Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Slayers franchise, and am making no money from this fic. I am simply doing this for fun.

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"Damn it, Zel, wait up!" Putting on a burst of speed, Lina finally succeeded in grabbing a hold of the chimera's cloak as Zelgadis swiftly stormed through the numerous crushed and charred bodies of bandits that had gotten caught in the paths of his spells. She gave it a sharp tug to emphasize her point. "Will you just wait a second?"

Zelgadis rounded on Lina--his blue eyes dark with fury. "Wait?" he snarled. "Every moment that we wait is a moment that Rii could be suffering in some way!"

"Mister, Zelgadis, we understand your distress and worry, but you have to calm down," Amelia pleaded. "You're not going to help Rii this way."

"Besides," Gourry said as he stepped over a still-twitching corpse. "We don't even know where to start looking."

"Exactly," Lina said as she pulled the map out and held it up so Zelgadis could see. "We can't keep rushing around randomly like this. This place is a verifiable maze filled with bandits and traps ready to spring on those who've never been in here before."

"Besides," Amelia added as she picked her way carefully through all the destruction. "Rii and Nell might get blown up in the midst of all the spells you're throwing around, Mister Zelgadis."

"Or you could bring the whole mountain down on us," Lina added.

"If I may," Xellos said. "I could focus on Nell and take us directly to where she and Rii are. No doubt the two of them are together wherever they are."

"Why didn't you do that before?!" Zelgadis snapped.

Though Xellos smiled at the chimera, there was no humor behind it. "You didn't give me much of a chance, now did you?" he asked dryly.

"You guys, stop it!" Lina and Amelia cried together.

"This isn't getting us anywhere," Amelia said.

"Alright, Xellos," Lina said as she turned to the trickster priest. "Do your thing."

Xellos nodded. "Everyone hang on tight."


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...Inner-most keep of the lair...

Nell and Rii were thrown roughly to the floor, and they both winced in pain as their shoulders and hips made contact with the hard, cold, stone floor of the lair. Small, pained whimpers managed to slip out from around the gags.

"Easy, there boys," a charming and slightly slurred voice reprimanded. "No need to damage the plunder."

Though she still wore the hood the bandits had placed over her head on the way to the lair, Rii recognized her father's voice instantly and inched her way as best she could across the floor so she could close the distance between Nell and herself--trying to both give and receive whatever comfort she could by the simple act of closeness.

"So," the voice began. "What is it that you brought me?"

"Two young and pretty lasses, boss," one of the bandits answered.

"Aye, Gento. We're thinkin' you'll be pleased with these girls."

"Well, let's have a look then, shall we?"

When she heard footsteps approach and stop beside her, Nell tried to shrink in on herself but to no avail. She was raised to a kneeling position and her hood was lifted from her head, allowing her blond tresses to spill out around her face and shoulders. She blinked several times in order to adjust her eyes to the sudden light, and allowed herself the chance to take in the sight of Gento.

In a word, he was handsome.

His long, dark brown hair was long and tied back by a thin strap of leather. His features were fine, chiseled and very masculine, and his coffee colored eyes glistened beneath long, black lashes.

And his breath reeked of alcohol!

"Oh, she's very lovely, lads...but a bit too developed for my tastes," Gento said as he allowed his gaze to slowly rove over Nell's breasts.

Nell did not know if she should have felt offended or relieved by Gento's words, but she did not have much time to dwell on the subject as she was suddenly lifted to her feet and tossed backwards to the group of waiting men. Her eyes widened with horror and her scream was stifled by the gag as she felt several pairs of strange hands roughly caressing and fondling her. As though that were not bad enough, Nell could hear Nellistras whispering to her...telling her to use her powers.

"Have fun with her, lads," Gento said with a leer as he waved the group of men off with their 'prize'. "Enjoy yourselves while I inspect this other fine specimen." Crouching down in front of the other prostrate girl, Gento pulled her to her knees and pulled off the hood--his eyes widening in recognition. "Rii?"

It was at that moment that Xellos phased himself and his companions into the room, taking care to keep them all in the shadows so they could better assess the situation. He immediately snarled as he watched a struggling Nell get dragged roughly from the room. "The three of you will excuse me while I attend to a rather pressing matter," he bit out as he phased out.

Meanwhile, trembling in fear, Rii tried to make herself as small as possible, all the while her mind racing to think of a way to get both Nell and herself out of their current situation. "H...hello, daddy," she said nervously once the gag had been removed from her mouth.

"So I'm guessing that's Rii's dad," Gourry muttered as he carefully peered out from around a pillar. "He is so not what I expected."

Lina's eyes widened when she saw Gento. "You're telling me that he's the bandit leader? No way! Rii's dad looks more like a prince than that giant dwarf, Philionel ever could!"

"Hey!" Amelia hissed indignantly. "I wish you wouldn't say things like that about my father, Miss Lina!"

"What?" Lina said with a shrug and an innocent blink. "It's true."

Still hidden behind her pillar, Amelia put her hands on her hips and indignantly glared at her friend. "That's no excuse. It's still a mean thing to say."

"Quiet, the both of you!" Zelgadis hissed. "We have bigger things to worry about that Lina pointing out the truth about your dad, Amelia."

"Yeah, guys, you can fight about this later," Gourry whispered. "But now we've got to rescue our friends."

Unaware of the strangers in the room, Gento sneered at his daughter. "You've been a very naughty girl, Rii...running away like that. You caused me a great deal of trouble. Do you know how many of my men I had to kill in order to show the men that I was still in control despite not being able to control my own daughter?" There was an angry growl to his voice, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure I should untie you. Maybe I should throw you in the pit and give you time to think about all the embarrassment and humiliation you've caused me."


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...Storage room...

The moment her legs were unbound, Nell was on her feet and facing the gang of men closing in on her. Her hands were still bound, and her mouth was still gagged, but she could worry about that later. As she made sure to keep herself facing her captors, Nell struggled to stay calm all the while struggling to keep herself from using her powers.

"Looks like we got a fighter here, boys."

"Yeah...she'll be loads a fun."

Nell narrowed her eyes and growled. She would die before she let any of these drunk ruffians lay a hand on her.

"Oooo...lookit those eyes," One of the bandits slurred. "She's furious."

"Good..." another bandit said

As the bandits closed further in on her, Nell could feel her power roiling within her--demanding to be released, and she knew she would not be able to hold back. Then one of the bandits grabbed her. Nell's eyes glowed and within a moment, the bandit fell to the floor dead.

"S...she killed 'im!"

"The little bitch killed Tor!"

"Kill 'er!"

Before the remaining bandits could make any sort of move, they were all thrown back by an invisible force. Xellos materialized less than a moment later and stood protectively in front of Nell. "That is where you are mistaken." His voice was calm, but it dripped with malice. "You see, none of you are going to be laying a finger upon my mistress ever again."

"What the Hell?!"

Xellos chuckled, but it was cold and sadistic. "You have no idea just how right you are." With a wave of his hand, he caused the drunkards to erupt into flames. His smile simply widened at the agonized screams of pain, and he absorbed all the pain and anguish that hung thickly in the air like a quilt. Once the men had been reduced to piles of ashes, he turned to face Nell, his expression softening immediately. "You certainly have a knack for trouble, don't you?" he asked playfully as he removed the gag from the blonde's mouth.

The moment her mouth was free, Nell threw her bound hands around Xellos' neck and kissed him for all she was worth.

Xellos responded in kind by wrapping his arms tightly around Nell's slim frame and deepening the kiss as he vanished away the ropes around Nell's elegant wrists.

"Oh, Xellos my love...my hero," Nell murmured against her lover's lips before kissing him again...her fingers tangling into his hair.

Xellos purred softly into the kiss and moved his tongue against Nell's in a slow, languid caress as he pressed her firmly between the wall and himself, as though trying to confirm that she was safe and unharmed. He was in no hurry to get back to the others just now. Lina and the others would be just fine without them for a few moments...


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...Inner-most keep...

Rii's eyes widened in terror as her father's words sank in. The pit? That would not do at all! Redemption. Redemption in the eyes of her father was the key to saving Nell and getting them both out of there. As she spurted out the one thing that came to her mind, Rii prayed that she would not be too late. "But daddy, I wasn't running away, really! I...I was off on a secret mission to try and secure your position as most feared and powerful bandit."

Gento raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Where you now? And just what, pray-tell, was this 'secret' mission?"

Rii gulped. "Getting Lina Inverse, the most infamous bandit-killer to trust me."

"And how does this help me?" Gento asked.

"I can lure her and her friends into a trap, then you and your men can get the jump on them," Rii hurriedly said.

A slow smile slowly spread over Gento's face. "My, my...you are clever, aren't you?" He began untying Rii's wrists and legs. "I think you have earned the right to be untied now."

"Thank you, daddy."

From their hiding spots, Lina and the others had heard every word, and none of them could believe what they had just heard.

"What?" Gourry's eyes were wide in shock as Rii's words echoed through his mind.

"No way..." Lina breathed in disbelief.

"No...it can't be true," Amelia denied softly before turning her eyes to Zelgadis. "Oh, Mister Zelgadis...it can't be true. I'm sure it's not. She was our friend. She is out friend...she wouldn't just turn on us..." She did not know if she was trying to convince her chimera friend or herself, but either way, the princess could see the internal battle ensuing within her friend.

Zelgadis could not believe what he had just heard. As he stared at the small thief from his place in the shadows, his mind played through all the memories the two of them had been forming together.

It had all been a lie.

Rii's tender words...her loving actions and attentions...they had all been so she could get close to Lina. Zelgadis hated being used as a pawn, but in this instance it stung all that much more bitterly. After years of being hard-hearted, he had finally begun opening his heart to someone. He had made himself vulnerable, and for what? To be played like a fiddle? His body began trembling with rage and tears stung his eyes. Not since Rezo had turned him into a chimera had Zelgadis felt so completely and utterly betrayed; and the fact that he had let it happen made it hurt all the more. "She lied to me..." his voice was barely above a whisper.

Amelia gently gripped Zelgadis' arm. "Oh, Mister Zelgadis..." She wished more than anything that there was a way for her to make her heart-broken friend feel better.

"If she thinks to spring a trap on me, she's got another thing coming," Lina growled. "I say we wait for Xellos to come back with Nell and then make a quick exit...and then i can't the Dragon Slave on the whole place."

"Hold it, Lina...are you serious?" Gourry asked.

"No one betrays me and gets away with it," Lina said. "And besides," she said as she glanced at Zegadis. "She toyed with one of my friends...and I can't forgive that."

"Neither can I," Amelia said as her small frame trembled with anger. "Rii and her father are evil and scum. They deserve to be punished for all that they've done."

It was then that Gento lifted Rii up by the back of her shirt. "My daughter seems to have found the time to both redeem herself and return to us." There were drunken jeers in her direction. "That's right, boys! Feast your eyes upon her beauty!"

Rii swung around wildly as she attempted to free herself from her father's grasp. "Daddy! They can see down my shirt!" She was on the verge of tears, and her face was red with humiliation as a result of the lecherous stares accompanied by whistles and catcalls. "Sickos! Pervs! Put me down!" She tried to cover herself as best she could as she continued trying to free herself.

Despite the overwhelming betrayal he felt, Zelgadis could not deafen his ears to Rii's cries of distress. No matter what the situation, no woman deserved to be treated in such a way...especially when the woman was his own...had been his own. His frame shook with rage, and he could not stop himself from bursting from his hiding spot. "Source of all power, crimson fire burning bright, gather in my hand and become an inferno! BURST FLARE!"

All the bandits who had been jeering Rii and getting an eyeful of her 'goods' were suddenly engulfed in flame and completely vaporized by the power that had been behind the chimera's spell.

"ZEL!" Rii's entire face lit up at the sight of her beloved chimera.

"What in the nine Hells?" In his shock, Gento dropped Rii unceremoniously.

Lina groaned. "So much for my plan," she grumbled as she stepped out from behind her pillar. "I don't even know why I bother coming up with them...no one listens to me lately."

"Not true," Gourry said as he stepped up beside Lina. "I listen to you," he said with a smile.

Lina grinned up at the handsome swordsman. "Well, at least that's one person," she said with a wink.

"I listen too," Amelia chirped.

"Okay, make that two," Lina said with a growing grin.

Rii jumped to her feet and sprinted towards Zelgadis, throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh, Zelgadis! You came for me!"

Zelgadis started to wrap his arms around the small thief but thought better of it and pushed her away instead. "Stay away from me."

Rii's eyes were wide in confusion. "But Zel..."

"I heard everything," the chimera spat out bitterly. "You used me to get to Lina, you little whore. I don't even know why I saved you in the first place."

Gento turned his gaze to the small red head. "Ah, so this is Lina Inverse, is it?" he asked as he took a few steps closer.

Tears welled up in Rii's large eyes as a result of Zelgadis' harsh words. "You're wrong!" She cried with a stamp of her foot. "I only said those things to get back into my father's good graces so I could save Nell and get the both of us out of here!"

"Oh, thanks for that, Rii," Nell said as she and Xellos phased in.

"What?!" Gento snapped.

"Huh..."Lina mused. "Good thing Zel didn't go with my plan then," she said with a sheepish smile.

Ignoring her father's outcry and Lina's, Rii brought her hands up to Zelgadis' face and framed it gently. "Everything I ever told you was true. Everything we did...it was real. Every word I uttered, every touch, every caress...I meant it all." She ignored everything and everyone else in the room except for Zelgadis. Nothing and no one else mattered at that moment.

"R...really?" Zelgadis asked uncertainly.

"Yes," Rii said with a sweet smile.

Zelgadis hung his head ashamedly. "Oh, Rii...I'm so sorry," he said softly. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Rii responded by throwing her arms around Zelgadis' neck and kissing him soundly on the lips. "Does that answer your question?" she asked with a smile after breaking the kiss.

Zelgadis responded by crushing the small thief to him and claiming her lips in a deep kiss as he tangled one hand into her luxurious tresses.

"Oh, I see what's going on here," Gento said as he watched his daughter and the chimera. "You took my daughter's innocence. Well, good on ya! She needed to get laid...she was always so uptight."

Zelgadis growled and in one smooth motion, broke the kiss, put Rii behind him and drew his sword--pointing it at Gento. "Don't you ever talk about Rii that way!"

The bandit leader sneered. "She's my daughter, I'll talk about her anyway I damn well please."

"You are no father of hers," Zelgadis snarled. "A father wouldn't treat his daughter the way you treat Rii."

Behind her lover, Rii blushed--truly touched by having Zelgadis defend her. "Oh, Zel," she said with a smile.

"Mister Zelgadis is right!" Amelia exclaimed as she struck a heroic pose. "How you have treated your daughter is most evil and will not be tolerated. In the name of justice, we shall punish you!"

"Just what are you, anyway?" Gento asked as he tilted his head to the side while he regarded Zelgadis--completely ignoring Amelia.

"Hey...he's ignoring me," Amelia whined.

"There, there, Amelia," Nell said as she gently patted her friend on the back.

Zelgadis narrowed his eyes. "I am the man who will cut you in half if you so much as lay a finger on Rii."

"I'd listen to him if I were you, pops," Lina said. "Zel here doesn't make idle threats."

It was then that Gento got a really good eyeful of Lina, and he shot his daughter an appreciative smile before turning his gaze fully back to the red head. He did not notice Rii's soft groan in response to the lecherous look she knew only too well. "Now that's more like it," he said as he swept his gaze slowly over Lina's underdeveloped form. "Rii...Daddy's gonna get you a new mommy."

The color drained from Rii's face and she looked ill. "I doubt she's your type. She's too aggressive..."

"Oh, I love girls with spirit...makes things interesting."

Lina's right eye twitched in annoyance and she stomped her foot. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here!"

"Stop talking about her like that, period!" Gourry snarled as he drew his sword and pointed it at Gento the way Zelgadis was still doing.

Lina could not stop the fluttering of her heart. Having Gourry jump to 'defend her honor' was more than just a little thrilling. "Yeah, just what he said!" she exclaimed as she pointed to Gourry. "Thanks, but no thanks, you old pervert! Nothing you say or do is going to make me even think about--"

Gento grinned. "If you become my woman, all my gold and precious jewels will become yours."

"So when's the wedding?" Lina asked excitedly.

Gourry, Zelgadis, Amelia, Nell, Xellos and Rii all fell promptly over.

"Miss Lina!" Amelia protested.

"You must be joking!" Rii and Zelgadis said together.

"Hold on, Lina, are you serious?!" Gourry asked incredulously.

"Offer Lina something shiny and she'll do anything, it would seem," Xellos mused with a soft chuckle.

Rii jumped to her feet. "Lina, what's the matter with you?! Are you completely insane?!"

Lina wrapped an arm around the small thief and smiled. "Don't talk to your loving mother like that, Rii dear."

Rii winced under Lina's tight grip. "Loving mother is breaking my arm," she whined.

"Oh, hush," Lina replied. "Besides, can you guys really blame me? I mean look at him," she said as she pointed towards Gento. "He's gorgeous! I would have him pegged as a crowned prince long before your dad, Amelia."

Amelia stomped her foot indignantly. "Miss Lina!"

"Huh?" Rii asked.

"I don't get it," Nell said.

"Amelia's dad," Lina clarified. "Prince Philionel...he looks like an overgrown dwarf."

"Oh," Nell and Rii said together.

"Miss Lina, stop it!" Amelia hopped up and down. "Don't listen to her, guys," she pleaded with Nell and Rii. "You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover!"

"So you admit it's true?" Lina asked with a wry grin and a raised eyebrow.

Rendered speechless by this, Amelia simply groaned softly and palmed her face.

Laughing, Gento held out a hand to Lina. "Come my lovely. Tonight, you wil be my bride."

"Lina," Gourry said as he gently but firmly gripped the red head's arm. "Lina, please...don't," he begged.

Lina smiled and let go of Rii before jumping up and wrapping her arms around Gourry's neck--secure in the knowledge that despite being far off the ground that she was in no danger of being dropped. "If you honestly can't tell by now when I'm kidding, then I think we've got a serious problem," she said with a wink before pressing her lips to Gourry's.

Smiling into the kiss, Gourry wrapped his free arm around Lina's slim body and held her close. His heart felt like it could fly!

"Awwwwww!" Amelia hopped excitedly on the balls of her feet and her smile was giant.

"Finally," Zelgadis said softly with a small grin.

Xellos chuckled softly. "Hopefully they'll remember this one."

"Huh?" Nell asked.

"I'll explain later," Xellos replied with a smile.

"You whore!" Gento yelled in rage.

Breaking the kiss, Lina turned her head over her shoulder and was about to give the bandit leader a piece of her mind, but soon found herself deposited on the floor behind Gourry.

"Don't you ever talk about Lina like that!" Gourry snarled.

"Yeah!" Nell, Amelia and Rii exclaimed in agreement.

Gento rounded on his daughter. "And you! You're as bad as she is! You're not good enough to follow in my footsteps. The only thing you're good for is being passed around by my men."

Rii looked as though she had just been slapped.

"HEY!" Lina and Amelia cried.

"Listen here, you--" Nell began with her eyes narrowed.

Zelgadis snarled and bore his teeth. "I will not permit you to talk to her that way!"

"Standing up for you whore, are you?" Gento taunted with a sneer. "Made a big investment in her, have you?" He turned to Gourry. "Oh, I do hope you enjoy that little red head. There's nothing quite like girls who have yet tp be plucked." He turned back to Zelgadis. "Speaking of which, just how much did you have to pay Rii to get her into your bed, you freak of nature?"

With roars of rage, both Gourry and Zelgadis rushed forward and drove their swords deep into Gento's heart and stomach before he could so much as draw his own sword. The bandit lord coughed up a fountain of blood before crumpling to the floor.

Rii's eyes widened in shocked horror. "Daddy!" she screamed--rushing to his side and dropping to her knees beside him. "Daddy, don't die...please!"

Despite the fatal wounds in both his chest and his stomach, Gento chuckled at his daughter's expression. "You worry for me now? Even after...all the things I've...said and done?"

"Of course I do," Rii answered as tears welled in her eyes. "In spite of everything...you're still my father."

"How...foolish. That's...that's why.....you could.....never follow in my footsteps." Gento's eyes fluttered closed. "If only I had...had a son..."

Rii's eyes widened. "But...." She held his hand to her face.

"You are...too compassionate...you...idiot girl..." Gento managed one more rattling breath before his body went limp.

"Daddy?" Rii asked meekly. When she was answered only by silence, she bowed her head over her father and wept--her tears mixing with her father's blood as they rolled down her cheeks and splattered on the floor.

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