Page 11

Before I could even blink, Mercy had Narcissa pinned against the wall. Narcissa’s cheek was crushed into the stone, Mercy’s hand fisted tight in her hair as she yanked to expose her minion’s neck.

“Do you dare accuse me of being forgetful? Do I need to remind you of your place?” Gone was the nonchalance as Narcissa shook her head, her eyes widened in what looked like real fear. “Good girl. Let us not forget who is boss. Let us not forget whoownsthis town. If you ever speak to me like that again, I will rip your throat out and feed it to the rats as I crush your worthless heart into dust.”

Releasing her grip, Mercy stepped back and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle in her top. “You may leave us now. Go find someone else to feed on.”

Narcissa’s gaze didn’t leave the floor as she hurried from the room, leaving me with who I could only assume was now the most important person in Vegas.

Mercy’s heels clicked against the concrete as she made her way to me, crouching down to meet my eyes. I flinched as she held her hand out. “Come. Let’s get you freshened up.”

My pupils dilated under her gaze, feeling the command in her voice. Was that possible? Perhaps I was imagining it. But against my better judgment, I slipped my hand into her open palm. If I was going to die, I would prefer not to look like a stray dog.

“I won’t hurt you, you know. Not while you’re under my roof.”

Despite the quietness of her voice, I couldn’t resist barking out a hoarse laugh. “Forgive me if I don’t trust you. I was just left in a basement with someone who wanted to drain me dry.”

Mercy looked at me incredulously as she motioned for me to follow her up the wooden staircase. Once we reached the top, we passed through the open door leading into a far more luxurious hallway.

The walls were papered in a black and gray floral wallpaper; the carpet black to match, with what looked like flecks of silver glitter sprinkled through the fibers. It was soft against the soles of my feet as I padded along behind Mercy.

What the hell happened to my shoes?!

Abstract paintings lined the walls of the hallway, and I lost myself gazing into them, trying to interpret the images. I couldn’t imagine Mercy or any of the Known taking the time to properly appreciate fine art, even if they were probably alive when half of the masterpieces were created.

Mercy stopped at the end of the hall where a large mahogany door stood. She keyed in a passcode to the electric pad on the doorframe, twisting the handle as it beeped its acceptance and allowed us to enter.

The door opened into a massive living room. There were large glass windows directly before me, looking out above the city and its shining lights. I gasped at the view, its beauty still apparent despite the colors being muddled from the light tint on the glass.

Cream colored couches were placed in various spots around the room, glass tables in front of each, most with books piled on them. A large TV hung on the white wall to my left, shelves filled with all different types of vases and stones to my right. I admired them all as Mercy pulled me along, barely giving me time to take in the open plan kitchen and dining area.

Every area we passed through was so pristine and organized; how could anyone live like that?

We stopped outside a room which, once Mercy twisted the handle to open the door, revealed a large marbled bathroom. In the center of the room was a bathtub, though it could barely be called that. It was an exquisite looking square pit built into the floor, with golden marble steps leading down into it. I could imagine anyone would feel like a goddess walking into that, letting the water pool around them as they washed away their sins.

Perhaps that was the reason it fit so perfectly in Mercy’s house.

Mercy’s cough drew my attention back to the present as I turned toward my captor. Averting her gaze from my own, Mercy stepped back to allow me entrance to the bathing chamber.

“There’s some fresh clothes hanging up on the side. Please freshen up and meet me in the living room when you’re done. We have much to discuss.”

I sucked in a breath and nodded, ignoring the chills that seemed to coat every inch of my skin. I was about to close the door when Mercy spoke again.

“And Cecelia? Don’t go doing anything silly. I’m not sure I’d be able to stop myself from tasting that sweetness if I found any of your blood spilled. You understand what I mean, love?”

I resisted the urge to shiver at the shining look in her eyes as I nodded, closing the door and exhaling my breath until my lungs burned.

This birthday really fucking sucked.

8

MERCY

I realizedI had asked her to join me when she was finished without actually having told her where the living room was. Even though we crossed it briefly on our way to her new bedroom, I hadn’t exactly given her a tour, and I doubted she’d retained the layout. I hoped desperately that she wasn’t as stupid as the rest of her kind. It would make living here much harder than it needed to be, for her and I both.Please Mother Luci let this girl have some fucking sense in her.

To be frank, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with Cecelia. She couldn’t be kept alive and let loose, not with the things she saw and knew, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill her either. So that had to mean she would what? Live here now? I didn’t have time for a pet, and she was much too delicate for any sort of labor. Not like there was much to do here anyway. I had people to clean the house and upkeep the gardens. What a plush life she would live, if I couldn’t figure out what the hell to do with her.

She had the most delectable tiny blue veins pumping under her skin that made my stomach clench when I looked at her. And those fuckingeyes. I should have let Cissa dispose of her when she had the chance, and it would have been out of my hands and more importantly, out of my mind. My lips pinched up in a way I didn’t like— almost feeling like jealousy at the vision of Narcissa fixing those two perfectly pointed ivory fangs at the base of Cecelia’s throat. No, if anyone was going to taste her again, it was going to be me. Blood that sweet didn’t come around often, and I was a Queen now. I deserved that reward, if it ever came down to that.

I didn’t particularly like guests, and yet, I found one just a hair's reach from me. Mercywasn’t known for her hospitality; in fact, Cecelia might have been the first human I brought into my home without the promise of a gruesome end. I tried to picture her in this place; she did not belong, not in the rosey hue of her cheeks or the hiccuping way she breathed. This place was too much like me, like the Known.