Chapter 8 Rest Well
"I'm sorry. I know I keep asking, but do you know when my mom will be here?" Mercy asked as she came down the stairs, brushing her damp black hair out of her eyes as she walked closer to me, wearing one of my black button-down shirts.
I couldn't help but let my eyes fall to her exposed legs, hiding back the growl that tried to come out as I saw the soft, exposed skin. The shirt went nearly to the middle of her thighs, and she'd picked out a pair of my boxers and used a hair tie to put the extra cloth in a bundle off to the side so that they could stay put. 'How can something so simple look so amazing on you?'
"Yes, they're on their way. Your mother refuses to let William drive over the speed limit. I apologize, as I cannot tell you exactly when they will arrive. Still, they are on their way," I finally responded as I motioned for her to follow me before walking into the kitchen, taking a plate of Mostaccioli out of the oven, and setting it down at the counter. "I know not how good it is, but I know you must be hungry."
"Oh, you didn't have to do this. Thank you," Mercy said as she sat down on the stool and happily took a bite of the food. Her eyes lit up when she tasted it, telling me she enjoyed it, "This is good, Alaric. But aren't you going to eat?"
"I do not need to eat," I answered as I poured her a glass of soda before sitting on the stool next to hers.
"So, were you lying when you said you liked my cooking?" She asked after swallowing her bite and taking a sip of her drink.
"No, I didn't lie. I genuinely enjoyed your cooking. I've just no actual need to eat, unlike you."
She nodded and bowed her head to eat until she noticed that I was watching her and giggled, her cheeks turning red. "Hmm?"
"I apologize, but you are so beautiful. It's hard not to watch you," I responded honestly, then kicked myself mentally. 'What the hell, Alaric? Now she will know you like her, and she'll know why you've done these things for her. Though, it would seem like common sense.'
Mercy's blush was growing evermore furious as she heard what I said, trying to hide the small smile that appeared on her face as she set down her fork. "I thought you did, but then I thought I just imagined it," she said after a few minutes, refusing to look up at me.
"And why would you think that?"
"Because you're Alaric. Multi-billionaire. I didn't think it would be possible for someone like you to like me."
"What's wrong with someone like you?"
"I'm young, human, poor, and I'm nothing special. You probably only like me because of my eyes, as that seems to be the most common reason," Mercy responded, her golden eyes flickering in sadness as she picked up her fork and moved the pasta across her plate.
"Your eyes are rare and beautiful. That much I must agree with. But that is not the reason I like you," I responded, a bit hurt that she thought I could be so simple-minded as a human man.
"It doesn't matter because I'm not looking for a one-night stand. Men like you don't have relationships. You only chase a girl until you get what you want from them, and I'm not that type of woman," she said, the venom in her voice making me do a double take.
'Men like me?' I thought incredulously, but before I could respond, William and Mercy's mother came in through the front door, surprising me as I hadn't heard William pull into the driveway as I usually do.
"Mercy?" Her mother called, her high-pitched voice overflowing with fear and worry as she ran into the kitchen, her blue eyes wide in surprise when she saw Mercy and me sitting at the counter. "Oh my god! You're that Alaric Vincent guy! Did you save us? Why?"
"Mom!" Mercy exclaimed, jumping down from the stool and running to her, trying to pull her into a hug, but her mother waved her away and took a few steps closer to me.
I've never wanted to kill someone so much before, not nearly as much as I wanted to kill Mercy's mother. 'How could she ignore her daughter like that? She seemed so worried, but now she would ignore her daughter, who was kidnapped, to pay more attention to a man she'd only heard of from the internet?' I thought, my anger boiling like it never had before, threatening to explode at the woman.
"Mom?" Mercy called, trying again to pull her mother into a hug, but her mother did the same thing as she had previously and waved her away again, waiting for me to give her the attention she was asking for. Though she was getting my attention, I knew it was not the type of attention she was looking for.
"How dare you-" I started to say as I stood with a growl, looking down at the woman, only seconds from relieving her shoulders of her head. But before I could finish, William cut me off as he stood between her mother and me, holding a hand back against my chest, before I could do anything I might regret. 'Mercy might hate me for it at first, but with a mother like that, there's no way she could stay mad at me for long.'
"Let's calm down now. Alaric. Nancy, let us take a moment here," William said, shaking his head at me.
"What did I do that would make you react like that?" Nancy asked as she eyed me curiously.
"Nancy, now that you know Mercy is safe, I'll take you home," William said, taking her arm to pull her out of the kitchen and back to his car.
"No, we are taking Mercy with us. She's not staying alone in this house with a man like that. I won't allow it. Mercy, come on," Nancy snapped, motioning for Mercy to take her hand.
I looked to Mercy, who was still standing in the same spot, her golden eyes filled with tears, clearly still upset about what her mother had done. Though I could tell she didn't want to leave with her, she still walked forward and took her mother's hand.
"She will not. I'd suggest you leave. Now," I growled lowly as I took Mercy's hand and led her out of the kitchen and back up the stairs.
"Alaric, why did you do that?" Mercy gasped, trying to pull her hand out of mine.
"You were kidnapped, and lord knows the mental abuse you suffered at the hands of that man. The last thing you need is to be emotionally abused by the hand of your own mother. I will not allow it," I growled softly, shaking my head.
"So, you expect me to, what? Sleep in your bed with you?"
"No, do not be absurd. I'll drive you home," I said, but the thought of sleeping next to Mercy was quite a nice thought.
"Vladimir told me he had everything taken out of my apartment because he wanted to make you think I left, for some reason?" She asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed, sighing softly, "And he said something about tricking you, to see how much you cared?"
"Yes, he had everything taken out of your apartment, but I fixed it for you," I replied, but said nothing further. 'I can't tell her about the girl in the elevator. She wouldn't understand.'
"Thank you for doing all of this for me. It really means a lot. But I can't be with you, Alaric. I'm sorry."