Tears of Blood (wlw)

your ideas of mercy

DEVYN POV

Laying down in bed I stare at the ceiling, realizing that this really is my last year at Arden. I wonder where life will take me after this. To distract myself from these thoughts I decide to hit the gym. The Arden girl's dorm had every facility you could think of. The gym was on the tenth floor. I grabbed my bag and headed out, while taking a quick glance at Sierra, she was asleep.

As the elevator headed down I checked my monitor. A monitor was a bracelet like device that you could use to communicate. I didn't really use mine because I knew somehow my father would find a way to tap it.

Walking out, I ran into Reggie, my driver.

"Hey Ms.Ackerman. I was just going to get you."

" Hey Reg! What's up?"

"It's your father. He wants to see you."

"Oh. Well I'm busy."

"He wants to see you now."

"Wait what? How?"

"He's downstairs in his car."

"Dammit."

"Do you want me to walk you down?"

"No it's okay Reg. I'll just go." I make my way all the way and into the parking lot. There's a line of cars that scream royalty- meaning that my father and his entourage were here. A driver from the third car steps out and ushers me in.

"Hello, Devyn."

"Hello, Father." I look down at my shoes and start to fidget with my fingers. I don't want to make eye contact with him.

"How is school?"

"It's good."

"hmm. Have you thought about where you would like to apprentice for the next two years after Arden?"

"No. I thought maybe I could go with sister Sage."

" It's General Sage now."

"She didn't tell me. I thought she was a Colonel or something."

"She has made the family proud through her efforts."

"Yes she has."

"I am expecting the same for you."

"I know."

" You could get a spot anywhere. After all, you're an Ackerman. If you want to apprentice under Sage, I won't stop you. But you might want to rethink it. That job is not for the faint hearted."

"What are you trying to say?" Now I look up at him. His hair is neatly set, with his suit perfectly tailored. He knew just how to create his illusion of perfection, but I could see through it. I could see all of his flaws.

" You know how you get. You and your ideas of mercy."

"Father, I just think showing mercy is better than killing."

"The enemy is the enemy. If we are even slightly forgiving, they'll take advantage of that."

"The war ended years ago."

"Yes, but that's why I'm here. There have been several attacks lately."

"What? Why hasn't anyone heard about it?"

"We don't want to create tension and anxiety. It's better if we deal with this matter before it gets to the public."

"The public has the right to know."

"It's for the better."

"Hmph."

"I'm here to tell you to stay alert. Be safe. Don't wander outside the Citadel. I'm also leaving bodyguards with you."

"Father, no. Not the bodyguards."

"Yes, it is a necessary precaution."

"It'll draw even more attention to me. Plus you know I can handle myself." At this he breaks into a smirk.

"I know you can. But I have said it. I don't want to hear anything else."

"Fine." With that I storm out of the car and back into the building. There are two bulky men in suits at the elevator already. We pile into the elevator.

"Okay guys. Ground rules. You are to be no where near me in school. You stay out of sight whenever you can. You will be as far as possible from my room."

"Ma'am that will make it harder to protect you."

"What exactly are you protecting me from?"

"Ma'am the Runes are back." I can't seem to talk anymore after hearing that. The Runes had gone silent since the end of the war. How are they back?

Why are they back?