Star Blessed

An Explanation

RAFF

Raff barked a harsh laugh, but when Meribella didn't crack a smile, he sobered up. She wasn't joking. "And just why would you be willing to do that?"

"Can we take a walk, please?"

    "As long as you put on some real clothes."

    She nodded, a smirk teasing the edges of her rosebud lips. "I can probably manage that."

    In a flash, she disappeared into the cabin below, leaving him alone with the young black woman. She eyed him with distaste evident in her mocha colored eyes, and her lips were pressed firmly together as if she were fighting the urge to speak.

    "Meribella didn't seem to have many friends when she was here last. How did you two meet?" He thought building a rapport with the woman might help in the long run, but the sound of his voice must have loosened her control on her tongue.

    "You met her just a couple of times. How would you know how many friends she kept? She mentioned you were a bit of a stalker."

    "I certainly behaved that way." His confession stole her thunder. "But I would hope that no friend of hers would have allowed her to live in such squalor, especially in the winter time. So, if you did know her then... well, I wouldn't consider you to be much of a friend."

    Distaste became careful consideration. "My name is Thorne Wildwood. I'm a pearl witch in the Sixth Circle-most outsiders will know as the Hearthstone Circle."

    "Well met Sister," he replied. Before their curse, werewolves had once worked closely with witches as both the angel halflings and the Brotherhood held nature in high regard. After they'd been unable to remove the Lupa's curse, distance had grown between the two groups, but Raff held no animosity.

"Well met indeed," Thorne replied, her voice kinder than it had been. "I met Meribella when she moved to Cutler. Vivian asked me to keep an eye on her."

He swore. "I'm guessing Joe had something to do with this too? Damn it. Cutler? How on earth could those two think sending her to Starless territory was safer than having her near me?"

"She was scared," Thorne hissed, her eyes darting to the staircase. Whispering, she said, "We both know why Joe has no love for you, but according to Vivian you've never been one to intentionally hurt anyone. But she was scared for her-scared of what happens to human women around your kind."

"But she isn't human."

"We didn't know that then."

"Okay, I'm ready--Did you two have a good chat?" Meribella, always so perceptive, stared at the two people glaring at one another.

"Wonderful. Nice company you're keeping these days."

"B, be careful. Call me if you need me. No use in you throwing yourself into the ocean and ruining a perfectly good outfit if you need to get away again."

The witch's barb struck with force, and both he and Meribella winced. "That was unnecessary, Thorne."

"We'll have to agree to disagree. And buddy, you harm her...I will hex your man parts with so many blisters that you'll be praying it'll fall off."

"Alright, then. We're going. I'll be back later."

She grasped him by the hand and tugged him into the spring morning. They walked a ways down mainstreet before either of them spoke. He honestly didn't know what to say to her. Last night, he'd been so caught up in touching and tasting her, he'd never considered why she'd returned after all these months. Certainly, he'd never have guessed it would be to kill him.