Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ The Story That Was; The Story That Is ❯ The Finding ( Chapter 2 )

"He'll hate me if I do this, can I live with that?"

"But you'll be able to see again, surely once he learns why it was done he won't mad with you. Besides he's your grandson how long can he hate you?"

"Zelgadis can hold a grudge for a very long time."

"But this may be your last chance to see every! And surely once the deal is done you can change him back, right? Beside whose happiness really counts here yours or his?"

"His"

"Then do this, free him from your burden, once you can see he'll no longer feel the need to care for you. Let him have a life Rezo, he deserves that at the least."

"But well he have one after this is done?

"Of course he well, once everything is done we'll turn him back, no harm shall be fall on him."

So the battled raged inside Rezo, what would he do? After the first meeting with the mazoku it had come back only once, and was meet with the same no answer. It said that it would give him two more chance to make up his mind after that, he would be on his own. Down deep inside Rezo really didn't want to do this, but he had to do something. Something inside him was trying to control him, he felt a little less like himself daily, and soon, he knew that he would be lost to this thing that he had kept at bay for years. Also he feared what would happen if Zelgadis and the mazoku met one another, he knew that Zelgadis could feel something was off every time the thing visited; he just didn't know what it was. That's why he started to throw himself into learning magic and was trying to get stronger with the use of the sword. `He's preparing to save me form my demons,' he thought `Useless as it may be, but then again are you really going to let him fight a fight you know he can't win? No. Then do as the mazoku asks. Besides sometimes the best thing to do to someone is to drive them away, especially if you are trying to save them.'

Rezo bowed his head in defeat he would do what was asked of him, he would do the experiment that he was asked to do. He would give up his grandson in order to see, he hated himself for doing this, but what choice did he have.

"So you except," asked a cheerful voice from behind him.

Rezo jumped, and spun to face the mazoku "yes," he said in a defeated voice "I'll do as you ask, but I have one clause to add to your deal."

"Which is?" it chirped

"I want to know your name."

"It's Xellos. Now let's get down to business."

^-^ ^-^ ^-^

Present Day

^-^ ^-^ ^-^

Zel walked down dusty hallways, heading towards what once was one of Rezo's labs; he had met one of Rezo's associates who told him to look here. Why he was following the advice was beyond him, but a lead was lead. He came to a small room that was just right for fixing potions, casting a light spell he surveyed the room. There were bottles and books and dust, lots of dust. On the table was a book, written in Rezo's hand writing, it was a journal.

"May be," Zel breathed "Maybe."

He opened the book and started flipping through pages, slowly stopping where the word "It's not working" came into focus.

`It's not working; the demon sample they want me to use is not strong enough to support the other two. I have told…'

Just then the book was ripped out of his hands. Looking up he saw:

"Xellos, give me back the book."

"Whhhhyyyyyy?"

"Look, you know there is no cure for me in that book, so why are taking it away from me?'

"If you're so sure that there is no cure here then why do you want it so bad?" Xellos teased.

"Because I want to know why this was done to me! Now please give me the book back." Zel sounded defeated.

Xellos open one of his eyes lazily and looked at the chimera. `All it wants is to know is why?' he mused. `Why not? It's not like it would do him any go anyway.' "Well since you asked so nicely, there." He said, throwing the book.

Zel caught it and continued: `I have told Xellos this, and he has agreed to give me stronger sample, where from I don't know, nor do I care to know. Once more I question why I am doing this when I know it will only destroy my grandson, but I know the answer: I'm doing it in order to see and to protect him. For if I do not do this then what ever is inside that is trying to control me may end up hurting him, I can't bear that thought, I far rather he hate me, than for me to see, no feel, myself kill him. May one day he'll find room in his heart to forgive me.'

Xellos? Xellos was the one who… that way he didn't like him when they first met. He turned to the trickster priest, "What kind of deal did you make with Rezo?"

"That's a secret" it frowned

"It doesn't matter; I have an idea of what it was any way." Zel replied sticking the book in his pack. "And if you're hoping to make the same deal with me I can tell you right now that it won't work. I have come to the conclusion that there isn't a cure, so the only question for me now is what I shall do with myself."

"And what well you do?"

"That's a secret."

With that he left, Xellos frowned maybe it wasn't a good idea to give him his genetic make up for the experiment. Oh well too late now, he smiled and faded way.

^-^ ^-^

Xellos sighed, things where not go as planned. Zel had given up hope on finding his cure, and even with apart of him in Zel's make up he still could not control him. This was bad. But why? Why couldn't he control him? And why did he have not give up so soon, especially when he was starting to have fun. There was a small pull in the back of his mind `oh no' he thought and quickly went to see what his mistress wants.

Zelas Metallium, Lord Beastmaster, was sitting on her throne, looking bored when Xellos popped in. She smiled warmly at her Trickster Priest "Xellos," she cooed "tell me how are things going with the chimera?"

"His given up hope on finding his cure, mistress." He replied.

"Has he found Rezo's book? Did you allow him to read it and keep it?"

"Yes, my Lord." Xellos sweat dropped.

"Good."

"But I thought you want him to look for his cure?"

"No, not really, it was just something for him to do so we could keep and eye on him." Zelas smiled "Besides his reasoning shows that he has matured, and that the second stage well be coming up soon."

"Second stage?"

"Yes, soon his mazoku's powers will start to show," she smiled "I wonder how they'll affect him? I wonder if he really has accepted himself for what he is."

"So what do you want me to do now?"

"Keep and eye on him for now, he might need our help later.'

"As you wish."

^-^ ^-^

Zel sat reading Rezo's Journal : The sample works, though I wish that it did not. I'm not sure but something tells me that I've altered it somehow, made it somewhat weaker, halving what it was, but that doesn't matter not to them at any rate. So now that I have a working sample all I have to do is wait for the right time. L-sama for give me for this.

…. IT worked, Zelgadis is now a chimera, and Xellos seems please with the results, soon I'll have my cure. But for now I must train Zelgadis in the way of using his new body, this won't be hard since I placed a control spell into that mixture, a good thing to for the boy hates me with vengeance, poor fool, and as for that cure I kept telling myself I'd make well let's just say I have other things to do. Soon I'll see, and once I do oh what fun I'll have.

Zel closed the book, so it was true, there was no cure. He sighed and looked out the window and thought, *`The story that was is finally told and I have the answers that I always want, yet the confront I had hoped to be in them was not there. Oh well, the story that is, is still being told and it can change the ending to the story that was. I can't fight Zelas, yet, but one day I will be able to, but first I'll have to deal with a curtain smiling, purple hair, priest, that won't be problem, it well be a pleasure.' He smiled than paused, he knew that Xellos was coming and would soon appear, `to aggravate me about something no doubt. Let them play with me all they want, it well make them easier to strike down when I'm ready. Fools not only did you force Rezo into doing this in order for him to lose his humanity, but you also gave me all the time I need to destroy you, as well as protection from you. What a shame, it my cast me what's left of my own humanity, but to end your sorry lives, it will be worth it.' *

*"So the story that is continues but this is were we must end it for if we go any farther we stop telling what is, and being saying what shall be, and in some ways it's better to stop here, may be one day will find out what happen after this, but not now. But as time dances and truths are hidden ask yourself what would you ask for if its payment was your humanity for that is the price paid by these two souls, one done willing the other's was taken by force. What is humanity worth to you? And how far would you go to get it back, if you could,"* asked the Lord of Nightmares to a passing newborn soul. She smiled as it shivered, then turned to watch how the heartache of this one being would turn out. Maybe one day she'll end his pain for good, but today was not that day and the next couple of years didn't look any better.