Chapter 34

Outside the cabin knelt down in some brush, Mercury was checking the place out. Makoto was in the treeline, waiting for Mercury's signal. Taking a peek through one of the windows, Mercury saw a woman, hung up to the ceiling, bloody and unconscious.

Hearing a door open, Mercury ducked down, just peeking over the window sill, and saw Nebula walk in.

"Still out, huh?" Nebula said with disgust in her voice. "Pathetic."

The woman groaned in pain, but didn't wake.

Outside, Mercury looked to Makoto.

(She's got a hostage.) Mercury explained the situation. (A woman. Hung to the ceiling by chains, and looking on the verge of death.)

(Do you have a plan?)

Mercury grimaced. (Yeah?)

(Is it a good plan?) Makoto asked.

(If I told you no, would you feel better?)

Makoto let out a silent sigh. (No.)

(I promise not to die.) Mercury said before knocking quickly on the window.

(You what?)

Looking in the window, Mercury and Nebula made eye contact.

"Hey, ya ugly hag, I'm right here!" Mercury taunted.

Nebula cursed at Mercury before quickly dashing towards him with a burst from her wings.

Immediately, Mercury turned tail and ran into the forest, getting chased by Nebula.

(Mercury!) Makoto watched as he was chased off.

(Get that woman to the mansion and get her a doctor!) Mercury ordered.

(But-!)

(Do it!)

Makoto fell silent and did as told.

(You better come back in one piece!) She warned him.

Dashing over logs and obstacles in his path, Mercury suddenly felt a burning sensation on him. Falling and rolling across the ground, Mercury took a second to see why he was in pain. Looking over his shoulder, he saw black flames coating his back.

Quickly taking off his cloak, Mercury continued to run. Vaulting over a fallen tree, Mercury drew his dagger and activated his "slow" ability.

Just as he took cover behind a tree, the ability abruptly ended.

Seeing Nebula rush passed him a few moments later, she stopped and looked around, giving Mercury time to find a better hiding spot.

Throwing his weapon into a tree, Mercury suddenly appeared where it landed, dagger in hand.

"Did you lure me out just to hide, Rabbit?!" Nebula shouted. Cutting open her palm, Nebula flung her blood, causing black flames to appear wherever the blood splattered. "I'll burn down this whole forest!"

Dodging the flames, Mercury landed behind Nebula, driving his dagger towards her heart. Slamming her arm into his caused Mercury to miss, and instead stab her lower side.

Nebula punched Mercury with enough force to send him rolling away without his dagger. Dashing towards him in an instant, she followed it up by kicking his gut, sending him even further.

Pulling the dagger out of her side, Nebula tried to burn it but found the weapon to be indestructible.

"Damned thing!" She growled as she dropped it. "Did you really think a toothpick would stop me?" She began stalking towards Mercury.

He was bloody, bruised and fighting to stand back up.

"You really are-" Nebula cut herself off as she watched Mercury vanish before her.

Suddenly, Nebula coughed up blood, gasping for breath.

Behind her, gripping his dagger, was Mercury. He had used his ability to appear at his dagger and took the opportunity to stab her in the heart through her back.

Twisting the blade, Mercury ignited it before thrusting it upward and cutting Nebula, deeply. With one fluid motion, Mercury spun around and decapitated her, sending the Succubus' head rolling across the forest floor.

Taking a breath, a sudden rush of pain flooded Mercury. Falling to his knees, Mercury gasped for air.

Once he had calmed down, Mercury tried to stand but a slightly lesser pain rushed through him once more. Slowing himself, Mercury rose up and approached the dead Succubus. Kneeling down, he cut a part of it's wing off and fed it to his dagger, unlocking a new set of skills labeled: Blood Magic and Succubus Strength.

Sheathing his dagger, Mercury began hobbling home, battered to a pulp.

Hours later

Upon arriving, Mercury was taken to the medical wing to be treated. One glimpse at him and the head doctor knew what was wrong.

"Lie down." She ordered him. Her accent seemed to be Welsh-like.

Through his blurry vision, Mercury could barely make out a set of dog ears atop her head. Husky, it seemed to be. Along with the ears, a matching colored tail was seen wagging behind her.

"Don't move." She proceeded to remove his shirt and gently run her fingers across his chest. Pressing every so often, Mercury let out a suppressed groan of pain each time.

"Damnit!" He growled as he punched the armrest.

After a bit of time, the doctor leaned back. "You have four broken ribs and three cracked."

"You could tell just from a few light presses?" Mercury asked.

The doctor rose to her feet as she opened a drawer. Taking out a bottle of medicine and a tea spoon, she proceeded to give Mercury his medicine.

Upon tasting it, Mercury resisted the urge to hurl.

"I'm a professional." She replied.

A few weeks later

Walking the halls of his mansion, Mercury had to move out of the way as two new arrivals dashed by him. A pair of twins, no more than six. Both girls with pitch black hair.

The duo were rabbit Demi-Humans, each with their own ears and tail.

One of the maids, Kyrie, had found them on the road heading into Siltvelt a few days after Mercury killed the Succubus. They were dirty, ragged, and dehydrated. Having nothing else to lose, the twins agreed to join the mansion once given the invitation.

"Careful." Mercury told them as they dashed by.

"Sorry, Lord Mercury." They apologized.

"'Lord'?" He repeated, caught off guard. This was the first time they'd spoken to him, since he was out of town for most of the time. Being called "lord" felt strange to Mercury, since no one had addressed him that way before.

Dismissing it as nothing, Mercury headed to his and Makoto's shared room. Upon entering, Mercury saw Makoto pacing the room, quickly. Her hair kept changing colors. From black to orange to grey to yellow, and so on.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

Makoto continued to pace, deep in her thoughts. Thoughts Mercury wasn't allowed to hear at the moment.

"Makoto?" He repeated. Still no response. (Makoto?) Still nothing.

She only snapped out of it once Mercury gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Seeing the look on her face sent uneasiness throughout Mercury.

"What's wrong?" He asked. "You're pale." Mercury placed his hand against her forehead. "Mm." He removed his hand. "What's on your mind?"

Makoto took a breath.

After a few seconds, Mercury cocked his head.

"I, uh, you're shutting me out." Mercury told her. "I can't hear you."

Makoto's hair turned pitch black with orange streaks as she stomped her foot, following it by crossing her arms.

"Are you... mad at me?" Mercury asked.

Makoto's hair continued to change colors as she continued to mime.

Mercury was at a loss. He had no idea what Makoto was trying to say.

"I don't..."

Makoto got frustrated with herself. Running her hands through her hair as she sat on the edge of their bed. She had her head lowered, while holding the sides of her head.

"Hey." Mercury said softly as he sat beside her. "Take a deep breath, slow down. Right now, whatever's on your mind, you can sort it out, and tell me later."

Makoto shook her head.

"Do you need to tell me now?" He asked her.

Makoto nodded.

Her hair slowly turned orange as she reached for Mercury's hand. Gently taking it into her own, she led Mercury's hand over to her stomach and placed it against her.

Looking from her stomach to her eyes, Mercury was trying to understand the message.

Seeing the softness behind Makoto's gaze, Mercury still couldn't quite piece it together. But that look. It was the same she'd always give him but... now it was different. There was something behind it.

What was it? What was she trying to tell him?

Looking to his hand, Mercury noticed Makoto lean back, propping herself up with her hands behind her. She continued to wait for Mercury to figure it out. She wanted to blurt out what it was, but she was subconsciously shutting Mercury out. She wanted him to know, but at the same time, not to know.

She was worried about his reaction.

As for Mercury, he was slowly piecing it all together.

Looking to Makoto with widened eyes, Makoto looked away, her ears folding back.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Makoto nodded her head slowly.

Mercury gave Makoto's hand a gentle squeeze before getting to his feet.

"Fuck..."

Hearing that one word made Makoto begin to tear up.

"Fuck." Mercury ran a hand through his hair. "Hmm." He began pacing the room.

As for Makoto, she was on the verge of tears, thinking Mercury was upset at the news.

(This couldn't be worse timing.) He thought to himself. However, Makoto could still hear his thoughts. He wasn't shutting her out. (I need someone to come with me, and that was supposed to be you. Now that you're pregnant-)

Makoto's gaze returned to Mercury, her tears having stopped for the moment.

(What's going on?) Makoto got off the bed. (I can still fight.)

"Not with my child in you, you're not." Mercury told her. "You're going to stay here, and stay safe until he's born."

(He? It's a she.) Makoto told him, crossing her arms.

"We can find out." Mercury said as he closed the distance to Makoto.

(How?)

Placing a hand on her hip, Mercury closed his eyes. (Succubus sight.)

Opening his eyes, which were now glowing blue, Mercury saw a pink aura flowing around Makoto. Along with that, a pink glow was emanating from her stomach. However, shining just beside the pink light, was also a blue light.

"Oh, shit." Mercury couldn't help but give a chuckle of surprise.

(What? What is it?) Makoto asked.

"You're carrying twins." Mercury told her with a chuckle. "Fucking twins." Mercury's eyes began to water.

Seeing that, Makoto stared at Mercury.

Pulling Makoto into a hug, Mercury was overcome with joy.

"Fucking twins, can you believe that?" Mercury said in disbelief.

(What are they?) Makoto asked.

"You're having one of each." Mercury told her. "A little you and a little me running around."

Makoto was relieved to see Mercury was happy about the news. However, she was curious about one thing.

(Where are you going?) She asked.

"Hm?"

(You said you needed someone to go with you somewhere.) Makoto said. (Where?)

"Naofumi got himself into some shit." Mercury replied. "He said it's gotten bad. The other heroes are after him, and-"

Before he could finish, the door to the room burst open. Satella walked in with her right hand covered in blood.

"They cut off my damn finger!" She shouted.

Makoto quickly rushed over to help.

"Who the hell is 'they'?"

"Fucking humans from Melromarc!" Satella growled. "They ambushed me in the fucking market! Held a knife to my back!"

"Did they ever say why?"

"To send a fucking message!" Satella answered. "If the Dagger Hero were to assist the Shield Hero, then this-" she rose her right hand, showing her missing index finger. "Would get worse."

(Assist him in what?) Makoto asked, looking to Mercury.

"Naofumi sent me a letter yesterday." Mercury began to explain. "It stated that he had been set up and all the other heroes are looking for him. He needs help, and he's reached out to me."

"I wouldn't mind tagging along to get some pay back." Satella growled.

"No. You're gonna stay here." Mercury told her. "I'll take Daenerys. If things are this bad, to the point Melromarc is sending threats of this manner, then Naofumi needs help more than ever. But first, what part of the city were you in?"

"Which one do you think?"

Hearing that, Mercury grabbed his gear and headed out.

Once outside the mansion, Mercury saw Daenerys tending to the garden. She had become quite the green thumb.

"Daenerys, come with me."

Upon hearing those words, Daenerys stood up and rushed over to Mercury's side.

Minutes later

Arriving at the Southern district, Mercury stormed over to the guards at the gates. Immediately, Mercury grabbed one of the guards from behind and threw him into the dirt.

"I want a list of every guard taking fucking bribes." Mercury growled.

The second guard tried to attack, but Daenerys stepped in his way.

"Don't."

"One of mine lost a finger because another group of humans got inside these walls!" Mercury shouted as he pointed at the walls. "Only way that happens is if the guards accept bribes."

"I ain't saying shit to you!" The guard spat.

"I'm not looking for answers right now." Mercury replied as he slowly drew his dagger. "I'm sending a message to the other dirty guards. So, relay this to your entire garrison. 'Whoever has been accepting bribes from humans to enter these walls will lose a finger, on the right hand, each time they are caught. Once they have run out of fingers, we will move on to the other hand! Once that one loses it's fingers, you will no longer be able to accept bribes, will you'?"

"How do you know I'm one? What if I'm not?" The guard asked.

"I have eyes and ears in this city now." Mercury replied. "The hell you think I've been doing the past month? Just laying on my back, recovering. I've been recruiting. And my recruits tell me you're a dirty cop. That ends now."

Kneeling down, Mercury punched the guard, knocking him out.

"Wouldn't want ya squirming, now would we?"

Grabbing the man's right hand, Mercury cut off his index finger. Rising to his feet, Mercury turned to the second guard.

He was young, barely old enough to grow hair on his face.

"Tell the others what's happened here." Mercury told him. "Let them know who it was. Tell them 'This was the second time. Clearly, measures need to be taken to keep this from happening a third time'." Mercury pointed his finger at the young guard. "Tell them."

"Is that everything?" The guard asked, his voice shaky.

"Follow it up with 'Don't fuck with the Red Right Hand'."

End of chapter 34