“What do you MEAN, you don’t allow pets?!”

            The inn keeper fairly trembled before the bellowing sorceress. Lina glowered at the poor man, but somehow, the man held his ground. He glanced uneasily at the wolf by Lina’s side who just offered a growl of irritation.

            Want me to maul him, Lina?

            “NO!” Lina swatted at Xelloss’s ears and glowered at him. “You’ll behave yourself!”

            “Are you talking to the wolf?” the inn keeper asked hesitantly.

            “Yes,” Lina snapped, “You got a problem with that?”

            “N-no,” the poor man fell back. “Please, miss. I don’t want any trouble.”

            “Then let us in,” Zelgadis said irately.

            “I cannot allow that animal in here.”

            ANIMAL!

            “Calm down, Mr. Xelloss,” Amelia said gently, reaching forward to pat his head, “He doesn’t know any better.”

            Dirty, rotten, no good...

            “Xelloss,” Lina warned, “I know you’re upset about all this...” she turned to the inn keeper again with her sweetest smile. “Listen. He’s got some health problems and we’ve got to keep him nearby, so if you wouldn’t mind making a teensy weensy exception...”

            You make it sound like I’ve got the plague, Lina.

            Xelloss yelped as a hand closed around the scruff of his neck and jerked him up. Lina offered her best smile and wrapped her arm tightly around Xelloss’s furry neck, squeezing him in a tight hug.

            “As you can see,” she said, “I love my puppy very much, and it just won’t do to leave him outside tonight.”

            Choking... me...

            “I’m really sorry...” the inn keeper started.

            Lina dropped her grip on Xelloss, who shook himself briskly to recover. Her smile turned devious.

            “Of course, I could just disregard your wishes and come in anyway,” she said smoothly, “I will bring my ‘pet’ with me and let him tear everything apart as he wishes... Xelloss!”

            The mazoku/wolf offered a feral snarl and bristled his fur, arching his back for effect. His tail swished back and forth in the air, belying his nonthreatening threat.

            Can I attack now? Can I? Can I? Can I?

            “If this man won’t let us through, you can do whatever damage you want, Xelloss,” she assured him. She turned her gaze on the terrified inn keeper and smiled darkly. “He’ll hold back if I tell him to-”

            Aw...

            “But if you don’t let us in...” Lina smirked.

            The inn keeper stepped aside quickly and wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.

            “Please!” he gestured toward the tables, “Have a seat. Order something from the menu. Drinks on the house!”

            Drat. I was looking forward to a little mayhem.

            “Not this time, Xelloss,” Zelgadis snickered.

            Shove it.

            Filia joined Zel’s snicker with her own giggle and smirked down at the wolf as she walked inside. The hair on Xelloss’s back bristled with irritation, and he barely held back a snarl of contempt.

            “Serves you right, Xellos,” she said haughtily, “You almost killed me, you slimy bastard.”

            Lizard lips.

            “Sticks and stones, dear Xelloss,” Filia said with a feigned yawn.

            How about claws and teeth?

            “Mr. Xelloss!” Amelia gasped in alarm.

            “Xelloss, shut up,” Lina sighed, “And Filia, stop taunting him. You’re as much to blame as he is.”

            Filia snorted impatiently and turned her nose up and crossed her arms. Lina buried her face in her hands, moaning ‘why me?’

            “Can we order now, Lina?” Gourry asked.

            “Of course,” Lina grinned, her mind on matters of food now. “Waiter!”

            That night was hell on everyone. The group switched off, taking turns keeping Xelloss and Filia awake. By morning, Filia was a zombie. Xelloss, needing less sleep than Filia, was fully alert and more cheerful than he had been for over a week. He pranced around the diner, despite the inn keeper’s protests.

            “He’s not harming anyone,” Lina said in excuse.

            “If he bites someone, I’ll be ruined!” the poor man wailed.

            I don’t bite! I’m not a primitive!

            “Xelloss won’t bite,” Amelia assured the man. “He just wants to play.”

            Throw me a frisbee! I’m feeling frisky!

            “Shove a sock in it, Xelloss,” Filia grumbled.

            Bite me! Pause. Oh! I made a funny!

            Amelia giggled and tossed a meatball up in the air. The playful wolf leapt up and snapped at it, swallowing it before he hit the ground. A little boy nearby squealed in delight and approached Amelia.

            “Is your pet safe?” he asked curiously. “Can I play with him?”

            “Xelloss?” Zelgadis snorted, “Safe?”

            I want to play! I won’t hurt him! Please, Lina?

            “Sure. Fine,” Lina waved him away. “Whatever keeps him happy. Just don’t let him fall asleep, little boy.”

            “Why not?”

            “Trust me.”

            “Oh... okay!”

            The boy ran toward Xelloss, who just nudged at him happily with his muzzle. The child giggled merrily and ran out the door, wolf close at his heels. The group of travelers watched them disappear out the door before turning back to face each other.

            “Finally,” Zel sighed.

            “I think Mr. Xelloss is kind of cute as a wolf,” Amelia said, “He certainly seems happier.”

            “Just don’t forget that he’s still a mazoku,” Lina said softly.

            “A wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Zel added, “So to speak.”

            “Xelloss IS a wolf,” Gourry pointed out densely.

            The group sweatdropped and dismissed him. Filia leaned forward and grabbed the front of Lina’s shirt.

            “I don’t know how much of this I can handle, Lina,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. Her eyes filled up with tears--partly from exhaustion. “I can’t stay awake forever.”

            “Come on, Filia,” Lina patted her hand and smiled nervously, “We’ll take care of this. We’ll find who or whatever is doing this to you and Xelloss, and you can sleep all day if you want.”

            “I want to sleep now!” she snapped.

            “Waiter!” Zelgadis called, “Coffee! Lot’s of it.”

            “I’ll be buzzed for the day!” Filia gasped.

            “Anything’s better than what you started yesterday,” Zel said.

            Filia leaned back in her chair and folded her arms tightly across her chest, pouting. Lina dismissed her and tapped her chin thoughtfully.

            “First, we need to find out who is doing this,” she said, “Then, we’ll decide the how and what to do about it.”

            “Sounds like a good plan to me,” Gourry smiled.

            “Only one problem,” Zel pointed out, “How do we know who is doing it?”

            “Maybe that nice woman from yesterday knows,” Amelia suggested.

            Lina facefaulted and pulled at her hair.

            “‘NICE WOMAN’?!” she shrieked. “That was Zelas Metallium, Amelia! Mazoku lord of the beasts! She won’t tell us anything!”

            “Besides,” Zel said casually, “She didn’t say anything that suggested she knew any more than we did.”

            “Other than the fact that she knew about the dreams,” Lina added.

            “Other than that,” Zel admitted.

            “Well,” Lina said thoughtfully, “I suppose we start at square one. We search for anything suspicious in the-”

            LINA!

            Lina fell out of her chair at the volume of the mental voice in her head. She held her ears and groaned, although it did little to help against a voice coming from inside of her.

            “Are you okay, Miss Lina?” Amelia asked worriedly.

            “Owww,” Lina moaned.

            Violent snarling could be heard through the open front door, and they looked up in surprise.

            “Something must be wrong!” Lina realized intelligently. She and her friends ran outside to find a rather frightening scene.

            Floating about six feet above the ground was a humanlike figure. It had no outstanding features except for the fact that it was completely black. As Lina looked at it, she thought the black, chaotic swirls looked familiar.

            <<Of COURSE!>> she recalled, smacking her fist in her open palm, <<It’s the same stuff that was swirling through Xelloss when he was wounded that time in place of blood. Apparently this guy doesn’t bother to hide it under a more pleasant exterior.>>

            That’s right, Lina.

            Xelloss’s voice echoed in her head, and her attention was drawn to the wolf on the ground. He let out a hair-raising growl and stood protectively in front of the young boy who had so innocently asked to play with him.

            It’s another mazoku.

            “You JERK!” Lina yelled, “You were scanning my thoughts!”

            Call it my method of keeping track of you. I wanted to know if you had decided to grace me with your presence, oh dazzling sorceress.

            “Sarcasm does not become you, Xelloss,” Lina said, deadpan.

            Never mind that. I can’t take this guy on like I am now. And Filia is too tired to be of any use.

            “Leave this to me,” she smiled deviously, pushing up imaginary sleeves. “You just worry about keeping that little boy safe.”

            Whatever you say, Lina.

            A dark purple aura surrounded the wolf, and he rapidly transformed. A cape fluttered around him, and the human-form Xelloss stood up. He smiled down at the stunned little boy.

            “Time to get you out of here,” he said, scooping up the child. He looked over his shoulder as he leapt out of the way. “This is your show, Lina! Good luck!”

            Lina gaped after Xelloss for a second before something hit her, and she rolled across the stone street. She scambled to her knees and saw Gourry doing the same. Where she had been standing was a small, charred crater.

            “Thanks, Gourry!” she grinned at him.

            “No problem, Lina,” he returned her smile and held out his sword. “My metal sword won’t do much against a mazoku.”

            “Like Xelloss said,” Lina held out her hands, “This is my show. FIREBALL!”

            The fireball never touched the mazoku, and the dark thing laughed, its voice deep. The laugh had a strange, echoing quality--as if it were in the bottom of a well.

            “I did not come to kill you yet, Lina Inverse,” the mazoku said, “I only came to check up on my work. It appears as though you figured it out.”

            “YOU’RE causing those nightmares?” Filia asked, “Why, I oughtta-”

            “Hold back, Filia,” Zelgadis grabbed the angry priestess’s arm to restrain her. “Even a golden dragon is no match for a powerful mazoku. If this guy has anywhere near Xelloss’s power, you’ll be killed!”

            She deflated and sagged to the ground.

            “You’re right,” she murmured, “I’m useless.”

            “Relax, Miss Filia!” Amelia patted her shoulder, “We’ll take care of this! ELMEKIA LANCE!”

            The spell hit the mazoku, but he forced it back with a grunt.

            “HAH!” he pointed down at Lina, “Useless! I don’t need to kill you, Lina. The dragon and mazoku will do that for me. Have a nice day!”

            Lina let her spell dissipate in her hands when the mazoku phased out. She sighed and looked over at Filia. The poor dragon priestess was crying again. This time, Zelgadis was unfortunate enough to be the shoulder she found. He stood there awkwardly as her tears dampened his shirt and patted her back stiffly. His facial expression made it clear what he would never say out loud: ‘Help me.’ Lina let him deal with Filia and turned to look around. On cue, Xelloss and the boy came out of the shadows from between two buildings--the mazoku priest still in human form.

            “Very well fought, Lina,” he praised.

            “Xelloss!” Lina gaped at him, “But you were- Beastmaster-”

            “Oh, you mean when Lord Beastmaster turned me into a wolf?” he smiled at her. He looked at the boy, who was staring at him in awe, and set him down. He lightly pushed the child forward. “You’d best be on your way.”

            The boy scampered off, looking over his shoulder frequently. Xelloss turned back to Lina.

            “That was a type of power seal,” he explained. “I don’t have to remain in wolf form, but I’m considerably less powerful either way. As a wolf, I have little access to my mazoku power, but no less than I have now.”

            “I’m not following you,” Lina shook her head.

            Xelloss sighed and lifted his hands. Lina stared at them blankly and looked at him.

            “So?”

            He looked at his hands and smiled.

            “Oops,” he chuckled with mild embarrassment, “My bad. Here, let me fix this so you can see it.”

            Something glittered in his hands--or more specifically, around his wrists. He held up his hands again, and Lina saw the chain.

            “Manacles?” she asked.

            “Magic-sealing manacles to be specific,” he replied. “In this form, I have almost complete access to my power. But with these,” he shook the chain lightly and scowled at it, “I’m practically helpless. As a wolf, these disappear, but I have the same, pathetic access to my power. My only advantage there is that I have built-in defense.”

            “Your teeth and claws.”

            Xelloss clapped his hands together merrily and smirked.

            “Give the girl a cookie!” he exclaimed. “And, just so you don’t get too accustomed to this...”

            Lina gasped and jumped back as he glowed and reverted back into a wolf.

            It’s so much more comfortable to be able to move my limbs.

            In demonstration, he arched his furry back and stretched. He sat down in front of her and let his tongue loll out of his mouth lazily. A great, shaggy tail swooshed back and forth on the ground.

            I believe we have a mazoku to find.

            “Uh... Right.”

            “Okay, here’s the deal,” Lina jabbed her finger at Filia, “You sleep. We wake you every half hour--sooner if there are signs of you dreaming, got it?”

            “Fair enough,” Filia sighed with relief. “Thank you, Lina.”

            She picked up a pillow and flopped onto the ground less than ten feet away from the fire. Amelia followed her, given the fun-filled task of waking her every half hour. Gourry looked down at her as he walked to the fire.

            “Boy!” he exclaimed, sitting down next to Lina. “She must have been really tired!”

            “Yes, Gourry,” Zel said sarcastically, “Thirty-nine hours without sleep will do that to a person.”

            Should I call in the jackals? They might find her to be a rather tasty feast.

            That came from the wolf curled into a tight ball by the fire. He lifted his head and growled playfully.

            “Watch it, Xelloss,” Lina warned, “Don’t wake her. She’ll strangle you.”

            I’d like to see her try.

            “She might decide to transform back into a dragon and step on you,” Zel pointed out.

            Point taken.

            “Do you think you would mind changing back into your normal form for awhile?” Lina requested. “It’s rather disconcerting to talk to someone who doesn’t give a verbal response.”

            You wouldn’t last two minutes on Wolf Pack Island.

            “Just change!”

            A moment later, Xelloss sat back on the ground and crossed his legs in front of him ‘indian style.’ He folded his hands and let them sit in his lap, offering a particularly fake smile.

            “Anything you say, Lina,” he said, his voice dripping with venom.

            “Watch it, Xelloss,” Zelgadis warned, “As you are, I could easily destroy you with a Ra Tilt.”

            Xelloss smiled widely.

            “Of course,” he said, feigning graciousness. He looked back at Lina, his face serious. “Sorry.”

            “I realize you’re a bit stressed, Xelloss,” Lina forgave him quickly, “But can you at least try to be civil?”

            “I’ll keep the insults to a minimum,” was all he would promise.

            “Geeze, Xelloss,” Gourry blurted, “You’re awfully cranky today.”

            Xelloss gritted his teeth, trying VERY hard not to get irritated by Gourry’s never-ending supply of cheerful stupidity. Lina reached for Gourry to pull him back. Even as weak as Xelloss presently was, he could still do some serious damage.

            “Xelloss...” Lina warned.

            “Ask your questions and leave me be, Lina,” he snapped.

            “Okay...” Lina let Gourry sit back down, “First question is: what the hell are you so uptight about? You’re never this openly hostile!”

            Xelloss smiled tightly and held up his hands. He jerked them apart, only to have them halt at shoulder’s width. They could hear the sound of chains rattling. His eyes opened, and his smile became a grim line.

            “Do you have to ASK, Lina?” he inquired softly, “My powers are almost completely sealed, I don’t even have full range of motion unless in wolf form, and I’m having a more and more difficult time staying awake. Now, if that won’t make a person a bit irritable, I don’t know what will.”

            Lina sighed and shook her head.

            “How long can you usually last without sleeping?”

            “Anywhere from days to years,” he replied, “It depends on how much energy I expel in a given period.”

            “And you expelled a lot of energy yesterday when you fought with Filia,” Zelgadis said.

            “Not as much as you’d think,” Xelloss smirked.

            “That’s scary,” Lina commented, “Anyway, if you’re struggling to stay awake, then either that mazoku is increasing the power of his spell, or we’re getting closer to him.”

            “It’s likely a combination of the two,” Xelloss suggested, “The mazoku we’re dealing with is called Nightmare, or the Dream King. Call him a rogue demon--he doesn’t work directly under any stronger mazoku. He doesn’t bother to create more than a haphazard human form because he simply does not deal directly with humans. He haunts them by dream-walking.”

            “Dream-walking,” Lina echoed, “Isn’t that dangerous?”

            Gourry blinked in confusion. Had Lina seen him, she would have slapped a hand over his mouth and told him to shut up. But she didn’t see him.

            “What’s dream-walking?” he asked.

            Lina facefaulted and pounced on Gourry.

            “Do I have to explain EVERYTHING?” she demanded. “Put in short, simple words, dream-walking is when a human, mazoku, or dragon invades someone elses dreams. Through dreams, this person can supposedly manipulate what’s happening in the dreamer’s mind or even speak to the dreamer.”

            “No supposition, Lina,” Xelloss corrected, “Fact. Nightmare can invade just about any person’s mind and manipulate the dreams to turn out as he wishes. As in Filia’s case as well as my own, he’s utilizing our memories and turning them against us.”

            “From what Filia said, she’s constantly dreaming of the war of the monster’s fall,” Lina mused, “placing you in her dreams to turn her completely against you.”

            “As if she didn’t hate me enough as it is,” Xelloss complained.

            “And what about you?” Zel asked, studying the mazoku priest for a reaction, “You never told us about your dreams.”

            Xelloss stiffened and looked down into his lap. He shook his head vehemently.

            “My dreams do not matter,” he growled, “What matters is that we stop them.”

            “And that they must have Filia in them,” Zel added. “Or you wouldn’t have responded to her anger as you did.”

            “That’s right!” Lina watched the mazoku closely. “Filia MUST have been in your dreams in order for you to get so angry with her.”

            Angry power crackled around Xelloss as Lina pressed the point. But abruptly, the shackles around his wrists appeared and crackled even more prominently. Gold energy flared up around Xelloss’s hands and up his arms a short distance. But it was enough. His shoulders sagged, and he let his head drop forward. Purple hair swooshed forward to obscure his face, and the energy assault ceased. Lina, Zel and Gourry just watched him uncertainly.

            “Nightmare will be using something to amplify his power,” Xelloss continued, his voice low and flat, “That object will be somewhere in his palace, always near him. Destroy that, and he won’t be able to manipulate either Filia’s or my dreams. Free of that...”

            “We’re free to destroy him,” Lina smirked.

            “Don’t be too certain, Lina,” Xelloss lifted his head and stared at her through dark, violet eyes, “He’s strong. He is not to be underestimated. He doesn’t have to be in the dream world to destroy you.”

            “Right,” Lina nodded. “And Xelloss?”

            “What?”

            “Either change back into a wolf or stop acting so weird,” she said, shivering slightly, “You’re creeping me out.”

            He chuckled and nodded.

            “Sure,” he acquiesced. In seconds, he returned to wolf-form. He curled up near the fire and closed his eyes.

            I’m going to sleep now. Wake me in fifteen minutes.

            “You got it,” Gourry said cheerfully.

            The palace. They finally reached it. It had taken them hours to locate it once they had reached the general vicinity. It was not really that big, actually. No larger than a mansion. Certainly not large enough to classify as a palace. At least, that was Lina’s opinion. She didn’t really care, though. As long as she could get in and destroy this menace.

            “Filia?” Lina whispered.

            “Hmm? Oh!” Filia hopped forward, blinking rapidly, “I’m awake!”

            “You’re staying out here,” Lina ordered.

            “Fair enough,” she flopped down in exhaustion.

            “And Xelloss?”

            Yes, Lina?

            “You stay out here as well.”

            Whatever you say, Lina.

            “Don’t take that tone of mental voice with me!” she snapped.

            Sorry.

            “Amelia, Zel and Gourry are with me,” Lina pointed at the building, “Let’s go!”

            Filia and Xelloss watched them leave before settling back to relax. A moment later, Filia was snoring soundly on the ground. Xelloss looked down at her and heaved a wolf sigh. He nudged her lightly with his nose and even snapped at her hair a bit, tugging at it.

            Filia slept on.

            <<Oh, well>> Xelloss thought, though still worried, <<Might as well keep her from freezing to death. Lina wouldn’t like that.>>

            He curled his great, furry body around the sleeping dragon priestess and laid his head down in the dead grass. It was only a few moments before his own eyes drooped shut, and he slept.

            “There are so many rooms!” Amelia whined softly.

            “Looking for something?”

            Lina and Co. whirled as one to face the threat. They glared at Nightmare. He floated above them and laughed. Lina caught something out of the corner of her eye as she stared at him.

            “Oh, my God!” she gasped.

            “What is it, Lina?” Gourry asked.

            “LOOK!”

            She pointed. A dark, bluish orb bounced around inside the demon. Lina realized with no small amount of horror what this meant.

            “The object he’s using to amplify his powers is IN him!” she said, “The only way to destroy it would be to destroy HIM!”

            “Can you do it?” Zelgadis asked.

            “I don’t know!” Lina was on the verge of panic. “Something about what Xelloss said...”

            “Without your dragon and mazoku companions, you’re a dead girl, Lina Inverse,” the mazoku boomed.

            “WHO ARE YOU CALLING GIRL?!”

            “Flat-chested wimp!”

            “WHY YOU-”

            “I’ll kill your powerful friends first...”

            Lina screamed with rage and frustration as the mazoku phased out and teleported away. Zelgadis grabbed her before she could attack the empty air.

            “We left Xelloss and Filia outside!” he shouted.

            “Shit!!” Lina bolted for the exit, followed closely by Zel, Amelia, and a rather bewildered (as always) Gourry.