Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers or anything. Please don't sue me. Not that you'd get anything but my. well I don't have anything anybody'd want. Wow, I live a sad, sad life. Anyway, this story is for my dear friend Alicia (The great ABC to all us little people), and I hope she doesn't kill me she reads the end. All right, enough rambling, on to the story!

Following Orders

Xellos bowed as he entered the chamber and wondered why he had been summoned in the first place.
"Yes, Lord Beast Master?"

"I have a job for you to carry out. It has been far too long since anything's happened. I'm bored."

"Of course, Lord Beast Master, what would you like done?" he asked respectfully, knowing anything less would not be tolerated.

"You know of the golden dragon, Filia Ul Copt, correct?" The general-priest's heart seemed to freeze.

"Yes, Lord," he answered carefully. "She was an ally of Lina Inverse's when we fought Dark Star."

"I want her destroyed."

The world could have ended right then and Xellos would have never noticed. Kill Filia? But why? She wasn't a threat; she wasn't doing anything to anger the monster race, she. then it dawned on him. She had unknowingly corrupted Xellas Metallium's most powerful minion.

"Yes, Lord." He mumbled when he realized his master was waiting for an answer. With another bow, he disappeared.

All he could think was that he had to kill the one thing he loved in the entire world and it was his fault. If only he could have hated her in the beginning. If only he could have not fallen for her. But, "if only"'s didn't matter now. He had been ordered to destroy her, and he would, but first he would come up with a plan.

* * *

Lina Inverse patted her stomach and sighed contently.

"That was great. We haven't eaten so well in days."

"I agree," her companion replied, setting his last empty plate with the others.

"Let's check into an inn for the night," she said as she stood. "I'm tired."

"How far until we get to Filia's?" Gourry asked, following her out the door.

The wind blew gentle but cool, and brought with it the scent of spring. The sorceress shivered despite the warmth of her cape. Upon seeing this, the guardian wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"About a day or so." Lina answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

"It'll be nice to see her again. I wonder if Valgaav's hatched yet." he chattered, either unaware of or just ignoring the blush that had risen in the girl's cheeks.

"Gourry," she groaned. "Don't you remember the letter she sent us last year?"

"Umm. No." Lina just sighed instead of hitting him and said, "Filia sent us a letter last year, telling us how the egg had hatched and Valgaav was fully ancient dragon and not half monster anymore."

"Oh." He replied.
They came to an inn a few minuets later and checked into it with no trouble. As the two separated to go to their respective rooms, Gourry grabbed the sorceress's hand.

"Lina." he started. She looked up at him in confusion and tried to fight the blush she felt take over her face.

"Yes?"

"I. I just wanted to say good night." He said and looked away.

"Of course," she nodded, not understanding why she was so disappointed. "Good night."

* * *

The day was warm, sunny and great for business, Filia decided. She
sent Valgaav off with Jillas and prepared to open her shop. She wondered
if Xellos would show up today, as he hadn't come around for a while.
Normally he would appear right in front of her when she least expected it
and it would generally cause her to break something of great value.

On the rare occasion she would ask what he wanted, he would just smile
sweetly and say it was to annoy her. Well, she reflected, he was doing
just that, but not for the reasons he thought. What really annoyed the
golden dragon was that a monster had made her fall in love with him.

An hour or so passed and just as a large cluster of clouds covered
the sun, the general-priest appeared. This time she was prepared for him
and managed to catch the vase she'd dropped.

"Xellos!" she yelled, reaching for her mace. He grabbed her arms and
pinned her to the wall before she got the chance.

"Stop." Was all he said.

"What. What are you doing?" she stammered. His grip was strong; one
she could not break. Something was wrong, she realized, something was
very wrong.

"Following orders." He replied, the sadness in his voice bringing her
to tears. She knew right then what he was going to do and knew that she
wouldn't be able to stop him. Not because she didn't have the power, but
because she knew that she could never harm him.

"Please don't." she begged.

"Lina will be here soon," he whispered. "She'll take Valgaav to
Seyrunn. He'll be taken care of there."

"Xellos, please."

"I'm sorry. Lord Beast Master ordered me to destroy you."

She nodded, knowing that nothing she could say or do would ever make him
betray his master.

"At least tell me why." She whispered, tears coursing down her cheeks.

"I fell in love with you, the enemy. I have to kill you because I
love you."

Unable to listen to her pleas anymore, he covered her mouth with his in a
long, drawn-out kiss. His arms slid down her body and he wrapped one
around her tiny waist. The other hand reached to his belt and curled
around the hilt of a dagger.

Before the kiss broke, he plunged the tip through her heart. She fell
back, golden eyes wide open. He was still holding her as her life flowed
away and knew that he would be with her soon.

"Why didn't you fight back?" he murmured, wiping away the blood that
was now running down her chin.

"Couldn't." she struggled to speak.

"Why?" he asked again. She gave him a weak smile.

"Love you." she whispered with her last breath. With a shaking, bloody
hand, he slid her eyes shut and set her gently on the floor.

"Soon, I promise." He whispered and softly kissed her now-cool forehead.
Covered in the blood of the woman he loved, and dead inside for the first
time in over a thousand years, Xellos teleported away.

Thank you all for reading this! Don't worry, there'll be more.. If
there's anyone still actually reading this anyway. REVIEW! Please.
I don't write more if no one likes it..

-Ahria