Chapter Seven

As they kissed passionately once again, his grip on her leg tightened greatly. He was only trying to feel it, and he didn't mean to hurt her, but it hurt, and she broke their kiss, gasping. Realizing what he was doing, he quickly let go, a wounded look in his eyes. She looked down at her leg, then at him. A soft smile appeared on her lips, and then she giggled cutely, seeing the confused look that appeared on his face.

"It's okay.." she whispered. "I.. know ye 'ave a 'ard time.." She reached for his hand, and after placing a kiss on his knuckles, held it to her chest. "..feeling things."

"How how did you know?" he asked, his eyes wide.

She rubbed his hand roughly, hoping he would be able to feel it. "Stone is not like flesh I was.. only guessing."

"Oh Medb.." he whispered. "You are an angel.."

Once again, they found themselves holding each other, and he rocked her back and forth once more. "Ye angel, Zelgadiss" she thought. "I am ye angel.."

~*~L~*~

Lina sighed contentedly as she sunk deeper into the warm water, her leg hanging over the side of the metal tub. It had been a long day for her, and she felt she deserved a nice bubble bath. The sun had already set and light no longer poured into the window of her room, so she had lit a couple of candles.

A couple of hours ago she had told Gourry and Amelia she didn't want to be disturbed. During those few hours she had to herself she had thought over the current situation, slept, and now she was taking a nice bath. She slid down further, dunking her head into the water. "Ah.. life is good."

A sudden knock pounded on her door, and Lina's head emerged just in time to see Amelia burst into her room, her white cape fluttering behind her, a worried look on her childish features.

"AMELIA!!!!!!"

"I.. I'm sorry Miss Lina, but Mr. Zelgadiss is missing!!!" Amelia replied in a shaky voice.

Lina sighed, once again sinking down until the water touched her chin. Amelia worried to much about Zel. In Lina's opinion, Amelia was only pushing Zel away. "Have you checked his room..?"
"Yes, I have! But he's not in there! He's not anywhere in the inn! I checked!"

"What about the lake..?" Lina asked drowsily.

"Mr. Gourry checked! He's not at the lake either, although he said he saw footprints!"

Lina sat up quickly and looked towards Amelia. Where could Zel be? As long as she had known him, he had never disappeared like this. Then a thought struck her mind. "Could he be with Medb still?" That wouldn't surprise her. Zel was always protective.

"I think I know where he is.. Let me get dressed, and we'll go there, okay?"

"Okay! I'll tell Mr. Gourry!" And with that, Amelia left the room.

Reluctantly Lina crawled out of the tub and dried her slender body off with a towel. She dressed quickly, attached her sword to her belt, then approached the door. As she was about to exit, she looked longingly at the tub. "Damn.." Shrugging, she stepped outside, and was greeted by two very worried people.

"It's all right.. I know where he is.."

~*~I~*~

Lina descended the stairway gracefully, her black cape flowing behind her. Locks of her wet red hair clung to her lovely face, giving her a sort of cute effect. Gourry and Amelia descended behind her, their appearance not so confidant. They were worried about Zel.

"Relax, you guys.. I know where he is."

At that moment, the door's old inn creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. Lina's eyes narrowed, and she studied the figure for a moment. "Well, speak of the devil. Hey Zel!!!"

The figure looked around, then towards the stairs. Lina finished her descent and met him in the middle of the inn. She smiled up at him, a cheerful look on her face. "Where have you been? Amelia and Gourry went nuts looking for you.."

Amelia and Gourry stepped forward, greeting Zelgadiss eagerly, asking "where were you?" He looked at the three, a blush appearing on his cheeks. "I.. uh.. went for a walk.." he muttered, and brushed past them. Lina turned and watched him ascend the stairs. That thoughtful look appeared in her eyes as she regarded him. Something was up. And why did he blush?

She thought over it. She had left Medb and Zelgadiss chatting in the kitchen of Medb's house. Medb had still been wearing that silk nightgown. Zelgadiss had obviously been gone a long time and Medb had yet to come into work. When she asked him where he had been, he blushed, and shrugged it off. But that secretive look in his eyes. "Did Zelgadiss sleep with Medb?!?!?"

Anxious to know if he HAD slept with the barmaid, she ran up the stairs after him and followed him to the door of his room. "Zelgadiss, wait! Can we talk?" Zelgadiss paused before looking towards her. That look was still in his icy blue eyes. "Hai, Lina-chan. What is it?"

"Zelgadiss.. why were you gone so long? I thought you were going to come back soon after I left.."

Zelgadiss turned red and looked away. "I was talking with Medb-chan. She.. told me how she met Rezo.." Lina sensed there was more to it than that. She pressed him gently, wanting to know.

"Zelgadiss.. this might be rude of me, but did you sleep with Medb?"

When she asked that he had begun to turn the handle of his door. She noted that he gripped the handle very tightly. She musta pushed a button.

"Hai I slept with Medb.." he whispered softly.

"You slept.. with her??"

He nodded slowly.

Lina stumbled back in surprise. "Zelgadiss slept with Medb! Oh man! I was hoping I was wrong!"

"Uhh uh.."

Zelgadiss looked at her, and chuckled. "Lina-chan.. I told you because I trust you. Please don't tell anyone.." His eyes were dark, pleading. She nodded her head in reply and watched as he quietly slipped into his room.

Zelgadiss had slept with Medb. And he had trusted her-Lina-enough to let her know! She shook her head and made her way to her room. This got more and more complicated every hour.

~*~N~*~

Zelgadiss gratefully sunk into one of the chairs in his room, sighing heavily. He had been to heaven for a brief time, and was now back in the Hell he called life. His arms ached to hold Medb again. His ears yearned to hear her voice. "Ohhh Medb.. Bara.." He buried his face in his stone hands, groaning. "I love you Medb.. I.. just can't tell you"

He rose to his feet and slowly moved towards his bed, removing his cloak as he did. Tossing his cloak on the nearest chair, he eased his heavy frame down onto the bed, and bent down to remove his boots. After placing them side by side on the floor, he removed his belt and slowly pulled his tunic over his head, his thoughts on Medb.

The two had fallen asleep in each other's arms, and when he woke up, he had realized he needed to return to the inn. Before he had left her house, he dressed and gently kissed her forehead. He felt badly after he left, but he was already over half-way to the inn. And he couldn't turn back.

He crawled under the leather covers, and laid his head down on the pillow, covered by a leather pillowcase. Pulling the cover up to his chin, he closed his eyes and turned onto his side. His thoughts remained on Medb as he closed his eyes, and drifted to sleep.

~*~A~*~

Medb stumbled towards him, her eyes lowered to the ground. She was bruised and beaten. Her hair hung limply; it was no longer wild and glossy. A tattered blanket was wrapped around her, but it hardly protected her from the cold. She coughed violently and fell to her knees. One hand reached out for him and she gazed up with her dull green eyes. "Zelgadiss 'elp me."

He saw the black and blue bruises that snaked up her arm. Blood trickled from one corner of her mouth. One side of her face had begun to swell. He was horrified by her appearance, and could not approach her.

"Zelgadiss please!" She begged, her voice cracking with emotion.

He still could not approach, and when she realized this, she slumped forward, her body quivering. He watched as her tears soaked the ground. Feeling there was nothing he could do, he turned away.

Suddenly, Zelgadiss found himself suspended in the air by two unseen hands. Unknowing of where he was, he looked down and panicked! There was nothing below his feet! A gentle breeze brushed over him, whispering in his ear. He calmed, not realizing that he could feel the kiss of the breeze upon his face.

A flash of red appeared in his vision, and he looked to the side. Medb was there, standing upon the edge of a dangerous cliff. Her hair seemed to float about her liquidly like a sea of blood. Her head was bowed, but he knew it was her. Slowly, ever so slowly, her head raised, and he saw the passionate, green fiery look in her eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he cautiously stepped forward, praying he would not fall. He didn't.

His eyes roamed over her naked body, the creamy smoothness of her skin, her breasts, the curves of her hips, her long slender legs. She was beautiful. She stretched her arms out, and took a deep breath. The was a beautiful smile upon her full lips that made his heart skip a beat.

Suddenly, she jumped off of the cliff, taking a leap of faith. Zelgadiss, fearing she was committing suicide, cried out her name, and buried his face in his hands. Someone touched his shoulder, and with teary eyes he looked up. Medb.

"Zelgadiss" Her voice was like a whisper upon the wind.

She ran her slender fingers through his hair, and touched his face ever so lightly. But he could feel it. He could feel her. He reached out, and took her in his arms. He could feel her!! His heart soared.

She pulled away, but took his hand. "Come with me.." He nodded dumbly in response, and she began to move upward, towards the clouds, taking him with her.

He stared up at his angel with no wings, his eyes clouding over.

"Medb-chan..? Where are we going..?

She looked down upon him, her smile bright and loving.

" 'ome, Zelgadiss. We're going 'ome.."

~*~A~*~

Early the next morning Gourry sat at the bar, drinking a glass of milk. That girl Medb had served him the milk, and she had even stayed to chat with him a bit! She had asked a bit about Zelgadiss, then she changed the subject, asking what he did for a living, occasionally giving him a refill. She was a really nice girl.

He wondered why she had asked so much about Zelgadiss, and that soft tone in her voice, and the blush on her cheeks.. He shook his head as he took another sip of his milk.

He turned around in time to watch Medb begin to trip but right herself with a sword fighting move that he recognized. She smoothed her dress and resumes her position behind the bar. To get her to come over, he finished his milk, and waved her over. "Miss! I ran out of milk."

She looked towards him with those amazing green eyes, and approached him, a rag in hand. She reached out, and wiped at the top of his mouth gently with the rag. "Ye 'ad a milk mustache.." He blushed and watched as she refilled his glass.