The Last Hope

39 - Liar

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER - Landmines, BELLESAINT. Linked above!

It's a long one, buckle up kiddos.

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Days had passed since Mercy's late-night revelation and the consequent melting of the sword. The solstice had been and gone, everyone too tense to really celebrate, and what little merriment they'd managed had come heavily shrouded in a sense of foreboding. It was now Christmas Day. Allunyans didn't celebrate Christmas, but Felix did, and he'd woken up that morning sunnier than usual. Only to be crestfallen when Mercy had relayed their plans for the day.

Felix was to be taken home by Lincoln, so he could spend Christmas Day with his family. Mona would supply him with an enchanted bracelet, ensuring his abrupt appearance and disappearance wouldn't raise questions amongst his mother and younger sister. His request that the bracelet be nothing gaudy and went with his outfit had fallen on deaf ears. When he'd dragged Mercy aside and begged her to accompany him, she'd politely, but firmly refused.

He'd huffed but had eventually understood. She didn't want to be anywhere near home. Too many painful memories. Too soon.

So much had changed in the last month. Major change, that would never revert, or reorder itself. Change she would have to live with for the rest of her life, and eventually learn to deal with. Shoving everything in a tight little vault in the corner of her mind was no longer making the cut. One more thing, and she was sure the vault would burst open, damning everyone in the vicinity to the onslaught.

In a way, the last four days had been a wonderful reprieve. Days of research and analysis kept her mind busy but let her body rest. Kept her preoccupied, even if she was painfully bored. But after days of finding nothing, they sat at a standstill.

The events of that night played on a constant loop in her frazzled mind...

There had been few times in Mercy's life where she had felt such anticipation and nervousness. Even fewer times where she'd actually let on to others how she was feeling. But as Sebastian's pale hand hovered above the sword of Onir, Mercy felt that panic shoot up her spine and down into her fingertips.

"Wait!" A current cracked along her hand, hiding just beneath the surface. Nonchalantly, she tucked her arms tightly behind her back.

Sebastian's curious eyes flickered up to her face, his hand dropping to his side. "What?"

Mercy chewed her lip anxiously, "what if it's a trap?"

Sebastian quirked a dark eyebrow, slipping his hands into his pockets and tipping his head to the side. "A trap?"

She nodded. "I mean, what if it's some kind of ... alarm system for Cressida? Don't you think the firedrake gave it over just a little too easily? And we find out it's a fake? What if we were meant to take it and it is leading her right to us?"

Sebastian blinked, backing up a step. "I hadn't thought about it like that."

"We need to talk to Mona."

"Yes, you do." Mona's voice floated over her shoulder, and Mercy whirled around. Mona was still bedecked in her long silk robe from earlier, her hair still coiled tightly around her head. "It's a good thing she wasn't sleeping yet, isn't it?" Mona's lips tugged up into a coy smile as her eyes rested on Mercy, then immediately dropped as she glanced contemptuously at Sebastian.

"What do you think witch, could it be a trap?" Sebastian leaned casually against the stone altar as he took in Mona's unpleasant expression. So quickly, Mercy almost didn't catch the movement, his eyes flickered down to Mona's hand, still glittering with rings. He was clearly still pissed about the punch. Not that he hadn't deserved it.