Forgotten King: Chapter 8
Sorry if there are some spelling/grammatical errors in this. I AM NOT AN ENGLISH MAJOR!!!!
* Italics mean a person's thoughts
Xellos had been waiting in the astral plane for what seemed like hours. That odd fellow with the mask had asked for his help in a plan to get Lina and Zel together for good. This was good for him and his master because they were good friends of Lina. If Lina could hold the prince's ear that well then they could get the power they needed to wipe out the other two nobles that stood in their way. I still don't know what this guy is really up to. He has nothing to gain form this so far as I can see. And who was he anyway, I have been keeping tabs as best I can, but I still don't have any clue who he is. Xellos' thoughts were interrupted by someone calling his title, "Well, if it isn't the fabled Trickster Priest," said the female voice from behind him.
Xellos turned to meet the gaze of a petite woman with long silver hair and green eyes. He knew who this was already, she had become quite famous, but what was she doing here. "Well, its Illianna, how are you. I am indeed curious now. This must be some plane if someone that took so much work to recruit to our side is in on it. I mean it took almost all of the Knight of Shabarnigdo's power to convince you to join us. Speaking of which have you seen him lately, last I heard he disappeared after recruiting you."
"He's standing behind you Xellos," Illianna answered as Vladimir phased in behind Xellos.
Xellos turned to see the man, he had been following for days now, phase into the astral plane. So he's the Knight, no wander I had such a rough time. Oh well at least it was challenging. But, that still doesn't explain what he wants with the Knight of Cepheed. "Well now I know who I am dealing with at least," he said coyly at Vladimir.
Vladimir smirked at Xellos and said, "So you did come. I guess my offer was too good for Zelas to refuse, ne?"
Xellos smiled at Vladimir, "Of course not. We need any advantage we can get, and from what you told the master, you must have a good plan to help us."
"Yes, I do."
"Well, what is it," asked Illianna as she made her way to Vladimir's side.
"Ok here it is. Illianna your job is the most crucial. You must attack Lina," Vladimir said cold and calculating.
"But, Vladimir she's your....," Illianna was about to finish the rest of her protest when Vladimir silenced her with a glance.
"You will attack Lina, not to kill her, just make it look like she is in danger," Vladimir said a bit irritated.
Illiannna dropped her head in defeat, she knew Vladimir wanted to keep things a secret, and arguing wouldn't help. "Yes my lord, I will attack Lina on your signal."
"Good, Xellos this is where you come in," Vladimir turned toward Xellos as he addressed him.
"Ok, what is my role," Xellos asked while striking a dramatic pose that earned sweatdrops from the other two mazuko.
"You are to aid Illianna by attacking Zel and I."
"WHAT!!! I am strong but not even I can take the Knight of Shabernigdo on head to head," Xellos protested.
"Don't worry, no one else knows who I am, I will be using only a fraction of my power," Vladimir assured the somewhat flabbergasted mazuko priest.
"We keep this up till Illianna has Lina trapped and looks like her life is in danger. Then Xellos, I will attack you, and we will go into the astral plane leaving only Zelgadis open. Then he will attack you Illianna, put up somewhat of a fight, but let Zel win in the end."
"Yes my lord," Illianna replied, keeping to the cover that she was a servant of Vladimir, not his lover.
"We shall begin the plan when me and Zel have our normal sparring matches. And, don't worry about Lina, its her time of the month again she will be helpless."
Xellos nodded his head slightly, "Yes, very well put together, and how convenient for Lina to have that problem during this. She must really broadcast that pretty well," Xellos commented, smirking mischievously.
"Yes, the extreme anger she broadcast is quite easy to pick up," Vladimir stated matter-of-factly, having lived through about three attacks of the accursed time.
"Now if you will excuse me I have a sparring match to attend to," Vladimir said as he bowed and phased out.
Xellos 'sat down,' as he levitated in the void of the astral plane, and turned towards Illianna, "So how's he been doing, seems you've been with him for a while?"
Illianna looked at Xellos for a second then answered, "The same as always. Scheming in one way or another."
With that Xellos and Illianna began a small conversation as they awaited their signal.
Zelgadis and Lina waited in the courtyard, waiting for Vladimir to show for the morning's spar. Lina was getting tired of waiting, she could be doing better things than this. Vladimir picked a day to be running late. As Lina somewhat fumed a thought came to her mind, You know you could help Zel prepare for the spar, Lina's face had an evil smile on it as she processed her next move. She put a hand on Zel's shoulder, and turned him around to face her. She smiled even wider when Zel's expression looked somewhat worried, she loved the effect she had on him. She leaned in close and whispered, "Good luck," as she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Zel blushed brightly after receiving his good luck kiss from the fair maiden in front of him. He quickly turned around when he heard Vladimir come into the courtyard, and to hide his blush from Lina. Zel looked at Vladimir and asked, "Where were you?"
Vladimir turned towards Zel, drew his blade and answered, "Had something I had to take care of, now how about we start?"
Zel complied by drawing his blade and beginning the match with, "Let's see if you have improved."
Zel and Vladimir clashed swords time and time again. Vladimir was going quicker than usual, unknown to Zel it was all a part of the plan, to wear the chimera's strength down. As their swords clanged one last time Vladimir sent the signal, Now!!! As they were just about to break apart an explosion sent them flying through the air. "What the hell," Zel cried as he faced his attackers.
There was Illianna, dressed in her mage robes of purple and greens, and a purple hued four armed monster that was Xellos. Illianna sent another fury of flare arrows at Zel, just to have him dodge.
Zel turned to his opponents and asked, "Who are you and what do you want?"
Illianna put one hand on her hip and said, "We have come here for the girl," as she pointed at Lina. "Our master, Fibrizo, wants her back now."
Vladimir mused over this new, unexpected event, Xellos must've thought of that one, I'm glad I brought him on.
At the mere speaking of Hellmaster's name Lina felt ill, she thought he wouldn't find her here, now it seems she was done for. She made her way behind Zelgadis as the strangers approached and pleaded in Zel's ear, "Please, don't let them take me back. Please help me."
Zel looked back at her, seeing her afraid like this made something well up inside of him, and said, "Don't worry I'm not going to let them near you."
That was mistake one, as Xellos disguised as a random monster, lunged forward and attacked Zel as specified. He clashed as Zel parried his attacks, and prepared to begin the complicated dance of battling him and Vladimir.
Vladimir rushed forward, starting his role in the plan, yelling, "Zel, I'll help you."
Xellos parried Vladimir's fake strike and shoved him back. This was going to be an interesting act indeed. Xellos went more into character and hissed out, "All we want is the girl, back down and you won't be hurt."
Zel went on the offensive, attacking the creature with every strike he could think of while yelling, "I will never let you take her back!"
Xellos continued his act of attacking Zel and Vladimir, of course its kind of easy when the latter of the combatants is giving your instructions telepathically.
As Zel combated his opponent, Lina found herself face to face with the other woman that had come to take her back. She took a defensive position and drew her dagger, in the vain hope it could be useful, but she was wrong. As she was about to charge her attacker she was knocked to the side by a flare arrow explosion. "My, Hellmaster must be really hard up if he's going this far," Lina remarked, trying to hide the fear that she felt inside.
Illianna stepped forward, playing her role perfectly, and attacked Lina with freeze arrows. As Lina dodged she said, "Give up, you are weak, you'll never beat me."
Lina glared at the woman, defiance gleaming in her eyes, and retorted, "I may be at a low point in my magic abilities, but don't count me out yet." Lina charged the woman as she landed on the ground.
Illianna phased out to dodge Lina attack. She pretty quick with that thing, she mused as she launched a disfang at her.
Lina wasn't going to fall prey to this spell again, as soon as she recovered from her attack she yelled, "Lighting!"
Illianna brought her hand up to block the bright explosion of light, and was rewarded with a stab to the stomach. She opened her eyes to be greeted by Lina ramming the dagger into her abdomen. She jumped back, instinctively grabbing the wound as it began to heal. That's enough, I have toyed with her long enough. With that Illianna chanted a spell, "Earth Shape!"
Lina gasped in shock as the earth itself came to life and attacked her. Tendrils of earth shot up, grabbing hold of her arms and legs, making her a sitting target. As she struggled with her bonds, she noticed the woman's wound was healing at a fast rate, and realized what she was up against. "So, the little brat sent a mazuko to do his dirty work, he's too afraid to do it himself," Lina stated, trying to reassure herself she didn't need to worry.
Illianna smiled cruelly as she walked up to Lina, she looked her in the eye and then said, "You know I think I will give the master something that will last longer than flesh. How about a statue of you instead." Illianna did a motion and the earth began to engulf Lina's body.
Lina let out a scream, praying someone would rescue her, as she was being change into a living statue by this spell. She started to loose grip on reality as she came closer and closer to becoming stone, as her last hope she breathed out, "Zel, please help me."
Zel turned as he thought he heard Lina crying for help, and was stricken motionless as he saw what was happening. He began to run towards her when the monster jumped in front of him. Zel brought up his sword and threatened, "If you don't get out of the way then I will kill you piece by piece."
Xellos smirked at his threat, and in his disguised voice retorted, "I don't think you can even hit me with that silly blade of yours boy."
Just then Vladimir charged Xellos and clashed blade to claw. He looked at Zel, as the fake battle of strength went on, and said, "Help Lina, I can handle this one." With that Vladimir and the monster phased out onto the astral plane.
Zel blinked for a second, not sure what just happened, but was brought back to reality by Lina's screams. He charged forward at the woman, taking her by surprise, and tackling her while yelling, "Stop it!"
Illianna took the tackle full force as she turned to see Zel. As she fell she grabbed him by the shoulders and placed her foot on his chest. When he back hit the ground she used the momentum to throw Zelgadis into the air. She kipped up as Zel landed a few yards away saying, "You'll have to do better than that boy."
Zel glanced at Lina to see that the earth had stopped, he had successfully distracted the mage from her concentration. Zel smiled as he drew his sword again stating, "Now I will make you pay."
Illianna raised an eyebrow at the boy. Is he just arrogant, or stupid, she thought as she took a defensive stance. "And, how do you plan that weak one," she asked tauntingly.
Zel brought his sword level and said, " Like this, Astral Vine!"
With that the blade began to glow red as the magic placed over it activated. Zel moved to the side a bit, expecting for the woman to compensate, when she did he took off at full demon speed. He zigzagged a bit before running at her and striking her in the shoulder.
Illianna let out a shriek of pain as the blade dug into her shoulder. She hadn't felt this in a long time, nothing was that strong, except for this young man's magic. As the pain intensified Illianna retreated into the astral plane, leaving Zel and Lina alone.
Zel ran over to Lina as the earth dropped from her body. He caught her as she began to fall. "Lina are you ok," Zel asked, worry showing in all his features.
Lina looked up at Zel and smiled. She whispered lowly, "Thanks Zel," before she fainted.
Zel collapsed to his knees, being worn down physically and mentally, holding Lina close to him. He raised his head and shouted, "Sylphiel," as he began to gain his wits. He knew that Lina would need healing and quick. After a minute he then yelled again, "Sylphiel!!"
Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.
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