Mercy for the Damned by Lisa Olsen

good?”
    “No, I confess I cannot.”
    “Then maybe it’s time to expand your horizons a little.  Meet these witches, you can see right off the bat that they’re not bad guys.  Look at their auras alone.”
    “I still think no good can come from witchcraft.”
    “Duly noted,” I nodded.  “But it’s still the plan unless some other stroke of good fortune falls into our laps.”  Not that I was holding my breath for that eventuality.  “You can always abstain from taking part in the plan if you have really strong objections to it.”
    “No,” he shook his head resolutely.  “I am committed to freeing Adamiel and your friend from their prison, even if I had not been commanded to do so.  Whatever the price.”
    “Alright then,” I smiled, glad to hear someone else willing to step up and do what it took to set them free.  “I’m headed for bed, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Sleep well, Mercy,” he nodded.  “Gather your rest while you can, our time grows fleeting.”
    Like those two sentences went together. 
    * * *
    “I think we’re as ready as we’re going to be,” I sighed, leaning back against the couch. 
    “I still think I should be allowed to accompany you.  You will need my strength,” Sam objected, and Daphne gave his arm a pat. 
    “It’s too dangerous for you.  You’d attract way too many demons.  Mercy is right, smaller numbers are better.”
    “Indeed, there is greater stealth in smaller numbers,” Raziel nodded, and Sam threw him a disgruntled look. 
    “Then why do you get to go?” he pouted.  “Isn’t there just as much danger to Raziel for attracting demons?”
    “We already went through this,” I rubbed at my temples.  “Raziel is going because he’s our carrot to dangle.  Without him, we’ll get stuck at the gate.  We need bait and the skirts upstairs already offered his services.” I borrowed the term from Remiel.  “Besides, I need you here on this side of the gate to keep an eye on Daphne and Matty, remember?”
    “That’s right.  I’d rather not spend too much time outside a demon bar without a little protection,” Daphne gave him a winsome smile, and I saw some of the frustration melt from Sam’s face. 
    “So, we’re good?  Raziel, Parker, Nelo and I will go tomorrow to request an audience with Raum.  Once we’re in there, Nelo will help us jump around and steal Adam and Ben, and then we will all somehow overpower Naberios to escape through the gate again.”
    “He will be no match for our combined strength,” Raziel nodded confidently.
    “Once we get through the gate, we split up in case we’re followed.  Matty, you’ll be waiting to drive Adam, Nelo and I to safety, and Daphne and Sam will take Parker and Ben in case he needs any healing.  Raziel, you go straight home where demons can’t follow.  We’ll meet up at the club afterwards where Luz will be waiting, and the witches will make sure Azazael is still in Ben and resting comfortably until we can do the binding.  Sound good?”  It was ridiculously simple, and a zillion things could go wrong with it, but it was all we could hammer out after hours of planning and everyone nodded their assent. 
    “Alright, let’s get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a big day.” 
    The crowd melted away, Sam taking Daphne home, Matty and Parker leaving together, talking about the merits of being the getaway driver over negotiator, which was Parker’s assigned role in the caper.  Even Raziel kissed the air above my hands and took his leave to go wherever he went when he wasn’t hanging out at my apartment, leaving Nelo to stare at me with those big amber eyes full of trepidation. 
    “Are you ready for this, Nelo?”
    “As ready as I am likely to be, Mistress.”
    “Are you sure you want to do this?  I remember what you said about it being dangerous for you to go back there.”  My plan hinged upon his cooperation, but I’d gladly cast it aside if he really didn’t want