Sacrifice of Mercy

by Shannon Dermott

“I think it’s back that way.”

  We walked off the terrace down a long line of steps and onto the grass. We skirted the maze, neither one of us wanting to go inside. The hedges weren’t that tall. Still, we would be forced to follow a path and my ten minutes were nearly up.

  We stopped where the back of the garden stretched into several yards of uncovered lawn.

  “I’ll go first. They will be looking out for me. If they see you,” I shook my head, “they’ll assume a trap and things will go to crap before we can find the scepter. Can you feel it?”

  Tristrom straightened. He closed his eyes for a second. His head tilted back some like he was sniffing the air as he sought out the prize.

  “It’s not too far.”

  “Then give me a minute after I pass through the trees before you go after it.”

  I started to move from behind the evergreen that reminded me of a tall Christmas tree. Tristrom grabbed my arm.

  “I will find it and stay within earshot. Just call out for help if you need it.”

  “It will be fine. I don’t want you to get hurt. CeCe needs you.”

  I hated to play that card, but I needed him to keep himself safe and not play hero. I took off into the open holding up my skirt, so I didn’t trip over it. I’d chosen to wear my converse over the heels that had been left for me. The dress practically dragged on the floor. Thus, no one noticed my choice of footwear. When I crossed into the dense tree line, I was hit by a wave of magic that nearly sent me off my feet. I reached out for the nearest tree and hugged it, so I wouldn’t fall.

  It was then I heard the chanting. The magic wave made me want to retreat. I couldn’t let it. I didn’t have much time before Tristrom would leave the safety of cover. I couldn’t have any of their lookouts seeing him. I let go of the tree and pushed past the urge to flee. I moved forward as fast as I could.

  I broke out into the clearing and saw five people chanting at points of a circle enclosing a star. The shapes drawn in the grass reminded me of something that had me stopping in my tracks. Paul had drawn a similar shape on the floor of his bedroom. He’d used it to summon a demon.

  Chapter Seventeen

  A figure snuck up behind me and bound my arms. I glanced back to see Huck grinning ear to ear. “Where’s Tom?”

  “You can’t trust me, and I can’t trust you. If you are truly concerned about him, then leave him out of this.”

  “That’s the thing. We need to break the influence you have over him.”

  “Wait,” I complained when he didn’t bother with more conversation.

  He marched me forward like a rag doll in his grip. It sucked being me. I couldn’t match his strength to break free. I did what I could to size up all the potential threats. A glance around and I couldn’t tell if the chanters were shifters, weres or maybe even witches. I only recognized one, Riona. It wasn’t a surprise that she was in on this.

  To buy myself some time, I used my words. “When you prove I’m human, I want the scepter you promised to return to me.”

  “Don’t think I was stupid enough to bring it here. It’s close enough and will be yours if you are human. But you can’t be. The claw marks I left on you are gone.”

  If it was close, that meant Tristrom was near. I could call out for help, but we were outnumbered. If he didn’t have the scepter yet, I could ruin his chance to get it.

  “Maybe I have a guardian angel who healed me.” It was best to stick as close to the truth when spinning lies.

  He chuckled. “No demon has angels looking out for them.”

  “That’s because I’m not a demon.”

  His laughter became obnoxious as he wiggled his fingers like he was performing a magic trick. “Why don’t you call your angel if you have one? Let them show us their mighty wings and prove who they are.”

  Angels didn’t have wings. Though, I didn’t bother to say it. They wouldn’t believe me anyway.

  Huck kept firm hold of me as we neared the circle. I couldn’t think a way out what he was about to do. If I resisted any more, I looked guiltier. I needed them to believe if I planned to get out of this. I also didn’t know if any of them had weapons outside of their supernatural abilities. Mine turned out to be useless because I couldn’t capture their minds. Wisely, no one looked at me directly. And unleashing my killing wave or whatever it was called, didn’t seem fair. I didn’t believe that this group maliciously set out to kill me out of spite. Except for maybe Riona. So I was screwed when Huck tossed me in the middle of the circle.

  I got to my feet and tried to leave the pentagram in vain. None of the chanters moved, which didn’t surprise me once I hit the barrier.

  “You don’t have to do this.” Dread washed over me.

  “Ah, you see we do,” Huck said, maintaining his position of leader of their posse.

  “You don’t know what you’re doing. What you summon may not be nice. It could kill you all.”

  Huck didn’t look at all perturbed. “Or just you.”

  “So you’ll have me die to prove my innocence.”

  He shrugged. “You sure know a good deal about demons for someone who claims not to be one.”

  “I know a lot about shifters too, and I’m not one. When Tom finds out what you’ve done...”

  My words were drowned out as a dull hum dragged my attention to the chalk lines that started to glow. I hopped off one of them, and onto the grass when my shoes began to sizzle. I briefly wondered if I would survive the hell fire as the bottom dropped out beneath me. I fell but not far because I was caught by something that made my skin crawl.

  “You summoned me.”

  The voice didn’t sound as strong as the gray thin arms that held me. In fact, the voice almost sounded female. However, there was a crackle in the tone that said it shouldn’t be under estimated. Maybe it was more apt to say the creature sounded ancient and probably was.

  Huck stood with his arms folded like a man in charge. “We have a question.”

  “Answers aren’t free,” the demon mocked behind me.

  Hell fire raged around us, but it didn’t touch my skin. I was surprised Huck didn’t see that as confirmation of my guilt. Then again, I didn’t see fire in the circle Paul created. I only saw the barrier that held the demon captive.

  “Name your price.”

  “First let me hear your question.”

  Huck paused. I wanted to bargain my way out of this, but knew nothing I said would help my situation. I stayed harmlessly still. If the demon let go, I would fall into the pits of hell, and that was a far worst fate that I could imagine at the moment.

  “Is the creature you hold human or demon?”

  “Is that all you wish to know?” the creature cackled.

  Huck clearly didn’t have experience with negotiating with demons. His question was too vague and could result in a number of responses that didn’t quite answer anything.

  “That’s not a good question,” I blurted.

  Huck said, “Wait.”

  At least, he wasn’t stupid.

  “I want to know what she is, from her species to her origins in detail. No tricks, demon or the deal is off.”

  “She has a soul. Of human origins is she. Born of a human mother’s womb makes her human to me. A fine specimen is she, and would be an excellent tribute to me.”

  “No,” I cried out and began to struggle in earnest. I couldn’t go to hell with the demon. Sebastian could be there, and I would be dead.

  “She’s not the tribute.”

  “A day on earth is what I require. Set me free and I’ll tell you all your heart’s desire.”

  Did the demon sense something else about me? If it did, it hadn’t given me up.

  Huck again showed he had some brains. “I cannot set you free, but I offer you this tribute.

  A pair of guys walked up with a struggling female. I recognized her. She was the animal that had shifted into human form.

  “No good. No soul has she. I’ll keep what I have as pa
yment made to me.”

  I screamed, but it was drowned out as the world melted away. Darkness surrounded me like a shroud. I couldn’t see in front of me even when I put my hand in front of my face. We landed somewhere. The demon let go, and I didn’t chance a move. I had no idea where I was and couldn’t see a thing.

  Wet sounds drifted off, and I knew I was alone. I was in hell with no way out. It was very possible that Tristom didn’t see what happened. Not that he or the rest of them could get me. I would have to deal with Sebastian and survive by any means possible. Didn’t Luke tell me over and over again that I needed Sesbastian on my side? So what I didn’t bank on meeting him on his turf? Tough. I had to buck it up solider. Wasn’t that the saying?

  I had no sense of time in my head as I’d been. A cracking sound scared the daylights out of me. Literally, as two lumps began to glow white in gray hands.

  “You can see, you see.” The creature was back and circled the shining the rocks over me. “You will make a fine gift, a fine gift indeed.”

  “For who,” I demanded as if I could make good on any threat.

  “We will wait for master. He will come.”

  He shoved one of the glowing rocks at me. I took it because well, I could see about a foot around me with it in my hands. I held it out and spun in a circle until I saw a pinprick of glowing light off in the distance. I took my chance and ran towards it.

  “She will be back, she will.” I heard him say, to whom I didn’t know.

  The further I got, I wondered at his words. He hadn’t chased me, which only meant there was some sort of trap or guards ahead that would stop me from getting away, to where I didn’t know.

  Then I found it. I struggled to come to a stop and not to fall off the edge that led below. Darkness was almost absolute. I was able to make out a ripple of movement below. I had zero desire to know what moved down there, so I took a step back.

  Further out in the distance, a rock formation that appeared as though made of glass radiated a faint glow. Although it was somewhat illuminated, it didn’t shine on anything else.

  Something or things moved in what could be a labeled as a pit between where I was and the semi-glow fortress. Muted growls only confirmed my suspicions. They had to be hell hounds by the hundreds. Even if I dared to go to the fortress, where no doubt Belial was, there was no way I would get there alive.

  I turned and made my way back into the creature’s cave.

  “She comes. She comes. She knows this is a safe place, she does.”

  “Where am I?” I ask as I sat without looking. I didn’t want to know what was on the ground. I needed to conserve my energy.

  “Not too far, not too far.”

  Okay, what was up with how he talked?

  “Is there someone else here?”

  “Here and there, there and here. Never alone and always by myself.”

  Yeah, clearly the thing wasn’t operating on all cylinders.

  “Who is coming for me?”

  He still held onto the glowing rock, so I saw him clap two spidery hands together.

  “The master will be please. Pleased will he be.”

  “Why?”

  “You are the one, the one he’s waiting for. With you, the master’s plans will succeed.”

  He was kind of answering my questions, so I continued.

  “Why will he succeed?”

  “You are she. She is the one. The one with a soul. The one with a demon to behold. You will make the choice. The choice that will cause the shift. The shift in balance. The balance in the power. The power that belongs to him. And he will set us free. Free to roam the world once again.”

  I didn’t like his words.

  “What choice?”

  “I cannot say. Say I know will doom us both. We will be rewarded. Rewarded I will be.”

  I tried a different tactic. “What must I do to set you free?”

  “Choose wisely if you will. Free of heart, free of will. You will choose and he will give.”

  “Give what?”

  “Said too much, too much did I. I must notify the master. Notify must I.”

  It slithered away, and I was glad for the alone time. I hadn’t seen much of its body except his hands and head. The sounds it made as he moved were gross. I wondered what kind of creature he or she was. Its face was sunken in and bloated at the same time. It was humanish, which was why I was able to hold it together.

  I had no idea where it went, and I no longer heard its movements. The silence added another layer to the dark making the growls from the pit grow stronger. Or maybe my ears searched for anything to hear.

  I got up and began to explore, not sure I really wanted to see where I was. Then again, I needed to find a weapon or something. Someone was coming for me, and I feared it was Sebastian. I didn’t have the knife that could send him to hell, not that it would do any good considering I was already there.

  I sighed as I moved around slowly. The space turned out to be nothing more than a dank cave. There were a few small rocks. Nothing was a good enough size to wield as a weapon.

  Moving towards the mouth of the cave, I found a single stalactite in the cave wall above me. I latched onto it with my free hand. It didn’t budge. I rocked on it back and forth, nothing. I walked back into the cave and found the largest rock which wasn’t much bigger than the small rubber balls I used to get out of gumball machines. I took it and hit the base of the stalactite. I had to jump each time to reach it. Rock against rock created a lot of noise. I had no choice. I needed that spike to use as a weapon. I couldn’t afford to be taken without anything to wield in my defense. As I dangled from the spike without so much as a hint of movement from it, I felt ridiculous. I touched to my feet to the ground, and I began to imagine what I would look like if I took a selfie right then. I held the spike much like a torch and probably looked as though I posed to mimic the Statue of Liberty.

  Finally, I let it go, my anger flaring. I couldn’t believe that Luke thought I had the power of heaven and hell in me. Then there was Flynn, who thought I was some sort of monster because I used power in my voice unknowingly to stop him in his tracks. And I killed angels gone bad on prom night. But then, McKayla had gone silent since Luke put it in my head that we aren’t two people. All those things, yet the stupid stalactite wouldn’t budge.

  I slammed my fist towards the base of the stalactite. A burst of light exploded when my hand connected. The spike cracked from the ceiling splitting free on impact. Rocks rained down on me as I stared at what I did.

  For a long moment, I stood there stunned. Where had that come from? Was that from the energy Tom’s grandfather had transferred to me? Or was it my rocky emotions that brought forth power within me.

  Silence was broken by the sounds of fighting below. Curiosity drew me to go back to the mouth of the cave where I could make out slight movement in the pits below. A dark shadow roared and raged as it seemed to plow a path headed straight for me. Hounds appeared to jump in the air smudging out the distant fortress for a split second or two. However, by the cries, they were being tossed out of the way.

  Hurriedly, I headed back. I bent and picked up the spike among the fallen rock. Something was coming, and it’s most likely the master the creature mentioned. Things obviously worked differently down in hell. Where in Tom’s kingdom, his subjects made a way for him as he moved, Belial or Sebastian must have to fight for respect every moment if they wanted to survive.

  It probably wasn’t the best idea to make a stand in the narrow tunnel. I made my way back into the heart of the cave. The creature hadn’t returned, and that was a good thing. One less thing that would work against me.

  I decided I needed to position myself to add the best element of surprise. I couldn’t crawl up walls, so I crouched low to the left of the opening. That way, I could strike with my right hand against Sebastian’s legs. I assumed it was him coming for me. Belial would never get his hands dirty if he didn’t have to.

  I could potentially
disable him and maybe lose myself among the hounds. No doubt they would be weakened with their fight against him. I might stand a chance in hell, I thought and contained a hysterical giggle.

  Not too much longer did I have to wait before I heard rocks scrap against the floor. The noise had to be intentional because he would be able to see in the dark unlike me, although, my eyes had begun to adjust. Then I realized I still held the glowing orb. I tucked it under the skirts of my dress. Thankfully, the light didn’t break through the heavy darkness further than a foot. So it was doubtful he’d caught sight of it.

  No more sounds of rocks moving. He’d changed tactics maybe? I slowed my breathing, and took quieter breaths. He was closer now. I held the spike point out ready to slam the point in Sebastian’s knee in order to buy myself time. He could disappear and reappear wherever he wanted. I was fooling myself in thinking it would work. Still, I had to try.

  It was the swipe of fabric against fabric that alerted me, he was right there. I rammed my hand out and connect with his leg. The roar of pain that emitted from his mouth froze my blood.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Blood spatter and a body hit the ground as I sucked in air horrified by what I’d done. He crumbled as I cried out and grabbed the light beneath my skirts.

  “Flynn.”

  His response was weak, but there. “Mercy.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you.”

  I crawled on ground and found him. With the rock light, I could see he clutched his leg where my spike protruded from his dress pants.

  “Don’t take it out,” he murmured in pain.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  Words couldn’t express the feeling that waged war within me. If I removed the spike, he could quickly bleed out. On the other hand, blood poured from around the wound. If I left it, he would still bleed out, but slowly.

  His hand grabbed mine. It was a bloody mess.

  “It’s okay. Listen. Tristrom used the scepter to open a portal here. You have an hour to make it back. He’ll reopen it then. The meeting place is in the fortress.” He groaned, and my heart shattered a little more. “You have to go. I left you a path. Run before the hounds regenerate or regroup.”