"I don’t have to deal with this. I do not have to deal with this!" She was mad. She was fuming. She had damned the prince to the four hells, then the nine hells of Sage Ariss, then the hundred hells of Mage Ariss, and was currently trying to think up more hells to damn him to. "How dare he! I can’t believe this!!" She glared at the handwritten invite to the dinner that night. Another one? I am so SICK of these damn power plays!"

The servant, picked specially by Zelgadis to bring back the most information, cringed and tried to keep up the smile he was supposed to have plastered across his face.

"Stop smiling like an idiot. It annoys me."

He dropped the smile.

"Ummm….I was required to Return with a RSVP…"

"Too bad."

The servant tried again. "But…you are required to RSVP whether you’ll come or not…"

"Too bad."

"If I don’t come back with an RSVP I’ll be punished…"

"Your problem." The servant wanted to cry. "Hold it." Lina tapped the envelope against her chin in thought. "What’s the point of this? Zelgadis planned this one? Everyone knows the prince hates parties. Why is he holding a dinner? Also, a leave all weapons at the door policy. What is he planning? I don’t trust a bit of this." She glared at the attendant, who was doing his best not to break into a sweat. She calmly took him by his shirt collar.

"I can bet you’re here to tell Zelgadis exactly what happens." The servant swallowed hesitantly. "Let me guess. I bet he’s going to be talking to ever lady there, isn’t he?" The servant nodded hesitantly. "And he’s going to make it known that if any of them want to marry him, they’ll have to get thru me, won’t he?"

"Not exactly…"

"No. He’ll just hint at it. With all those damn rumors circulating around about us, I’m surprised the empress really needs Angela." Angela. That was another thing. She was doubling her efforts to get Zelgadis, despite the fact he knew she was a paid employee. She didn’t know, of course, but it was pretty obvious he wasn’t paying attention to her any more. So what did Angela want…?

"What’s been going on with The Prince and Lady Angela?"

"I’m sorry, I am not allowed to reveal--"

"I’m sorry, what was that?"

"She’s been trying to get him alone for a while." The servant said around the knife at his throat. "He’s been staying away from her…"

"What’s she been doing?"

The servant tried to make his way out of this. "I’m just a simple servant, m’lady--"

"Don’t give me that crap. You people are all over this place. I don’t care if I have to gut you here and now, I need to know so I can stay alive." Damn all these courtly dances with death!

"She…she’s been trying to get the prince back…"

"So you knew he was with her in the first place."

"Well yes, but…" He stopped and looked at her. "How did you know?"

"Never mind that." She snapped, annoyed. "Why didn’t you warn him against her?"

"You don’t strike me as the type t get jealous over a woman like that."

Lina snarled and shook the man. Boy, really. Damn, they had young servants around here. And all the females were very pretty. She didn’t think about that any more than she had to. It was just one more reason to hate the king. "Shut up. And if you ever mention my having any feeling towards that...that bastard I will personally gut you and throw you out the window."

"Yes ma’am." He swallowed. "We, we did try to tell him, but…you know how boys in love are."

"Yes. Boys." She looked at him. "He’s still just a boy, isn’t he?

"Yes ma’am."

She thought a bit. "Okay, I think I’m on Zelgadis’ side. Maybe. If only for the lesser of two evils." She glowered. "Much as I hate him for it. Go tell him…" She looked out the window, thinking. "Tell him I was furious, but conceded to coming. That’s all." She glared at the boy. "And do NOT tell him I’m fighting on his side. I might not be."

"Yes ma’am." The boy nearly ran out the door.

So much for a nice, peaceful evening to work things out. Lina thought, glaring after the retreating servant. And now I get to trounce merrily in and pretend I have no idea what all the women wanting to ‘save poor Zel-chan from me’ are talking about. AND I get to deal with the bitch Angela. Can life…no. No jinxes. Lina sighed. Looks like the seductress has actually fallen for him. Great. How am I going to deal with this?And she hates me, too…

* * *

Damn bitch. Lina was sick of this dinner already, merely half an hour into it. Angela was doing her best to get rid of her, along with every woman there. Damn Zelgadis. Damn him to all eternity. He was overstepping his bounds here, oh yes.

And so was Angela.

"Would you like to go for a walk, my dear?" Angela asked Lina sweetly, leading her towards the doors. Oh, so big sisterly. This girl played her part well. But Lina’s older sister was no one you’d want to imitate.

Ah, nice. Take me out and get rid of me. She saw Zelgadis glance at them out of the corner of his eye and smile. Oh, good one Zelgadis. Get rid of me by her so you won’t have to deal with me. I am that close to killing you, you know. Alright, Well play your little game, Angela. You try to kill me, I’ll kill you. Lina grinned to herself. I can take you easy.

The second they were beyond the sight of the dinner Angela Pulled a dagger from her hair and sliced through Lina’s throat.

Or, at least tried to. Lina immediately dodged the moment she heard the slide of metal. And Angela found herself with a foot of steel in her back.

"What…" Angela managed, vainly attempting to stop the blood. "Where…"

"Under my skirt, little fool." Lina smiled down at her, wiping her knife on Angela’s skirt. "I admit, I didn’t expect you to attempt to kill me this soon…but now what do I do? You employer will wonder where you went…"

"W-what?"

Lina looked at her without pity. "Oh, poor dear. You’re not used to people figuring out your little plots, now are you?" She leaned in close to the dying woman. "I know all about your little seduction attempt. And with you gone, there’s no proof is there? So the empress’ plans are off."

"S-so you DO love him…"

"HAH! Hardly. I just want to make you miserable before you die. I don’t think I’ll do anything about the king’s attempts, actually. Your precious Zelgadis is going down in a particularly painful way, Darling. And I won’t have to do a thing." She looked at her with hatred in her eyes. "He’s going to get what he deserves, the fool. He’s going to get it good."

* * *

Lina tossed her dress onto the bed and suppressed the very real urge to scream out loud. Damn him. She hoped he fell into the outhouse and drowned. He deserved it.

She pulled her wool tunic over her head and yanked on her leggings. It was getting chilly out. And she was sick of it.

I’m pissed at Xellos for giving me this job. I’m pissed at the king for being such a jerk. And I’m pissed at Zel for any number of reasons, you name it, he’s done it.

Well, he hadn’t raped her or killed her family or destroyed her home or…

Shut up.

She jumped out the window and onto the ledge. I don’t see one single reason I shouldn’t screw them all over.

Lina clung to the edge of the wall and didn’t even look down. Sure, she could raywing, but if she did Zelgadis would probably notice her.

"News, empress!"

Lina stopped where she was and gazed into the window. Well, well. Interesting. Lets see how Angela’s death went over.

"Angela is dead!"

"What?" The empress sat straight up in her seat and glared at the spy. "What happened? I demand you explain!" She glared at the poor spy, who was doing his best not to faint from fear on the spot. The empress was not one you delivered bad news to.

"I-I don’t know, your majesty! She was found in the gardens not far from the dining hall!"

"Who…"

"Me."

Lina easily leapt through the window and landed in from of the empress. "I killed her." She allowed herself a superior smile and looked down her nose at the empress, who was practically livid.

"Wha? You…" The empress suddenly smiled. "Ah, I see. She tried to get rid of you, didn’t she? Well, you shall go unharmed, then." She glared at Lina. "But you do not know how badly you have mixed my plans." She leaned back in her chair.

"I most certainly do."

"What?" The empress spun to glare at the red haired vixen already on the sill of the window. Lina smiled a very unpleasant smile and flipped said hair over her shoulder in a nonchalant manner.

"I know all about you lovely little seduction attempts. I know how you plan to get The prince dishonored so you can claim reason to take over. Well, darling, it won’t work." Where did that come from? Lina covered her surprise at her treacherous mouth with a knowing grin.

"I’m sure I have no--"

"Don’t bullshit me. I’m sick of it. I’m tired of all your senseless little plots. I’m screwing you over. I’m screwing everyone over. And then I’m going to settle down somewhere, and try to live a normal life where these stupid court plots don’t apply. And." She glared at the empress, the pompous, annoying, underweight bitch, and smiled. She was tired of every damn noble in the castle. And she was tired of hiding it.

"If you harm one hair on Zelgadis’ head, I will kill you. I will track you down to the ends of the earth, No matter where you run, no matter how many guards you hire, no matter what locks you hide behind, and destroy you slowly and painfully." She bared her teeth. "Zelgadis is mine."

And leapt out the window.

* * *

Lina sat on the windowsill and pondered that one for a while. Zelgadis is mine? What was I talking about? I want to kill him myself, yes, but…it didn’t sound like that in my head… Oh well. She’d have plenty of time to wonder about that when he was dead and out of the way.

Which brought her mind back to what had gone on that night.

Why that…make a fool out of me, will he? She silently seethed. She crept silently toward his end of the castle. I will make him pay dearly for that. First I’ll knife his eyes.

He’d gone and straight out TOLD the entire court that she was trying to undermine his marrying the princess. Well, it was one of those half truths.

Then I’ll break his legs.

The entire court had looked at her as if she was dirt. The women at the dance shot her dangerous looks, the men ignored her. The servants pretended she wasn’t there. Then he had gone as far as to say she was a runaway and a whore. He said that. To the court. As if it was fact.

I’ll break his hands, Then his wrists…

He was there the entire time. Smiling at her. If she’d left, it would be taken for granted that his accusations were true.

Then I’ll break his arms.

And if she’d left, it would be admitting he won. And there was no way she’d let him win.

Then I’ll let him sit for a while.

She was going to get him. And he was going to die in pain. She had been scorned by the entire court. No one would listen to her, or what she said there anymore. He had taken away her power. The one thing that gave her comfort.

He was going to be sorry.

* * *

Lina crept slowly through the window to Zelgadis’ private chambers. She kept to the shadows, making her way to the large, canopied bed with it’s sleeping form. Lina slinked to the curtain and Slowly pulled back the curtain, dagger upraised…

Pillows.

Lina spun just in time to see diamond blue eyes behind her.

Zelgadis punched her hard in the gut and wrapped her arm around behind her as the weapon clattered to the floor. He smiled.

"Well, well, Inverse. It seems you responded to my taunts exactly as I expected. How pitifully predictable."

"Wh...what? Ah!" She sucked in her breath as her pulled her arm higher up behind her.

"You don’t think I was going to do that to you and then go to sleep with my guard down, did you? How imbecilic do you think I am?" He chuckled. "Now…what will I do with you?"

"Kill me, of course."

"What?"

She took advantage of his distraction to drop down to the floor and escape his grip. She lunged for the knife, and—

He tackled her just before her groping fingers clutched the hilt.

Distract him… "Get your hand off my breast, pervert." She glared at him.

Well, Their position was rather…debatable. He was lying on top of her and had one hand on her neck and the other on her bosom. She almost blushed, but kept a tight rein on her thoughts. Now is not the time to get distracted yourself, Inverse.

"I don’t think so, Inverse. I intend to keep my hide. So what should I do with you? Maybe I will kill you."

"You won’t."

"Oh really?" He smiled.

"Yes."

"Why not?"

"Because my partner is standing in the doorway."

He smiled. "I don’t think so. No more distra—UGH!" Zelgadis flew sideways as Xellos kicked him in the ribs. "You…" He coughed and clutched his side.

"Nice to see you too." Xellos smiled, but his eyes were open and angry. "I’d advise you stay away from my Lina." He offered his hand to her.

"Thanks, Xellos, I--"

Xellos slapped her. She raised a hand to her face.

"What did you think you were doing?" he shook her. His eyes were slit with anger, and his grin had been wiped away. "Are you aware how badly you would have hurt my plans if you had succeeded in killing him? You could have gotten rid of a very powerful ally. Hi father is going to be extremely powerful when he dies, but ONLY if he dies on his birthday! You very nearly got rid of one of my important pieces, you little idiot!"

She looked away from him. Damn it, he made her feel like such an idiot…

He yanked her chin up and made her look at him. "I have a lot riding on this, and he has to die when I say he has to die, okay? You are not going to ruin this for me!"

She pulled away. "I do as I please, Xellos. No one tells me what to do, and he committed a truly unforgivable act, and I was mad. Why should I care about your power games, I—"

He struck her again. "You do as I say! You are mine, little bitch, and you always will be. I made you—" He was cut short by a chair smashing down on his head.

Lina looked over his falling form at Zelgadis. "Well? Are you going to hit me with the rest of it?" She asked when he hesitated.

Zelgadis sat there for a moment. Then grabbed her wrist and ran with her to the window. "Come on. He’s going to wake up soon." He said quietly as he cast levitation and they zipped from the castle.

"Wh...what?" Lina asked intelligently. Well, it definitely wasn’t a situation she expected. Her brain was just barely getting up to the second time Xellos slapped her. "What are you doing?!"

"Saving your hide, girl." He growled, still flying. "Shut up and hold on." He added a boost to the flight spell and zoomed through the air.