Page 6 of A Waltz with Lord Death
The rosy luster of her cheeks transformed into a raging blush. But she said nothing to his comment, as if she were used to receiving the attention of men.
At last, she lay three cards face down on the table. From left to right, she turned them over, her frown becoming more prominent with each reveal. The Tower. The Devil. Death.
He chuckled, his eyes blazing with power. This was amusing, indeed.
“What do your cards say about me?” He dampened his power, but only a little.
Clearing her throat, she glanced up at him, only to recoil as if sensing the power within him. She shivered and grabbed a shawl draped across the chair nearest her. After wrapping it around her shoulders, she explained, “A change is headed your way, but not a good one. Catastrophe will hit your life. And soon.”
“Hmm…” A rare mood of playfulness rose within him, and he took a couple steps closer to tower over her. “You chose those cards on purpose.”
“I assure you, I did not, sir. Would you like to shuffle the deck and I will try again?”
“Do you know why I came to this town?” He dared to reach for her and draw a life symbol with his finger on the back of her hand, a hand she did not pull away from his touch. A primal part of him marked his territory.
The last time someone had suffered his touch without becoming ill or dying had been long before Barret was killed, ages since he’d dared touch the skin of a woman he’d found enchanting. Touching her filled a part of him he had craved for so long, a part of him he would willingly die for to know again.
When she shook her head, he continued, “To find a new Life.”
“Y-y-you.” She took a deep breath and tried again, steadier this time. “You do not seem the type to settle down in a place like this. I would assume you would find a new life in a larger city.” The moment she pulled away from his touch, darkness fell over him once again. While he usually welcomed the shadows, he suddenly craved warmth and sunshine. “Now allow me to finish telling of your fortune.”
“I do not care for my fortune to be told. I am much more interested in yours, Lady Meira.”
She blushed and looked down. “I am no lady.”
“Not yet.”
Her blush worsened, filling her sun-kissed cheeks. “And tell me, whose title would I inherit?”
The corner of his mouth twitched as he gazed at her in amusement. “Why, mine of course.”
“You are too forward, Your Lordship.”
He gestured to the deck of cards. “You asked me my name. Try the cards again, and I believe they will tell you.” A wicked grin spread across his face. “But only draw one card this time.”
Through her shuffling, a quizzical look spilled across her lovely features. How much more lovely would she look bathed in silvery, white light?
She drew a single card and flipped it over, revealing Death once more. Her fingers stilled, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. He no longer reined in his power. The air chilled, the shadows curled, bending to his will, and his eyes blazed black like smoking embers as his power radiated from every inch of him.
Too quickly, Meira leaped from her chair and grabbed a poker beside the fireplace, pointing it menacingly in his direction.
“Stay back!” she spat, her lovely features replaced by a warning glower.
“Meira,” he said, stepping closer. “Do you think I’m here to take your life? No, that wouldn’t do at all. I already told you why I’m here—to search for a new Life. A Lord or Lady Life, that is. I want you to be my lady.”
“Get away!” She swiped the poker through the air, the tip grazing his cheek. Instead of blood dripping down his chin, wispy shadows leaked through the small cut before his body knit itself back together.
All right, this hadn’t been a good approach to voice his desires in this way. It had worked for the last woman. At least until he’d accidentally killed her with his kiss. But with Meira… The fear in her eyes was evident. She feared Death. Not a good trait for Life. Perhaps he’d chosen wrong. Again.
He sucked his power back in, keeping it chained to his soul until further notice. The weapon in her hands lowered, but only a fraction.
“I am not dying. You have no right to take my soul.” Her hands shook, her breathing still labored.
“Don’t I?” He stared a hole through her very soul, noticing her short timeline remaining. It was too short to die from starvation like many others in this town would suffer from. It was too short to be taken by a life-threatening disease.
A prick of unease stabbed him like a needle as he considered that she might die from his kiss. No… He couldn’t let it happen. He needed to be certain this time.
“S-s-stay away from m-m-me, Lord Death.”
