from ear to ear. His beautiful body, it had been returned to him. He wanted to spring up in the air and cheer, but was extremely exhausted. You’d think after all that lying down as a head he would be rearing to go out for some exercise, but really he just wanted to lie down again and have a long snooze.
“I have returned your body,” said the man, “I gave you legs so that you may bow.” Kensuke lowered himself onto his knee and bowed his head. “Good, now I have a job for you.”
“Anything,” said Kensuke, “I owe you my life.”
The man smiled. “It is not your life I want, but someone else’s.”
So much for returning to the baking business. It seemed there was hope for his career as a super villain after all, and he had just been given a jumpstarted promotion. Oh goody. He could hardly contain his excitement.
29
NO REST FOR THE WICKED
Patience was there when Mercy finally managed to open her eyes. Doc Remedy immediately ran in, fussing over her to check her pulse, temperature and any other measurable things she could think of. Even from behind the glass, she saw Mercy shrugging off the help, giving that ‘I’m way too tough to accept help’ kind of look. She recognised it only from the simple fact that she had used it herself often enough.
Once she was satisfied that Doc Remedy had worked her magic, Patience stepped into the room and leaned over the bed. It was nice to see Mercy smiling again, but there was clearly pain behind it. Not physical pain, that wasn’t bothering her. No, there was some pain behind that facade, rooted deeper than any aches could reach.
“How’re you feeling?” asked Mercy.
“I should be the one asking that question.”
“You were taking too long, and I was getting bored of the awkward silence.”
Patience grinned. “Glad to see nothing changes. I was worried for a while back there, thought you’d lost a fair fight.” Mercy looked down at her white sheets, giving Patience the feeling that she had said something wrong. “It’s all over now, Magnum is dead and we have the Lamina.”
“What’re you gonna do with it?”
“We’re not sure. It has to go somewhere that no one will ever find it, but...”
“You’re worried that Magnum was right about the Old Ones coming back.” Patience fell silent for a few minutes, pulling up a chair that scraped along the floor with a jarring sound, then sitting.
“He could be right,” said Patience, “I know he’s crazy and everything. But this whole thing has made me hyper aware of my blood, and I just have this feeling nibbling up inside me.”
Mercy nodded. “I understand.” She looked sad again, “I know what it’s like to have a feeling eating you up inside. You want to tell people but are scared how they’ll react. But no matter how much you try, you can’t shake that feeling, because no matter what others say, it will always be so important to you.”
“How did you know?”
“Let’s just say.... I had a lot of time to think while I was in the coma.” Patience nodded, making the link between that and her sadness, but not wanting to point it out.
They sat there for a long while, just chatting about everything. Then the thought occurred to her. She had become so grounded in this world of magic, it finally felt like she belonged. But it was over. They had found her uncle’s killer, and stopped him. Everything would go back to normal. But she didn’t want that, she didn’t want Grim to take her away and force her to live a normal life.
She considered pleading with Mercy to wipe her memory. It would be easier living a fuller mortal life without knowing the existence of magic, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it, and she probably wouldn’t be able to since her uncle revealed it to her.
After a while, Grim joined them, checking on Mercy. “I’m sorry to sound rude, but I was here for Patience.” She bowed her head, here it was. The moment where he tells her that she is to be dropped off at home, back with her parents and her other boring family and nonexistent friends. Back to reality.
“There’s a report of sorcerers attacking mortals in the street,” said Grim, “are you ready for the next adventure?” She perked up, a smile spreading across her face. She didn’t have to go home, he wanted her to stay. She felt like throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around his thin waist, but forced words through her mouth instead.
“You mean we don’t even get a rest for our hard-work?”
“Well that would kind of negate the point of it being ‘hard’ work, there are no breaks to be had.”
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He flashed her a smile as they left the medical wing, and climbed into Bessy once again – left parked in the petrol station. In silence, they pulled out and along the road. However, the silence wasn’t a horrible sombre one. It was an overwhelming sense of happiness spreading through her, and apart from that, relief as well.
“I was talking to Mercy, and I don’t want to get rid of the Lamina,” she said, “I know it’s like the most dangerous weapon in the world and all, and could easily be used against us – again. But I fear for what Magnum said, about the Old Ones returning. I think we might need it.” Grim thought for a moment, though she was unsure whether he was focusing on getting through the green light before it flashed red, or his mind was stirring with thoughts of the Lamina.
Eventually he spoke. “Alright, we will hide it behind the protective barrier at your uncle’s house, temporarily. Murum won’t know it’s there, and neither will anyone else apart from us. It should be safe for a short amount of time, and the barrier will protect it from most people. And then we must agree never to use it again, unless in the most dire of circumstances.”
“Agreed.”
“Not even if you’re worried and want to take it with you for insurance. That can’t happen. We cannot risk it getting into the hands of some bad guy, so, we leave it there until the Old Ones attack. Or for the rest of time.” She nodded. Worried about her restraint. If Grim or her family was placed in danger, she was unsure that she would be able to resist the urge to use it in order to guarantee their lives are spared.
She would have to muster the strength to say no.
They may have saved the world this time, but Patience was certain that there was a whole waiting list of people who were watching and waiting for their opportunity to threaten the world. But she would make sure that they’re there to kick their butt, or at least watch someone stronger do it for them.
It was not a good time to be a criminal.
Document Outline
PATIENCE DEDICATION Acknowledgements 01. BLOOD, BLOOD EVERYWHERE 02. A SECRET SOCIETY 03. RIPPER STREET 04. FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD ZOMBIE NECROMANCER 05.THE FEARSOME FIVE 06. THE IMPERIUM 07. A SPARK OF MAGIC 08. THE RED HERRING 09. X MARKS THE SPOT 10. IVIS MONTAGUE 11. THE VAULT 12. CLAIRVOYANT TRICKERY 13. SEA OF SPIRITS 14. A VERY CUNNING RESCUE 15. PLOTTING FOR REVENGE 16. THE MOONLIGHT HOTEL 17. DULL FAMILY PARTIES 18. THERAPY FOR KENSUKE 19. THE JOURNAL 20. A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP 21. THE SCHISM COMPLEX 23. BOSS KILLING 24. SOUNDS OF SCREAMS 25. THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM 26. TO SAVE THE WORLD 27. NO MERCY 28. BLOOD OF THE OLD ONES 29. QUIT WHILE YOU’RE A HEAD 30. NO REST FOR THE WICKED
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