The world twisted and tumbled around me as I tried to awaken, converging and diverging so fast that I nearly got sick. A hand slapped me sharply across the face twice, slowing the spinning environ around me. I blinked, focusing on a point before me, a small vase sitting on a shelf high on a wall.
A.... wall....?
"Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty."
I'm.... alive? It took me a moment to realize I had said that aloud.
A low laugh. Blinking dumbly, I turned to the owner of the voice, the one who had obviously nursed me back from the bowels of Death. Xellos smiled down at me from where he was lying next to me on the large, soft bed, his eyes narrow slits of violet.
"Yes, you are alive," he replied. A small half-smile toyed upon his lips. "Yet, maybe not for too long." He poked at the wound in my abdomen, his hand then resting on the bandages there, pressing lightly.
Sucking air through my gritted teeth, I squeezed my eyes shut against the pain sizzling through the nerves and exploding within my brain. He purred at my reaction, stopping, his hand travelling up to my hair, tangling his fingers within the wild mass of aquamarine. I let him, only cause I was too weak to fight otherwise and because I... enjoyed it.
I am a sinful creature. The Mazoku within me.....
Finally after a few minutes, the throbbing pain stopped, fading into a razor echo that I pushed into a far corner of my mind. Slowly, my brain began to function again, and memories of the encounter with the Deepspawn tumbledback into my cotton-stuffed head.
"Why... why did ya save me, Mazoku?" I asked hoarsely, recounting the brilliant flash of light so white that it was black which had consumed the foul demon and ripped it into pieces of quivering flesh.
His fingers tightened in my hair and then released the strands, smoothing them back from my face. His eyes closed into that secret-hiding smile of his, and he wagged a finger at me. "Why, why, why ..." Another smile. "They always ask why. Why?"
I groaned. "Don't do that, damn Mazoku. It's givin' me a bloody headache."
"Such coarse language!" He clicked his tongue and touched the twin scars on my cheeks with gloved fingers, lightly tracing. "You shouldn't say such things at your age."
It burned. Burned where he touched....
I am so sinful.... an angel and devil trapped within a single form, yearning ...
I jerked my face away from his fingers, snarling.
An amused 'hmph' issued from the Mazoku's throat. He rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed, turning his face to me over his shoulder. "You're lucky to be alive," he remarked offhandedly. "Nearly half of your insides was either consumed by the creature or dangling from the wound." A smile. "You'll live though."
Weakly, I dragged my hand to the bandages. His hand reached there first, again pressing on the wound.
The pain was numbing ... why was he doing this to me? Why didn't he just let me die? He was sick, this Mazoku ...
"A Ryuzoku," he whispered, eyes opening slightly. His finger lightly traced circles.
I hissed, partly in pain, partly in surprise. So he must have been watching me while I was struggling with the Deepspawn!!
"I never thought I'd find a Ryuzoku working for a dark lord...." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, a shadowed half-smile toying upon his refined features. "But then you're Mazoku too, are you not? Curious."
I didn't bother to reply, didn't bother to confirm or deny any of his suspicions or thoughts. Turning my head, pushing the numbing pain throbbing from his touch upon my wound, I gazed out the nearby window, at the fading light of day. "Mazoku ... where are we?"
He withdrew his hand, laughing. "Why, at Nethar, of course!! Where else would we be?"
I sat up in surprise. "Neth---!!" Crying out in pain, I wrapped my arms around my torso, glaring at him. "Ya carried me all the way here?"
An arched brow. "Of course not. Do I look like the type to drag a half-dead, rude emissary to a town some-odd leagues away? I most certainly do not!" He pushed me back onto the bed.
"Then how--?"
He wagged a gloved finger in my face. "Teleportation, Val-kun!!" Another melodious laugh.
Angry, I managed to slap his hand out of my sight. "Ya mean ya could have teleported us here the entire frickin' time?!"
"Tut tut! It wouldn't have been any fun if I just phased us here just like that, now would it?" He grinned, leaning out over me. "We could have never gotten to know each other if I had done so, wouldn't you agree?"
I had been so close to death, and he could only joke about it. I wanted to be angry, to yell at him, hurt him, but ... I just ignored his tauntings, turning my head to gaze wearily out the window once more, the sun's rays dying into shadowlight. It would be about three or four days before my Ryuzoku constitution reasserted itself, which meant that my mission would be delayed. My reunion with my master would be delayed. All I wanted now was my master, to let him comfort me.. My body was weak, and thus my mind was too ...
I sighed. Nothing has ever gone right in my life.
The two of us remained in silence for some time. The Mazoku was watching me but I, too wrapped up in my own misery, failed to notice. Until I felt the soft brush of hair upon my skin as he leaned down, pressing his lips to my throat.
The velvety touch continued down, entrancing me more with every kiss. I shut my eyes involuntarily, moaning softly, wishing, praying that Xellos would stop, yet I craved more ... much much more ...
He whispered my name, looking at me with those glittering twin gem-eyes, a dark half-smile spreading upon his lips, reaching down to stroke my wound with a feather touch that was inflaming. His smile, his touch, his scent, his eyes, all were maddening, demanding, enticing---
Suddenly I remembered my Garv-sama, the one who gave me a second chance to finish everything. How could I betray him?? I had given myself only to my Garv-sama. Only he could claim to have lain with me, to subdue me with just the power of his kisses ...
With new resolve, I pushed down my rising passion and tried to shove away Xellos. Weak. I was so weak, in mind, spirit, and body ... I blamed it on my wound and the battle, that my near-brush with death made me incapable of fighting off Xellos's eager advances. I know now that I was just weak.
How ironic that I am what I most hate.
The Mazoku merely laughed at my attempts, catching both my arms in his grip. "Valgarv," he purred, pressing lips to my wrists, tightening his hold, bruising. "I know how you look at me. Why do you fight now?"
Growling, I tried to ignore the effect his touch had upon my body. I prepared to deliver a blistering ultimatum, only to have Xellos cover my mouth with his own, his tongue flicking in, exploring.
I was losing. It was too much ... Xellos was too much ... And I didn't want to fight him anymore. I wanted to be comforted, to have my loneliness appeased. I wanted my Garv-sama ... Garv-sama ...
I bit his lip ferociously and he sighed, releasing my arms and drawing away to trace the scars on my left cheek with his mouth, leaving a trail of blood. He then followed my jawline up, tongue tickling as he caressed my ear with it. He whispered something, I don't know what, and tugged hard on my earlobe with his teeth, biting hard. My hands clenched on the sheets as I struggled to ignore his advances and not cry out in pleasure.
Garv-sama ...
Jerking down the covers to reveal my bare, bandaged torso, he began to nip at my chest, drawing blood and leaving teeth marks upon the skin.
Garv-sama ...
"Xellos," I half-begged in guilt, half-groaned in ecstasy. It burned like fire, warming my blood even hotter than ever. Wrapping his hands around my throat and squeezing, he continued to trail down, down ...
Garv-sama ... forgive me, for I hath sinned ...
Reaching down, I clamped my fingers in Xellos's silky hair, jerking him up roughly, growling low in my throat, smirking. His refined features were surprised till I tore at his mantle, the fine fabric ripping with a sound barely audible above my rapidly beating heart and ragged breathing, tearing it off his shoulders and casting it aside. He then purred, knowing he won, those cursed, lovely eyes nearly glowing.
"Let me take the pain away," the Mazoku whispered, eyes glittering with dark passion, pressing up against me. His head lowered for another devouring kiss, of which I returned with just as much ferocity, shoving aside my conflicting emotions to lose myself in the intensity of the moment.
We spent several days at that inn in Nethar, which was more than ample time for my body to heal itself. During the day, Xellos and I would play chess on an old set found in the room, a game of which I was quite fond because of its stimulus on the intellect as well as its applications to a battle in reality. I was quite skilled at chess, never once beaten, but I lost many games to the daring Xellos, who played with more of a reckless abandon than any real skill. When I confronted him about his wins, he had laughed and replied that he had never played the game before in his life.
If nothing else, Xellos was brilliant.
Our nights were spent entwined beneath the sheets of the only bed in the room. I quickly learned of Xellos's fondness for giving and receiving pain, of which I gladly obliged. If warranted I could be rough as well as gentle. My Garv-sama did not always enjoy soft touches.
Finally, on the fourth morning, I had made our decision to leave. Rising before the Mazoku, who I knew was only keeping a pretense of slumber, I quickly dressed, giving my wound one more inspection. The skin was still healing and would tear easily if I was not careful, but otherwise I was ready to go. I did not wish to delay my mission any further.
Hearing the Mazoku stirring in the bed, I swung my black mantle over my shoulders, drawing the hood up to cover my head.
A soft laugh. "I suppose that is my hint that we are finally departing?" he inquired lazily.
I turned to face him. "Get dressed."
Xellos lounged out on the large bed, stretching to his full height, the sheets clinging to his beautiful form, hinting at every curve. He tilted his head to me, eyes opening, glittering in the faint light of dawn streaking through the window. "So business-like, aren't we, Val-kun!" He laughed again, tossing me one of those sultry grins. "Do we have to go now ... ?? It's still early." A suggestive tone.
I smirked, settling down on the bed, leaning over him. "Yer one horny bastard," I commented drily, tugging on a glossy lock of his shoulder-length hair.
He sighed in mock disappointment, one hand toying absently with the black cloth of my hood. "Well then, just ruin my day ..." Another sigh, his fingers slipping up past the cloth to again stroke the scars on my face. His fascination with those twin marks seemed unfounded, and I never discovered why he liked touching them. Were they mars of the "beauty" my Garv-sama had told me I possessed ... ?
But I didn't want to think about my Garv-sama right now. After the sins I had committed, I was no longer worthy of him.
Smirking, I nipped him playfully on the nose. "Get up, Mazoku, or I'll make sure yer sorry ass doesn't receive any more poundin' from me."
A pout. May the gods damn me, but that pout nearly made me crawl under the covers as he wished.
"You take the fun out of everything, Val-kun!" The pout grew, if possible, even more coy. "I believe I worked hard enough last night to receive some reward this morning."
I laughed, a genuine, sincere laugh, something few have ever heard. My expression softened a tad as I gazed down at the Mazoku who had indeed eased the pain of my loneliness.
I must have been staring too long, for, to my surprise, he blushed, turning his head away.
"Ne, ne, Val-kun, is there something on my face?" He looked back at me with smiling eyes, the blush fading as if never there.
"Thank you," I suddenly blurted.
He blinked, taken aback.
I cleared my throat, pulling away from him and sitting up on the edge of the bed. How could I explain to this Mazoku how much I appreciated his help? I know that he certainly wasn't out to help me but just for his own pleasure. Yet still, unknowingly, he did much for me.... Even though he is my enemy now, there are times when I wished he weren't....
I played with the corner of the thick covers, focusing on the design imprinted on the fabric. I was actually surprised I said "thank you" to him and the silence between us grew more awkward.
He then laughed, sitting up. "Is that it?" A smile. "It's not that I have a choice about being with you on this mission, as you call it. And as for that-" He waved his hand aimlessly. "--well, it's an added bonus."
I continued to twist the covers in silence. I had expected that from him, and I wasn't hurt by how casually he took our "relationship." No delusions crowded my mind---we were purely physical in this relationship and nothing more. Mazoku have no need for "weak" feelings, and although Xellos seemed more amicable than the others, I had no doubt that he was as cold-hearted as the rest of his kin.
I am part Mazoku as well. Then why do I suffer.....??
No... the silence was because of my guilt. I had betrayed my Garv-sama for a few nights of bliss with this smiling Mazoku who I cared nothing for.
Xellos pressed up behind me, wrapping his lithe arms around my waist, resting a chin on my shoulder.
......... who I cared nothing for ........... right??
Back then, I was so messed up in the head ...
He tightened his hold, giggling. "I can hear those gears grinding in that head of yours!"
Garv-sama ... forgive me, for I hath sinned ...
"Are you fantasizing about me, Val-kun?" he teased.
"Get dressed," I replied not coldly, pulling away and standing. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
A nervous smile. A furrow of the elegant brows, a crease in the forehead. "Well, um... that might not be wise."
I tugged at my hood. "No one will see us for what we are. This hides me and I suppose yer normal lookin' enough. Not much could be said about yer personality though."
He made a cute face at me for the last comment. "No, no, no!"
I folded my arms over my chest impatiently. "Well?"
A sheepish grin. I hated that look. Last time I saw it, we were on the wrong path to Nethar and I had nearly died before I had finished everything ...
"Well what???" I shot him a threatening glare. He cleared his throat, the sheepish grin growing. Damn, he really was too cute ...
"See, Val-chan, it's like this. Ahem. YouwerehurtsobadsoIjustkindatelliedushereintothisinnandkindaborrowedakeytooneoftheroomssotheythinkwe'reoneoftheirpaying
customerswhenwereallyaren'tandifyougodownstairstheremightbeabigchancewe'llbebustedsoperhapsweshouldmakeafastexiiiiiii--" He stopped.
He probably noticed my face and the dumbfounded look that was plastered on it.
"Errrrrr ... nevermind." He grinned. "Just wait a moment and I'll telly us out of here."
I smirked and roughly mussed his hair. "Yer a frickin' bloody pain," I replied fondly. "Do whatever. Jus' hurry it up. Garv-sama will have our asses if we delay any longer."
A giggle. "I believe he's already had yours."
He received a smack for that.