Warmth, that was all he felt in this place.
Where was he?
Grey. That was all he could see.
Was this a dream?
Then there was sound. Breathing. It permeated everything. Making it his entire world. It was loud and ragged, like some one running. Then it changed. Whoever was running had stopped.
A male voice. "You are still too weak. Give the child to me."
"NO!" A woman said. "He's mine! I must protect him! If his father..."
"Give him to me and I promise his father will never find him."
"Are you certain?"
"You have my life on that."
"Let me say good-bye to him, Schneider."
Light. Shadow. Red.
"Darche, my child. Be free."
Something wet fell on his face.
It was a tear?
"Know always that I love you."
"They are coming..."
"Your Uncle Schneider will keep you safe. Don't forget me. Good-bye my son"
The darkness returned.
"Take him." Her voice was firm and resolute. "I will hold them off."
"Do not worry your child will be safe."
Then he was moving, his mother's voice was fading away.
*Darkness beyond twilight, Crimson beyond blood that flows;*
*Buried in the stream...*
VOOOSH
Light. Shadow.
"Well little one its time we got you somewhere safe."
A face came into focus. It was his.
Lina woke with a start. Something was wrong. Let's see. Pajamas? Check. Blankets? Check. Ruche asleep beside her? Check. Be... Wait a minute and back up. What was that last one? Ruche asleep beside her? That's what I thought.
Lina was out of the bed and up against the wall in a flash. Reassuring herself that she still had her pajamas in place, she took a second to look at her current vexation. What was the brat doing here anyway? Zelgadis and Gourry were supposed to be watching him. And he up and crawls into her room, by the... come on. One thing was for sure, those two would get it in the morning.
"Yooo... ko... " Ruche whimpered as he tossed in his sleep.
"Poor thing. You miss her don't you." Lina said as she reached down to touch his brow. Ruche responded by reaching out and grabbing hold of her arm. Calming from his turbulent dream to a peaceful rest. "Well don't you worry little one. I will see that you get back to her. Or my name isn't Lina Inverse."
"How touching."
Lina whipped around trying to find the source of the voice. "I don't know who you are but you picked the wrong girl to peep on!"
"Pardon the intrusion Miss Inverse but, my master has requested you presence. And what my master wants my master gets." A figure said as it stepped out of the shadows.
"We'll just see about that."
FLARE ARROW
Lina flashed a v for victory after seeing the stranger enveloped in smoke.
"Is that all you have. Perhaps my information was wrong?"
"Lina, what is going on?" Ruche asked as he woke up.
SLEEP
"Now that he is taken care of we can finish this."
"Damn, a Mazoko. And with boy wonder here I can't pull out the big spells."
"Wrong asshole. I'm not taken care of." Ruche said in a very angry voice as he woke back up.
The Mazoko took a step back. The boy should be asleep. He could still feel his spell keeping him asleep. Yet he stood before him and insulted him with his glowing eyes... Glowing eyes? Yes, the twerp had glowing eyes. A possession? A plant to stop him? Did some one know of his master's plan? Damn it! This was supposed to be a simple snatch and grab but... suddenly the Mazoko teleported across the room as he sensed a power buildup behind him and a black beam of energy passed through the location it had recently vacated.
Stepping out of the shadows a purple haired figure emerged. His eyes glowed red and black energy radiated from his hands. With a sneer on his face a single hate filled word, "Outsider."
Glancing at the two glowing figures the Mozoko took a step back. "This is not over yet," the Mazoko said. Then with a flourish he disappeared into the shadows as he stepped into his own pocket dimension.
With the disappearance of the Mazoko the magical energies around Ruche, and the purple headed visitor faded away.
CRASH
Lina's door was knocked off its hinges as Zelgadis, Gourry, and Amelia came charging into the room.
"Where is it?"
"It, just left, so you're a little late."
"What's going on Lina? Why is everyone in your room?" Ruche asked.
"What was it?"
"Just some Mazoko trying to kill me. Rather normal for me, ne. Hey how did you know it was here?"
"Xellos said there was trouble in your room."
"Xellos told you?" Lina's eyes widened in surprise. "Alright spill it Fruitcake." Lina said as she grabbed the purple haired visitor. " By the four courners what is going on here."
"Now that..."
"If you say that it is a Secret, then I swear by Cephid that I'll blast you so hard that your ancestors will feel it."
"Hmmmm," Xellos pondered this threat with a smile. Then with a wink he said, "Not a clue."
After everyone picked themselves up after the major facefault, Lina muttering something about how she shouldn't have bothered, while Zelgadis said something about stupid secrets.
"Though it does seem that we are in for a lot of fun." Xellos said as he looked at Lina's messy bed then Lina and Ruche. "Yes, I would say Lina's had a lot of fun already tonight. You will invite me the next time you have fun Lina? I do so dislike missing out on the fun." Xellos said as he looked back at the messy bed.
By this time Lina's face was as red as her hair. "Alright. Everybody, out! Out. Come on. The commotion's over so leave. Bye. You too." Having cleared the room, Lina bolted her door and tried to get some sleep. Not an easy task considering what had happened.
Miles away, in a Dragons Horde, an eye opened.
Could it be. Yes. My master has returned after 10,000 years.
Flames then consumed the eye and it was gone.
Turning its head the red dragon surveyed its treasure. One of its pretties was missing. Someone will pay!
End Part 2