by Day, P. J.
Mercy closed her eyes, remembering how close she’d become to him. But she couldn’t lie. Not to Aunt Itzy, and not to Lily. “I went to the restroom to take the anti-potion. But…” She looked from Lily to her aunt. “I didn’t want to take it. Lily, what you gave me was so strong, or maybe it was the liquor. Anyway, I figured it would only last a couple of hours, so I didn’t take it.”
Lily gasped in disbelief. Itzel clucked like a chicken.
“You slept with him, didn’t you?”” her aunt asserted.
Mercy nodded. She wasn’t ashamed of it either, and held her head high. “I did. What’s so wrong about that?”
“What’s wrong is that now it won’t wear off, pendeja,” Aunt Itzy snapped. “You don’t realize that when you make potions you have to follow the rules. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.” She leered at Lily with disdain, who promptly cringed. “You have to adhere to their folk tradition. The formulas to these potions have been around for centuries, with their own blueprint. Who are you to stray from them?”
“But Aunt Itzy…”
“No buts!” Itzel got up and began pacing. “You think you’re in love. And if you think you are, then you are. I did my best to remove the toxic aura while you were out. But how do you feel about him now?”
Mercy looked down at her hands, shook her head and paused. She lifted her head and defiantly said, “I still care for him. Is that such a bad thing? He wants to make me happy.”
“Mercedes, you don’t know who you’re dealing with here,” Itzel said. “I know who he is. If I’d known before, I would have given you harsher warning.” She returned to her niece, gazing deep into her eyes. “Do you feel any different at all?”
“Well, maybe a little,” Mercy admitted. “But I still want to see him. And I’m going to, tonight. You can’t stop me,” she warned.
“And if I can’t stop you, nobody can.” Itzel’s voice rasped with frustration. “But I’m telling you, Mercy, you’ve gotten yourself into some serious trouble.”
“I can handle it, Tía. Please don’t be angry with me.”
Itzy began packing her bag. “Child, you must learn that even if I’m angry, I still love you. That is unconditional love. Can you say the same for your Ariel...that...that warlock?”
“Don’t leave like this, please,” Mercy begged.
“I cannot do any more for you. When you learn some strength and wisdom, come see me. Not before.” Mercy’s aunt did not look back as she closed the door behind her.
The room went completely silent. Lily looked at Mercy with despair. “I’m so sorry, honey. I…I don’t know what to say,” she said.
“Don’t be. Something’s changing, I can feel it. And I don’t care what my aunt says, I’m strong. I can handle this.”
“God, I hope you’re right. Do you remember how frightened you were of Ariel? Mercy, he could be capable of anything.”
“That’s true,” Mercy answered. “But he won’t hurt me now. I know it in my heart.”
Lily moaned.
“It’s okay, really. Listen, it’s late, almost morning. I want to get a few hours of sleep. I want to be with Terra. Okay? Don’t wake us.”
Lily looked as though she’d been beaten up and torn down. “Alright,” she said. “I won’t wake you when I leave for the shop. But you stay in contact with me, okay? Please?”
Mercy gave her friend a big hug. “I will. As long as you don’t bug me about this. I’ll handle it, in my own way.”
“I’ll try,” Lily said, and the two embraced. “But you’re my best friend. You know that, right?”
Mercy smiled. “I know. And you’re mine. Now let’s get some sleep.”
Mercy crawled into bed quietly so as not to wake Terra. She smiled, and brushed her daughter’s hair from her face. But as she settled in to sleep, Mercy’s thoughts were on Ariel, and only Ariel. Pleasant thoughts, but ones that still tore at her.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Mommy, Mommy!” Mercy came out of sleep her eyes flying open at her daughter’s pleas. “What, Angel? What’s wrong?”
“Your phone’s ringing again,” Terra said, holding the phone out to her mother.
Mercy grabbed it, thinking immediately of Ariel. “Hello?” She tried sounding awake, energized.
“Mercy?”
“Patterson?” She recognized the voice. “Yeah…yes, what’s up?”
“Yeah…umm, you’ve been incognito for a bit, haven’t you?” he asked. “Everything alright?”
Mercy pulled her daughter toward her chest and leaned back in bed. “Everything’s fine,” she answered, hoping she sounded upbeat. “What’s up?”
“Can you come down to the station?” Joe asked. “I need to discuss some things with you.”
“I’m done with the case,” Mercy stated. “I got my man. On my own, and without your help.” She cursed herself for sounding so harsh. “I mean, I’m sorry, but I’m done with the case, Javier is now safe. He was found far away from the press. He ran away or he was let go. You can question him for details,” she said, knowing full well Javier’s memory of the ordeal was wiped clean. “In all honesty, I can’t offer more than what we’ve already discussed.”
“Well,” Joe countered, “I have some information you might be interested in. That is, if we’re still helping each other out?” he asked, his voice frayed at the possibility of losing touch with Mercy.
“Of course,” Mercy said. “Give me a couple of hours, okay?”
* * *
“Mommy, why didn’t I go to school today?” Terra and her mother were still cuddled in bed, half-slumbering.
Mercy pulled her daughter closer. “It’s Mommy’s fault,” she said. “Mommy was up late last night. I’ll take you, and I’ll explain that you’re tardy because of me. You won’t get in trouble.”
Terra wrapped her arms around her mother. It was moments like these that Mercy would cherish forever. The child looked up at her mother, eyes round. “Why were you up so late?”
“I was working,” Mercy answered. It was partly true, at least, but the white lie stung.
“Was Aunt Itzy here?”
“Yes, she was,” Mercy answered. “How’d you know that? Did we wake you up?”
“No, I just had a dream about her. She was driving her truck, and she was mad. Why was she here, Mom?”
“It’s complicated,” Mercy said. “But nothing to worry about. You know, your Aunt Itzy loves you very much.” She stroked Terra’ hair. “My, your hair is tangled,” Mercy said, changing the subject. “Come on, let’s get dressed. Lily deserves a break from us when she gets back from work, and let’s get you to school.”
“Why can’t we stay home? Just this once?”
Mercy sat up and pulled Terra onto her lap. “I’m sorry, baby, I still have more work to do.”
“Alright,” Terra resigned.
“But maybe one day soon, we could take a day off, together, if you keep up your grades, and don’t mess with the other kids. I could take you to Disneyland.” She smiled as Terra’s eyes lit up.
Terra jumped out of bed. “Okay! Deal!” She dashed for the bathroom to get ready.
Mercy sat just a moment longer, thinking of the night before. She could still smell Ariel’s scent on her, which gave her stomach flip-flops.
“Well, there’s still work to do,” she sighed. She had to visit Patterson.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Joe Patterson was, as usual, working at his desk when Mercy arrived. “Hey there,” Mercy said, taking her seat as across from him.
“Mercy,” he said, elated. He rose slightly in politeness. “Thanks for coming. I understand you’re done with your part, but I thought you’d be interested to know that we’ve got some good news. Great news.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Well, I made a list of missing persons reported in and around Javier’s neighborhood. It seems there’s a connection. They all disappeared within days of each other, all undocumen
ted, and were all already employed. It’s a mass human smuggling ring if I ever saw one, so I’ve been in touch with most of the families. Stories are all the same, they got an extra job, and then they disappeared.”
“Huh,” Mercy said. She didn’t know what else to say.
“Well, guess what?” He smiled. “They’ve all come home, unharmed.”
“What?!” That did surprise her. “They’ve been...freed?”
“Yep. The strange thing is none of them can remember where they were. So far. I’ve only questioned about seven as of yet.” He leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands around the back of his head. “What would you make of that, Ms. Magic Eye Private Eye?” He was smiled and watched her closely. Mercy seemed flustered.
“I don’t know what to make of it,” Mercy answered. “You and I both know how weird this case is, or was. Is it closed now?”
“Of course not,” he told her. “We still have to find the perps that kidnapped and exploited them, at least according to your eyewitness testimony, or is there something more going you need to tell me?”
Mercy leaned forward and put her head on her chin. “So, what more do you want from me?”
“I want to know how you got Javier out of wherever he was,” Joe Patterson said.
“I...I guess he must have been the first one, I, umm already told you though, Remember?” Mercy stammered. She felt bad about lying, but Ariel. “He called me, from the beach. I went to pick him up. He didn’t remember anything either. But he’s back at home safe and sound. I think that’s the most important part, no?”
“You’re keeping something from me.” Joe’s smile was gone. “Mercy, this is a very serious case. You could be subpoenaed, if you’re withholding evidence.”
Mercy looked him dead in the eye. “Joe, honest. I don’t have any more information for you.”
He held her gaze a moment longer. He leaned back in his chair and with submission said, “Well, I can’t drag it out of you. Not today anyway. But I hope you’ll change your mind, if you’re able to recall anything that could aid our investigation, of course.”
“I’m sorry I can’t help, I don’t have anything further to share. Believe me, I wish I knew more,” Mercy said. She did like the guy, and she had been looking forward to saying yes the next time he asked her out. But so much had changed now. Patterson’s interrogations now reminded her of the way Grant behaved right before the divorce, and of course now there was the biggest game changer of them all, Ariel.
“Yes, well, uh, thank you Ms. Cruz. Just keep us in mind, okay?” Joe said, tapping his pen on the desk, all business.
He wasn’t happy, she could tell that much. This was the first time she’d kept anything from him, and he knew it.
She gathered her purse and rose. He did stand up as she did, though. “I will, Joe, if I can help in any way, I will.”
“Alright, Miss Cruz, have a nice day.” He lowered his head, as if she were no longer present and went back to his paperwork as she let herself out of his office.
Chapter Thirty-Five
This time, Mercy drove up Ariel’s driveway and parked in front of the mansion. Just as she was walked up the wide steps he opened the door.
Mercy hurried inside and Ariel closed his eyes, pulled her close to his chest and embraced her as if she were a long-lost love he hadn’t seen in an eternity. He lifted her chin and kissed her tenderly. She resisted his lips at first, but she couldn’t help herself. She returned his kiss with unreserved passion.
Finally she broke away. “Ariel, what happened? I talked to the detective today and he said everyone that was missing has come back.”
Ariel smiled, took her hand, and led her into the living room. During the day, with sunlight splashing through the windows and roofless patios, the mansion resembled a Mediterranean villa. Airy, open, and inviting. The French doors to the back gardens splayed apart; welcoming a cool, fresh breeze that brought in the garden scents.
“Well?” She asked him as they sat together.
“Your police friend is right,” he answered. “Does this please you, Mercy?”
“Me? Why yes, of course it does.”
“Because I did it for you,” he said.
“Wow…I don’t know what to say. That was fast,” Mercy said, stunned. “You got rid of your whole operation for me?
“You could say thank you,” he teased.
“Thank you! That’s wonderful! And you erased their memories. That’s good. I wouldn’t want to remember an experience like that.”
“Nor would I, I suppose. But they no longer know that pain and that is all that matters,” Ariel said, moving her hair behind her ear. “Mercy, I know what you did last night. And I know that it backfired, somehow. But that doesn’t matter. You’ve brought something out in me that I’ve never felt before. I almost don’t know what to do now.”
“Hmmm...” she said. “You’ve turned over a new leaf? For me?”
“Honestly, I don’t know if I can. This contract and project was nothing compared to some of the things I’ve done. The money was easy, but really of no consequence. I was going to shut down soon anyhow.”
“So, you didn’t do it for them,” Mercy stated quietly. “You didn’t send them home because you knew you were abusing them.”
“Do you know how old I am, Mercy?”
“No. But what’s that got to do with the price of tea in China?”
“I’m older, much older than you. And I’ve gained an insurmountable amount of power through the years. Doing these contracts for money kept me in check. Contained,” Ariel said, as his eyes took on a glassy sheen. “If I hadn’t fallen in love with you last night, I would have probably killed you.”
Mercy was shocked at his candor. “My aunt say’s you’re evil. An abuser and willful exploiter of black magic. And I know you could have killed me at that empty warehouse. I felt your rage.”
“I could have, indeed.”
“But you say you love me. I’m feeling pretty much the same way, but, Ariel, this is a spell. It’s not real.”
“How do you know?” Ariel asked. “This aunt of yours, is she the one who taught you what you know?”
“Yes, well kinda. I haven’t been the best student, I guess.”
“And am I right in supposing she tried to remove this so-called spell?”
“She tried. She couldn’t.”
“So, how do you know we’re not meant to be together? I’ve lived ages, through more changes in the world than you can imagine, my darling, and I’ve seen much stranger things happen.”
Ariel’s rich and deep voice pierced right into Mercy’s heart. Was he right? Her eyebrows drew together in contemplation. “I don’t know what to think,” she finally said. “All I know is I came back here the soonest I could. To be with you. To feel you.”
“Then be with me,” he whispered into her ear. “Let us feel what others never will.”
She started to kiss him, but pulled away. “My daughter,” she said. “Terra. I can’t forget about her.”
“She’s in school?”
“Yes. Somebody’s got to pick her up. She gets out in a few minutes. Oh God, how could I forget? Let me make a phone call.”
Mercy felt guilty as she dialed Grant’s number. First she had Terra stay with Lily, now Grant. And after she’d just spent the weekend with him. This was crazy.
Ariel listened as she spoke to her ex-husband in the hallway, making up an excuse about work and about Javier. He heard her apologize more than once. When she came back into the living room she was smiling, but he sensed a sadness underneath. And for the first time in a long, long while, he felt a pang of sorrow.
He stood, and she walked up to him, and finished that kiss. “Mercy,” Ariel muttered under his breath.
“Shhh…,” she told him, placing a finger just above his upper lip. This time, it was she who took his hand and headed for the stairs.
Chapter Thirty-Six
It was as if they’d come to know all
of the intricacies of each other’s bodies overnight. Ariel reveled with joy as he bestowed Mercy with ecstasy again and again, afterward he pooled in sated sublime. Mercy’s head fell onto Ariel’s chest, sweat on sweat, and her hand resting on his heart.
Mercy’s eyes were closed, as she refused to see Ariel’s burning eyes, eyes she still feared. Instead she stared up onto the bare ceiling, contemplating all. She didn’t see his frown. Ariel, for all that he had been, really did think he wanted to be someone she could truly respect and love deeply. Mercy had asked him if he had released the captives based on their need to be freed. No, he hadn’t, Ariel did it for Mercy. He had lived a life that catered solely to his wants and needs. Mercy was so beautiful, so lively. And she cared about people in a way that he hadn’t in years. Decades, centuries.
Mercy sensed something though. Still feeling his heartbeat, she asked, “Penny for your thoughts?”
It took him a moment to answer. “I’m just thinking about us,” he said truthfully enough. “We’re alike in some ways but very different, you and I.”
“I know,” Mercy whispered. “That makes this better, right? I’ve never known anyone like you.”
“I love you, Mercy. But you don’t know me half as well as I know you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.
But he had decided. And when Ariel Caliban decided something, he rarely changed his mind. Perhaps that will have to change, too, he thought.
But for now, he stroked her thick hair and whispered, “Sleep, my love. Sleep deeply and wake rested. Awake happy.” He put this into Mercy’s mind, and soon after his words were spoken, she fell into a deep slumber.
* * *
Mercy woke a few hours later. She reached for him but he was not there. The moonlight shone into the room, and onto a beautiful red rose, along with a folded letterhead. Smiling, thinking he’d gone down to get food or something else to surprise her with, she turned on the bedside lamp and opened the letter.
