A Little Mad

Chapter 5

Jerome set in a chair against the wall, watching his bed. The young woman laid just a peaceful as when he found her. She was undisturbed. He chuckled to himself. 

"Heavy sleeper aren't you?" Jerome stiffened slightly when Mercedes shuffled. 

The blankets felt warmer than they usually did. Mercedes smiled in her sleep as she was waking up. Her eyelids fluttered open as she pulled the blankets further up under her chin. Her eyes landed on an unfamiliar floor. Then she realized she was no longer in her own bed. She set up looking around only for her eyes to fall on the man from the news sitting to her right watching her. A smile graced Jerome's face. 

"Hiya dollface." 

Ecco carefully knocked on the study door. Hearing Jeremiah approve her entrance, she walked in. Jeremiah was sitting at her desk reading a book with his classical music records playing. His gaze slowly lifted from the book as he set it down. 

"I have been up for an entire hour already Ecco. Do you have any news for me yet?" 

Ecco smiled and Jeremiah smirked. He motioned for Ecco to come to him. 

"Come sit with Daddy."  Ecco blushed slightly sitting on top of his desk in front of him. 

Jeremiah scooted his chair closer to her smirking. He ran his hands down her sides. 

"Jerome plans to invade the special Wayne event tonight to cause havoc and possibly blow up the building." 

Jeremiah chuckled and smirked at Ecco. He stood before her and slightly leaned her back. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, but kissed her neck. He came back to her ear and whispered. 

"Good job. My sweet.. little Ecco." 

Ecco's breath hitched and her body became inflamed. She laid back on his desk, hoping he would take her. Jeremiah stared at her with lust in his eyes. He had to admit to himself that Ecco was a little attractive to him. He was in the mood and decided to indulge her this morning. He could beat her later if he felt like it. 

Mercedes stared at the man wide eyed. Jerome shifted in his seat and Mercedes jumped. 

"Don't worry dollface. I'm not gonna hurt ya."  

Jerome stood up and walked about the bedroom. Mercedes kept her eyes on him firmly. Jerome turned to her excitedly. 

"Are you a breakfast person?! I'm a breakfast person!" He paused, noting that the young woman was still confused and slightly frightened. He didn't really know what to do.

"Oh. I've never had house guests like this before. But it should be fun." 

"Jerome... Valeska..." 

Mercedes set frightened, but also intrigued. Jerome's mouth curled into a smile that was both wicked, but also seemed to calm Mercedes a little. 

"So you know who I am." His smile lingered. 

"You were on the news the other night." 

Jerome frowned, which frightened Mercedes. She was afraid she had upset him. 

"So I guess your first impression is screwed." 

"Why am I here? What do you want with me?"  

Jerome paused at the questions. He didn't have answers. He did not understand what he wanted with her.  Mercedes' family flashed before her eyes. She set up straight. 

"Ohmy god! My family!" 

Jerome felt a slight pain in his stomach which he desperately wanted to ignore. He only cover came out in a rumbling laugh. His eyes flickered to the young woman who has concern written all over her face. 

"Oh yeah. They're dead. You won't see them again." Jerome was busy being his blunt and carefree self until he saw the young woman pull her knees to her chest and cry in her hands. He had seen many people cry over things like this plenty of times. This time was different. He felt a small pain in his chest and it angered him. 

"Oh come on. They were probably holding you back. You're free now." His laugh rang through the air. 

Mercedes slowly lifted her face and wiped her tears. Jerome reached into his dresser and pulled out a female outfit. He threw it on the bed. 

"Get out of bed. Change. We have some exploring to do dollface." 

Jerome turned around and left the room without another word. Mercedes put her face back in her knees and cried. She missed her home. Her family. She finally stopped crying and realized that if she would make it away from him alive, she needed to be strong and go along with whatever he wanted.