Child of Mercy Read online

  “What if I could get them?” Finch said I could call him if I wanted anything like that, I was sure he could get Oriana what she needed if the price was right.

  “Do I even want to ask?”

  “No, it’s probably for the best if you don’t.”

  “Alright, if you get those things, and if she comes in and applies like anyone else, I’ll give her a shot. But if she flips out on any of the customers she’s out the door.”

  “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!” I threw my arms around his shoulders in an excited hug, delivering a noisy kiss to his raspy cheek. “You are the best boss in the universe, you know that?”

  “Not so fast.” He pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around my hips. “You’re in charge of training her then. Jilly and Kara have too much on their plates to break in a new girl with zero experience.”

  “I can do that, no problem.”

  “And if she doesn’t work out, you are the one to show her to the door, not me.”

  “Okay.” I was a little less thrilled about that, but I went with it. “Anything else?”

  “You know, I couldn’t help but notice…” Parker’s voice became a seductive purr, his hand curving over the flare of my hip, leaving tingles in its wake.

  “Yeah?” I breathed, leaning into that touch just a little, even knowing it was a bad idea.

  “Is it just me or do you weigh like a ton now? How many kids you got in there, anyway?” Fingers poked at my sensitive sides and I squealed, throwing in a punch to his shoulder for good measure.

  “Oh, you’re gonna get it for that.”

  “Ow, you already got me,” he groaned. “You pack quite a punch for a pregnant chick.” He let go of me to rub at his shoulder. I had to remember how much stronger I was after the last burst of Grace or I’d end up really hurting someone without meaning to.

  “Maybe that’ll teach you a lesson in how to treat a lady, pregnant or not.”

  “Hey, I only kid because I love.” His hands came up in a supplicating gesture.

  “You have a funny way of showing it.”

  “You won’t let me show you the fun way.” He waggled his eyebrows playfully and we shared a laugh. It felt nice to flirt with him, both of us knowing there might be a little more to it lingering just beneath the surface, but with no pressure to expose it from either side.

  Aware that I still sat across his lap, I pushed myself to my feet with less poise than I’d have liked. I stuck my tongue out at him from a safe distance across the room. “Love you too, boss.” I grinned, ducking out of there before I started to wonder what it would be like to let him show me the fun way for a change.

  * * *

  Oriana as a waitress was a complete bust.

  Parker held up his end of the bargain when I brought her in complete with shiny new documents thanks to Mr. Finch. For some reason I didn’t mind using Adam’s money to pay for Finch’s services, which were considerably expensive, seeing as how Oriana never would have followed us out of Midian if he hadn’t made the idiotic deal with Raum in the first place.

  Oriana grasped the concept of waiting tables easily enough. Take people’s orders, bring their drinks, collect the money. Even if she didn’t recognize many of the drinks, she proved to have an incredible memory for even the most complicated of orders. The trouble was… she was a little light on follow through (if a little light meant hopeless).

  Anytime the music caught her fancy, she’d abandon her job mid task to join the throng of people on the dance floor, swaying with her own particular style of dance. No matter how close an eye I kept on her, she had a habit of losing her shoes too, preferring to remain barefoot. Plus, we had complaints about some of her inappropriate comments (I personally had to pour one woman a free drink when Oriana declared she didn’t serve harlots).

  Parker was as understanding as he could be. In fact, he kept her a full night longer than I would have before pulling the plug and I had to give her “the talk”.

  “Oriana, I need to talk to you.” I approached her out on the floor and she smiled wide.

  “I welcome your thoughts, sister.”

  “Oriana, when we hired you here, it was on a trial basis to see how it works out,” I began, trying to remember all the things I hated about being fired so I was sure not to repeat them. It wasn’t her fault she was so easily distracted.

  “Yes, I know,” she nodded earnestly. “I wasn’t at all certain I would enjoy working, but I find it very stimulating. Especially the colors.” Her eyes went to the swirl of lights on the dance floor, and I could tell she wasn’t listening to me anymore.

  “Oriana… How about we go into Parker’s office so we can talk in private?” She followed me dutifully to his office, her face open and friendly, making me feel about an inch high for giving her the sack. Parker flashed me a thumbs up on the way and I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him again.

  Once inside the office with the door closed, I found it easier to hold her attention. “Like I was saying, we wanted to try and see if it would work out, but I don’t think it’s a good fit.”

  “I think I fit very well.” Oriana twirled around, the black skirt she wore as part of the club uniform fanning out in a circle of fabric. “Though I don’t care much for the color.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant.” I caught hold of her elbows before she pirouetted again. “Oriana, I don’t think being a waitress is the best job for you.”

  “No?” Her eyes widened, and I wasn’t sure how she took that statement.

  “No. In fact, I think maybe I should try to help you find a different job.”

  “Then… I wouldn’t work here with you anymore?”

  “No, I’m afraid not.” I waited for the weepy tears from the sensitive girl, but instead she threw her arms around my neck in a brief hug before dancing a jig of happiness. “So you, um… you’re okay with not working here then?”

  “In truth I’m quite relieved, sister,” she replied confidentially.

  “You are?”

  “Oh yes. When Matty explained how much you needed me to work here I was willing to set aside my reservations in order to do my part, as he said, but I confess, I dread each night of my servitude to Eden.”

  “Servitude?” What exactly had Matty said to her? “Oriana, we don’t want to force you to work here. I had no idea you hated it so much, you always looked like you were having a good time.”

  “I enjoy some of the music and the colors that paint the walls and floor, but I dislike binding my feet, and the voices get so loud I am easily confused,” she admitted.

  “It can get pretty loud out there,” I agreed. “Why don’t you relax in here for the rest of the shift? I’ll drive you home tonight and we’ll see if we can’t figure out something else for you to do that you might be better suited for.” Parker might not like her hanging out in there, but he’d made me the boss for the night, I made an executive decision.

  “Thank you, sister, I would like that very much. Then we can have tea and treacle tarts while the stars sing.”

  “Um… yeah, that sounds like fun,” I smiled faintly. Just when I thought I could have a mostly normal conversation with her, things like that came out of her mouth and I was reminded how alien she was.

  “Merceline…” She caught at my hand as I turned to go. “Bide a moment.”

  “I have to get back to work, I really don’t have time to… bide.” I tugged lightly at my hand, but she held tight to it.

  “Your light grows.”

  “You noticed that, huh?” Ever since the glow of Raziel’s Grace faded I didn’t think anyone could tell. But Oriana wasn’t just anyone.

  “As does the child’s, let the heavens tremble.”

  “Oh… well, I don’t think they have to tremble exactly, it’s just a harmless baby. Unless… Oriana, can you See the baby in there?”

  Oriana’s head canted to one side, her brow crumpled in confusion. “I can not see through flesh.”

 
“Not with your eyes, but with your gift. You know, can you see if the baby is normal or…”

  “What is it you seek to know?”

  “I want to know where the baby came from.”

  “This I know.” Her face lit up in happiness. “When a man and a woman feel love within their hearts, that desire turns carnal and…”

  “No,” I stopped her before she launched into her twisted version of the birds and the bees. “I know where babies come from. I want to know where this baby came from. I already know it can’t be Adam’s.”

  “How do you mean?”

  I’d obviously stumped her, but how to explain an ultrasound? “The doctor told me the baby was conceived in November, while Adam was away. I wasn’t physically intimate with anyone else…” I waited for her to make the connection, but she stared at me blankly. “I want to know how the baby was conceived.”

  “But the child is Adam’s.”

  “No, he wasn’t there at the time. It couldn’t be his, and it’s not growing at an abnormal rate.”

  “Your love transcended physical space.”

  “Huh?” She lost me.

  “Did he never come to you in dreams?”

  “Dreams aren’t real, they’re…” And all at once I figured it out. “The Ether. Sam did say once to be careful what happened there.” I remembered the knife I’d pulled out of the Ether once when Azazael attacked me. Maybe I’d pulled something else out after my nights with Adam?

  “Fear not, the child surely will know love from both of you.”

  “I fail to see how with him gone all the time. Wait… do you think he’ll come back then?”

  “The future is ever shifting, it is difficult to cast one’s eye on it with certainty. But his love for you both is real enough.”

  “Right.” I let out a long breath. No one would ever love me as much he did, that was his promise to me. Right before he promised never to leave me again. “I’d better get back to work now, I’ll see you at the end of my shift.”

  Somewhat subdued, I returned to my spot behind the bar, eager to be distracted by work.

  “How did it go?” Parker asked, sidling up to me.

  “Not too bad. It turns out she didn’t like working here anyway.”

  “What’s wrong with working here?” His forehead puckered in dismay and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “You wanted her gone, right? Well, she’s gone, after tonight anyway. I told her she could hang out in your office for the rest of the night.”

  “I pay competitive wages,” Parker muttered, pouring himself a beer. “With benefits. Not too many clubs I know of offer employees health benefits.”

  “You could go and talk her into staying if it bothers you so much,” I teased, distracted by the sight of Luz slinking her way through the crowd, dressed in a fire engine red dress that hugged her ample curves. Her long dark hair spilled loose over one shoulder, pinned back with a jeweled comb.

  “Wow, you look dressed to kill,” I greeted her. “You got a hot date tonight?”

  “Maybe, we see how things go.” Her eyes were on Parker as she spoke, but instead of his usual playful flirtiness, he gave her a polite smile.

  “Excuse me, ladies, I have to go play waitress seeing as how we’re short handed tonight. Nice to see you again, Luz, you look good.”

  I might have been mistaken, but I thought I saw disappointment flash across her features as Parker walked away. “What can I get you to drink? It’s on me,” I offered, and she gave me a grateful smile that didn’t last long, her eyes darting back to Parker from time to time. I didn’t ask her anything else while I got her drink, figuring if she wanted to talk about it she would.

  “I think I messed things up with Parker,” she said finally.

  “I thought you broke up with him.” That was the way Parker spun it at least.

  “Not officially, we just stopped seeing each other as frequently. Is he seeing someone else?”

  I’d done my best to stay out of their relationship, given my complicated connection to Parker. I didn’t like being dragged into the middle of it, even if she was my friend. “He told me he’s taking a break from dating right now.”

  “Ah.” Luz took the news well. Maybe it made her feel less of a sting at his indifference. “Maybe I let him cool off a bit more before I try again.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Remiel leaving town?” I hazarded a guess, the slight widening of her eyes giving me my answer.

  “Do you know where he went?”

  “He told me he was going back to his place in Texas.”

  “Oh.” That news was less encouraging to her. “I should have known he wouldn’t stick around. He never does,” she sighed into her drink.

  “It does seem to be a recurring theme with angels.” I had to agree.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up.” Her face contorted with sympathy.

  “It’s alright, I’m getting used to it.” Not that I was jumping up and down with happiness over Adam’s absence, but I didn’t spend my nights crying into my pillow over him either.

  “I think I’d better go.” She slid off the barstool. “Talk to you soon?”

  “Yeah, we’ll get together,” I promised, but to tell the truth my heart wasn’t really in it. Sure, she was great to sound out my pregnancy questions with, but after the way she’d thrown Parker over when Remiel crooked his finger, I admit I lost a bit of respect for her. Plus, I missed sharing all my secrets with Daphne.

  The rest of the night passed without incident, but Parker insisted on escorting Oriana and me to my car, just in case the Big Guy got any bright ideas about sending someone else after me. It was easier to let him do it than explain that he’d be nothing but target practice if an actual angel showed up, glowing sword and all.

  Oriana dropped to her knees just after we stepped onto the parking lot, eyes resolutely on the ground.

  “What the…?” I traded looks with Parker as we went back a couple of steps for her. “Come on, Oriana, it’s late. You can pray or whatever you’re doing after I get you home.”

  “He comes,” Oriana replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned forward to press her forehead to the ground.

  “Who’s coming?” Parker looked up to the empty sky, but the source of her fear came from another direction entirely.

  “Hello m’lovely,” Raum smiled, stepping out from behind the building.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “The man himself.” I offered Raum a tight smile, wondering if I could manage to grab both Parker and Oriana and fly away quicker than he could attack. Probably not.

  “Fetching as always I see,” he said, grinning like a loon. “And my sweet witch, at least you remember some things.” His head bobbed in acknowledgement of her position on her knees.

  “Who is this joker?” Parker muttered, stepping in front of me protectively.

  “This would be Raum, Demon Lord of Midian.” Even though I’d tangled with Raum before and lived to tell the tale, his black demony eyes still creeped me out. He hadn’t lost his manners though, nor his friendly demeanor.

  “At your service,” he sketched a quick bow. “Now then, we’ve a long way to travel, so chop chop.” He clapped his hands at Oriana like she was a trained poodle.

  “You’re not taking her with you, she’s part of my family now.” Even though he scared the crap out of me and I couldn’t use my Grace on him, I had other options at my disposal.

  “You want to play? How delightful.” He focused on me, his smile stretching wider. “I have enjoyed our games in the past.” He shivered with anticipation, “Most invigorating.”

  “I’ll give you invigorating…” I called forth my sword, the glow bright under the dim parking lot lights. “Parker, can you please take Oriana inside for me?” I circled around to give myself a clear shot at Raum’s neck.

  “I’m not leaving you out here with him,” Parker started to say, and I lost my temper.

  “Now!�
�� Extending my wings, I spread them wide to fill the space, counting on the spectacle to impress them both. Momentarily stunned, Parker stared at me open mouthed, making no move to take Oriana to safety. “Parker, will you move it?” I hissed, and he nodded, practically dragging Oriana to the club door.

  “Lovely,” Raum clapped his hands together, “but not much of an advantage in a fight, I think.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” I lifted myself into the air about four feet above him. “There’s something to be said for taking the high ground.” Actually he had a point. With me up in the air I actually felt more vulnerable, my legs and abdomen easier targets. But I hoped he’d follow suit so I could lead him away from my friends. You know that saying, be careful what you wish for?

  “Well then, let’s tussle, shall we?”

  All I caught was a flash of dark wings and Raum launched himself at me. Panicking, I let go of the sword in my haste to get out of the way and the chase was on. Parker’s voice echoed after me, but I couldn’t spare him a look back. Hard pressed to keep ahead of Raum, I tried some evasive maneuvers, but I ended up slowing myself down. Why had I decided to bluff my way out of there on wings anyway?

  Raum caught me easily and we both plummeted towards the ground, saved at the last moment from cracking our heads open by his ugly, black wings. We stood on a high school gymnasium rooftop overlooking tennis courts. “Now then, m’lovely. How’s about a nice taste?”

  I tucked my wings away for the moment, needing to think fast. He hadn’t seemed alarmed at the sight of my sword at all, and my skills were only so-so. That meant I had to come up with something else. “If I give you taste, will you let Oriana go?”

  “It might put me in a benevolent mood.” His head inclined slightly (as if I believed any promises he might make, ha!).

  “Just one taste…” My hand came up hesitantly as he advanced. “That’s all.”

  “For now.” Raum backed me up against the edge of the roof and I pressed at his chest weakly. “Oh yes, it’s so much better when you resist.” His lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth, but this time, I wasn’t afraid.