Page 18 of Of Mercury and Mist

“You can stop glaring at me. Just let me go,” I bit out.

By the time we’d reached the restroom, and I sat down, it felt like I was on fire. Nothing happened, at first, and internally I panicked I was going to have a medical emergency and be left here for dead. Was my urine backing up and poisoning me? I needed Della. Why wasn’t she here to reassure me. We always swore we’d have each other’s backs. I missed her fiercely.

The relief when my parts started working again had me sagging forward, and then back, taking a deep breath.

I couldn’t do this anymore; this was insane. If Micha wanted to kill me, he needed to get it over with. He could send me to jail, and I’d gladly do my bid and pay the price for my supposed actions.

It was unintentional theft; it wasn’t like I’d get twenty years to life or something. How was I supposed to know someone left pills on the counter? In my head, that said more about Micha’s hiring standards than my own lack of conscientiousness. I hadn’t even put them in my pocket or left the room. It wasn’t until he’d pried my fingers open that I saw them.

My hands shook so bad I could barely wash them. It was as if they had a life of their own and my fingers dodged the water pouring from the sink. Defeated, I tugged paper towels from the dispenser and feebly tried to dry off.

When I opened the door to the exit, it was blocked by a body. Micha would’ve gotten knocked out if anyone had gone barreling out of the room.

“What the hell? Were you listening to me pee?” I hissed at him.

The look of horror and then disgust was almost humorous. “You didn’t wash your hands.”

“How the fuck would you know? And for your information—I did.” The teeny smears of soap left between my fingers was slimy evidence of the fact I’d tried.

Micha snared a hand and lifted it to his face, one of his fingers dipping between mine. Next thing I knew, he’d dragged me back inside and caged me in at the sink. He waved a hand under the faucet until the water flowed and started rinsing my hands off, rubbing away at the stubborn soap.

My dumbfounded look must’ve prompted him. “There are germs in here. You can’t see them, but I don’t want them on your skin, they can be harmful.” His voice was softer than I expected and didn’t match his rough movements with the cleanser.

He backed away and tore paper towels from the holder I’d just used and proceeded to gently dry my hands, paying extra attention to my nails.

I stood there unmoving, unsure how to handle this side of him. He held my hands as if they were breakable objects needing special care and then lifted them to his face. I half expected him to kiss them. I held my breath. Then, the moment was over.

“Can’t have my little pet contaminating my office now, can we?”

Tearing my hands from his, I stormed out the door, the man hot on my heels. Motion at the end of the hall caught my attention but before I could make a move or call for help, Micha had grabbed me by the neck as he seemed prone to do. He’d known what I was thinking before I’d had the chance to form a complete thought.

“Don’t you dare take off,” he growled in my ear.

That was all it took. Pulling away as hard as I could from him, I broke into a run, my shoes pounding down the hallway like the hounds of hell were chasing me. I heard Micha bark an order but the roar in my head was too loud to decipher his words. It almost sounded like, “Seize her.”

My finger was banging against the elevator panel when I was swooped up into the air and thrown over his shoulder. I kicked at his chest, punched his back, but it was like fighting a tree. He was an immovable solid mass.

There was no way I was giving up. I grabbed his tie, tearing it out from his vest and sending his pin flying. A crunch told me it didn’t survive the assault. Didn’t matter, he continued to ignore the flailing woman pounding against his back.

Despite my lack of stability, I was able to push against him with one arm, lifting myself slightly to reach around while he strolled down the corridor. My nails were long enough to attempt to inflict some damage, and I would not miss the unique opportunity to do so.

I knew I got him when I felt something wet.

Then he roared.

SEVEN

Micha

The little criminal had drawn blood. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had successfully wounded me.

It figured that in my leniency, I should pay this price. Our laws were there for a reason and I’d disregarded them. By doing so, I deserved the assault. She’d already had me at death’s door with her delicious scent. It’d contaminated my entire office, and I had little hope of ever removing it.

I never should’ve touched her, bringing her spirit to my home Realm in her sleep. I was a fool. The mere, small taste of her I’d indulged in had ruined me. I never would’ve put up with this behavior otherwise. She was breaking down my defenses.

After kicking my door shut, I dropped her to the floor. She didn’t even have the courtesy to gift me fearful, sorry tears after her immature display. Peering down at the disaster of a woman, she looked like an angry bird, feathers ruffled, ready to spit poison on me. Did birds in this Realm spit? No matter; I’d been poisoned. I should’ve killed her already, but it was much too late for that.

“Anyone else in your position would be expressing their thanks, their gratitude,” I said, prompting her with my shoe. The contact had the desired effect, and she stood up.

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