Chapter Five

He laughed bitterly, his hands clenching into fists. "Who told her that? Is my cover blown?", he thought. "No, Medb.. I'm not dead.. It's all right, Darling."

As he reached for her, she tried to push past him, but he was too fast. He pulled her to him, and forced her to look up at his closed eyes. His fingers gripped into the soft flesh of her arm; it would leave bruises.

"Medb. Listen. I am not dead. Whoever told you that is lying."
She shook her head in denial as she tried to fight crying out in pain. "Aye, ye are!! YE ARE!!" She fought him, but he gripped her arm tighter, determined not to let her slip through his fingers.

"I don't have to put up with this, Medb. And I don't want to hurt you." He shook her violently as he spoke in an effort to get her to listen. "I am NOT dead!" He was getting tired of this. Finally, she calmed down, and leaned against him for support. He had conquered her passionate spirit.

"Now Medb" he spoke in a gentle voice so as not to startle her. "Calm down, Little One. It's all right." He ran a hand over her soft hair as he gently rocked her back and forth. Sobs shook her little body and he tightened his embrace. A part of him delighted in her tears; another part of him wanted to hold her till she became herself again.

Rezo was actually Xelloss, the trickster priest. He had discovered that Medb knew the cure to Zelgadiss' "curse", and he wanted to prevent them from getting together. He liked Zel's dark emotions, and if Zel was cured, well

He had disguised himself as Rezo the Red Priest and came to the inn to dispose of Medb. She was, he realized, too beautiful to destroy, so he left, trying to come up with different ways of keeping the two from meeting. Then the idea of dreams came to him. It was perfect!

To further her fear of Zelgadiss, he came to her as the blind Rezo and manipulated her. But he soon found himself desiring her, if that was possible. It was hard to resist her. But somehow, he always managed to. After all, she was only human, wasn't she?

He smirked to himself as Medb's grip tightened. Pulling away from her, he offered her a charming smile, and she tried to embrace him again. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he stopped her. Her green eyes glowed with a swirl of emotions as he gently tilted her head up and lowered his. Their lips met in the middle.

Running his pale fingers through her fiery red hair, he held her body to him tightly as they emerged themselves into a passionate kiss. His tongue explored her mouth with longing. His heart was beating rapidly. A wave of desire brushed over him and he continued the kiss when she tried to pull away. He was more demanding. More himself than Rezo.

Her hands pressed against his chest as she roughly pushed away. Her breath was more rapid than before. He smiled darkly; that was their second kiss and it left him yearning for more. He gently drew her to him once more, determined not to let her get away. After all, she belonged to him.

~*~/\/\~*~

Zelgadiss and Lina walked together down the stairs down towards the main room of the inn. They both scanned the crowd for the barmaid Medb Morrigan. She was no where in sight. Frowning, Zelgadiss exchanged a glance with Lina then moved on down the staircase. Where was Medb?

Lina moved ahead of him, and went straight towards the bar. He watched as she approached the bartender, and asked him something. The man shook his head, and turned away. Angry, Lina grabbed his shirt, and shook her fist in his face. His eyes grew wide, and he answered. Zelgadiss chuckled quietly, shaking his head. The silvery blue shards of his hair made a sound of rain as they collided.

Arms crossed over his chest, he approached Lina, a wry smile on his lips. "Either you were asking for a lot of food, or inquiring about Medb." His voice held a teasing tone. Lina turned to him, her eyes narrowed. "Medb hasn't come into work today. According to the bartender, that's never happened before."

His pulse quickened. "..never happened before.." "MEDB!" He grabbed Lina by her waist, and ran out of the inn with his demon speed, leaving behind him a hole in the wall. Lina screamed and tried to get free. "We don't even know where she lives!"

Zelgadiss tightened his grip and slowed down. They had reached a small house right on the edge of the forest. He could smell Medb. She was inside.

"Now we do.." He set Lina down, and approached the old wooden door. His stone hand knotted into a fist and he brought it down onto the rough surface of the door. One. Two. Three knocks. He waited.

A cry was heard inside of the house followed by a loud crashing sound. A string of curses were heard as someone scurried to the door. As it creaked open, Medb's frightened face peeked out. Locks of fiery red hair fell over one deep green eye. Seeing who it was, she slowly opened to door, one hand resting on the door frame, the other hanging limply at her side.

Zelgadiss's heart skipped a beat. Medb was so beautiful. His eyes roamed over her face studying every inch. Her full lips begged to be kissed. Her hair wanted him to run his fingers through its fiery wealth. But her eyes her eyes begged him to shield her from the dangers of this world.

"Wild roses.." He reached his hand out to her and grasped her hand. He dropped it just as quickly when he realized he could not feel the smooth skin.
After recovering from the journey to Medb's house, Lina stepped up, brushing her own red hair back over her shoulder. Her eyes darting between Medb and Zelgadiss, she quirked an eyebrow. "Hmmm Medb.. We need to talk. I'm Lina Inverse, powerful sorceress. She winked, her black cape fluttering behind her.

"Lina Inverse?" Medb studied Lina with glittering eyes. "Ye are so pretty, Lina. Come in.." She glanced Zelgadiss's way then opened the door wider to let the two in. Lina blushed slightly at Medb's comment as she followed the other woman in. Zelgadiss allowed a small smile to come to his lips. Medb was serious. She was right. Lina was a pretty girl. But a bit too pushy and outspoken for Zelgadiss's taste. He preferred quiet women like Medb. True, Medb was a reckless, stubborn woman who drank, but she made him feel loved.

"Zel, ya coming?" Lina asked as she tugged at his arm, pulling him out of his precious thoughts. "Hmm? Yes, I'm coming." He gave her a smile and allowed her to pull him into the house.

As his feet crossed the threshold, a shiver ran down his spine. There was a familiar presence nearby, watching. His gaze swept over the small room. Chairs, a table, a fireplace, a shelf filled with small yet precious things. Two doors leading to different rooms. What caught his interest though, was the small sword that was leaning against the wall, it's blade hidden in a leather sheath. Was that her sword? He walked towards it, his feet thumping dully on the old creaking floor.

As he reached the sword, he turned to see Medb and Lina watching him. He reached out to the sword, an eyebrow quirked. "May I..?"

At Medb's nod, he grasped the sword's handle, and picked it up. It was light and well made to fit a woman's -or perhaps a small boy's- grip. As he unsheathed it, he studied the blade. It was polished, and he could tell that it was taken care of very well.

"Please, sit down," Medb said to the both of them.

"Thank you," Lina responded as she eased her frame into the nearest chair.

"I prefer to stand, but thank you," Zelgadiss murmured as he leaned the sword up against the wall.

"Very well." Medb smiled slightly, then she turned to Lina. "Ye.. wanted ta talk?"

"Yes.. I did. We have a lot to straighten out.."

Medb nodded, an eyebrow quirked. She opened her mouth to answer, then shut it quickly as she looks past Lina in fear. Zelgadiss was glad she wasn't looking at him. Seeing that look as she gazed at him had hurt deeply. But now her fear was deeper. She seemed more afraid of whatever it was behind Lina than she was of Zelgadiss.

Lina and Zelgadiss exchanged looks then both turned. Nothing. Nothing but shadows on the wall. Medb started to shiver, then screamed. Her body shook violently. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She screamed again, her cry echoing in their ears. Lina rushed forward as Medb fell to her knees, grasping the side of her head.

"Medb!" Zelgadiss kneeled beside Lina as she grasped Medb's shoulders. She whimpered, her body still quivering. She reached out, clutching Lina's arms for support. She tried to cry out, but no sound came for.

Finally, a long pitiful wail escaped her lips, flew out the window, and was taken up by the wind to places far away. Medb's body relaxed, and she fell against Lina. Lina hugged her tightly; her eyes now locked with Zelgadiss.

Medb murmured something Zelgadiss could hardly understand. It sounded like "Leave me alone.. Please!"

That plea echoed in Zelgadiss's head, far outdoing the unearthly wail he had heard minutes earlier. He reached over and placed his stone hand on the top of her head. The feeling of being watched was gone.

~*~E~*~

Many hours later Medb was woke up by a noise. It wasn't a loud bang, or shout or anything like that. It was a quiet noise; one someone would make when they're trying not to be heard. She slowly pushed herself up in her bed and looked around her room.

Her black skirt was neatly folded and laying on the one chair in her room. Her bodice was on top of it. She rubbed her hand across her stomach and felt the silky fabric of a nightgown. This wasn't HER nightgown, was it? Had someone undressed her?

Then it had all came back to her. Lina and Zelgadiss had come to talk. Rezo was there in her room with her when they came. When they heard the knock, Rezo had cursed as he threw her onto the bed then stormed out of the room, things crashing behind him. The he just disappeared.

Medb was shaken up when she had answered the door. To make things worse, she saw Zelgadiss there in all of his hidden glory. "Wild roses.." he had said as he reached for her hand. She shivered as she thought of the way his gaze gently swept over her face, his eyes glittering with an unclear emotion.

She shook herself as she forced herself not to think of what he had done. It was torturing. Instead, she front-forwarded to when she was about to speak to Lina. The purple haired man appeared a smirk on his lips. He winked at her and shook his head in a "no you don't" gesture.

He looked so dark and menacing. Her body had begun to shake. She couldn't help it. She had screamed. He grinned. Then was gone. She had suddenly found herself in Lina's arms, and cried out for the man to leave her alone. Then everything went black, and Lina must've put her to bed.

Were they still here? She perked her elven ears, listening. The sound of soft voices in deep conversation greeted her. Yes, they were here. Maybe that's what woke her up. But then, a soft 'thump' came from one dark corner. That was the sound she had heard.

She shivered as a cold chill played on her spine. Something was in her room with her. Oh god, would she be safe? Was it the purple haired man? She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs. She was scared.

The thump came again. She bit her bottom lip hard, causing it to bleed. " 'ello?" she called out. Her voice sounded weak, scared, and desperate, even to herself. A low growl was heard, and she whimpered in a pathetic manner.

She pulled the blanket over her head, 'hiding' herself from the danger. Something thumped again. Then again. It was approaching her! She squirmed, making herself into a small ball. "Go away! Please!" she cried out desperately.

The reply she received was a cutely evil laugh. She knew that laugh, but.. from where? Her bed creaked with added weight as the thing sat down beside her. Arms encircled her, and she was pulled, blanket and all, into someone's lap. She was crushed to that someone's chest, and she heard that laugh again.