Sacrifice of Mercy

by Shannon Dermott

  “Maybe I don’t want to stop,” I said holding his gaze.

  He searched my face. “Mercy, can you tell me that you pick me and only me?”

  My answer was a second too late in coming. He easily lifted me off of him and got out of the car. I watched him round the SUV and go into the house. I rested my forehead on the window for a second. He’d said he would be patient. He said no one would get hurt or be mad. Yet, there we were again, on either side of a line that blurred in the chaos of my heart.

  By the time I got in the house, David stood waiting for me. I came up short because he blocked my path.

  “Mercy, do you have a minute?”

  I set my backpack down on the floor and followed him into the gaming room. Folded arms across my chest, I stood defiantly waiting for his disapproving words. He was sure to lecture me of my treatment of his son, and I was ready for it.

  “I think you need a break.”

  My brows knitted together. He held up a hand to hold off my protest. “Your mother’s got some time. You’ve been burning the midnight oil. I know you’re worried about the prophecy that Luke found for you. Why don’t you take the jet to the Hamptons and see what you can find?"

  I shook my head. “I can’t leave Mom.”

  “It’s one night. And she can tell it’s bothering you. You’re adding to her worry.”

  “So this isn’t about me. It’s about her.”

  It’s was petty, but the words had left my mouth before I could stop them. Still, I didn’t want to cause her undue stress.

  “No, it’s about the both of you. Flynn’s the one that told me what you were upset about.”

  When my jaw dropped, he added, “Yes, you two may not be communicating, but my son is worried about you. And I want everyone to be happy, and that includes you, even if you don’t believe me.”

  “David—” An apology began forming itself in my mind.

  He shook his head. “I don’t blame you Mercy. If I were you, I would hate me too.”

  His voice cracked making me feel like more of shit than I already did. I closed the distance between us. “I’m sorry,” I said meaning it as I hugged him.

  A shudder rocked through him that could have only been a sob, and I decided to take him up on his offer. He’d basically given me all Mom’s time, taking a step back. But, he needed her too.

  “I’ll go.” He nodded. “But alone.” I dared him to make me take Flynn with me. “And I’ll be back in the morning.”

  “It’s all set up.” His words were choked, and I met his red eyes.

  “And David?” Our gazes locked. “Thanks for everything.”

  From the kitchen, I grabbed my car key from where they hung on a hook. I didn’t get clothes for fear of running into Flynn or Mom. I needed to do this. There was something I was missing. And maybe I did need a break. Our family was one giant ball of anticipation and not of anything good but rather the end of things. I couldn’t breathe. An overnight trip might clear my head and enable me to say the things I needed to say to Flynn.

  The flight to Long Island was shorter than Montreal. A car was waiting to drive me to the house. I glanced down at the key that had been given to me by a lawyer earlier that week. He’d come to explain my inheritance. I didn’t understand everything, but the gist was Luke had left me very wealthy. Flynn had been right. There were hoops to go through. First, I had to finish college or reach a certain age before most of it would come available to me. I didn’t want it. I wanted Luke to be able to use it like it had been meant to be.

  I turned the key in the mansion’s lock and was immediately assaulted with memories of Luke and our last time being here. As I walked, I saw with my mind’s eye the memories play out. And I waited in vain for him to appear.

  “Luke, where are you?” I asked an empty house.

  In the library, I saw him as if it were yesterday. His words passed through my head as if I heard them right then. I’m sorry Mercy. Sometimes I can’t help it. I love you so much it hurts.

  It hurt me, and I blanked on what came next. He’d started telling me about what’d he’d found.

  It talks about someone who should have been born without a soul stopping something like the apocalypse.

  What was it? Why couldn’t I remember the words? I followed the lines of the bookshelves. Everything was in its place, not like what I remembered the last time we’d been there. Whoever cleaned up had set everything to rights, leaving me without a clue where to look first.

  The book had been written in Latin, that much I remembered. I probably could understand it at this point unlike then. I ran fingers across the spines of several books hoping one would stand out in my memory. Unfortunately, the library was huge and stocked floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall with books. When that didn’t work, I randomly pulled books out that had non-English titles.

  With a hand full, I sat in one of the high-backed chairs in the center of the room, thumbing through book after book with no luck. The sun had long since dipped leaving the room in shadows. Day had succumbed to night, and I turned on the table lamp to keep the darkness at bay.

  Vibrations from the phone in my pocket jolted me awake. The soft glow from the lamp was swallowed by the brightness of the room. It was morning, and I’d come up empty. I sighed heavily as I stood to pull my phone from the confines of my jeans' pocket.

  “Why are you in Luke’s house?”

  Shocked to hear a voice, my arm jerked, and phone flew out of my pocket. I fumbled with it for a second or two trying to catch it before it landed on the floor. It scooted inches across the hardwood with each continued vibration as I stared at Nina.

  “He gave it to me.” I said the words, but it didn’t feel like my house. I doubted it ever would.

  Her head slanted to the side as if she were sizing up a math equation. Then she charged forward.

  I had to move fast because I stood in a grouping of four chairs with tables and lamps in the way. I moved back and to the side into an open area. I had no weapon, but when she drove into me like a battering ram, we landed with me on my back. I quickly dodged to get away from her. As I scrambled to my feet, she kicked and caught me dead center in my jaw. That was going to hurt as I slid towards the wall and into a suit of armor. It came clattering down in silver pieces all around me.

  Unfortunately, the sword it held went scattering across the floor too far away from me. I threw pieces of metal at her trying to get her to give me room to get to my feet. She batted everything away as if it were aluminum foil. It acted like it as it crumbled with each blow.

  She grinned, and her eyes found the sword. Quickly, she moved towards it with me diving in vain when she got there first and snagged it from the floor.

  “Now you will die.”

  Her eyes glowed blood red, and she came at me with the sword raised over her head prepared to strike. I lifted one hand in protection as I tried to get to my feet. The arching movement came at me in slow motion as I prepared to die in the event I couldn’t get myself out of this one.

  I caught the blade in my hands and tried to slow its steady progress towards my heart. A light filled the room, and I saw Luke as time continued to inch forward in a surreal way. Nina’s mouth opened in surprise as Luke’s sword skewered her.

  “Thank you,” Nina said, garnering my attention.

  “For what? I asked glancing back to find Luke gone.

  “For ending my pain. I know I have no right to ask, but please take my soul. They will torment me otherwise.” Blood leaked from her mouth, and I glanced around waiting for Luke to reappear.

  As she fell forward as if speared by me, I glanced down to see I still held the sword in bloody hands. Only the sword was directed at her chest with her arm still gripped around the handle.

  Apparently, I had been the one to change the direction of the sword. Shocked, I let go and moved as she fell forward. She landed on her side facing me with her mouth open as vapor escaped. My jaw unhinged in surprise and tugged at the threads leaving h
er. As soon as I had my first taste, my sighed as it filled me unlike nothing before.

  Long seconds later, she starred at me with unseeing eyes. I scooted away freaked out by what just happened. I rebounded to my feet with renewed energy. I lifted my hands and watched as deep cuts from holding the sword blade knitted themselves back together. I’d never felt so alive in my life. Everything was sharper and in clear focus. But, I wasn’t sure what happened.

  Frantic, my eyes bounced at every corner of the room expecting Luke to be somewhere. He wasn’t. Had I imagined him? I thought I saw him use his sword to plunge it into her back. But, as I turned to look a Nina a second time, she lay with the sword she’d picked up pointed at her stomach as if she’d committed suicide. And that wasn’t in her nature. Somehow, it had been me. I must have conjured a vision of him through the pain of handling the blade with naked hands.

  In the silence, I heard my phone begin to vibrate against the hardwood. I swiftly moved in the direction I’d last seen it. My heart raced because I’d never killed anyone. Not a person. And maybe Nina didn’t qualify, but I knew her. And that was enough to make killing her weigh on my conscience.

  My finger swiped a bloody print across the screen as I answered.

  “Hello.”

  “Mercy.”

  “Flynn,” I sobbed.

  “Mercy, you need to get here now.”

  “What?” I asked confused, too wrapped up in my grief over what I’d just done.

  “It’s your mom.”

  That stopped me. “Mom?”

  “Yes, there is a car waiting. I’ve been calling you. You need to come straight to the hospital.”

  “But… But David said we had time. I wouldn’t have come.”

  “Mercy. Just get here fast. The plane is waiting.”

  I barely glanced at Nina as I ran for the front door. I hid my hands as best I could in my jeans' pocket. When I got on the plane, I ran for the bathroom and vomited.

  The flight attendant found me kneeling by the toilet. I waved her away and stayed there the entire flight. It wasn’t until she announced our descent, did I wash my shaky hands free of blood.

  I was in the car on the way to the hospital when I got the call.

  “Mercy?”

  “Paul, did you find anything?”

  I hadn’t meant to rope him into my world again. But, he was only on a fact-finding mission. He seemed pleased to help.

  “I found this.”

  And his words rang true in my head. He might have been saying them. But, it was Luke’s voice I heard.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. I hope that helps.”

  “It does. I really appreciate it. And thanks for everything. For being my friend.”

  “You’re going to be okay, right?” he asked sounding skeptical.

  “Everything will be fine.”

  When Paul told me the words of the prophecy, everything clicked into place. I knew what I had to do.

  Chapter Forty-One

  I ended the call with my hands balled into fist. My knee bounced urging the driver to drive on the sidewalks if he had to. Grateful, I kept my ideas to myself. When we arrived, I burst out of the car like a bullet being fired out of a gun. I ran like my name was speedy, heading for Mom’s room feeling for her through the ether. I hadn’t known I could do that. But, something Flynn said about always knowing where I was, pieced together in my head.

  It was Flynn’s aura I found. So, it might have been a mated thing. He paced outside a door on the third floor. I made for the elevators and let his light guide me straight to him.

  When I found him, his face was a mask of worry. “Mercy, I thought you wouldn’t make it.”

  “Me too.”

  A quick glance through the window in the door and I saw Mom was still alive.

  There was no time to waste. I kissed him hard. Our energies combined with an explosion of light, I was sure would blind anyone who saw. Instantly, I felt relief in being with him or maybe that was his. I hated what I had to do next and pulled away.

  His eyes were filled with need. Need for me and I felt honored by his complete love.

  “Yeah, I guess kissing can wait,” he said.

  But, he had it wrong.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  His brows knitted in the center from confusion. “Sorry for what?”

  “Sorry for everything.” As he stood with no comprehension, I moved on to more important things. “I know the prophecy. Paul found it.”

  “And”

  The words tumbled from my mouth as a memory deep inside me awakened.

  “The damned shall begot the damned. And so it will come to pass with a soul not its own and will be protected by heaven and hell alike. Hell’s vehicle shall prove itself worthy of the gift of a soul through an act so selfless as it will call unto the heavens. And so it will be born to save all from rivers of demons flowing like water through the streets of the earth spreading corruption and death to all stopping prophesied darkness upon the earth.”

  “Okay,” he said sounding confused. “You’re the one it’s talking about. The one born without a soul.”

  He didn’t yet see. I glanced in the room and watched the monitor beat with Mom’s ticking of Mom’s heart. There was still time, and I had things I needed to say to him first.

  I swallowed. “I love you.” My eyes lifted to the ceiling as tears rushed to my eyes. “I wish I would have realized it sooner.”

  “Realized what? What’s going on?”

  His hands cupped my cheeks as panic grew on his face.

  “You are amazing. You’re everything a girl could want and more. You are my beginning, my end. I would have never made it through everything without you.”

  “Fuck Mercy. What the hell is going on?”

  Anger took over my level-headed Flynn. Somewhere deep inside him, he must have guessed what I was about to do. His eyes penetrated my soul in a way that should be impossible, and I found my mate within him.

  “You have to know I would have picked you.”

  “What?”

  “Not because I couldn’t have Luke.” And I couldn’t without him falling from grace like his father did for his Mom. I could never do that to him. “I’ve always felt right with you. Doesn’t mean I love him any less or you any more. But, there was always guilt when I was with him. I never had that with you.”

  He yanked me to him and kissed me hard with desperation as if it were his dying wish. If he only knew.

  “I never want to let you go,” he whispered. “I don’t think I could survive without you.”

  “You have to be a big brother.” He cradled my head and drew me in.

  I took his hands and gently pulled them away.

  “Please forgive me.”

  I moved back a little with his hands in mine. I couldn’t stop myself from giving him another lingering kiss. He didn’t fight me. In fact, he pushed power into me, and I knew he’d guessed right.

  When we pulled apart, his lips were in a firm line. He let go, and neither of us said anything. I couldn’t say the words. Instead, I said, “I will always love you.”

  “Always.”

  I had to force myself to move away. Then I rushed into the room, partly because I feared I wouldn’t do what I needed to if I stayed near Flynn any longer. I found Mom lying on the bed. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing labored.

  “Mom,” I said and shook her arm.

  Her eyes opened. “Mercy,” she said with a smile that broke my heart. “Don’t cry baby. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom,” I sobbed.

  “I left you a journal on your bed.” Another journal making me think of Luke’s. “I’ve written down everything I know about what we are and where we come from. I figured it was better that way so you can share with your brother or sister.” I nodded because she whispered as if she didn’t have the strength to talk. “And Mercy, promise me one other thing.”

  “Anything.” I’d already pr
omised to take care of David, Flynn and the new addition to our family.

  “Don’t come looking for me in hell.” I paused as I hadn’t thought about that. The wheels began to spin in my head that maybe this wasn’t the end. “Don’t Mercy. I won’t be me. Everything human will be stripped away, and I don’t want to hurt you ever. So promise me.” When I said nothing, her voice grew in intensity. “Swear to me, Mercy McKayla.”

  “I swear,” I promised even though the words broke something inside.

  Her face relaxed as she let go of me.

  “Mom,” I said frantically.

  Only she didn’t respond. I didn’t waste time because the heart monitor attached to her finger sent a slowing beep to the monitor next to the bed. I leaned over her and blew. I pushed all the power I’d stored up and gathered from random people on my run to her room. I’d managed to steal bits of life force from the people I passed only taking a little from each. Another ability I didn’t know I possessed. I’d gone by enough that my reserves were full. Add to that my kiss with Flynn outside and how our joining had the power to grow exponentially what we shared between us.

  For anyone who stepped into the room, they would have thought I was blowing air in her face. It would look strange, but nothing alarming. Her eyes began to move behind her lids, but not enough to get them to open. So I continued to push feeling myself grow weak from the effort. Yet, I continued. I knew what it would cost me.

  I can’t say that dying was easy. But, my sacrifice was worth it. My sister or brother needed both their parents.

  Although, life had left me before my body fell, and my head smacked against the floor. It was odd, the weightlessness I felt as I drifted forward and through Flynn, who came rushing in the room. His mouth was open, and I imagined the words he said as he rushed over to where my body lay.

  Time slipped through my hands as I floated forward in an odd tunnel of blurred landscapes. When the images coalesced, I floated above a congregation in a church. Everyone was somber as someone spoke near a casket. I saw Paul with the college girl I assumed he’d been dating since Mom and David’s wedding. I saw Maggie and her family, including her brother Liam. Then I saw Flynn with red-rimmed eyes sitting next to Mom and David, who were holding a baby. That drew my interested. I wanted to know if I had a sister or brother, so I stared down from my bird’s eye view hoping to move in their direction. I couldn’t. Instead, I felt myself being yanked back.