by DC Little
He slowly shook his head, wishing he could take it back when disappointment flooded her green eyes. “Well, it was a far-fetched dream,” she said.
He understood. The hope had lived in him as a child, too. For a while, at least. He had sat staring at the black screen in their house for hours, hoping that the lights within it would flicker on to show the magic the older kids talked about. Of course, he had been too young to remember television, but the antiquated device had sat in his living room until his mom broke it in a fit when he was about eight.
She watched him more closely, and the line between her brows deepened again. “So, it’s not wonderful there.”
Orion shook his head. “It’s horrid.”
“Ugh, I hate it when my brother is right.” She sat all the way back on her bum and folded her legs in front of her, leaning over and down with her elbows on her knees. The position made her seem young, almost childish.
“Is he right often?”
She looked at him, in that deep way as if she pulled his soul out from the recess within him. No one looked at him like that. It both unnerved him and left his heart hammering in excitement.
“Pretty much all the time,” she said in a way that made him feel there was a lot more she could say on that subject.
The girl fascinated him. She seemed as flighty as a wild animal and as steady as the sun, like a conundrum in motion.
“What’s your name?” The girl had saved his life, at the very least he wanted to know her name. Calling her the angel would only get him so far.
“Mercy,” she said, lowering her flaming lashes, as if the confident, powerful woman was suddenly shy.
“Mercy,” he repeated her name, liking the way it felt on his lips. “Beautiful.”
Her mouth shot open and her eyes narrowed slightly, but the pink that had risen in her cheeks deepened. She took the bowl from him and busied herself on the other side of the shelter. When she returned to kneel next to him, she looked composed once again.
“I’m assuming you have a name as well?” She arched an eyebrow, watching him, waiting for him to respond. Her hands clasped tightly, and she leaned forward, as if she expected the answer to blow her backward and wanted to plant herself firmly before it came rolling out.
“Well, my friends call me O—”
The hide door swung open, letting in a blast of cold air, but it was the presence that had him wanting to hide back under the furs, an overwhelming presence that he didn’t know to be fearful or in awe of. The large man stood in the doorway. His eyes glared down, trapping him, which for Orion made him square back his shoulders and wish he had the strength to face him like a man.
The man’s eyes went from Orion to Mercy and back to Orion, and he couldn’t help but to feel measured and coming up lacking. “You’re awake.”
Orion watched as the man paced. He felt Mercy tense, her eyes slightly widened before she sent him a small smile and discretely squeezed his hand.
“Leave us,” the man commanded Mercy.
Orion watched Mercy’s eyes flare, seeing them harden. She pushed to a stand in one graceful movement, turned toward the large man, obviously the leader. Why Orion felt pride for a girl he barely knew, he didn’t know, but he did, his heart overran with it.
“I’m not leaving. Whatever you need to say, you can say in front of me.” Mercy planted her hands on her hips and stared at the taller man.
The man’s nostrils flared. Orion held his breath. He could not forgive himself if Mercy put herself in a compromising position for him. Even if she lived with the enemy…. Then he looked closer at the man, wondering if he was the leader, did that mean…?
“Sir, Mercy saved my life. I am in her debt, and yours for the care I received.” He watched the man pull his eyes off the girl and land on him. Orion’s stomach clenched. This guy had to be Chantry. “Please, I do not mind if she wants to stay.”
The man squatted down at Orion’s feet with a calculating stare. “You are in her debt. She broke protocol to save your life.” He held his long arm out with an open palm. “I’m Blake Chantry.”
An internal explosion rocked Orion, sending the air from his lungs and his mind reeling. Luckily, he had plenty of practice taking shocks in stride, all while posing as the calm, smart-aleck kid. Though, he realized his mistake too late when talking with Mercy and had almost shared his real name. If Chantry was the man, Meyers had said, he would know who he was. Did Orion want Chantry to know who avenged his father’s death, or would that mark him as an enemy from the start?
The internal altercation took only a second. With Chantry’s hand only holding out a moment longer than proper, Orion fit his hand into the large palm, proud to see that his wasn’t that much smaller. “Benjamin.”
He caught Mercy’s surprised stare, but kept his face even, friendly, and focused on Blake. His hand gripped him tighter for a moment before releasing.
“You look familiar, Benjamin.” Blake narrowed his eyes. “Where have you come from?”
Orion thought of the way Mercy described it. Chantry seemed too smart, too knowledgeable to give too much information, not until Orion gained enough strength to make his move. Intel first. Revenge next.
“The cities,” Orion said simply.
Blake’s lips thinned. He watched Orion while his mind seemed to toil over the obvious lack of information that he had given him. The next move was Chantry’s. What would he do?
At that moment, another man, slightly older, thinner and friendlier, ducked through the door. He nodded at Chantry, smiled at Mercy, and openly stared curiously at Orion.
“This is Arland, my co-leader here in Zion.” Blake motioned to the man, who finally smiled when Orion nodded toward him. “Well, Benjamin from the cities,” Chantry said with a touch of sarcasm, “we have a lot to talk about. As much as you would like Mercy to stay, there are some things I would rather not expose my daughter to.”
Orion felt the blood drain from his face. His daughter. Mercy was Chantry’s daughter. Well, if that didn’t complicate everything….
CHAPTER EIGHT
>>>—MERCY—<<<
Mercy fumed. Her entire body felt on fire. How dare her father treat her like such a child in front of...she glanced at the man who told her father that his name was Benjamin. She had been holding her breath, but it didn’t sound right. It didn’t feel right, besides he had been telling her his name when her dad interrupted, and it hadn’t sounded like he started with Benjamin. She shrugged off that thought while she focused on her father once more.
Had she not proven herself? She rescued a man, a man nearly as big as her father though with a slighter build. In fact, the man seemed half-starved. What would she have to accomplish to show her worth? The possessiveness she felt for the man, Benjamin, surprised her, but it fueled her resolve as she dug her heels in.
“What Tucker has said is coming to pass.” Her statement was correct to a certain extent at least, but if she had to live with the prophecy hanging over her head, she might as well use it to her advantage.
Just as she knew it would, her father’s head snapped back to her, eyes narrowed in warning.
“I think it’s past time to stop sheltering me.” Mercy held her body rigid, fearing if she dared to breathe he would see a chink in her armor, finding her unworthy and send her out the door.
Tyler stepped into the dwelling at that moment, followed by Tucker. “I agree with Mercy.” Tyler nodded toward her, though disappointment lived in his eyes when he looked at her. The man she had grown up admiring, did not publicly disgrace her for her breach in protocol. For that she appreciated him.
“I second it,” Tucker said, meeting their father’s eyes. “The time has come for us to prepare in all ways.”
Mercy gave her brother a nod. She didn’t want believe everything was coming to pass, but her blue-eyed man was sitting there, watching her as his fate hung in the tense air between them. Tucker had been right about the cities and...Mercy met the young man’s eyes aga
in. She didn’t believe Benjamin was his actual name. In fact, his entire demeanor had changed the moment her father introduced himself.
Warning tingles traveled down her spine, weakening her knees, but she held strong, allowing no weakness to show should her father decide to disagree with everyone. It wouldn’t be the first time he had.
“I’ll allow it,” her father turned to her, “for now.”
Mercy nodded, her legs wobbling. She half wanted to slink into the corner so he would forget she was there, but she felt, even through the outward confidence the young man put on, that internally he needed support. Shoulders back, she strode until she stood by Benjamin’s side and lowered herself next to him. They would go through the trial together.
Benjamin, which is the only thing she could call him at the moment, glanced at her, an intensity in his twilight eyes that made her feel like a welcomed addition. Tucker placed himself next to her, and the leaders took places facing them. It wouldn’t be the first time she stood in front of the two leaders and their protégée, but the air felt different, more haunted and forbidden, and she knew she had brought this to their home, to Zion.
“As I said,” her father started, “Mercy broke protocol in bringing you here.”
“In eighteen years, you are the first stranger to be inside our sheltered haven.” Arland watched the man curiously.
“Mercy will face the consequences for her actions,” her father started, but Benjamin had pushed up, grimacing in pain as he tried to sit.
“I will not have her suffer for saving my life.”
The three leaders watched him as Mercy chewed her cheeks. She wouldn’t hide from her punishment. She knew it would come and would take it gladly, knowing that her blue-eyed man was alive and on his way to health. Yet, her heart filled with the fact that he had risen to protect her. Instead of making her feel weak, it gave her strength and confidence that she had done the right thing.
“That is admirable,” Tyler said. Over the last few years, he had voiced his opinion with more strength, interjecting a less strict approach than their current leaders. It didn’t sit well with them. She could see their lips thin and brows furrow.
“It speaks to his character, but—” Arland started.
“She still faces her consequence.” Her father eyed her.
She jutted her chin out as his eyes fell on her and gave him a slight nod. She had no intention of backing down from what she had brought upon herself.
“Well, aren’t you all tough guys, bullying the girl with punishments for saving a man’s life?” Benjamin’s lips thinned.
The guy did not know who he was dealing with, but she had to give him points for bravery.
Her father kept his face clear of emotion. “You do not know our ways here, so I will give you grace this once, but do not stand in my way of governing Zion, or my daughter, again.”
Benjamin tensed as if preparing to push further. Mercy quickly placed a hand on his shoulder, staying him. His eyes found hers. She steeled herself against the emotional assault that came every time she met his eyes and gave her head a barely discernible shake. He opened his mouth but closed it and turned back to the men as her father spoke again.
“What’s done is done.” Her father held Mercy’s eyes for a moment, then turned toward Benjamin. “Now we face the question of what to do with you.”
“We have discussed this at length but feel we need time to find your character and hear your story.” Arland nodded at the young man.
“We will not allow you to leave Zion,” her father looked down at his splinted leg, “not that you could right now even if you wanted to. While you are here and we are making our decision, you will follow our rules, or you will suffer the consequences that any member of Zion would.”
Tyler looked at her. “You brought him here. He is yours to train...and to protect.”
“Because of the circumstances, any consequence he earns, you will suffer alongside him.” Her father met her gaze, and she nodded her assent. His eyes told her that he knew she wouldn’t balk at that responsibility.
Benjamin tensed beside her. She felt the energy spark beneath her hand still on his shoulder. Squeezing, she warned him. For now, if he spoke out with disrespect again, it would not only be him cleaning the latrines, but her as well.
“Mercy will teach you the ways of Zion, and it would be best if you followed her guidance.” Arland leveled a stare at Benjamin. The leader had aged, of course, but his confidence had only grown, and his patience.
Her father, on the other hand, seemed to have lost patience. That didn’t take away the pride of him co-leading their community. She loved her father, and he loved her, but that didn’t mean she had to agree with everything he said, or that she didn’t disappoint him from time to time.
“Do you understand what is expected of you?” her father asked Benjamin, raising his brow.
“Crystal clear.” Benjamin’s voice was even, not dispelling the anger she felt coming off of him in waves...an unwavering force that built up into a crescendo that she hoped never erupted. Because from the look in his eyes right now, she swore he aimed to kill her father.
She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the awful thought and felt Tucker pulling on her. She turned, and he read her eyes. His calm lent her strength, and she returned her attention to the proceedings.
“We will have daily meetings where Mercy will report your progress, and you will answer questions about where you have come from and motives you had for being so far from...civilization.” Arland said the last word like it pained him.
“I definitely wouldn’t call any part of the world I have seen civilized,” Benjamin retorted.
Mercy saw the tiniest glimpse of her father’s lips quirk before they fell back into the stern expression he used when lecturing.
“That may be,” her father said. “Nonetheless, you will give us the intel, and we will decide if you are worthy to stay,” her father cocked his head, “if that is your intention.”
Mercy felt Benjamin fighting for a way to respond. In the end, he clamped his lips tight.
“Do you not agree to share where you are from?” Tyler asked.
Benjamin glanced at the next leader, surveying him, before answering. “I have no qualms with sharing what disgrace the world has come to while you have hidden yourselves away from it.”
“You have a lot to learn about our ways here...including why we live the way we do.” Her father stood with Arland and Tyler following. “I’ll be interested in hearing if you would have chosen differently than we have.”
Mercy slid her hand off Benjamin’s shoulder, recoiling from the amount of anger rolling off him. What was it about her father that made the guy so furious?
“Welcome to Zion,” Tyler said with a nod before he and the other leaders left the shelter.
Once their steps had faded off into the distance, Tucker let out an audible sigh. “Well, that could have gone a lot worse.”
“And a lot better.” Mercy stood and paced the small shelter before finally letting herself meet the twilight eyes of the man she had saved.
“So, that’s your dad?” He said the words as an accusation, and it bristled Mercy to the core.
Her father had shown mercy and restraint, but this guy did not know...he was a stranger to them and to their ways. It made her curious how people acted in the Forbidden.
“Yes, and he’s a good man. Right now he is angry and disappointed, which means he is super gruff, but he leads us well.”
“He is punishing his own daughter for saving my life!” Benjamin spat the words out.
Tucker stood, watching Benjamin before talking. “Our rules in Zion are strict and formal. They created the rules out of necessity, in order to protect us in a world vastly different from the one we were born into...or at least I was born into.” He met Mercy’s eyes. A sadness flashed in them before he cleared his throat and started toward the door. “Trust my sister and be a man she can rely on. Your fates are
intertwined...more than you know.” He muttered the last words as he escaped into the frozen world.
After he disappeared, Benjamin looked at her. “Well, if that wasn’t cryptic.”
“That’s my big brother for you,” she said, careful not to say more. She found her words too free with him, and something this meeting reminded her was how much of a stranger this Benjamin was. Except… “Why did you lie about your name?”
His eyes widened for a split second, before he lay back casually. “Why do you think I’m lying?”
Mercy narrowed her eyes. “There are some things I just know.” She started cleaning up around the dwelling. He couldn’t live here in the medic, but he needed someone to care for him until he fully recovered and his broken leg mended. She would have to take him to her dwelling, where she could monitor him...in more ways than one.
“Now you sound cryptic.”
She turned toward him. “Guess it runs in the family. So, are you going to tell me your real name?”
He closed his eyes, his face pale against the dark furs.
“Whatever, just remember, I hold your fate in my hands,” she quipped.
“And I hold yours.” The man didn’t say the words as a threat, rather as a heavy burden.
As he fell into a restless sleep, Mercy watched him, her mind taking crazy whirlwind trips. She could feel her old way of life being threatened as if she stood on the brink of a grand adventure, but what would be the cost of following it?
>>>—ORION—<<<
Orion tossed and turned in his furs, the dreams leaving him drenched in sweat, though the air froze his breath. Giving up on finding sleep again, he pushed up to a sitting position and scooted toward the fire where he placed a piece of wood on the burning coals.
As the flames licked up, lighting the dwelling in flickering brightness, his eyes landed on the red-headed beauty sleeping only feet from him. His throat tightened. She had saved his life, even if it was by bringing him into the lion’s den. Yet, hadn’t that been his goal?