Page 89 of Of Mercury and Mist

It didn’t make any difference how Samuel came to be aware of her existence.

All that mattered was I ended him.

THIRTY-ONE

Ashley

The only thing I could think to do at the moment was try and play cool. I sat and ate my scrambled eggs as calmly as I could, Isaac’s greeting about the underworld reverberating through my head. I paused, fork mid-air, when Isaac flicked a hand toward a small bowl that then shot across the table. He lifted the cover from the container and used a small spoon to sprinkle what I assumed was salt over his breakfast.

“Don’t worry, you’ll receive special treatment,” Isaac was saying. “As long as you’re compliant.” He covered the dish and flashed me a smile.

A cacophony of noise resounded in my head, and I shook, attempting to stop the ringing and buzzing. I felt like the stupid girl in one of my scary movies, where the heroine foolishly turns to the killer for help while I’m sitting there screaming at the screen telling her to run the other way.

I’d honestly thought I could handle all of this on my own. I’d never heard back from Della, it seemed I’d worked for serial killers, I was surrounded by supernatural beings and Della, well, she was obviously fine, wasn’t she?

I was on my own and despite the unwanted turn of events, I’d honestly thought I’d made the best choice when I saw Samuel. Other than the unwanted kiss, he’d been kind to me until now.

Now that he had me where he wanted me.

“Was this your plan all along? You were conveniently located at a gala near me,” I said with a small, sarcastic laugh, trying to keep my voice light. My fork shook slightly in my hand as I lifted it to my mouth.

The food in Hell was absolutely delicious. I never would’ve thought that; had I ever given it any consideration.

Samuel placed his utensil on the side of his plate and patted his mouth with a napkin. “No, it was not. But yes, you presented me with an opportunity. You’re a wanted woman.”

My heart leaped in my chest. “What do you mean? Who wants me? I was already bought.”

“One more week and you’re fair game.”

The contract between Micha and Matthew. “I do get a choice, though.”

He lifted a steaming cup to his lips. “And you already made it. You came to me; not anyone else. I’d think one would exercise a bit more caution.” He smirked before taking a sip.

“That’s not how choice works. I didn’t choose you,” I retorted. Not to stay with him for eternity, I didn’t.

“I’ll extend some grace seeing as you are unfamiliar with our ways.” He set his drink down carefully, wiping invisible crumbs from the tablecloth. “I have some use for you and human women are prized; for reasons I’ve divulged to you before.”

“What reasons. I don’t remember that.” He already had a housekeeper; plus, he had the weird spirits or whatever they were that haunted his paintings and screwed around in the guest room. “What do you want me for?”

“Clout. You’ve seen our women,” he gave me a pointed glance and I remembered the disfigured beauties I’d seen on our way to the bar. “And it seems some associates of yours murdered one of our leaders. A soul for a soul, and all that.”

The blood drained from my face. “So, you want to keep me for a week and then hand me over to someone else... so they can kill me?”

He appeared thoughtful. “When you put it that way, it sounds so violent.” He glanced up at me. “I like you, and I think we can come to an agreement. I won’t let them kill you.”

He lifted his hand, and the waiter reappeared to pour him a glass of red liquid.

“So, they’ll try?”

“You can always fight your way out. I’ll do what I can to help you.” His lips curled. “I told you life was difficult here. Did you not take that into consideration before you requested my assistance?”

Mandy walked in the same time I pushed my chair from the table and stood up. I needed to go back to the room, think, find a coat, and get ready to leave.

The housekeeper got sucked out of the room and the doors slammed shut. I didn’t think—I ran.

Curling my fingers around the seam of the panels, I did my best to pry them apart as a breeze stirred my hair. I whirled around and Samuel was slowly crossing the space, heading directly my way.

I ran to the other side, catching my foot against a chair and stumbling to the ground. When I pushed myself back up, a rush of wind sent my hair flying into my face and I headed for a window. I traced the lines for a hidden mechanism when I couldn’t see anything that would unlock the massive sheets of glass.

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