Heart of Darkness

Chapter 51

As the magic faded and light returned to the room, it took a moment for Sylphiel to register what she was seeing. She saw Zelgadis standing there as he had before in the caves, long hair down past his shoulders, eyes as hard and angry as fire-lit blue diamonds glinting down at Gourry. She watched as he put the hilt of the now-extinguished Sword of Light down on the bed next to Lina with one hand, while his other held Gourry firmly by the wrist.

And still she watched, transfixed, looking on as Zelgadis glared for a moment before he spoke quietly to the startled swordsman, his voice like heavy silk. “Yes, Gourry, you’re right. I am a Mazoku. But I’m considerably more powerful, and it wouldn’t be wise to forget that.” He shoved the swordsman backwards, releasing his hold and turning back to Lina.

He’d had to pull his magic back when he shifted. He hadn’t even thought about it, it had simply happened. He’d been threatened, and if he’d been hurt, Lina would… but shifting had used his magic, done almost the same thing as if he’d been injured. She was dying, the trap-spell having regained its foothold within her.

As he bent and gathered Lina into his arms, Zelgadis shot a dark glare at Gourry, who had fallen to a seated position on the floor. Sylphiel moved to help Gourry up, and before any words could be said, Zelgadis and Lina were gone, the room still, the air strangely heavy with the aftereffect of magic spent.

Jedah picked himself up off of the floor and staggered back to the chair, amazed at the power released by Zelgadis. It had blasted away from him, tearing through the room with all the subtlety of a hurricane. He felt… younger, refreshed, as if the power that Zelgadis had released had somehow restored him, fed him even. Restored him? What about…

Xellos stood up from the chair, fully restored to himself, half turning to open his deep violet eyes and look to Jedah with his trademark half-smirk. His hair played about his shoulders, and Jedah realized that he’d taken on his alternate appearance as well, looking every inch the General-Priest of Beastmaster Zelas Metallium. “It’s a pity that Zelgadis doesn’t believe you, Jedah. The blood runs strong in him.” The emotional blast of power had done more than simply repair him, but that was something to be dealt with later.

Jedah ignored the bait in Xellos’ words, alternating between relief that the Trickster Priest was well enough to be back to himself, and furious with Gourry for his actions. He chose the latter and settled his iced blue gaze on the swordsman. “What in my Mother’s Name was that, Gourry? If that was your shining moment in the pissing contest, you just failed utterly and miserably.” He was too angry to be polite about it. By the looks of it, he shouldn’t have worried. Sylphiel wasn’t too scandalized. The little Cleric may have looked sweet and innocent, but she was pretty tough when it came down to the nitty-gritty things.

Gourry’s own anger sparked back at Jedah’s admonishing query and his back stiffened, shoulders straightening as he yanked his arm out of his wife’s grasp. He could feel the angry rush of adrenaline that replaced the stunned uncertainty that had hit when Zelgadis had pushed him down. “It’s about time that some of us started standing up to you,” Gourry began, clearly not illustrating any shred of intelligence. His sword was on the bed. If he could distract them enough to allow him to get it… he might have said more, but for the shadow falling across the open bedroom door.

Neither Jedah or Gourry were prepared for the icy cold words that issued from the woman who stalked into the room, bright blue eyes blazing. “What. Happened.” Amelia wil Tesla Saillune was a woman of formidable fury when pushed, and these were extremes that even she hadn’t seen before. Her sister decided to just stand at the door and watch the show. Amelia was in her element here, her strength of intimidation proving itself on Mortal and Mazoku alike.

Jedah looked over to Amelia, his eyes bright with a strange sort of admiration. Will you look at that, Xellos? Isn’t she amazing? The sheer power of presence that she commands… we could take lessons from her.

Xellos turned his head, looking at Jedah with a bland sort of incredulousness. He didn’t answer, as he wasn’t certain that he could do so safely. Instead, he looked back to Gourry, who was attempting to regain some of his mental footing before attempting to answer.

Jedah knew that Gourry didn’t deserve any help. The blonde swordsman had made his proverbial bed, so it was only fair to allow the mortal to sleep in it. So why was he stepping around Xellos and opening his mouth? “Ah, Amelia, sorry I’m late. I had to drag Zelgadis back to his senses, which as you can imagine, wasn’t easy.”

Gourry and Xellos stared as Amelia turned to look at Jedah. “And did it actually succeed?” Her gaze shifted to the bed, where Lina had been lying. “Where is Lina? She wasn’t awake when I left for the temple.”

“She wasn’t in any condition to get up and walk off when I left her, either,” commented Naga from the doorway. “In fact, I’m not so sure she could have rolled over, let alone gotten up. Sylphiel?” Naga looked to the Cleric for an answer. Tell me you healed her. Please, just tell me you healed her and she’s gone to the bathroom, or something equally and stupidly normal.

Sylphiel wasn’t telepathic in the least, wasn’t even capable of those sort of spells, but she could read the desperation in Naga’s eyes. “Zelgadis came… he took Lina away. I… I’m not sure she…” Sylphiel lifted her hand to her mouth and looked away as she couldn’t bring herself to say any more. She wasn’t sure that Lina had lived.

Neither, for that matter, was Jedah.