Kaeru Shishio, Mwafwa, DaemonGirlJay, Hopelessly Addicted, jadehaku, Vincelia Valentine, Emmy Jenny, XyoushaX, and Lady Kaliska! Thank you all for your reviews!
Chapter 1
Wolfpack
Island
June
12th, 2002
Dust rushed into the air as high mountain zephyrs tossed it through the gaping wound wrenched through Zelas' castle wall, whistling and moaning along the battlements in an eerie harmony. Shielding his golden eyes against the particles, a tall, lanky youth stood at the edge, head shaking at the destruction. "Lady Zelas," he coughed a bit on the refuse, "I'm really sorry . . . You know how Mom gets, though . . ."
Beside him a slightly shorter, tanned woman nodded, her vertically slit pupils dilating in the fading light of evening. "It is Xellos' responsibility. After all, Filia chased him, not the other way around. And what did you think I would do, young Val?" she asked him, a wicked smirk crossing her scarlet lips as her azure tresses danced upon the chilled wind. "Do you think I would torture her in retaliation?"
"N-no!" the Ancient Dragon waved his palms at her quickly, "I just . . ."
Hellmaster Zelas Metallium laughed uproariously at the swiftly flushing boy, then shook her head and returned to gazing out across her lands through the impromptu breech that had been created by the transformation of a several-ton dragoness. "The sun is fast setting. They've been gone a while. . . I hope your mother hasn't gotten herself into any trouble. Let me see. . ." Closing her eyes a moment, Zelas turned her back upon the sunset. "Yes, Filia is fine. Nearby, as well. I think she might be lost in the courtyard. While she breeched the castle wall here, it would be impossible to return to this place in time."
Val nodded as they stepped from the opening. He understood enough of the creative physics behind her creations to know that, while his mother may have left the castle from this space and found herself outside of it, she would never be able to find her way back. To the exterior world, this section of the castle did not even exist. It dwelled upon a different plane of reality.
"Now," Zelas mused, "the real question is, why is Xellos not with her?" With a smirk, she held out her hand to the young dragon. "Let's go find out, shall we?"
(-(-(-)-)-)
Eternal night . . .
. . . ruddy moon . . .
. . . splashing waves . . .
—Xellos—
—XELLOS—
—XELLOS!—
With a start, Xellos unfurled himself until he stood upright within the astral plane, his head and eyes aching with the sight of the coruscating colors of the higher dimension. "Zelas."
—Come to me now, my Beastmaster,— spoke her haunting alto voice within his mind. —Where in the planes did you decide to run off to?—
—I shall be there immediately,— he returned, and closed his eyes against the glare, relishing the cooling sensation of his miasma as it soothed the nerves of his corporeal form. —I was . . . I needed some time to myself.—
Swiftly, Xellos slid between the realities and raised his head to gaze up at a tiny sliver of a moon, glowing pale ivory against a diamond-encrusted indigo. Swirls of cobalt vapor hung over the crescent like swaddling robes, shimmering in the night. Unlike his dreams of blood and blackness, this evening held no foreboding.
Yet, as he hung within the sky, eyes narrowed at the visage before him, Xellos could not but wonder where his mind had conjured such familiar, yet disturbing images to torture him with. And beyond that, he grumbled as he teleported away, the surroundings vanishing in an instant, I'm the last person who should be unsettled by dark visions. That's more up Filia's alley, not mine.
He could only hope that Filia would forgive his hasty exit earlier. Something's not right with me. But it will be corrected very shortly, if I have anything to say about it.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Fidgeting with an inkwell pen she'd snatched from the table, Filia curled one finger around a strand of her hair, the saffron sparkling in the low illumination of the candelabra upon the desk. A few paces away Valgaav sat in a reading chair, a concerned frown marring his usually clear features beneath the unruly thatch of spiky teal hair he crushed against the leather seatback.
The chamber they sat within spread wide and tall around them, fires burning in fireplaces intermittently along the edges of the enclosure. Candles lit bookshelves and tables, while matching candelabras mounted against the ivory sheen of the walls lent further light to the homey sitting room.
Beyond the two dragons, the windows at the far wall spread wide open, and the silently brooding figure of Zelas Metallium stood, smoking and drinking as she waited in quiet repose. Even her redheaded child, Iyzeka, uttered nothing as she spun and danced leisurely through the room, as if to a half-time cadence that drew out each motion inexorably longer, until only her own dark energy remained to preserve her balance and prevent gravity from robbing her of grace.
We all wait for him to arrive, Filia fumed silently to herself, refusing to acknowledge the cold sweat and pounding of her heart as she nervously anticipated his return. How dare he make us wait. How dare he vanish like he did! Maybe I shouldn't have been so compassionate towards him after all!
From the corner of her eye, she discerned movement from Zelas as the demoness turned her back upon the window. Filia's gaze followed hers to the center of the room, just as his darkness touched her, flowing over and around and through her form just enough to steal her breath, so she could barely whisper his name. "Xellos."
With a crackle of energy, he appeared in mid-air only to drop to the carpeted floor before her, his violet tresses dancing in the movement. Unlike earlier, he now sported his ever-familiar ebony and saffron ensemble, cape rustling behind him as his slit cat-eyes caught her own in a solemn gaze before closing cheerily. "Oh, so you all waited for me? How flattering!" he exclaimed.
Left to glower furiously over his apparent blasé, Filia stood and snapped out through clenched teeth, "Yes, we did. Now, let's get on with it!"
Around them Valgaav and Iyzeka gathered, but Zelas stalked straight towards her eldest offspring with an unpleasant scowl. "About time, Greater Beastmaster," she murmured darkly, the dancing firelight enhancing the sinister quality of her features. "We have already wasted precious time due to your many peculiar recreational choices. You had best not push your position," her voice fell into a gentle whisper, "lest someone feel the need to push back."
Filia tensed from where she sat and watched as Xellos' merry expression froze for just an instant before slackening into a closed mask of sobriety. Xellos . . . I hope you're not in too much trouble . . .
"You are, of course," Xellos bowed low towards Zelas, cloak billowing as he dropped his head and amethyst hair splaying over his bent knee, "painfully accurate, my Queen. There is much I have to beg forgiveness for. My relief at having returned to you has blinded my . . . wisdom."
Mouth dry and veins flooded with adrenaline, Filia stood as quietly as she could manage, and watched with apprehension as the Hellmaster crossed the distance between herself and Xellos, a palm extended towards her General-Priest. He was happy to see us . . . Please don't hurt him . . . she found herself pleading, her rage at him instantly extinguished once again.
Zelas finally reached the motionless demon still bent prostrate before her - and Filia wished she could see past the long curls of turquoise hair to view the expression she held – before her hand gently rested upon Xellos' violet head, and she brought her other arm, suddenly free of wine or cigarette, to wrap around his shoulder. "Xellos. This is not the last you will hear of this. But for now, stand, and give me the chance to hold my son that was taken from me."
The dragons watched on with broad grins as Xellos rose uncertainly to be embraced by his creator, before Iyzeka suddenly rushed forward from behind them, demanding, "Me too! Last time I got hugs you yelled at me, so I want another!"
Filia giggled as Xellos allowed his younger sibling to join in; she felt certain his pallid features had blushed ever so slightly at the embarrassing attentions, but she figured it was the least he deserved. I'm sure she'll punish him later, then. It will probably not be anything too bad, she hoped, her smile fading.
A warmth brushed her fingers, and she glanced to her side as her son took her hand within his and squeezed, his golden gaze touching her own. "Everything will be fine, now," he told her, and she felt the tension drain from her shoulders almost immediately.
"Thank you, Val," the dragoness whispered. He is always there for me . . . but when Xellos left, even he lost some faith, I guess. "You're right. So," Filia turned to the other three, Zelas apparently enjoying making Xellos uncomfortable with saccharine yet crushing embraces and Iyzeka hanging from his neck in an attempt to practically climb him, "are we going to have a meeting, or what?"
The blonde beamed as Zelas looked up from tickling her son, her shocked expression echoed upon the faces of her offspring. See,I can take charge once in a while . . .
"Right," Zelas suddenly grinned back, releasing Xellos finally only to have Iyzeka climb onto his shoulders, "torturing Xellos can wait until later."
Everyone sat down at the table save for Xellos and Iyzeka. "Get off of me," Xellos grumbled as he headed towards a chair, the chortling young demoness messing up his hair gleefully from her perch. "Okay, fine," he told her, "but don't blame me." In an instant, he vanished, leaving Iyzeka to hang in the air a split-second before she fell, landing gracefully on both feet.
Xellos reappeared sitting in the chair between Filia and Zelas, prompting a cry of "Meanie!" from Iyzeka, before she too sat beside Valgaav on the other side.
"Now then," Zelas rolled her eyes, "time for business. We've put off things far to long already. It's time to act. Everyone here already knows – or should know, at any rate – about our plan to travel forward in time thirty years so that Telgaln will have a more difficult time of finding us." Everyone nodded, though Filia's gaze never left Xellos even though he seemed oblivious to her, his attention unwaveringly upon the Hellmaster.
"So," Zelas continued, "tonight I am going to begin the process. For the next thirty days, we will have certain goals that must be met if all of you are going to be ready to face Telgaln in the future. Those goals will include improving Valgaav and Filia's combat abilities, teaching all four of you to learn how to work together in battle, and to discover the secrets of the two amulets formerly belonging to Lina Inverse." Her eyes flicked over the group before she nodded her head. "Any questions?"
Filia shook her head, but Valgaav held up a hand for a moment. "Lady Zelas," his deep voice began, "last time we were on the island, we couldn't stay apart from one of you for fear that remnants of the late Dolphin and Dynast clans might attack. How are the sleeping arraignments going to be now?"
Zelas smirked. "I've had special rooms prepared off of Xellos' chambers. They exist in a bubble dimension impossible for Mazoku to penetrate without certain levels of personal power and a special code. In fact, I used many Holy relics to create it. I wasn't able to put the finishing touches on it, though. You, Filia and Valgaav will be the only ones able to activate the security. It will make it literally impossible for anyone but one of us three to pass through it, as the holy power will destroy lesser Mazoku."
"You mean," Filia gasped, "you created a sanctified holy magic circle with holy wards?" She stared at her incredulously before shaking her head. "Lady Zelas, handling such dangerous artifacts could have killed you if you had not done it properly!"
"I agree," Xellos finally spoke up, "Mistress, you should have waited and received Filia's help before undertaking that kind of risk!" His violet eyes met Zelas' saffron and they glared at each other a moment, before Zelas shook her head. Beside her, Iyzeka looked to be falling asleep in her seat, a tiny bit of drool dangling from the corner of her mouth.
"I knew what I was doing," the Hellmaster replied testily. "Having ancient artifacts of such a nature is dangerous to begin with on an island composed of so much black magic. But I appreciate your concern." Her gaze sought Filia's eyes, and the dragoness flushed as Zelas smiled at her. "So, the next step, I believe, is sanctifying the magic circle, and joining the wards."
"Mistress," Xellos persisted, tone one of frustration, "I insist on accompanying you." He stood as she did, and the dragons followed suit worriedly. "If anything should happen, I want to be able to protect you this time, even if it proves to be unnecessary."
The aquette inhaled and exhaled heavily, then conjured a cigarette to her hand and took a long drag. "Fine. Iyzeka!" she snapped, and the redhead popped upright in her seat, a startled look in her emerald eyes. "Time to go. Come on."
"Right!" the pixie piped up, springing out of her seat to begin floating along beside Val. "What are we doing, again?" she yawned.
Filia dropped her head in her hands as Xellos continued to badger Zelas in the background. "We're . . . oh, never mind. You'll see." Before the child could request more, the dragoness felt the familiar sensation of being teleported, and the welcome split-second of silence. That's a good way to get Xellos to be quiet, she mused. Who would have guessed that even Zelas Metallium found her own General-Priest to be annoying?
(-(-(-)-)-)
Charcoal swirls across depths of gray lifted to smooth into the downtrodden bent head, hair of gossamer char brushing into a deeper darkness. The figure sat, slumped within a seat of thorned vines that twisted into a brittle, spiny cage, eyes cast into the distance . . . searching, and finding nothing.
Those haunted eyes stared out from the callous metal frame, all black iron, sharp angles and cold lines with the slightest sheen of reflection from which ones own features might look back, deep within the darkness of the ore.
It was this painting which Xellos found himself standing before, within his own bedroom, his own tortured expression reflecting back at him a mere moment before the smile slipped back upon his lips, the ever-ready mask returning easily. He turned from his reflection to see the high, ebony canopy bed, the gold and scarlet trappings, and his family and friends crowding the rather large room and dwarfing it with their number.
His mother stepped forward, tossing back her emerald tresses as Xellos moved out of her way. She smirked at him, then approached the charcoal drawing, her lithe movements reflected in the crystal surface as the dim candles danced upon the glass. "I hope you don't mind that I availed myself of your rooms, Xellos," Zelas murmured as she raised a hand to hold it, hovering, over the painting as if it would burn her should she touch it.
Xellos hung his head ever so slightly, knowing that her veil of courtesy was merely symbolic; yet only the merest touch of bitterness colored his cold amusement at the thought of what liberties his creator took. "Of course not, Mistress," he murmured softly. "After all, I am ever at your service." If there was a bite of untruth in his words, he kept the irony from his tone.
Zelas shot him a look, and inwardly he winced at the disdainful ire she sent his way before she returned her attention to the framed artwork hanging before her, stark against the dark backdrop of the wall.
"As that is so," the Hellmaster spoke smoothly as she began sending slender tendrils of dark energy into the painting, "I am certain you'll be interested in how I created this locking spell."
In his mind, Xellos felt her probing voice, while outwardly he studied her moves intently, determined to do his creator honor in his devotion now, even if he had failed before. —Your chaos is more wild than ever, my child. How dare you be so flippant with me. You have never been upset about me entering your domain before. Whatever has caused this, High Beastmaster?— she demanded from him, even as he remained at the ready for any flare of backlash from the holy wards embedded deep within the frame.
Xellos kept his annoyance in check as she finished the delicate operation, easily memorized by his Mazoku senses, and took note that Val, Filia and Iyzeka had fallen into uncertain silence behind them. —I think you're frightening the children,— he replied cockily instead, and instantly an acute stab of pain began deep within his astral form, forcing him to grind his teeth together as he smiled.
—Perhaps you feel more audacious since your trip to the Netherworld, but I suggest you reconsider, Xellos,— came her immediate reply. —Do you understand and comply?—
—Yes, Mistress,— he replied, and she released him, leaving him mere vestiges of her essence, a whirling mixture of strange emotions that echoed within himself, spilling his mind into even further confusion as his rage suddenly vanished, replaced by a hollow emptiness. Mistress . . .
She turned to face him as a glowing light began to pulse out from the picture frame, her figure silhouetted before him but her eyes bright and holding his firmly in their stare. "It is done; simply walk forward, and you will be in a new place, all of your own making."
"What do you mean?" Filia spoke up from behind him, and through Xellos' confusion he could taste her uncertainty.
"Xellos will go first, with the two of you; I and Iyzeka will follow. There is no need for fear," the jadette smirked at them as she took a long drag from her cigarette holder. "I created it. You must remember," she said softly, stepping past Xellos to stand directly before the dragoness, "you can trust me."
The two women's eyes locked, and Filia slowly nodded. "Alright. Let's go, Xellos," she commanded, and Zelas beamed in reply.
"She's learning already," the Hellmaster smirked at Val and Iyzeka, then winked at her son. "Good. Let's go."
Strange feelings still churning uncomfortably within him, Xellos nodded, and held out his hand to Filia, ignoring the ever increasing vexation of the false smile across his face. As his fingers wrapped around her tiny hand and their eyes met, his features melted into mild surprise, the grin vanishing, and he inhaled at the touch of her cerulean gaze and her warm emotions. "Filia."
"Let's go, Xellos," she repeated, beaming shyly up at him.
He nodded, lightheaded. "Alright."
(-(-(-)-)-)
Val watched his mother and Xellos step into the brilliant light pulsating from the wall before them and vanish. Frowning, he quickly moved to follow, only to feel a sharp crack across his butt and stumble in shock. "Zelas!" he growled as he spun in place to view the chortling Mazoku Lord, "what the hell?"
"Mommy!" Iyzeka screeched, "that's my man! No fair!" Her emerald eyes widened and filled with tears. "No filching!"
Valgaav rubbed his rear in agitation as he watched the elder demoness roll her eyes and sigh at her daughter. They're totally crazy . . .
"Iyzeka, it doesn't matter," Zelas waved away her irate offspring, taking another drag of the cigarette. "I'm just toying with him, sweetheart. He's all yours, really."
"Hey!" Val shouted over the redhead's cheers, "I'm right here, you know!" He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled down at them. "You could at least acknowledge me in all of this. What about what I want?"
The two laughing females stopped and stared at him. "What were you saying again?" Zelas murmured disinterestedly, and he threw up his hands in disgust, causing Iyzeka to erupt in chortling.
"Nothing, never mind!" he spat, and turned back to the beckoning portal.
"Okay!" he heard in stereo from behind him, and he practically leapt through the portal, desperate to avoid another butt-slap. Ever since Xellos returned, things have been going turning more and more crazy around here! Will this insanity ever end?
The Ancient Dragon found himself within an ivory void, his feet landing in a clatter upon a never-ending floor of alabaster. A few yards away, his mother and Xellos stood looking around the glowing expanse in various stages of confusion. "Hey, guys," he called out, and jogged up to them. "What the hell is this? What are we in, the Matrix?"
Behind him, a female voice made him jump. "Why not?" Zelas purred as she brushed past him, fingering his side as she did so. "I really liked that movie."
"Right," he glowered at her, "sure. So what happens if I say 'Guns, lots of guns'?"
Before anyone could react, the heavy sound of metal on metal filled the air from every direction and they found themselves surrounded by an endless stretch of shelved shotguns, AK-47s, pistols, M-16s, hunting rifles, Uzis and grenade launchers, stark black against the blinding white.
Val blinked. "Oh."
"I told you," Zelas murmured around her cigarette, "I really liked that movie."
"So," he murmured before his shocked mother could react, "if I said 'beef jerky'-"
The guns were instantly replaced by reams of jerky lining shelves that stretched into infinity.
"Valgaav!" his mother finally sputtered to life, eyes blazing as she stormed up to him. "What on Earth were you thinking, asking for guns and beef jerky!"
"But mom," he backpedaled as the rows of dried meat vanished into nothingness, "it's just jerky-"
"But guns are BAD!" she cried, "how dare you ask for guns, I thought I taught you better-"
"I know guns are bad, I don't even own a gun-"
"And you're NEVER GOING TO, young man!" she screamed as he darted in-between the demons that stood watching, "ever!"
"I don't want to, Mom! Chill!" With that, he winced and ran to hide behind Xellos. "Xellos, tell her to chill out!"
Xellos blinked down at the quickly advancing Filia. "Um . . . perhaps I should sit this one out, after all-" He stopped as the dragoness halted directly before him and glared up at him. "Hello, Filia. Um, bye! Sorry, Val!"
"Traitor!" Valgaav cried as Xellos vanished. "Listen, Mom, um, guns are bad - I'm never going to have one - I don't like them – I don't need them-" he winced as she raised a hand to his head, "and-it-was-just-a-joke!"
"Don't let it happen again!" Filia smacked him lightly on the head, and he winced.
"Yes, ma'am," the teen murmured, drooping.
"Ahem," Xellos appeared behind the panting dragoness and tapped her on the shoulder.
"WHAT?" she spun around.
"Well," Xellos took her hand, and Val let out a sigh of relief as she was lead away, "perhaps you were a bit hard on him. It's just a joke."
"Hmm, maybe," she murmured. "I'm just not comfortable here, in this place."
Valgaav watched as the two walked off into the nothingness surrounding, and glanced to either side as Zelas and Iyzeka came to stand beside him.
"Wow," Iyzeka said, "your mom's still a wacko."
He sighed heavily. "I blame Xellos."
Zelas nodded. "That usually works."
