Heart of Darkness

Chapter 56

It’s your fault.

The words snapped from Zelgadis to Jedah like a bolt of lightning, a single piercing thought that cut like a knife. He turned to look to the dark sapphire eyes, and regarded the man that he still wished he could call ‘brother’ with sadness. Is it? Perhaps. I’ve been guilty of worse. So have you.

The trouble with confronting Zelgadis was that Zelgadis was completely unpredictable. He’d brought Lina back, sure, but he could easily turn on any one of them in less time than it would take to realize it. Jedah knew that he had to provoke Zelgadis enough to break the old habitual shell of solitude that the shaman often retreated into… but not tear it away so that Zelgadis felt that he had to go on the offensive to protect himself. It was a very delicate business.

So he let it go, dropped the black-clad figure’s gaze and turned back again to look across to the three girls trying to heal the sorceress. Brilliant blue eyes lifted for a moment, the blonde swordsman looking across to the Mazoku before his face tightened and he looked back to his wife. Jedah knew that Gourry might never forgive him for being more than just the bright-eyed and eager little brother of his friend, and to a point, Jedah wasn’t certain that he shouldn’t be angry with himself as well. After all, he’d failed Zelgadis in that, too.

He cast a glance back at Zelgadis. “They live such brilliant lives. It’s no wonder why we fall in love with them so easily.” Jedah was old enough to have been in love with a Mortal several times over. He’d only been so once, however, and he had made a choice that Zelgadis hadn’t been able to.

Zelgadis said nothing, simply watching the group that was working so hard to save Lina’s life. He’d cast that spell against Jedah and she’d walked into it. Jedah was the one who had been the reason for all of this. Why should he keep counsel with him? His power darkened another step, rippling underneath his calm exterior like the dangerous undertow of the ocean.

Jedah felt the darkening, and turned to look fully at the other and shook his head. “Zel, this isn’t necessary. You aren’t a mindless minion; you don’t have to use your powers to make a point.” He was afraid that he knew what he’d have to do, and he wasn’t sure that it would work. He could show Zelgadis, truly show him what being a Greater Mazoku was. After all, Jedah had had the advantage of knowing who and what he was from the beginning. Zelgadis had thought he was cursed.

He walked around the small group, reaching out to catch Sylphiel as she faltered, holding her until Gourry could take the slight Cleric and support her weight. He’d known that she was going to fall, and it had only seemed natural that he move to catch her. He’d been playing the human for far too long, he thought.

Sylphiel was exhausted. She’d been trying to heal Lina for part of the night, and on into the morning hours now, and she just couldn’t cast anything more, couldn’t even think about it. She leaned against Gourry and watched Naga and Amelia as they continued to try to save Lina’s life, but it seemed that no matter what they tried to cast, it wasn’t strong enough to break past Lina’s natural and instinctive barriers. She sank to the floor, pulling Gourry down with her.

Lina was fading away, and there didn’t seem to be anything that they could do about it. Naga was preparing to cast another spell when Amelia’s hand reached out, staying her sister.

Lina’s breathing had stopped.

It happened so fast, none of them saw it. Jedah flashed over Sylphiel and Lina, shoving into Zelgadis, fire and fury in his crystal blue eyes. They shot backwards, Jedah pinning Zelgadis against the far wall, a brilliant anger tangible to all. “You idiot. You pea-brained, half-witted moron! Don’t you get it yet? You’re one of the most powerful beings in this World, and you refuse to see it, and now you’ve lost her!”

Amelia blinked. Naga’s mouth fell open. They hadn’t thought Jedah would react to Lina’s death. Gourry knelt beside Sylphiel, disinterested in the Mazoku. He’d decided earlier that they just weren’t worth his time unless they were threatening those he loved or the world at large. Political infighting between Mazoku wasn’t ground he wanted to discover.

A white gloved finger reached out and tapped Naga’s chin, prompting her to close her mouth. “This fight isn’t for you,” Xellos shook his head. “Take them and go.” Violet eyes looked to Gourry. “There is more than simply one life at risk now. Get them out of here.”

But Sylphiel wasn’t leaving without Lina. Gourry moved to assist Sylphiel, picking up the pale and still figure, and though Naga wasn’t the handiest with most magic, she’d do whatever she could to help get them all to safety, and then they could figure out what was to be done. What she opted to do, however, was take charge and lead them out of the room. Her sister was heading into shock, but she had to get them to safety. And even then, she wouldn’t be able to react. Not yet. And maybe not later.

Xellos nodded to himself, turning to look towards Jedah and Zelgadis. This could be critical, but Xellos wasn’t allowed to interfere. He couldn’t. He wasn’t in the same power base as those two. He wasn’t entirely sure that Jedah could match Zelgadis for power, for the once-chimera had grown alarmingly powerful since he’d been taken by Cassandra and Kessary. He pondered. It was time for him to do some investigating. None of the room’s occupants noticed the Trickster Priest vanish. They were too wrapped up in their own concerns.

As Gourry stepped out of the room, his charge in his arms, Sylphiel and Amelia followed in absolute silence. Naga, however, turned, casting a cold glare across the room. It took all of thirty seconds for her to decide her next action, and she closed the door behind Amelia, locking herself in with the Mazoku.