Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Dramata Kurage! ❯ Chapter 24 ( Chapter 24 )

Disclaimer: Slayers and their characters are not owned by me. They belong to Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi and any other companies which own them. I'm just borrowing them for a little bit and I promise to give them back all in perfect working order.

24.0
I opened my eyes slowly after feeling myself come around. I felt cold but numb to everything else and there was a light that felt too bright for my eyes so I couldn't see anything properly. Then the panic came over when I realised that I couldn't breathe still. I thrashed about slightly and squirmed onto my side before everything in my stomach came out. I coughed and spluttered as I felt myself throwing up buckets of sea water that I must have swallowed. Then when that was out, I proceeded to cough any of the sea water that was in my lungs.

After emptying my system, I lay on my front and lay by the pool of water and bile. The cold seemed to bite into my bones more sharply now and I noticed I was still soaking wet. The light wasn't as bright anymore and so I began to realise my surroundings. I pushed myself off the ground slowly, my body feeling weak but finding the energy to pull my water drenched body up.

I looked around quickly on my hands and knees and could tell that I was in some sort of cave. I looked up and noticed that the roof of the cave was dripping and that a lot of the floor had puddles dotted about the place. I was wondering where all the water was coming from until I realised what had happened to me before I blacked out. My thoughts were that I was in some underground cave beneath the sea.

However my thoughts quickly shifted to what happened further before my blackout. I stared at the ground, still on my hands and knees and looked at the hand that slipped away from her.

“Lina…” I said quietly to myself.

I knew I had to let go of her, otherwise I would have risked dragging her under with me. I realised it was for the best after all, because at least Lina was safe. Dolphin was after me and the sword and Zelas said she wasn't interested in us anymore, so Lina was ok.

I pushed myself off the ground once more so that I could get up to my feet. I wobbled at first, but then I managed to keep a hold of my balance and so after a few minutes I was able to stand up properly. I reached for my sword as I started to think of a way out of the place but I grabbed at nothing. My eyes widened and I looked to my side to see that both of my swords had gone.

“Don't worry. Your sword is right here and it's completely useless.”

I turned my head to the other side to see Riksfalto throw the sword down at the ground between us.

“I don't know why and neither does my master, but for some reason it only works in your hand. I'm sure that bastard Xellos knows, but decided to keep it a nice little secret from us.”

I stepped forward to get the sword but the second I made the step, Riksfalto had unsheathed her sword and had raised it, aimed and ready to go for my throat. I knew I might have had the speed to get it, but in my current condition, I had no chance to get it and would have only ended up with a slit throat.

“Nu uh uh! I don't think so. You will only have this sword in your hands when you agree to comply with us.”

“And help you destroy the world? You do realise I'm not that stupid. No way in this lifetime will I help you, or in any other.”

However, Riksfalto just gave me a wicked smirk.

“I did kind of hope you would say that.”

I noticed the smirk and realised that now was my only chance. I darted to my right, and aimed to move back to the left after having fooled her in thinking I was going right. That was the plan, but the movement left never came as my knees buckled beneath me. Riksfalto's sword came forward to greet me and the best I could do to minimise the damage was to turn to my side slightly.

I grimaced in pain as the sword cut pretty deeply across my stomach, but it was much better than having the sword impale my stomach. I headed for the ground but never made it as she grabbed me by the neck of my tunic. She then drove me backwards, holding onto me and smashed me hard into the wall of the cave and pinned me hard. My head snapped back as I hit the wall and almost got knocked out from it.

My head slumped forward as I felt it banging in pain and before I could gather my wits; my wrists were bound by manacles attached to chains which were buried deep in the wall. I looked up to Riksfalto who gave me an evil grin before winding up a punch right into my gut, over the freshly opened wound. I howled in pain and would have doubled over if it wasn't for the chains holding me up.

“I'm going to enjoy wearing you down, and it won't stop until you give in and decide to join us.”

I managed to lift my head up despite how heavy and difficult it felt to do and glared towards the powerful mazoku.

“I told you…I'm not going to help you. I'd rather die!”

Her response to that was the punch me hard across the chin which forced my head to snap sideways. My legs gave away momentarily but with help with the chains I managed to hold myself back up again.

“I'd let you die in other circumstances but unfortunately my master won't allow that. You can have a break for now. I'll be back for more fun later.”

She then phased out and I was left there alone in the cold cave. The cold hit me again and I felt my entire body shiver from it. My damp clothes didn't help and how I wished I had a spare set of dry clothes to put on. I felt the metallic taste in my mouth and spat it out to remove the strange taste. I spat the blood out took in a deep breath as I readied myself.

I growled lowly at first, but slowly got louder as I began to pull against the manacles. I pulled with all the strength I could gather, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth. But no matter how much effort I put into it, the chains didn't want to budge, and soon I felt myself going light-headed. I stopped straining and took in deep breaths to calm myself down again.

The cave was silent now apart from the constant dripping from the roof of the cave onto the various puddles. It was then I realised how alone I was and a selfish part of me wish I had Lina beside me. I wanted to hear her complain about the crappy situation we were in, and how she was going to pulverise Riksfalto and Dolphin for leaving us there like that.

But it wasn't like that at all. For once I was on my own and instead of Lina, it was me they wanted. I was at the centre of it all and it was all because of that sword. I looked at it lying there in the middle of the room. I knew if I could have just got a hold of it, I would have been able to get free. Instead it was just lying there, and served as a reminder of how much trouble it had put Lina and me in. Strange how just a simple object could make me feel so much anger towards it.

The continuing dripping was starting to get on my nerves now, as it just never stopped. It didn't change its rhythm either, it just dripped constantly. I wondered if they had left me like this on purpose, as though this was more of the torture I had to live through. I wasn't going to let them win so easily so I did the best thing I could do. I closed my eyes and I thought of myself being somewhere else, far far from this place. I thought about being with Lina, and enjoying a really good meal, then fighting over it with Lina.

I opened my eyes as my stomach growled and I realised how hungry I was. Ok, maybe that wasn't the best thing to think about. I looked at the chains and gave them a little tug and knew they had also left me like this so I couldn't lie down and relax. Everything that was done was set to torture me, as though it was all set up on purpose. The sword just out of reach, the constant dripping, not being able to relax, lack of food and water, and the occasional beating, all meant to wear me down and break me. They really needed me to use that sword and help them with their plan. They were willing to go through such lengths to break me down that it made me realise the importance of the situation.

I looked around and noticed another part of the torture. There was no natural light which meant I had no idea what time of day it was and also how much time had passed. I bit my lip and hung my head slightly as I felt the need to try and break free once more. I brought a leg up, and perched it against the wall behind me, and then with a timed movement, I brought my other leg up and pushed hard against the wall with both feet whilst trying to pull the manacles free.

I growled loudly and then started yelling as I pulled with my arms, my hands clenched tightly into fists, and pushed against the wall with my legs hard. I kept yelling as I kept trying, but I felt nothing giving away in the chains and soon I had no strength left. I collapsed slightly and felt the relief in my wrists, followed by a sticky sensation. My wrists were bleeding from the manacles biting into the skin and cutting them open.

I slumped in defeat and realised that I wasn't going to be escaping any time soon. My only chances of escaping were Lina coming to the rescue which I didn't want to rely on, because I didn't want her to do it. The only other chance was for Riksfalto to let me free momentarily, which would allow me time to get to the sword. That meant conserving my strength so that when the right moment came, I would have a chance.

In the mean time, I tried to keep my spirits up and the only thing that was helping me was realising that Lina was ok and that Sylphiel would make sure she was ok. I began using a mantra in my head, and repeated the line `Lina is ok' over and over. The words made me ignore the dripping of the water, and my feelings of hunger, and it got rid of the feelings of doubt and depression that were threatening to take over my mind.

Before I knew it, Riksfalto had returned and I was glad to think that the mantra was making time pass quicker. I looked up to her slowly and she started cracking her knuckles before she began using me as a punching bag. I bit my lip and tried to ignore the pain as she beat me up and I had to stand there and take it. I used the manacles to pull against to help me a little and the pain in my wrists took away from the pain in my abdomen and chest.

Soon it stopped and I opened my eyes slowly to see Riksfalto breathing heavily.

“What…a..are you doing…that f.for?”

“Doing what?”

“Breathing…heavily.”

Riksfalto smirked and shrugged a little.

“I thought it might make you feel better to see that I was tired. Oh well, I guess you realise we don't need to breathe. Do you know how much pain that Inverse girl had to go through to become a mazoku?”

I shook my head.

“Why? Are you gonna turn me…in..into one?”

“No, we won't do that. Infact we think doing that might make the sword useless in your hand too. No I just wondered if you knew.”

At that point, Riksfalto brought out a long thin needle and I have to admit I was scared of what she was going to do with it.

“I was told by Xellos, that they took a needle much like this, and thrust it into her abdomen. I thought it might be fun to just try it out.”

Without warning she took the needle and pushed it in. My eyes widened as the sudden pain took over my body and nothing I did could make it go away. I could see her in the corner of my eye, enjoying the pain I was going through. Probably feeding off all the pain and general negative emotions I was having. She then pulled the needle out and I watched it being removed and covered in my blood. My head dropped forward and I could see just above the sword wound on my stomach, the patch of blood forming, soaking my already drench tunic.

“You realise that what you just experienced was only the first part of what she went through. The rest was what made her change, and that was truly the painful part of the entire experience. But don't worry, you'll get to experience much worse than that, unless of course you give in and decide to help us. Of course I'm hoping you don't do that for awhile because this is way too much fun.”

I wanted to lift my head but I think the mixture of pain and exhaustion wouldn't let me do that and instead I just had to stay like that, with my tangled bangs hanging across my face.

“N…no way…in….HELL!” I growled in anger and hatred.

“Excellent…till next time!”

She disappeared and left me alone once more. I felt horrible, more so because I knew a little of what Lina had been through and it made the pain all the more worse. It made me go back to that time when I lost Lina, and made me realise the suffering and pain she went through and I started blaming myself for it. I started blaming the entire thing on myself. I began getting frustrated and then angry with myself, and it was because I was started to fall apart. I was beginning to crack and I wondered if there would come a time when I would finally give in.

Kurage

24.1
“So where is he, Xellos?” I demanded. I refused to move an inch until he told me exactly where he was and how to get there.

Xellos was still smiling, but he gestured for us to start walking. Sylphiel glanced over at me, and I sighed. I knew that Xellos wouldn't say a word until we went at least halfway on his terms. I nodded, and together we started walking with Xellos.

“To put it bluntly, Gourry-san is being held in the centre of the world,” he said, mysteriously as we walked. I noticed that somehow, Xellos seemed to have a specific way he wanted us to go. I decided to keep my eye on this, in case the direction he was aiming for was not exactly the best.

“Centre of the world?” I echoed, looking over at him.

He nodded. “Yes. It seems to be a trend for Mazoku of this world, don't you think? Even Mazoku of other worlds seem to like this same trend.”

I thought about this. “Gourry's being held where the pillar of light used to be?” I asked.

Xellos shook his head slowly. “Not exactly. It's more like...” he stopped us, smiling from ear to ear, yet again.

“More like what?” I snapped, getting impatient with his games.

“More like UNDER...” He dipped his hand downwards, making swishing noises.

I slapped my and to my forehead. Of course. Deep Sea Dolphin...the name said it all. Of course the lair would be under water. How stupid could I get?

“So, you're saying, that the lair is under the pillar of light?” Sylphiel asked.

She said it so politely I wanted to shake her, but I knew it was just her way. I think her moral in life is “You catch more bees with honey.” To me, it's “You catch more bees with honey, so that they can get the energy to sting you. Better poison them instead.”

But that's just me, isn't it?

Xellos, bee that he is, shook his head. “Not directly,” he admitted. “Although a move like that would have certainly given them a more direct access to such power, Dolphin has decided to stay a bit away from it.”

“Curious,” I admitted. “Why, of all of the Mazoku, would she want to stray away from power, especially if she wants a source to fine-tune the power of the Blast Sword?”

“Aaah, who can say?” Xellos replied. I wasn't really expecting an answer from him anyways. I just needed to get my thoughts out in the open and out of my head, so I could have more room to think.

Sylphiel, however, was on my side. “In any case,' she said softly, “we need to come up with a way to get underground without drowning.”

“Ray Wing,” I said instantly.

Sylphiel nodded at once. Xellos appeared to think it over first, which annoyed me. I was about to kick him when he, too, nodded. “Not a bad idea,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I suddenly had a really good thought, something that would make things a lot easier. “Xellos,” I said calmly, keeping the glare steady. “Could you teleport us to where he's being kept?”

“Ah, you see, Lina-san, I could, but...” He trailed of, scratching the back of his head. He almost looked bashful.

“You don't feel like it?” I mumbled.

“You got it.”

A thousand lovely pictures came into my mind, of the many ways to remove Xellos's head from his body. My favourite: Dull hedge-clippers. Because you wouldn't want it to be quick, would you?

However, such things had to be put on hold. For now. We needed Xellos, much to my chagrin. “Alright,” I tugged on my bangs a little. “what about teleporting us to the shore? As close to the base as possible?”

Xellos nodded. “That I can do, however...” his eyes suddenly opened and he looked over to the left, halting. I stopped and heard it a split second after, and I turned in that direction. The sound of rustling.

“It seems someone has followed you, Lina-san,” Xellos said, but oddly, I could hear the sound of something else...something underlying in his voice. Was it fear? What could he possibly have to be afraid of?

Without another thought, I darted forward towards the sound. With my dagger out in one hand and a Fireball crackling to life in the other, I turned around the tree to find—

-a scared Drianne, holding her hands up, her eyes wide.

Instantly I dropped out of attack mode. “Drianne?” I blinked in surprise. “What the hell?”

Soon, Sylphiel and Xellos joined me. “Lina-san, who is this?” Sylphiel asked, souding worried.

“This is Drianne,” I answered, sheathing my dagger. “She's caused both help and harm over this whole stupid thing.”

Drianne paled. I took a closer look at her, and noticed that the waitress outfit was gone, and in its place was some well-worn traveler clothes. I also noted that her hair was pretty dirty and messy. She must have been tailing us for some time, I thought, frowning.

When I looked closer, however, I noticed that some of the meekness had gone too. She was nervous, but not afraid. A new confidence was there, one that hadn't been there before.

“So what are you doing here, Drianne?” I wondered calmly, crossing my arms over my chest.

Drianne composed herself quickly, lowering her hands. “I followed you,” she said. Obviously, I thought acidly, but I let her continue. “After we had met before, I wasn't sure if you would be okay on your own, so I followed you in case you got into a few more scrapes.”

“But when Sylphiel came along, you must have realized by then that we didn't need a healer,” I frowned.

Drianne nodded. “I thought so too, until I saw that she could do black magic. I thought, if she was needed for the offence, someone had to help with defense, right?”

It made sense. Even I had to admit that. I was still unsure.

I turned to Xellos, who was very quiet. “Xellos,” I said calmly, “is she a Mazoku?”

Xellos looked very serious. In fact, his focus seemed to be fully on Drianne. That was weird.

However, he merely said, in a distracted tone, “No, Lina-san, she is definitely not a Mazoku.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “What do you think, Sylphiel? Is it useful for her to come with us?”

Sylphiel seemed to think it over. “Drianne-san has a point, about sometimes using my black magic. With me using it, there would be no one else to cover the defense. With Drianne-san here, it may be useful.”

I decided not to ask Xellos. At that moment, I couldn't care less about what he thought. “Okay, Drianne. As long as you stay out of the way and are useful, you can come along. The moment you start to be a pain in the ass, you're out.”

Drianne did something that surprised me. She gave me a very serious face, and nodded slowly. “Right,” she agreed, her voice void of any sarcasm.

You know, I thought, this chick may end up growing on me.

I turned to Xellos. “Do you think you can transport one more person?”

Xellos seemed to snap out of a reverie. He plastered on a huge smile and nodded. “That I can do.”

I gestured to both Sylphiel and Drianne, and they came closer. I then nodded to Xellos. “Do it, then,” I said tersely.

Now, I know what you're thinking; the best thing would be to NOT try and boss Xellos around, especially if he was helping me. But there were two reasons for that.

One, it's just my way.

Two, I was worried.

The longer we waited, the longer Gourry would be in danger. And the longer Gourry would be subject to whatever they were doing to him. It was too much to think about, so I tried not to. If I kept my mind off of him, I would be fine. But sometimes I found myself thinking about him, and I could feel my eyes burn, and my heart ache, and it was too much...and I wanted it to stop.

Xellos, however, was a good sport about it. “As you wish, Lina-san,” he agreed. With a sweep of his staff, we were enveloped in darkness, and we vanished.

Dramata

24.2
I opened my eyes and realised that I must have been out for a few minutes. Well it could have been hours but I couldn't tell because it felt like a few minutes since I was so exhausted. I tested the chains once again but it was more out of sheer boredom and frustration as opposed to trying to break free. I was looking down at the ground when suddenly I noticed a familiar pair of boots stood before me. I managed to raise my head up and there stood before me was Lina.

I couldn't tell you the relief I felt when I saw her there and I wanted to badly to hold onto her. I strained this time trying to get to her but it didn't get me anyway.

“Oh Lina. I'm so glad to see you…I…” I stuttered as I noticed something was wrong.

I looked over her slowly and she started to fade away from my view. Seeing her disappear caused me to panic because I didn't want to be alone.

“No! No! Lina! Don't leave me!”

I strained and pulled with all much strength but I couldn't break free and soon she was all but gone. I didn't realise it straight away but slowly worked out that she was just an illusion. Some sort of hallucination because of what I had been through. I slumped a little in defeat and hung my head as I wondered how long I was going to be left like this. Was I just going to be left to die or would they keep me on the edge so I just constantly suffered?

A thought then went through my head. It must have been Lina that set it off, because I started thinking about how she would have used magic to get me out. It made connections in my mind and slowly I got to the point that I had learnt a healing spell. If I could just use it then I could heal myself and I would be able to get through this more easily.

I closed my eyes and started to concentrate, remembering everything that I had been taught and tried to gather the power in my hand. However as time passed, I realised that I had no power gathering in my hand. I tried harder but nothing seemed to spark and the effort of trying to gather that magic just seemed to wear me out more so. I slumped again against the jagged rocky wall behind me, trying to find some sort of perch for comfort when there was none.

“So the swordsman knows a little magic. Who would have thought that?”

Now she definitely was not a hallucination despite how much I prayed that she was.

“Shame you're as weak as a new-born kitten at the moment and so you wouldn't even be able to cast a simple lighting spell, never mind healing yourself. That's what you were attempting to do right? I could tell from the way you were concentrating and the feelings you had whilst trying to do it.”

“Well…I thought I better try something otherwise you're just gonna k…kill me. And where is the fun in that…right?” I slowly uttered out.

“Nice try, but I'm already doing just enough to keep you alive. I can't kill you because my lord won't let me. Infact she would probably kill me if I killed you, it would ruin the whole plan. Instead I'm just to make you suffer until you give in.”

“Well it's going to be a long time.”

“Very well then. Now let me see. That needle thing was so much fun; I think I'm going to go with that again.”

Riksfalto then brought out the long needle that she had impaled into my stomach earlier. I put up a face as though I wasn't bothered but inside I was scared. The pain she inflicted with that was indescribable and I didn't want to go through it again.

“I've heard around that there are people who like to harm their enemies by creating dolls which look like them and then stab them with pins. It's a nice idea, but why stab the doll when you can stab the person.”

She brought the needle behind her head and then swung it forward hard and it impaled right through my hand. I roared out in pain and flung my head back but before I knew it, she had thrust another through my other hand. There must have been something on those needles because the pain was scorching hot. I knew that a needle like that through my hand shouldn't hurt as much as it did.

I gritted my teeth as I tried to blank out the pain but it was constant and if anything it felt as though it was getting more painful. The pain was even clouding out my senses and I wasn't able to see properly, but I could just about hear Riksfalto laughing away. She must have been getting a right meal out of me which didn't help what I was going through.

I felt like I was going through this for hours but it was probably only for a few minutes. I howled in pain as she removed the needles from the palms of my hands and I managed to glance over at my hands which were bleeding profusely. Then just as I was about to look back to Riksfalto, she drove both needles together into much stomach again, but this time pointed them more upward. I yelled loudly and strained hard against the chains, trying anything to take my mind away from what I was going through. Luckily for me it did just that and I passed out.

I wasn't sure how long I was out for but when I came around I could hear voices. One of the voices belonged to Riksfalto, and the other I had never heard of before. I decided to take advantage of this since they probably thought I was still unconscious, so I remained like that whilst I listened carefully.

“How is it going? Will he help us?”

“No my lord. He won't. He's a strong character and I think if I had an eternity with him, he wouldn't give in.”

It must have been Dolphin then.

“That means we have no choice then. We'll have to take control of him by another method.”

“Shouldn't we be worried about the sorceress? Lina Inverse.”

“No. She has no idea where we are, and even if she did, she wouldn't have the time to get here. It's too late for her now.”

“I could just go and finish her now, you know, just in case.”

“I won't have it! You're needed here Riksfalto and I will not have any more of your insubordination. Inverse has no chance and anyway, I still have a deal with Beastmaster. We're not to touch her.”

I heard an annoyed growl from Riksfalto.

“I don't trust her and Xellos. Why should we keep that deal?”

“I understand but she has upheld her end of the bargain by leading the swordsman into our hands. I won't go against her now, and we have what we want anyway. Whatever she has planned for that Inverse girl, will be all for nothing by the time we're done.”

What the hell were they going to do to Lina? I felt the anger rising up now because I realised Lina was in more trouble than I first imagined. I thought she was at least safe because they had me, but there was more to it than that. I had to find a way of escaping and quickly. But first I needed to get my strength back and I would have to try and heal myself first.

I concentrated harder this time, the knowledge of Lina in trouble spurring me on and it was enough to get the spell going. I could feel the power gathering in my right hand and already the burning and pain was going away from that hand. I started to move my hand down to heal the rest of my body when it stopped.

I blinked and opened my eyes as I was confused as to why my hand wouldn't move. I looked up to see the glowing ball of healing energy in my hand and the chain attached to my wrist which stopped my hand from moving anymore. I couldn't move my hand to the rest of my body and so I couldn't heal myself. I cursed slightly under my breath but it was already too late. I had gathered the attention of Dolphin and Riksfalto, and before I could try and protect myself, Riksfalto landed a blow into my gut.

I started to double over but was stopped by the chains, the healing spell disappearing from my hands and then Riksfalto grabbed me by the throat, pinning me back against the wall. Dolphin moved closer and placed a hand against my chest and started mumbling certain words that I couldn't understand. I looked down at her hand and a black vapour erupted from her hand. I gasped a little and all too quickly the vapour had covered me.

I wanted to not breathe it in but I felt it pressing against my entire body. It felt cold much like when Phibrizzo had a hold of me in that black stuff, and that's when I knew what was about to happen next.

“No! NOOOO! LIIINNNAAAAAAAAA!”

I felt the black vapour pushing against my body and then suddenly pain shot through my entire body as I felt the vapour taking over. I could feel it controlling my arms and my legs, my whole body. It was invading my mind and clouding it over. I felt confused and scared and I wanted to fight back against it but it was a losing battle.

Then as suddenly as it had started, it ended. I could see Riksfalto and Dolphin standing before me and I was no longer chained at the wall. My body felt fine and I couldn't feel the pain anymore, but I also felt a strange numb feeling too. I looked at my hands and the wounds had gone, as well as the ones on my abdomen. I stepped forward and that's when I knew something was wrong, because I didn't feel myself wanting to step forward, it just happened.

I turned around to see the chains hanging on the wall and the pool of blood on the ground as well as stained against the walls. I turned back to Dolphin and Riksfalto, and before I could work out what was happening, I was down to my knees in small bow.

“Gourry Gabriev,” Dolphin began, “do you swear to serve me without question?”

“NO NO NO!” I screamed in my mind.

“Yes…my lord.” The words came out of my mouth coldly.

Riksfalto then held the Blast Sword out infront of me.

“Then take this sword, and together we shall end it all.”

I took the sword and stood up slowly. I wanted to unsheathe it and slash the two of them in half with one stroke. I was willing it so much and I could see my hand shaking a little for a moment but then it gripped the sword tightly and I then placed it by my side.

I had no control over my body anymore. I was nothing more than a puppet now for Dolphin and there was nothing I could do about it. All I could do was bear witness to it all, nothing but a spectator with a front seat view to the end of the world. And it was going to happen by my own two hands.

Kurage

24.3
When we phased in, it was on the shore. I wasn't quite sure exactly where we were, but it seemed to me like Xellos knew what he was talking about, so I had no choice but to follow.

The place was deserted, and pretty empty. I couldn't see anyone at all, except for the four of us. I blinked over at Xellos, and he nodded slowly.

“Trust me,” he said, “this is the place. Dolphin's aura is everywhere. Even you should be able to feel it.”

Both Drianne and Sylphiel frowned, but I focused, and discovered he was right. It wasn't exactly the best kind of feeling. In fact, it felt like being under the sun for too long. It made me queasy.

“Let me guess,” I muttered, glaring at him. “The after-effects of being a Mazoku?”

Xellos waved a finger at me. “You can't blame that for everything, Lina-san,” he chided. “No, in fact, it's because you're already so tuned in to anything involved with black magic. Especially with someone as high up as Deep Sea Dolphin, you, of all people, are bound to feel her energy.”

“But Zelas and Dolphin are on the same level of the sephiroth of power,” I answered.

Xellos raised his eyebrows. Clearly I had caught him off guard. “Well, who knew that you even knew that?” he inquired lightly. “Indeed, they are on the same level. However, the first time you met Juuo-sama, you weren't exactly looking for her signature.”

He had a point. “Okay, subject change,” I shook my head, trying to clear it of thoughts. “How low and how far do we have to go?”

Xellos shrugged. “As far as I know, all you have to do is get as deep as you can from here. You should be able to find it. It looks like a normal underground cave, but the power coming from it is so immense that even the two priestesses should be able to detect it.”

Sylphiel blinked slowly, but Drianne looked oddly blank. I wondered what was going on in that mind of hers. With Sylphiel, who wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to tell. But Drianne was turning out to be the sort of person who kept most emotion buried. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about that.

“You can both cast Ray Wing, right?” I wondered.

Sylphiel nodded. I was expecting that. However, Drianne nodded as well. That was something I hadn't expected.

“Okay. Get ready to cast it.” I turned to Xellos. “You coming with us?”

He smiled brightly. “Sadly, this is an endeavor I will not be partaking in with you, Lina-san,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head.

I grinned. I knew it wasn't a nice grin. “That's the best news I've heard all day,” I sneered. He opened his eyes, the smile fading, and I knew I had affronted him. Exactly what I wanted.

“Ready?” I turned to the other two, ignoring Xellos, now. They both nodded.

We cast the spell together, and the three of us were incased in the bubble of the spell. On my lead, we flew over to the middle of the water and barreled are way through. My last glimpse of Xellos was a fleeting one, but what I saw caused my stomach to jolt.

He was grinning.

Before I could even figure out why, we were under water.

Now, I won't bother getting into details about what it looked like under water. I'm sure you've seen it all before; the fish, the ocean floor, and oh, hey, the WATER. The real point is what happened on our descent DOWN INTO the water.

Sylphiel sensed it first. It was because she was closest to it when it came up. “Lina-san,” I heard her call out. She sounded confused.

“What is it?” I wondered, maybe too gruffly. I was concentrating on finding something along the seafloor that looked like a cave. So far, I wasn't having any damn luck.

“It's just...” the way she said it made me look over at her bubble. “There's something over there, and it looks like it's approaching really fast.”

Oh, for crap's sake. Like I needed this sort of thing right now. “Okay,” I sighed. I came over to her (what kind of action word does one use here? Swam? Floated? Dammit, I dunno) and I looked in the direction she pointed.

Sure enough, what looked like a huge bubble was speeding towards us. And it reeked of bloodlust.

Hurray.

I concentrated on my Ray Wing spell, and a burst of speed propelled me towards the offensive bubble. To their credit, both Drianne and Sylphiel decided that I was the best for this job and they stayed back, waiting.

Upon closer look, now that I had a chance, I discovered that my initial thought had proven correct; it was a Mazoku welcoming committee. It appeared to be a crude imitation of a water sprite, only much, much uglier.

“Ugh, I may hurl,” I groaned as I sped towards it.

However, I heard a voice reply back, “Sorry if my form offends you! Perhaps you would like to be relieved of such a stress?” the sentence ended with a chuckle, and when I opened my mouth to snap back, a flash of dark light interrupted me.

Luckily, my wind barrier was strong enough to repel the hit, but if I was going to give serious damage to this guy, I was going to have to lower it. It was something I was a little nervous about.

I took in a deep breath, vowing to make this quick, then lowered the wind barrier and called off the Ray Wing. There were a few spells I knew would work under water, but I knew that they would be useless against a Mazoku of this caliber, especially since they were all water-based, and, clearly, so was he.

The first thing I decided to try, once he was in range, was an Elmekia Lance. I blurbled out the words, and to my glee, the bright green lance shot out of my hand and soared its way through the water. It hit the Mazoku directly on the shoulder, making a very nice hole, if I do say so myself.

I grinned. Now, the Mazoku not only looked hurt, but pissed off. He shouted out some words I didn't catch, and before I knew it, over a dozen annoying little black lances were headed my way.

Now, have any of you tried to maneuver very well in water? Because I tell you, it's pretty difficult. And I reluctantly at that it's damn near impossible to do. So I got hit quite a few times, and it stung. A lot.

Now, I was the one that was mad. Not only was I bleeding from many annoying cuts all over my body, but this idiot was keeping me from Gourry, who was in danger and needed me. I felt something rare fill me from head to toe. It wasn't the usual anger or annoyance. It was a mix of something else. The pain I felt, and the fear I felt for Gourry. I couldn't stand it anymore. I couldn't take all of the conflicts that kept us apart. I was sick of it all.

I gritted my teeth, my mind set. I could feel my eyes stinging already from how I felt inside, but I didn't care. Enough was enough.

I held out my hands, chanting the words inside my head. The energy I summoned, energy I knew wouldn't be hindered by water, crackled to life between my waiting hands. I grinned, already knowing that victory was mine.

I heard Sylphiel shout out behind me, and Drianne made a confused noise, but I ignored them. The Mazoku in front of me started firing his damned lances again, but even as they hit, I didn't feel it.

All I could see was Gourry's face, and his trust in me, and I held on, until the last word was chanted in my mind.

Okay, I thought, knowing damn well that although the Mazoku could not hear my thoughts, he could sense my emotions. I'm sick of you. Get the hell out of my face.

I squeezed my eyes shut and thought the chaos words, trying to say them out loud, but of course, all I got was a mouth full of bubbles. However, my intentions made the spell work, and the Ragna Blade I summoned burst to life in my hands.

Ah, now the Mazoku realized he was in big trouble. But he realized too damn late.

I cried out, a sound that was only heard in bubbles, and I swung the Blade forward, every shred of anger making it lethal. The blade made direct contact, and the stupid water sprite wannabe was sliced right in half. With a curse and a screech, he vanished.

I know what you're thinking. Man, that was overkill. But answer me this; do you honestly think, if you were in my place, you would have done any less?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

I let the spell fade. I wanted to feel victorious about it, but instead I felt empty, and the multiple lacerations I had received, although minor, were painful. I opened my eyes slowly, feeling the all-too-familiar stinging again.

It wasn't fair, I thought, biting my lip, not even caring about my oxygen intake. It will never be fair, until it's all over...

Sylphiel was suddenly at my side, bringing me out of my dark thoughts. “Lina-san!” she called, her face practically bleeding worry.

Oh, right.

I cast the Ray Wing again, once more in my protective bubble. Although I was soaked to the bone, I didn't feel it.

Without saying a word, I nodded to both Drianne and Sylphiel, who shared an expression of shock. I concentrated again, and we started on our way once more.

I knew that Sylphiel itched to heal me, but I would have none of it. I just didn't care. It didn't seem worth it at the time. Besides, it didn't hurt too much. It was just annoying.

I'm not sure how long it took, but to me, it felt way too long. Every time we got lower and lower, I felt a sickness in my tummy, one that increased with each second. I tried to tell myself it was the water pressure, but it wasn't. Something was wrong, VERY wrong, and I didn't want to face it, even though I knew I had to.

Soon, I saw what Xellos had been nattering about. A small, inconspicuous cave soon came into view, hugging the space between a wall and the floor. It would have been ignored, if I hadn't felt the overwhelming power, and the strange feeling I had felt on shore with Xellos.

Dolphin was in there alright.

I swallowed a sudden lump in my throat. And so, I thought, was Gourry.

We made our descent into the cave, and I tried to keep as calm as I could, but I could feel my heart speed up and my hands tremble. I was terrified of how I would find Gourry. I knew he had kept up a fight; otherwise, well, everyone would be dead. But it was how Gourry kept up with his fight that scared me. How hurt would he be?

When we reached the mouth of the cave, I went in first. Before I could even blink, the water was gone, just like that. I gaped in shock, then called of my Ray Wing, dropping to the ground.

I looked back, and saw Sylphiel and Drianne still floating in the water. I walked over and touched the edge, and was shocked to feel some sort of magical field. Ah, so that was how she kept the water out.

I gestured for the other two to join me, and they did, following my lead. Sylphiel looked around, but when I looked at Drianne, I saw that she was very quiet. She looked as if she wasn't surprised at all. That really confused me. What also confused me was how dark her eyes looked in the dim lighting. It looked as if they were all pupil.

Creepy.

Sylphiel, however, was as surprised as I was. “Look at this place,” she breathed. “It's like a cathedral!”

Indeed she was right. The “harmless cave” was obviously a ruse. Indeed, inside, the walls were taller than I could see, and I had to crane my neck to get a look at the top. Everything was dimly lit, but smooth, like marble. The place was bathed in hues of dark blues and deep greys. Randomly placed along the walls were dim torches.

Gotta say one thing about the Mazoku: they sure are good with interior design.

I was impressed, but I would be the last to admit it.

“So what should we do?” Drianne asked, blinking at me. It was a good question.

“Keep walking, I guess,” I shrugged. “We need to find Gourry.”

Inside, I was still hesitant, scared out of my mind. I could still feel my hands shaking, but I managed to keep them hidden. Sylphiel, however, is not a fool, and she noticed right away.

“We'll find him, Lina-san,” she said gently. “And he'll be okay.”

I nodded, not really believing her. Instead of saying anything, I just started walking. Soon, the two followed my lead.

Hang on, Gourry, I thought, shutting my eyes briefly. Just hang on.

Dramata

24.4
I was angry and frustrated. I couldn't do anything like this. I had no freedom and I felt like I wanted to be back in those chains and being tortured because at least then I was able to have some sort of freedom over my body. I was able to move slightly within the confines of the chains. But now I was completely confined within my own body and all the will power I tried to gather was not enough to let me overcome whatever it was Dolphin had done to me.

Dolphin brought her hand up infront of me in a gesture saying I could stand up, and without thinking or wanting to do it, I stood up slowly. My hand was still on the sword and I wanted so much to use it. I tried with all I had to move the hand, to unsheathe the sword and finish them off right now. But the sword just clamped tightly onto the handle and didn't budge an inch.

Riksfalto smirked a little and that made me realise they knew what was going on. They knew that they hadn't truly taken me over, but just took my body and left my mind trapped. All that I had gone through before was nothing to the torture I was going through now.

My head turned around and from the position I was in, I got a proper view of the cave I was in. I could see two doorways but I couldn't really see where they lead to. The cave I was in being the only place I had known for however long I had been there.

I then turned my head back to Riksfalto and Dolphin.

“Excellent. Now, let us see if the sword still works. Gourry, take out the sword and show us.” Dolphin asked.

This had to be it. If there was a time that I was going to be able to overcome whatever was controlling me, then it had to be now. I looked down and watched as I started unsheathing the sword. The sword was still glittering a shade of gold, signifying the added power that the Lord of Nightmares gave, and also that it was still working. If it wasn't working, then it would have just appeared to be an old rusted sword of little use.

“Yes! The Blast Sword still works. We can bring about the end of this world and it will be I, Dolphin, who will be known to have destroyed it. You may now place the sword back into the sheath Gourry.”

My hand didn't move though. I was trying my hardest to fight back against whatever was controlling me and it seemed that I was beginning to beat it.

“Gourry, sheath the sword now!” Dolphin demanded.

My hand remained defiant and I felt myself starting to gain control, the first being my eyes. I used the new found control to glare directly at Dolphin and Riksfalto who returned with a look of shock.

“Im…impossible. How is he doing that? No one has ever done that before!” Riksfalto stated in shock.

My hand began trembling as I continued to fight it, feeling it in my arm and travelling down and whatever was controlling me, trying to resist it and losing. Dolphin began stepping backwards as though she sensed something, but Riksfalto was frozen to the spot. I knew what I had to do and I felt myself gain control of my hand. In that moment I swung without hesitation, straight towards Riksfalto and I let out a roar that I don't think I thought I was capable of. It was like I was releasing all the pent up frustration and anger I had gathered up after the torture and not being able to control my body.

I watched the blade move through the air and I could tell it was going to catch her. She wouldn't have the time to move and she knew that too. I caught her side and drove the blade up through her chest. She gritted her teeth as the pain caught her and I felt a sense of satisfaction. After all the she had done to me, I was happy to cause her some pain. I knew she wouldn't die from the attack but it would severely weaken her.

What I didn't think about was Dolphin who had moved out of range. The effort of the swing had sent me way off balance. It also meant I was completely open to attack and I realised that was why Dolphin moved back and Riksfalto stayed in place. Riksfalto was the distraction, the one who could be sacrificed whilst Dolphin was ready to attack.

I realised this way too late once Riksfalto had fallen to her knees and my blade was out to the left along with my balance. Dolphin had her hand raised and I felt I knew what was going to happen next. A dark beam shot from her hand and shot right through my chest. I was expecting to feel intense pain and for the first few moments I did but it quickly became numb.

I fell to my knees and dropped the sword to my side, as it impaled straight into the ground, only to be stopped by the guard. I looked down to see my tunic quickly staining red from the blood. I then slumped to the ground and quickly found myself struggling to breathe and something told me this must be what it was like to die. I lay there as I felt the world disappearing from view, but just before it all disappeared, I noticed Riksfalto kneeling down next to me. She was obviously still in pain and any movement seemed difficult to her. She leaned down and began whispering in my ear.

“This is not the end for you Gourry. You're not going to be allowed to die, because you're too important in all of this. So don't go thinking you've just saved the world, because it's still going to happen. You're still going to be the one to do it, but this time there will be nothing you can do about it. You're also going to pay for what you did to me…”

I then felt a weight on my back close to my neck and realised it was Riksfalto pinning me down. That's when I came to the thought that they were going to do something. I felt a hand on my back and the next thing I knew I was in blinding pain. My body twisted and contorted as the pain from my chest clouded my mind. That was why Riksfalto was pinning me down. It was to stop me thrashing about too much. I then saw the black vapour surrounding me, but it was darker this time, and it felt colder.

Like before it pushed against my body but it was more forceful. The pain in my chest intensified but spread through to the rest of my body and I felt the power taking control of my body again. Slowly I stopped thrashing about and finally came to a stop. The pain was still there though. It wasn't as bad as a few moments before but it was enough to be distracting.

The pressure on the back of my neck disappeared and I pushed myself off the ground and stood before Dolphin and Riksfalto. I removed the sword and sheathed it immediately, the whole time I had no desire to do those things but they just happened. I wondered why they just did the same to me until I realised that my attempts at overcoming the power that was making me a puppet were useless. I wasn't even slowing my body's movement down.

I was trying even harder than before to stop myself from sheathing the sword but there was no slowing when it was sheathed. I was having no effect whatsoever and I think it was because whatever they had done this time was stronger, and it was also putting me through constant pain which was distracting.

Dolphin turned to Riksfalto and could see the damage she suffered.

“You can take your leave now Riksfalto, take the time to recover but be wary of any intruders. We must NOT be disturbed during the ritual.”

Riksfalto nodded, holding an arm across her chest and then phased out before me. Dolphin then turned back to me and gave me a smile which gave me shivers.

“There won't be anymore of you breaking out of my control from now on. I must admit you have a pretty strong will to have overcome my power. I'm not sure there was anyone else who was able to break free from my control. I thought Riksfalto would have broken down your will a bit, but obviously she didn't do a good enough job.”

Dolphin moved towards me then and looked up at me as she came close.

“I wonder what it is that gives you hope? What is it that made your will so strong and powerful to overcome my power?”

“Lina. Just the thought that Lina is ok gets me by.” I thought to myself.

“Ahh! Lina Inverse! You realise that she won't be coming for you.”

“You can hear me?”

“Yes I can. But only I can hear you, no one else. Not even Riksfalto can hear you, since it is my power that controls you.”

“Lina doesn't have to come for me. But if she wants to, then she'll find a way. There's nothing that can hold Lina back from doing what she wants. No one…”

“So that's what makes your will so strong. She will never make it though. She has no chance of finding her way here, and even if she does, she won't have the time. You're alone Gourry. No one is going to save you. No one cares about you enough.”

“She does care…I know she does. She might not always admit it, but I know she does. And I don't know how but I'll give her all the time she needs.”

“Well in all likelihood, she's dead. If she's tried to make it here, then my lesser demons will deal with her. And if not, then they will at least delay her, and I have Riksfalto. Can't you see it Gourry? There is no hope for you!”

“I know what you're trying, and it's not going to work!”

Dolphin brought her hand up to my head and I felt a shock of electricity through my body. My mind screamed out in pain but my body didn't even react. I couldn't concentrate and all I could put my mind on was the pain. Then it stopped and Dolphin brought her hand away.

“It…is…OVER!” Dolphin growled before turning away and headed for the door.

I stood there for a moment as her words echoed in my mind and I began to wonder if she was right. What if there was no hope and that no matter how much I would have liked it, Lina was not going to make it in time? Before I could think any more about it, I found myself following Dolphin and headed through the doorway.

I could only really describe it as a corridor but it was as though someone had dug through the stone so they could connect the various rooms. I wondered if Dolphin had enslaved people to build this place for her. I continued to walk unwillingly until I reached the next room. I say a room but it looked much more like the inside of a grand temple. It reminded me a little of that temple in Seyruun. The ceiling was so high that I wasn't even sure if I could see it properly.

In the middle were some steps leading up to an altar where Dolphin was standing and surrounding the raised altar was a large symbol. I had never seen it before but even I knew it was connected to the altar. At various points around the edge of the symbol were candles all of which were lit. I looked up to Dolphin who gestured me to come towards her. I did so unwillingly as usual and walked up the steps till I was stood before her and the altar. I then knelt down in a respectful bow and was annoyed at being forced to do that.

“This is it, the beginning of the end. We have desired this moment for all time. It is our main purpose of existence and now I will be the one to make it happen.”

“I can't let this happen. I can't let this happen. Please Lina; give me the strength to do something about this. I don't want to make the world end, I want to protect you. I need your help Lina, I can't do this alone. Don't leave me to do this!”

“You, Gourry Gabriev, will impale your sword into this altar at the end of the ritual. The altar represents the heart of the world and by striking it, you shall destroy it.”

Dolphin then moved around behind the altar, and placed her hands over the altar. She began chanting in a language I had never heard before, and then black energy started flickering from the palm of her hands. They started striking the altar, but then it started to spread outward. It continued until it reached the edge of the symbol around the altar and now the room was filled with this black energy.

“Don't let me do this…”

Kurage

24.5
As we walked, I felt like a trapped bird in a cage. I couldn't figure out why. I couldn't understand what it was that was giving me such an onslaught of nervousness, especially since it was so sudden.

It got worse and worse with each step, until I just couldn't take it anymore. I broke into a run, leaving both Sylphiel and Drianne behind. Both shouted out protests, but I ignored them.

It was as if something was pushing me. I couldn't explain the sense of urgency. I couldn't even begin to understand it. Call it what you want. Destiny, true love, connection, whatever you want. I don't care what it was, the point is, it pushed me, and I went in the right direction, despite the fact that I didn't even know where I was going.

Everything was a blur past me as I ran. I couldn't think, I couldn't see; I just felt. Everything in my gut was screaming at me to hurry. I wasn't even sure if Drianne or Sylphiel were following. I didn't even care by that point. All I could think about was Gourry, and that something very, very wrong was happening.

And then I felt it.

It was worse than electricity. It was worse than Nightmare magic at its most raw. It was so much worse than that. It was like all of the worst possible feelings anyone could ever feel in their stomach all at once, and you're not allowed to throw up to get rid of it. That was how bad it was.

I staggered, putting a hand over my mouth. I almost did throw up, right then and there, that was how bad it was. My eyes watered from the effort of keeping it down. When I looked up through teary eyes, I realized I had walked into the very reason why I felt so sick.

I saw one thing: the fact that Gourry was in the middle of the altar, and he had the sword in his hands. It was his eyes that held me in fear. They were blank and dull, and his stance was so stiff it hurt just to look. He looked injured, in more places than one, and I couldn't take it.

I started forward, the words already falling from my lips before I could even control them. My eyes shifted, from Gourry, to the woman next to him, and I felt the indescribable jolt of recognition. Deep Sea Dolphin.

Well, that hardly mattered anymore. I held my hand out, took hold of the Elmekia Lance, and threw it forward towards her, aiming ever ounce of willpower in that shot.

Of course it didn't make a difference when it came to her health, but it got her attention. She turned sharply, her moves fluid and hard to follow. She turned, and her eyes fell on me. And they widened in disbelief.

“Let him go,” I growled, my hands clenched at my sides. I knew the look of mind control when I saw it. And I knew that Gourry had fallen victim to it. The thought made me feel sick, much sicker than the spell Dolphin was casting had.

Dolphin slowly blinked. She honestly looked bewildered. “How can you be here?” she wondered, her eyes wide. Her hands fell to her sides, and the ward deactivated quickly. Gourry stood as still as a statue, and my heart ached from worry.

“Let him go NOW,” I snapped. I held open my hand, and slowly, a Fireball came to life, growing with each second.

Dolphin's eyes dipped down to my hand. “Do you honestly think a measly little Fireball can harm me?” she wondered calmly.

“Of course not,” I answered, smiling a little. “But it's a nice threat. So let him go.”

Dolphin shook her head. “No, I don't think that's going to happen,” she disagreed. “You see, I'm going to end this world today. And if it means I have to kill you to do so, then it won't be too much of a delay.”

“What makes you think you honestly can kill me?” I demanded. Don't let my words fool you. Half of wanted to curl up into a ball. But the other half, the stronger half, felt truly powerful enough to kill Dolphin.

Dolphin grinned. “I'm not sure how you managed to outsmart my best lesser demon, but this time, I assure you, your next opponent will not be easy to defeat.”

“Who,” I snorted, “you?”

“No,” she answered, “I have a previous engagement to deal with.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but something hard and sharp slammed into my shoulder. A split second later, the pain erupted into my system, and I cried out, unable to contain it. Luckily, whatever hit me didn't stick around. I turned, my hand on my bleeding shoulder, to see who it was that decided to strike me.

And my insides turned to ice when I saw who it was.

Who else would it be but Riksfalto?

I jumped back, gritting my teeth. I didn't want any interruptions. I had to get Gourry out of there before Dolphin succeeded.

However, on closer examination, it looked as if Riksfalto was worse for wear. Indeed, her side was covered in the tell-tale black blood, and her eyes were dimmed with the pain of the wound. For a moment, I felt elation. Who else but Gourry could make a hit like that? That meant that even at the end, he had fought his captors.

I grinned at her. “You don't look well,” I taunted. “You sure you're up for a fight?”

Riksfalto held up her sword, which was stained with my blood. “Oh, clearly I can bring in a few shots here and there,” she replied.

I growled, the smile fading from my lips. I pulled my hand away from my wounded shoulder, knowing that I damn well had no time for a healing spell. “Bring it on, then,” I answered, my minds already focusing on my next spell.

“Gladly,” Riksfalto answered. She darted forward, swinging the sword sideways with her good hand. I jumped back, grunting from the pain that the move brought to my shoulder. She saw my momentary lapse and swung the sword again the other way. This time, the very tip of the blade nicked my front, but luckily, it only ripped cloth and not flesh.

Finally, my spell was ready, and without hesitating, I cast the Dynast Bras. The spell hit Riksfalto dead on, and it looked like it hurt, but not enough to fell her or even slow her down. She came at me again, and this time, I had to put all of my focus on my agility, or else otherwise, I was shish-kebob.

But even though I knew this, my mind still went to Gourry, and how any minute now, Dolphin might finish her ritual.

That was the last straw.

I jumped back again, barely missing yet another sword-swing, and pulled out my dagger. I had to use my other hand, so it was awkward, but I managed to parry the next hit. The force of the parry was enough to send me stumbling, as the hand I used was unaccustomed to taking such hits. However, I took advantage of the momentum and darted backwards, turning in mid-stride. And then I ran, as fast as I possibly could, towards the altar.

It wasn't going to happen, I thought, ignoring everything around me. I wasn't going to let it.

Dramata

24.6
I knelt there before Dolphin as she continued with the ritual, watching the black energy striking about the place within the symbol. The pain still drove around in my mind making it difficult to concentrate but I knew that I was losing hope with the situation. I couldn't see a way to get out of it myself, and so I had left myself to the thought that it was over.

That was until something struck Dolphin and it surprised me to see something attack her. I couldn't see who did it, but hope began flooding back to me. I felt myself standing up as Dolphin turned sharply towards the source of the attack. I turned also and there she was, standing with her arms falling back to her sides after having cast that spell. I was so unbelievably happy to see her but my body wouldn't allow me to express it, if anything my body expression was being cold towards her.

Dolphin asked why she was here and Lina demanded that I was let go. I thought that maybe with this distraction, that I could overcome the control. But no matter how hard I tried, it had no effect and I was left feeling exhausted from the effort. Lina had a fireball forming in her hand, and I could see the threat she was trying to portray but I could see in her eyes the worry she had. Dolphin couldn't see it, but I could and I just hoped she kept her concentration.

When Dolphin began talking about Lina's next opponent, I watched as Riksfalto phased in behind Lina.

“NOO! LINAAA! BEHIND YOU!” I yelled with everything I had in my mind, but none of the words escaped my mouth. Not even a little murmur was heard, and I had to watch as Lina was stabbed in the shoulder. I hated seeing it, and not being able to do anything about it. I so wanted to have run down there and moved Lina out of the way. I would have taken the blow myself but instead I was stood still like a statue, watching what was happening before me with Dolphin.

Lina then put her concentration into fighting Riksfalto which left Dolphin the time to continue the ritual. I turned away from Lina then and stood infront of the altar. The sword was now ready in my hand at my side, waiting for the moment when I would have to place it into the altar at Dolphin's word. I watched her as she put her full concentration into it, and the black energy resumed, crackling away around me, putting my hairs on end.

I could hear the fight between Lina and Riksfalto going on behind me, and every sound from her set feelings of worry throughout me. I kept thinking that those sounds from her were bad, and that she was being hurt, or even worse. Then it went silent for a moment, and I began to panic.

“Dolphin-sama!” I heard Riksfalto shout.

Dolphin stopped her chanting, and glanced to Riksfalto's direction. Her eyes widened and then she glared towards me.

“STOP HER!” She yelled her demand.

I responded immediately by flicking the sword up sharply to the side, and holding it there like a barrier. My head snapped to the side and there was Lina, frozen stiff as a few strands of her hair floated downward. I was horrified at what happened, as I quickly realised what just occurred. Lina must have come running towards us and she managed to stop just before she was hit by the sword, but I must have caught a few strands of her hair, which showed how close I was to hitting her.

I could see Lina looking at me, and I could see the slight shock in her eyes and worry filled them.

“Oh god! Lina! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I can't control it!”

Of course the words never came out but I could hear a slight chuckle from Dolphin, which meant she knew what I had said, and also probably happy to see that I was doing her every command.

“I know you have a past with this girl Gourry, but now that is all gone and forgotten. You hate this girl with all of your heart, and you wish to make her suffer. Do as I say Gourry, make her feel the pain you felt when Riksfalto tortured you.”

Lina was glaring at Dolphin for most of the time, but as her plan was revealed, her eyes widened a little and she looked to me then.

“Don't listen Gourry! Don't you listen to her. You can fight back! You can take control again.” Lina pleaded.

“I will do as you say Dolphin-sama. I will make her suffer.” I stated coldly.

“NO! Dammit! I don't want to do this!”

“You see Lina? He is under my total control now. He might have fought back before, but this time he won't be able to. The Gourry you know is gone.”

“I'm not gone Lina! I'm right here!”

“Gourry?”

Suddenly my left arm snapped out, my hand clenched tightly in a fist and I struck Lina across the cheek. The blow sent her backwards and tumbling down the stairs, and then she finished at the bottom in a heap.

“Excellent Gourry. Let her suffer until she can't take it anymore.”

I nodded slowly and began walking down the steps slowly. I could see Riksfalto in the corner of the room, knelt down in obvious pain, but she was also enjoying what was happening to Lina. I continued down the steps and noticing Lina trying to get up. I walked to her side and bent down, grabbing her roughly and pulling her up to her feet.

I looked at her as she looked back at me and her lip was cut and bleeding from the punch. I was frustrated with what was going on, and wishing I could find a way of fighting this thing controlling me. Instead I just continued on with Lina, sending a punch right into her abdomen. She stumbled backwards a few steps as she gasped a little from the air being knocked out of her lungs.

I charged quickly towards her now with both hands on the sword and I swung hard at her. I was glad to see her duck out of the way but I was prepared for her to do that and as she brought her head back up, my elbow continued to swing through and I caught her head. Her head snapped to the side as she yelped slightly in pain. I then grabbed her shoulder with my free hand and dragged her towards me. I brought my knee up hard and struck it against her stomach.

She gasped and coughed loudly as I took the air out of her once more and then I stuck her with a powerful uppercut. It took her off her feet and sent her backwards, landing on the ground with a thud a few feet away from. I was beating her senseless and I couldn't stop it no matter how hard I tried, but something else was bothering me.

“C'mon Lina! You have to fight back! Don't let me do this to you, just get it over with and finish me off. Don't make me do this to you anymore!” I was begging her, but no surprise the words didn't come out of my mouth.

Dolphin meanwhile had continued with the ritual, chanting the strange words I didn't understand. I glanced to Riksfalto in the corner of the room and I could see she was still enjoying what was happening. I think she was probably feeding of Lina's emotions and probably my own too.

I turned back to Lina who had got back to her feet, and she was wiping the blood from her face. I started walking towards her and she was just standing there. I could see she wasn't sure what to do, and her hands were clenched tightly to the side. I wished she would have attacked me, with anything but I could see she didn't want to harm me. The only problem was I had no problem with harming her.

I dropped the sword to the ground and both of my hands moved out quickly towards her. I grabbed her by her neck and forced her backwards against the wall. I started squeezing her neck and immediately she began choking. Her gloved hands clung to mine as she tried to pry my fingers away. They didn't seem to bother me though as I kept a tight hold of her neck.

I then started to pull her up off the ground still pinning her against the wall and choking her. Her legs kicked out at me slightly and she closed her eyes momentarily as she kept trying to pull my hands away from her neck.

“P...Please…G...G...Gourry.” She choked out slightly, but I kept squeezing her windpipe, glaring up at her through hateful eyes.

“You'll suffer, just as I suffered. You'll feel all the pain I had to feel. I hate you…I…HATE…YOU!” I growled angrily as I squeezed even tighter, pushing her harder against the wall as I gritted my teeth. I watched her eyes beginning to shine as they formed tears, which then fell down her cheeks.

“STOP THIS! STOP THIS BEFORE I KILL HER! No! Lina! Please do something! Someone! Do something before I kill her!”

Kurage

24.7
Sometimes, when the mind is reeling, the heart is your strongest focal point. It is also your most hated weakness.

This is how I felt the whole time I faced Gourry.

In my mind, logic screamed at me to fight back, to send him away from me, to give all that he gave me. Logic dictated that I disable his means of even lifting a finger towards me, and only then would I be able to truly face Dolphin and stop her for good.

But my heart wouldn't let me do it. Every time I tried to summon a spell or reach for my dagger to retaliate, my chest would ache and my resolve would weaken, and in that moment of weakness I would be open for attack.

And as these two emotions fought for control, it was the heart that dominated over the logic, which hardly ever happened in my life. Except when it involved Gourry.

And even when my life was in danger, and even when I could see the end close by, I could do nothing. I could only submit to it, because it was better than making the person I loved the most suffer under my hand.

You can think all you want of me. You can think, that's not the way it's supposed to go. You're Lina Inverse! You fear no one! You don't let anyone get in your way!

You can think that at the same time while I ask you, if it had been someone you loved, if you would even bear the thought of hurting them. If you can answer that, and it's different from how I acted, then, and only then, do you have a right to tell me off that way.

Even as my vision was fading, even as I looked into his eyes, eyes that were both furiously blazing and darkly sad, I couldn't do a thing. But I wouldn't die without looking at him. I couldn't. I wouldn't...

“Holy—“

“Lina-san!”

I heard these simultaneous shouts and I felt both dread and joy fill me. I would be saved, but not without a price, now that more people were involved. Before I could even make a move, an unobtrusive Flare Carrot came shooting towards us, hitting Gourry right on the back of his head.

Suddenly I could breathe. I think the shock of it all was what forced me to black out, but all I remember is that after that carrot his Gourry, everything went dark.

When I woke up, I remember thinking; I think I've lost a few teeth. I wish I were kidding about that, but it's true. Never mind the fact that I was beaten up by Gourry. Never mind the fact that the world may end. No, I was worried about my TEETH.

“Lina-san, open your eyes!” I heard a worried voice call out. “Say something! Can you hear me?”

I mumbled, trying to form words, but the near-asphyxiation hindered my speech patterns. However, it seemed to be enough, because I heard a sound of relief. “Stay awake, Lina-san,” the voice went on. I couldn't tell who it was; my mind was so foggy, from pain and from confusion. What was going on?

Why was it so hard to stay awake? Or even open my eyes?

Later I found out why: Not only had I almost gotten killed from Gourry's chokehold, but he also managed to give me one hell of a concussion.

Soon, I realized that it was Drianne who held me. I slowly recognized the voice and connected it to a person, and the conclusion was her. “Drianne,” I mumbled, the word sounding incoherent even to my own ears. “Sylphiel?”

“She's trying to stop Gourry-san from going back to the altar, but it's not working.”

At those words, I felt like I was splashed with cold water. I jolted up, opening my eyes. Black spots danced in front of my vision, and immediately I felt sick. “Gotta stop her,” I muttered, “he'll kill her.”

“No, just sit back down--” Drianne protested, but I shoved her off and got to my feet. Honestly, my body just didn't want to do it. My knees trembled, and I have to stoop down in order to stay standing. However, at that moment, all that mattered was that I was pissed off, and that was enough.

Soon, my eyes focused, and I could see a blurry version of what was happening. Sylphiel was darting back and forth in front of Gourry, firing her lame carrots at him. I could tell he didn't want to hurt him either, but at least she had the strength to try and stop him.

She must have been practicing, however, because a couple of her shots, although aimed for non-vital spots (hands, arms, and sometimes legs), drew blood upon contact. Gourry, however, seemed to completely find her less than a threat. He merely ignored her constant barraging, walking back towards the altar on Dolphin's command.

Dolphin.

The word seized my attention like tongs on my brains.

My eyes glanced at Gourry's sword, his hand holding it so tightly by the hilt. His hands were covered in blood, some of it I'm sure was mine, but most of it must have been his own. The new blood, freshly spilled from Sylphiel's hits, stained the hilt of the Blast Sword, making it appear to be an eerie ruby-gold colour.

I swear, it was like lightning flashing through my body.

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. The shock of it all, the utter STUPIDITY of it all, was too much for me to even concentrate on for too long.

“Lina-san?” Drianne said meekly from my side. I ignored her. I just stood there, staring at Gourry's hand, trying to work it all out in my brain.

“That's it,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “I'm such an idiot...”

I started towards Gourry without another thought. Drianne shouted out a protest, and that caught Sylphiel's attention. She turned from Gourry to me and cut me off, putting her hands on my shoulders. I strained against her hold, but she had me at a time when I was quite possibly at my worst, emotionally and physically.

“Lina-san, you're not ready to do anything yet,” she said calmly, her eyes belying her panic. “I can handle this.”

“Get off me, Sylphiel,” I snapped, shoving her away. I darted past her, as fast as I could, making my way towards Gourry. “It's been right in front of us the whole damn time!”

Gourry, however, decided to ignore all of us. He made his way back to the altar, trudging up the steps calmly without a care in the world.

Well, he was about to get one.

Everything inside of me screamed against what I did next, but I knew that I had to; otherwise we would all be toast.

I summoned up a Flare Arrow, trying to make sure the power level of it was the least that I could manage without losing effectiveness. Once I had done that, I took careful aim of Gourry's hand, and I fired it.

I winced when I did it, but that didn't make the shot any less accurate. It crashed into his hand, and at once he dropped the sword.

Without another second thought, I dashed up there and grabbed it, my hand closing over the slippery handle. Gourry made a move as if to hit me, but I jumped out of the way, making my way back down the stairs.

I heard Dolphin suddenly growl, but when she saw that I held the sword in my hands, she merely scoffed. “The sword is useless in the hands of anyone other than him,” she said boredly. “You know that.”

I grinned, the gesture hurting my face from the abuse I had taken on earlier. I glanced up at Gourry, and he stared back at me, expressionless and cold. I looked back at Dolphin, then at Riksfalto, who was making slow steps towards me.

“Really,” I said calmly, still smiling. “Then answer me this...”

I swung the sword up in one move, and the blade shimmered bright gold in the light. When I swung it back down, it remained, the blade glittering, as if awaiting my command.

Both Dolphin and Riksfalto were gaping at me.

“...why does it still work?” I finished, my eye twitching with unrestrained triumph.

You see, at the very last possible minute, while my mind was pretty much raw hamburger, I thought of something. The Blast Sword is designed to detect the life force of the person holding it, and react in accordance. But blood itself holds the signature of the person who bled it. Therefore, if Gourry's blood was on the sword, while I still held it, I could fool it into believing that I was Gourry.

Oh yes, I know, you can stop clapping now. I know I am truly awesome.

With that pretty note, I started chanting the words to the Dragon Slave.

“Riksfalto!” Dolphin suddenly snapped out. “Kill her! Before she uses it!”

However, behind me, I heard the echo of the words I spoke, and I knew it was Sylphiel. She had caught on to my thoughts exactly, and together we would use the double Dragon slave attack again.

However, despite Riksfalto's weakened state, I knew she would be on us faster than we would be done.

Then something weird, and unbelievable happened that evened out the odds.

Drianne got up to her feet, walked over to us calmly, and held out her hand towards Riksfalto. Suddenly, without any evidence or reason, she stopped right in her footsteps.

Both Sylphiel and I gaped.

“Lina-san,” Drianne said calmly, “change your spell. Cast the Ragna Blade. And this time, go after Dolphin herself.”

I stared at her, right at her, and it was then I understood. Right to the core, I trembled, because I knew, and all of this time, I had no idea. “And Riksfalto?” I managed to get out.

Drianne smiled. “Oh, I'll handle her.”

I stared, trying to come up with the right words. What was I supposed to say? What was I supposed to do?

“Cast the spell, Lina-san,” Drianne repeated. “Sylphiel-san can distract Gourry-san while you do this. I will keep this one busy.”

“Who the hell are YOU to stop my general?” Dolphin snapped, her eyes on Drianne.

Calmly, Drianne looked up at the Dark Lord, and even Dolphin froze. There was no way you wouldn't know who she was with a look like that.

Without another thought, I started chanting. Without a second glance, without a second look. As fast as I could. The words just rolled of my tongue and into the air, and soon, the spell took form.

From my hands I could feel the crackle of Nightmare magic, the second time that day. I gripped onto the hilt tightly, afraid that if I loosened my hold the sword would fall and I would lose my chance.

Soon, the magic threaded its way into the blade as I chanted, and with each second, it glittered sharper, and it glowed like golden candlelight.

Very pretty words. I'm trying to make what happens next sound pretty, but I assure you, it was really pretty gross.

I knew the sword was fully activated when I started to feel the strain on my will. I struggled to keep control, stumbling a little from the sheer force of the spell. The Blast Sword was a good buffer, and the recent talisman placed on it added a nice touch. However, my will wasn't the only thing strained. I could feel the sword straining too, if that made sense.

I had to make it quick.

I started up the stairs, cradling the sword in my hands. I went past Riksfalto, who was still frozen in her tracks. I went past Gourry, whom Sylphiel was holding back. And without a second thought, I jumped forward, swung the sword down, and aimed for Dolphin.

She held out her hand at the last minute, but the power of the sword was too great, and, like her general had before, she lost a hand, and quite a bit of arm as well. She cursed, trying to gain composure, and from her other hand, she summoned up some of her own power.

However, before she could fire it, I swung the sword back, and the blade nailed her right in the chest.

A flash of something assaulted my vision, briefly. I didn't know what it was then, but later, when I put it all together, the moment I hit Dolphin, the sephiroth of power flashed before my eyes, as if it was letting me know I was once again violating the balance of power.

Dolphin let her hand drop, the power fading. I heard Riksfalto shout out, but that sound was suddenly replaced by a scream from the general. I didn't look back, but I knew it had to be Drianne who ended the life of the general so quickly. I didn't want to think about that.

Instead, I glared at Dolphin, who glared back at me, her eyes full of hate.

“You messed with my heart,” I said plainly, my eyes narrowed. “And you damn well knew it. Therefore, you had to die.”

“You...damn you...” Dolphin managed to squeeze out.

“You damned yourself,” I snarled back. With that final note, with the sword still imbedded into her chest, I moved my arms sideways, then back again, severing her corporal body in two. And I knew, no matter how much she tried, that she would never, ever be able to save herself from this one.

With a flash of black light and a final epithet cursing my name, Deep Sea Dolphin was destroyed.

I stood there, my arms locked, still holding the sword out. Before I could even say I word, I toppled down to my knees. From the corner of my eyes, I could see that my hair was not completely, but mostly, white. I shut my eyes, trying to catch my breath.

And then I heard it. The sickening sound of cracking.

My eyes snapped open in shock. The sound had come from the Blast Sword. I looked down at the sword in my hands, just in time to see the blade crack slowly, then shatter into glittering pieces.

“No way...” I whispered, holding the hilt of the broken sword up. The sword was obliterated. The nightmare magic I used had been too much for it.

“Gourry,” I mumbled, “I broke your freaking sword.”

Then, I dropped it, fell over to my side, and everything went very nice and dark.

Dramata

24.8
It was as though someone had heard me and it made me think that I was able to speak and that maybe I had overcome Dolphin's control. My hands moved away from Lina's throat as I was hit by something and she collapsed to the floor blacking out. I willed myself to kneel down to Lina and check that she was ok, but I didn't do that, and I knew I was still under Dolphin's control. So instead of checking on Lina, I simply turned back to Dolphin and awaited her next order.

“Very good Gourry. Now return to me with the sword. The ritual is almost finished, this is it.” Dolphin then resumed the ritual.

I began walking towards her and on my way I knelt down to pick up the sword that I had dropped. As I picked it up, the lade began to glitter anew, the golden colour glowing a little stronger, as though it was reacting to what Dolphin was doing. I noticed to my side a familiar woman heading straight to Lina whilst Sylphiel headed straight for me. She must have been the one to attack me and I was glad for that. Now I wish she knew of a way to finish me off or at least put me out of action.

She started firing those flare arrows, or more like flare carrots. They were hitting me all over my body and they were annoying as hell. But they weren't really slowing me down. I just had to endure the various blows to my body and I could feel the carrots biting into my skin and drawing blood.

“C'mon Sylphiel! You must have more than that! This isn't slowing me down!”

She didn't give up though and she was determined to stop me with these carrots. I got closer to the steps of the altar and realised that I was beginning to slow down. I guess the total effect of all those carrots was really getting to me and I could feel it. It was as though I was being hit by a fireball, but slowly and gradually. The pain slowly increasing as I felt my whole body aching.

“LINA! DON'T!” I heard the familiar voice shout.

Lina? Lina was ok? I didn't kill her! I couldn't tell you how happy I was at that moment. The relief I felt at that moment took over the situation that I was about to end the world any time soon. I could see the look of concern on Sylphiel's face as she moved out of my field of view. What was she doing? Was she trying to stop Lina? Why wasn't she trying to stop me? I started to panic now because I reached the steps now and started walking up them.

“Dammit! Don't stop her! She must have a plan!” I thought angrily.

I just carried on walking up the steps, looking towards Dolphin who was busy with the ritual to notice what was going on at that moment. I could feel my hand on my sword was wet and sticky which must have been blood and it started to click in my head. I remembered what I was thinking of doing if the situation had come. I was thinking of using my blood on the handle of the sword and giving it to Lina because she was able to summon a lot more magic than I could. That meant she would make the sword stronger than I could ever think of. I never told her that though because I knew what she would have said. She would have said I was stupid for doing such a thing, and taking such a risk.

I just hoped Lina had realised it for herself. She was smart at this and she would know that because my hand was covered in blood, so was the sword, and then anyone could use it. Anyone could use it. What if Riksfalto or Dolphin worked it out before Lina? I tried one last time to over come Dolphin's control. I tried my hardest, and I used the thought of Lina as a way to boost my will. I had reached the top step and I stopped for the moment. My hand started to shake and I realised that I was starting to control myself again. But then a wave of pain hit my mind as though it was stopping me from trying to take control again.

I brought my other foot up now so I was stood at the top of the stairs infront of the altar, and Dolphin looked as though she was ready to finish it. Then suddenly I felt a searing pain in my hand and I immediately dropped the sword. I looked to my hand to see it smouldering a little and my head turned sharply towards the source.

It was Lina! She must have realised what to do and managed to get the sword out of my hand with a spell. Now she was running full tilt towards me and up the stairs to grab the sword. I started moving towards it though and just as Lina grabbed the blade, I sent my left fist towards her. I knew it was going to hit.

“DAMMIT! NO!”

I don't know how I was able to, but I was able to pull the punch and Lina jumped out of the way at the same time which meant the punch missed. That was it. Without the sword, I was useless to Dolphin and no longer was I going to end the world with my own hands. My concern now was for Lina as Riksfalto started to head towards her. I was glad to see the sword was still working in Lina's hands but Riksfalto was going to try and stop Lina before she ruined it all.

However, the familiar woman (Diane, Drianne?) started towards Riksfalto instead and so Lina was now concentrating on Dolphin. I began to wonder who this person was but instead it seemed the power controlling me wanted to stop Lina before she could finish what she was doing. So I was glad to see Sylphiel who was doing all she could to stop me now. She had her arms stretched out infront of her and was pushing back against my chest. She closed her eyes and began chanting and I realised that she was constantly firing those flare carrots into my chest.

Now when they had to travel, they weren't really effective. However when fired at point blank range they were about as effective as the normal flare arrows. It was enough to stop me making any movement towards Lina and despite the pain I was suffering I was glad that I was being stopped. I looked to Lina then as I was being held back by Sylphiel and watched her summon the Ragna Blade. I knew then that as long as Lina hit Dolphin, this would be over.

I watched her charge towards Dolphin as the Ragna Blade fused with the Blast Sword and the way it reacted was unbelievable. The golden glow seemed mesmerising as Lina charged down Dolphin. She leapt without any doubt and swung the sword hard at Dolphin. It caught her and I knew it hurt her pretty badly.

I gasped and stumbled to my knees as I felt some partial control return. Sylphiel went to her knees also and held onto me. I grit my teeth as I felt a blast of pain rock my body. I looked to Lina again and she was too quick for Dolphin as she struck her chest.

“Nnngghh!” I grunted in pain.

“Gourry-san? Fight it!”

I clutched onto her shoulders a little and watched my hands, noticing the wounds reopening on my palms. I began to realise what was happening to me, and I knew this was going to get a lot worse when Lina finished Dolphin off. Her control must have also cured me temporarily, which meant once her control was gone, so was her healing and everything I suffered through was going to return unhealed.

Sylphiel's eyes widened as she watched the wounds reforming over my body, quickly my tunic stained red from my chest and stomach. She placed her hands over them and started to heal me as quickly as she could, but the wounds were opening quicker than she was able to close them.

I turned to look at Lina again who struck through Dolphin one last time to finish her off. There was a flash of black light and suddenly Dolphin was gone. At the moment I felt the pain hit me hard like a splash of cold water only it was much colder than freezing water. It felt like I was being stabbed by millions of daggers all at once and I felt myself weakening.

I fell to my side and looked up to Lina beside the altar whilst Sylphiel was over me and trying her best to heal me. A sound of cracking echoed throughout the room and when I tried to focus on Lina, I realised that it was the Blast Sword cracking apart. Then suddenly it shattered, spreading thousands of golden glittering pieces everywhere and then Lina collapsed. Her once chestnut hair was now mostly white.

Drianne quickly ran over to her and checked her over and then turned to Sylphiel.

“I think she's ok. It seems to mostly be from exhaustion. She just needs rest. What about him?”

“I…I don't know. There's too much. There's too much and it's deep as well. I don't think I can heal it all.”

The ground started rumbling beneath me and I looked lazily to Sylphiel and Drianne who looked about the place quickly.

“It's falling apart!” Drianne shouted.

Just then one of the walls cracked, and sea water started gushing out from the rupture. Then the same happened on the other side of the room.

“We can't carry them out of here.”

“Maybe I can help Sylphiel-san?”

Sylphiel glanced upwards behind me out of my field of view, but I recognised the voice.

“Xellos?”

He then came into view and went to Lina first, picking her up and carried her down so he stood next to me as Drianne came also. I heard another crack and I slowly looked up to see a large chunk of the wall plummeting straight down towards us. I felt too weak and tired to do anything about it that I felt like I was ready to accept death, no matter how it came. I closed my eyes and suddenly everything went silent.

Was this it then? Was this death? I opened my eyes slowly and instead of being in the underwater cave, we were under a tree, and I now felt the soft grass beneath me.

“We're not far from a small village where I'm sure you'll meet a couple of old friends. I suggest you follow me.” Xellos commented as though it was like any other day.

He was still holding onto Lina so Drianne and Sylphiel picked me up together to share the weight. It wasn't far then to the village which was lucky since Drianne and Sylphiel seemed to get worn out pretty quickly from trying to drag me. A few of the villagers saw this and two men ran over to take me from Sylphiel and Drianne at which point I blacked out.

I started to come around and I could hear voices talking softly. They sounded familiar and I tried to focus my hearing on those voices. A lot of the pain was gone but I felt worn out from everything I had been through.

“I'm glad we came across you guys. I wouldn't have been able to deal with him alone.” Sylphiel said.

“No problem. I'm just glad we were around at the right time. It was really lucky.”

I knew that voice. Amelia? Yes. It had to be Amelia.

“How's Lina doing?” Zelgadis asked.

“She seems to be fine. I had a quick look before and apart from what she had to go through with Gourry, she's fine and just needs rest. She really over exerted herself with her magic. Xellos and Drianne are keeping a close watch over her though so it's ok.”

The sound of Xellos' name shook me out of the tiredness. I sat up quickly and immediately regretted it since dizziness took over. I glanced to Sylphiel, Amelia and Zel who were all surprised to see my get up like that.

“You have to lay back down Gourry, you need rest and you're not fully healed.” Sylphiel tried to push me back down and I noticed the pain in my chest came back.

“I can't! Lina is in trouble!”

“Lina's fine. She's just resting. You didn't kill her.”

“It's not that! It's Xellos!

“What about Xellos, Gourry?”

“Beastmaster still wants Lina! Dolphin agreed not to harm her. It was part of some deal to get me. They don't touch Lina in return that they got me. Xellos is going to take Lina away, now get the hell out of my way!”

I pushed past Zelgadis and Sylphiel and ran out of the room. I lost my balance a little and collided against the wall in the corridor. I composed myself quickly though as I thoughts of Lina being taken away filled my mind and I didn't want that to happen again.

Kurage

24.9
I was dreaming.

Gourry's eyes were so soft and shiny, and they were so full of light. I felt myself smile into them, wanting to forever remember what they looked like. I reached out, wanting to touch his face, to trace the lines, to memorize the feel.

The eyes went hard, and cold, and I withdrew my hand, thinking I was too forward or something. He glared at me, and I stepped away, then ran, too frightened by what I saw. All I could see in his eyes was cold, unbridled hatred for me.

As I ran, a blast of black magic stopped me in my tracks, and when I looked up, I saw Drianne standing there. She was bathed in golden light, and she looked calm and powerful.

I dropped down onto my knees, words of gratitude babbling out from my mouth. I lowered my head, too scared to look at her right in the eyes.

When I had exhausted all of my words, everything was silent, until I heard footsteps. I couldn't look up, but soon, I felt a touch on the top of my head, like the warmest of breezes.

“My poor daughter,” I heard Drianne's voice say softly, her voice echoing with another, a darker, deeper, one. I looked up slowly, and she smiled down at me. “My power brings you sorrow, and it brings you joy.”

“Why?” I managed to whisper. “Why did you tail us, why did you fool us into thinking you were just a girl?”

Drianne smiled wider. “It's the easiest way to make sure you made it out safe.”

“Why would you care?” I wondered. The moment I said those words I wished I could call them back. What kind of thing was that to say?

However, she wasn't offended. “Because when the balance of power is thrown out of whack by some idiot, I have to step in,” she replied, her tone sardonic.

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words didn't come out. They just stayed there. I didn't have the courage to ask them.

Drianne seemed to understand. She took her hand away and looked around us, as if she was looking for something in particular. “You attracted my attention so many years ago, you know,” she said softly, in that strange voice of hers. “Your willpower is one I've never seen in anyone else.”

“Some would say it's a flaw and not a virtue,” I said flatly, shifting so that I knelt more comfortably.

Drianne smiled again. “You're chaos, Lina-san,” she replied. “You're both flawed and virtued.”

I wrinkled my nose. I had no idea what to say to that. Instead, I asked another question. “Why did the sword break? I thought the talisman made it strong enough to hold your power.”

Drianne shook her head, as if I had just said something appalling. “Did it ever occur to you that it wasn't my power that made it shatter?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Obviously, that hadn't occurred to me.

“Your sister,” Drianne said suddenly. My head jerked up in surprise. “She's the Knight of Ciephied, yes?”

I nodded, too confused to say anything.

Drianne smiled down at me, placing her hand back on the top of my head. “Think about that for a while, won't you?”

I opened my mouth to say something, but at that moment, the dream ended. I woke up.

At first, I wasn't too sure if I had. I felt drained, and really, really hungry. I opened my eyes slowly and grabbed a fist full of my hair, dragging it into view. Sure enough, my hair was just as I remembered it. I sighed, letting the hair drop over my face.

And it was then I felt that someone was in the room with me.

I jumped, sitting up right away, and the process of it all made me flop back down again. But I kept my eyes open, and indeed, my intuition had been correct; Xellos stood there, looking nonchalant.

“Ugh,” I muttered, putting a hand to my forehead. “Go away.”

Xellos shook his head. “Someone has to watch over you and make sure you're safe, Lina-san,” he replied, the tone of his voice grating my nerves.

“Yeah, well, make it someone else,” I snapped. I looked around the room, noticing that my vision was still blurry around the edges. “Where is everyone?”

“Downstairs, except for Drianne-san,” Xellos answered.

I blinked, sudden realization flooding through me. “Where is she?” I asked softly.

“She had other things to do,” Xellos replied. For once, he looked serious, so I believed him.

“Why on earth would anyone let you keep watch over me?” I demanded, trying once again to sit up. This time I succeeded, and I rubbed my eyes, trying to get the blurred feeling out of them.

“Well, initially because I wouldn't be alone; Drianne-san had been up here with me as well.”

I looked right at him. “You know who she is, don't you?”

He smiled, his eyes opening slowly. The violet colour glittered. “Of course I do,” he replied quietly. “After the display she pulled with Riksfalto, there was no doubting who she was.”

I felt a little creeped out. I didn't like it when Xellos had his eyes open, and I liked it even less when they were focused on me. “Which is why you didn't dare pull anything while she was here, right?” I wondered.

“I'm hurt, Lina-san,” Xellos simpered, his eyes shutting immediately. “What makes you think I would ever have ill-intent towards you?”

I raised an eyebrow, and suddenly he looked sheepish. “Yes, well, some things happen without my control. Duties and such.”

“Oh, whatever,” I snorted. “Duty. I know you have your own free will. You can decide whatever the hell you want to do, and you don't have to do the things you do. You could just tell Zelas to piss off, and be done with it. Gaav said it himself: `No one outside us five have power like his'. You can't fool me, Xellos.”

“Your memory proves to be flawless once again,” he chirped.

I stretched out, yawning a little. I noticed, with sudden gratefulness, that I was still dressed in my normal clothes. I just lacked my armour and cape. I then looked at him, seriously. “Xellos, why are you here?”

Xellos smiled blandly. “That is a secret,” he replied, opening one eye.

I started to reply, but the door suddenly opened. And when I say this, I don't mean it opened with ease, or even with force. It freaking SMASHED open. I swear, I don't think it ever closed properly again. I gaped at the door, but not for long, because soon, Gourry came running in the room.

I felt both annoyance and happiness, but they were suddenly replaced with confusion. Because then Gourry came right towards Xellos, without a look at me, and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

“Gourry!” I blinked, getting to my feet. “What the—?”

Xellos, however, looked very calm. “Ah,” he said. “It looks like it's not quite a secret after all.”

Dramata