by Ciara Graves
“What is your price?” Envy asked, loosening the whip from around my neck. I took it as my chance to break free, but he rested his palm against my forehead and my vision blurred, glazing over with a green fog.
“Gigi,” Morris said. “I want her. You let me have her, and I’ll bring you Mercy.”
“No,” I protested, but my limbs were numb, not responding to my commands.
The hybrids let go, and I slumped to the floor in a useless heap. What did he do to me?
“Done. And take this one to the other room. I want him to have a front row seat for tonight’s special show.” Envy cocked a leg and kicked me in the ribs until one of them cracked.
I gasped for air.
“You’re going to wish you killed me that night, demon. You’re going to wish you never made it out of Sector 2 after I’m finished with you and your bitch of a mutt.”
My growl was pathetic as I was dragged away.
Envy and Morris were talking, but I heard nothing. A few of those in the cages around me cursed and shouted, but the hybrids threatened to off them if they didn’t pipe down.
Then we were through the doors and in the room with the massive cage.
I expected them to throw me in it, but instead, they hauled me up to the stage and sat me in a chair. Chains were wrapped around my middle and my legs, holding me in place.
“Give you a good view of what’s to come, eh?” one of the dragonborn teased.
I tugged on the chains, muscles straining as I attempted to break free, but they held fast, and whatever Envy did to me had completely drained my energy. My eyes barely stayed open and even breathing was a struggle. I had to warn Mercy, but my cell was in my back pocket, and I couldn’t reach it.
The hybrids left me alone on the stage when Envy yelled at them to prepare the cage.
“And get a line up ready,” he added with a dark smile that promised a nightmare about to be unleashed. “I want her blood to wet this floor before the night is over.”
I snarled and thrashed, but the chair was bolted to the stage, and all I managed to do was hurt myself against the chains.
“Mercy,” I whispered, wishing she could hear me somehow.
Behind Envy, Morris wore a sick grin. He saluted me then whistled as he walked out of the room.
A furious roar ripped from my chest and echoed back to me, unheard by anyone else in the hotel.
Envy spread his arms wide and spun around inside the cage as he continued to give orders.
I knew this plan was going to be shitty, but I didn’t think it’d go downhill this fast. Fighting off exhaustion and Envy’s power as it bore down on me, I willed Mercy to figure out something was wrong and get out of here before it was too late.
Chapter 12
Mercy
As another hour ticked by, I checked my cell, but there was only one message from Rafael saying the tunnel was a no-go. He didn’t explain why and hadn’t responded. That was over ten hours ago. Night had come and gone, with my frantically pacing from one end of the hotel room to the other. The sun was coming up, and as I called Rafael again, I knew something had gone terribly wrong.
I should’ve gone with him. Furious at him for being so damned stubborn, I kicked the nearby armchair then called Damian. “Come on, come on,” I whispered. “Pick up. Just answer the damned phone.”
But like all the times before, there was nothing. I didn’t bother leaving a message. I tried Bowen. It rang this time, at least, but after four rings it went to voicemail. I left him a brief message telling him where I was and with who. I ended it with our plan going to shit and needing backup. There wasn’t time to say more when someone knocked on the door.
I hung up the call with Bowen and reached for my amulet. “Who is it?”
“A friend.”
Joseph was here.
I unlocked the door, reached out to grab him by his suit jacket and hauled him inside the room. “About damned time. We have a problem.”
“What’s happened?”
“Rafael went back to search for a way out of the basement, and he hasn’t come back.”
Joseph’s brow furrowed as he set down the large, black suitcase he brought with him. “That does not bode well. Not at all. You believe they have him?”
“There’s no other reason for him not to return. I have to go down there and look for him.”
“Just like that? What about a plan?”
“What plan?” I snapped, digging through the bag on the floor. My pistol was in there, and I shoved it out of sight at the small of my back. I was dressed in my own clothes, tired of walking around in a dress that was only going to make a fight a hell of a lot harder than it was already going to be. “If they have him, they could be taking him to Shuval or worse. He could already be trapped in a cage.” I didn’t stop to think about what else they could do to him, remembering all too well the tables of demon horns at the black market. “I have to find him.”
“I can help you, but if you’re going down there then we might as well work on freeing everyone, yes? Before you run off, tell me what’s down there exactly.”
I itched to sprint out of this room and find Rafael, but Joseph was right. Might as well move up the timeline because if they did have Rafael, I’d be leaving a trail of bodies on my way to getting him out of this hellhole I dragged him into.
As quickly as I could, I told Joseph everything I knew about what was in the basement and the power protecting the cages. He said nothing the entire time I spoke which I liked. I hated when people interrupted me with pointless questions or comments. I took time to tell him about the black market, too. He didn’t know I was dragonborn, but it wasn’t just my kind being sold for parts. Once I was finished, the usually calm Joseph Sycamore was pissed. His eyes glowed with power, and each tap of his fingers on the table sent sparks flying.
“We are meant to protect the innocent,” he whispered, “and here I find something like this going on so close to home. It’s despicable. I will help you put an end to it. Once I return home, I will ensure Quin is informed of these heinous crimes.”
“What can the Gathered do against the dark covens?”
“Trust me, this will not be allowed to stand. Any of it.”
“I want to believe you.”
“But you have yet to earn the trust of the Gathered. I understand. You said there were hybrids here. How many?”
“Ten? Fifteen? Probably more. I haven’t seen them all together, but they’re here. Their magic is like a terrible nagging in my gut that won’t go away.” I held a hand to my stomach, not even having to concentrate too hard to feel such strong and corrupt magic. “What do you plan on doing about the cages?”
“I’m glad you asked.” He hefted his black case onto the table and opened it. “These are very, very old,” he said as he pulled out black crystals the size of his palm and set them on the table one after the other. “Each one is imbued with my magic, but it needs another boost to ensure they work properly.”
“A boost from me?”
“Yes. Once charged and placed around this room you spoke of, they will work against the shield magic protecting the cages. It will take time to break through them, but it should work.”
“Should? You realize how many cages are down there? And the hybrids? You won’t have time.”
“Don’t you worry about me. Just show me how to get downstairs. I’ll take care of the rest.”
I stepped back as he arranged the crystals on the table in a circle, readying them for me to imbue with my magic. Joseph Sycamore never struck me as the type to fight. He was more the academic variety.
“Mercy, I can feel your skepticism. Are you concerned?”
“My friends are down there, and no offense, but you don’t exactly appear the type to kick someone’s ass to a pulp if need be.”
He chuckled. “There are many things you do not know about me. Such as, I am only one level below Quin, in terms of order in the Gathered.”
“I’m assuming
that means you’re strong?”
“Very.” He waved me back to the table. “All I need you to do is rest your hand on each of the crystals for thirty seconds. You’ll feel it begin to warm, once it cools again, you may move onto the next one. You’ll need to direct your power into them without destroying them if you can help it. They are very old, and I would hate to lose them.”
Gently, I rested my hand on each of the crystals in turn, focusing on filling each one with my magic. As soon as I touched the first one, the crystal rough against my palm, I sensed Joseph’s magic already in it, humming with life. I visualized adding mine to it, making each one stronger. The crystal warmed as Joseph said it would, and I counted to thirty in my head. Once I reached it, the crystal cooled again, giving off a faint glow.
“Perfect,” Joseph commented quietly.
I did the same with the other crystals then stepped away from the table. “You’re sure you’ll be fine on your own?”
“Yes, now go. I must get to the basement to place these crystals, and you must find Rafael. As soon as the cages are open, we’ll have to move quickly. Whatever distraction you have planned best work.”
Shit. I hadn’t even decided what kind of distraction I was going to use. Rafael not coming back threw me off my original game plan. I’d come up with something, maybe what I did at the reapers ball when I was going after Liam. Though that had been a complete accident at the time. If I could figure out how to cause such an explosion again, it’d definitely get everyone’s attention. But I had to find Rafael first and get him ready to move.
Ensuring my amulet was in place, I exited the hotel room, leaving Joseph to make his way to the basement level when he was ready. I shoved aside my worry about his being caught. If he said he’d be fine, then he would have to be. Otherwise, no one was getting out of here tonight.
Not sure where I was even going to start, I took the elevator to the lobby and stepped out into a busy room. The conference was in full swing. Witches and warlocks everywhere, but none of them paid me any attention. Amongst them all was no sign of a very tall demon.
I searched the entire lobby then braced myself and entered the conference rooms. The black market was still taking place. I was fine as long as I avoided looking at any of the merchandise. I steered well clear of the dragonborn table, not in any position to fall apart again.
“I don’t want to be here anymore,” a woman shouted, attracting the attention of others nearby. “Let go.”
“You’re embarrassing me, you know that?”
“I’m sorry, alright, but this isn’t for me. Please, let me go back to the room. I’ll stay out of the way.” I pushed through the crowd to see Val standing with the warlock I assumed was her ass of a boyfriend who’d dragged her here, to begin with.
He had a tight hold on her wrist, and from the way she kept grimacing, he was hurting her.
“You never should’ve brought me here,” she whispered.
He bared his teeth and raised his hand as if to strike her.
I stepped forward and caught his wrist and twisted it hard.
He let go of Val, a yelp slipping from out.
I forced him to his knees. He tried to get up, but I shoved him back down.
“Val, you alright?” I asked without looking away from the furious warlock in my grip.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Good.” I turned back to him. “You’re a piece of work you know that?”
“Piss off,” he snapped.
I twisted harder making him cry out again.
“Let me go.”
“Why, so you can hit your girlfriend? I don’t know what she sees in you, and frankly, I don’t care. You’re finished with her, understand? Done. Go find some other witch to terrorize.” I let him go and shoved him away from Val.
I expected some pushback from my actions, but a few of the witches nodded my way, appreciation on their expressions. Some of the warlocks glowered at the guy as he got to his feet unsteadily and stormed out of the room.
The crowd dispersed, and I took Val by the hand, pulling her to the side of the room and out of the way.
“You sure you’re alright?” I asked, glancing at the wrist she cradled against her chest.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she nodded, staring at the floor.
I patted her shoulder. “Hey, don’t let him bother you.”
“You were here now,” she replied, “but as soon as you’re gone, he’ll come after me.”
“You have no one you can stay with? No friends?”
She shook her head, and I was staring at a younger, lost version of myself. Not like I could make any worse decisions today. “Right, I want you to get your things if you can, then head to the transport off Gibbon street. Can you do that?”
She tilted her head confused. “I can, but why?”
“Do you trust me?”
Val wiped the tears from her eyes and squared her shoulders. “After what you did, yeah.”
“Good. You’re going to wait for me there. I might be a few hours, it could be longer, but you wait there for me. I’m getting you away from the dark covens for good.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I think I know someone you can stay with, someone to teach you how to use that white magic you have in your veins,” I added the last quietly so no one else would hear. “Go on, get your stuff.”
She hugged me tightly, murmured her thanks, and the strangest sensation of familiarity came over me that I hadn’t noticed the first time I met Val. The room seemed off, and my ears were muffled as if someone shoved cotton in them. The hybrids, maybe it was them. Were they close?
Val let me go, but the smile on her face disappeared as she looked at something behind me.
“Maggie,” she breathed.
“What is it?”
Morris stood behind me, and he wasn’t alone. Four more warlocks were with him, and none of them looked happy.
I glanced at her quickly. “Val, I need you to do as I said, understand?”
“But Maggie—”
“Now. Do it.”
She walked swiftly toward the doors, hurrying away from Morris’s curious gaze. No, not curious. Something else. Did he stiffen when she passed? And his head, I thought he lowered it slightly. Why would he do that? I had to be seeing things.
“Morris,” I said, hoping I sounded happy, “I’ve been wondering where you’ve been.”
“Been here all along,” he replied with a shrug. “Come on, thought we could take a walk.” He offered me his arm, and I had no choice, but to take it. I slipped my hand around his arm and let him lead me from the conference room, through the lobby, then out to the courtyard garden. “Nice night, don’t you think?”
“It is,” I agreed. “What have you been up to?”
“Working sadly, but now I’m all yours. Thought you’d be happy to hear it.”
“I am.” My cheeks were hurting from smiling so much, but I had to keep up the pretense that I enjoyed being with him.
“Where’s Roger tonight?”
“Not sure. Think he went to some of the events on his own.”
“Is that so?” We came to a stop at the end of a path, far away from the hotel doors. “You sure he wasn’t sneaking around the cages in the basement?”
The last word was barely out of his mouth when I grabbed his arm hard and whirled him around, slamming him into the nearest wall.
I reached for my gun, but he recovered too fast and rammed his elbow into my face.
He wrapped his arm around my waist, crushing me to his body as he cackled. It was like he was getting a kick out of this. His hand found the gun at my back and then he headbutted me.
“Let’s see what you really look like.” He grabbed the amulet and tore it free. “Well, well, so it’s true. Mercy the bounty hunter, as I live and breathe. You know, you’ve taken down some of my friends in the past.”
I willed my power to manifest and light this bastard on fire, but it sputtered then w
ent out. Figures. Luckily that wasn’t my only option.
“Good, now it’s your turn.” I jammed my knee into his groin.
He grunted as I scrabbled for the gun. My hands closed around it, but he twisted my wrist, and it fell from my numb fingers. He kicked it away for good measure then decked me. This time when I brought my fist up, it was encased in white and gold flames. About damned time. I struck him in the gut then followed it up with a hit to the face. I was more than ready to keep beating him until he told me where Rafael was when a panicked yelp came from behind me.
“Stop, or I’ll kill her.”
“Maggie?” Val asked, confused, shaking in the hands of a hybrid dragonborn. “What… I don’t understand.” She cried out in pain when the hybrid dug his claws into her shoulder.
“Enough, or she’s dead,” the hybrid repeated.
The flames spread up my arms, more than ready to take on this challenge, when something heavy bashed into the back of my head.
Val yelled as my knees hit the ground hard.
A second hit sent me tumbling into darkness.
I groaned, hearing voices around me. A few of them were familiar, but I couldn’t place them. Why the hell did my head hurt so bad? Something was crusted on my face, and the ground was hard beneath me, hard and cold. I pushed up to my knees and elbows, opening my eyes wide as I could, only to find blood stains beneath my hands.
“Looks like she’s awake. Get the contenders ready. And our guest of honor, of course.”
Morris, that rat bastard. I was going to beat him into a bloody pulp as soon as I could see straight again. I shook my head, but that was a mistake. I managed to turn to the side as I vomited. Concussion, I figured. How hard had they hit me?
“You sure she’s going to be up for a fight?” That was voice I did not know.
“She better be. She’s the main event tonight.” Something hard struck metal, and I cringed, the sound echoing painfully in my skull. “Hey, you alive still or what?”
I flipped him off, but all that did was make him laugh. Slowly, I lifted my head, then wished I hadn’t. The cage. I was lying in the center of the damned cage. The stands were empty except for a few individuals that I knew were hybrids.
