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“‘I’ve had nothing yet,’ Alice replied in an offended tone, ‘so I can’t take more.’

‘You mean you can’t take less,’ said the Hatter: ‘it’s very easy to take more than nothing.’”

- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Rondel Stanna, AKA “Mercygiver,” wasn’t a man who typically cared about destiny or fate. Truth told, he viewed most of that kind of thing as the ridiculous ramblings of crazy people. Rondel preferred to believe that a man’s success or failure depended entirely on him and not the stars.

He had started out with absolutely nothing.

Alone, impoverished, and treated like the lowest filth which ever walked or crawled.

He had no home, or family, or friends. But he had taken that as a challenge.

The world might have told him, repeatedly, that he was some worthless piece of shit, but that had only served to make him angry.

He welcomed that hate. Used it as a reason to continue excelling. Hated the world right back.

He didn’t need the help of any god or destiny for that. It wasn’t the spirits who pulled the strings, it was him .

But sometimes, it seemed like things were simply destined to be. Like the gods were arranging the foolish humans the way they wanted.

Such was the case with Rondel and his former partner.

Rondel had spent his entire life alone. He’d assumed he always would be. The only people he’d ever known had all been horrible, and they didn’t understand him. They had just wanted to use him.

But that crazy redhead had arrived in his life and completely turned it on its head. Changed everything he thought he knew. Showed him such amazing things …

For the first time, Rondel had someone. He knew where he belonged and he knew that there was someone in the world who he could count on. Yes, sometimes they disagreed and quarreled, but they were a team . That girl was the only family that he’d ever had. She was a piece of him.

Rondel loved her.

Completely.

He’d loved her from the second he’d first seen her, lost in the way the girl saw the world and the way she made him feel.

His entire life had been empty, painful, and alone.

But when she was around… he felt like he was…

loved. Like he could safely be himself, and not have to worry about anyone hurting him or using him for their own ends.

Some of the happiest days of his life were spent lost with that girl.

All he wanted on this earth was to be with her again. Even if only for a moment…

He was still going to brutally kill her, obviously, but that didn’t mean he loved her any less.

Rondel had desperately tried to fill the void she’d left in his life. Tried it with women. Tried it with men. But… it always felt so empty and meaningless. She’d taken away the parts of him which were capable of ever being content again. Her betrayal had ripped it from him.

That bitch had used him. Made him think she cared about him. But she’d just been playing him for a fool, the whole time. And then she’d tried to kill him.

But Rondel was not an easy man to kill. He’d grown up in a hell she couldn’t possibly imagine, and it would take more than her to get rid of him.

He was going to get her back. Whether she liked it or not.

Rondel’s underling, Mr. Jack, looked up from his workbench. “Boss?” His eyebrows soared. “Damn, I figured you were dead.”

Two days ago, Rondel had gotten into a fight with the woman and it hadn’t gone exactly to plan. He’d tossed her off a roof, true, but she’d just about killed him too.

Theirs had always been a very physical relationship.

This time, it just got a little out of hand.

Which was perfectly understandable. She’d betrayed him and left him to die alone.

That would have made anyone angry. And although Rondel considered himself one of the last truly reasonable men alive, even he had his limits .

Rondel rolled his eyes. “The woman stabbed me, but I have endured far worse from her over the years.” He ran his hand over the area where the blade had entered his chest. “She’s getting sloppy.”

“Uh-huh.” Mr. Jack scrambled to his feet, trying desperately to look like he was doing something vital for Rondel’s business, rather than undoubtedly just watching online pornography featuring ballerinas.

“So… what’s the plan then?” He swallowed.

“Because it looks like there are parts of this plan that you aren’t sharing with me.

” He pointed at the TV, where the newscaster was standing in front of the wreckage of a building. “We’re blowing up hospitals now?”

“You have a problem with my actions?” Rondel arched an eyebrow.

Jack shook his head. “No, no, just…”

“Good. Because that attack wasn’t my doing. That was the Agletarians.”

Jack pointed back and forth between them. “And… are we involved with them? Are we with them or against them?”

Rondel continued staring at him.

Jack took that as an answer.

Rondel absently watched the newscast, which showed the woman standing next to her perfect, shining knight. The man was grotesquely heroic-looking. It made Rondel’s skin crawl.

Those two were trying to be happy? She thought she could, what? Just replace him? Start over with someone new and leave him out in the cold? No. Hell, no! You didn’t leave Rondel. You didn’t treat him like some piece of shit you were glad to be rid of.

Not after all he had done for her. Not at all.

He’d kill her. He’d make certain that no one else on earth would ever touch her again.

She would belong to him forever.

And then… Rondel wouldn’t be alone anymore.

His eyes narrowed at the screen, continuing to watch the man who she thought could replace him. “Do you think he’s better looking than I am?” He wondered aloud.

“Huh!?!” Jack looked confused and appalled by the question. “What!?!”

He pointed at the man on the TV. “Do you think she loves him?”

Jack looked uncertain. “No?” He said hesitantly, obviously trying to gage what answer Rondel wanted him to give. “…Yes?” He sounded even more uncertain, worrying that the wrong choice would get him killed on the spot .

Rondel continued watching the newsfeed, hating the woman. Hating her happiness. Wanting her to know his pain.

She’d made him feel alive. And then she’d abandoned him.

And for that… she was fucking dead .

“Listen, you want to play all mysterious and creepy mastermind, that’s your business, Boss, just trying to figure out what we’re doing here.” Mr. Jack finally announced. “Because it seems like there’s…”

“I’m going to humiliate her body in every way I can,” Rondel interrupted, “…and then I’m going to kill her.”

Jack considered that for a long moment, looking taken aback by the news. “Umm… Boss?”

“Stop being so squeamish. I’m perfectly capable of killing her, Mister Jack.” Rondel snapped, hating being doubted by someone so weak and useless. “I recognize that the roof fight didn’t go as I planned and that she’s on a team of super-powered people, but I assure you, I can kill her.”

“Okaaaay…” Jack was unwilling to argue the point further.

“Yes, I realize that I will die in the attempt.” Rondel sank into his chair. “But I don’t care, just so long as I take that bitch with me .”

“If you’re dead? How am I getting paid?”

“That’s a good point.” Rondel started towards him threateningly. “Perhaps we should just settle up right now .”

Jack put his hands up and retreated. “No, no.” He shook his head. “Not necessary. I’ll figure something out. No need to worry.”

Rondel started towards the door again. “We will wait until the moment is right and all of my plans are in place, and then we will wipe that girl off the face of the earth.” He let out a deep sigh, trying to hide the pleasure that idea gave him, but recognizing that it was apparent.

“It will feel so good to finally kill that bitch.”

“That’s… super.” Jack nodded to himself. “I’m glad we had this talk. Let’s please not talk about our feelings again? Yes? Because yours are weird and terrifying. Some creepy Freudian shit, Boss.”

Rondel stopped to glare at him.

Jack instantly backed down, taking a cautious step away. “Which, I of course mean as a compliment.”

Rondel exited the room and went back to his plans.