I need more time to prepare, my powers are wavering and weak. I haven’t fed. I’m not sure I can stop time, but even if I can’t, I’ll at least slow it down. Magic crackles through the air as dark, inky strands of glittering time ripples appear, slowing down the entire universe. Some part of me cracks. I care for her more than I should. To freeze time for a mortal is a direct defiance of the Fates. The Ringmaster will have my soul condemned for this, grandson or not. Around me, the world is still as I stroll toward Mercy. I want to be as close as possible, ready for when time resumes moving at a normal pace. My chest tightens, the magic sputters through me, but still I continue to gather it at my core, my intentions unwavering. I will save Mercy. No matter the cost. A furious tremor of anger roars to life beneath my skin.Once more, the hunter within me awakens, rising with purpose. I prowl toward my prize, an unearthly eagerness glinting in my cold, black eyes. The air between the time rifts quivers, my strained hold on time shaking as I fight to keep the magic from snapping altogether.
Inside my pocket, my fingers fumble with the lid to a small glass bottle as they rush to unscrew it. Gripping the empty bottle tightly in my fist, I inhale a steadying breath. Anticipation builds in my muscles as I contemplate the next move. I pull the dagger from my boot, the hilt biting into my palm as I steady myself. The blade thirsts for blood, calling to me, begging to satiate that thirst on something… or someone. My fingers clutch it tighter, silently promising the wait is almost over. Every part of me is braced, waiting for the plan to play out.
Then, time snaps back into motion. The moment it does, my shadows are there, forming an impenetrable wall between the snatcher and Mercy. I take another step toward her, gravel and dirt protesting the hastiness of my steps. My prey is now fully aware of my presence, and so is Mercy. She spins around, eyes searching for safety—and landing on me.
“Azrael,” she gasps, sprinting right for me.
“Run to me, Mercy,” I command, swinging one arm open to catch her.
Behind my back, the dagger pulses in my left hand, dark magic crackling across the blade just like it has a thousand times before. Adrenaline kicks in. Everything slows again as the sceneunfolds around us. Mercy runs to me without so much as a second thought. She trusts me. My eyes glaze over, pinning the snatcher with my stare as he flails, caught in my web of shadows— magic binding him in place until I’m ready to strike.
The moment consumes me, and my instincts to hunt and kill take over. I’m locked in on the hunt, forgetting all about Mercy… until she collides with me. Warmth floods through the contact, cutting through the chill. When our bodies connect, the darkness flashes, subsiding from my eyes. I stumble back a step, surprised. The wrath seething cold in my veins gives way to warmth as I look down at Mercy, trembling in my arms. Instinctively, I draw her closer, my grip tightening around her. A sob escapes her lips, manifesting my anger all over again.
Using the hilt of my dagger, I tilt her chin up to meet my gaze. Fear and relief carve themselves across her features. She’s too trusting of me and my intentions. She has no idea how dangerous I truly am.
The snatcher snarls against his restraints, and I release Mercy, stepping forward to meet him, each footstep slow, deliberate—agonizing.
I look past her, my glare locking onto his decaying form. The earth shudders beneath us, mirroring the fury consuming me. Icy darkness saturates my body, anger crackling along every nerve ending, lashing out full of power—begging to end the snatcher once and for all. Electricity passes between us, and I glance over my shoulder at Mercy, stealing one last look before I become the monster I never wanted her to see.
All I want is to hold her. To comfort her. To surrender to the electrical sensations still lingering in my veins. But I can’t return empty-handed.
The snatcher unleashes a perilous howl, weighing his odds of summoning others from the horde. I imagine him gagged, and my shadows snake over his mouth, silencing his cries for help. His eyes dart across the darkening alley, hoping for a rescue that will take one look at me and flee.
A burst of energy flies into me, blinding me momentarily. It wraps around my body with warmth—but I’m already too far gone, my rage has consumed me. I push the blazing heat source away, unaware it’s Mercy, embracing me in a fearful hug, trying to pull me away from the snatcher.
She falls to the ground as I walk in a trance, gripping the dagger behind my back. Methodically, I inch toward the snatcher thrashing against my shadows in terror.
I can smell the fear seeping from his pores, thick and sharp. It drives my predatory reflexes. Good. Let him be terrified. My hands clamp down on his throat, pressing him flat against the wall as shadows wind tighter and tighter, squeezing out the air he doesn’t deserve to breathe.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” I whisper, voice lined with venom, eyes glowing with the heat of the underworld itself.
“You’ve tried to touch what’s mine. Now—you’ll pay.”
I kick over a stack of wooden crates, slamming him down as they splinter beneath the force. Raising the dagger, I slam it into the snatcher’s heart with a soft thud. He doesn’t even have time to cry out.
I work quickly, methodically cleaning up my mess. The ancient words etched in the black dagger still glow a glimmering, fiery red. From my pocket, I retrieve the glass bottle and collect the coagulated, thick, inky blood pooling from his heart. Once the vial is full and the dagger no longer glows, I carefully screw the lid back on.
“Enjoy your stay in Hell,” I whisper with a sinister smile.
Then I rip out his jugular with my burning fangs, consuming the last remnants of his soul. I feast on his fear, savoring the way it trickles down my throat. Wiping my mouth with the back of my coat sleeve, I stand and kick the body into a pile of debris. I tuck the dagger and vial away, and then I remember Mercy.
My eyes scan over the alley, straining against the darkness. I don’t see her anywhere. She’s gone. Beneath my breath, I curse at myself angrily. I should have done a better job controlling the situation. I hang my head as I walk back to where I left her, guilt gnawing at the edges of my self-control, regret souring my victory. I’m so immersed in loathing myself, I don’t see her until it’s too late. She barrels into me—arms locking around my neck, her face buried in my shoulder as she sobs.
The cold that once previously gripped my body is all but gone. Her embrace quickly overpowers any of the lingering darkness.I close my eyes, grounding myself in her, breathing her in—fresh flowers and happiness. Her body melds against mine like the missing piece of my soul’s puzzle.
“You saved me,” she sobs as the adrenaline dissipates, leaving her trembling from the trauma.
“Shhhhh,” I soothe, wrapping my arms around her.
“Everything’s okay. You’re safe now. You know I’d never let anything happen to you,” I say silkily, pacifying her with my voice.
Her body relaxes against mine. I let myself hold her for a moment longer before forcing the embrace to end. Seeing her like this is enough to break me. I lift a finger softly to her cheek, brushing away a tear before it can fall. From inside my jacket, I pull out a slightly crushed golden marigold and present it to her. Her breath catches in surprise. She looks at the flower, then to me, confused.
“But how?” she gasps.
When she doesn’t take it, I reach out and tuck it into her hair alongside the one from yesterday.
I brush away another lingering tear and smile at her.
