The shadowy lady on the throne regarded the motley crew that gathered at her perfectly manicured toes. Two chimeras, a hacked out old wizard lying in a bloody heap on the floor, and her General-Priest. A rather odd gathering to warrant her attention. The old mage had been powerful in his youth. Stupid and grasping, yes. But powerful. The chimera that stood hollow and soulless was enslaved to the broken man by a spell that had been cast long ago as humans reckon time. She could see the fraying strands of it when she chose to. But the bond was still unbelievably strong. If the mage died, so would the chimera. Such a waste really. It was only a child. The other two she was familiar with and barely glanced at. Xellos and his lover were the reason for this gathering, but were of little consequence to her.

"Welcome to you all. Though only one of you is a guest that can actually recognize my greeting at this time. Zelgadis," the chimera stood straighter as she spoke his name. "Please step aside towards Xellos." Zelgadis blinked before quickly obeying. His eyes full of questions, he looked to Xellos. The mazoku showed no signs of answering. Zelgadis would simply have to be patient. A flick of a manicured finger sent the body of Colanthus flying up into the air where it hung by its wrists, supported by things unseen. This left the last chimera directly in her line of sight.

Xellas-sama rose from her throne stepped out of the shadows. Her chosen form this day was a reflection of the image she had created Xellos in. The eyes were soft and the color of foxgloves. The hair was long, curly, a shade lighter than Xellos’ own, reaching the floor. Her skin was pale and fair. She stood a little shorter than her General-Priest, which was by design of course. Dressed in a simple-yet-elegant body hugging gown of crushed royal blue velvet, she was a dream come true for most men, and quite a few women. Zelgadis had never seen the BeastMaster before. He had to admit that she was an incredible figure. She began her descent down the stairs that lead from her throne to the barren floor Zelgadis stood on. He could sense something terrible behind her beauty. Zelgadis shivered as she stepped past him.

She moved to stand directly in front of the second chimera, the unknown descendent of some elvish race, a bastard dragon, and an unnamed mazoku. She picked up the limp left hand of the chimera, turning it palm side up. Slicing the palm with her thumbnail, which was harder to do than she would have liked to admit, she turned the palm down and watched as a single drop of blood began to fall. She caught the droplet, released the chimera, and vanished. Reappearing as soon as she had left, Xellas-sama then turned her attention to the hanging mage. Zelgadis was almost angry with confusion, but held his tongue. He was the one out of place here. And he had best remember that.

"Awaken." Xellas-sama was not to be disobeyed. Colanthus’ head snapped up and lolled on his right shoulder. He blinked and gazed around him, having no idea of his position. Xellas-sama narrowed her eyes and the decrepit body lowered itself to within inches of the floor. Colanthus found himself staring into the eyes of a lady he had met once before, and swore eternal vengeance on. But she was the same. And he was old. He could sense her power, as intoxicating as ever.

And he spat in her face.

Zelgadis gripped Xellos’ arm as the mazoku nearly fainted. He could feel his own limbs begin to tremble with fear. Xellas-sama was gathering her power.

And she was officially pissed.

"So." She stated calmly. "It’s still to be that way, is it?" The wretched man sneered, still unaware of what he was dealing with. "You were a weak, pathetic, revolting, disgusting, miserable, vile, snide, disinteresting, useless, stupid, bland, dull, cringing human when I first rejected your service. You are even more weak, pathetic, revolting, disgusting, miserable, vile, snide, disinteresting, useless, stupid, bland, dull, and cringing than before, human. I have little reason to keep you alive. And very soon, I feel that reason will be taken care of. And you will regret this insolence." She calmly wiped the sour smelling, bloody spittle from her pale face. Xellos’ knees were still knocking, but he was able to stand on his own. Zelgadis held onto him nonetheless.

The air around Xellas-sama rustled her hair and clothing. Her eyes shone with an internal light. The sneer was wiped from Colanthus’ face in an instant as his head snapped back and he screamed. The BeastMaster had him in her power. And she was not in the mood to toy with him. "Speak. Tell me how you came to control this creature." She gestured to the silent chimera to her left. Colanthus frame shuddered. His head fell forward as the words were torn from him against his will.

"Found chimera wandering. Wandering. No home no family no life no care to miss him. He was powerful oh yes so powerful could taste it could smell it on him. He wouldn’t listen to me not to be my student to train his powers of darkness in darkness. No listen no good. Bound his will to mine to use him. But hard. So hard to control. Hurts. Easier to leave him lie quiet. No good from him. Only rarely. Rarely. Once or twice. Too strong." The frame shuddered again. The BeastMaster was not being kind to it.

"Speak. Tell me the spell you used to bind the chimera to you, and what you keep him bound with." Zelgadis blinked. Kept him bound with? Was there some object they would have to seek back in that vile cavern? Would he and Xellos have to return there to seek it? He shuddered with revulsion. He had hoped never to set foot in that underground castle-cavern ever again. Xellas-sama waved a perfumed hand. His attention rapt, Zelgadis felt himself falling under her power. How helpless the mage must feel. Zelgadis hope the man was terrified. He deserved no less. Colanthus shook again.

"Dysan Tavist Spell. Bind soul. Mine now. Mine. Green rock. Mother’s stone. Bound mine to me." Nothing more was said. Xellas-sama stood silently, threateningly. A blink of her eyes sent the mage sailing into the air again, screaming as his arms were wrenched from their sockets, and he was most aware of it this time.

Xellas-sama turned to her General-Priest and his lover. "Have either of you noticed a green stone? A Jade or Emerald? It may not have looked like much, but I’ll need it to free the chimera." Xellos gathered himself together and stood before his Master. Zelgadis remained silent, wide-eyed.

"Yes, Xellas-sama. I noticed a female brooch of elvish design in the cavern. It was at the chimera’s feet when I noticed it. An emerald to be exact. Encased in silver work and- "

"I have it." Zelgadis’ voice was little more than a whisper. He cleared his throat and spoke again. "I have the gem you speak of, Xellas-sama." Zelgadis extended his arms, the very same gem he had been carefully polishing with his left sleave cupped in his hands. He looked at the gem with newfound awe. One of those happy coincidences that make you feel blessed to be alive. Xellas-sama looked from the offered gem, to the chimera offering it, back to the gem. She reached out and gently took the thing from Zelgadis, her fingers barely brushing his, yet it was enough to send a shiver of something through him.

"This will expedite matters." Turning away from the chimera, she headed back up the steps to her throne. Turning to sit, the gem before her, Xellas-sama began to think of what she would need to do, and how she could best benefit from the situation. After all, though she prized her General-Priest dearly, she was not about to start doing extraordinary favours for him. It would upset others in her ranks and lead to no end of squabbelling. "Leave me. This will take some time and preparation." Xellos bowed deeply. Zelgadis started, then did the same. Xellos whisked them away to a new area, one Zelgadis was unfamiliar with. Blinking, he tried to make sense of where he was, but Xellos beat him to the punch.

"This is the library area of my chambers, Zel-kun. I figure you would want something to read while we wait." Xellos stood picking at some dirt on his cape. At the same time, Zelgadis noticed the overwhelming smell that came from the two of them, the scent of the caverns still clinging to them. He snorted in disgust.

"Do you think there is enough time for me to have a bath before your Lady-Master summons us?" Zelgadis took one look at the grin on Xellos face an added "Alone, Xellos." The mazoku pouted. Then lead the way to the bathing room. And there was more than enough time for Zelgadis to take bath.

Even with Xellos helping him.

* * *

Xellas-sama sat silent on her throne. The stone was the key indeed. But what was she to gain from this. The second chimera was not an option. He would remember nothing of this. Him owing his freedom to her might have a small impact on his elvish born sensibilities, but there was more mazoku blood in him than elvan. And that was what she was mainly waiting for. And that would be a lot more telling than any story related to her by her General-Priest.

Ruby eye. Emerald eye. Lord of All. Hellmaster. What have we here? Moon elf? Drow elf? Wood elf? What makes you tick . . .

" . . . Valerian."

Time would tell. Xellas-sama had patience enough for this.

Centre of focus, yet the least of anyone’s attention, the chimera stood silently as always, awaiting its fate at the hands of a Mazoku Lord.

There are worse things in life, then Death.

Despair . . .

Delirium . . .

Destruction . . .

* * *

"What is taking her so long? What is she waiting for? She knows the spell and has the required talisman. Does she need the planets to be aligned or something?" Zelgadis was pacing furiously around the library Xellos had attached to his chambers. His patience was at its very limit. Xellos sitting at the table, quietly sipping on his umpteenth cup of hot chocolate didn’t make the chimera feel any better. "Are you even listening to me!"

Xellos sighed as he set his cup aside. He ran a hand through his hair. "Zelgadis-san-"

"It’s been three days now. What could she be doing that takes this long?"

"Zelgais-san-"

"I mean ther has to be-"

"ZELGADIS-SAN" The chimera finally stopped his anxious prattle. He fell with an emphatic ‘plump’ into the overstuffed reading chair he had assumed as his own. Xellos sighed again, this time it spoke of slight frustration. "Xellas-sama will take care of this. It simply takes time. These sorts of things can be done quickly, ONCE you are certain of what to do. I am sure that the length of time that has passed is due to my Master’s sincere curiousity in the creature that stands before her. Have you noticed his left eye?"

"Of course I have. The whites are red and where the eye should match silver with the right it is green. What of it?"

Xellos snorted. I thought you of all people would have a better memory for such details. However, seeing as you seem to be suffering from selective memory, as usual, let me ask you this," Xellos frowned when Zelgadis snorted at the prospect of a guessing game. "This is not any ordinary game, Zel. Again, let me ask you this: What Mazoku High Lord can you recall, that met his end at the hands of the Lord of Nightmares, had green eyes?" Xellos didn’t even crack a smile when Zelgadis nearly fell out of his chair.

"Phi-Phibrizzo!"

"Correct. Now then, let me ask you this." Xellos continued in all seriousness. "Which Mazoku High Lord met hid end at the hands of Lina Inverse, Rezzo the Red Priest, and-"

"Shabranigdo! What does he-" Zelgadis interrupted himself. "Lord Ruby Eye. . ." Xellos nodded his head in silence. Zelgadis sat stunned. He had never given consideration to the thought that the mazoku part of the other chimera could be from such a powerful source. That Phibrizzo, or worse, Shabranigdo himself could be the proginator of the mazoku bloodline was apalling.

"Now do you see why Xellas-sama wants to be absolutely sure of what she is dealing with before she proceeds?" Zelgadis nodded mutely. Xellos picked up his half empty cup and resumed sipping at its contents.

"So that’s why she took his blood." Xellos nodded in agreement. "But what has she to compare it to?" Xellos took a long sip from his cup, draining it, before answering.

"Do you think your chimera friend to be the only bastard offspring of a Mazoku High Lord? There are several in the dungeons here alone, imprisoned for deeds best not mentioned out loud. Phibrizzo had one daughter with a penchant for young women’s eyeballs. When she decided to snack on the eyes of one of Xellas-sama’s current lovers, well. You can imagine how that turned out. And while the Lord Shabranigdo had no known children, his blood is contained in several incredibly powerful artifacts that Xellas-sama can easily come into possession of. If she has not aquired them already. Time, Zel-kun, is on our side now. Colanthus will not die until Xellas-sama has made him pay for the insult he gave her." The cup in Xellos hand shattered.

Zelgadis, who had been staring at his feet while listening to his lover, jumped at the noise, was startled to see dark blood staining pale skin. He pushed out of his chair, crossed the emptiness between them in two strides, and knelt in front of Xellos. He pulled a cloth from his pocket, pried open Xellos’ bleeding hand, and began to pick the ceramic shards out of the mazoku flesh. Xellos sat, fuming, silent. The insult of his master was enough to fill him with a dark rage. The chimera’s tender ministration of the wound was enough, after a while, to bring him back to himself.

"You needn’t bother, Zel-kun. I can heal-"

"I know." Zelgadis continued to remove ceramic shards. Xellos sat back. Watched. Let him. It gave them both something to concentrate on other than their own dark thoughts.