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“Because I love him,” Henrik said with certainty, “I love him and I don’t want to see him die.”

I didn’t know how to answer that. My jaw went slack and our silence hung in the air.

“I have to go now, Mercy.” There was a click at the other end, and the line went dead.

* * *

I slapped her again,hard.

“Tell me the truth!” I screamed.

Narcissa was bloodied and bruised, and she spat towards me, her blood scattering against my face.

“He. Didn’t. Send. Me.” She said finally, her breathing coming in fast and heavy. I hit her again for good measure.

“Your stupid bitch. She’s the reason I left.”

“And the reason you came back,”

Narcissa smiled then, her fangs glittering from the fluorescents.

“Ah yes, and the reason why she’s dead.” There was a wicked cackle that escaped her.

“Dead?”

“Dead as a doornail. Now we can get back to how it used to be. You don’t get to be weak anymore, Mercy. Not without your cunt being worshiped by someone worthy of you.”

I took a step back, crossing my arms and glaring at her.

“You think she’s dead?” I said, a small smile finding my face, “She’s alive. Woke up this morning.”

Narcissa stared at me, blood trailing down her lip. Realization dawned across her face.

“You changed her,” she said, surprised, “You fucking bitch, you changed her!”

Narcissa’s screams were all that I could hear. They echoed off of each wall, encasing us in a sea of wailing. I stepped further and further back, escaping her cell and pressed my back against the cool stone.

I heard footsteps coming in my direction. I could scent him before I saw him emerge from the darkness, his face solemn.

“Warren,” I said, despite the yowling coming from Narcissa’s cell. He nodded towards me, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards him.

“Why are you down here?” he asked, incredulously, “You need to go upstairs.”

“What, so Cecelia can scream at me? Kill me herself?”

“Yes!” He said, humor dancing behind his eyes, “But also, so you cantalkto her. Communicate. The devil knows you just need to talk to one another.”

I looked up at him and had to refrain from slapping him, too.

“Stop being stupid, Merc,” he said, and an open palm left marks hard and fast against his skin. He put a hand to his cheek and shrugged.

“Well, someone's got to tell you when you’re being an idiot,” and then, as if he was stating an afterthought, he added, “She needs you.” He knew exactly what to say to make me move. I scowled, and walked past him through the darkness. Like a loyal dog, Warren followed, bouncing behind me.

* * *

She lookedlike she was full of rage.

I hadn’t seen such hatred cross her features before, and as she stood cross-armed at me, with daggers in her eyes, I wondered if she would actually be the last thing I saw before I died, again.