Just when he wasabout to stand, Mina raised her hand and stroked her fingers overthe scar covering his left eye.“Thank you, Caj.”
“You’revery welcome.Go with peace, Mina.”
Mercymoved over to his side and held her hand out toMina.The girl grippedMercy’s hand, and then a glow covered them both.Mercy gentlycoaxed Mina’s spirit out and then they were gone.
Caj gaveone last look at the others in theroom who had no clue what had happened in truth, but they wouldbelieve what they’d done had worked.He shook his head.Humanstruly had no clue how the world or the spiritual realm worked.Theywere allowed to believe their reality because the truth would betoo hard for them to handle, and it wasn’t his place totell.
Cajalready missedMercy, but she was in a place where he couldn’t go or ever hope tobe a part of.
Chapter Two
“I needyou like a heart needs a beat.”
—Unknown
Mercy
Shefound him sittingin thegrass on a lonely hill overlooking the city.This was where Cajalways went.He’d told her a long time ago about the first childwhose sins he’d taken.It cut him deep, and even to this day, hecould always be found on this desolate mound.
Hisheadhung low, covered inthat thick jet-black hair.Moonlight shone perfectly over histanned skin.
Sheknewafter a child died, itwas particularly hard for him to deal with his job.On one hand, hehelped Mina get to where she needed to go, but on the other, hedidn’t understand why one so young had to die.At a certain age,children remained innocent, but Mina already passed that age andCaj just had to deal with it.
Mercysettled next to him, foldingher large black wings against her back until they disappeared.Shedidn’t say anything, just enclosed herself within the silence ofhis making.Caj was a talker, and if he was brooding silently,something was wrong.So, she waited until he spoke.
It tooka little bit longer thistime, and then he turned to her as weariness reflected from hiseyes.
“What can I do to help?”she asked softly as she reached out to smooth her handover his arm lightly.She could feel his muscles tense, and he wasso strong.Times like this made it hard to be on the path they wereon.“Talk to me,” she whispered.
“What is there to say, Mercy?It doesn’tget any easier, especiallywhen it’s the young ones who are leaving.”
“You help them,Caj.You alone stop them from going to hell.”
“Yes,and I take on all the pain and chaos from those sins.”
“You do something great, somethingno one else can do for them.”
“Yes,and they get to go to heaven, whereas I am stuck here for the giverof life knows how long.”
Thereinlay the gist of the wholematter.Caj didn’t know when or even if his punishment would everend.While he healed those who were dying, enabling them to gosinless before the Maker, he carried it all and may never know truefreedom.
“Let me give you some healing of my own.”Mercy was privy to the fact that when asin-eater took on the sins of someone, they also took on the agonyof those sins.They didn’t gain the pleasure from it, as one wouldthink.The time for pleasure had long passed with the one who’ddone the transgressing.
Not giving him achance to say anything, she quickly straddled his lap, cupping theback of his neck and bringing her mouth slowly to his.She teasedher lips over his, kissing him deeply.
Hestiffened against herfor amoment, but then his arms wrapped around her waist and he drew herclose.
A sign,a veryexcellent sign that hewanted what she did.
With agroan, he pulled back andpressed his forehead to hers, still holding her tightly.“Mercy,you don’t have to do this.”
“Caj, Iknow what I don’t have to do.I want to do this.I want you just asmuch as you want me.”She could still see the agony in his eyes,and she wanted more than anything to take that hurt away fromhim.
“You deserve more than just a fuckon a hill, Mercy.”
Shegiggled softly.“Yes, I do,and I’m going to get that from you at some point.But we are here,right now, and it’s perfect.Besides, this won’t be the first timeyou fucked me.Remember?”
“I remember all right.It’s something I think ofdaily.”Caj tangled hisfingers in her hair as he sighed.“You don’t have to dothis.”
