Slayers fic: The Human Ingredient Ch. 4
Xposted to: slayers_fanfics
Title: The Human Ingredient
Pairing: Z/X
Genre: Drama, AU, Yoai
Author: ryals_shoal
Rating: R (for now!)
Warnings: violence
Disclaimer: The Slayers is the copyrighted property of Hajime Kanzaka. This is a work of fanfiction, for personal entertainment. No money is being made off this fanfic.
Summary:The piece that made Xelloss the most feared of all mozuku servants has been cast aside to the mortal world. Left in the charge of Zelgadis, will this ‘human’ ingredient find the will to live in the mortal world, or return to his Master?[YOAI]
This story is also posted up on ff.net HERE
Chapter 4
The two travelers were forced to make camp when the steep trails became too dangerous to climb by night. Zelgadis made all the arrangements on setting up camp in a flat glade, and soon had a fire going. Once finished, he sat himself on a log by the fire and began to sharpen his sword. He maintained his silence and made no attempts to speak to his companion.
Xelloss took a seat by the fire and tried to match Zelgadis’ silence, but he was becoming increasingly weary of being ignored by the Chimera and finally broke the long silence between them. “Will Lina and the others still be at Levenwurth when we arrive?”
“They usually wait a day for me at the most.” Zelgadis replied without looking up from sharpening his blade. “However, once we arrive I will be leaving again. I have no intention of traveling with Lina if she decides to take you in.”
“Thanks for the sentiment.” Xelloss scowled.
“You’re welcome.”
Xelloss picked at a loose thread from his black cloak. “Where will you go after Levanwurth?”
Zelgadis paused in his sharpening to give his answer some thought. “Gledwyn. It’s another mountain town. I’ve read reports that an old chimera research lab had been discovered in one of the caves, as well as some books and documents.”
“Oh,” Xelloss scoffed. “You’re still pursuing that hopeless quest?”
A heavy silence fell between them. Across the fire, Zelgadis glared dangerously at his companion. “What do you mean by hopeless?” his words were drawn out in a growl.
Xelloss noted the tone the Chimaera had directed at him. At this, Xelloss suddenly became bolder. He was bitter at the condescending treatment Zelgadis had given him since the start of their journey, and he was tired of being intimidated by him. “Its hopeless...” Xelloss started flatly, “because it is not possible.”
“What would you know about it?” Zelgadis snapped.
“I know enough” Xelloss retorted. “I know that it is near impossible for a hybrid like you or me to have our components separated once they have been merged. Its common knowledge among Mazoku to know that.”
Zelgadis’ expression grew darker. “You Mazoku are a pessimistic lot” he snarled. “Your high and mighty facade cannot compete with human creativity, no matter how much you boast about yourselves.”
Xelloss was gaining a sense of satisfaction from irking the Chimera. “It’s not a matter of creativity. Let me put this in words that my ‘high and mighty’ intellect can allow you to comprehend: Take a loaf of bread; Lets say that you, your human element were the flour ingredient. Combined with several other ingredients, the result is bread. To get back to the pure state of flour is impossible, the flour ingredient no longer exists. Your chemical makeup has been altered by the yeast, sugar, and salt. The flour-or should I say, our ‘human’ ingredient has been permanently transformed. In short, your little quest is a complete waste of time.”
Zelgadis sprang up from his seat, unsheathing his sword while doing so. He pointed the weapon at Xelloss, who glared back in return. “You’re the last person that I’d want to hear such drivel from!”
“Why?” Xelloss sneered, rising to his feet to be eye level with the Chimera. “Is it because you despise the fact that our humanity was just a mere ingredient to perverse experiments? We are very much alike, in that sense.”
Zelgadis continued to point his sword at Xelloss’ throat, his eyes hard as flint. “You are nothing like me!”
“Oh?” Xelloss’ violet eyes gleamed with relish at angering the Chimera. “It is true that I resemble a human far more than you do, but like the fat trimmed off the carcass, I am still part of the Mazoku body. Inside, I am just as twisted as your deformed body.” Xelloss smirked at the remark. “No offense.”
“Plenty taken.” Zelgadis lowered his sword to spit at his companion’s feet. “I longer wish to waste my time with you” contempt laced the Chimera’s words as he sheathed his sword. “You can get to Levanwuth by yourself, or die trying for all I care!” He turned his back on his stunned companion and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
‘I think I overdid it a bit.’ Xelloss thought glumly and slumped back down to the ground. A part of him was glad to be finally rid of the Chimera, but at the same time he felt a lot less confident on reaching Levanwurth on his own.
“It shouldn’t be too hard” he mumbled and poked the embers of the fire with a twig. “Just follow the path. It won’t be hard at all.” His mind wondered in another direction. ‘But what I have to defend himself? I don’t even possess a dagger, let alone magic. I wish I still had my staff at least!’
He sighed and tried to divert his anxiety by staring into the fire. The glowing embers pulsed like a vein, its fiery dance mesmerizing him. By the flickering light, Xelloss held out his hand to inspect the faint scar that ran under his thumb. The scar was slightly pink to show that it was fresh and still healing, despite Zelgadis’ healing magic.
“Only one scar” he muttered as his eyes traveled up that same arm to study his sleeved arm. He knew that under the clothing, not a single scar or trace remained to bore testament of his last moments of life he had before he died as a human...
****
Long Ago...
A scream ripped through the night air to echo around the clearing for the mob to hear, as well as the meaty snap of bone shattering beneath living flesh.
The pain from his smashed knee threatened to send Xelloss into unconsciousness, of which High Priest Cronus had no intention of allowing him to do so. Held the mallet up for the crowd to see the traces of blood to drip from the surface of his weapon. The audience cheered their approval, and continued the rowdy chant and stomping of weapons to goad the Head Priest to inflict another blow.
“The Divine Gift from our Goddess is at hand!” Cronus shrieked fanatically and raised the mallet once again to strike at the undamaged leg.
Unable to watch, Xelloss turned away. Through eyes blurred by tears, he saw several of the villagers thrust their torches into the air as they cheered for the blow to strike. In between the moving bodies, Xelloss glimpsed the inky darkness beyond that was the forest shrouded in night.
At the edge of the forest, far from the chaos, a dark figure of a wolf stood watching Xelloss.
Time seemed to stop. The hubbub of the crowd and of Cronus’ piercing voice became muffled, as if a blanket was smothering their sounds and movements to a slow rhythm. Xelloss barely noticed the phenomenon, his mind was enrapted by the presence of the wolf as it strode silently towards him, its movements long and flowing as if it were traveling though a dream. As it approached, it revealed itself to be far larger than a normal wolf, and possessed a savage scar running over its left eye. The beast passed effortlessly though the villagers and made its way to the pillar which Xelloss was laid across.
The dark wolf leaned its massive head down to sniff at the bruised and bloodied figure, its single golden eye burned with a fierce intelligence as it peered into glazed violet eyes.
~Thine life is at an end~ it spoke in Xelloss’ head, a strong feminine voice that bellied a feral growl.
Xelloss could only blink in response, confusion muddled his mind as well as the searing pain in his leg. In the outside wold, Cronus had laid the mallet to break his other knee. Xelloss grimaced at the painful sensation of the nerves traveling up his body in slow motion.
~Thy death is unavoidable.~ The wolf continued to gaze at him. ~However, I offer thee a choice in thine fate.~
“C-choice?” Xelloss croaked through cracked lips. Blood was beginning to sting his eyes.
~Either perish at the hands of thine clan who has betrayed thee, or die by mine jaws~ the single golden eye flickered as the wolf waited a response.
Xelloss gritted his teeth when the felt his left elbow shatter under the mallet. He squinted through the blood to stare into the golden eye of the wolf with a mixture of great apprehension and awe at a sudden realization. “You! Y-you are...!”
~Aye, I am thine Goddess these pitiful humans worship.~ In an almost comfortingly manner, the wolf’s long pink tongue lapped up the beads of sweat and blood on the young man’s brow. ~Thine revenge can be wrought through mine body. I offer thy village as sacrifice!~
Underneath the pain and fear, Xelloss felt a burning rage fester in his heart. They had no right to kill him! Was he not the ‘child of prophesy’? How dare they do this to him!
“I...I want...” Xelloss locked eyes with the wolf. “Revenge!”
The Goddess made a pleasing sound and continued to lick at the young man’s face, its wet snout traveling down over the exposed neck.
Outside from the Goddess’ influence, Cronus was raising the mallet one last time to smash the sacrifice’s head. Xelloss had not even noticed that his right elbow had been destroyed.
The expansive jaw opened and clamped over Xelloss’ neck, the many rows of sharp teeth pricking soft skin. Xelloss closed his eyes, and waited.
~Mine influence that has surrounded thee since birth is now at a full circle. Xelloss, mine most Beloved servant, become one and consume this mortal’s flesh!~
Fang tore through meat and tendon, the young human’s throat gurgled as blood poured from his mouth and filled his lungs, rendering him unable to scream. As Xelloss’ body and his conscious began to die and fade, he felt a black miasma flow from the jaws of the Goddess and into the wound. Like black flames licking at dried wood, the miasma consumed both his body and soul from the inside out until all that was left was utter darkness...
“Wh-what the hell?!” High Priest Cronus leaped away as the body of the sacrifice violently shook and suddenly became engulfed in a swirling mist of darkness.
Both priests and villagers muttered amongst themselves, confused and uneasy at the sudden strange turn of events. “It’s the Divine Gift, it has to be!” one of the younger priests cried, sending an excited buzz to run through the spectators.
Cronus silenced the noise with a wave of his hand. ‘How could this be the Divine Gift?’ he thought with worry. ‘The Goddess herself had instructed me to kill him!’
Further thoughts halted at the sight of the dark mist diminishing. The darkness seemed to seep in on itself, as if drawn towards some hidden source. A collective gasp was heard from the crowd. Cronus’ eyes widened in shock, too stunned for words at what the dark mist revealed as its source.
“Ahh, never have I ever felt so comfortable in this physical realm!” the sacrifice stretched his arms over his head, not a trace of the brutal abuse his body had endured marred his pale skin. The only evidence that remained to suggest the violence inflicted upon his person was in the bloodstained and tattered white robes he wore.
“It cannot be!” Conus took several steps back, the bloodied mallet dropping from his nerveless grasp. “I was supposed to kill you!”
“Hm?” Xelloss looked up at Cronus, as if noticing him and the awestruck mob for the first time. “Oh, that. Apparently my Mistress had beaten you to that task, though I should say that you did quite a number on this kid, and we are both grateful for that.”
Terror stamped across the old priest’s face. He raised one trembling finger at the being sitting on the pillar. “What are you?” fear raised his voice to a shriek. “Tell me!”
“Just my Mistress’ most ‘Divine Gift’ to herself, that’s all.” Xelloss flicked one long finger at Cronus.
A bewildered expression crossed the High Priest’s face, then his head exploded. Fragments and large chunks of his flesh, bone and brains flew through the air before the headless body crumpled to the ground.
The only sound to be heard among the stunned crowd was the sound of Xelloss’ laughter. “Haha! What excellent rage this human has! It’s truly a boost to my powers!” As gleeful as a child with a new toy, he twisted his hand to flick at another unfortunate human.
Someone-a woman in the crowd screamed. Then like a chain reaction, panic ensued. The mob that had gathered for the sake of bloodlust was now fleeing from an otherworldly being that radiated that same desire, only now the bloodlust was directed at them. In a frenzy, both villagers and priests tried to defend themselves and their families against the monster that had appeared in their midst.
But there was no escape for the humans on Wolfpack Island, especially not from Beastmaster Zelas Metallium’s one and only Mazoku servant:
Xelloss.
****
Now...
Xelloss shuddered and hugged his frame. It was not the cold that chilled him, but rather the startlingly vivid memory of the massacre he had committed. ‘And I enjoyed ever moment of it, both my human and mazoku parts. But now...’ he shivered again, a hollow ache filling his heart. ‘I don’t know how to deal with these human emotions. Its almost too much!’
He stared miserably up into the sky, where the smoke from the fire disappeared into the darkness to mix with the stars. Xelloss was just beginning to flirt with the notion of sleep when he suddenly sensed a presence behind him.
Not wanting to appear alarmed, Xelloss remained in his seat and turned to peer into the dark forest behind him. “Who’s there?” the demand was met with silence, and the intruder remained. Xelloss placed a hand over a burning stick of wood as an improvised weapon. “Zelgadis?”
The presence crept closer. It was a dark miasma, one that radiated an unnatural enmity that prickled Xelloss’ newly acquired human senses into a near panic, but he retained his composure. “Show yourself!”
Xelloss gasped and sprang to his feet, the burning stick held out in front of himself in a vain attempt to defend himself. He knew the identity of the intruder even before it emerged into the firelight. “Y-You!” he choked.
The figure materialized from the shadows, and performed a graceful bow before the stunned Xelloss. “It has been a while, has it not?”
By the light of the fire, Xelloss saw his body mirrored by the being across the glade. Every nerve in his body screamed for him to defend himself or flee. He instinctively knew, that doing either would be futile, for there was no escape from Xelloss, the only Mazoku servant of Beastmaster Zelas Metallium.
***
TBC
Please R/R!!!
Title: The Human Ingredient
Pairing: Z/X
Genre: Drama, AU, Yoai
Author: ryals_shoal
Rating: R (for now!)
Warnings: violence
Disclaimer: The Slayers is the copyrighted property of Hajime Kanzaka. This is a work of fanfiction, for personal entertainment. No money is being made off this fanfic.
Summary:The piece that made Xelloss the most feared of all mozuku servants has been cast aside to the mortal world. Left in the charge of Zelgadis, will this ‘human’ ingredient find the will to live in the mortal world, or return to his Master?[YOAI]
This story is also posted up on ff.net HERE
Chapter 4
The two travelers were forced to make camp when the steep trails became too dangerous to climb by night. Zelgadis made all the arrangements on setting up camp in a flat glade, and soon had a fire going. Once finished, he sat himself on a log by the fire and began to sharpen his sword. He maintained his silence and made no attempts to speak to his companion.
Xelloss took a seat by the fire and tried to match Zelgadis’ silence, but he was becoming increasingly weary of being ignored by the Chimera and finally broke the long silence between them. “Will Lina and the others still be at Levenwurth when we arrive?”
“They usually wait a day for me at the most.” Zelgadis replied without looking up from sharpening his blade. “However, once we arrive I will be leaving again. I have no intention of traveling with Lina if she decides to take you in.”
“Thanks for the sentiment.” Xelloss scowled.
“You’re welcome.”
Xelloss picked at a loose thread from his black cloak. “Where will you go after Levanwurth?”
Zelgadis paused in his sharpening to give his answer some thought. “Gledwyn. It’s another mountain town. I’ve read reports that an old chimera research lab had been discovered in one of the caves, as well as some books and documents.”
“Oh,” Xelloss scoffed. “You’re still pursuing that hopeless quest?”
A heavy silence fell between them. Across the fire, Zelgadis glared dangerously at his companion. “What do you mean by hopeless?” his words were drawn out in a growl.
Xelloss noted the tone the Chimaera had directed at him. At this, Xelloss suddenly became bolder. He was bitter at the condescending treatment Zelgadis had given him since the start of their journey, and he was tired of being intimidated by him. “Its hopeless...” Xelloss started flatly, “because it is not possible.”
“What would you know about it?” Zelgadis snapped.
“I know enough” Xelloss retorted. “I know that it is near impossible for a hybrid like you or me to have our components separated once they have been merged. Its common knowledge among Mazoku to know that.”
Zelgadis’ expression grew darker. “You Mazoku are a pessimistic lot” he snarled. “Your high and mighty facade cannot compete with human creativity, no matter how much you boast about yourselves.”
Xelloss was gaining a sense of satisfaction from irking the Chimera. “It’s not a matter of creativity. Let me put this in words that my ‘high and mighty’ intellect can allow you to comprehend: Take a loaf of bread; Lets say that you, your human element were the flour ingredient. Combined with several other ingredients, the result is bread. To get back to the pure state of flour is impossible, the flour ingredient no longer exists. Your chemical makeup has been altered by the yeast, sugar, and salt. The flour-or should I say, our ‘human’ ingredient has been permanently transformed. In short, your little quest is a complete waste of time.”
Zelgadis sprang up from his seat, unsheathing his sword while doing so. He pointed the weapon at Xelloss, who glared back in return. “You’re the last person that I’d want to hear such drivel from!”
“Why?” Xelloss sneered, rising to his feet to be eye level with the Chimera. “Is it because you despise the fact that our humanity was just a mere ingredient to perverse experiments? We are very much alike, in that sense.”
Zelgadis continued to point his sword at Xelloss’ throat, his eyes hard as flint. “You are nothing like me!”
“Oh?” Xelloss’ violet eyes gleamed with relish at angering the Chimera. “It is true that I resemble a human far more than you do, but like the fat trimmed off the carcass, I am still part of the Mazoku body. Inside, I am just as twisted as your deformed body.” Xelloss smirked at the remark. “No offense.”
“Plenty taken.” Zelgadis lowered his sword to spit at his companion’s feet. “I longer wish to waste my time with you” contempt laced the Chimera’s words as he sheathed his sword. “You can get to Levanwuth by yourself, or die trying for all I care!” He turned his back on his stunned companion and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
‘I think I overdid it a bit.’ Xelloss thought glumly and slumped back down to the ground. A part of him was glad to be finally rid of the Chimera, but at the same time he felt a lot less confident on reaching Levanwurth on his own.
“It shouldn’t be too hard” he mumbled and poked the embers of the fire with a twig. “Just follow the path. It won’t be hard at all.” His mind wondered in another direction. ‘But what I have to defend himself? I don’t even possess a dagger, let alone magic. I wish I still had my staff at least!’
He sighed and tried to divert his anxiety by staring into the fire. The glowing embers pulsed like a vein, its fiery dance mesmerizing him. By the flickering light, Xelloss held out his hand to inspect the faint scar that ran under his thumb. The scar was slightly pink to show that it was fresh and still healing, despite Zelgadis’ healing magic.
“Only one scar” he muttered as his eyes traveled up that same arm to study his sleeved arm. He knew that under the clothing, not a single scar or trace remained to bore testament of his last moments of life he had before he died as a human...
****
Long Ago...
A scream ripped through the night air to echo around the clearing for the mob to hear, as well as the meaty snap of bone shattering beneath living flesh.
The pain from his smashed knee threatened to send Xelloss into unconsciousness, of which High Priest Cronus had no intention of allowing him to do so. Held the mallet up for the crowd to see the traces of blood to drip from the surface of his weapon. The audience cheered their approval, and continued the rowdy chant and stomping of weapons to goad the Head Priest to inflict another blow.
“The Divine Gift from our Goddess is at hand!” Cronus shrieked fanatically and raised the mallet once again to strike at the undamaged leg.
Unable to watch, Xelloss turned away. Through eyes blurred by tears, he saw several of the villagers thrust their torches into the air as they cheered for the blow to strike. In between the moving bodies, Xelloss glimpsed the inky darkness beyond that was the forest shrouded in night.
At the edge of the forest, far from the chaos, a dark figure of a wolf stood watching Xelloss.
Time seemed to stop. The hubbub of the crowd and of Cronus’ piercing voice became muffled, as if a blanket was smothering their sounds and movements to a slow rhythm. Xelloss barely noticed the phenomenon, his mind was enrapted by the presence of the wolf as it strode silently towards him, its movements long and flowing as if it were traveling though a dream. As it approached, it revealed itself to be far larger than a normal wolf, and possessed a savage scar running over its left eye. The beast passed effortlessly though the villagers and made its way to the pillar which Xelloss was laid across.
The dark wolf leaned its massive head down to sniff at the bruised and bloodied figure, its single golden eye burned with a fierce intelligence as it peered into glazed violet eyes.
~Thine life is at an end~ it spoke in Xelloss’ head, a strong feminine voice that bellied a feral growl.
Xelloss could only blink in response, confusion muddled his mind as well as the searing pain in his leg. In the outside wold, Cronus had laid the mallet to break his other knee. Xelloss grimaced at the painful sensation of the nerves traveling up his body in slow motion.
~Thy death is unavoidable.~ The wolf continued to gaze at him. ~However, I offer thee a choice in thine fate.~
“C-choice?” Xelloss croaked through cracked lips. Blood was beginning to sting his eyes.
~Either perish at the hands of thine clan who has betrayed thee, or die by mine jaws~ the single golden eye flickered as the wolf waited a response.
Xelloss gritted his teeth when the felt his left elbow shatter under the mallet. He squinted through the blood to stare into the golden eye of the wolf with a mixture of great apprehension and awe at a sudden realization. “You! Y-you are...!”
~Aye, I am thine Goddess these pitiful humans worship.~ In an almost comfortingly manner, the wolf’s long pink tongue lapped up the beads of sweat and blood on the young man’s brow. ~Thine revenge can be wrought through mine body. I offer thy village as sacrifice!~
Underneath the pain and fear, Xelloss felt a burning rage fester in his heart. They had no right to kill him! Was he not the ‘child of prophesy’? How dare they do this to him!
“I...I want...” Xelloss locked eyes with the wolf. “Revenge!”
The Goddess made a pleasing sound and continued to lick at the young man’s face, its wet snout traveling down over the exposed neck.
Outside from the Goddess’ influence, Cronus was raising the mallet one last time to smash the sacrifice’s head. Xelloss had not even noticed that his right elbow had been destroyed.
The expansive jaw opened and clamped over Xelloss’ neck, the many rows of sharp teeth pricking soft skin. Xelloss closed his eyes, and waited.
~Mine influence that has surrounded thee since birth is now at a full circle. Xelloss, mine most Beloved servant, become one and consume this mortal’s flesh!~
Fang tore through meat and tendon, the young human’s throat gurgled as blood poured from his mouth and filled his lungs, rendering him unable to scream. As Xelloss’ body and his conscious began to die and fade, he felt a black miasma flow from the jaws of the Goddess and into the wound. Like black flames licking at dried wood, the miasma consumed both his body and soul from the inside out until all that was left was utter darkness...
“Wh-what the hell?!” High Priest Cronus leaped away as the body of the sacrifice violently shook and suddenly became engulfed in a swirling mist of darkness.
Both priests and villagers muttered amongst themselves, confused and uneasy at the sudden strange turn of events. “It’s the Divine Gift, it has to be!” one of the younger priests cried, sending an excited buzz to run through the spectators.
Cronus silenced the noise with a wave of his hand. ‘How could this be the Divine Gift?’ he thought with worry. ‘The Goddess herself had instructed me to kill him!’
Further thoughts halted at the sight of the dark mist diminishing. The darkness seemed to seep in on itself, as if drawn towards some hidden source. A collective gasp was heard from the crowd. Cronus’ eyes widened in shock, too stunned for words at what the dark mist revealed as its source.
“Ahh, never have I ever felt so comfortable in this physical realm!” the sacrifice stretched his arms over his head, not a trace of the brutal abuse his body had endured marred his pale skin. The only evidence that remained to suggest the violence inflicted upon his person was in the bloodstained and tattered white robes he wore.
“It cannot be!” Conus took several steps back, the bloodied mallet dropping from his nerveless grasp. “I was supposed to kill you!”
“Hm?” Xelloss looked up at Cronus, as if noticing him and the awestruck mob for the first time. “Oh, that. Apparently my Mistress had beaten you to that task, though I should say that you did quite a number on this kid, and we are both grateful for that.”
Terror stamped across the old priest’s face. He raised one trembling finger at the being sitting on the pillar. “What are you?” fear raised his voice to a shriek. “Tell me!”
“Just my Mistress’ most ‘Divine Gift’ to herself, that’s all.” Xelloss flicked one long finger at Cronus.
A bewildered expression crossed the High Priest’s face, then his head exploded. Fragments and large chunks of his flesh, bone and brains flew through the air before the headless body crumpled to the ground.
The only sound to be heard among the stunned crowd was the sound of Xelloss’ laughter. “Haha! What excellent rage this human has! It’s truly a boost to my powers!” As gleeful as a child with a new toy, he twisted his hand to flick at another unfortunate human.
Someone-a woman in the crowd screamed. Then like a chain reaction, panic ensued. The mob that had gathered for the sake of bloodlust was now fleeing from an otherworldly being that radiated that same desire, only now the bloodlust was directed at them. In a frenzy, both villagers and priests tried to defend themselves and their families against the monster that had appeared in their midst.
But there was no escape for the humans on Wolfpack Island, especially not from Beastmaster Zelas Metallium’s one and only Mazoku servant:
Xelloss.
****
Now...
Xelloss shuddered and hugged his frame. It was not the cold that chilled him, but rather the startlingly vivid memory of the massacre he had committed. ‘And I enjoyed ever moment of it, both my human and mazoku parts. But now...’ he shivered again, a hollow ache filling his heart. ‘I don’t know how to deal with these human emotions. Its almost too much!’
He stared miserably up into the sky, where the smoke from the fire disappeared into the darkness to mix with the stars. Xelloss was just beginning to flirt with the notion of sleep when he suddenly sensed a presence behind him.
Not wanting to appear alarmed, Xelloss remained in his seat and turned to peer into the dark forest behind him. “Who’s there?” the demand was met with silence, and the intruder remained. Xelloss placed a hand over a burning stick of wood as an improvised weapon. “Zelgadis?”
The presence crept closer. It was a dark miasma, one that radiated an unnatural enmity that prickled Xelloss’ newly acquired human senses into a near panic, but he retained his composure. “Show yourself!”
Xelloss gasped and sprang to his feet, the burning stick held out in front of himself in a vain attempt to defend himself. He knew the identity of the intruder even before it emerged into the firelight. “Y-You!” he choked.
The figure materialized from the shadows, and performed a graceful bow before the stunned Xelloss. “It has been a while, has it not?”
By the light of the fire, Xelloss saw his body mirrored by the being across the glade. Every nerve in his body screamed for him to defend himself or flee. He instinctively knew, that doing either would be futile, for there was no escape from Xelloss, the only Mazoku servant of Beastmaster Zelas Metallium.
***
TBC
Please R/R!!!