Moments later Dr. Kelly hurries into the room and closes the door behind her. “We don’t have much time,” she tells me. “Take this.” She removes a gun from her jacket pocket and shoves it into my hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Mercy,” she says, glaring at me. “Catch on. I don’t know how long the guard is going to stay down.”
“Nathaniel?” It’s almost too good to be true.
“Yes, it’s me. Now hurry up.”
“You want me to shoot myself?”
He, as Dr. Kelly, strides toward me. “No, I want you to shoot this body. You’ll be fine.”
“But can’t you just get me out like last time?”
He shakes his head. “Isadora’s binding agent is too strong. There’s only one way to separate you from this body. You’re going to have to kill it.”
“Her, you mean. I’m going to have to kill her.” My voice is small and unsure.
“Don’t do that to yourself.” The voice is that of Dr. Kelly, but the tone—that’s all Nathaniel.
Lowering my gaze to the floor, I shake my head. It isn’t like I know this Libby person, and she’s obviously done something to get herself sent to prison, but does that mean I have the right to end her life? In my heart, I know the answer is no.
Dr. Kelly’s hands are on my thighs, and I look up to meet Nathaniel peering at me from behind her eyes. He takes the gun from me. “Gage is waiting for you in the parking lot.” He points the gun at the side of my head. “Close your eyes.” I do. “Concentrate on Gage. One, two, three …”
Chapter Seven
Gage
Pacing in the parking lot, I try to remain calm. Nathaniel is inside doing his thing, killing humans, saving the day, while once again, I stand by and wait. Is this what my life has come to? Waiting? Holding the reigns of the white horse on which Nathaniel rides? It can’t be true, and yet, it is. Nathaniel is the hero because he can breach. He can slip into any situation, manipulate it, and control it until things go his way.
Although I’m envious of him and angry at my own impotence for battle situations, I’m also grateful that he’s on my side. It’s important to keep Mercy safe, and if that means leaning on Nathaniel for assistance, so be it.
We’ve been in Las Vegas for three and a half days, but it took some time to figure out how to get Mercy out of prison. We had to do surveillance, scope out the situation. Prison is not a place to go barging into without forethought. Unfortunately, this meant leaving Mercy in jail while we prepared. Neither of us was comfortable with the idea, but what other choice did we have?
Like most of Vegas, the jail is surrounded by desert. Dust balls roll by frequently, and it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement. Sweat drips down my shirt and gathers along my waistband. There isn’t a stray dog, let alone a stray car, for miles. No one comes to this prison unless they have to, and lucky for us, Dr. Karen Kelly has to.
We followed her from the prison to a small neighborhood in an area called Henderson. It’s a subdivision with neatly rowed houses in varying hues of ecru shaded by palm trees. Dr. Kelly owns a two-story home complete with manicured lawn and dark-bottom pool. She lives alone—another piece of luck—and she apparently doesn’t entertain many guests.
Nathaniel and I waited by her garbage cans as she made her way out her front door to the car. Poor woman never saw us coming. Once Nathaniel was inside her body, we drove her car to the prison.
“You okay in there?” I asked him.
“She has indigestion,” he answered.
Before Nathaniel went inside, we rehashed the final part of our plan—how I was to wait outside for Mercy while Nathaniel went inside. Waiting for Mercy is at least some kind of consolation, but it will be Nathaniel she sees first. Of course, he’ll be in Dr. Kelly’s body, so maybe it won’t be the most romantic moment.
I really have to stop this whole jealousy thing. It’s ridiculous to be thinking such things at a time like this.
Suddenly, I am knocked backward by a strong gust. It takes me a second to realize that it isn’t wind. I have Mercy in my arms.
“Gage.” She breathes heavily. “It worked. I made it.”
“Are you all right?” I ask, checking her over. She seems to be in one piece, though she’s slightly faded, like a ghost of herself. It must be taking a lot of energy for her to project herself like this.
I wrap my arm around the apparition of her body. “Come on. Let’s get you to the car.” She rests her head against my chest. The palm of her hand is pressed to my heart.
“Wait,” she tells me. “Just give me a sec.”
I’ll give her all the time in the world if she lets me.
I fear Mercy is starting to pull away, but she’s just readjusting so she can look at me. “Jail sucks.”
Laughter escapes from both of us, but Mercy’s facade quickly fades, and she begins to cry.
“What’s wrong?”
“Everything.”
Nathaniel runs toward us. “Come on. We have to move.” Hustling, I keep my arm around Mercy’s shoulders as we make our way to the car.
“You drive,” Nathaniel says as he throws the keys at me. He scoops Mercy into his arms and immediately she seems whole.
Reluctantly, I climb into the driver’s seat while Nathaniel helps Mercy into the back. I try not to watch them in the rearview mirror as I speed away from the prison, but I can’t help stealing a glance. Nathaniel holds Mercy to his chest, and she curls against him in the same way that only moments ago she’d leaned on me.
I drive like a maniac. Nathaniel admonishes me more than once, but I remind him that we’re making a getaway. The road ahead is blurry as I race along, my foot slammed against the gas pedal. Dust, dirt, Death Valley, it all flashes by at lightning speed while my mind tortures me with thoughts of Mercy. She’s safe—that’s a good thing—but she’s in the arms of my brother, and that is not.
Day turns to night, and the hours wear on, and still Mercy sleeps. I can see the tension in Nathaniel’s face, in the set of his jaw, and the narrowing of his eyes. He’s worried.
“She’s just tired,” I say to him.
He grunts. “It’s more than that.”
“And you know what it is?”
Nathaniel glances down at Mercy. I refocus on the road, not wanting to watch him gaze so tenderly at her.
“She’s scared,” he whispers.
“Of course she’s scared. Wouldn’t you be if you found yourself in jail?”
“That’s not it,” he says. “I mean, that’s not all of it. She’s doubting herself, worrying that she’ll fail, and that we’ll all die.”
Mercy has the world riding on her shoulders. A few months ago, she was an ordinary girl with a father and friends who loved her. She was blissfully unaware of her true origins until Nathaniel and I disrupted her life. We thought we were saving her from her mother, but we were so horribly wrong about that. And once we drew attention to Mercy, we basically put a huge target on her back. This little jail incident proves just how easily Isadora can get to her. Nathaniel’s conclusion has to be correct—Mercy is frightened.
We ride in silence and the night wears on. It isn’t until we are a few short miles from home that Mercy stirs. I swerve, sending Nathaniel and Mercy careening into the door.
“Dammit, Gage!” Nathaniel chastises. “Can you at least pretend to be a good driver?”
With white knuckles and clenched teeth, I ease the car into the driveway at Mercy’s house. Killing the engine, I sit there for a minute, unable to exit the car right away. Nathaniel, on the other hand, has a task, and so he moves swiftly, hauling Mercy out of the car and up the front walk.
Ariana is waiting for us. She stands by as Nathaniel carries Mercy to her bedroom.
“She’s been out this whole time,” Nathaniel informs her.
Ariana looks over Mercy’s body. “It’s the binding agent,” she tells us. “It shocked her system to be released so suddenly. She’ll be fine soon.”
“You’re sure?” I ask.
“Yes. Put her in the chair,” Ariana instructs.
Nathaniel gently sets Mercy down on the overstuffed chair in the corner. He seems reluctant to leave her. Squatting in front of her, he closes his eyes and holds them tightly shut. Mercy’s head dips to the side. Nathaniel rests his forehead against her knee. The intimate moment is not meant to be shared, so I turn on my heels and stalk down the hall. I can feel Ariana right behind me.
“Gage.” She touches my shoulder. “Thank you for bringing my daughter home to me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let’s have some tea,” she offers.
I follow her into the kitchen and can’t help but notice how different it looks. The first time I was in this kitchen, it felt empty. It looked as though they were only borrowing it for a short while. But now, the kitchen is full of life. Curtains hang over the small window that faces the backyard. The windowsill is dressed with potted plants. The counters are clean, as they had been before, but there are plenty of signs of use. A recipe book lays open with sticky notes protruding from its pages. There’s a new spice rack along the far wall with lively colored jars in various stages of fullness. Mercy mentioned that Ariana loved to cook, and it’s clear she’s reclaimed her territory.
Ariana sets the kettle on the stove and motions for me to sit. Minutes later, the table is set, and she’s pouring my first helping of the best tea I’ve ever had.
“You look concerned,” she says.
“Of course.”
“Tell me.”
I take a sip of my tea and replace the cup on the saucer. “I’m uncomfortable being human.”
Ariana’s green eyes widen. She wasn’t expecting me to be so candid. “You’ll never really be human, Gage.”
“I certainly feel human.”
“You mean helpless.”
Ashamed that she’s read me so clearly, I lower my head.
She pats my hand. “You’re not helpless, Gage. You brought Mercy home.”
I look up and speak the words I’ve been swallowing the entire drive, “Nathaniel could’ve done that by himself.”
Ariana drinks her tea and eyes me sympathetically. “There’s more than one hero in every story.”
“Why are you being so kind to me? After everything I’ve done to put you in this position?”
Ariana sets the cup down, flattens her hands against her thighs, and leans back in her chair. “This isn’t your fault. I know I blamed you before, but that’s because I needed to be angry with someone for what The Assembled has done. But in truth, we are all their victims. I see that you’re trying to make things right.”
“I am.”
“I know. But you also love my daughter. And whether you’re human or not, I’m not ready to lose her again.”
Confused, I ask, “Lose her?”
“You’d have to be a mother to understand completely. Breacher or not, Mercy is my child, and I missed much of her life. I’ve only just gotten her back, and now, there’s more people with claims on her heart.”
“I wouldn’t be so bold as to claim her heart.”
“But you wouldn’t be so foolish to deny it either.”
“No.” I take a quick sip of my tea. “But I don’t think I’m the one you need to worry about.”
Ariana rises from the table. She pads across the small space and refills the teapot with water. As she brings it to the table, she says, “I only ask one thing.” She tips the pot of warm water into my cup. “Please be smart, Gage. Don’t let whatever you feel for her put her in danger.”
“I won’t.”
“This isn’t an easy promise to make. To keep her safe, you may have to walk away.”
For a brief moment, I picture myself saying good-bye to Mercy, and instantly I feel tightening in my chest, as though something is wrenching my heart. But despite what I feel, I still know the right thing to do. “I won’t put her in danger, for anything or anyone, I swear.”
Ariana nods and goes to check on Mercy. Unable to sit still a moment longer, I wander out into the backyard. It too has been altered since my last visit. The grass is sharply mowed without a weed in sight. Though it’s dark, I can still make out the flowers that are newly planted. Once this backyard was stagnant and nearly desolate, and now, there are signs of life everywhere. I follow the stone path that meanders through the garden and clip my toe on the edge of a piece that protrudes slightly from the dirt.
It isn’t an ordinary stone. In it are Mercy’s childhood handprints. I wonder why I never noticed it before. Squatting, I trace the outline of the tiny hand with my index finger. I picture Mercy as a little girl, full of wonder, with soft brown hair curling slightly at the tip, bright brown eyes, and naturally rosy cheeks.
When she’d made this print, she’d been blissfully unaware of who she really was, and I can’t help but wonder if she’d like to go back. Of course she would. Who would want this life? Mercy is supposed to be studying and hanging out with friends. She certainly isn’t supposed to be lying unconscious in the other room, expelled from her body.
The sound of footsteps behind me draws me into a standing position. When I turn, the rosy-cheeked girl I’ve been imagining is before me. Only this time, I know it’s not really Mercy. It’s her twin. “You’ve got nerve coming here.”
She slides her hands into the back pocket of her jeans. “I only came to talk, I swear.”
“You need to leave.”
Mercy’s carbon copy shrugs. “So you’re going to hold a grudge forever? I mean, it’s not like you shoved me off or anything.”
“I thought you were Mercy.”
“If you say so.” She steps cautiously in my direction. “I know you hate me or whatever, but I didn’t ask for this.”
“If you came here for my pity, you can forget it.” I start for the house.
She reaches out and grabs my arm. “Gage, please. I didn’t come here for your pity. I came here to apologize.”
Turning, I face her dead-on. “You’re sorry?” I laugh, mocking the pained expression on her face. “That’s pathetic! You fooled me once. Never again.”
“I get why you’re pissed, but I thought you of all people would understand.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you know what this feels like. You and I are basically the same.”
With three quick steps, we are practically nose to nose. “Don’t ever compare yourself to me.” Backing away, she sincerely looks hurt. But I don’t care. “We have nothing in common.”
She scowls. “Um, we have everything in common. And you’re an idiot not to see it. Did I ask to be created? Nope! Did you? Nope! Are we both pawns in someone else’s game? Yep!”
“But you’re still working for her!”
“Duh! Of course I am. You just don’t understand what she’s trying to do.”
“She’s trying to kill Mercy.”
She giggles “You think Isadora wants to kill Mercy? Yeah, right. That’s never going to happen. What Isadora wants is for Mercy to join her against them.”
“Against who?”
“Sorry, sweets. I’ve already said too much. I really only came here to say I’m sorry.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Because I like you. You’re sweet, and while I don’t have a ton of experience to tell me otherwise, I’m pretty sure you’re one of the hottest kissers on the planet.”
My cheeks burn and redden at the mention of our make-out session. It was intense and wonderful, but that’s only because I thought I was kissing Mercy. Right?
“I’m never going to believe anything you say,” I say spitefully.
“Suit yourself.” She shrugs. “But it doesn’t have to be this way, you know. Isadora is going to get what she wants. You won’t be able to stop her. I was only hoping that you’d be smart and stay out of the way so that you’re around when it’s all over.”
“You sound awfully confident for som
eone who’s only a copy of someone else.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “I like how you keep forgetting how you and I were created. I’m from Mercy, just like you’re from Nathaniel. We’re the same whether you like it or not.”
“You need to leave.”
She walks toward me and puts her hands on my chest. Flinching, I almost back away, but for some reason, I don’t. Maybe it’s her eyes, how they remind me of Mercy’s, or maybe it’s just that she surprised me, but either way, here we are, inches from each other.
“I really am sorry about the other day,” she says with deep sincerity and conviction. “I took advantage of you, and I shouldn’t have.”
Releasing me, she starts across the lawn. I watch, mouth agape, unable to formulate words or even a cohesive thought.
Before she’s out of sight, she whips around. “I’m Justice, by the way.” And then she’s gone.
I stand there a moment longer, trying to process everything that just happened. There’s no way I believe what she’s trying to tell me. We are not the same. Justice was created from Mercy, like I was created from Nathaniel, so yes, in that way, we are similar, but that’s where it ends.
When I was a Hunter, what I did, I did for the greater good. I was made for a purpose, and I fulfilled that purpose until it all came crashing down around me. It isn’t the same for Justice. She has no honor, no sense of duty. I don’t know what her intentions are, but I know enough to understand it isn’t good. She made that plain when she pretended to be Mercy.
While walking back into the house, I fully plan to tell Ariana and Nathaniel that Justice paid me another visit, but the sight of Mercy standing in the kitchen stops me in my tracks.
She closes the distance between us and throws her arms around my neck. I bury my face in her hair and hug her tight. When we finally break apart, I say, “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“Thank you for getting me out of there, for bringing me home.”
“Of course. And you feel okay now? You look like you’re back to your old self.”
Into the Light Page 5