Page 31 of A Waltz with Lord Death
“From a young age, I learned to notice every little detail. The little details show much more than the large ones.” She turned to find the other woman biting her lip.
“Did D tell you what happened? What I offered him?”
Unease settled deep in her bones. “No.”
Shock jolted through her as large tears ran down Betha’s face. She sniffed and wiped them away with her sleeve, and then sniffed again.
“I love Barret with all my heart. It is him I am loyal to. But in my grief, I foolishly wanted to cure my loneliness, as well as D’s. He refused me, and I am glad he did. His heart belongs completely to you. I only wish he could find happiness with a mortal like you. It is not possible.”
She swallowed and collapsed back in her chair at the same time her heart collapsed within her ribcage. “Why not?”
“You do not know of Death’s history with women, do you?”
“I do. He told me about Jesmond, the chief’s daughter who ordered him to kill a bear.”
Betha shook her head slowly. “That is only a small piece of it. The only time I have seen Death cry was when the mortal woman he fell in love with died from his kiss. Life could not save her. But I think what hurt even worse was when she accused Death of being the devil.
“He has not forgotten it, nor will he ever. Likewise, he fears getting too close to you. He fears accidentally hurting you. And one day when you die, you will be a spirit, and he will still have his once-mortal body. You will not be able to touch him, as you will be intangible to each other, and he will not be able to visit you often. His work is in the mortal realm.”
Again, the thought of losing Death shook her to the very core of her soul. “But I will not lose him if I become Lady Life?”
“No.”
“But what about you and Barret? You will lose him either way.”
“I know. It is my heart that will shatter, but Barret will hopefully be able to keep his soul.” The woman shocked her by reaching out for her hand and giving it a squeeze. Earnestness lived in her eyes. “I am begging you this time, Meira. We need you. Life’s power refused every candidate we’ve chosen. But Death is sure it will choose you. Come visit Barret. See for yourself what you can save with Life’s power.”
“Where is he?”
“On the bridge between life and death. You should be safe there as a mortal.”
She bit her lip and gazed into her lap. Two different desires tore her heart in opposite directions—the desire to live her mortal life, and the desire to explore the feelings churning within her for Lord Death.
But surely it could not hurt to visit Barret.
“Take me to him.”
Betha grabbed her hand eagerly. A tingling heaviness filled the atmosphere moments before they stood on top of a large bridge erected over a dark abyss. The bridge flowed with the essence of life and ebbed with the mystery of death, both interweaved in a shimmer of mingling white and black. Behind her, a pristine white doorway lay at one end of the bridge, etched with beautiful, intricate designs. At the other end of the bridge lay a matching door, except this one black, similar to the color of Death’s eyes when overcome with power. A second pathway forked to the left, leading to a tall white and black mansion.
“The duties of Life and Death can be a messy business,” Betha explained as they walked toward the mansion. “Some spirits refuse to leave the mortal realm, tied to their dead bodies or people they left behind. Other spirits only make it to the halfway point before they refuse to go any further. Those spirits stay here until they are ready to move on to the next life.”
Orbs of light floated through the air, and when one passed right through her body, a chill raced through her and her blood iced over. “These are spirits?”
The other woman nodded. “Spirits can take several forms, and the orbs are one of them. Try not to get spooked. They can do you no harm, though they are bound to be curious about you.” She tugged on her elbow, leading her toward a small, circular building like a gazebo with walls. “This way.”
The key Betha produced from what seemed like thin air pulsed alive with both growth and decay, life and death. She twisted the key in the lock and the door opened slowly. The room was bare aside from the black shadows streaking across white walls and the bed in the middle of the room with a man lying on top. A shimmering, glass-like barrier circled the man like a crystal prism. The prism pulsed with its own life, the same power she recognized belonging to Time.
“This is Barret?” Meira whispered, afraid anything louder might disrespect the dead. Or semi-dead.
“Yes.”
She stepped closer, her gaze traveling up his clothes, to the scruff on his chin. But her body froze in alarm as she took in Barret’s familiar face and blond hair. She flinched away as if burned.
Betha lightly touched her arm. “What is it?”
Meira didn’t realize her body was trembling until Betha took her hand to still it. For a moment, she couldn’t speak, but only stare at the man who had caused so much heartache and grief in her life.
“I-I-I cannot.” An ache took a hold of her heart and twisted painfully until it beat against her ribcage, bruised and battered. “I-I-I cannot save this man.”
