He ignored it the way he ignored many of his impulses. Like the one to kill Lead and every other dragon who looked at her.
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts, and he sat up abruptly. Had she come to him?
He moved to the door swiftly but quietly, a thing of habit when moving around in the dark, and opened it slightly.
But it wasn’t Marina outside his door.
Instead, a tall man flanked by several others stood at his doorway, all wearing armor and standing at attention. Like soldiers.
“A message for the mercury dragon,” the leader said curtly.
“Go away.”
If it wasn’t Marina, he wasn’t interested in hearing what anyone had to say. Least of all these jokers.
“It’s of the utmost importance,” the man said more urgently.
Mercury closed the door, but the man’s hand stopped it, pushing it open somewhat.
Rage boiled inside Mercury like a spark igniting a pool of gasoline, and the image of impaling all five of these guys with his sword like a shish kebab flashed through his mind.
Then a bone-deep ache rattled through his chest, and he stepped back a pace, shocked by the sensation. He couldn’t help thinking about Marina, about how doing such a horrible thing would make her feel, how it could wipe the smile from her face.
That wouldn’t do.
The messengers, taking his silence as compliance, opened the door and let themselves in. Once they stood in a small semicircle around him, the tallest spoke first.
“We’ve been sent by a party that represents the interests of planet Drakkaris,” he said.
Mercury would have normally decked the guy for letting himself in like that, but he was too preoccupied with the slowly waning tightness lancing through him. A pain that was not physical, but nonetheless nearly overwhelming.
He continued, unabated. “My benefactors want to congratulate you on your victories and on your safe return to your home of origin.”
Home? Mercury had no home.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed, but the people at large have taken to your return… unfavorably. My patrons are ready to use their ample resources to help you in whatever way you wish.”
Mercury just glared, head still spinning, but not taking his eyes off these guys for one second.
“All they request is that you drop out of the competition. Withdraw yourself from consideration as mate of the water dragon princess.”
Mercury’s eye twitched.
“Just think of it, all the wealth and prosperity you could ever imagine,” another one chimed in a little too eagerly. “If you just drop out and leave the palace.”
“No. I don’t think I will,” Mercury said, growing more irritated with each passing second.
If these idiots thought he cared about anything, especially money, then they didn’t know a damn thing about the mercury dragon.
The leader stepped forward, crossing his arms. Mercury had to admit he was probably the tallest dragon he’d ever seen, and he was certain it was supposed to intimidate him somehow.
It didn’t.
“I might also add that this isn’t a request. They will see to it that you’re given your dues, but you must forfeit the competition and leave.”
“Is that a threat?” Mercury said, frowning.
The man nodded, an evil glint in his eye as one hand made an eager fist.
“Well, then you can go back to your beloved benefactors and give them this message.”
At that, Mercury pulled his fist back and slammed the man’s jaw so hard it cracked, sending him flying backward through the open doorway and into the hall.
His compatriots watched agape for a moment, then rushed at Mercury in unison.
Mercury kicked one man in the groin hard, then snatched another by the collar of his ornate armor and head-butted him, breaking his nose. The man yelped and fell to the ground while the other two attacked from the sides.
But as much as Mercury wanted to cut these guys into a million pieces and return them to sender in a gift-wrapped box, he knew he was on thin ice with the king and his stooges. If he stepped out of line, they really would finish the job the oracle had started back on Earth.
Ridding the universe of the mercury dragon.
Both men leapt at Mercury, and he dodged back swiftly as both collided into each other. Then, before they could recover, he drove his elbows into the back of their necks, knocking them out cold, unconscious on the floor.
By then the tall one had recovered, and he strode through the door, grunting as he charged Mercury at top speed.
Mercury felt himself go liquid for a moment as the leader leapt through him, trying to tackle him to the ground, but catching nothing but air. He hit the ground, and before he could stand, Mercury was there with a swift kick to the face.
Mercury just stood for a moment, glad he didn’t kill anyone but skin still burning, twitching, crawling with anger.
“Don’t be here when I get back. Or else,” Mercury growled, striding past their limp and moaning bodies in the direction of the only thing that could calm the rage inside him right now.
He didn’t know who was after him, but it probably wasn’t Arsenic or one of the other competitors. Probably just some jerk noble who didn’t like Mercury stinking up the place and thought he could push him around.
But by the time he reached Marina’s door, his fury had abated, leaving him with the strange coldness inside him once more.
His heart ached. He was tired of fighting, tired of killing and bleeding for every square inch of space he was allowed to take up in this world. Tired of running from people chasing him. Tired of chasing after people who hurt him. Tired of plots and intrigue and vengeance and violence.
Just. So. Tired.
He knocked on the door quietly, not in the mood to deal with waking up Lead or anyone else in this damn palace. There was shuffling inside, followed by light footsteps, and a second later, Marina opened the door, blue eyes sparkling somehow in the all-encompassing darkness of the hallway.
But maybe the darkness was just inside him.
“Mercury,” she said, surprised. “Hi.”
Mercury couldn’t even muster a nod.
“Would you like to come in?”
Mercury just pushed the door open enough to come inside and walked in, heading for the bed at the end of the room.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, worried, closing the door behind her with a click.
She came up beside him, and he could feel her warmth, could feel her care.
The thought of it would have made him sick normally. But he wasn’t feeling normal.
He made it to the bed and plopped himself face down on it, and Marina sat beside him. He turned to face her, and she was so beautiful. So perfect. Too beautiful and perfect for a monster like him to be allowed near her ever.
Yet here he was.
“Do you want to just stay the night?”
He finally nodded, and Marina just pulled the covers over them and lay next to him. He put an arm around her, soft and pleasant and kind and wonderful. Everything he wasn’t.
It felt like… home.
Chapter 12
Marina didn’t know what to think of the challenges so far. On the one hand, she got to watch powerful dragons fight for the opportunity to have her choose them as a partner.
On the other hand, fighting had never been her favorite thing, and even though the men, for the most part, weren’t going all out, she had mixed feelings about it.
Especially as she watched Mercury and Zinc head out into the center of the arena where yesterday’s challenges had taken place.
Her heart fluttered slightly at seeing Mercury, shirtless today as he strode forward, ignoring the boos from the crowd as his name was announced. And maybe her eyes were just playing tricks on her, but he was starting to get a tan, too, which only added to the definition of his muscles.
Zinc, on the other hand, was wearing a sleeveless tunic
and pants that appeared light and unrestrictive to his movement. It was interesting seeing them standing across from each other since their appearances were more similar than any of the others.
Both had aristocratic features, though Zinc actually carried himself as someone of noble birth, with a calm, intelligent bearing.
Mercury reminded her more of a circling shark, watching everything and waiting for his opportunity.
Then again, she’d seen a lot of sides of Mercury she never knew existed. Maybe someday he’d let his guard down a little more.
Zinc’s name was announced to uproarious applause, and with an air of sophistication, he regarded the people with a wave. Then, in a flicker of light, Zinc’s sword appeared in his hand, a long rapier-like blade that glinted in the light of the arena. The guard of the sword was woven around the handle in intricate patterns and inlaid with all matter of designs too delicate to make out at this distance. The kind of sword made for kings and men of the highest of birth.
And then there was Mercury’s sword, which couldn’t have possibly been more different. Gray and silver, the color of his eyes, long, with jagged edges that twisted this way and that. A truly horrible sight if not for the fact that she knew the wielder was much more than he seemed.
A horn blew, and the two began to circle slowly, intently. Zinc lunged, swinging his sword with lightning speed, and Mercury countered, their blades twanging from the impact. But then Zinc stepped back and resumed pacing in a wide circle, Mercury mirroring him.
This fight was at least resembling more of what she had initially expected. Marina had hoped not every fight was going to be like Mercury’s with Arsenic yesterday.
Mercury attacked this time, swinging several times, and Zinc dodged and blocked with apparent ease before separating again.
During the fights, the queen sometimes filled her in on interesting info about Drakkaris. She’d found out a long time ago, the house of Mercury had been second only to the king. And, had Mercury still been on Drakkaris, he would have been next in line to the throne, like Zinc was now.
The thought would have made Marina laugh if there wasn’t also the sadness of the fact that Mercury had lost everything when he was young. Because she couldn’t possibly think of someone less regal, less hobnob than the Mercury she knew.
In fact, he didn’t even just ignore political status and adoration. He actively abhorred it.
He would probably spit if he knew some people referred to him as the “fallen prince.”
Mercury and Zinc were starting to really go at it, and they were so fast that sometimes all Marina could see was a blur of motion and the sounds of their swords clashing. The two of them suddenly clashed and locked together, struggling for advantage, and Mercury pushed Zinc back, almost knocking him off his feet. There was the hint of a smile on Zinc’s lips as he recovered, as if he were enjoying himself.
There was a pause, when suddenly the tip of Zinc’s blade extended forward, shooting toward Mercury like an arrow, but not separated from the sword. Instead, his sword simply grew longer and longer by some incredible magic, aimed directly at Mercury’s chest.
Marina saw Mercury’s eyebrows furrow in shock and confusion a split second before he dodged to the side and rolled to the earth to avoid being struck.
Then, in an instant, Zinc’s blade retracted like a spring, returning to its former length, and Zinc was charging at Mercury, sword raised high above him.
Mercury was just getting up when he saw Zinc above him, and he raised his sword just in time to deflect the blow.
Marina could see Mercury speaking as they struggled and strained forward, trying to listen as well as she could.
“Playing dirty? I like it,” she thought she heard him say sardonically. “Let’s see what you’ve really got.”
Zinc just grinned a little wider at the remark, and there was something almost unhinged in his smile for a split second before he regained his composure and backed away from Mercury.
Mercury went on the attack this time, and as Zinc’s blade shot toward him again, he ducked under it, swinging his jagged sword. Zinc dodged back, but only barely, as Mercury went at him with full speed. They clashed for a moment, then stood face to face, baring down on each other.
Then, to Marina’s shock, a metal tendril shot forward from the intricate guard of Zinc’s sword. Mercury moved, but not quick enough, as the dark metallic blade sliced through the edge of his shoulder.
Instantly, the thin line drew back into the guard, and Mercury stood, ignoring the silver-like blood on his arm and instead watching Zinc with a raised eyebrow.
It was then that Marina noticed Zinc’s sword was starting to darken. What had initially been a pristine, light steel sword whose workmanship exceeded all others was starting to look oxidized, corroded. And the ornate metal woven in thin strands around his hand as a protective guard was starting to contort, resembling more of a mangling, sharply pointed mass.
And there was something different about Zinc. His eyes were wild, their dark gray almost black now. His entire body was tense, hands tightened into balls and his shoulders hunched slightly forward. And even though she could tell he was trying to hold something back, it didn’t look as though he was succeeding.
It reminded Marina of Mercury when she’d first met him. Or better yet, the Mercury that had been described to her by the metal dragons and the oracle.
Mercury glanced up at the stage where she and the royals were seated, and for a second, his eyes connected with hers as if asking, What do you want me to do about this?
She didn’t have a good answer.
Zinc stepped forward, pointing his sword at Mercury, but this time it split into three separate points, rocketing noiselessly like homing missiles in long arcs all directed at him.
Mercury reacted swiftly, swinging his sword to deflect one piercing point as it reached him, then rolling to avoid the other two as they came at him from the side.
Marina’s heart was beating wildly in her chest now. Not just because it looked like Mercury was in danger, but because there seemed to be something wrong. She looked down at the bench where the other dragons were seated, and she could see them looking back and forth, probably sharing thoughts, but not speaking out loud. What she wouldn’t do to be able to hear their conversation right now.
With a wave of Mercury’s hand, large quicksilver-colored spikes shot out from the ground, surrounding Zinc. Then, with a horrible wrenching sound, dozens of bladed edges shot out, originating from Zinc’s sword, slicing through the spikes and carving their way toward Mercury.
Mercury didn’t dodge this time, refusing to lose ground as he moved with inhuman speed, swinging his sword and parrying one blade after the other. Clang after clang resounded through the arena as he blocked, sliced, and fought his way toward Zinc through the hail of ghastly looking, blackened tendrils as they reached for him hungrily.
Zinc had both hands on his sword, and the twisted mass was beginning to grow, darkening and warping more with each second. His eyes were glazed over, and as Mercury came closer and closer, he gave out an inhuman shout, raging as Mercury somehow fought off his onslaught.
“Stop the fight! Stop the fight!” Marina heard someone shouting out, and she looked down in surprise to see Cadmium rushing toward them, crossing the arena at top speed.
Zinc and Mercury didn’t notice until Cadmium reached them, putting an arm on Zinc’s shoulder from behind.
Suddenly, the fighting stopped, and Zinc’s blade (or rather, the blackened, horrific mass it had become) dropped to the ground, melting away into the dirt.
Zinc tried to step forward, reaching his hand toward Mercury angrily, but Cadmium’s grip tightened, holding him back. Mercury just stood his ground, watching in confusion, but not putting down his sword.
A second later, Zinc fell to one knee, and when he looked up again, his face looked normal, albeit exhausted and worn. Cadmium put his arm around Zinc to help him stand, and the two of them walked off, heading
toward a small door at the edge of the arena that led to whereabouts unknown.
There was stunned silence in the entire place as Cadmium helped Zinc leave. Before Zinc disappeared through the door, he looked up at her, and Marina could see shame and guilt in his expression, as if he’d done something wrong.
But Marina was just too relieved that everyone seemed to be fine to be worried about judging him.
Mercury turned toward the stage, finally letting his sword disappear, and crossed his arms, shrugging as he looked at her, his piercing silver eyes showing apathy about the fight now that it was all over.
But as Mercury was announced the winner and as the next two dragons took their place in the arena to fight, she still felt profoundly uncomfortable.
Mercury had seemed tense about something when he’d come to see her last night, and though he hadn’t wanted to talk about it, she hadn’t been able to forget the edgy way he’d curled around her back.
Now, as she watched him sit on the bench next to the other competitors, rubbing his neck and accepting a compliment from Lead with a terse nod, she realized how badly she wanted to see into his heart.
She wanted him to open up to her, but she knew it would only happen on his own time.
Mercury was changing in his room, checking the bruises and cuts Zinc had inflicted, when he heard a knock on his door.
He rolled his eyes, really not in the mood to deal with anyone at the moment. He didn’t even want to see Marina, as he wasn’t sure he could hide his rage and frustration from her.
He hadn’t liked having Zinc come at him like that, as if he weren’t in control of himself. Hadn’t liked the way everyone was just fine with people attacking him, in and out of the ring. Like the men last night.
Sleeping next to Marina had soothed him, let him sleep, but he’d awoken with the sharp knowledge that he didn’t deserve to be near her, and that had stung.
His heart was slowly thawing, all right, and he didn’t like that it was becoming slightly softer.
That made it easier to be hurt. And while he was trying to stay distant from everyone, it didn’t feel great to be hated now that he was actually trying once in a while to do the right thing.
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