Author:  LN Tora
Title:  Hibernal Heart

Hibernal Heart

For all disclaimers/warnings, please see the first chapter.

part 7: discovery

[Despair]  [Misunderstood]  [Reflections]  [Dreamscape]  [Violence]  [Severance]  [Discovery]  [Destiny]

Around a table in a corner of a restaurant sat an unusually sombre group. The one taken from their midst weighed heavily on their shoulders. With no other leads, Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Xelloss were planning their next move, though Gourry was mainly silent as he sat and watched the others throw ideas back and forth.

This is taking too long. This Mo`re person could be doing gods know what to Zel! But what would he want with Zelgadis, anyway? If he wanted power, it seems like he would have gone after Lina instead, unless Zel is just bait to get the rest of us. But it wouldn't explain the attack if that were the case. No, it was Zel he wanted, but why? It's something about Zelgadis that he wants, something we don't know about. And Zel is so closed up about everything, I can't even guess what it could be. I wonder if Zel even knows what it is or not. Damn it all, this is making my head hurt. I just want to get Zel back and have everything normal again. Is that too much to ask?

To his left, Lina and Amelia were busy coming up with possible attack plans. On Gourry's right, Xelloss was equally busy with shooting said plans down. After the umpteenth strategy was gutted for its glaring imperfections, the diminutive sorceress banged the table in frustration.

"I don't get you, Xelloss! Everything we've come up with so far you've been blowing holes into! I thought you said you were going to help!"

"I am helping," he replied. "Going in with a half-cocked plan won't save Zelgadis, which is what you want to do, right?"

Lina faltered. "Well, yeah, but--"

The Trickster Priest wagged his finger. "No buts. All the plans you've come up with so far would just get us killed, at best."

Amelia slumped forward on the table, ten seconds away from an all out bawl fest. "Then, what do we do? What can we do?"

"Well," said Xelloss, "it would help if we knew why Mo`re wanted Zelgadis. Does anyone have an idea for that?"

Amelia pounded the table. "Mo`re is evil! He doesn't need a reason! He's cruel and wicked and must be brought to justice!"

Oh brother, if it were only that simple, thought Gourry. He glanced over at Lina, her expression clear that she was thinking the same thing. Tell me again, where did we find this kid? the swordsman wondered.

Xelloss shook his head, cutting off Amelia's justice-loving rant. "Actually, no one knows if Mo`re is evil. A dark and malignant nature is assumed to be the case because of Shabranigdo and Ceiphied. However, it has yet to be proven just what his motives are for any given time. The only thing I'm sure of is that Mo`re never does anything without a reason. What the reason is, well that's a different story. But he wouldn't have taken Zel without cause."

Much as she hated to admit it, Xelloss made sense. Realising that the blond hadn't offered any words for a while, Lina turned to see what the deal was. "You've been awfully quiet, Gourry."

With good reason, he mused, but kept this to himself. Instead he replied, "Well, you're always telling me to shut up and do what you say."

The sorceress has the good grace to look chagrined, slightly. "Yeah, well, since we keep hitting walls, maybe you have an idea we can actually use."

You must be desperate. So am I in truth, so I won't argue this time. Gourry took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts and himself as best he could. "Well, it seems to me that Zelgadis might have something this Mory--"

"Mo`re," Lina said.

"Whatever." Gourry waved a dismissive hand. "What if he snatched Zel because there was something he wanted? Something only Zel might have?"

It was Xelloss who spoke up first, seeing the logic to Gourry's theory. "It sounds entirely plausible," he said. "It would certainly explain why he's spent so much effort on acquiring Zelgadis in the first place."

The princess was confused. "But what could Mister Zelgadis have that someone like Mo`re would want so badly?"

"Power?" asked Xelloss?

Gourry considered that for a moment. "But if that's the case," he wondered, "why not take Lina instead?"

"Gee, thanks, Gourry," she growled.

That hadn't come out right. Gourry held his hands up. "I didn't mean it like that--"

Lina ignored him, deciding she could fireball him later. "Okay, so let's say it's true and Zel has something Mo`re wants. The question is, does Zel even know what it is? If he doesn't, he could be in serious trouble. If he does, then we need to find out what it is, too."

Amelia agreed. "You're right, Miss Lina. But, how do we find out?"

That slowed the sorceress up. She glared at the table as though it might have an answer. After a moment, her hand slapped the surface, startling the others. "I remember Zel talking about his home, and I think it's not too far from here. It's as good a place as any to start looking for clues."

That will take too long. Gourry was about to protest when Xelloss spoke up first.

"Why don't you and Amelia go to his house, while Gourry and I scout ahead. Now that I know who we're dealing with, I believe I can find him, but we'll need to know the area before we can try and get Zelgadis back."

"Good idea." Lina stood up, her bossy nature back on the surface. "Gourry, you're with Xelloss. Amelia, you're with me. Let's get a move on!" She grabbed the young Seyruun princess and promptly dragged her out the door. With the girls away, Gourry dropped all pretences and favoured the priest with a cool gaze.

"You know where Mo`re is?" This sounded more a statement than a question. Xelloss answered anyway.

"Not exactly. As with the rogues, I have a general sense of where to go. It will become more exact the closer we get."

The swordsman stood up. "Then we should get going."

"Gourry."

He turned, looking back at the Mazoku. Gourry had to blink, because the Xelloss actually appeared to be nervous. "What is it?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Huh? Gourry stared at him. "What do you mean why? Zel is our friend. We have to help him."

Xelloss shook his head. "You misunderstand me. I know why you're doing it, but why are you doing this?"

Gourry stilled for a minute before it dawned on him as to what Xelloss was asking. Not ready to admit anything to the priest, and secretly wondering the same thing, he replied, "Probably for the same reason as you, I'd bet."

"Fair enough. Shall we go?" Xelloss walked outside, leaving Gourry to ponder for a second before following after him.

Mo`re was troubled. He had the staff of Oberon, and now he had the creature who held the power of Ra Lagora. Unfortunately, he didn't quite know how to get it.

Delays. Always delays.

He toyed with the notion of just killing the chimera to release the energy that way. But it wasn't a practical idea. If he couldn't control it, he would lose the only person who could reproduce the spell.

No, killing wasn't an option.

Well then, what's an indrani to do? Mo`re looked over at the chimera. Zelgadis was still asleep; Mo`re felt it would be best to keep him in that state. But he'd have to feed the chimera soon. And Zelgadis himself might know something, even if he didn't know about the Ra Lagora.

Hmm, the Ra Lagora is a high energy spiritual spell. Which means Zel would need to put out an enormous amount of energy to reach it. He gets close when he casts the Ra Tilt, but it's not enough. I need something stronger than a Ra Tilt, but it might kill him, unless I use my own energy. But how?

Zel whimpered in his sleep. Mo`re idly checked his dreamscape, expecting to find and remove yet another nightmare. However, what he saw could hardly be classified as a nightmare.

So, you want the swordsman? And you think he doesn't want you because of your looks? How positively naive of you, and rather charming as well. You don't even know that he returns your feelings already. Ah, humans are so cute with their repressed feelings. Repressed, hmm. Maybe I can use that.

Mo`re slipped completely into Zel's dream, intent on getting the Ra Lagora one way or another.

Zelgadis laid bare and free on a bed. He was enjoying a peaceful rest, spooned back-to-chest in Gourry's arms, who was equally nude. They'd just made love for the first time, leaving Zel tired but very content. Though a part of him knew it was a dream, he didn't care. All that mattered at the moment was being with Gourry, if only in his mind.

A light breeze flowing through an open window suddenly stopped. Given that it was Zel's dream, there shouldn't have been any changes to the halcyon scene. The lack of wind gave a peculiar feel to his sleeping world. Troubled, Zel turned until he faced his dream-kept lover.

"Gourry? Are you okay?"

The blond groaned and shifted, his eyes still closed. "Of course I am. Why? Something wrong?"

Zel sat up, folding his legs under. "I don't know. The air seems--odd somehow. It's almost like everything has stopped. I'm worried--"

Gourry's lashes fluttered. Instead of the deep blue as Zel expected, he found green cat eyes staring back at him. The chimera scurried to the edge of the bed, shocked at the unwarranted change.

"G-Gourry?"

A strange laugh echoed throughout the room. Gourry began crawling toward the frightened chimera, those alien eyes glowing softly.

"Of course it's me, Zel. I'm the one you desire, after all. Isn't that why you dreamed about me? So here I am, all for you. No reason to be shy, especially now."

Zel tried to scoot off the bed, but found himself entangled in the sheets. Startled, he watched as Gourry continued approaching him.

"Why so afraid, Zelgadis. It's almost as if you've never done this before."

Zel wanted to point out that they had just 'done it'. But a small voice reminded him that it was still a dream, and he had no experience far as reality was concerned, at least before that horrifying assault.

And how could he have been anything but a virgin before? Who would bed with a monster such as him? Zel couldn't hide the blush burning across his face. He turned away as Gourry leaned in closer.

"Oh, shame. You really haven't lain with another, have you? Not willingly. No wonder that attack was so terrible for you." A hand reached out to cup Zel's cheek, the chimera unconsciously moving toward the touch despite his growing anxiety. “You must have felt that I wouldn't want you afterwards. That you were damaged, flawed. Is that it, Zelgadis?"

He was too close. Gourry was just too close. Zel closed his eyes, his mind cloudy and uncertain. His breath grew ragged from the heat rolling off of his lover. Zel was finding it hard to concentrate as he answered. "Y-yes . . . "

Gourry smiled before pulling Zelgadis close enough to press his body to the shaman. Zel gasped as Gourry's harden flesh was ground against him, the heat shooting through his veins. The blond had never been so forward in any of Zel's fantasies, and it started to unnerve him. He tried to pull away, but Gourry was somehow holding him perfectly still. Zel moaned, his own arousal becoming apparent as bare flesh rubbed against sensitive stone.

"See, I still want you, and you want me," Gourry murmured. "There's no need to be shy. Isn't this what you've been secretly wishing for? Someone to hold you."

Gourry lowered his head, his lips brushing along Zel's ear.

"Someone to touch you."

Gourry's hand slid down the blue skin, circling the various small rocks embedded in his flesh. Zel closed his eyes, shivering under the whispered dance of fingers. The sensations nearly drowned him in a sea of warmth.

"Someone to kiss you."

A small whimper caught in the chimera's throat. Gourry kissed Zel's closed lids, running his lips down his throat, teeth grazing across his stone. Zel groaned, melting against the taller man, his face pressing into Gourry's neck.

"Someone to set your soul aflame."

A rough push sent Zelgadis falling back down on the bed. He gasped when he felt Gourry pushing his legs apart. Memories from others doing the same gave him a panic attack, causing him to struggle and flail. Gourry stroked his hair, sounds of comfort chanted in the still air to calm his terrified lover.

"It's okay, it's me. Hush now, it's okay. They're gone. No one will hurt you again. It's all right, Zelgadis, it's al right."

Gourry's soothing voice slowly penetrated the haze in his mind. Zel settled down, feeling a bit sheepish as he looked up at Gourry. "I-I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Zel. I understand." Gourry ran a hand through the wire hair. "But I mean it when I say I want you. I've always wanted you, since I first knew of your existence. You have been the focus of my thoughts since I came to this realm. You haunted me even before I knew it was you. I felt you though the planes, calling out to me. But I will finally have you, in ways you've only dreamed of, little chimera."

Now he knew something was wrong. Struggling past the confusion clouding his reason, Zel stared up at the green-slit eyes. Several questions formed on his lips, but he only gave voice to one.

"Who are you?"

The blond smiled at him. "Does it matter who I am? Everything I said was true. I have wanted you for centuries. I've wanted what you possessed. When I met you, I found I wanted to possess you as well. But I can't. Not the way I'd like to. So I'll have to settle for what I can get. Is it so important to know who I am, when I want you the way you've always wished to be desired?"

The confusion grew. His words were surrounding the shaman in a fog of sweetness and longing. Zel tried to shake it off as the man pressed their bodies closer together.

"It's--I--need to know." Zel struggled to get his point across. He was on the edge of dedition, but he had to know who was he submitting to.

The man sighed. "If you simply must. I just thought you'd enjoy this more if I were in his form. Still, I must admit that I'd rather have you awake anyway."

What the-- The room changed. Zel groggily realised that he must be waking up. Still, his head refused to clear completely. He glanced up, finding the same green eyes, but set in a different face. This one more angelic, familiar for a different reason.

"Mo`re? Wh-why?"

"Why indeed? Everything I said was true. I have wanted you, I just didn't know who you were at first. And this is a pleasant way to get what I've been looking for." He shifted, laying between Zel's legs.

"Looking for?" Zel shook his head. "Don't-don't understand--"

"Apparently not. It's simple. You, my dear Zelgadis, are the key to what I seek. You are the Ra Lagora."

"I--wha--I don't--" A finger placed on his lips silenced Zel's broken speech.

"You don't have to understand, just feel. Everything you've kept bottled up, I want you to let it free. Just feel, Zelgadis. Feel what I'm going to give to you." Mo`re gave Zel a deep, harsh kiss, sending agonising jolts of lust running across his nerves. Zel found himself surrendering to the fiery passion Mo`re ignited within him.

"But--what about--" Mo`re's voice wove a unique spell around Zelgadis. It was the only explanation for what he knew his body was about to give itself over to. Though the pain of the attack was still a raw wound, he couldn't stop himself from falling into this sublimely dark seduction.

"What about Gourry? Or perhaps even Xelloss?" Mo`re cupped Zel's chin. "What about them? I'm here right now. I can feel you burning inside. I want that fire. Me. Give it to me, Zelgadis." Mo`re slid between Zel's legs, placed a kiss on his chest, and thrust himself deep inside the chimera's body.

Zel screamed, his body arching off the bed. Pain/pleasure shot though his entire being. His arms wrap around Mo`re, hips riding up, matching Mo`re's rhythm in a frenzy of motion. His eyes were wide open as Zel was pounded into, the heat washing over him in bright, forceful waves.

Mo`re slammed his length deeper inside, marvelling at the feel of soft flesh inside the stone body. Wild energy crackled around them. The indrani smiled as he sensed Zel's desire along with the power of Ra Lagora break free. His hand slid down, fingers tracing over random stone protrusions before wrapping around and roughly stroking Zel's shaft. The groan and sobs coming from the shaman created a utopia of sound to Mo`re's ears.

The world became little more than a nebulous veil of false reality for Zelgadis. Lights, colours, everything was seen through a red haze. His heart threaten to beat out of his chest. The flesh throbbing and thrusting inside him was both colder than ice and hotter than hell. A strange energy flowed around them as he felt the pressure building and clamouring to the surface.

"That's it. Feel it, Zelgadis. Feel for me." Shifting, Mo`re searched for that familiar point within Zel. He knew he found it when the shaman cried out hoarsely. Mo`re leaned over him, striking down deep over and over again, his body rocking into Zel, the force nearly bouncing him off the bed.

gods... oh gods... Tears fell to the pillow beneath him. Zel's legs wound around Mo`re, the feelings a breath from excruciating. I think-- I feel-- I Zelgadis roared, his climax taking him by surprise. His body shook violently under Mo`re, his seed splashing white over both of them.

Mo`re looked up. The energy was growing beyond imagination, spiralling to the heavens. Another smile touched his lips as Mo`re gazed down affectionately at Zel, stroking the side of his face.

"Look at it, beautiful one. It's your creation, your child." Mo`re lifted his eyes toward the energy as it began forming.

"It is Ra Lagora."

Xelloss and Gourry were walking along the road when they saw it. A flash of light, growing and spreading from the horizon. The priest peered into the energy miasma, where he saw the faint image of a serpent in the light. The sight was enough to make even the trickster gasp.

"I think," he said softly, "I know what Mo`re wanted, though I had no idea it existed inside Zelgadis. Yet if I'm right, we all may be in trouble."

Gourry vaguely thought as much. He'd heard that faint gasp and knew that if it could shock someone like Xelloss, it probably was not a good thing.

"What is it? What does Zel have?"

Xelloss opened his eyes, looking almost sad as he spoke.

"The power to destroy the world."

No more words were needed, the two running quickly toward the light.

tbc

AN: I'm just going to chalk the lateness of this chapter up to a series of unfortunate events. (And no, I don't mean the movie.) RL just wanted to mess with me, I'm sure of it.

Oh yes, "dedition" is not a typo. Dictionary.com defines it as "The act of yielding; surrender." It's probably archaic, though.

Two more parts left, which will hopefully come along faster than this one did. ::bows in apology::

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