A still shadow sat wedged in a tiny crack of the wall, its flesh white and black as death. Motionless, the shadow would never be noticed by outside eyes, unless they knew where and what to look for. Silent as a grave, the shadow remained in place through all the wizards roaming, tantrums, and ranting.

The wizard looked little better than some of his failed experiments. Pushing eighty years of natural life, heavy with the use of harsh black magics, the wizard appeared to be a hundred and twenty years old, conservatively. His wild, slimy, grease-grey hair was plastered down with dirt in some places, arranged and torn wildly in others. The hair was thin in most places, non-existent in others. His skin was dry and flaking, stretched taught like dry parchment. He was emaciated, decrepit, and appeared to be a few minutes away from the grave.

The bastard kept on living.

The shadow remained motionless as a rat scampered over one of his pale feet, the rat’s claws skidding on the hard flesh. Neither did the shadow move when the enraged wizard threw a beaker of elixir at his head, missing by a few feet, glass shards spraying all over his body. The elixir smelled of brackish water and blood. It was as if the shadow was no more than that, a shadow. But the creatures in the room knew better. They feared this shadow and avoided the crack in the wall.

The shadows slant, delicate eyes, were dead.

***

Zelgadis sat before the fireplace of the room he and Xellos were sharing, staring with great intensity into the slithering flames. Xellos was off making a report to Xellas-sama, and would, should, be back momentarily. The mazoku was going to ask his master if there was any information she could give them on this Colanthus fellow. One phrase kept winding itself over and over in the chimera’s mind, maddening in its persistence.

"It was awful, what that crazy wizard made the poor boy do."

The last thing the chimera had expected was compassion for the chimera they had heard so much about. He had not expected anyone, least of all a simple peasant, so be so understanding. The chimera was bound after all. A prisoner of magic and totally unable to control his body. The chimera, Zelgadis pondered, may not even be aware of his doings. At least, that’s what Zelgadis hoped to be the case. That would be a far more merciful fate than being left aware of his actions, yet being helpless against them.

Zelgadis had not expected this chimera to be the object of compassion, especially not after murdering the King’s daughter. It seemed that no one blamed the chimera for its actions. Not that they should. But it seemed to be natural that the people here should blame the creature. Would things have been the same for this chimera in his home province? Zelgadis doubted it very much. There had been no harsh reaction to himself either, to his chimeric nature. Xellos had already suggested they investigate this place further as another possible home. Zelgadis wasn’t so sure. This place, but for its recent chimera troubles, seemed very provincial and peaceful. Zelgadis would not find any spells to study, and Xellos would go stark raving loony in a few days and turn the place upside down out of sheer boredom. Best leave well enough alone, was his reply.

Zelgadis’ mind was so busy turning itself inside out that the chimera failed to note the sudden reappearance of his mazoku lover. Xellos watched the chimera for a few minutes, paying close attention to the way the flames moved like orange shadows over the marble face. He fed a little off his lover’s turmoil. No sense wasting a sweet snack. Shifting directly to Zelgadis left arm, Xellos made his presence known.

Zelgadis jumped a mile when a gloved hand clutched sharply on his left shoulder. Landing on his feet, sword ready, Zelgadis was greeted with the site of Xellos rolling on the floor, consumed with the giggles. Snarling roughly, Zelgadis cast a quick fireball at the mazoku. Catching it with his chest, Xellos opened his exquisite violet eyes and regarded Zelgadis with lust. Grinning dangerously, Xellos materialized behind the chimera and tossed him onto their bed, eight feet away. Xellos could almost hear another of Xellas’ lectures coming as the wooden bed gave way underneath the weight of the tossed chimera.

"Hmmm. No need to pay for firewood tonight." Xellos giggled as Zelgadis struggled to right himself. He needn’t have bothered. Xellos shifted again, this time appearing over Zelgadis’ prone body, straddling his lovers’ hips, nothing touching. Yet. "Miss me?" the mazoku asked, leaning down to nibble at the tip of the chimera’s left ear. Zelgadis sighed in annoyance and pleasure, a mix that the mazoku had always found heady. Glaring in mock outrage, Zelgadis placed his hands on Xellos’ chest and pushed the mazoku hard, knowing that he could never really hurt the mazoku. The bastard enjoyed it to much.

"You were gone all of half an hour, Xellos." Zelgadis pushed the mazoku into a sitting position, one that Xellos quickly took advantage of. Pouting, Xellos plopped his bottom onto the chimera’s stomach, just above his hips. He was rewarded with a sharp gasp and a flash of desire from the chimera. Xellos grin took on a different quality as he slowly shifted his hips back further. Zelgadis’ eyes fluttered. Grabbing Xellos’ wrists roughly, Zelgadis caught his breath enough to ask, "Did Xellas-sama have any useful information for us?"

Xellos frowned down at his chimera. "Talk later." Xellos lowered his head to nip at the clasp that held the chimera’s cloak together. It fell away.

Zelgadis pushed back against the mazoku’s shoulders. "No. Now." Rolling his eyes, Xellos sat back firmly on Zelgadis’ hips. Pouting again, Xellos painted an adorably dangerous picture with flames dancing behind him. Zelgadis felt the length of flesh between his legs twitch with want. Xellos grinned.

"Remember," he whispered, "You are the one that wanted to talk." He vanished.

Zelgadis blinked a few times before he remembered that he had to get up. Struggling into a sitting position the chimera saw Xellos regarding him with amusement from the table in the far corner of the room. Zelgadis had no idea where the steaming mug of hot chocolate had come from. He never even thought of asking. Sighing, running a distracted hand through his wire hair, Zelgadis moved across the room to sit beside his mischievous lover. Resting his head on Xellos left shoulder, laying one hand on the mazoku’s lap while wrapping an arm to pull the warm body closer, Zelgadis sighed. Xellos looked adorably confused for a moment, then snuggled. Zelgadis looked up into Xellos’ face and whispered "So?"

Xellos tilted his head a little to the right, processed the question, and heaved a sigh, a white clam-shell materializing in the still air momentarily, before disappearing. Snuggling closer to his chimera, Xellos began to relate the facts that Xellas had given him.

***

Zelgadis looked expectantly at his lover, waiting for him to finish his story. After a few minutes he became impatient, possibly due to the fact that Xellos was grinning again.

"Well?" he asked

"Well what?" came the not unexpected reply. Growling, Zelgadis rose to the bait.

"Where do we find this underground castle?" Grinning like his face would soon crack in two, Xellos placed his index finger over Zelgadis’ lips and whispered.

"Sore wa himitsu desu."

Zelgadis slugged him square in the jaw.

Xellos opened one eye. "You asked." Then he hooked his arms around the chimera and threw both himself and Zelgadis in the direction of the mattress. Twisting mid-air, Xellos made sure he landed on top. Pieces of wood from the already shattered frame were reduced to mere splinters. Zelgadis huffed as air was driven out of his lungs. Not that Xellos gave him any time to catch his breath. Smiling to himself this time, Xellos was glad that he had been so thoughtful as to cast a spell of silence around the room when he entered. No need to disturb anyone else’s sleep this night.

The chimera was in a feisty mood tonight, struggling against his mate, grinding his hips up, trying to throw Xellos off of him. Which, of course, served to arouse and amuse the mazoku further. Xellos pinned Zelgadis’ arms by the chimera’s sides and proceeded to strip the chimera to the waist, using only his teeth and tongue. Loosening his grip long enough to pull the chimera out of the undone shirt, Xellos then proceeded to tickle the chimera. There were two sounds that the mazoku loved to hear coming from his lovers throat, his laughter and his curses. Tickling was a quick and easy way to get the chimera to do both, pretty much at the same time.

Zelgadis laughed and swore until tears ran down his face, bucking his hips up and down, slamming his hips painfully into Xellos own. Not that the mazoku was going to complain any. When Xellos let his grip on Zel’s arms loosen, Zelgadis darted out a quick hand and tore Xellos shirt almost completely off the mazoku’s body. Xellos raised an eyebrow. Zelgadis sneered defiantly at his mazoku, taunting him with a strip of the magical fabric.

"So that’s the way it’s going to be, eh Zelgadis?" Xellos vanished. Zelgadis bolted upright from the mattress. He had managed to get to his knees when he felt strong arms ensnare around his waist. "These pants won’t do at all." Zelgadis fell forward, thrown to his stomach by the force of the hands divesting him of his pants. Growling, he turned his head to look over his right shoulder.

Xellos was colored by the light of the fire in front of them, the flames dancing delicate patterns on his pale skin. The torn shirt had fallen off, or had been removed. The mazoku still wore his pants. Zelgadis intended for that to change. Fast as his demonic speed could allow, Zelgadis threw himself on top of his mate, knocking the mazoku flat to his back. Zelgadis growled savagely, gripped Xellos’ pants in each of his hands, and pulled in opposite directions. There was a hissing sound as the silken fabric gave way to the chimera’s assault. Xellos opened his eyes to regard Zelgadis with faint amusement twinkling in the voilet depths.

"I’d hate to see you if I left you for more than half-an-hour, Zel-kun." Zelgadis snorted, then pounced on the mazoku, crushing their lips together in a painful claiming that they loved so well. Xellos felt the sharp teeth of the chimera through their tightly pressed lips. Sighing in pleasure, he ran his hands up and down Zelgadis’ spine, thoroughly enjoying the shivers that ran through the chimera’s body. When Xellos clawed his hands over Zel’s shoulders, the chimera yelped. Xellos took full advantage of the open mouth. Pushing his tongue roughly between Zelgadis’ lips, the mazoku tickled the roof of the chimeras mouth. He shuddered with delight when Zelgadis promptly bit his tongue. Both men shared in the taste of the tangy mazoku blood.

Xellos ran his hands over the hard, pebbly skin of Zelgadis’ lower back, scratching sharply at the softer spots. Zelgadis growled deep in his throat, pressing his lips harder against Xellos’. Xellos broke the kiss, smiling, and began nipping at the chimera’s neck. Zelgadis threw his head back, his jaw clenching shut as Xellos exploited several of the more sensitive areas on his neck. Xellos hands ran over the smooth globes of flesh that were Zelgadis’ buttocks. The stone pieces of skin here were akin to marble, yet were fairly flexible. The stones were relatively large, yet flat, unnoticeable underneath Zelgadis’ clothing. Xellos had found out about them the hard way, when he had kicked the unsuspecting chimera firmly in the seat of the pants. He had not expected such resistance, although it was perfectly logical. The pain he felt was an extra treat to add to the outrage that Zelgadis had fed him that day. Now Xellos proceeded to torment the chimera by running one of his delicate mazoku fingers up and down the cleft of Zelgadis’ bottom.

Zelgadis was growling savagely now, pushing his hips hard against Xellos, clawing his fingers down the mazoku’s back even as the mazoku teased his bottom. The chimera rubbed his erection against his lover’s stomach, marveling at the finely toned abdominal muscles. He could feel the smirk on Xellos’ lips pressed tightly to his neck. Growing impatient, Zelgadis removed his hands from Xellos back and placed them on the mazoku’s chest.

And twisted Xellos nipples insanely hard.

Xellos howled. Tears sprang to the mazoku’s eyes as his head fell back to the mattress. His penis, already hard, filled with even more blood. The mazoku’s body practically sang with the sweetest pain. Devilment danced in his eyes as he flipped Zelgadis to the side and then sprawled quickly over the chimera. Licking the surprised chimera’s cheeks, Xellos hissed into a delicate ear.

"That was fun." He slithered his body down further, jutting his hips against Zelgadis and delighting in the harsh gasp of air that escaped the chimera’s lips. "Do it again."

And he bit Zelgadis on the flesh that covered the chimera’s collar bone.

Zelgadis yelped, and then moaned as Xellos applied his talented tongue to the bleeding wound. Shivering, Zelgadis wrapped his hands into Xellos’ hair and tried to pull the mazoku up for another kiss. But Xellos wasn’t headed north.

Sitting back, eyeing his mate brazenly, Xellos waited for Zelgadis to open his eyes. When the deep blue orbs met his brilliant violet, Xellos raised his right hand into the air. Zelgadis watched silently. Waving his fingers in the air, Xellos thrust his arm into nothingness. Zel blinked when he saw that the arm had disappeared. Winking, Xellos withdrew his hand from nowhere, grasping something. Zelgadis blinked again. Xellos unfurled the fingers of his right hand one at a time, slowly revealing a small vial of ruby colored oil. Xellos ginned.

"I figured strawberry flavored would do nicely this time. What do you think, Zel-kun?" The chimera growled seductively, rolling his hips under the weight of his mazoku lover.

"I like the way you taste just fine." Xellos was still occasionally surprised at the forward manner his lover displayed sometimes. You have no idea how hard it is to truly flatter a mazoku. Zelgadis managed just fine, and without any prompting on Xellos part as well. Smitten, the mazoku tore the top of the vial off with his teeth. The scent of fresh cut strawberries covering cream filled the night air. Both men growled in anticipation.

Xellos poured some of the heavenly scented liquid onto the palm of his left hand. Smiling, he let the liquid warm in his had for a while, before dropping his hand to rub the oil onto Zelgadis’ erect penis. The chimera gasped, but did not take his eyes off the sight of Xellos gently touching him. Who would have ever guessed that a mazoku could be so delicate, so gentle. Xellos continued to massage the hard piece of flesh, pebbles and all, with the warmed oil, mixing in the pearly droplets of pre-come that were beginning to leak from Zelgadis’ penis.

Pouring more of the oil onto the palm of his left hand again, Xellos discarded the half empty vial into nothingness. Zelgadis blinked at him. Stopping the question before it even started, Xellos replied, "I put it somewhere I can get to later. No sense wasting the extra, neh? We may very well need it again tonight." Zelgadis shivered at the thought. Again, Xellos placed his hand near Zelgadis’ penis. This time, however, the mazoku allowed the oil to pour out of his hand to run slowly over the sensitive flesh. Zelgadis threw his head back as the oil tickled its way down to pool into the hollows of his hips. One rogue trail made its way to his navel. Xellos ‘oooh-ed’ at this, quickly dipping his head to lick the delicious oil out of one of the chimeras more ticklish spots.

As good as having Xellos tongue dipping in and out of his navel felt, the mazoku’s breath tickled as well, and Zelgadis fell to giggling. Again. Xellos lips, pressed to his stomach, betrayed the smile that Zelgadis could not see through tear filled eyes. Xellos looked up and him, his face serious and lovely. Zelgadis’ giggles subsided again, and the chimera looked up with glistening eyes as Xellos crawled over his body.

"Now," the mazoku breathed deeply, "I think it’s time we got serious." Capturing the chimera’s lips in his own, Xellos positioned his body quickly, before the chimera caught on.

Zelgadis yelled with surprise and pleasure as Xellos drove his body down onto the chimera’s rigid penis. Xellos threw his head back and howled with the pleasure that the pain gave him. Allowing his unprepared body a few moments only, the mazoku began to slowly roll his hips. Zelgadis groaned and reached his hands to grasp his lovers hips. Xellos reached down and positioned his hands on this mates chest, scratching at the chimera’s nipples at the same time, causing the chimera to growl in that delightfully seductive way.

Impatient, Xellos began to thrust his body with more strength, knowing that the chimera could take all he had to give in this manner. Zelgadis moaned deep in his throat, growling every now and then. Breaths became harsher as Xellos, again, increased the tempo, making his movements that much more sudden, that much more harsh. The two men were as close to heaven as either of them would ever get.

The pleasure was becoming torturous.

Zelgadis thrust his hips against his lover. Xellos pushed harder and harder against Zelgadis, each trying to bring the other to a close first, both hoping to come at the same time. Gasping, Zelgadis lifted his right hand off of Xellos’ hip and wrapped it around the mazoku’s thick, rigid penis. Xellos screamed as Zelgadis ran his thumbnail over the tip, dipping into the small slit. The mazoku’s eyes flew open and rolled back into his head when Zelgadis repeated the action, this time using the rough fleshy pad of his thumb. Xellos thrust himself down on Zelgadis even harder. The mazoku tossed his head forward, fine strands of purple hair sticking to the sweat of his face, Xellos looked Zelgadis directly in the eyes as he came.

The look in Xellos’ eyes, the sensation of burning hot mazoku semen being splashed onto his stomach, the feeling of Xellos tight body clamping down on him in pleasure, combined to send Zelgadis into ecstacy. He too, looked directly into his lovers eyes as he came, shouting Xellos’ name.

The two remained like that for a few minutes, each staring with love and respect into the other’s eyes. Zelgadis was breathing heavily. Xellos was still seated on Zelgadis’ hips. Zelgadis’ penis still inside the heat that was Xellos. Neither wanted to move just yet. Sighing deeply, Xellos stretched atop Zelgadis, sending a shiver through the chimera. Smiling, Xellos removed himself from the chimera, and lay down beside his chosen mate. Zelgadis pulled the mazoku into an embrace as Xellos summoned a blanket and wrapped the two lovers together.

Snuggling, Zelgadis rested his head on Xellos chest. Xellos rested his chin on top of Zelgadis’ wiry lavender hair. The chimera was soon asleep, and the mazoku rested as well. The last thing he did was remove the spell of silence.

***

Dawn was beginning to peek its rosy head into the world when a soft voice was heard to whisper, "Again? But we have to get up early an-mmph!"