Waiting for Mercy (Cambions) (50 page)

There was Maggie too.  In a short time, we would know her fate.  I had to be there for her.  Her family was clueless about the supernatural blood that may run through their veins.  She had no support system except for me and Tom because Brent was out.  Doug would need support too.  As important as finding out my secret, I had to help my best friend through this problem.  I haven’t known forever what I was or  what I was capable of.  Not knowing a few more weeks wouldn’t hurt as long as no one tried to kill me.

Looking down at the phone in my shaking hand, I reached for what I needed and ran out of my room.

Flynn looked stunned when I passed him in my dash to make it outside.  He had been right about one thing.  I needed to do the right thing.

Throwing open the front door, I launched myself at a waiting Luke who stood by his car.  A look of uncertainty held his face until I buried mine in his neck.  “I love you.  I’m sorry.”  It was the truth. I was headed over to his house, his being here only shorten my trip.

When Luke didn’t respond, I turned in his arms.  There in the doorway stood Flynn.  He apparently was concerned with my frantic state of running and followed me.  Things weren’t ever going to get better for me.  I started thinking Flynn had been right to leave, not that I wanted him to go.  But us being in the same house wasn’t fair to either of us, not to mention Luke.

Unable to read the expression on Flynn face, I watched him step back inside and close the door.  Something in my heart broke.  It seemed so unfair that no matter what I did, I was hurting someone and myself in the process.

taciturn
(adj.)
not inclined to talk

Forced to go to school, I parked in the first spot I found.  Luke didn’t stay with me last night.  Tired and listless from lack of sleep because I was afraid my succubus would try to make the moves on Flynn, I walked with my head hung low.  I did however call Paul’s house last night and not his cell.  His mother informed me that he’d been sick the last few days.  Feeling better that he was safe at home, at the same time, I was wondered about Sebastian.  He hadn’t shown up.  I wasn’t sure he’d still be welcomed by me or anyone else in the house.  Although, I was sure my mom had known exactly whose son he’d been all along.  That was probably why they’d allowed him to stay.

Despite it all, I couldn’t hate Sebastian.  Even with his father around, he’d done nothing to hurt me. Of course I feared the worst.  I feared he was being punished for not winning me over.  Worst yet, I hoped he wasn’t being retrained.  Would an empty evil vessel with Sebastian’s body show up to kill me?

  Things went back to what appeared to be normal.  Maggie and I even went to softball practice.   With Maggie still under doctor’s orders not to drive because of her injury and medication, I became her designated driver. It felt good to give back.  Maggie had always been the one to drive me.  I even gave Amber a ride home too. 

At practice Maggie was relegated to team manager, helping the coach.  She said she didn’t mind.  Wanting to hang out with all of us was a strong motive.  I couldn’t blame her.  The full moon would be coming all too soon.  Cheering us on the sidelines, it was easy to forget all my troubles during those hours.

When I got home, I watch Luke’s car come into view as I pulled into the driveway. He was standing outside talking to Sebastian.

My breath caught.  I thought I might hyperventilate.  In front of Luke’s car, Flynn got out of his SUV and helped Kristen out.  The lecherous bitch.  I hadn’t had time to ask her about the note.  IT didn’t seem important seen I so easily took her out with one punch.  She wasn’t a danger to me.  He ushered her to the front door and inside the house before returning to have a few words with the other guys.  I hadn’t yet moved.  Not knowing what to do, I sat there dumbstruck that Luke and Flynn were casually talking to Sebastian like old friends. 

I thought they assumed he’d betrayed me.  He was a hunter who had been hunting me.  He was the son of the second in command of hell.  Seeing him now, I doubted myself.  Was he just using me?  Had he only gained my trust for whatever nefarious reason his father wanted?  He was also a demon eater who could be a threat to me and mine.  How could Luke be talking to him?

We knew nothing about the demons that had been chasing us.  Was it Sebastian or me they were after?  Things certainly had been quiet since he hadn’t been around.  Luke, Flynn and our parents all knew about the battles we’d faced.  They were supposed to be looking into it.  However I was sure Sebastian had all the answers we sought. And of course he’d been conveniently gone since the night with the elves except for the night with his dad.

Flynn turned back to me and nodded like he understood why I had yet to exit the vehicle. But he went inside to entertain Kristin, I guess.  The rational side of my brain kicked in.  Sebastian could pop in anywhere and take me at any point.  He needed to explain himself.  Anger boiled in me now.  I hopped out of the car and charged at Sebastian.  With my hand in movement to slap him, he caught it.  Luke took my other arm and gently pulled forcing Sebastian to let go or play tug of war.

Pleadingly, I looked at Luke.  “Let me talk to her,” Luke said.

Not turning to look, somehow, I felt Sebastian had dematerialized away.

“What the hell?” I begged.

Luke’s stern stare preceded his words. “We need him,” he said defiantly.

“What?” I asked, again confused that he was consorting with the enemy.

Somehow reading my mind, he said, “He’s not the enemy and I trust him.”  His words sounded just as final as his father’s had the other day.  Where was my calm boyfriend?  The guy that invaded his body was my creation showing his face at odd times like my demon.

Still, my ever trusting and forgiving Luke was not right on this one.  I could feel it. “Luke, I can’t.”

His hand came up to stroke at the side of my face. “Then trust in me,” he said rationally.

Biting my lip, I did trust him.  But how could I tell him he had a habit of forgiving everyone without bringing up my own transgressions. “I trust you,” I whispered.

Pulling me into him, he gave me a mind blowing kiss that had me seeing not just stars but the planets revolve around the sun.  Star bursts of supernovas filled the back of my closed eyelids.  Something in his kiss sent warning bells through me.

“I have to leave for a while,” he said, once we disengaged from each other.  His face was soft and kind again back to himself.

Stepping back from him I eyed him warily. “Why?”  It seemed my eloquence was overflowing with all the SAT words I had on tap, I thought sarcastically.  I mentally chided myself for my one word side of the conversation.  There was so much I needed to say to him and it felt like my time was up.

Shifting his gaze and not looking at me, he said, “He thinks he knows who’s been after you.  And he knows someone who may be able to help me.”  Guilt made the bile in my stomach churn.

“Of course,” I said.  There really wasn’t another good response.  I owed him my trust.  He deserved to have the stain on his soul that I put there removed.  What could I say about him knowing who was after me?  He had to know because he himself was after me.  I kept that all to myself.  If he could somehow help reverse what I’d done to Luke, that was most important.

“And he thinks he knows a way to help Paul,” he added.

Choking on my next word, I managed to say, “Paul.”

Sadness filled his eyes like his next words were bound to cut me deep. “Paul is in some sort of trance or coma.  Sebastian found him non-responsive but very much alive earlier.”

“What,” the strangled word left my throat.

When my knees went limp, Luke was there to catch me. “He’s alive Mercy.  Sebastian seems to think he’s been bespelled.”  The demon.  My guilt at not going to check on him other than the phone call expanded. 

There it was. I had no doubt that Luke had more concern for me and maybe even Paul than for himself.  That was just the kind of guy he was.  But I’m sure that Sebastian had tipped the scales in convincing him to go along with whatever plan he had with that little nugget about helping him with his damnation.

“Your dad?” I asked, wondering what his father thought about this field trip.  I was still full of phrases of love and encouragement I couldn’t utter.  Along with not telling him he shouldn’t do this.  All of those words were stuck in my throat. What kind of person would I be if I told him to give up on correcting the little matter of damnation that I’d placed on him?

Searching my eyes, he finally gave me the truth. “He doesn’t know.”

Nodding, I turned because tears threatened to spill.  Closing my eyes, I held back all I wanted to say.  If I said more, he’d know I didn’t trust his judgment of Sebastian.  Sebastian, the boy who saved my life.  The guy that claimed he wanted to be with me.  Was this his plan to take Luke out of the picture?  If I mentioned this, would I bring up unspoken topics?  Could we be sure he was the powerful Guardian he used to be all because I’d been in his life? 

He pulled me back to his chest and I listened to his heart beat.  What would I do if I lost him?  Would vengeance against Sebastian be mine?  Before he got in his car to leave, he left me with swollen lips from his kiss and promises that he’d return soon.  I waved as he drove away.  I’d stopped myself from asking him why he was driving because I knew the answer. We had no idea the extent of his abilities anymore.  He could levitate, but for all long?  So I said nothing being taciturn.  Instead with a heavy heart I walked inside the house.

turpitude
(n.)
depravity, moral corruption

Closing the door behind me when I entered the house seemed like the hardest thing I’d done yet.  The look of loss on Luke’s face would haunt me evermore.  Because I knew I was the one that had put that look there.  For now, my plan was to grab a snack and head over to Paul’s house.  I had to check on him myself.

With my head hung low, I didn’t see what was unfolding in the foyer until it had already begun.  Kristen was standing with her arm held up with what looked like a hatchet in her hand.  In slow motion, I saw Flynn with his hands up.  His lips were moving.  But I couldn’t hear the words because my thudding heartbeat muted all sound.

Unable to stop it, I couldn’t help the cry that escaped my lips.  She was on the other side of the large black round table that was in the middle of the foyer.  My feet began to move to get to her.  “NO!” I screamed.

“You stupid bitch,” Kristen said. “You poison everything you touch.  Luke deserves so much better than a demon whore like you.”  There was no more doubt she’d written the note.

Although she hadn’t touched me, I felt slammed through my heart by her words because I agreed with her.  The tears that had threatened to fall earlier spilled like fat drops of rain onto the marble floor.  “You’re right.  My turpitude will be his downfall.” I said very softly.  I needed to defuse this situation.  If her anger was directed at me, then maybe Flynn wouldn’t be her target anymore.  I didn’t want him to be hurt because of me.  There was already enough of that. 

She turned her total focus to me.  I kept my eyes on her hoping Flynn could get out of the line of fire.  “I came here hoping to team up with the chosen one, but there you were sucking all the goodness out of him.  He is blinded by your demon beauty that is only skin deep.  You and his traitorous best friend cheating behind his back the whole time.  Everyone sees how you two look at each other.  And now he’s paying the ultimate price.  I’ve had enough.  If Luke won’t save himself, I as a demon hunter will.  It is my pleasure and job to kill you both.”

Flynn had been edging up to her heroically, I saw all too late.  It was all a really bad dream.  One minute he was standing and the next he was on the floor with a hatchet in the middle of his chest.  With grace from what I guessed to be years of training, she moved to finish the job.

For the second time, I screamed a violent “NO,” while hurling myself across the polished black table sending a priceless vase crashing to the ground.  I catapulted myself in her direction.  But Sebastian materialized in front of her with his hand gripped around her neck.  She gasped for breath, but I only spared a second to watch.  Had I called out to Sebastian in my head?  If so, he’d listen and come.  In the next moment, I was on the floor next to Flynn whose wheezing breath escaped with bloody bubbles.