Part 9 (1/2)

Alice was behind her, standing on tiptoe trying to see over her shoulder. ”Who are they from?”

Meredythe shoved the card back into the envelope and stuck it in her pocket. ”There 's no signature.”

Alice clapped her hands together. ”Ooh! A secret admirer. How romantic! And lunch with another guy. Your love life is definitely on the upswing.”

”Listen, Alice, I have work to do. I'll talk to you later, okay?”

”But-””Alice...”Muttering under her breath, Alice disappeared around the part.i.tion and headed toward her own desk. One day Merry was going to fall for some guy-hard. She only hoped she'd be there to see it.

Meredythe's blood warmed as she stared at the roses. There was only one man who' d done anything yesterday that required an apology. And any feelings of remorse hadn't stopped him from acting just as highhanded today. Slowly she reached out and stroked soft petals. Who was he? And why couldn't she stop thinking about him?

”Next time I talk to James, I have to find out his name.”

Chapter Five.

Methuselah turned his attention from the moon to Meredythe's bed. Sighing in her sleep, she rolled over. Jumping from the windowsill onto her bed, he sidled against her and nudged her shoulder.

She muttered something incomprehensible and rolled away from him.

That's it, turn over. There are more memories for you.

Rolling over, Meredythe turned her face toward the moon... and began to dream.

Incessant clanging from the church bells shattered the peace of the small town, wailing and lamentations rising above their clamor. A frenzied crowd pulled a house to the ground while flames licked the foundations of another.

”d.a.m.n it, Rhys,” Bleddyn snarled as they shoved their way through the terrified crowd. ”You said she'd be safe here.”

The older man began to walk faster, past one family group after another, all hastily loading their meager possessions onto carts. A small mob scrambled around and between them, screaming about the end of the world.

Rhys put his hand out and grabbed a brown-clad monk hurrying in the opposite direction. ”Brother, what has happened?”

Grimacing, the cleric shrugged his hand off. ”Leave me be. I have no time.” Then his shoulders sagged. ”There are too many. I can't care for all of them. My brothers have all succ.u.mbed.”

Grabbing two handfuls of brown robe, Bleddyn jerked the obviously exhausted man close. ”Succ.u.mbed? Who? How did they die?”

The tired man crossed himself. ”The Black Death. May G.o.d in all His wisdom have mercy on us.”

Paralyzing fear sapped the strength from Bleddyn's muscles and he released the monk, who staggered away. He was soon lost in the crowd. After a moment of frozen silence, Bleddyn jerked his eyes to Rhys. ”Meredythe!” Then he began to run.

”Bleddyn, wait,” Rhys called after him, but the swirling crowd had already swallowed him.

Snarling, Bleddyn shoved another wailing person from his path and rounded a corner. Flames licked the house at the end of the street. Meredythe lived with a family in the one next to it. A huge figure stepped into the street and blocked his path.

”Out of my way, fool,” he growled.

”You're the fool, young wolf,” the huge man answered.

Bleddyn stopped and peered into the man's face. Recognition stabbed his brain. His blood boiled and the beast in his soul howled with rage. Snarling, he bared his teeth. ”Slade! What do you want?”

A toothy grin spread across the huge man's face. ”The same thing you do, but neither of us shall have her now.”

The urge to transform and attack surged and swelled. Bleddyn swore silently to himself and wrestled with the devil in his soul. Slowly, desperately, he fought then conquered it. Muscles locked rigidly into place, he glared at Slade. ”What are you talking about?”

The big man shrugged. ”She's dying. The plague has claimed her.”

Every muscle and nerve in Bleddyn's body shrieked with denial. ”You lie.”

Slade gestured to a small cart that almost blocked the alley behind him. ”See for yourself.”

Pus.h.i.+ng past the other man, Bleddyn stepped to the cart and pulled away the blankets. Meredythe huddled on bloodstained sacking, her eyes closed. A weak cough added more blood to that on her chin and chest.

Climbing into the cart, he gently lifted her into his arms. ”Meredythe, Meredythe, can you hear me?”

Slowly, as though with great effort, she opened her eyes. When they finally focused on his face, she smiled weakly. ”Are you an angel? Have you come to take me to heaven?”

With a sob, heedless of the blood, he pulled her against his heart. ”No, you can't die.

I won't let you.”

”Give her to me and she won't,” Rhys commanded.

Slade stood behind the older man, his arms crossed across his chest, a haughty smile on his face. ”Yes, fool. Give her to the old man so he can save her for me. I can wait a few more years.”

Hate leaping from his eyes, Bleddyn lifted his head and glared at his enemy. ”You will never have her.”

The large man threw back his head and laughed. Once he regained control of himself, he taunted, ”You don't have the strength to defeat me, wolf.”

Sliding out of the cart, he placed Meredythe in Rhys' arms and, unmindful of the crimson blood covering his chest, he stepped toward Slade, his teeth bared in a feral grin. Flexing his huge arms, Slade stepped forward.

”Hold, fools,” Rhys commanded. ”Think what you're about and where you are.”

Both men halted as the clamor of the frenzied crowd intruded. Smoke from burning buildings now swirled about them. People shoved past them, disappearing into the darkness of the alley, seeking escape from the crowds and flames behind them.

With a low growl, Slade turned his attention to Rhys. ”You're right...this time, old man.” His gaze locked with Bleddyn's. ”We'll meet again, wolf. Then I'll kill you and the girl will be mine.” Turning, he melted into the crowd.

Bleddyn stared after him. ”Why? He had her. Why did he give her to us?”

Rhys s.h.i.+fted Meredythe in his arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder. ”She'll never live until the next full moon. He can't save her but hopes I can.”

Bleddyn reached out and caressed her cheek. She coughed and more blood spurted from her lips. ”She's getting weaker. Can you save her?”

”Even I cannot cure the plague,” Rhys answered resignedly as she coughed up more blood. ”I must take her into the flames.”

Bleddyn closed his eyes and bowed his head. ”More waiting.”