Mercy's Protectors (Mercy Ashby Book 1)

by A. M. Hardin

  “Got enough weapons there half-demon?” Talon sneers after Aiden and Hunter are finished going through my bag and pulling out all of my weapons.

  I smirk. “If you think that’s all the weapons I have on my person, you’re not that bright.”

  “You’re armed?” Hunter asks while putting my little arsenal back in the bag.

  I nod. “Yeah. Always.”

  Hunter lifts his chin at Talon who looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Talon comes to stand in front of me. He’s tall. At least half a foot taller than I am anyway, not that it’s that hard to be taller than me. I’m less than five and a half feet, though just barely.

  With him so close I can finally sense that he’s a shifter. I think he’s a feline but I don’t know exactly what kind. It makes sense. He moves with the grace that I only know cat shifters to have. Other shifters have the animal-like grace too but none move as smoothly as a cat shifter.

  He grabs my coat and takes it off, raising his eyebrows at me when he feels how heavy it is. “Is this a coat or armor?”

  I smirk. “Both.” He feels around inside my coat taking note of the weapons I have concealed and chuckling when he’s finished.

  “I’m assuming that’s not all.” He hasn’t even turned to look at me since taking my coat.

  “Nope.” I look over and see Hunter and Aiden watching with amused smirks on their face while they trail their eyes over my exposed upper half.

  Now that my coat isn’t hiding them, they can clearly see the throwing knives I have attached to my wrists. I also have a short sword attached to my lower back that I can easily reach if I have my coat on.

  “Preparing for war?” Hunter asks while he eyes the daggers attached to my hips.

  I smile sadly. “Sure. Something like that.”

  2

  Chapter Two

  Hunter

  Fucking hell. I’ve never seen a teenager carry so many weapons. It looks like she’s more comfortable with swords, knives and daggers. There’s not a gun in sight.

  Although to be fair, most supes don’t use guns. We prefer swords and daggers or our powers.

  Most half-demons have powers but they are usually dulled a bit due to the human half to the point that it can’t actually affect a full-demon. There are some half-demons that have no power at all. Due to the amount of weapons this girl is carrying I’m guessing she doesn’t have much in the way of power.

  I watch as she shows Talon the different weapons she’s got on her body and I hear Aiden’s chuckle beside me when she shows him the retractable blades in her boots.

  “I’m not surprised,” Aiden mumbles.

  “About what?” I ask quietly, waiting for Talon and Mercy to finish with their show and tell.

  “How much weapons the girl has. Constantly getting attacked will make anyone paranoid. For a girl her age who’s been taken from her family once before? I’m not surprised she’s prepared. Especially since her uncle trained her.”

  Taken from her family? What does that mean? I shoot him a questioning look, making a mental note to ask about that later.

  “Why did her uncle train her to be that way?”

  Aiden meets my eyes. “Let’s just say that Mercy is important. Not everyone agrees, and there are others that want her stopped or they want to use her for their own gain. According to her uncle, she’s not one of those people who will go easily to any kind of fate unless she’s the one making all the choices.”

  “Have you met her before now?”

  Aiden shakes his head. “No. I know from Roderick that she was planning to come here soon but plans got moved up when one of the men who took her when she was a child was found too close to her home. Her mother wanted her to go to a supe college where she has a contact to keep track of her but Roderick said that Mercy had no intention of going back to school.”

  “Hm. Well, it should be interesting if you intend to have her stick with my group,” I say with a grin. “It’s been a little boring lately. Maybe she’ll help spice things up.”

  Aiden chuckles. “I’ll take her to her room now and let her get settled. When do you want her to meet with you?”

  “Give her today to settle in. She can meet us in the gym tomorrow at nine and we’ll see what skills she’s got and go over everything we need to know.”

  Aiden nods and calls Mercy’s attention to him.

  “I’ll show you where the gym is on the way to your room and tomorrow morning you’ll be meeting Hunter and his team at nine there. You’ve got the rest of the night to relax and explore.”

  Mercy nods, her stunning bright purple eyes meeting mine for a split second before going back to Aiden. “Sounds good.”

  Aiden and Mercy disappear down the corridor and Talon walks over to me.

  “Can you believe how many knives that girl had on her?” Talon asks.

  I shake my head and we walk towards the training grounds in the middle of the building. “No.”

  “She can’t be more than eighteen right?” muses Talon. “I wonder what an eighteen year old girl is doing having to fight for her life so hard. Especially a half-demon.”

  “I have no idea. Talon, you know you should take it easy on the half-demon thing. Not all of them are as bad as-”

  “Don’t,” he says, cutting me off, “say his name. I don’t care if they’re not all that bad. They’re all the same.”

  “Alright,” I say, not wanting to argue anymore.

  We get to the other three guys in our group in the training ground. I have to fight a grin when I see Parker and War sparring with Kai watching off to the side.

  “So what was with the ward being breached?” Kai asks when we meet his side. Straight to the point as always.

  “A fucking half-demon needing protection,” grumbles Talon.

  I laugh. “We’ve got a new job starting tomorrow morning.”

  “Oh yeah? Something to do with protecting the half-demon?”

  “Something like that. Something else on top of that. I honestly don’t know what to make of the girl though.”

  “Girl?” Kai looks at me with his brows pinched together. “Seriously? We have to babysit?”

  Talon snorts. “Exactly what we have to do.”

  I look at Talon pointedly. “I don’t know what it is, but I don’t know if it’ll be babysitting. I’ll find out more from Aiden when he’s done showing her to her room. I’ll have more info for everyone in the morning.”

  “Alright, alright,” War’s words cut through our discussion making the three of us turn to him. “I’m done. You kicked my ass this time, vampire. Next time, your ass is mine.”

  Parker laughs and extends his hand to War to help him up into a standing position. “Yeah, we’ll see, incubus.”

  They talk between themselves for a few minutes before joining the rest of us.

  “What’s up Hunt? Why does Kai look constipated and Talon look like he wants to bomb the world?” Parker asks.

  “Half-demon.” Talon doesn’t elaborate. Everyone on our team knows his feelings about half-demons.

  “That doesn’t explain why Kai looks constipated,” War points out with a grin. Kai throws a punch at him that the incubus avoids.

  “The half-demon is a girl,” I inform War and Parker.

  “Babysitting duty?” they ask simultaneously.

  “I honestly don’t know.”

  Their eyebrows raise in shock. It’s not surprising because I usually have all details given to me right up front. The fact that I don’t have a clue what the hell is going on isn’t normal.

  “You guys might as well know, she’ll most likely come to us armed tomorrow,” Talon says, bemused expression in place.

  “Armed?” Kai asks.

  “It was like disarming one of us while we’re on a mission,” Talon informs them. I try to keep my face straight when the guys’ mouths drop open.

  “How old is this girl?” War asks.

  “Around eighteen, I think. Maybe nineteen. I’m
not sure,” I answer.

  “And she’s armed to the teeth?” Kai sounds doubtful.

  “Yup.”

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “Uh, guys, is that her?” Parker asks nodding his head to the direction of the door. As one we turn to where he indicated.

  Sure enough, there she is.

  “She’s… tiny,” Kai points out.

  “And dangerous as hell if her weapons are any indication,” Talon adds.

  “What weapons?” War asks, eyeing Mercy up, taking in her dark blue jeans, black shirt and black leather jacket.

  “Trust us, they’re definitely there.” I chuckle.

  “I’m not convinced she knows what she’s doing,” Kai admits.

  “Well why don’t we wait and see what happens? Here comes Ada to suss out the new girl,” Parker says with a grin.

  Sure enough, Ada is waltzing over to Mercy with a determined stride. Ada, also known as the woman who thinks she owns everything and everyone here is a tall beautiful woman with black hair that is cut down to her shoulders. Unlike most demons and vampires she doesn’t grow her hair out. Then again, neither did Mercy. Her white blonde hair is slightly longer than Ada’s. Her hair is flowing down her back but Ada has her hair tied into a high ponytail.

  “Wanna take bets?” Talon asks with a wicked grin.

  I watch Mercy study Ada before they start talking. Mercy doesn’t look like she could give a damn about what Ada’s saying.

  Finally Mercy tries to walk past Ada, her eyes meet mine briefly before she stiffens when Ada grabs her arm and glares at her.

  “I’m taking bets on the new girl,” Parker says with a wicked grin making me shake my head.

  3

  Chapter Three

  Mercy

  “So if you just do those things we’ll be fine, kay?” The female in front of me says after delivering her weird ass speech about needing to stay away from her male and to make sure I don’t make an enemy out of her. Blah, blah, blah. I inwardly roll my eyes. It’s always the same.

  I scratch the side of my head with a finger. “I’m sorry, but what exactly gave you the impression that I cared?”

  Her face hardens. “Excuse me?”

  I raise a brow. “You heard me. I don’t give a shit what you’ve got to say. I’m not really here to make friends. Got me?”

  She takes a step forward, threateningly. “Why, you little-”

  I hold my hand up and give her a pitying smile. “Seriously, there’s no need to bring my height into this. I’m just looking around.” I start to walk past her and catch a glimpse of Hunter and Talon with three other men before I feel the girl’s hand clamp on my arm. I turn my head to hers and glare at her. “You’ll want to let me go.”

  She scoffs. “Please, I’m not hurting you. Although for the way you talked to me, I sure as shit would like to.”

  I grin wickedly. “Well, if that’s all you wanted, why didn’t you say so?” I sweep my arm out. “Lead the way so you can attempt to kick the newbies ass.”

  “Attempt?” She sneers, getting into my face. “I will kick your ass little girl. Make no mistake about that.”

  The girl leads me to an empty area where there’s a mat laying on the ground.

  “Weapons allowed?” I ask, not bothering to take my coat off.

  “Of course. Anything goes. Even whatever powers you may have. Just don’t kill or hurt to the point of taking the other out of commision for longer than a few hours.”

  “What’s your name again?” I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop my laugh when her face turns red.

  “My name is Ada. Yours?”

  “Mercy,” I reply absently. My eyes catch sight of the group of males and females surrounding us, including Talon, Hunter and their friends. Many of the people are murmuring around us. I can catch a word here and there and from what I’m understanding these people think I’m crazy for taking Ada on while being a newbie.

  She snorts. “Is that really your name? I can smell the demon in you. Isn’t that a little ironic? Naming a demon Mercy?”

  I stare at her, unimpressed. “Are you going to keep talking or actually come at me?”

  She disappears in front of me. I let her get past my defenses and feel her foot digging into my back a second later, kicking me forward, making me stumble forward slightly. A curse leaves her lips, making me think that she was meaning to knock me off my feet instead of making me stumble a little bit.

  I turn slowly, facing her and tilt my head. “You’re a vampire?”

  Ada glares at me. “Yes, how’d you know that just from me kicking you and disappearing from your sight? You’re a demon, not a shifter or a vamp so you shouldn’t be able to tell what I am by just how fast I am.”

  I nod my head to her, conceding that. “True. Well, sort of.” I pause while I summon fire into my hand then make it quickly disappear. “I’m not a demon. I’m a half-demon. There’s a difference. Half-demons, or at least I can tell what someone is if I’m paying close enough attention. My instincts tell me. Not you touching me. Not scent. Not even the way you walk. The only beings easy to tell what they are by looking is either angels of any kind or demons and born vamps because of their eyes. And if you can see through their glamour, fae. Oh, and elves,” I add as an afterthought. “You’re a turned vamp so your eyes are still the color of a humans.”

  Ada’s fangs flash as she grins wickedly. “Really? A half-demon? And they let you in here? Most of your kind don’t last for long in our world. You’d be better off staying in the mortal world.”

  I shrug, not willing to show any pain at the mention of being in the mortal world. “Meh. Would have been nice but every single race out there wouldn’t let me live in that kind of bliss. Personally, I’d have preferred it. But then, there are plenty of dumbasses like you out there that aren’t willing to let me be.”

  I smile as Ada’s face flushes in anger. Good. Let her get angry then try that sneak attack bullshit. I won’t let her get another hit in. I wanted to see how hard she’d hit so I let her get to me.

  It hurt, but didn’t hurt as bad as it should have. Which means she’s severely holding back. Damn. This won’t be that much fun if we’re expected to hold back.

  Ada moves, her anger showing just enough in her movements to make it show although she’s still almost too fast to be seen. I dodge the first couple hits she throws at me but one punch gets through my defenses and grazes my temple. I kick my foot out and it connects to her ribs pushing her back. I duck her next punch and dodge the kick that she throws my way before trying to deliver another punch to my face.

  I catch Ada’s fist in mine and chuckle as she scowls. “Unless my uncle was the one who taught you to fight, the chances of you winning in a fair fist fight against me are slim.” I push her hand away from my body, making her stumble back and almost lose her balance. I toss her one of the daggers off my hip. “Let’s make it fun, shall we? I don’t want to have to keep dodging your hits and kicks.”

  “Who’s your uncle?” She asks while getting a feel for the dagger in her hands, though her tone says she couldn’t give a shit.

  “Roderick.”

  Ada’s face turns skeptical as she eyes me. “Really?”

  I pull my other dagger off my hip and spin it in my fingers. “Really, really. He’s a dick sometimes, but since he taught me how to fight I’m perfectly okay with that.”

  Ada rolls her shoulders. “Alright, I apparently have no hope of getting at you using my fists and feet. At least if your story is to be believed.”

  I simply smile, knowing that she’s trying to rile me up and get me sloppy. Usually I’m the one goading. It’s kind of amusing being on the receiving end for once.

  Keeping my eyes on her I hear the people around us grumbling to get on with it. I’m not really paying too much attention on them because I want to know when she moves.

  I swallow a chuckle when I feel the earth shake and rumble beneath my feet.

>   Depending on the vampire, vampires have the ability to call on the elements. Some can call all, other’s a few of them. There are some that can only call one element or none at all. As well as their affinity to the elements born vampires are gifted with a power that has nothing to do with the elements. Most will keep their powers hidden and prefer not to tell others what their powers are, unless they’re fighting.

  From what I heard, most of the people in the Order knows everyone else’s powers in here too, so there’s only the nasty shock factor for me.

  Lovely.

  I stay rooted in place as large clumps of earth circle around Ada before simultaneously coming towards me. I manage to evade most of them but one ends up slamming into my chest, making me gasp for air as I’m nearly thrown off my feet onto my back.

  Almost as soon as the first wave of assault is finished, Ada’s throwing more clumps at me. I evade most, getting clipped in a few places and managing to avoid a full frontal hit again while I summon my flame in my hand and infuse it into my dagger.

  The noise of people cheering around us dies down while I hurriedly use my flaming blade to cut through the chunks being hurled at me. The flames disappear from the dagger as I absorb them back into me.

  Ada shrieks angrily. The remaining pieces of earth floating in the air fall to the ground as Ada glares at me. She gives up using her magic and instead throws the dagger I had given to her back at me, aiming for my throat. I snatch the dagger out of the air skillfully before it hits and put both back in their place on my hips.

  “If you didn’t want my dagger to use, you just had to say something. You didn’t need to throw it at me,” I say with a smirk, enjoying the flush on Ada’s face. “Is it my turn yet?”

  Ada snarls and throws herself at me, intending to tackle me or hit me, I’m not sure but I don’t give her the chance to either. I grab her shirt and, using her momentum against her, I throw her over my back head first onto the ground. While she’s catching her breath and probably trying to see straight, I stand over her shaking my head.