Monster's Mercy

by William D. Arand

  Except… her being a squad leader and actually making her rounds puts her in a very obvious and visible position.

  All it’d take is someone rushing her with a knife.

  Shaking his head, Rene once more regretted involving the woman. She was simply too naive. If she’d been far more cautious, and paranoid, she probably wouldn’t have been noticed lurking around Ronder’s office.

  To be fair, she’s useful because she is so naive.

  I… suppose that’s true. Isn’t it?

  If she were far more like us, she wouldn’t have been that useful.

  Stifling a yawn, Rene kept himself low to the ground as he snuck along behind Aurora. He was keeping close to her. Ronder had said it would be solved by today. Which meant he had to be near her until Ronder was dealt with.

  He’d tried to catch Aurora before she’d left for work for the day, but apparently her shift had started before sunrise. Because by the time Rene slipped out of Junk’s house, Aurora wasn’t even home.

  “—give it back?” Aurora asked the person in front of her.

  “I mean… maybe,” the man said, scowling at the much younger man next to him.

  Aurora turned her helmeted head toward him as well.

  “I mean… I got ’em still,” muttered the teen. Then he reached down into his boot and came up with a few coins in his hand.

  “There,” Aurora said, taking the handful of coins and depositing them in the other man’s hand. “All fixed? No need to push it further?”

  Grumbling, the older man counted the coins.

  “Scum of the earth—should have them executed,” cursed the man, finishing his count. “It’s all here. Fine. Whatever.”

  Storming off, the man didn’t seem to want to be there anymore.

  Aurora sighed and turned back to the teenager.

  “Go on, get out of here,” she said. “If I were you, I’d get another line of work. Even if it’s just shoveling shit. Next time you get caught, you might catch a brand. After that, it’s a hand. And you know it.”

  “Yeah, yeah, fuck off,” grumbled the teen, hurrying away from Aurora.

  Little bastard doesn’t even understand how much she did for him.

  Most kids don’t get it until it’s almost too late, if ever.

  Aurora didn’t outwardly look disappointed, but given what he’d seen of her character, she was likely bottling her feelings up.

  “See that?” asked one of her troopers.

  Looking in the direction where everyone turned, Rene couldn’t see what they were interested in. His point of view was drastically different than theirs.

  “Yeah, I see it, too,” Aurora muttered. “Let’s go look.”

  The group of five began marching off toward a side street that had a rather dark overhang to it.

  This… must be it.

  It’s where I’d plan something or use an impromptu attack.

  Blinking several times, Rene felt like he really needed to go take a nap. He hadn’t really slept for the better part of thirty hours and he could feel the fatigue.

  Letting out a slow breath, he followed after the troopers, ready for anything.

  Aurora looked both ways as she entered the side street, then marched straight into an alleyway.

  Yep. This’ll be it. There’s no way the assassin wouldn’t act here. It’s almost too easy.

  Though five against one will make it difficult. They’ll have to attack fast and get away before the guards can react.

  One of the troopers cocked his arm back and slammed his truncheon across the back of Aurora’s helmet.

  Stumbling forward several steps, Aurora was clearly dazed. Then she slumped to her knees and pitched forward onto the ground.

  Fuck. Ronder paid off her own people.

  “Can we fuck her first?” asked a different trooper.

  “Nah… paid to kill her, not rape her,” said the first.

  Rene pulled his short sword free and rammed it home into one of the troopers’ backs. Angling it inward, he aimed for the abdominal aorta.

  Yanking the blade out, the trooper went down in a heap.

  “What—”

  Lashing out with an upward slamming punch, Rene tried to execute it as he would if he were in the Earth form from The Elemental Way.

  Like he were punching right through the man’s guts.

  A meaty crunch came from the trooper he’d struck, and that man bent forward at the waist and collapsed on the stones.

  Three troopers all turned to find Rene there. Wearing his mask and wielding a blood-slicked blade.

  We should say something witty!

  Something heroic and—

  Rene brought his blade around and slammed it into the side of the closest trooper. The blade vanished into the man’s stomach.

  Yanking the blade back out, Rene lunged forward and took the man low, just above where his belly button would be. The guard fell backward to the ground with his hands at his middle.

  But… but… we get to be the hero and rescue the dams—

  Of the two troopers remaining, one went forward with an overhead swing of his club at Rene.

  Stepping inside of its effective range, Rene neatly brushed the man’s hand aside with a strike to his wrist.

  Not even realizing he was doing it, Rene moved into the Fire form as he pulled in the enemy and lashed out with his other hand.

  The short sword punched right through the man’s chain mail and skewered him.

  Your skill in The Elemental Way has increased (65)

  Stumbling backward, the trooper pressed a hand to his middle and then sank down to his knees.

  Only one guard remained, and he looked like he didn’t want to be here.

  In fact, Rene wasn’t surprised when he turned and ran away.

  A shadowy form dropped down atop the guardsman.

  Irini sat there on the trooper’s back, perched on all fours. She pulled a blade from her belt and buried it into the back of the man’s neck. Just below his skull, where it joined his spine but slightly to one side. Then she jerked it to one side, probably severing the spine.

  Going instantly limp under her, the guard was out of action.

  Taking a step forward, Rene grabbed the kneeling guard by the back of his head and slammed his knee into his face.

  Looking over at the others, Rene watched as Irini casually slit the throat of a guard that was on the ground.

  The cat-girl stood up and looked at Rene resentfully. She hadn’t gotten over the notch in her ear yet, it seemed.

  With a nod of his head, Rene went over to check on Aurora. Pulling off her helmet, he started to give her a quick once-over.

  She was unconscious, but looked fine otherwise. The lump on the back of her head was rather terrible, though. It was growing in size by the second.

  “She’s not going to like this but—” Rene pulled out his dagger and then contemplated how best to make sure it looked like she’d been attacked as well.

  Moving her shoulder armor to one side, he carefully pushed the blade into her arm. He was being sure not to maim her. Carefully, he worked to keep the blade’s edge running with the grain of the muscle, rather than against.

  When it was three inches into her, he pulled it back out and looked at the stab.

  Clean and well-made was how Rene would describe it, even as her blood flowed freely.

  Yanking her shoulder armor off her, Rene gave it a quick look. Then he brought the hilt of his dagger down against the piece with a lot of force, which caused the whole thing to buckle slightly.

  “There we are,” Rene said, dropping the shoulder pad down next to Aurora’s head.

  Reaching up, he turned her head to one side and positioned her differently. As if someone had been preparing to execute her, but had been interrupted.

  “Right, we can go,” Rene muttered. Lifting his head, he looked at Irini. “Only after we get someone to notice though. Got a good scream in you?”

  Clicking her tongue, I
rini folded her arms in front of her.

  “Yes. I can scream,” she grumbled.

  “Good. Scream ‘fire’,” Rene said, then went scrambling up the side of a building. He wanted to get up on a roof. He could watch over Aurora and make sure she got the attention she needed, even if he had to provide it himself.

  Irini watched Rene as he climbed, then sighed.

  She took in a deep breath and then shrieked at the top of her lungs wordlessly. This was followed immediately by another scream that made the hairs on the back of Rene’s neck stand up.

  Running off, Irini screamed once more as she vanished into the darker parts of the alley.

  It was good to go and collect our pet. We had a need for this deed.

  Yeah. Definitely easier with two people working together.

  People began running into the alley. Rene hadn’t questioned why she hadn’t shouted for fire, like he’d said, but this had worked just as well.

  In only a few minutes, another squad had arrived and run off with Aurora after confirming the others were dead.

  And there we are.

  She’ll be mobile in a day and we’ve neatly given Ronder and Junk a smack without them even knowing it.

  Grinning, Rene suddenly had to stifle another yawn.

  Ugh. Let’s go take a nap.

  Yes. Please.

  It’s a lot harder to rhyme when we’re tired.

  The game is difficult.

  ***

  Groaning, Rene swatted at the fly moving around his head. He didn’t catch it, but he must have spooked it enough that it flew off. Because thankfully, it left him alone.

  Only for a few seconds, though. Then it came back and landed on his hair.

  Except it couldn’t be a fly.

  Because this felt more like fingers lightly combing through his hair. He could distinctly feel fingernails gliding gently over his scalp and arranging his hair.

  Rene forced his eyes apart. He felt incredibly tired, but he wasn’t going to lie around when someone had broken into his room.

  Odelia knelt there in front of him, smiling at him. Her eyes watched him, even as her fingers continued to slide through his hair.

  “Hey,” she said, noticing he was awake.

  “Hey,” mumbled Rene without any embarrassment. Odelia was annoying, and he was flattered at her attention, but it didn’t cause him any distress.

  He’d purchased way too many services in his life to have any qualms or shame anymore.

  “I thought maybe I should wake you up, since it’s just a bit past noon,” Odelia said, curling her fingers with his hair around an ear. “Can’t let your sleep schedule get too far out of alignment, or it’ll be all the harder to stay on track.”

  Our wife isn’t wrong. We should get up and have breakfast with her.

  Not our wife, you stupid asshole.

  And why are you so attached to her? You didn’t like her.

  She thinks we’re a hero, too.

  Groaning, Rene tried to pull the cover a bit higher to his chin.

  “Ah ah ah, come on, my dearest Rene,” murmured Odelia, her nails gliding over his scalp. “I already had your staff arrange a light lunch. They’ll be wheeling it into the study in ten minutes.”

  “Don’t wanna,” Rene mumbled.

  “Sure you do. Because if you didn’t get up, people would get the wrong idea about me being in your bedroom for so long,” Odelia countered. “And we both know you wouldn’t want that. Not after you worked so hard to save me twice now, my hero.”

  We’re getting up now.

  No. We’re sleeping.

  Up. Last warning.

  No. I want to sleep and-

  UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP!

  The roar of the Monster shrieking at maximum volume actually drowned out the possibility of hearing anything else at all.

  UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP! UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!

  Holy fuck, okay, shit.

  Sighing, Rene nodded his head.

  “Okay, I’ll get up,” he said as he slowly sat up.

  Yawning, he flipped the covers off himself and then put his hands to his face.

  Good! Go have breakfast with our wife now.

  You’ll be nice, make small talk, and compliment her on her hair.

  What? Her hair?

  Letting his hands fall, Rene looked at Odelia again. He’d only barely glanced at her earlier.

  Her hair was indeed done up in small little braids that encircled the crown of her head and fell back behind her.

  “Oh,” Rene mumbled. “Your hair does look nice.”

  Odelia blinked at that, then smiled at him, reaching back with one hand to finger a braid.

  “Why, thank you,” she said. “Not so bad looking right now, yourself.”

  Buh?

  Glancing down at himself, Rene realized he was only in his undergarments. A thin pair of shorts.

  “Huh. Thanks,” he said, then stood up and stretched trying to wake himself up.

  “Ah… goodness. I’m going to… go check on lunch,” Odelia said and then promptly left.

  Huh. I wonder what spooked her off.

  Morning wood. Look down.

  Closing his eyes tightly, Rene finally found something to be embarrassed about.

  At least she was impressed by it. Just a bit bigger than average is always a good thing.

  Rene went about getting dressed, mentally screaming the entire time.

  “Good timing,” Odelia said as he entered the study. The maid who’d served him tea last time was just finishing up unloading lunch from a tray.

  Giving him a wide and toothy smile, she bobbed her head at him and then left the room quietly.

  “I wanted to have a chat with you,” Odelia said, indicating one of the chairs at the table. “My father mentioned you came by. I’m afraid I was indisposed and wasn’t where he thought I was.

  “I was working through a rather lovely little book I’d discovered. When I got home he gave me the perfume you brought for me. It’s rather lovely.”

  “Oh, good,” Rene said, dropping into the chair. He still felt incredibly tired, but this was easier than listening to the Monster screech at him. “Glad you like it.”

  Closing his eyes, Rene put his elbows on the table and then rested his face in his hands.

  “Out late last night?” Odelia asked.

  “Yeah, doing exactly what you think I was,” Rene admitted and opened his eyes as he put his hands back down to the table. Turning toward Odelia, he shrugged his shoulders. “Most of it seems to have dried up a bit, but I’m still working on it.”

  “Well… it isn’t like you have to anymore,” Odelia murmured, picking up a toast square from her plate. “You could just make money as your father does, now that you have an office.”

  “Yeah,” conceded Rene remembering that she didn’t know of the Mask. “Yeah… but… I like that… I give back to the community by pulling in those with bounties. You know?”

  “Oh, that I do know, my hero,” Odelia teased, grinning at him as she nibbled on the toast.

  His Monster perked up at that and seemed to preen itself, though it didn’t say anything.

  “Anyway,” Odelia continued. “My father has an idea in his head that’s quite wrong and I felt I should point it out to you.”

  “Do tell,” Rene said forcing himself to pick up a toast square.

  “The present you gave me—you just bought it to be a polite guest, did you not?” Odelia inquired.

  “Yeah. I mean, I got your dad some tea, too,” Rene said.

  “Exactly. And that’s what I keep trying to tell my poor father,” Odelia lamented. “Alas, he doesn’t listen to me. He’s absolutely firmly convinced that the perfume was a courting gift.”

  “Courting gift,” Rene repeated

  “Indeed. That you’re courting me, and that it was a gift for me, specific to that,” Odelia said. “Though father has told me he’s rather grateful I met you after you did that d
eal with him.”

  After what Junk was trying to do, I can certainly understand his caution. Meeting you officially after the deal was made, as far as he knows, makes my intentions pure to him.

  “I’ll have to talk to him then,” Rene said, nodding his head. “Because it wasn’t—”

  It was a courting gift!

  It was a courting gift!

  It was a courting gift and intentional, or you’re not sleeping tonight, tomorrow, or the rest of this week! I’m going to sing some of those terrifying children’s TV show theme songs while you’re trying to rest!

  What…?

  Going to start with that stupid baby-shark.

  I don’t even-

  Baby-shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.

  Baby-sh—

  Fuck! Okay, stop. Can I at least just not respond to her? Rather than tell her it was a courting gift? Can I just… leave it as a non-answer?

  Mmm… for now. That’s fine.

  “Because it wasn’t?” Odelia prompted, looking at him curiously.

  “I’ll have to talk to him then, because it wasn’t my intention to have him deliver the present for me,” Rene said, trying to skirt the issue.

  Odelia blinked several times, staring at him.

  “Rene, was it a courting gift?” Odelia pressed, jumping straight to the very thing he was avoiding. Her eyes dug into him, and he got the impression she was rapidly pulling out his secrets without him saying anything.

  Coughing into his hand, Rene picked up his teacup and took a long drink from it.

  “Goodness, I do hate to eat and run, but I need to go check on a few things,” he said, standing up. “I also need to apologize to the children for not teaching them for the last several days.”

  Smiling, while blushing prettily, Odelia raised her eyebrows.

  It was almost worse to not answer her, it seemed.

  “They show up every day and practice on their own,” Odelia said still smiling. “I let them know I’d tell you to be there for the next three evenings, in addition to your morning practices, to make up for it.”

  Agree to that.

  “Perfect, thanks,” Rene said, nodding his head.

  “Oh, and Rene? Traditionally, a second courting gift is presented a few weeks after the first. Often, it’s something small and can be worn, or used on the person. Combs, a hair clip, earrings, a necklace. Anything of that nature. It can be delivered to the father or the intended.”