Page 84 of Of Mercury and Mist

His white-blond hair spilled over his shoulder as he turned to me. “I know your heart is heavy. Let me relieve some of your burden. Tell me what happened tonight.”

A woman wearing a black dress with a white collar entered the room. “Get her a pair of shoes,” he ordered.

The woman glanced at my feet before disappearing down a corridor. “Someone broke my trust,” I answered. The weight of the events felt much heavier than my simple words as it all began to come to a head.

Micha and I had never been in a relationship but the pain I felt was so much worse than anything I went through with my ex and all his mind games, cheating, the lies. I hadn’t realized just how much I’d come to rely on Micha, though his constant hovering and judgment had driven me up the wall. There’d been security in knowing he was there, just around the corner. I’d known, should I need him, I could rely on his presence. He’d always been right around a corner, just over my shoulder, lurking at the end of a hall.

As furious as I’d been over many of his actions, I couldn’t say I hadn’t been secretly thrilled the moment he’d forced me under his desk and shoved his dick in my mouth. How many nights had I fantasized about that exact scenario? He filled a dark hunger deep inside me and we’d both ruined it through our actions.

Between the vicious way he’d cut me out of his life and then his disguise as Isaac, I couldn’t trust him. Not with my heart. He treated me like a plaything.

Wincing, I remembered what I did to his heart.

“I killed a vampire,” I whispered.

Samuel’s gaze snapped to mine. “Who?”

“I don’t want to say,” I shook my head. “I didn’t really mean to. He just hurt me. Badly.”

He tsk’d me before he said, “You can’t lift a sword, I don’t see how you could kill a vampire.”

“I stabbed him straight through the heart.” I stared at my feet. “There was blood. A lot, a lot of blood. He didn’t come after me.” I glanced up at him. “He would’ve chased me if he could and he didn’t. I wouldn’t be here with you right now.”

A pair of slippers were deposited beside my feet by the woman. “Thank you, Mandy,” Samuel addressed her.

She nodded and hurried away, and I gratefully tucked my feet into the cozy shoes. “Thank you,” I said.

“You’re welcome. And you’re welcome to stay here as long as you feel the need.” He placed an arm around my lower back, just like Isaac—I meanMicha, used to. I tried to casually put more space between us. I could’ve sworn I sensed his amusement, but I brushed it off. I was heartbroken, emotional, and I’d just killed a vampire.

I’d thrust myself into a whole new world, literally. The Second Realm was foreign to me; I didn’t know where anything was, or what to expect, and I’d committed my first homicide. I murdered a supernatural creature who was strong enough to rip someone’s still beating heart out of their chest and flawlessly disguise themselves as a completely different person.

I was in so far over my head the foundation of my entire life was crumbled beyond repair. “Do you have somewhere I can rest? I have no idea what to do. Do humans even live in this Realm? I’m so lost right now.”

Samuel pushed through a door, and I followed him down a hallway passing windows and rooms I was too exhausted to investigate. My adrenaline had faded quickly, and a severe drowsiness was edging in. It wouldn’t be long before I collapsed.

Eventually, we stopped by a door. “You can stay in here, for now. Humans tend to shy away from this Realm for multiple reasons; I’ve told you a little bit about it in the past. They’re here, mostly in servitude. That’s why it earned the moniker of Hell.”

Hell? I’d seen no fiery pits or anyone who’d be mistaken for the Devil. No horns or tails and all that. “Where’s Satan?” I asked with a laugh.

“Missing,” Samuel stated, pushing open the door. “Him and his wife disappeared a while ago. Though, I fear the rumors of his death are exaggerated.”

How could Satan be missing? He has a wife. “Wow. Yeah. Okay, I have a lot to learn.” I stepped inside. “This is nice.”

The room was larger than mine at home and appeared very comfortable. The bed was plush and there was a bathroom through the door across the room. “I’m going to have to get a job. I don’t have any clothes or anything,” I said, grabbing the edge of my dress, “just this.”

“We can discuss compensation later. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll have Mandy bring you some food.”

I turned to my host. “Thank you. I really appreciate this. I know you didn’t have to do any of it, and I feel bad getting you involved.”

He scoffed. “If you felt that bad, you wouldn’t have. I’m happy to help and glad you came to me. We’ll get everything straightened out. Do you need anything else? Feel free to dig through the closet and dressers, you might find something you can use in the meantime.”

“Okay, thank you,” I said, doing my best to give him a smile. I know it didn’t reach my eyes. His eyes trailed up and down my body before he turned and walked away, closing the door behind him.

I was well aware of the risk I took, despite my panicked state, when I asked him for help back at the gala. After all, he’d tried to kiss me only days before. He was attracted to me and now I was in his house, and no one knew where I was. I was being much too trusting, and I knew it.

As much as I wanted to berate myself, I couldn’t do it. My friends could offer no safe harbor, and there was no way I’d involve my parents. While I was close with them, we’d never had the same level of a relationship many other people my age did. I was independent, and so were they. I didn’t call my mother to bitch and moan about my life or to ask to borrow anything. It was just how it was.

Samuel was a demon. He was big, and I’d assumed powerful—and friendly enough. Out of everyone I could’ve gone to, he’d seemed like the best choice and only option. Belatedly, it dawned on me I could’ve asked Kayla or Lily if they knew anyone but that would involve Matthew, who didn’t want anything to do with anyone. I’d overheard him call himself “neutral” more than once and there was no way he wouldn’t be pissed I’d turned one of his clients into a kabob. There was no doubt he wouldn’t have tried to end me himself to get rid of a “problem”.

---