her eyes as well, cloistering it between them. "Zelas and Iyzeka will heal him and he'll be better in no time."
With a deep sigh, Filia smiled tremulously at the creature as, with agonizing slowness, it too reached out a pseudopod towards her, but abstained from touching her.
Relaxing against her son, the fair-haired dragoness murmured, "Thank the Gods. Oh Val . . . I almost lost you both . . ."
"I know," he held her close and murmured into her hair. "But you didn't."
As the storm raged outside the magical barrier, the group slowly drifted towards the surface of the island . . . weak with strong, and mother with son.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Filia stood on a balcony within Zelas' mansion and looked out on a flat, clear blue sea, the water inexplicably smooth like a mirror. From within it, solid, jaggedly shimmering crystals stood, reaching up towards the sky, a blinding, setting sun on the horizon.
With a sigh, she let her tired eyes rest upon the reflection of the sun, and watched as heat waves rose and rustled off of the strangely glinting liquid. She knew it had to be liquid . . . she had thrown a rock out towards it, and watched it ripple the surface in uncountable rings before plunging straight to the unknown depths.
Her head hurt – and the impossible physics of the view made it ache further. She knew she was in shock from what had happened, but all she seemed capable of doing was leaning against the icy railing of this tiny balcony, to contemplate another of Zelas' demented creations.
What the hell am I doing here? she asked herself, a distracted, troubled thought. With a groan, she closed her eyes and folded her palms upon the rail, resting her forehead on the backs of her hands.
Zelas had brought them back, telling them that it would be best if Xellos convalesced alone – easier for him and less likely to harm her guests. Filia had limply wandered off, in search of some blankness to rest her weary and overly-stimulated emotions in. Instead she'd found this enigmatic view that must have broken at least a few laws of physics.
Behind her, a footstep snapped, and she sighed again, feeling a soft breeze blow her hair across her arms, tickling her skin. "Mom?" sounded his timid baritone, and she lifted her head to smile weakly at her son.
The sun in his eyes caused them to shimmer like molten gold, and his smile flowed through her warmly. "We're safe now," he murmured, stepping closer and enfolding her within his arms. As she snuggled into his embrace and let herself hug him back, she felt his whisper vibrate within his chest, "Zelas sure knows how to make something spectacular. Doesn't she?"
Filia nodded, eyes shutting again. "Safe. Oh, Val. Am I getting too old for this? I feel so weak. Maybe I was always weak, and I just act strong."
It seemed to be a day for sighs, as her son expelled his breath deeply. "I donno'. You know, anger makes us all feel powerful. But it's kind of a substitute for real bravery. It gives us the willpower to fight, because we're actually afraid. So we get angry instead."
"This isn't making me feel much better," she replied dryly, words muffled by his t-shirt.
A chuckle reverberated within her from him, and he drawled, "I have more to say." He paused, and she pulled her head back to gaze up at his distant expression, eyes clouded with thought as the setting sun shimmered within the depths. "Yet sometimes I think you're braver than Xellos is. I mean, he's always gotten everything right. He knows he's powerful, and he's rarely had that challenged. I think when he was afraid that Iyzeka meant more to Zelas than he did, that was the first time that anything had challenged his world-view. But . . ."
His eyes fell to hers, and he gave her a gentle smile, "if anything, Mom, your ego is more fragile. You have less reason to believe you'll succeed. And in a way . . . it means that your attempts count more. You're risking more damage to your ego if you fail. So you're a braver person for your attempts. You have more to loose. Because, if Xellos fails, he attributes it to circumstances, or fate, or bad luck. But," and here his eyes softened further, brows arching in empathy, "your failures, you blame on yourself."
Blinking up at him, the blonde's mouth slowly began to quirk into a smile. "Valgaav. I really love you. You're so eloquent. Thank you." Her gaze dropped to the pithy words emblazoned on his shirt, uncertainty stirring within her heart again. "I've always wanted to do the right thing and to make a difference. I don't think I've ever recovered from what happened to me at the temple of the Fire Dragon King. My sense of self and worth were dealt a major blow." She shook her head, frowning at herself. And just a few days ago I was forgiving myself. I thought it would be so easy. Guess I need more work.
"Don't worry, Mom," Val told her, running a hand over her hair and smoothing it down her back. "I know you can find peace, you just have to keep trying." Concern passed across his face like quick-moving clouds, and he bit his lip. "You never really talk about what happened. I know . . . that you left the temple, and they destroyed the other Ancient Dragons. But . . ."
Pained, Filia shook her head, agony bending her features as she turned back towards the sunset, the giant orb now dipping into the basin of the flat water. "Oh, Val. It's just not time . . ."
"I know," came his quiet reply, and her shoulders dipped inward. "No, don't hurt yourself, Mamma," he whispered, guilt in his voice. "I know it's not time. There's no rush."
A sense of awe seemed to fill his words, and the dragoness turned to give him a quizzical glance. "Val?"
He shook his head as if ridding himself of a pesky fly, and smiled faintly down at her. "Um, more clairvoyance, I guess. I just know, it's not time for me to hear it yet. I'm okay with it." He reached out his hands to take her own and chuckled. "I know who I am. The origins aren't important. All that matters is that I'm with you and Xellos." His saffron eyes peered into her own intently as he smiled. "With you, I'm home. That's all that matters."
Relief washed through her, and she felt her anxiety melt away. "Me too, Val," she told him, hugging him again. "It's such a funny world, isn't it? Telgaln is such a looming threat, and yet we can still be so happy together."
Shrugging, Valgaav chuckled. "Well, don't forget, Mom. Nothing physical lasts forever. We can't worry about the future and the past so much that our present is overlooked. You're a worrier . . . Xellos is right, you know, you should relax and enjoy the 'now'." He raised a teasing eyebrow and grinned. "Come on, Mom. You make your own world. You'd be surprised how malleable fate can be." Grabbing her hand, he began to pull her towards the doorway from the balcony. "Time to love life again. Xellos will get better faster if you're not worrying over him."
Filia gave him an annoyed look, but went along. "I think Xellos may be right about something else too: you're far too grown-up for your own good."
"Right," he nodded resolutely. "So, let's go play some video games. Zelas tells me she's got every console ever made."
"Console?"
She winced at his dubious expression as he muttered, "Time to get up-to-date, Mother," and dragged her through the open archway, leaving one non-reality behind in favor of another.
(-(-(-)-)-)
The desire was gone . . . everything, gone. Suspended, the void hung within a world of stars and light, shadow and song, moon and ocean.
Leisurely, inexorably, its senses unfolded, blooming, and a windless breeze floated over it, as it perceived the astral plane.
The nothingness was dark and bright, a sensation of swirling, a vortex that held it adrift, and carried it within its womb. A kaleidoscope of dreams and reality, fiction and touch, a taste of memory and a prick of shame . . . it knew itself as it had never known before, and questions and confusion filled it.
An agonizing quickness spun through it with breathtaking slowness, and it gained awareness, losing its true self as only those aware can . . . it had a name . . .
. . . a voice . . . a form and figure . . .
. . . . . . . a yin and yang . . . . .
It was male.
It was female.
It was dark.
It was light.
It knew its name.
It was Xellos.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Iyzeka danced and writhed, music crescendoing throughout the world of her existence, scarves twirling around her like a cyclone as she spun through the air as if floating through water.
Azure and gold glistened around her and inside her, emerald zephyrs undulating within her crystal cavern, a spherical universe unimaginably small and exceedingly large, with nothing between herself and reality but infinity.
In her globe, there was no death, all life spun and blossomed, never to fade and never to end, a wild abandon of dreams and brilliance, without darkness and without pain . . .
Here she could feel reality and truth, a sensation of presence that nothing else gave her, and she could sense . . . everything . . .
It was her own universe.
And it could never be taken from her.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Valgaav felt the castle without seeing it, and he could sense where he wanted to be. His hand brushed his mother's, and he brought them within a room of white and gray.
Fire lapped all around them, flames dancing in smooth, black braziers that rose from a pale marble floor, the walls shooting straight up into shadow, and open, gaping wounds within the floor, engulfed in blaze.
His mother gasped and pulled close to him, her eyes upon the stark vision of hell. No smoke diffused the room, no ash fell upon their skin, and Valgaav lifted his golden eyes to the dais, remembering the sound of their footsteps on marble stone, and the echo of voices long past.
"Zelas," he murmured, and the figure within the darkened throne stirred. "It's good to see you again. I wish the circumstances were better."
Filia quieted at his side, wide turquoise eyes staring at the platinum demoness as she slid to her feet, legs flicking down the steps like the flame around them, as she found a place beside them without even seeming to move. The dragon woman jerked back at her unconventional appearance, and a spark of energy seemed to jolt through the air.
Raising her golden gaze, Zelas stared into Filia's, and the dragoness recoiled with visible discomfort. "Hellmaster," she murmured, blinking those luminous blue orbs that seemed to reflect multitudes of emotion.
Val hesitated, itchy from the feelings dancing between the two women, but not wanting to step in-between them, some strange curiosity flickering through him over what would occur should he let them be.
Zelas took one step towards Filia as she mirrored her in reverse, then another step forward that the dragoness refused to flee from, until the Hellmaster slid a hand up and into the long blonde locks framing that startled face. "Filia," the dark voice rasped, and she smiled, almost snake-like, eyes cold and tired, lost and weak with a pain threatening to attack.
Something odd was going on, and the teenager bit his lip, wanting desperately to pull his mom away from Zelas, for in that instant she became a predator, and he didn't like the way things were looking. But for some reason, he felt locked into place, mindless and mute by shock.
The Golden Dragon held her ground, feet planted into the smooth marble, and carefully she lifted her own hand to catch Zelas', sliding in-between her fingers and pressing her away from herself –
-But not before Zelas began to shake and chuckle, tears bleeding from her eyes and hoarse, coughing roars like a cougar's laugh collapsing from her perfect mouth, her legs shaking before Filia caught her reflexively, the Mazoku wobbling and thrashing in her embrace –
- And Val rushed forward, stunned stillness broken as his mother inhaled sharply, and lowered Zelas to the floor, where the woman broke down within their arms, the Ancient Dragon grasping her elbows together before she could throw them across the room with her inhuman strength.
"Zelas!" Val whispered loudly, wrapping her and his mother tightly within his grasp as she began to all but still, sobs and shaking using up all the strength that still remained within her.
With detachment, he watched Filia watch her, compassion exuding from his mother like warmed milk steaming from a cup, frothy and thick as she murmured sweet nothings to the demon lord while the dark creature clung to her, shuddering and weeping like a child, or a mourning widow, or a mother who had almost lost her son.
Knelt upon the cold floor, Valgaav swallowed and tasted saltwater on his lips, and felt as if all the sounds within the throne room had vanished. All he could hear was his slow heartbeat, thudding within his head as if he were underwater and watching the two women weep in slow-motion.
But he could feel tears flowing from his eyes that he hadn't realized he'd begun to shed. His first inclination was empathy, but the sense of belated relief jarred him, a detached realization that informed him that he'd overcome his shock, and this was the end result.
I've never come this close to losing something, Val told himself, and peace returned to him as he inhaled deeply, eyes closing. The present and past met within his soul, and he felt his connection with the universe stretch and slide, like a rubber-band, only to return to him, renewed and reinvigorated.
The girls seemed to be recuperating on their own, the crying almost entirely belonging to the Hellmaster. Val smiled to see his mother rocking the Monster, arms clutching gently around her and chin resting upon the crown of the demoness' pink head.
Above the faint roaring of the fires, he could hear his mother whisper softly, "He's alright, he's fine. I can feel him nearby . . . can't you? Let's go and visit him." She began to pull the Hellmaster up onto her feet.
The limp form shook her head as she precariously rose, curls dancing despondently. "No, he's resting. He wouldn't want you to see him that way any further. He wants you to feel that you can rely on him. He wants to be strong for you," her alto lilted huskily. "I can see why he finds you desirable, Filia darling," she smiled weakly, leaning her cheek against the dragoness' breast.
Val winced as he watched his mother flush and titter, "Um, thank you, Zelas, um, why don't we get something to eat? How is Iyzeka - oh my, where could she be?" Pulling away and trying to hold Zelas at arms' length – literally - the Golden Dragon gave her female companion a feeble smile, then glanced at Valgaav as if begging for a quick exit from the suddenly compromising position.
This is my cue.
With a slightly simpering grin, Val slowly stood, hands on his hips. "Come on, Zelas. You wouldn't want Xellos finding out that you're making the moves on his girlfriend, would you?"
Twisting to swivel her head in his direction, the sexual object that was the Hellmaster curved her scarlet lips into a molten smile and pulled her wrists from Filia's grasp for a bare moment before sliding her hand down the dragoness' back and brushing it across her rump. "You're right, she's just not my type," she beamed at the blonde, obviously relishing the dumbfounded expression flooding her face.
Wincing, Valgaav watched her saunter off, heels clicking on the marble floors, before turning to assess the damage. "Mom?" he finally murmured, waiting for the explosion.
Instead, Filia's shoulders drooped, and she exhaled heavily. Shaking her golden head, she glanced up at him and risked a weary smile. "At least she's happy," she drawled, then laughed at the surprise upon her son's face. "Oh, Val. The things I do for that man . . ." She closed the distance between them and rested her head against his heart, hands rising to touch his chest as she breathed in his familiar scent through his t-shirt.
Holding his mother tightly to him, Valgaav rubbed her back and looked out upon the throne room, eyes filling with the mandarin and cherry flames that flickered around them.
You know, the boy told himself as he felt his mother's peace fill his mind, if this is what Hell is supposed to be like, it's surprisingly comforting.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Wolfpack IslandJune 10th, 2002
Morning broke with everything that Zelas hoped for: chirping birds, bright sunshine, and a peacefulness unbefitting a Mazoku.
The Regent lay upon her thick, plush bed, running her human limbs along the pale, creamy white sheets, her gaze rising up, through the gossamer veil stretched out across the bedposts, until her vision became hazy and unfocused.
Last night, after her unbecoming collapse, she'd commanded Iyzeka to bring the dragons to guest sleeping chambers and stay with them, watching over them while they slept. After all, the risk of dissention among the Mazoku refugees still existed, even though they had succeeded in the mission that so few Monsters had believed in.
The second fragment was placed with the first, strengthening the magical barrier even further, as the stones' power multiplied exponentially upon being within proximity of each other.
Yes, all was going according to plan.
As she lay, eyes drifting closed and fluttering open with every dozen thoughts flashing along her synapses, the musical twittering of the birds grew in number. Flicking a golden glance at the towering black-framed windows set into relief against snowy walls, she saw a collection of tiny sapphire and emerald hued birds, flitting amongst each other and displaying their arias as if vying for supremacy.
Slowly rising into the air above the coverlet, the Hellmaster floated between the gauze of the canopy, the fabric parting as her thoughts reached it, and stepped down onto the glass floor. Bare feet padding on the surface, a shimmering azure reflected from beneath her as the sunlight glinted along water flowing directly below, the floor appearing as liquid.
Her eyes softened as she watched the fowls chitter at the glittering water and dance in flight above and around themselves, before she closed upon them in a few steps, and the flock exploded into the air, wings clapping with every flap as they swooped and spun from the windowsill into the blinding morning sky.
Sighing, Zelas leaned against the sill and gazed out upon her kingdom, decked in blues, greens and silvery tans. Her children had returned, albeit not without great risk. Their charming dragons were safe, and their loyalty to her offspring was even stronger than before.
A smile gracing her lips, the demoness straightened, pleased at the world unfolding around her as morning broke. All that one could ask for was hers. She had no right to want for more.
The immortal turned from the window, determined not to jinx her luck, now that her brood had come home to her. She had been given another chance, another opportunity to make certain that no harm came to them. She wouldn't let anyone be taken from her this time. Not again.
Her footsteps echoed as she turned from the window and fluidly spread her arms, closed her eyes, and felt herself drift into the air.
No. Not ever again.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Val awoke instantly to the feeling of someone bounding upon him and the familiar chortling of one tiny demoness. "WAKE UP, VALLIE!"
"Ugh," the teen clutched at his scrambled insides and tried to push her away, only to find her locking onto him like an octopus around its prey. Or maybe she was like a python. Her gigantic grin displayed a disturbing number of pointed teeth, mimicked by the jagged spikes of her maroon-colored hair.
"Vallie, it's time to get up!" Iyzeka informed him, bright green eyes sparkling at him with fervently verdant appreciation. Fervent, verdant, ha-ha, I rhymed, he told himself dryly, then concentrated on trying to pry her fingers from around his body.
"Listen, Iyzeka," he wheezed as her hold tightened, the girl's super-human strength crushing around his ribs, "if my mom catches you like this, she's gonna be pissed. Right? So, um," he choked on a gasp, yellow eyes widening as the girl gripped harder, mmmmming to herself as she did so, "Please . . . let go . . . can't . . . breathe . . ."
"VALLIE!" she swooned, and he began to gag.
Yeah, we're definitely getting somewhere, the teen grumbled to himself as he felt his vision start to darken. She's going to asphyxiate me, then rape me. In that order.
But before the subsequent violation could occur, a new voice broke through the carnage. "Iyzeka! Get off of him this instant!"
"Eeep!" The redhead let go and leapt away to float in the air above the bed, cheeks attempting to match her hair. "Good morning, Miss Ul Copt," she stuttered, then covered her face with her hands and peered out between spread fingers. "Um . . . sorries?"
His mother's furious – yet strangely calm – features came into view as she stalked over to the bed, standing over him. "How did I know that you'd take this opportunity to try molesting my son again? I think we definitely need to have a talk with your mother, young lady," she began, a finger raised and waggling at the mortified-looking demoness who was now slowly rotating in the air and flushing even brighter. "You need to learn to respect other people's personal space, and a little morality!"
"But," the girl squealed from behind her fingers, knees pulling up to hide her into a little spinning ball, "Mommy says I'm the most moral Mazoku that ever was . . . how could I get more morals? And where would I find them?"
She seemed truly confused, and Val started feeling sorry for her, enough that he tried to gingerly rise into a sitting position. Raising a brow, he took one look at his mother's state of dress, and shook his head. "Morning, Mom. Still wearing the clothes from yesterday?"
The blonde gifted him with an annoyed glance, and her hands dropped to be placed at her hips. "All of my new clothes were left at the hotel. No hope of getting them now." Intense suffering cast over her face as her blue eyes almost appeared to water. "All those wonderful outfits! And Xellos' new clothes I got him, all gone! We'll never get them back, now," she lamented, and Valgaav shot a look to the demoness just before she beat a hasty disappearance.
"Mom," the Ancient Dragon smirked, "I think your victim has escaped."
The dragoness turned her wraith upon her son, crying, "She's not a victim, she's a perpetrator! An evil criminal who, don't you forget, is trying to steal your VIRGINITY!"
Wincing, the teen raised his hands and slowly got out of the bed, lowering his arms only fast enough to hurriedly pull on his jeans over his briefs, a flush climbing his skin. "Okay, okay, don't worry mom. Still a virgin," he tried to smile convincingly, instead giving her a wane, sickly grin.
The woman glared up – and up – at her tall, lanky son, then narrowed her eyes at him and turned her back. "You'd better be," she grumbled ominously, then headed for the door. "I'm taking a shower."
"But," Val began, "last time you showered here, you-"
"I'LL WEAR WHAT I HAVE ON!" came the reply, and Val leapt over the bed to hide in terror. "OKAY?"
"Yes, Ma'am," he squeaked, cowering behind the mattress. "Hope the water is hot."
That azure stare only narrowed further as her eyes burrowed into him. "Thank you."
