calls out for mercy

                                        

                                              
Just over two months or so ago my life had been perfectly normal. I was a no name, anonymous Caster who’s biggest issue was convincing people that I wasn’t my famous twin, and I had liked it that way. I danced at a club, taught fighting and defense and occasionally went on some bad dates. My biggest drama had been trying to figure out why my sensate skill was going wonky around my guardian Edward. Now though the man I knew as my guardian was dead, I’ve been tortured and Cassie has been kidnapped while she’s pregnant with an impossible child. Demon Lords, the Council of Human Casters and the Leaders of several heavy weight magical Communities all knew my name, and I was hating every moment of it; if this was how Alice felt after tumbling down the rabbit hole I’m impressed that she didn’t just let the jabberwocky have her. I had been so naïve when I believed that my little world was safe, that all was well and would never change; Cassie was engaged to be married to her university sweetheart, I was settled into a routine and I’d felt that we had deserved that slice of happiness. Now it was gone and no amount of effort would ever bring back the life I used to have.
                              
“Serendipity.” Nikka’s voice broke through my brooding and I looked at her in confusion. “It doesn’t seem like it now, but events unfold as they have to until the universe reaches its balancing point again. Just have faith and patience to keep moving forward and eventually things will turn right again.” She informed me, aiming for comforting but instead it just made anxiety crawl up my spine.
                              
I was saved from having to respond as Sebastian’s servants brought in the gear he had requested. Marcus had essentially nailed Sebastian’s foot to the floor by sending the Council after him, making Sebastian stay at his Keep but Barry, Zeke, Nikka and I would depart and follow the battle lines to the frontier. The gear we were given would help us with that, and I gratefully pulled on the forgettable fatigues and boots I was handed. The end point was a fortified citadel where the actual war was being fought and where we could get our hands on a teleporter. I’d have Cassie figure out how close she was being kept to the office and the route to her cell if she could, if not Nikka and I were likely able to figure it out since we’ve both walked those halls. With Cassie coordinating her actions to our assault, we’d hopefully rescue her and then zap the hell out of there and back to safety.
                              
“I’m sending a delegation to the Demon King, pleading an audience just in case there is a failure somewhere along the way. It’s not the best option but it would be better to have a redundancy in place.” Sebastian announced, only adding to my sense of growing doom. “Callahan, may I have a private word please?” the only other thing to distract me right now was waiting for either Barry or the Council so I accepted the chance to talk to the Demon Lord in a side room. “Kitten, I wish to remind you of my offer. I will tell you everything I have ever known about your parents in return for one request.” He offered.
                              
“Maybe if you weren’t so teeth gnashingly cryptic and told me what this request of yours is, I could give it a thought.” There was an obvious sigh in my tone.
                              
Sebastian eyed me critically, for once not a leer but instead a detailed scrutiny. “You’re astoundingly resourceful, determined, intelligent, charming, and profoundly capable. Moreover your magical signature is a fantastically great match to my own and you’ve seen the power that pools at our touch. I’d love to have you as my own, but something tells me that I’m a little too late for that. Instead I’m offering you a contracted job position. You sign the contract and for five years you work for me. Your official capacity will be as my chosen representative, almost an ambassador. You’d protect my interests, and act as my mouthpiece; in return you’ll be financially wealthy and granted a home here and a suite on permanent stand by at the Hilton, all expenses covered by my estate. At the ends of the five years, you can either sign on for more or we part ways amiably.”