Timeless(27)

D'Artagnan lifted Kat's hand, kissing it once again before turning it over and kissing her tenderly on the palm, at which a small sound escaped involuntarily from between her lips. "I shall return momentarily, Mademoiselle Kat," he said, freeing her hand and turning back to face Alexandria. "You have my undivided attention, Mademoiselle. Now, how do you propose we save this girl you speak of?" he asked, brushing his shoulder length hair behind his ears. "What is your plan, Mademoiselle?"

"My name is Alexandria," she said.

"Very well, Mademoiselle Alexandria. What is your plan?" he repeated with a teasing grin on his face, which she decided to ignore. This was no joking matter. A girl's life was in danger, after all.

"We go in there and I follow her voice until we find her, then we save her," Alexandria said simply.

D'Artagnan nodded. "Not bad. Do you have a plan B?" he asked, taking the pocket watch dangling from the chain in her hand and hanging it around Kat's neck. "For safe keeping," he said, his lips brushing her cheek, making her blush all over again.

Alexandria shook her head. "No. There isn't any time for a plan B—"

D'Artagnan seized Alexandria's hand in his, and holding on tight, he pulled her into the orb after him. "I didn't think so," he shouted over the whirring sound as they disappeared into the bright center of the orb.

Kat dropped to the ground and sat cross-legged on the grass. She leaned over, snatched D'Artagnan's hat off the grass, and crushed it against her chest. "Be still, my beating heart," she said, patting the hat with her hand. "I think I just died and went to bloody heaven."

Seconds later, the light emitted by the orb blinked out, the whirling wind fell still, and in the silent orb's place stood the gazebo, returned to its former beauty and the charm of bygone years. Masses of white fairy lights – or were they millions of tiny fireflies? She did not care to investigate – set the gazebo ablaze, like a timeless sentinel waiting for reinforcements.

A few moments later, a beautiful while wolf with amazing blue eyes appeared from the edges of the forest. He sniffed the ground, the gentle breeze tousling his fur, then trotted stealthily across the clearing to the gazebo. He sat for a moment, sniffing the air again, then walked over to Kat and sat down, licking her hand.

Kat ruffled the fur on his back. "Don't worry, she'll be alright."

The wolf nodded his head once, then dropped his snout on his front paws.

Kat looked up at the starry night and chuckled. "I actually think I know how you're feeling," she said, looking back at the wolf beside her. "That's a first for me, hey?"

The wolf licked her hand again, then whined, his blue eyes blinking in answer.





Chapter 12 – À Tout À L'heure.





"It'll save time if we split the shopping in half," Mindy said, tearing a piece of paper down the center and handing one half to Andrew. "We'll meet back here at the checkout in, say," she looked at the large clock hanging over the front doors of the supermarket and made a calculation, "fifteen minutes." She handed Andrew a white wicker shopping basket, and picked up a pink one for herself. "Can't believe they still use these old things," she murmured, thinking aloud. "À tout à l'heure," she sang, waving a hand above her head as she turned to walk away.

"What?" Andrew asked, drawing Mindy to a halt.

She turned back to look at him and smiled. "I take it you didn't study French in school, Andrew," she replied, then, seeing the vague expression on his face, took that as a no, and added, "It means, toodles, see you later, sweetie. Meet you back here soon, okay?" she said, turning briskly and walking towards the fresh fruit and vegetable aisle. She picked up a ripe mango, held it up to her nose, and drew in a long, deep breath. "Lovely," she murmured, placing it and four others in her basket, along with a punnet of strawberries and a honeydew melon, before proceeding to the fresh herb section. She would have to do something about the unkempt, weed-strangled herb and vegetable garden at Witchwood. Such a shame, she thought, how the once thriving garden had been discarded and left to the elements.

Andrew studied his half of the list, then looked up, scanning the hanging signs above each aisle. Finding the one he was after, he ambled towards the rear of the store, the wicker basket swinging in his hand. It was nice, he thought with a smile on his face, getting back to some kind of normality, even if it was just painting and grocery shopping. Then he remembered the last time he'd gone grocery shopping with Eden, and his heart, along with his smile, sank. He walked along the meat aisle in somber strides, scanning the refrigerated shelving until he found free-range chickens.