Alliance With Shadows

Chapter 14

            She was in Luc’s lap letting Xander examine her back and wings, with her mother and father as onlookers. She had to admit being on Luc’s lap like this was a position she felt a bit embarrassed about with her parents looking. She just kept her head down as Xander did his examination.

            “Are you okay Mercy?”

            Mercy’s looked up to find Luc with very concerned eyes, “Yes I’m…” she hissed, “fine.”

            “Sorry sis, your wings are a bit worse for wear. They don’t look like raw meat, thank god. Your cuts are a bit deep though so I’m going to have to put in a few sutures.”

            Mercy nodded she knew not to argue with her brother on this.

            “I also still need to get some blood, I’ll get it when I treat the wounds on the front. I’m a bit worried about what was in that poison.”

            Teague spoke up, “Why is that?”

            “What poison?!” Elijah and Lily yelled at the same time.

            “s**t I should have explained that earlier. When Mercy was attached one of the darklings spit some poison that Dark Lord wanted to give her, it seemed to have seeped into her skin according to Luc and Teague. I am worried Teague because her wings now have a tinge of a bluish-black color at the base of the feather as it fades to white.” Xander needed to get some of her blood to do some testing. He needed to figure out what this poison was doing to her and how to fix it.

            Mercy’s eyes began to water, she was changing she could feel it. She still had the feeling of bugs crawling around under her skin, “So what are you saying, Xander?” She felt Luc squeeze her hand, she looked up at him to find him staring at her.

            Everything will be fine, we will get through this. He said through the bond.

            She gave him a watery smile.

            “I’ll know more when I begin testing your blood. I have finished treating everything back here you can turn around.”

            Mercy took a deep breath she didn’t want them to see her cry, she let out a breath and pasted her fake smile on. She had to be strong for her family. She flipped around slowly retracting her wings and letting them disappear facing her brother and parents, deciding to only look at Xander she would be able to keep herself calm.

            Xander could see right through the fake smile, he squeezed her hand softly and whispered so only she could hear, “I promise I will figure this out. I will fix whatever is going on.”

            She couldn’t help but smile a real smile for him, her brother always protected her. She whispered back, “Thank you. I know you will. You have never let me down.”

            He nodded, “Alright let’s get to these wounds so I can get your blood and you can go to bed.”

            “Sounds great to me.” Mercy smiled, Xander and Luc were both here for her. They were both going to try their best to help her in any way she needed. She softly touched the mating bond, she smiled when Luc responded by mentally holding her through the bond. She could feel warm engulf her body, the warmth calmed her. Thank you.

You are my mate not matter if were are life bound or not. There is no reason to thank me, it’s my job to comfort you in any way.

She smiled, that’s why I am thanking you. She felt him grab her hips from behind.

Then you are welcome.

Frowning as she felt the crawling sensation under her skin. She lowered her head not wanting anyone to see her face, What if I change into something different because of what is inside of me now?

Luc placed his forehead against her back, your brother will do blood tests and figure out what is inside you now. He will fix this.

She could feel her eyes begin to burn again. Squeezing her eyes close, she couldn’t cry now she was still in front of her parents, What if he can’t fix me? What if something is seriously wrong now? If…If I change then… Her breathing became difficult at the sudden lump in her throat.

Luc pressed his lips against her back, then I will still love you.

She couldn’t hold back the tears now, he had said it. She didn’t want to say it until after this whole war thing. She couldn’t deny that’s she loved him she did, but if she said it then there was no turning back. If something happened to her during this fight he wouldn’t hesitate to life bond with her to save her. As much as she wanted to say it back she couldn’t. She was so thankful that he couldn’t feel what she was feeling right now.

Luc noticed that Xander was done with cleaning and stitching up her abdomen so he softly wrapped his arms around her. I know you do not wish to say it until after this war. I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens to you, no matter how this damn thing my father has infected you with changes you, it will not change how I feel about you.

She placed a hand on the arm wrapped around her and smiled softly. This man would not give up on her, and that was what she needed him to say. I promise when this is all over I will never stopping saying the words that I cannot say now, I will prove to you every day how much your words mean to me.

Luc laughed, I’ll hold you to that promise.

Clearing her throat and wiping the tears away she looked up to find that Xander was still meticulously cleaning her wounds and stitching up the deep cuts. She hoped he had not noticed anything that had just gone on between her and Luc. She looked over to the love seat that her parents were seated to noticed that her parents were now gone, “Where did mom and dad go?”

Xander laughed, “While you were off in la-la-land, which I’m assuming is talking-to-Luc-through-mating-bond-land, they left to go home. They told me to make sure you took an Epson salt bath before bed and to make sure you took a week off from your duties to heal. I’m sure Luc can make sure you take the bath and I will call the Priestess to tell her you were attacked and need at least a week to a week and a half off.”

Mercy pouted. “A week and a half,” she whined, “I finally got back into the game and I have to go and hurt myself to the point I can’t work again.”

“I’m sorry sis if it were just the small cuts and bruises you could probably go back in just a few days, but I have to have some time to look at your blood and take a few samples through the week to compare. Plus the cuts that had to have stitches will need at least a week to heal, so you’re just going to have to pipe down and deal with it. I’m sure you can find something to do.” Xander looked up with a slight grin and winked at her.

“Shut up Xander!” She whacked him with the arm he wasn’t working on, slightly regretting it when pain shot through her arm.

“See that’s what happens when you hit your loving and caring brother that’s trying to take care of you.” Xander laughed.

Mercy rolled her eyes, “Yeah whatever. Just finish your meticulous care so you can take my blood and I can sleep.”

“I just have this stitch left,” Xander finished his knot and cut the end, “There we are. Beautiful stitch work if I do say so myself.”

Mercy got off of Luc’s lap to test the sutures that Xander had placed in various spots all over her body. She didn’t realize that she had so many deep cuts. Moving and stretching out her muscles she noticed that the sutures didn’t inhibit her movements at all. She smiled, “I’m impressed, bro. You have come a long way since my first stitch.”

Xander laughed as he placed all his tools back in his bag, “Well I have done a lot of suturing since your first one. You haven’t had to have any for a while so you haven’t witnessed my progress.”

Rolling her eyes she sat back down on Luc’s lap, “Sounds like you wish I needed stitches more.”

Getting out the blood vials he placed them beside him, “No not at all. Means I didn’t have to do all my practicing on you.”

Laughing Mercy handed him her arm, “God knows I wouldn’t volunteer to be your guinea pig.”

Looking up at her with a grin, “Why would I make my sister a guinea pig? I have to make sure you get the best remember?”

Mercy hissed as he placed the needle in her arm, “So I’m VIP in the medicine world?”

Xander laughed as he quickly switched vials from the vacutainer to fill three vials he had on him, “Yeah let's go with that. You are the Priestess’ best Valkyrie.”

Mercy giggled.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“What is it?” Xander was curious, he hadn’t said anything funny.

“Valkyrie in Progress.” Mercy laughed, “VIP. Get it?”

Xander laughed, “I think the only thing you are making progress in is getting hurt.”

“Yeah yeah, shut it.” Mercy rolled her eyes, she couldn’t get mad she set herself up for that one.

“Alright, I think this is enough blood to get me started.” Xander removed the needle and replaced it with a gaze.

Mercy nodded as she placed her fingers over the gauze, “Well if you need more you know where I live.”

Xander gathered all his medical supplies and headed to the door, “I’m sure this will be fine to get me started. I’ll be back in a few days to get more just to compare the samples I got today.”

Mercy meet him at the door and wrapped her arms around his neck, “Thanks.”

“I’m your medic no need for thanks.” Xander smiled and hugged her back.

“You’re also my brother and a normal medic wouldn’t do the things you do for me. So I’m thanking you as your sister not as a Valkyrie.”

Xander kissed her on the cheek, “You’re welcome. And as your brother and Medic please be safe, I don’t know what Lord Halcyon put inside you, so if anything happens or something is wrong to call me immediately.”

Mercy laughed and gave him a salute, “Yes sir!”

Xander shook his head as he walked out the door, “You’re such a smart ass.”

“Love you!” Mercy called after him.

“Yeah, you too!”

***

“So you ready for your bath?” Luc asked as she closed the front door.

“Do I really have to do it tonight? I just took a shower, I can just take the bath in the morning.” Mercy pouted as she walked back over and sat on the couch.

“Your brother said to take one tonight before you went to bed.”

“Who are you the bath police?”

Careful of the wounds on her body Luc grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, “No your brother put me in charge of making sure you took the bath. It’s going to help you feel better so we should do it as soon as possible.”

Mercy grunted as he carried her up the stairs. Sighing in defeat, “Fine I’ll take my bath tonight.”

Careful not to hit her head he carried her through the doorway to the bathroom and placed her feet back on the ground. Seeing that she still had a frown on her face he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb, “I am not trying to order you around my love but I am only doing what your brother has said that will make you feel better.”

Sighing she smiled up at him, “I know you are only trying to help. I will take the Epson salt bath.”

Luc nodded, “Good.”

“How about you go see if Teague wants to sleep in the room with us tonight. He seems worried and I don’t want him to feel like he has to sleep in the spare bedroom by himself. If he wants to sleep in here we can put some blankets on the floor for him.”

“That is a good idea. He does seem very worried about you, I believe we both love and worry about you. I think sleeping in here will bring him peace.” Luc walked towards the bathroom door and began to close it.

“Hey, Luc?”

Pausing he turned, “Yes?”

Shaking her head, “Never mind.”

 Raising an eyebrow, “Are you sure.”

Smiling up at him, “Yes it’s nothing I’m sure, go get Teague and after my bath, we can all go to sleep.”

Hesitating he nodded, “Alright. If you need anything just let me know.”

“I will.” She kept smiling until the door closed, frowning she looked at the mirror. She could already see the subtle differences in her look, she wondered if he could see them. She let her wings appear to inspect them. Her brother was right, her wings were no longer all white. They were becoming stained with the blueish black color. She looked in the mirror again and saw her eyes begin to glow. Her eyes no longer belonged to her, they looked like they belonged to a jungle cat amid the night. She looked as if she were hunting prey. She shook her head violently and looked again, the eyes were hers again. They were back the chocolate brown color. She was changing, changing fast.

***

            He finally walked out to find Teague once he heard the water run. He knew something was bothering her but he didn’t want to push too much. He could feel his demon begin to stir. Caught off guard by the sudden screaming it made.

            What! What is wrong with you?!

            Where is the light lady!? Where is my light!!!? I crave the light, where is she!!!??

            Are you talking about Mercy?

            Yes! Yes! Where is she I need to be around her, I crave the light?

            She is in the other room. What is wrong you have never acted like this?

            They have touched her! They have soiled my light!

            Who touched her? Soiled, what do you mean?

            The Dark Lord did something yes?

            He had one of the changeling’s spray this bluish-black stuff on her and it stained her skin and wings.

            Are her wings turning dark?

            Yes

            Your wings are of the night, hers of the moonlight. He has tainted her, she is now like you.

            She’s not like me! I’m a darkling she is a whiteling. There is no way to change that.

            He has now put a demon in her, but that alone would not turn her dark he has done something else to steal her light.

            What did my father do?! All I have to do is kill him to kill the demon right?! That was the plan from the beginning to save all the darklings?

            I do not know what else he has done, you will have to wait for that science boy to figure that out. Killing Halcyon will kill the demon he has placed within her but I do not know if that will be enough.

            So Xander will have another way to save her then right?! What are you saying!!!??

            I am saying our light is fading.

            What the f**k does that mean?!

            Silence

            You say something like that and then f*****g ignore me!?

            Silence

            f**k you then! Luc punched whatever was next to him.

            “What the hell dude! You’re making a hole in Mercy’s wall, what the f**k is wrong with you?”

            Luc looked down to find Teague staring up at him, looking back at his hand he then noticed his arm was in the wall. s**t. Taking his arm out of the wall he brushed his arm off. “I didn’t even think before I punched.”

            “Obviously dude, your f*****g eyes were glowing. What pissed you off man?”

            “Guess this whole situation just got to me. I’ll just have to fix the wall in the morning.” Hearing a door open behind him he saw Mercy exit the bathroom. “How was your…”

            Mercy looked at him, “My bath was fine. Why is there a hole in my wall?”

            Luc was speechless, the woman looking at him was Mercy right? Her eyes were glowing, they were glowing as his did. Whiteling eyes did not glow like that.

            “Hey Mercy what’s wrong with your…”

            “I got angry and punched your wall, I’m sorry I will make sure to fix it in the morning.” Luc had a tight grip on Teague’s muzzle. If she didn’t know her eyes were glowing, Teague would not be the one to mention it to her.

            “Oh okay well what would make you so angry to punch my wall? What were you going to say, Teague?”

            Luc let go of Teague’s muzzle and gave him the look, the do-no-say-a-damn-thing look. “Teague was just going to say thanks for letting him stay in the room tonight,” Luc answered for him. He looked down to see Teague with a question mark on his forehead. He looked at him with pleading eyes, just roll with it, please.

            “Yeah, that was what I was going to say. Thanks for letting me stay in here I was a bit worried about you.” Teague walked over to the blanket that was on the floor and plopped down. He was just going to ask why her eyes looked weird.

            “Oh okay well you’re welcome.” Mercy moved over to the bed to lay down. Was it just her or were these two boys acting weird? “Back to the hole in my wall.”

            Luc nodded, “Yes well I suppose this whole situation has me stressed and I guess I started daydreaming about the worst possible outcome and got mad. So without thinking, I punched your wall. I’m so sorry I promise I will fix it.” He made his way to lay next to her. Staring at her he noticed that within the last few minutes her eyes had gone back to their original chocolate color. 

            “Is there something on my face?”

            Luc shook his head, “No.”

            “You were staring pretty hard, are you okay?”

            Luc turned off the lamp beside him and snuggled close to her, wrapping her in his arms. “Everything is fine. I am just worried about this whole situation.”

            Mercy put her hand over his heart, “We will make it through this. You said so yourself correct?” He wasn’t worried earlier, it’s odd that he would suddenly get this upset. Maybe he was just hiding it earlier to stay strong for her.

            “You are correct. There has just been so much that has happened today. We will sleep and be clear-minded in the morning. We will tackle this situation together.”

            “Now you sound more like yourself.”

            Luc kissed her on the forehead, “Sleep well, my love.”

            Mercy yawned, “You too.”

            “Don’t forget about me guys!” Teague yelled from the floor.

            Luc and Mercy laughed, “Night Teague.”

            Mercy cuddle closer hearing Luc’s heartbeat calmed her. Her breathing slowed and the dreams finally came.

            Luc waited till he heard her soft steady breathing letting him know that she had finally found sleep. He stared at the ceiling not able to sleep. Her eyes glowing like that bothered him if she was changing it was happening quickly. He would need to hurry and kill his father to free her of the demon that was now inside her. He would also need to contact Xander somehow and tell him about what he saw, knowing Mercy she wouldn’t tell her brother anything unless she believed there was no other choice. Closing his eyes his mind continued to race even once he fell asleep.