Cursed (26 page)

     One of the monks
turned and looked at them. “Can I help you?”

     Cullinan reached
into the pocket of his dirty trousers and withdrew the pendant. “I am a
guardian of the Order of the Dove.” He held the pendant out in front of him for
the monk to see.

     The monk’s eyes
widened and a smile creased his thirty-something face. “The pendant has
returned!”

     The other monks
around him turned as well. When they saw the pendant, they placed their palms
together in prayerful supplication. “Praise be to God,” they murmured together
over and over.

     Cullinan looked at
the monk who had first seen the pendant. “Would you like to place it on the
stone?”

     The monk lowered his
blue gaze to the pendant, the stone radiating a pristine glow and shook his
head. “You should do it yourself. I think all of the guardians who came before
you would want it that way.”

     The monks stepped
aside, making a path for Cullinan to the altar.

     Cullinan leaned over
and kissed Tess lightly on the cheek. With his heart pounding and his pulse
leaping wildly in his veins, he walked toward the niche. For a moment, he stood
and stared at the venerable stone, the center containing a slight indentation
where long ago Saint Columba had rested his head. Cullinan heaved a deep breath
and laid the pendant on top of the stone. Nick’s blood that had coated the
stone disappeared. Finally, the pendant returned home. The curse would rest
with it, no longer demanding death as the price of its ownership.

* * *

     Two days later, Nick
and Hope and Tess and Cullinan were married in the church of Saint Columba with
the pendant resting safely a few feet away. Hope grasped the dove shaped handle
on the church’s door and opened it. With Nick’s hand holding hers, they
followed Tess and Cullinan outside into the bright sunlight of a beautiful day.
Yesterday, Tess had called Abel and told him that she and Cullinan were to be
married. To everyone’s surprise, he offered his best wishes and Tess said from
the tone of his voice she felt he truly meant it.

     Nick lifted Hope off
her feet and swung her around. She laughed and looked up into the clear blue
sky, her heart radiating with happiness. A cooing sound drew their attention. A
white dove sat on the ledge of one of the church’s windows.

     Hope smiled and
looked at Nick. “Let’s go home.”