"I thought you said they’re be found!" the Empress hissed, glaring at Xellos. He was quickly getting annoyed with her superior attitude. "I thought you said that they couldn’t have gone far. That at most you’d need to dispatch guards to check nearby haystacks."

Xellos was about ready to kill the woman. He was helping her because it was practical, consequentially, to do so. She seemed to think he had to work for her. Bitch. This must be how Zelgadis seemed to feel about Lina…

Ah, Zelgadis. He was planning a lot for that boy, oh, yes he was. And he wouldn’t be getting off as easily as he would have been, either, not after that chair incident. They were both in big trouble for running off like that last night, make no mistake.

Of course, all things have their golden lining. Lina had always seen herself as her own. Not his, as she should be. But this would make everything come together. She would be his, now and forever, without a chance or hope for escape. Ever.

However, he hadn’t counted on the boy to be a mage. One didn’t usually have time to learn magic and swordplay in only 18 years. But, he mused, the child had little else to do. Apparently I should have been more thorough, Xellos thought darkly, I’ve been getting sloppy.

And it was true, This century he’d been very sloppy. He was getting too confident. But it hadn’t hurt anything, not really, and he had been ignoring it.

But I can’t do that anymore. No, not now. Not now that both his prey and his property had run off and escaped.

But not for long.

No, not for long. They had flown, but there was only so far they could have gone. And he was going to get them back.

However, it would require more than just sending out the empress’ small retinue. It would require help from the king, too. And that would take some figuring.

But that was what Xellos was good at. He could sneak his way by a wolf in full daylight, right in front of it’s nose. And the damn thing wouldn’t even notice.

Of course, he’d have to get the Empress of his tail if he was going to get any thinking done.

"…This is all your fault, Xellos. You and your damn cocky ways," She continued. It grated on Xellos’ nerves, that she thought she was the one in charge. That she was the threat to him.

She’d learn different. But not yet.

"I assure you, highness, it will not happen again," He answered smoothly. "I have plans already at work."

She hissed at him. "I don’t know what you’re planning, Xellos, but whatever it is it had better work." She stated. "And you had better punish your little partner for threatening me." She huffed. "I can make things very hard for her, she does not know the danger of upsetting the empress!"

You poor, poor idiotic child, Xellos thought, There is no way you even realize how pitiful you’re sounding. Like a girl who’s lost her toy. You can be so cold, precise, and intelligent when you’re winning, but the second you get angry it falls to pieces. She’d been like this since she was born. Xellos made it his business to know about people as powerful as she.

And I had better make it my business to know about all the people I work with, He scowled, not caring if the empress saw. She’d just put it down to his anger at Lina. I do not like how I missed so large a fact that the boy was a mage as well as scholar and swordsman. He glared at the wall. This does not bode well. Could he have been keeping it quiet?

* * *

Lina woke up next to something smooth, and slightly hard, like stone. But it was warm, and it was cold out. She snuggled closer to it and tried to get her bearings. She always hated mornings because it took her so long to reorient herself.

Let’s see…I was in trouble. Why was she in trouble? She couldn’t remember. I think Xellos was angry at me, wasn’t he? Why would Xellos be angry at her? He was angry at someone else too…Zelgadis.

That’s right. I tried to kill him… But what had happened after that?

The stone tightened around her slightly.

OH MY GOD!!! Zelgadis had dragged her off. They’d spent the night in this little hut.

I..I…How drunk was I??? No, she hadn’t been drunk at all…

THEN WHAT AM I DOING IN HIS ARMS???

Oh. Oh right. That was why. So they didn’t freeze. She lay there for a moment.

So why aren’t I getting up? It was comfortable. And it was cold out.

And..it sorta felt…kinda nice. No one had ever really held her before…

What am I DOING?

She stayed there.

I should be moving soon.

She didn’t move.

I ought to…

* * *

Zelgadis Was half awake when he noticed there was something warm in his arms. His first thought was,

Oh god. What trouble have I gotten into this time? Not another Angela, oh please, not that…

The he woke up.

Oh.

Lina moved slightly, as if about to wake up.

I am so glad this is not what it looks like…I can’t deal with that, I just can’t. Another Angela, someone out to steal his heart then throw it back at him, gods, he was scared just before he remembered what had happened.

He jumped away. Lina’s eyes snapped open and he thought he saw a slight sadness rush through them.

No. Not possible. He couldn’t let her get to him. She was his one hate, one true enemy, but he couldn’t let he jibes and insults get to him.

I can’t deal with pain. Not again.

Mentally he pulled back into the further reaches of his mind, and built barricades of thorns and iron. He locked his inner self in the highest tower, closing up all entrances. He locked the final door and looked out across the wooded swamps, the back recesses of his mind where no one had bothered to walk, cared to see. Then he pulled the shutters closed and sank back into his mind.

If someone wanted his heart again, they would have to find it first. and then, maybe then, if they worked that hard for it, maybe then they would think twice before tossing his heart to the floor.

Lina stretched and frowned as the sound of a bear crossing the Delaware rang through the hut. She gazed down at her stomach. "I need food." She commented intelligently.

Zelgadis rolled his eyes, curtain of ice dropping into place. "Thank you Healer Obvious." He said in a mocking tone. "I couldn’t tell from the Rabid boar screaming it’s lungs out."

She glared at him. "Well, sooo-rry, Mr. morning person. I’ll go take care of that ‘rabid boar’ now, shall I?"

"How? It’s not like there’s anything in the cupboards." Indeed, Old Mother Hubbard was well stocked compared to these. "Where are you going to get it?"

Now it was Lina’s turn to roll her eyes. "Give me a break, Prince," She said, managing to make prince sound like something she had found in the bottom of a lake, at best. "But in case you haven’t noticed, which I find hard to believe, since you threw me into it, there is a lake in the backyard. I’m going fishing." She flipped her hair and left.

Damn bitch…

* * *

Zelgadis wandered out of the hut to see Lina up to her waist in water, randomly tossing small stones into the lake. "What are you doing?" He asked exasperatedly, "I thought you were going fishing."

She stuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth in concentration and threw another stone. "I am."

Zelgadis rolled his eyes. "Sure you are. Of course." Lina tossed another stone.

"So! Are we going to be here a while?"

Zelgadis stopped. "Well," He started, "Here’s as good a place as any." He shrugged. "Sure. Why not? It’s back in the middle of no where, they won’t find us easily."

"Ah." Lina chucked another stone. Unable to fathom Lina’s ‘fishing’, Zelgadis looked around the hut for anything left that might be remotely useful. All he found a rusty axe, hammer, and a bunch of nails hidden in the cellar, where no one would think to look for anything to steal from an abandoned hut.

Why? It was a hut, for heaven’s sakes. Why would a hut have a cellar??? The only reason Zelgadis found it was he accidentally broke through the floor in a rotted out corner. It was so dusty he’d thought it was a dirt floor.

Really, now. What kind of idiot would build a tiny little hut like this and then build a cellar?

* * *

Xellos was pissed. Really, really pissed. He couldn’t find even a hint of their auras, not one. With all the power he’d invested, he should have been able to at least know what direction they took. But nothing.

This was not good. This was really not good. But at least he had his efforts with the king’s men to fall back on.

He put on a cheerful face and strode out to the court room. It was already abuzz with the fact that the prince was not in his chambers that morning. Time for the act. The curtain goes up, and,

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court," Xellos began, grinning evenly at them. "I have just been notified that My partner, Linda, is not here. It seems she too is missing."

Voices rose and he could hear the pitch of enraged, jealous maidens. Yes, He’d expected that. However…

"I believe you have all heard the rumors that MY Linda had her hooks sunk very deeply into the Prince. Indeed, he himself came very close to stating this fact. He also accused her of some very low things that I shall not repeat." Voices silenced, everyone wanted to know what was going on.

"But the truth is these are entirely baseless rumors and false accusations. Linda would never do any of this, she is a Lady through and through.

"Perhaps you have also heard the rumors that she killed Lady Angela. These are, as well, untrue."

Xellos paused for effect. "I feel responsible for this. It is true that Linda has become enamoured of the Prince, because I did not notice his sly attempts at stealing her heart. She is nothing but a victim in this wild plot." The Empress suddenly glared at him. He ignored her. "In all honesty, I cannot say I am entirely innocent, these doing have stemmed from my neglect."

"Well?" The King asked angrily, "I’m waiting."

Xellos grinned. "It appears, your highnes, that the prince first entranced my Linda to him, then hurt her by accusing her of such things, and then kidnapped her."

The king’s eyes gleamed. "Have you proof?"

Xellos feigned shock. "My King, I saw it with these two eyes!" He exclaimed. "I heard her scream, and I rushed to the room I heard it coming from. The…" He looked at the empress. "Prince’s private chambers."

The empress grinned.

The king paled.

"I am truly sorry to accuse you dear son of such a crime, but I believe he was attempting to…" He coughed. "Disrobe her. She was, of course, frightened out of her mind, and sobbing for help. I immediately went to comfort her." Well, it was sort of true. "As I was trying to bring her back to herself, The prince struck me from behind with a chair, snatched Linda, and leapt from the window. If you do not believe me, I suggest you look to his room, where you will find the smashed window, the broken chair, and the bloodstains I left on the carpet." He sighed. "Though it pains me to accuse our prince like this, I feel I must for the sake of justice."

There. That’s for hitting me with the damn chair, you little bastard.

He turned to the King. "Please, your highness, for the sake of my partner, I beseech you to Send all your men to scour the countryside and find them."

The King could hardly say no after that speech. And besides, it was in his best interests to find a way to kill Zelgadis, even though these were not the terms he had wanted. "Of course. Of course!" He said shakily, "The heinous crimes of my son will not go unpunished! I will send out my entire guard in search of them!"

Xellos smiled. Perfect.