Heart of Darkness

Chapter 52

Silence gathered in the room, a cloying and angry blanket that threatened to smother Mortal and Mazoku alike. It was a Bad Situation, and Jedah knew that it was up to him to smooth things over without doing further damage. Of course, the best way that he knew to do that was to do the completely and totally unexpected. So he did just that.

He turned for a moment, touching Xellos on the shoulder, looking to the Mazoku with clear blue eyes. Xellos, you know what to do if this goes wrong. Jedah’s smile was bitter, and it chilled Xellos. If Jedah was planning to do what he thought Jedah was going to do… Xellos watched as Jedah turned back to Gourry, walking over to the blonde swordsman and then falling to one knee before him, resting his arm across his bent leg, the top of his right fist flat against the floor.

Head bowed, eyes down, Jedah spoke. “Gourry Gabriev, I offer you this chance, this choice. You doubt my intentions, you doubt my sincerity. Because I am Mazoku, I am branded to be a charlatan. Therefore, I kneel before you to prove my words: I wish you and yours no injury, no misuse. I do not play these games as other Mazoku do; I have no need of such… diversions.”

If the silence had been thick before, it was even moreso now. Sylphiel watched in astonishment, almost flabbergasted at Jedah. Did she believe what she heard? It was hard not to. The young man – Mazoku kneeling before her husband could have been swearing fealty to Gourry by all appearances.

Jedah continued, aware of Sylphiel’s amazement, aware of Amelia’s shock and Naga’s curiosity, keenly aware of Gourry’s hatred… and vainly attempting to block the link he shared with Xellos, who was bordering on insane panic. “I am Jedah Greywords, son of Terim Greywords, half-brother to Rezo Greywords.” He felt the various indrawn breaths. He hadn’t even told Xellos that part, and the Trickster had never asked.

“Yes, that Rezo. The Red Priest. Our father crossed the Boundary between Mortal and Mazoku, forever cursing our bloodline,” Jedah sighed, as if he’d known that one of them would ask, regardless of who it was. It didn’t matter at this point who asked the question, they’d all have heard the answer so it was just easier to give up the information willingly. It may or may not have helped his ‘cause’ with Gourry… but he knew that the blonde swordsman would do as he would do, regardless of the facts presented. If the Sword was involved, there wasn’t much room for thinking.

Naga froze when she heard those words. Jedah had told her that he was the son of Greater Beast… and if he was half brother to Rezo the Red Priest… that meant that the youth, no, man kneeling at Gourry’s feet was… oh, dear Cepheid. He couldn’t possibly… she took two steps forwards, but Amelia put her hand out to stop her sister. “Let him continue, Naga. Let us hear the truth at last.”

Jedah winced at the chill in her voice, but he continued to talk. “I’ve done everything I can to keep you safe, I promised Zelgadis, I promised Lina… whatever I could do to protect you, I would. I have not raised hand nor magic against any one of you, I have not even so much as raised my voice.” He didn’t move, simply continued staring hard at the wooden floor, tracing the patterns in the wooden slats with his gaze.

“So, with that, Gourry, I give you this knowledge: Xellos is bound by my word. He can no longer touch any of you. My life… my existence is yours to do with as you please, without fear of retribution. General-Priest of Juuou, Xellos Metallium, you have your orders.”

He felt Xellos cringe, and he knew that there was no way that he could offer any words to the Mazoku that had been his Companion. They wouldn’t be enough, even if he did. He reached out, felt the twist of emotions flood the General-Priest and with one final gentle touch to the one he had spent so long together with, he severed the link. The pain was breathtaking, brilliant and sharp for a moment, as if he’d stabbed himself in the heart with a needle. He heard Xellos’ soft gasp of pain, but he didn’t look up, he couldn’t look up. If he looked up, it would be the end of it all. He wouldn’t be able to stay put.

Xellos staggered in his place, his eyes opening wide, the pain shooting through him without warning. He had expected Jedah to do something, had given a passing thought to the idea that Jedah might have moved to break the link between them. It had hurt a good deal more than he had expected it to. Sylphiel and Naga both looked to him, but Amelia just watched Jedah. He was a Mazoku. And he was offering his life to Gourry. She didn’t understand.

Silence fell again, and Jedah closed his eyes. He’d finally spoken the vast majority of the truth. Oh, he’d left out that one last detail, but it was trivial at this point. This close against the Sword of Light, not many had a hope of surviving, not even Hellmaster. He sensed Gourry moving, felt the magic of the Sword of Light burst into life, the brilliance of holy fire that was Golunova. So it was to be that, then.

So let it be.

The sense of the Sword rose, as if Gourry had lifted it in his hands. The sheer purity of the blade burned even from that distance, but he didn’t cry out, instead welcoming the pain. He couldn’t use it to feed, but he didn’t have to try to fight it, either. It was somehow easier to bear that way.

And then he felt it.

The Sword of Light was coming down.