Mercy for the Damned by Lisa Olsen Page B

more than tolerant of your treatment so far, but don’t mistake my compliance for weakness.  Now, I’m prepared to honor the original terms of our agreement as long as Mercy leaves unharmed.  Do we have an accord?”
    “No!” I insisted, my own sword appearing with a flick of the wrist.  “We both go, or we start playing demon shish kabob.”
    “Mercy, let me handle this,” Adam murmured out of the corner of his mouth.
    “Why, so you can put yourself back in servitude to that guy?  No way.  I told you, I’m not leaving here without you.  So stop contradicting me and back me up for chrissakes!” My eyes blazed, prepared to fight Adam myself to make him get with the program.  
    Equally as stubborn, maybe more so, Adam whirled to face me.  “That’s not going to happen!  Now stop acting like a child and leave while you can.”
    “I do so hate it when mummy and daddy fight.” Oriana stepped out from behind the throne and Raum giggled, eating up our little spat like we were the best entertainment he’d had in months.  The pale witch wore one of her simple shifts, feet bare, her long white hair hanging in twin plaits down her back, making her look more like a little girl than a woman. 
    “Come and have a seat, the fireworks are about to begin,” Raum bade her, and the slight witch took a seat at his feet on the cold, stone steps. 
    “More than you know,” she murmured, her eyes growing wide with surprise. 
    “Perhaps I may be of assistance.” I heard a deep voice behind me, and my eyes closed in defeat.  How many other ways could things go wrong?
    Raziel strode into the demon court, head held high, giving no sign he’d willingly entered dangerous surroundings. 
    “Now we’ve got a party,” Raum clapped his hands together delightedly.
    “I offer myself in Adam’s stead.  A year and a day of service, in exchange for his freedom.  Mercy, of course, would be allowed to leave unhindered, as she is guaranteed amnesty as per the terms of the original agreement.”
    “That’s not what we agreed on,” I gasped at the offer.  When we talked about using him as bait, it had been as a diversion. I’d never intended for him to even set foot in Midian, let alone offer himself up like that. 
    “I think it sounds fair enough,” Adam met Raziel with a steely gaze.  “It’s the least he can offer after everything he’s done.  In fact, I think it has a kind of simple poetry to it,” he grinned. 
    “Adam, you can’t mean that.  Raziel has nothing to do with this.  You can’t let him suffer because of us.”  I lowered my voice.  “Let’s just fight our way out.  Together, the three of us stand a real chance.”
    “I’m sorry, how do you even know the guy?” Adam hissed.  “You wanted me to leave with you, this gives us a perfect out.  That prophecy doesn’t say anything about doom and gloom if Mr. Shiny Britches over there stays down here, does it?”
    “Well… no.”  The prophecy mentioned a fallen angel triggering the evil, not a regular angel.  We had to assume no bad would come from Raziel remaining in Midian, apart from the whole personal danger to him.
    “And you said his bosses sent him down here to fix the situation right?  So, let him fix it, and we can be home in time for dinner.”
    “Mercy…” Raziel’s voice was gentle, and I pulled my gaze from Adam.  “Adamiel speaks the truth.  I was dispatched to keep the prophecy from coming to fruition, this is my fate.  Let me take Adam’s place here, I am not afraid.”
    “No, you don’t have to do this!” I insisted, taking his hand and drawing him away, though I was reasonably sure they could have heard us if they wanted to.  “Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but we’ll find another way.  Take it from me, you don’t want to be Raum’s chew toy for the next year.  This is my mess, I’m the one who should clean it up.  I should stay and you can get Adam and Ben out of here