Slayers: The Betrayal
Epilogue: The Aftermath
AN: I don't really need to say that I don't own anything here, do I? Anyways, the R-rating is because of pure evilness on Xel's part and language, as you'll soon see. And for parts in previous chapters… *cough* uh, hehe. Anyways hope you enjoy. OOC-ness as is typical.
Zelgadis was startled when Lina was cut off by her own scream.
"Zelgadis-san, what's wrong? We heard a scream and-" Amelia stopped talking as Zelgadis motioned towards Lina's writhing form. "Wha- Lina-san?" Turning to Zelgadis, she looked at him questioningly.
"She walked behind me and startled me. And then she started to say something, only to be cut off by this." Zelgadis supplied as he waved his hands towards Lina.
'Xelloss, I know you're behind this. So just go back to Xelas and tell her that I disobeyed orders. That way I can be punished once, okay?'
'Oh, but Lina. This is so much more fun. Now, I can appear to them right as I rescue you and then take you to Xelas to be punished.'
'You sick, sadistic bastard! You let me go or I'll tell Xelas that you fried me for your enjoyment.'
'Oh, really? And who is she more likely to believe?' Xelloss said, the contempt evident in his voice.
That shut Lina up, but suddenly it dawned on her that she was of the same rank as him, and therefore she could break the spell. Calling on her powers, she threw her arms out, shattering the spell. Collapsing into a heap, she started to get up only to be pushed back down by someone's foot on her spine. Growling, she ground out a curse. "Xelloss, you let me up or else I'm gonna shred you into tiny pieces!"
'Well, Lina-chan, I guess I'll oblige you and your friends.' Appearing from the astral plane, he ground his foot into Lina's back some more. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted. 'Xelloss, what do you think you're doing to my general?'
'Mistress, she disobeyed you and tried to tell Zelgadis what she was.'
'Okay fine. But since you have already fried her, I have no punishment to give. So, why don't you let Lina-chan up, and tell them. It no longer matters if they know as they cannot do anything about it.'
'Lina-chan, I've explained to Xelloss that his punishment is enough, and I've changed my mind anyways. You can tell them since they're powerless against you.'
They both acknowledged her, and she finally was able to stand up, as Xel removed his foot from her back. Or she tried to stand anyways. But once she was stable, she fell again. Xelloss felt guilty for the first time in a millennium at hurting her so much, and caught her. Lina looked up at him, tears in her eyes. 'Why are you helping me?'
'Because I love you, and feel guilty about how much I hurt you. I let myself get out of control. I'm sorry, Lina-chan.'
'I shouldn't be forgiving you, but I'm going to do so anyway.'
'Good, I'm glad.'
Looking back towards the threesome of travelers, Xelloss slipped his arm around Lina's lower back so she wouldn't fall again. Lina cleared her throat and started. "Guys, what I was going to tell you is self-explanatory since Xelloss was the one who kidnapped me. Casting a mental power amplification followed by the chant for Flow Break, the light around her shimmered, and she looked up guiltily.
Zelgadis reached for his sword at the same time Gourry did, while Amelia gasped. It was Amelia who spoke. "Lina-san, what have you done? Why didn't you fight back, try to escape?"
"Well, Amelia-san, it's not that easy for a mortal. You see, Lina couldn't escape because if she went outside the main hall while she was human, Mistress' wolves would've eaten her. And after I found her before Lord Beastmaster's doors, I tied her down to my bed. That was yesterday. Early this morning, she heard your plea but dismissed it as imagination, and right after that I killed her. So, as you can see, she didn't really have a choice."
"You lie!" Everyone looked over at Gourry in shock. "Lina didn't join you, otherwise she wouldn't have rejected Gaav."
Lina sighed sadly. "Gourry, I didn't join him. I didn't have a chance to say no."
"But Lina, what about me? What about us?"
"Gourry, I'm sorry. I loved you like that at one time, but I'm not the one for you. Sylphiel deserves you more."
Gourry let his eyes be shadowed by bowing his head. "No," he whispered. "No!" Running at Lina, he had his sword unsheathed before Lina could react.
Xelloss, supporting her as he was, recognized the tell-tale glint of steel and teleported away, but not before Gourry sliced open a line straight up her torso. Zel and Amelia looked at Gourry in horror, while Xelloss snarled, livid with rage. He saw Lina start to fall forward after swaying and quickly knelt down with her so she could gain as much support from him as possible.
Lina felt an aura in front of her and knew it was Xelloss. "Why? Why did he strike me?" Before she fainted.
Xelloss glared at Gourry, before phasing away, his words echoing around them. "I'll be back for you, Gabriev."
Amelia turned to Gourry. "Gourry-san, I thought you loved her."
Zelgadis added, "Now Xelloss has you on his hit list. You are a dead man, Gourry."
"I did love her, but now she's betrayed me. She joined HIM, and deserves nothing but pain." Zelgadis and Amelia stared at him in horror.
Zelgadis finally got his mouth to work. "Wherever did you get a sword like that anyway?"
"When I was in Neo Sairaag visiting Sylphiel. Lina was in the library researching black magic and I bought this for protection."

Lina heard someone calling her name and then a second voice joined in. But whereas the both voices held concern, the second one held more command. Slowly opening her eyes, Lina saw Xelloss and her mistress hovering over her. "Oh Lina-chan, you're alright. I'm so sorry that I didn't teleport away in time. Mistress, would it be asking too much for her to have protected armor?"
"Actually Xelloss, I was thinking of that too. Sherra has armor, so why shouldn't my general? After all, she is one of us now." Turning to telepathy, she nodded to both of them. 'Xelloss, the swordsman must be 'relieved' of his weapon, and must be sufficiently injured so that he cannot hurt another with his sword. Although his sword will no longer be able to hurt you after you have your armor, he's too dangerous to risk it now. Lina-chan, I'll show you the armor now, however you can put whatever spells on it you wish. Whatever you like since it is yours now. As for a weapon, I shall elongate your dagger, and change the magic to black.'
Xellas took Lina into her throne room, and then to a closet, hidden in a particularly dark corner of the room. Taking out a full suit, armor and outfit included, she laid them on the floor. "Well, Lina-chan? The tunic as you can see is tan, the cape black with purple inside, and the pants black, just like Xelloss' own clothing. As for the armor, it's black and made of Orihalcon. Now, hand me the sheath and sword belt." Lina picked them up and handed them to her. "As you can see, the sheath is also of Orihalcon metal. Once you start to slide the sword in, it will conform to fit the size and length of it. As for the belt, it is the same as this headband." Xellas tapped her silk headband. "It has ancient runes inscribed on it, and will protect you. Now hand me your dagger." Lina slid it out of it's sheath and handed it to her mistress. A black glow surrounded it, and then proceeded to seep into the blade. Another glow, dark purple this time, surrounded it, and slowly in elongated into a long thin sword.
Lina picked up the new outfit, and stored it in a subspace pocket. 'Thank you, Lord Beastmaster.' Turning, she walked back to the room she had been given, and changed into the new armor. Standing in front of the mirror, she gazed at her new reflection. The armor simply screamed power and gave away how powerful she know was, as if she didn't radiate power already. Teleporting into the throne room, she waited to be acknowledged.
"Well, my general, what do you think? Are you ready to battle that ignorant swordsman again?"
"I am, Mistress. I'm very happy about how I look."
"And you, my priest?"
Lina glanced out of the corner of her eye and spotted Xelloss in the shadows by the door.
"I agree with Lina-chan."
Lina and Xelloss both looked up at their mistress and awaited orders. 'You two are to destroy the sword that the swordsman holds. If he fights, kill him.'
'Mistress,' Lina started, 'May I injure him sufficiently that he never fights again instead?'
'What did you have in mind, Lina?'
'Well, if he put up a fight, I could just cripple him.'
'I like it general of mine. Do it! Dismissed.'

Zelgadis, Gourry, and Amelia sat under the old tree in the royal gardens and comtemplated, each to his/her own thoughts. Suddenly Amelia jumped up, ran over to Gourry, and grabbed him by the collar, shaking him quite violently. "Gourry-san, what is wrong with you? As much as Xelloss might not like you, you have never given him a reason to kill you. Now, however, you are a do-"
"doomed man. That you are Gourry." Amelia and Zelgadis whipped around to see Lina and Xelloss standing side-by-side. Xelloss' aura was visible as a black shadow surrounding his body and his staff's ruby pulsed with power. Lina's change in appearance was quite obvious. For one thing, she and Xelloss looked like twins with their eyes matching their hair, and their clothing matching each others. In fact, the only difference was that whereas Xelloss had a bag and a staff, Lina had armor and a sword, a very sinister looking blade if the sheath was any evidence.
"Gourry, give us the sword. If you do than I won't need to draw this blade, and that happens to be something I'd prefer to not do." As she spoke, she gripped the hilt of her sword and with her other hand, cast a small fireball in her palm.
"I won't Lina and you can't make me." Zel and Amelia stared on in abject horror.
"Ah, Gourry-san, that is where you are wrong." Xelloss spoke for the first time. "You see, you don't seem to realize the armor that Lina is wearing makes her invicible. Here's the proof." Xelloss said calmly, as he sent a blast ash towards her. Lina lobbed the fireball into the air and the quartet watched as the fireball exploded into a firestorm surrounding her, and then became a black magic whirlwind as the blast ash hit the firewall. They saw a figure emerge through the flames and Lina walked through the magical tornado without so much as a sheen of sweat.
Zelgadis stared, open-mouthed. "How did you?"
"Ah Zel, you don't understand. Not only is this armor," she thumped the shoulder and hip guards and the chestplate, "made of Orihalcon metal, it also has personalized protection spells of Lina Inverse, mazoku general of Beastmaster Xellas Metallium." She finished with a smirk, and smiled even wider as Xelloss teleported next to her, wrapped his arms around her back, and kissed her deeply.
Amelia tried desperately to get her mouth to form words and finally managed to get out a choked "Oh my god."
"Ah, Amelia, my friend, my little sister. You and Zelgadis may leave, this doesn't concern you and I must ask you to go since you can't do anything anyway. Neither of you came close to my power level when I was human and L-sama's chosen. Now, not only am I the only Nightmare mage in centuries and L-sama's chosen, I also am a Mazoku under Xellas, Juu-ou, one of the five Generals of Shabrinigdu. So please leave. I don't want to have to protect you from the love of my life. But Xelloss will kill you if you make an attempt at me or at saving Gourry."
"I-, but, I'm the princess, I can't just allow-"
Lina sighed and kneeled, chanting under her breath. Finishing the spell, she drew her sword and traced the runes into the air. The runes then wrapped around Zel and Amelia, forming a bubble around them, and whisking them away. Lina sighed again, and turned to Gourry. "Since you insist on fighting, I'll oblige you now. But I must warn you that you'll be in pain when you reach Sylphiel's in Neo Sairaag."
Gourry looked at her in confusion, but instead of an answer, he found himself at the end of a ghostly silver sword so thin it couldn't be followed in it's movements, a blade that hummed with the dark power that was part of the metal itself.

Sylphiel was baking when she heard someone in her living room. Placing the mitts on the counter, she walked out towards the room and almost ran into Lina. "Oh, Lina-san, what a surpr-"
The words died on her lips as she saw Xelloss standing next to a limp and broken Gourry. "Oh, Gourry-sama, what happened?" She ran to his side, only to find Lina and Xelloss radiated black auras, Lina' shot through with gold and red. Sylphiel narrowed her eyes. "Lina-san, what did you do?"
"Oh Sylphiel, you poor girl. Gourry attacked me and I was forced to cripple him by breaking his hands."
"I don't believe you, he wouldn't do that!" Sylphiel yelled, frightened that Lina had lost it.
"Fine, do what you wish. But you now have a permanent resident." Lina's words echoed in the room, though she was no longer there.

'Mistress, Gourry has been sufficiently crippled. He'll never hold another weapon.'
'Excellent work, Lina-chan. Now then, what did you do with the sword?'
'She incinerated it, Mistress.'
'Ah, Xelloss. So you got rid of it, yes?'
'Yes mistress.'
'Well then. The next assignment is to find a piece or pieces of Shabrinigdu.'