Page 8 of Club Blood
“Mercy, darling, it is so good to see you.”
Mercy walked from her seat at the desk to greet us, extending her hand towards Tusker. I couldn’t help but stare as I took in her flawless features. She stood at least six feet tall, with an extra inch or two added by the black platforms she adorned. She wore a tight tailored suit, almost the same color as her eyes, which clung to her slender frame. I feared I would combust just looking upon her as my mind tried to comprehend how someone as arresting as her could exist.
With accented cheekbones and jawline and a sharp angled nose, she looked as though she was designed by Michelangelo himself. Her bright eyes were enhanced by a black liner, surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Her plump, shaped lips were coated in a striking red lipstick and if it wasn’t for the flash of her fangs as she opened her mouth to speak, I may have failed to remember the danger this woman posed to my life.
To any human’s life.
“It’s good to see you too, Nathaniel,” she responded as she returned his handshake. “How have you been?”
Tusker guided me to the plush leather seats in the corner of the room, facing towards the glass windows overlooking the club. Mercy sat across from us, but Narcissa stood behind her boss’s shoulder in a protective stance. Her eyes found mine and the venomous look she gave me was enough to make sure my gaze never found hers again.
Tusker leaned back in his seat, draping his arm across the back of mine and rubbing his fingertips across my shoulder. I tensed under his touch, my lips forming a tight line as I stared at my hands.
“Ah, I’ve been just wonderful. Up to no good, as you would expect. But extremely busy.” His other handtap tap tappedoff the armrest of his chair. “Which is why I’m wondering what this meeting is about?”
My gaze was drawn to the woman in front of me as she spoke, her voice strong and unwavering, though it sounded sweet to my ears. Was this some sort of power she had? I had heard of some of the Known havinggifts.
“You are so fond of mischief, Nathaniel,” she laughed, leaning forward in her seat. Her elbows rested on her thighs and she clasped her hands as a shiver shot down my spine. “I need to discuss our business arrangement, so to speak. I believe I’ve earned my place and proven myself, Nate. It’s time I got some benefits.”
Tusker sat straighter in his chair, a patronizing laugh echoing in the office. “Mercy, come on. You have this beautiful place,” he said as he gestured to the club below. Then his hand slowly worked its way across my shoulders, tracing the side of my throat. “And it’s so very, very worthwhile.”
Mercy’s eyes flamed. “I am not a fucking puppet, Tusker. I shouldn’t have to babysit these idiots to ensure they control themselves. Find someone else to do it and give me what I deserve.”
“Mind your tone, pet. Don’t forget who is boss.”
“That’s the problem,” Mercy stated as she rolled her eyes. “Just because you have balls and swing your dick around doesn’t mean you deserve to be in the position you are. It’smethat does all your dirty work and, yet, you reap the rewards. Times have changed, Tusker, and so the fuck have I.”
Tusker threw his head back and laughed a horrible and wrong sound. He looked at Mercy like she was nothing more than shit on his shoe and it made my skin itch.
“Mercy, listen to me very carefully. You arenothingwithout me and my name.”
Standing up faster than my eyes could witness, Tusker yanked me up roughly and started towards the door. “Let’s go. This is boring and I’m up for some fun.”
I squeaked as his grip tightened around my arm, knowing there would be bruises in the shape of his fingers forming underneath.
“We’re not done, Nate.”
“Yes, we fucking are,” he hissed and I could hear, and feel his rage surface.
The next thing I knew, the tightness on my arm was no longer there. I looked up as Mercy flung Tusker against the wall, her sharp fingernails pressed into his neck.
She laughed bitterly, her fangs on full display. “Didn’t you hear a word I said? This ismyplace and I’m the fucking boss now,” and then she sunk her fangs into his neck and I watched as blood sprayed across the walls.
My body felt numb as I watched it transpire and I couldn’t force myself to move or speak. But when Tusker groaned and his head rolled to the side, his pale skin turning a sickly grey color, something in me snapped and I let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Mercy lifted her mouth from Tusker’s neck ever so slightly, “Narcissa, grab the girl and shut her the fuck up! I need to finish this before his guards even notice he’s not back downstairs.”
I didn’t even hear her move as Narcissa grabbed me, pinning my arms behind my back. Her fangs grazed over the side of my neck as she spoke softly in my ear, “Make another sound or move and I will rip your throat out with my teeth and drain every last drop of blood from your body. Do you understand me, redblood?”
I wanted to keep screaming and run for the door, calling out for someone to help me. But Narcissa’s grip was iron on my wrists and I could hear the excitement in her voice as she told me what she’d do to me.
Shewantedme to give her an excuse to kill me.
Mercy pulled away from Tusker and looked over her shoulder at us, crimson smeared across her porcelain skin. I gasped in horror and felt Narcissa yank me back in warning.
“I’m sorry you had to witness this. You should never have been here,” Mercy said before she plunged her hand into Tusker’s chest and ripped his cold, dead heart from it.
A scream rippled out of me before I could stop myself, watching as Tusker slumped to the floor, leaving a bloody smear down the wall in his wake.