One Insatiable(63)

“I already checked your pockets, panther.”

I hate his disembodied voice. I want to kill him. I’m about to throw the small vial across the dark hole when I feel a strange urge. Running my fingers over the glass, it’s as if a voice is telling me to do something. I hear nothing but the trickle of water and the rasp of my companion. Still, I’m being implored. It doesn’t make sense. At the same time, none of this makes sense.

Hesitating, I try to look around once more. I don’t know if this is Poppy manipulating my mind again or if it’s something else. It feels different from Poppy’s influence. Using the edge of my fingernail, I flick off the black cap and drink it fast.

“What are you doing?” For the first time, I hear fear in my companion’s voice.

Flashes of light go off behind my eyes. I see sunlight hitting the waves of water. I see a body, the beautiful pearl-white of a smile. Dark hair sweeps around my shoulders in waves. I inhale the scent of fresh air and warm woods. Mercy.

My strength comes back in a rush. Blinking hard, I can see. Grey light reveals I’m not in a cave. I’m sitting in a burned-out wood with my back against the damp trunk of a tree.

Movement whispers above me, and I lift my chin. I shout when my eyes clash with pale ones just over my head. He’s wrapped around the tree above me like a snake, and one hand is stretched out, touching my head. Reflexively, I slap his arm away, and I see long claws retract from my skull. A whisper moves through my hair as his long talons release my brain.

I’m on my feet at once facing him. “What kind of demon are you?” I growl, ready to rip him limb from limb.

“Only the demon sent to guard you.” He draws back and quickly slithers into the branches above. “Goodbye, panther.”

Lunging forward, I try to grab his retreating tail, but I’m too late. He’s gone in the darkness of the branches, most likely all the way to the top. It’s a massive elm.

“I’m Koa!” I shout after him. “Tell your master I’m here, and I’m coming for her.”

No use hiding it. Clearly, Hayden already knows I’m here if he’s sent his slaves to hold me. Shaking away the fog in my brain, I remember him standing on the side of the river watching as I drank. I remember his sinister smile. Yes, he knows I’m here, and he thought he’d beaten me.

The small vial is still in my hand, and I look down at it. It was in my jacket pocket… Doris. If I ever get back, that old lady has a lot of explaining to do. For now, I’ve got to find Mercy. I don’t know how much time I’ve lost, and I don’t know how I’ll find her. At least I know I’m on the right track.

Pausing before I run, I think hard, hoping to send a message: I’m here, Mercy. I’m coming for you, my love. Don’t give up. I have to believe she can hear me.



* * *





Mercy


The light never changes in this place, no sunrise or sunset. I never know if it’s day or night. I have no idea how much time is passing. It feels like weeks.

My body grows tired as if by habit after hours of wakefulness, then I sleep. I open my eyes to find I’m in the same dim gloom. I’m starting to think I’ll go mad before Koa ever finds me — is he even still searching? Did he try to find me and Cerberus killed him?

Desperation tightens my chest, and I have to get out of this room. Ripping my covers back, I jump out of the enormous bed and throw open the black doors, running down the hallway to the top of the stairs.

“You let Persephone go home!” I shout at him.

Heavy wooden bannisters lead down to an expansive room with two chairs in front of a massive fireplace. I hold the thick railing as I make my way down to where Hayden stands at an impossibly tall window topped with a pointed arch.

“Persephone nearly drove me insane.” He crosses his arms, and for the first time, he’s not wearing the armor.

“Where have you been?” My eyes fly over his clothes.

He’s dressed in a tailored black shirt and slacks like he used to wear at dinner. It’s topped with a red velvet jacket tied at the waist, and his nails are trimmed and glossy pale, not black and pointed.

“I had business above ground. Nothing to worry your beautiful head about, my queen.”

Koa. My throat tightens, and I’m sure whatever his business was, it had to involve my panther. Keep calm. What do I want to know?

“What did Persephone do that drove you insane?” My voice is still demanding, and he actually laughs.

“There she is.” Walking to where I stand at the foot of the stairs, he lifts a lock of my hair, letting it slip through is long fingers. Pale blue eyes linger on my breasts before rising to mine, and I see desire in his. “I’ve been waiting for my strong girl to resurface.”

Inhaling slowly, I move past him to the dark fireplace. “Why do you have fireplaces and no fire?”

He’s still standing at the foot of the stairs watching me. “They’re esthetically pleasing to me.”

I look down and realize I’m only wearing the thin, beige sheath I slept in. It’s essentially transparent, and I burn with shame. Hayden’s lust is not what I want. Pulling my hair over my shoulders, I use it to cover my dark nipples.

“Tell me why you let her go back please.” My voice is softer, less demanding. I’m still facing the fire, keeping my back to him.