Author's notes: This story takes place right after To Err is Human, so if you haven't read that, turn back now! What you're about to read won't make much sense if you don't. Still want to read? Well then, don't say I didn't warn you...
Also, as with the previous fic, this is going to be another dark fic, so those looking for a ton of sap and happiness...are going to be disappointed. (I can't say if it won't contain those at all, since I've just started this.)

To Deceive is a Crime

Amelia leaned back against her pillow as she silently ate her breakfast. Her friends hadn't been gone long, and already she was feeling lonely. "I hope Miss Lina and Mister Gourry return soon." Amelia sighed.

Of course she'd love to have Zelgadis back as well, but she knew he has his own affairs to take care of. Amelia pulled out his letter and read through it again.

"Mister Zelgadis has really nice handwriting. I'll have to be sure to tell him when he returns." Amelia bit into an apple and chewed thoughtfully. Some of the juice trickled down her throat, causing her to go into a coughing fit. Amelia pounded on her chest as she tried to stop her coughing.

"Pah! I better be careful, or there won't be a next time!" Amelia shot a small glare at the offending apple.

"Well well, it seems you've retained Miss Lina's table manners!"

Amelia jumped in alarm then turned to face the intruder. Xellos himself floated by her bookshelf, sitting in a comfortable position.

"Mister Xellos! What are you doing here?" Amelia asked in wonder. Of all the people to come by, she never once imagined the Trickster Priest himself stopping by!

Xellos smiled back at her. "I heard you weren't feeling so well, so I came to check on you."

Amelia blinked, unsure what to make of his statement. "Oh, I see."

Xellos shook his finger at her, as if he was tsking her. "Now don't you fret, that's not the only reason why I came."

"It's not? Did you need something?" Amelia had no idea what else he might want from her.

Xellos beamed back at Amelia. "Why yes, as a matter of fact there is!"

The next thing Amelia knew, Xellos was standing by her bedside, pinning her head back against the wall. "Mis-ter Xel-los! What?" She gasped out. Her head was being held at too awkward an angle to breathe properly.

Xellos continued to smile as he revealed a dagger. "Nothing personal, of course. You would be much more useful dead than alive." He lowered the dagger to her throat.

"No!" Amelia rasped. She latched onto his arm and tried with all her might to pry him off, but she was still too weak. "Mister Xellos, please!" She pleaded, tears freely flowing down her face.

"Begging for your life? How quaint!" Xellos grinned as the dagger sliced into her throat.

Amelia screamed out in pain and fear, until the blade sliced through her windpipe. She got one last look at Xellos before everything went dark...

SCENE CHANGE

"Hey Gourry! Gourry!" Lina called out to her companion. She sat back on her horse for a moment, eying the hillside he had disappeared over mere minutes before. Before long she spotted him crest the hill, as he rode back up to her.

"Yeah Lina, what is it?"

"What say you to calling it a day and getting something to eat?" Lina motioned to a town a few miles away.

Gourry responded with a big grin. "You bet!" But just as quickly his smile became a frown.

"What's the matter, Gourry?"

"Well, is it really okay to call it a day when it's not even that late?" Gourry looked up to the sun shining in the sky. It couldn't be past noon.

Lina smiled sheepishly. "We have been out here since early this morning, and you know that I don't do well on an empty stomach. We'll go get something to eat, then resume looking. Okay?"

"Okay!" Gourry spurred his horse toward the town, Lina's instantly following.

"Whoa, don't go too fast, Gourry! I'm not that great at this horseback riding yet." Lina pulled back on her horse's reins to get it to slow down.

Gourry slowed down slightly, bringing his horse alongside Lina's. "What do you mean, Lina? You're doing great! I mean, you've only fallen off once today. That's a new record!" Gourry smiled warmly at Lina.

Lina looked at him skeptically. Is he serious? His smile looked too genuine to be fake. Lina smiled smugly back at Gourry. "You're right, I am getting better at this, aren't I?"

Lina's horse suddenly stopped in its tracks, Gourry's following suit.

"Hey, what're they doing?" Lina looked nervously at her mount.

"They hear something." Gourry turned to where the horses were directing their attention. "Look, someone's coming!" Gourry pointed to a rider bearing down on them at full speed.

"Who..?" Lina looked closely at the rider, recognizing their clothing. "It's a messenger from Seyruun!"

"Think something's happened?" Gourry watched the rider approach.

Lina didn't answer. Instead she also watched as the rider approach. As he got closer, Lina could hear him calling their names. "C'mon, Gourry." Lina urged her horse to move again, as she went to meet up with the rider.

"Miss Lina Inverse! Gourry Gabriev! At last I found you!" The rider gasped out for air as he slowed his horse down to a trot.

"What is it? Has something happened?" Lina asked, although she wasn't keen to on hearing the response.

"They need you! Back at the palace!" The rider wheezed.

Lina grimaced. He must have been riding nonstop to find them. "What happened?"

"They...they..." The rider broke down in exhaustion and grief, unable to tell them the horrid news.

"Lina?" Gourry looked questioningly to her.

"Come on, Gourry. Something's up in Seyruun."