“River was not affected by the sins as Merc was,” Derwin’s voice dropped, and he looked atme.
Suddenly, I became aware of the ache in my stomach. Had something happened to Merc? It had been a while since I had seen him. Years, in fact. The last time I saw him, his hands and forearms had started turning gray. This was a sign that the sins and demons of others were takingover.
“How so?” Octavia gently asked. “How were the effects different forRiver?”
“The effects on Merc had been quiet for many decades. They had been unnoticeable physically. Both struggled with their own night terrors, but physically, nothing was noticeable. Then Merc’s hands and arms began turning gray. The demons were eating him alive,” Derwin elaborated and then gestured to me. “River, as you can see, has nearly immaculateskin.”
All eyes were on me now. I felt an urgent need to know whether or not Merc wasalright.
“Derwin, is Merc still—” I started, but Derwin interruptedme.
“Alive?” Derwin nodded. “Oh, yes, River. Merc is still around.” Derwin smiled and then turned to face Ethan when he spokeup.
“Is there a cure for thecurse?”
Nope.
“A cure? No. There is no cure to the Curse of Demons. There is no anecdote, or potion to help ease the terrors that the sinscause.”
I knew all ofthis.
“However, there is one way out of it,” Derwinsaid.
I stared at him in disbelief. Had I heard himcorrectly?
“What?” I quickly asked. “What do you mean that there is a way out? What is it? Why have you not told me this?” I begged for answers andstood.
“River, I just learned of this recently. You have been out of touch for solong.”
“I am sorry. Now, please, tell me what the way out of the curseis?”
“The Curse of Demons will be lifted when the person who requested the curse, is killed,” Derwin saidcautiously.
“I will be free when he dies?” Iasked.
“No, you did not hear me correctly. You will be freed when Lochlaan is killed,” Derwin reiterated. I stared into the fire that burned brightly in the stove just to the left of Octavia. What Derwin said next made me feel ill. “Lochlaan Mortas can only be killed by someone who bears the Mortasmark.”
I took a deep breath. Only myself and Octavia currently bore the mark of my lineage. To my knowledge, Liam, Ethan, Sean, and Michan did not have the mark yet. But I asked just to besure.
“Have any of you guys noticed a mark of three diamonds anywhere on your bodiesyet?”
They all shook their heads. I knew the marks would appear, and that they would appear soon most likely. But I would rather them not have to do this. A knock on the door pulled my attention away from the warm fire. Derwin’s expression told me that it was a friendlyknock.
Merc!
I hurried to the door, and standing on the other side was Merc. When I saw the lug and that old familiar smile, I lunged for him and wrapped my arms around him. I noticed that when he hugged me back, his hands werewrapped.
“Merc, God, I have missed you,” Isaid.
“I have missed you as well,” herasped.
I felt as though we were being watched. I pulled out of the embrace and carefully pulled him toward me by his upper arm. Standing right behind him was a small framed woman. A long scar ran from her left ear down her jaw and disappeared under herchin.
“Hello,” I greeted and nodded my head at her. “Forgive my manners, I had not seen you standingthere.”
“River, this is Phoebe,” Merc introducedus.
I could not get over my immediate shock that Merc had a woman in his company. I was thrilled for him. I ushered them inside and introduced Octavia and the boys. Merc had removed the wool covering from his right hand and clasped each of the boys’ hands. My stomach dropped when I saw his hands and arms. I wished he were notsuffering.
