Chapter Selection

Zelgadiss stared in horror as he watched Xellos' body slump down onto the stone dais, his dark blood staining the light surface, mixing with Losiel's. He could see a pillar of light rise from the ground to reach each crystal, was aware of light surrounding him, but he was unable to process the information. Even when a sharp pain shot through his body from the centre of his being, it was nothing to him. His mind was focused on one repeating thought.

Xellos was dead.

The stone dais began to glow as well now, and a strong wind rose in the chamber, forcing Zellas and the Mountain King back against one of the walls. The light increased, consuming the two bodies on the floor and forcing Zelgadiss to close his eyes. He could hear the sound of the wind rushing through the chamber, and was now aware of the pain tearing at his body. Just as he was forced into unconsciousness he heard a reverberating shatter, and then there was no sound at all.

He relinquished the darkness reluctantly, not wanting to face reality. He wanted to believe it had only been a dream, if only for a little while. His own nature would not allow him that escape however, and he opened his eyes, looking around the chamber that now seemed unusually dark. He could see that his friends were also waking, rising to their feet and brushing off the crystal shards that lay scattered around them. Amelia went to help Danlineus to his feet as Zelgadiss walked to the empty dais, kneeling by where Xellos' body had lain. There was nothing now, not even the stain of his blood upon the smooth stone surface.

"Is that it?" Zellas' voice said from behind him, she did not sound impressed.

"The seal is removed, the Lord of Dreams is free." The Mountain King replied, "That more did you expect?"

"Anything! I sacrificed my best servant for this, are you telling me there is nothing else?"

"We shall wait, the Gods don't work by our whims, we work by theirs."

Zellas scowled, looked around the dark room once more and then vanished, her bracelets chiming in the air for a few moments after her disappearance.

The Mountain King shook his head, then turned to look over at Amelia who was still supporting Danlineus. He said nothing for a few moments, then turned his gaze to his servant. "Danlineus, your duty here is done. It is time to return to the Kingdom."

"No." Danlineus replied, his voice steady but his eyes full of sorrow.

"I beg your pardon?" his King replied.

"You deceived us, all of us."

"A sacrifice was required."

"And should have been requested. You murdered them both."

"He belonged to the Beastmaster, she could do as she chose. As for the other, she was our enemy."

"She was my sister!"

"She was a traitor. Now stop this foolishness, it is time to go."

"I will not return with you."

The Mountain King glowered, "Then you shall never return. You are hereby banished from the Kingdom Danlineus, if you ever return, you shall be put to death."

Danlineus gave no reply, and after a few moments the Mountain King also departed, leaving silence in the large chamber. Walking stiffly Danlineus approached where Zelgadiss still knelt on the stone floor.

"Zelgadiss-san, I am so sorry, we didn't know."

"Would it have changed anything if you had?" he asked quietly. Danlineus thought about it for a few moment and then answered,

"Yes, it probably would have changed everything."

"Then I'm glad you didn't know."

"There is too much grief here." A low voice said, startling them both, "My return was to have been a joyous occasion."

"Loss breeds sorrow, despite what is gained." Came the reply, and they turned to find Lina and Gourry facing then, the sorceress surrounded by a golden light, the swordsman by a silver one.

"True." The silver-coloured Gourry turned to face them, "You have my thanks for releasing the seal." The shock that had filled Zelgadiss suddenly vanished only to be replaced by anger, he stood up and his deity-possessed friends.

"I don't want your thanks! I want him back!"

"The sacrifices were given willingly." The Lord of Nightmares replied, looking at Zelgadiss through Lina's red eyes.

"By who? Not by them and certainly not by us."

"That is inconsequential." The Lord of Dreams answered, "They were given, and they were accepted."

"It doesn't matter to you at all?"

"Zelgadiss-san..." Danlineus tried to stop him from yelling at the Gods, but he was beyond caring.

"I am sick of this! Every time we turn around we're being forced to do something for you, or to save your world and you don't give a shit what it costs us. I can't take it anymore, you and your world can go to hell!"

There was a moment of profound silence in the chamber and then Zelgadiss turned his back on his friends and left. He could see the light fade behind him, and then Lina called,

"Yo, Zel, wait up!"

"Um, Lina, what just happened?" Gourry asked, confused.

Zelgadiss didn't wait to hear the answer. He needed to get away from that temple and he needed to get away from it now.


It took forever for him to fall asleep that night. Tears began falling the second he was alone in his room and didn't stop. He wondered if they ever would, and figured not. His sleep was uneasy when it came, filled with dark shapes, distant pain, and explosive lights. These lights stayed with him, filling his vision with gold and silver, consuming the rest of the images. He tried to get them to leave him to the darkness, but they persisted.

"Rest easy little one." Twinned voices spoke to him from within the lights. "We are not here to bring you more pain. Wake now."

Zelgadiss' eyes snapped open, and he sat up in bed confused. After a brief second he realised that the lights had not vanished with the dream. They were now localised beside him, and within their depths he could now see the sleeping image of his lover. Hesitantly he reached out and touched the mazoku'' cheek, feeling the warm skin beneath his fingertips.

"Is he?"

"We have returned him."

Zelgadiss suddenly felt very embarrassed about mouthing off earlier. "Thank you." He whispered and the voices chuckled.

"Do not concern yourself. Sacrifices must be given freely, and rewards must be earned. You have earned his return, and he has earned his freedom. What happens now is in your hands."

The lights faded, leaving the room in darkness and Xellos in the bed beside him. Gently, Zelgadiss ran his hand down the mazoku's cheek before cupping his chin and leaning forward to kiss him. For a few brief seconds there was no response, and then Xellos made a small, confused sound and began to return the kiss.

"Zel-chan?" he said after a moment, "I feel strange."

"Well, you were dead, that's probably to be expected." He answered, drawing Xellos into his arms and holding him tight.

Xellos began to nod, then changed his mind and shook his head, "No, that's not it."

"What then?"

"I don't know." He whispered, then began to run his hands along Zelgadiss' back. "It doesn't really matter I guess."

"Xellos." Zelgadiss said seriously, "Don't do that to me again."

Xellos smiled as Zelgadiss began to kiss down his neck. "All right Zel-chan, I won't."

"Good." Zelgadiss replied with satisfaction, taking one of Xellos' nipples in his mouth and teasing it lightly. The mazoku moaned in response, burying his hands in the chimera's hair. Leaving his hand in place of his mouth, Zelgadiss kissed down Xellos' stomach, passed his navel and then slid his cheek along the skin of his inner thigh. Xellos whimpered as Zelgadiss brought his hands down, brushing every area of the mazoku's body except the area that needed it the most. Zelgadiss kept up the caresses, partly to tease, and partly to reassure himself. He still couldn't believe Xellos was back, this could be a dream, but the mazoku's hands pulling on his hair was helping him to accept it as truth.

"Zel-chan." Xellos began to beg finally, "Please stop teasing."

Zelgadiss looked up at his lover, seeing his skin glisten with sweat and the need in his beautiful eyes. The sight was so wonderful that the chimera was entranced and could do nothing but watch his twist on the sheets until Xellos pulled harder on his hair in frustration.

Smiling, Zelgadiss licked the tip on Xellos' shaft, causing the mazoku to gasp in surprise and press himself forward while trying to pull the chimera's head closer. Zelgadiss caught his lover's gaze again and held it before doing anything else.

"I missed you." He whispered, and then drew his lover deep into his mouth while his hands began to stroke the soft skin of his balls. Xellos rocked his hips forward, forcing Zelgadiss into a fast pace, but he didn't mind. He could feel how close his lover was and caught the warm liquid when it soon flowed into his mouth.

He swallowed until there was nothing left, then licked Xellos clean as the mazoku softened in his hands. Moving up carefully he managed to free his hair from Xellos' grip and laughed as he looked at the bent tangle of wires.

"What is it?" Xellos asked, his voice light and peaceful.

"You haven't done this since the first time." Zelgadiss explained as he tried to straighten his hair without much success, "I think I just managed to get it fixed from that and now you've done it again."

Xellos laughed and rolled closer, running his hands along Zelgadiss' bare chest. "Now, if I remember correctly," he said in a teasing tone, "We didn't stop there the first time."

Zelgadiss abandoned his attempt to fix his hair and wrapped his arms around Xellos instead. "No, we didn't."

"But I really don't remember what we did next."

"Oh really?"

"Really," Xellos slid his hand down to encircled Zelgadiss' erection, "I think you're going to have to remind me."

"Gladly." Zelgadiss said, moaning at Xellos' playful touch before pinning his lover to the bed. He sucked on his own fingers lightly as Xellos continued to stroke him, then kissed the mazoku deeply as he prepared his body.

"Zel-chan..." Xellos whimpered as Zelgadiss ran his fingers over the sensitive spot inside of his body. Zelgadiss answered his plea gladly, removing his fingers and driving his shaft into the welcoming heat of Xellos' body. He moved in and out, trying to go slow, but was unable to maintain that pace. He needed this too much, and he was soon rocking almost frantically against Xellos before his release came upon him suddenly and left him lying weak and sated upon his lover.

"I know what it is." Xellos whispered lightly much later, and Zelgadiss became aware of the mazoku's hands gently playing with his hair as he straightened it.

"Hmm?" he asked not bothering to move, he liked the feeling of Xellos' warmth beneath him.

"I know what feels strange."

"What is it?"

"Her hold is gone."

Zelgadiss lifted himself up to look down at Xellos with surprise, "Zellas?"

Xellos nodded, "I'm free."

"So that's what they meant."

"Who?" he looked confused, Zelgadiss smiled and shook his head,

"I'll tell you later. So, your life is your own now."

Xellos smiled, "No, my life is your too now Zel-chan. I love you."

With a grin, Zelgadiss leaned down to kiss him, "I heard you the first time, but I have to admit, I liked hearing it again."

"You heard?" Xellos asked, shocked, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Sore wa himitsu desu."

"Zel-chan!"

"It doesn't matter Xellos." He said, cuddling his peeved lover, "I love you too."

Xellos sighed and relaxed into his hold, "Now what?" he asked, sounding a little at a loss. Zelgadiss thought of the deities parting words and smiled into the mazoku's hair,

"Now we do whatever we want."

Xellos smiled as they both began to laps into sleep, "Oh. I think I can handle that."

Zelgadiss' final thought before falling asleep was that he agreed with that completely.