Chapter Four

Was Lina imagining things? "I better ask Medb who she was with to know for sure."

"Ah.. Medb..? Who were you with BEFORE and AFTER you talked with me last night?" "Kill two birds with one stone.."

"The only person I was with was me friend Rezo. Why?"

His eyes wide, Zelgadiss slowly turned to her, unable to believe what he had heard. He know of only one Rezo.

"Rezo is.. alive?!?!?!"

~*~A~*~

Medb stared at Zelgadiss, her lively green eyes darkening slightly. She did not like the frightened tone of his voice, and the angry look upon his face that scared her. Another thing that bothered her was what he said. Was Rezo supposed to be dead? Did Zelgadiss try to kill Rezo? How did Zelgadiss know Rezo in the first place?
"Aye, 'e is alive. Is 'e supposed ta be dead? 'e is alive as me and ye."

A dark look possessed his icy blue eyes, and she shivered, scared. His voice was low and commanding. "Yes, he's SUPPOSED to be dead. I know. I was there."
"Did that mean..?" She stared down at her feet, then quickly turned, her long braid whacking him. "I 'ave to get back ta work." Hoping he would not follow, she started walking at a fast pace towards the path, now more confused than ever. If Rezo was dead, then who was the man who claimed to be Rezo?

~*~D~*~

Zelgadiss watched her go, his heart heavy. He could sense what she was feeling, and knew she was mentally accusing him of killing Rezo. He would have loved to, but he never got the chance. "I.. did not kill Rezo, Medb. A very powerful beast did."

Slowly, Medb stopped, and looked back at him, her long red braid swishing with the movement. She seemed to believe him, because she turned on her heels, and returned to his side. "She's scared. Of me. Damn it, Xelloss!"
Outwardly, he remained calm, emotionless. He did not want to share his feeling with Medb- or anybody for that matter- because he did not fully trust her. But thinking about how scared she was of him because of Xelloss made him boil inside. "He had NO right to tell her that!"

"Rezo is dead, Medb. I'm sorry. He's been dead for quite some time." For some odd reason, he was sorry to tell her this, and the pained look on her beautiful face made it worse.

"No," she insisted. " ' e is alive!" In a childish manner, she clapped her hands over her elven ears, unable, or maybe refusing?, to believe that she had been told. He felt terrible for her and was sorry she had gotten pulled into this mess.

She quickly turned, the braid once more hitting him; this time in his face. The smell of wild roses invaded his nostrils, and he took a deep breath, but by that time, she was gone, and the inticing smell went with her.

He sighed heavily, and ran a stone hand through the shards of his hair. "Wild roses. That's what Medb is. A beautiful, rare, wild rose."

~*~I~*~

Zelgadiss walked alone down the beach beside the lake, listening to the cry of a hawk. In his hand he held a wild red rose, sharp thorns protruding from it's stem. The thorns did not prick Zelgadiss's hand though. It was stone, and stone couldn't be hurt. His thoughts were on Medb, and he yearned to run a hand through her long wild red hair, to feel the warm rays of her smile splashing on his face. And he yearned to feel her.

He was stone. It was all Rezo's fault. Someday, oh, someday, he would have his sweet revenge, and he would be human again.

Suddenly, a beautiful sight appeared before him. Medb was running towards him, her skirt flying up, revealing long creamy legs. Her wild hair sailed behind her on the wind. Her laugh fell upon his ears. It was the laugh of an angel. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her come near, her arms open wide to embrace him.

Then, without warning, Xelloss came to Medb. She stopped running, and turned to Xelloss with a confused look. Xelloss smiled at her, and pulled her to him. She disappeared into the folds of his black cloak.

"NOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MEDB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Zelgadiss screamed angrily, his voice echoing in the distance. "MEDB!! Come back!! PLEASE!!!!" He pleaded and cried. She did not hear him. Tears streamed down his face, and he fell down upon his knees, too weak to stand. He felt as if his life had been stolen away from him, and that he could not go on. He wanted to die.

After an eternity, Rezo began to materialize before him, an unconscious Medb in his arms. Zelgadiss, looking up, glared at Rezo, who watched him with a sad look. His eyes, Zel noted, were open.
"Zelgadiss."

He rose to his feet, and fought back an urge to take Medb away from Rezo. But he barely had the strength to stand.

"Zelgadiss. Medb is the key to your cure. Do not lose her."

Rezo began to disappear, taking Medb with him. Zelgadiss reached out, crying. "WAIT! I want her!" But Rezo did not respond. He faded into a smoky haze.

And then, Zelgadiss saw the key to his cure lying upon the beach before him. Her red hair was like an ocean of blood. Bending down, her gently pulled her into his arms, and rose to his feet. A soft loving smile appeared on Medb's lips. Her eyes fluttered open. "Oh, Zelgadiss.."

~*~S~*~

Breathing heavily, Zelgadiss awoke. His leather tunic was stained with sweat, and his blanket was on the floor. Most of the dream did not make sense. But when he had lost Medb to Xelloss, he knew he couldn't go on. A few tears rolled down his cheek, and he impatiently wiped them away with a stone finger. That dream effected him deeply.

"Medb is the key to your cure. Do not lose her." What did that mean? Was Xelloss playing with his mind? He shook his head. He didn't think it was Xelloss. In the dream, Rezo's eyes were open, and he had held Medb so carefully, as if she was a China doll, easy to break.

Was Rezo's spirit trying to help Zelgadiss, trying to right the wrong he had committed? And what was this about Medb being the key to his cure? That didn't make sense at all. Why would she be the key?

As he thought of how Xelloss took Medb away, the answer slowly peeked its head in. Xelloss, in hopes of keeping Zelgadiss the way he was for his dark emotions, was going to take Medb away, and keep her hidden from Zelgadiss. Pretending to be Rezo to get to Medb, then telling her through dreams that Zelgadiss was her enemy was a perfect plan. But one thing still bothered him. How could Medb be the key to his cure? He didn't know for sure, but he was determined to find out.

Pushing himself out of bed, he reached for his dark gray boots, and pulled them on. Then he reached for his cloak, and clasped it on. It was still early out. The sun had not yet risen. "Lina may still be in bed," he thought. "But I got to talk to her." He quickly ran a hand through his hair, but did not glance in the mirror. He did not want to see his monstrous reflection.

Pulling his hood over his head, he exited his room, and stalked to where Lina was staying. The old boards creaked beneath his weight, no doubt alerting Lina of his approach. He knocked at the door, and heard a soft whimper. The sounds of someone grumbling and struggling out of bed reached his ears. He had awakened her.

The door opened, revealing a very tired Lina with wild red hair. Her eyes were half-closed, as if she was half-asleep. "Yeah?" she mumbled, upset at being bothered.

Pushing past her, he entered her room, then turned to face her. She was leaning against the door, her lovely eyes closed. "Lina, Medb is the key to my cure. And Xelloss intends to keep her away from me." Lina's eyes flew open, and she was immediately awake.

"How'd you find that out..?"

~*~S~*~

Rezo watched Medb from the shadows as she got ready for work. He was invisible to her, and delighted in the fact that she did not know he was there. She was standing in the middle of the room, her back to him, staring at the black skirt that she had set out on her bed.

From his vantage point, he could see she was not clothed. His eyes were drawn to her long creamy legs, and he smirked as he shifted positions. Her long wild red hair fell past her waist, almost reaching the back of her knees. He longed to run his hands through her hair, and feel her in his arms. She was beautiful.

She turned around, her hair flowing behind her like a cape. She fastened the buttons on her corset, then reached behind her, and grabbed her black skirt. He watched as her legs disappeared into the black folds, and he frowned with disappointment. But there was no way he could make her take the skirt off without revealing himself.

He watched, his heart pounding, as she slipped a black blouse on over her bodice, and he yearned to hold her close as she tried to braid the long locks of her fiery hair. He closed his eyes to block the lovely vision and tried to fight the desires within him. This wasn't what he was here for. But she was so intoxicating. He couldn't help himself.

Unable to control himself, he stepped out of the shadows, and reached for Medb. As his fingers wrapped around her soft arm, she let out a yelp, and struggled. He frowned, but pulled her into his embrace. His free hand became entangled in her half braided hair, and he pressed his lips to hers, cutting off her scream. As they kissed, she melted, yielding to him. He kissed her more passionately, hugging her soft body to him.

All too soon, she broke the kiss, her breath ragged. She struggled to calm down; her heart, he knew, was beating rapidly. She pressed a hand to her luscious lips, holding back a cry. He noted the scared look in her eyes, and he stepped towards her, delighted beyond description.

"What is it?" he murmured, his breathing as unlevel as her own.

"Ye ye are dead!"