Beg for Mercy - kindle edition v3
Page 19
Sebastian made a cocky move to reach for me. I would never understand that move. He couldn’t have been so stupid. I guess he underestimated his opponent. Flynn stepping away and to the side of me in a swift movement raised his fist and swung. He would have connected. Instead his fist sailed into thin air. Flynn stood looking about moved back to me. He turned in time to see Sebastian standing behind us.
“What are you?” Flynn asked sternly with folded hands but somehow still blocking my path to Sebastian. We hadn’t spoken last night when he rescued me from my floor. Now I wished I would have mentioned that bit of information to him. I wasn’t total sure we were in true danger. But if something happened to Flynn, I would hate myself forever.
“What I am is not a cambion like the two of you?”
What was a cambion, I thought to myself.
Flynn said, “So you are full demon?” Ah, apparently Flynn was familiar with the term.
Sebastian nodded, “Glad to see you have brains too.”
“I don’t really care what you are but stay away from my sister.”
The succubus curled my arm around Flynn the apparent victor in this battle. The twit had no scruples.
“I eat cambions like you for snack,”
“Demon eater, are you? Is that why you’re interested in Mercy? Is she easy prey for you?” Flynn said spitting out the words.
Sebastian laughed while they circled each other. I was now forgotten in a primitive sense even though I remained firmly in Flynn’s arms. “Did she tell you how she got home last night while you went to ride those to fillies?” Sebastian said giving his back impression of Texas drawl. I couldn’t say why he used that accent. We weren’t from Texas. I let that go because I hoped the succubus would let me take control back with this impending treat.
Flynn tuned to look at me with questioning eyes. But I had no voice in this form. I couldn’t answer. The succubus watched with hungry ideas. “I walked her home and even popped her in her bedroom. If I wanted dinner, she’d be dead,” Sebastian baited.
Flynn was good. He didn’t reveal his feelings about that bit of news. “So what do you want then demon?” I wanted to know as well.
“Isn’t it obvious? Like you I’m interested in her,” he said straight faced. “I wonder what your friend would do right now knowing you were pursuing her.”
Flynn eyes stayed steady as Sebastian grinned baiting him. “My friend has nothing to worry about when it comes to me. You on the other hand don’t stand a chance. Mercy isn’t interested in you.”
Normally I would be mad at such a comment. I mean I don’t let people speak for me. But this time I was grateful because I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Flynn moved lighting fast but Sebastian was quicker. Flynn seemed to anticipate and pivoted lifting his foot as Sebastian materialized just where Flynn moved. His hand made a sickening crunch when it landed on Sebastian’s nose. Sebastian was down. Flynn stood over him still holding me. I was impressed. He had skill.
Sebastian looked surprised for a second holding his nose. He didn’t however look hurt. “Her eyes say otherwise friend. Isn’t it interesting though how she reveals herself? Have you asked yourself why her eyes go black like that? We both know that’s not a trait of a succubus or an incubus. So what is she really,” Sebastian said in a diatribe of words. Flynn had to let me go to look me in the face. When he did, Sebastian dissipated and didn’t return.
Flynn took two steps back. His face changed in disbelief. Then he turned to look back to see Sebastian was gone. Looking back into my eyes again he walked back over to me. Taking me into a fierce embrace he said, “Fight it Mercy. I know you can.” He stoked my hair to sooth.
It didn’t take much too over throw the demon inside me. All the information I needed to process from Sebastian’s words had the beast confused again. Having command over my actions, I stayed in Flynn’s arms while he continued to speak.
His words were lost in my own muddled thoughts. I wasn’t listening to him. I was asking myself my own questions. What the hell was Sebastian? What was a demon eater? Was it true? Was he interested in me and why? Was Flynn? More important than any other, what the hell am I?
Chapter Twenty
candor (n.) honesty, frankness
One can never discount being held. Flynn’s arms felt sure and true. I needed the stability for that moment. The boy that held me was a conundrum. He could be a total jackass, but then kind, a conceited jerk, yet a good friend. I didn’t understand him. But he was the only one who could remotely understand what I was going through. Maggie, Luke and Paul were all human and even if they knew what I was, they could never empathize like Flynn could.
Akin to the light that dawned through parted clouds, I realized I was once again captain of my body. Flynn pulled back and wiped a solitude tear from my face. Swiftly, he moved away. I didn’t know what to make of it. There in the depths of the cold blue eyes something began to smolder.
Feeling steadier, I was eager to continue my quest regardless of Sebastian’s previous presence. “What’s the next step?” I asked.
He turned to look back at me. His eyes were flat again. His hands fidgeted in fist. It was as if he were nervous about something. “I think because your mom kept this from you, there are two distinct parts of you. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. My best guess is that you need to merge with your succubus side.”
I wasn’t quite sure how to accomplish that. There was an entity that shared my body, but it wasn’t that simple. Quite frankly I didn’t like the beast and had no real desire to permanently become one with it. So I change the subject. “What am I?” I asked referring to Sebastian’s innuendo that I was different somehow.
Looking me like I was the only person who existed on the earth he said, “You’re Mercy,” he said penetrating me with his eyes. “But I think you need to master more control over your demon side before you merge with it. I think at this point you could lose who you are if you try it now.” He said with long pauses in between.
“Is there something wrong with me?” I said. With my eyes, I pleaded for him to fix me. He stepped back over to me and laid his hands on my shoulders and lean in towards me. I felt the heat rise but I tried to remain in control.
“There is nothing wrong with you,” he said seriously. Then with a mischievous grin he added, “I do want to know how you are going around kissing everyone if you haven’t mastered control.”
I stepped away averting my eyes. I wasn’t kissing everyone and took offense to his comment. “I not kissing everyone,” I protested. “And well, your dad gave me this balm to use.”
His eyes lifted skyward for a second. “Figures, “he said. “He’s always trying to be the hero.”
“Your dad is a great guy,” I said in his defense, looking at Flynn’s back as he stepped further away from me. Curtly, I wondered why he was moving so far away from me.
“Yeah, he’s great and I am the bad seed,” he said with regret.
I took steps towards him so I could comfort him as he’d done for me. “You’re not bad, just,” I paused looking for the right words. “I don’t know, was it really necessary to go do whatever it was with two girls?”
He looked away. “I do what I have to do to survive,” he said.
“For fun too,” I added. I wanted to say more, but his look of pain stopped me.
“Why not? I am what I am,” he said spreading his hands.
“What about Amanda?” I asked. He was being honest and I had questions.
He looked directly at me. “I’d planned to break up with Amanda until the party debacle. How do you break up with a girl after she had a fight with another girl over you?” he said arms raised as if praying to the heavens.
“Couldn’t you wait to move on until after you talked to her?”
“No, I have needs,” he said. “I can’t help it. I didn’t suggest it either.”
“Why didn’t you just take what you needed from Amanda before we left?”
“Oh,” I said surprised. My eyes were wide with that nugget of information.
“Yeah, so it was time for me to move on. But only taking a little means I have to take more often. I won’t see these girls again for a while at least. So I can take a bit more and hold out for a while.”
“Ok,” I said in understanding. I swallowed words that couldn’t be said. I felt like for the first time I really understood him and why he did what he did.
“And everyone thinks I don’t care. And maybe they’re right in a way. I can’t care because I have to let them go. So I only date girls I won’t care about,” he said.
I hadn’t expected him to say more. But the truth of his words only added to what I understood of everything. It hadn’t been a cake walk for him either. He could be close to someone in ways I couldn’t, yet he had to keep his heart far away. We were polar opposites. I could let my heart get close but not my body. I couldn’t help but appreciate his candor.
“I’m sorry,” I said. I hoped he would hear the true regret in them.
“Sorry for what?” he asked and a hint of anger peered through.
“Sorry for assuming the worst,” I said. His words had been sharp. I needed to dampen them with empathy. “I appreciate your candor.”
“Don’t get sappy Mercy. I am what I am and a part of me is a jerk.”
I didn’t believe that for a minute anymore. “I don’t think so,” I said.
But we didn’t say much more than that. I move forward and he let me reach him. On my knees I put my hands on his back. I leaned my head against his shoulder blade. We were a pair of misfits.
This time I comforted him. When he moved to stand, I moved back. “We should go back,” he said and he was distant again.
Just when I thought we made strides as friends, I think I lost him to whatever mask he hid under. He’d gotten up and began walking back down the mountain. I stood and said, “About Luke, does he,” I couldn’t finish my sentence because my foot caught a rock and I went tumbling down the hill. It wasn’t grace fall either unless you call a turkey trying to fly graceful.
The pain that shoot from my foot exploded and I reached for it once I came to a stop. I heard Flynn call out my name just before he caught up to me. “Are you ok,” he said dusting dirt and leaves from him face and hair.
Tears born of pain fell from my eyes as I said, “My ankle.”
He reached for it. When he touched it, I cried out in hurt. With light fingers he probed like he was a doctor. “I don’t think you broke it and it should heal regardless.”
“It hurts,” I said.
“Yes it will, but not being totally human means you’ll be fine.”
“What,” I said, bemused and not sure I understood his meaning through my searing pain.
“Mercy, you have a lot to learn.” He picked me up as if I weighted nothing again and began walking me down the side of the hill. “Your body will fix itself. It’s one of the perks of not being human. Once you fuel up, you’ll find out what other gifts you have.”
“Gifts,” I said one word was all I was able to get out through the pain.
“Every demon like incubus maybe similar but like people each has other qualities that separate themselves making them unique.”
He was right. All this time I thought the only knowledge I needed to gain was how to kiss without killing when there was so much more. He carried me all the back to the house and to my room where he laid me down. David and my mom were gone. It figures. They hadn’t been around much. My mom hadn’t even cared enough to look for me. But maybe they were, but Flynn didn’t say.
“I should call you mother,” he said eyeing me for my disapproval. When he didn’t get a reaction he added, “And tell her what happened.”
“No,” I said with finality.
He just looked at me a bit confused himself. “You’re more human and I am not sure how long it will take you to heal.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said quickly. I didn’t want her to swoop in with mother kindness and brush away any anger I still repressed. He said I’ll heal so there was really no need to bother her.
“Ok,” he said slowly. He looked like he was trying to pacify me before I would explode. “I’ll just tell them I found you,” he said rationally.
“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Wait here, I’ll get you some ice and Advil,” he said holding out a palm in the universal symbol for stop.
“Why do I need it?” I asked. If I wasn’t human and would heal why bother with all the rest. I thought.
“Healing is painful and it will help,” he said and promptly left the room. He didn’t give me a chance to argue. He’d been gone a while for someone who was just getting Advil. I was about to slide off the bed when the door opened. Held in his hand was a tray loaded with a sandwich, soda, ice and Advil as promised.
I sighed. My stomach growled at the sight of the food. I hadn’t eaten anything except the few bites of bagel from the morning. “Thanks,” I said.
He nodded. He looked away from my gaze. I got the feeling he was hiding something. I kept looking until he finally turned back to me and I saw it. He didn’t want to acknowledge he cared. “I’ll be right back,” he said making a hasty retreat.
Several minutes later he came in and hooked me up with a television, cable and a remote. I had to wonder why nobody cared to give me these items earlier. Late at night, when I can’t sleep it would have been nice. But I didn’t mention that.
“I have to head out. I have a date,” he said. Again he avoided my eyes. His hand cupped his chin like he was deep in though. I got the feeling again he didn’t want to leave me alone.
Grateful for all his help and just being there for me I tried not to show judgment. But the shock from his abrupt statement made my betraying eyebrow raised. Luckily, I kept control of my mouth and kept my comments to myself. “I have to see Chris first he wants to talk to me about the murders of those women,” he said answering my silent conversation ques.
“What murders?” I asked. Honestly, I wasn’t really thinking at the moment about the serial killer stalking Maryland.
“You know the ones that have been on the news,” he said flatly. I thought, remembering long ago about the one woman found dead but police weren’t able to determine cause of death.
“There have been more,” he said. “And well, those in the know might assume that an incubus did it.”
I looked up in alarm.
“Don’t worry. He knows it wasn’t me but he has information.”
“Be careful.” I said as he left my room. I was flipping the channels on the remote when sounds from my phone made me jump. I snapped it up engaging the call with Maggie.
“Maggs,” I said hastily. “How’s Connecticut?” My voice was a bit enthusiastic. I’d missed her greatly.
“Great,” she said. “And how are things there?” she said mirroring my happiness.
“Good,” I said a bit tempered. It wasn’t the truth but I couldn’t share those troubles with her anyway.
“Did you talk to Paul?” she asked.
Paul, crap I thought. I hadn’t and he hadn’t returned any of my calls because I’d checked my phone shortly after Flynn left. Through a barrage of words I shared the story about getting drunk and Flynn ending the one call I had gotten from Paul.
Maggie homed in on the other part of my tale that wasn’t about Paul. I should have figured that. “Eme, does Luke know about this Sebastian guy?” she asked hesitantly.
I felt more scrutiny than I felt support. Was I being condemned? What happened to friendship solidarity? It wasn’t as though I had done anything wrong. “Not specifically. I haven’t
done anything and don’t plan to.”
With a heavy sigh on her end I expected a lecture. I almost felt like Maggie was my mother. “What a mess?” she said.
I didn’t buy into her judgment. I needed answers. “What happened with Paul when you saw him?”
“He’s not doing so well, Eme. I think he and Amber are done for good.”
Double crap, I thought. I felt the crushing weight that this was somehow all my fault. Maggie wasn’t doing such a good job of not making me feel that way. “How do you know?” I said nearly choking out the words.
I didn’t want to be responsible for their unhappiness. “I talked to Amber and she’s says that Paul won’t talk to her either after breaking it off,” Maggie said.
A raw churn of jealousy burned my belly. I knew it was wrong but it had been me and Maggie for a long time. Now she and Amber talked. That sounded so wrong. Don’t get me wrong, Amber was sweet. But I felt territorial. Maggie was my friend. I squashed the feeling and said, “Is she mad at me?”
“I don’t think so,” Maggie said on another deep sigh. “She knows you and Luke are together so it couldn’t be your fault right?” She said that last sentence like she wasn’t sure.
“I didn’t encourage this Maggs.” I said. She said nothing which was more meaningful then words. “You believe me, right?” I said hesitantly.
“Sure, Eme. I confused though. All of a sudden you’ve got a fan club. It’s weird.”
So no one should like me. Her words felt like a bitter pill. A fissure between us had grown heedless to me. It was now wide like the distance the ocean is between continents.
“Maggie,” I pleaded.
She jumped in and said, “Just don’t fuck this up with Luke. Stay away from Flynn and this Sebastian.”
Her words were strong. Feeling as though she sucker punched me I said, “What does Flynn have to do with this?”
She sighed again as if this should be obvious to me. “Flynn has a way of making every girl do stupid things. And really, being so close to him you just might fall prey.”