by A. M. Hardin
“I don’t recommend getting up. I’m not playing this stupid ass game of who’s got the bigger dick. Especially since we’re females so we technically don’t have that specific anatomy.” I crouch down next to her. “The next time you decide to try telling me how things are done, who to stay away from and anything else you think I might want to know, remember this: I don’t give a shit. I play by my own rules so long as it keeps me alive.”
I slowly move into an upright position, taking in the raised eyebrows around me without any emotion. Shocking people used to be fun but it’s not so much anymore. I shake my head at the crowd and walk out to go back to my room.
Three hours later my phone rings with my moms ringtone.
“Mom, did you make it home safe?”
“Yes, Mimi, I did.”
“Any signs of Jerome when you got to town?” I ask.
“Not that I saw. I just got off the phone with your uncle though. I told him that you were at the Order. He said that he’ll be there soon to check on you, he just has a few things he needs to work out before he can get away.”
“What is he even doing?”
I honestly don’t know what my uncle does when he has things he has to do. He’s never told me what he does, but seeing as most demons aren’t really good I’m guessing it’s something that could get him in some kind of trouble if it comes back to bite him on the ass.
“I don’t know, Mimi. You know the only thing your uncle talks to me about is you. He doesn’t think I need to know since it doesn’t pertain to you, so he doesn’t tell me.”
“I guess so.” Uncle Roderick doesn’t like humans. He tolerates my mom because she’s, well, my mom. He loves me because I’m not all human and have demon blood running through my veins. I’m also the last connection he has to his dead brother.
“How’re things there? You’ve been there for a few hours now. Is everyone nice?”
Ah, my mom. The optimist. What I’d give to be able to look at the world through her rose colored glasses.
“Yeah, sure, mom. They’re great,” I lie.
“You’ve been fighting, haven’t you?” Damn it. She’s always calling me on my bullshit.
“Uh, sort of?”
“What do you mean sort of? How have you ‘sort of’ been fighting?”
I shrug even though she can’t see it. “This girl got up in my face, then she thought it’d be a good idea to grab me. I don’t think she’ll make that mistake again.”
“Why’d she get in your face?”
“Because that’s kind of typical of the mean girls of the world, mom. They think they own everything, that everyone has to bow down before them. Just because there aren’t humans here, except for the ones around for the vampire’s snack, doesn’t mean this place will be any different than high school.”
Mom sighs. “I wish you could just get along with people, Mercy. Not everyone is out to get you.”
“Until someone can prove they aren’t out to get me, I don’t play nice. You know that, ma.”
“I know honey. Now, let’s talk about something else. Tell me are there any cute boys there?”
I groan and drop my head into my hand.
4
Chapter Four
Mercy
I opt out of eating breakfast in the common area. Being the new girl and with all those people that would do nothing but stare at me or watch me like I’m some kind of fucking experiment didn’t interest me. Instead went to the gym where Aiden told me I’d need to meet Hunter and his team.
I’m hoping there’s no one there yet, I want to run, clear my head of the bullshit. Also to forget my mother grilling me about cute boys on the phone last night. Hunter, Talon and the guys they stood with yesterday were definitely hot. Even Talon, whose mouth makes it hard to even consider liking or even being nice to him.
By the time I get into the gym my mind is racing again. Thinking about how Jerome could have found me. Wondering if he and Payne were some of the people behind all of my attacks.
I take a look around the empty room and breathe a sigh of relief. I’m alone. Thank gods.
Skirting my gaze around the large room I find a treadmill that faces the entrance and has the large single window in sight but isn’t directly in front of it. The rest of the room is covered in mirrors that blanket the walls.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket I start my Spotify playlist before starting the treadmill. Slowly upping my speed and the incline as I continue, not wanting to tire myself out but needing something rigorous enough to stop my brain from going around in circles.
I run for at least fifteen minutes before someone comes into the gym. I don’t slow down or turn my music off as the guy meets my eyes when he walks in.
He was with Hunter and Talon yesterday. Or at least, he was standing near enough to them for me to make the assumption he was with them. I’m guessing he’s a part of their team.
He’s tall, probably about as tall as Talon, though not as tall as Hunter. He has sandy blonde hair and an easy smile on his face, though I can feel the distrust he has for me across the room.
Thankfully, he isn’t giving off the same disgust and hatred that Talon gives off whenever he’s around me.
Before their group noticed me and before Ada got in my face Talon had seemed almost relaxed except for the strain clearly on his face.
He wasn’t happy about my presence. I doubt anyone on this team is. No matter what anyone says they’re babysitting me.
I fucking hate that. I’m not someone who needs to be babysat. If I need help, yeah, I’ll ask for it. But I don’t believe that I need protection from the world. If they get me again I’ll die eventually by their hands anyway. I may not know why all these assholes want me so badly, but I do know that I won’t come out of it alive if I’m taken again.
My thoughts are cut off as Talon, Hunter and two others walk into the room. Hunter meets my gaze and gestures for me to join them on the other side of the gym where the guys are busy situating themselves on benches, equipment and against a wall.
I get off the treadmill after turning it and my music off and walk towards them, stuffing my phone in my back pocket on my way.
The three males I saw- and guessed correctly that they were part of the team- yesterday eye me as I come close. The only person giving me a nasty look is, of course, Talon. The other three either look annoyed or just plain curious.
Hunter clears his throat, making the men turn to him. He has a Manila folder in his hand and holds it up for us to see.
“Before I start explaining what this is I figure you guys want to know what we’re going to be doing with Mercy.”
“That would be nice,” the guy closest to me, who had walked in earlier than the rest says with a grin on his face. His eyes resemble a human’s green and if it weren’t for the slitted pupils I’d have guessed he was a vamp, shifter or a witch, not a demon. There’s only a couple demons that have human colored eyes but there’s only one that has eyes like that.
Incubus.
Fantastic.
As if being the only girl on this team of hot ass men won’t be bad enough, let’s throw an incubus into the mix and fuck with my poor half-demon hormones.
“I spoke with your uncle, Aiden, and the Head Orderly,” he starts and I have to fight the smile at the ridiculous name, “last night. Your uncle believes you can handle yourself if you get attacked and thinks we just need to be back up.”
The male who has completely human eyes and reeks of magic snorts. “Seriously? Yeah, she managed to beat Ada yesterday, but I don’t believe in waiting to see if she needs our help.”
Hunter smirks. “That’s what I told her uncle.” He turns to face me, his face carefully blank. “We are a team, Mercy. What happens to one of us happens to all of us as far as we are concerned.”
I nod my understanding. “What did my uncle say?”
“He said he’ll be here either tonight or tomorrow. He isn’t sure which yet. However, in the meantime,
yes we are your protectors, but we’re also a team. When we go on assignments you’ll be with us and helping us finish said assignments. When we leave the grounds here at least one of us is with you at all times.”
I bristle at that. “Now, hold on a minute. I do not need a babysitter.”
Hunter’s red eyes narrow at me. “You may not need one but you’ve got one. Actually, you’ve got five. It’s your uncles and the Head Orderly’s orders. Since your uncle is a close personal friend of the Head Orderly, he will do as your uncle has asked of him.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “Continue.”
The incubus looks amused at our exchange. The others except for Talon, are completely straight faced but you can see the amusement shining in their eyes. Talon just looks annoyed.
Not really all that surprising.
“When on assignments, until we know what your skills lie in, you’ll be mostly shadowing us. Keeping close and learning how we work.” Hunter pauses before handing Talon the file in his hand. Talon automatically opens the file and looks through the papers inside. “Now, we have today to go over the information other teams have gathered in this file. We need to infiltrate the prison tonight and get one of the inmates out.”
“Is there a reason?” The guy on the bench asks, flashing a bit of fang as he speaks.
“There’s a Seer that’s being held, from what I’ve learned she’s still young and not in complete control of her powers. She was also raised by humans who had no idea about the supernatural. When supernatural’s around the world were outed a couple years ago the humans she lived with didn’t know what to do with her, especially after a vision impacted their lives in a way that made them fear her. They did the only thing they knew to do, they turned her into the human authorities.
“Since the human’s main goal is to capture supernatural’s to study us, they’ve kept her drugged and in a prison, due to not having a proper place to place someone with her abilities.”
“What other abilities does she have?” I can’t stop the words from escaping.
“She can control the minds of a lot of humans if she wants to. There are certain humans immune to her, but not many. The ones they were able to find all work at the prison.”
“How can she not control their minds?” I ask, intrigued.
“I honestly have no clue. We’ll have the answers soon enough. I’ve got copies being made as we speak so we don’t have to share the one file.” He meets the eyes of everyone in the room. “I’ve been told that the girl is scheduled for execution tomorrow so this needs to happen tonight.”
Everyone nods.
“Now that the business talk is out of the way. Mercy, let’s introduce you to the other members of the team. You’ve already met Talon, he’s a shifter. The one closest to you is Warwick, or War. He’s an incubus.” Warwick, the sandy blonde, nods at me in greeting, a teasing smile on his mouth. “The guy on the bench is Parker, vampire. Last but not least, the surly one over on the equipment is Kai. He’s a witch.”
I look at Hunter with a raised brow. “So you’ll tell me what kind of demon Warwick is but not what you are?”
He flashes a sinister smirk at me. “You’ll find out eventually. I’m just not going to tell you.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. It’s nice to meet everyone.”
Murmurs of greeting come from the the three new guys.
They start talking amongst themselves, pretty much leaving me out of their conversation. After a few minutes, Hunter excuses himself to get the rest of the files for the rest of the group.
I don’t know why he didn’t just bring them all to begin with. Just another mystery to him I guess.
“So, Mercy,” Talon’s voice breaks through my thoughts, “why did you and Ada go at it yesterday?”
“Yes, I’m curious about that as well,” Warwick says.
I narrow my eyes as I try to remember why Ada started crap with me. “I don’t remember,” I admit with a shrug.
Talon’s gaze sharpens. “What do you mean you don’t remember? You mean you make it a habit to go off and fight with people you just met?”
“I don’t start shit,” I inform him bluntly.
“We don’t know that. We just know that you just randomly started fighting one of our colleagues.”
I tilt my head. “Talon, I don’t remember because I don’t care enough about it to remember. I don’t need to explain myself to you, god knows why I’m even fucking trying since it seems like you’ve had a problem with me since you learned I was a half-demon. If you have something to say to me then fucking say it.”
Talon opens his mouth and is interrupted by Parker. “Okay, good talk. He didn’t mean anything by it Mercy,” Parker lies.
I shake my head. “Whatever. He doesn’t know me so he can judge me all he wants.” I pause. “I may be a fighter, and I may be a demon but I’m also a human. I fit nowhere in either world but I’m constantly thrust into this one. This isn’t my choice. Think about that before you go off spouting bullshit you know nothing about.”
5
Chapter Five
Mercy
“Everyone know what’s going to happen once we get close?” Hunter asks from the front seat of the surveillance van on our way to the prison.
A chorus of “yes” is our response.
I feel a mind brush against mine and have to swallow my gasp. I always forget that supernaturals can communicate telepathically. Being around humans all the time I never have to really use it unless my uncle was around. Although, he hasn’t spoken telepathically to me in months. Honestly, don’t even know why I’m shocked, I was told earlier we’d all be communicating this way.
“So, you nervous Mimi?” Warwick’s voice echoes in my head.
I turn and stare at him. “What did you just call me?”
I didn’t mean to snap at him but the only person who ever called me Mimi was my mom.
“Mimi. Am I not allowed to give you a nickname?” His mouth curves into a smug smile, telling me that if it bothers me he doesn’t care and he’s going to use it anyway.
“Only my mother has ever called me Mimi,” I answer with a shrug. “Call me whatever you want.”
His chuckle vibrates in my mind. “Are you going to answer me? Are you nervous?”
“Honestly? No. I’m not. It’s weird to be doing something like this with a team. Other than that, I don’t feel anything but determination to get this done.”
“Hmm.”
That’s all he says in response. Instead of pressing him for answers, I keep my mind focused on the task ahead.
It takes another half hour to get close to the prison. Hunter pulls the van into an area covered by trees where the van isn’t easily spotted, especially in the dark.
One by one we exit the van, except for Parker. Kai stays by my side, as ordered by Hunter, while the others disappear into the night.
“Ready for this?”
I nod at Kai’s question, not bothering to respond. We quickly and silently move through the trees, stopping only when the guards booth’s spotlight gets too close.
“Tell me again why I got stuck going through this old ass tunnel with you.” Kai’s grumbled thought makes me inwardly smirk.
“Because Hunter said so. Also, because we’re the smallest.” He raises an eyebrow at me while we press our backs against the giant wall surrounding the prison. “Okay, because I’m the smallest and you drew the short straw.” I grin at him when he rolls his eyes at me.
“Let’s just get this over with. Do I need to help you over?”
“Don’t insult me.” I smirk at him before grabbing around the wall, looking for a spot to take hold of. Once I get a good grip I start climbing, stopping every few feet to fix my hold or find another spot to grab.
Before climbing over the top I slowly peek over to make sure there aren’t any guards.
“All clear,” I tell Kai. I look up at the sound of shuffling above me and see Kai smirking down at me from where he’s crouch
ed on the top of the wall. “How the fu- You know what? I don’t wanna know. Help me up.”
Kai’s shoulders shake as he silently laughs while he grabs my hand and pulls me up beside him.
“Okay, Mercy, the tunnel we’re going through will be halfway between this wall and the building in front of us. I’ll go first, follow directly behind me. The guys will let us know if anything changes out here.”
I nod in understanding, jumping off the top of the wall behind Kai, landing surprisingly gracefully considering the height of the damn thing and keeping pace with him.
Kai gets to the tunnels entrance, which looks like it’d be a cellar door but it has a giant padlock keeping anyone out.
“What the hell is this doing right in the middle of their freaking courtyard? It’s not exactly concealed.” I ask Kai while he places his hand against the lock and mutters a few words under his breath, ignoring my question. The lock clicks as it comes undone. Kai puts the lock on the inside where there’s steps leading down into darkness when we go in.
Closing the door, Kai plunges us into darkness.
Okay, that’s not creepy as fuck.
“Don’t suppose we can have a light down here? I can’t see shit.”
Kai snorts softly at my whining before a soft glow illuminates his right hand taking form of an orb before floating between us. “It’ll keep pace with us. Let’s go.”
We move quickly and quietly through the tunnels, making turns from memory of the tunnel maps we had spent the day studying until we reach the exit we want.
“Kai, Mercy, don’t exit the tunnels yet. There’s a guard heading that way.” Parker’s voice echoes in my head as soon as Kai’s hand touches the door. Kai drops his arm and waits for Parker to give us the okay.
