Chapter Ten.Mercy’s POV. I thought it would be easy. How hard could it be to resist the urge to shift? I had no idea how powerful the moon really was. As the minutes ticked by, the pain spread from my chest, radiating out to every part of my body. It felt like my bones were on fire, and every muscle screamed in agony. The initial tremors I had felt under the rising moon quickly turned into violent convulsions. My body twisted and jerked uncontrollably. The sensation of electricity coursing through me became unbearable. “John, please!” I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation. “Help me! I can’t do this at all!” John’s face was set in stone, but I could see the worry etched in his eyes. He didn’t move. He was testing me, but it was agony. Every single second felt like a thousand years. Marion, on the other hand, rushed to my side and tried to hold me. “Leave her alone!” John said.“Mercy, you need to focus!” The pain was getting worse, spreading like wildfire through
Chapter Eleven.Mercy's POV. I woke up to a dull ache spreading throughout my body, a harsh reminder of last night’s situation. My muscles felt like they’d been stretched to their limits and then some. I groaned as I tried to sit up, the memories of the shift flooding back into my mind. The ropes, the pain, John’s unyielding commands, it all played on a loop in my head, and I was honestly tired. I was lost in thought when the door creaked open. John stepped into the room, his expression as unreadable as always. He looked at me for a moment, his eyes searching mine before he spoke. “Get up, Mercy. We have somewhere to be.” He said, his voice cold and commanding. I blinked, trying to shake off the grogginess. “John, I’m still hurting from last night. Can’t it wait a while?” His eyes hardened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “No. You need to learn that there’s no time to rest in this life. Get ready. We leave in fifteen minutes, and I won’t wait.” I sighed, knowing th
Chapter Twelve.Mercy's POV. I woke up the next morning, my body aching from the previous day's ordeal. Every muscle screamed in protest as I dragged myself out of bed, and my body wasn’t exactly happy with the decisions I was making— or the ones John was making for me. I wondered what John had in store for me today. Hopefully, it went along the lines of staying in and getting some well deserved sleep. As I made my way downstairs, I found John sitting at the kitchen table, sipping his morning coffee. He looked up as I entered, his expression as unreadable as ever. “Good morning.” I mumbled, trying to shake off the grogginess and giving him a small smile. “Morning.” He replied curtly. "Get yourself ready. We’re heading out soon. We have a lot on our plate today." “A lot, like yesterday’s, or maybe something less? Because I’m not ready to go through any more torture than I already have, you of all people should know that.” I shook my head, and he grunted. “Those are the w
Chapter Thirteen.Mercy’s POV. I wondered if I should have attempted running away again as I heard John's next command. His expression told me he wasn't joking, even though it seemed like the most absurd thing he had asked me to do yet. Lie on rocks? Over the past weeks, John had put me through a lot of life threatening experiences, and at this point, I was sure I could look a bear in the eye and fight it. But John kept telling me that all I had was endurance, not strength. According to him, even a young fighter would tear me to pieces, not to mention a bear. Crazy, right? Not to talk of insulting! I stared at the arranged rocks, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. "You can't be serious, John. Lie down on the rocks? What's the point of this?" John's cold eyes met mine, and he folded his arms. "You want to be strong, right? The endurance you have going on just isn't enough. You need to learn to endure pain, to overcome discomfort. Now lie down." I let out a hea
Chapter Fourteen.Mercy’s POV. I woke up the next morning, still sore from yesterday's training. The thought of more grueling exercises made me want to hide under the covers, but I knew that was not an option. John expected me to push through the pain, and I wasn't about to let him think I was weak. As I stumbled downstairs, I noticed that John was putting on his coat. "Where are you going?" I asked, trying to shake off my sleepiness. "To the palace." He replied curtly. "I'll be back soon. Try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone." I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because trouble just follows me around." John gave me a look that said he wasn't in the mood for jokes. With a final nod, he walked out the door, leaving me alone in the cabin. The morning passed slowly. I busied myself with small chores, trying to keep my mind off the upcoming training session. When John finally returned, he wasn't alone. Beside him stood a girl with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was pre
Chapter Fifteen.Mercy's POV. I was still fuming from yesterday's defeat. Laura had made sure to humiliate me, and John didn't even bother to stop her. Every bruise on my body just reminded me of the sparring session, and I was not looking forward to whatever training we had next. As I came down the stairs, I saw Laura already in the kitchen, sipping tea as if she had no care in the world. Her smug expression only irritated me further. She didn’t even acknowledge my presence. It was like I didn’t exist. What a brat. John was waiting for me outside, the morning mist still hanging in the air as he set up another training area. Today felt different, though. Something about the way he looked at me said this wasn’t going to be a regular session, and I got chills up my spine. “You’re late.” Laura said, barely glancing at me as I stepped outside. I rolled my eyes but bit my tongue. I wasn’t about to let her get under my skin again, but not today. John turned around, his face as stern
Chapter Sixteen.Mercy's POV. Lunch was awkward. I sat there, chewing on my food, barely tasting anything, while Laura, of course, was the centre of attention. She was sitting there, all perfect and polished, showing off her manners like she was some kind of princess. Every time she smiled, my stomach twisted in knots and I looked at her, hoping my jealousy didn’t show on my face. Marion was laughing… laughing like I'd never seen her do before. Even John, who hardly ever showed any real emotion, had this steady smile on his face. It was like they were all under Laura's spell. I hated it. Was I the problem? I picked at the food on my plate, trying to ignore the flutter of jealousy burning in my chest, but it was impossible. I wasn't just jealous. I was livid. I could barely look at her without feeling like I might explode. The memory of her wiping the floor with me during that sparring session two days ago was still fresh in my mind, and even worse, I had the proof on my body, ever
Chapter Seventeen. John had left early that morning, giving both Laura and me a list of chores to keep us busy. I’d overheard him talking about heading into town for some supplies, leaving the two of us alone at the house. It wasn't unusual for him to leave, but the timing felt off, especially after last night. “Make sure you chop the dry wood by the shed and clear out the leaves in the front yard.” John had said in his usual calm, authoritative tone. He looked at Laura and me with the same stern expression. “I expect everything to be done by the time I get back.” I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral, but I could already feel the tension bubbling beneath the surface. Laura, on the other hand, had smiled sweetly, like she always did whenever John was around. As soon as he left, I could already tell this was going to be a long day. “Well…” Laura said, stretching her arms over her head as she walked out into the yard. “It looks like it's just you and me, Mercy. How exciti
Chapter Twenty Four. Mercy’s POV. The scream pierced through the air, sharp and terrifying, cutting into the quiet evening like a knife. I froze for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked at Laura. Her wide eyes met mine, mirroring the same shock and confusion that was quickly taking over my mind. We didn’t waste time exchanging words, our feet were moving before our brains could catch up. We sprinted towards the source of the scream, my heart racing with every step. Marion’s voice was frantic, echoing in the distance, and as we rounded the corner of the house, the sight that greeted us made my blood run cold. John was on the ground. I couldn’t believe it at first. My eyes refused to accept what they were seeing. John, who was definitely the strongest man I knew, was lying there, lifeless. Marion knelt beside him, her face pale and stricken with panic. Her hands were shaking as they hovered over him, unsure of what to do. “Master! Oh my God, master!” She scream
Chapter Twenty Three.Mercy's POV. For the first time, Laura didn't have a snarky comeback. She just sat there, staring at the ground, looking like she was struggling to find the right words. It was rare to see her speechless. I sighed, rubbing my palms together as the coldness of the memories filled me. "So, I made the decision to leave. I couldn't stay there, pretending like everything was okay when it wasn't. I couldn't be part of their perfect little family anymore." Laura stayed quiet for a moment longer, then she finally spoke, her voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "That's... that's a lot to deal with. No wonder you left." I nodded, grateful she wasn't pushing for more. I'd already said more than I intended to. "Yeah, well, it wasn't easy, but it was the only thing I could do." Laura nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "I can't imagine what that must've been like. But... you're better off without them, right? I mean, if they couldn't see your worth..."
Chapter Twenty Two.Mercy’s POV. I spotted Laura sitting alone on the bench by the training grounds, her arms crossed, head down, and her usual scowl plastered on her face. The air was cool, but not cold, and the distant sound of swords clashing filled the background as others practiced. Laura had always been distant, closed off. She gave off a vibe that said “stay away,” but I wasn’t in the mood to care today. I walked over to her and sat down without asking. She immediately tensed up, eyes narrowing, as if she was ready to bite. “Hey.” I said casually, leaning back on the bench. She didn’t even bother to look at me, she just scoffed and moved to stand up. “Don’t bother.” She muttered under her breath, that same familiar edge in her voice. She always had something cutting to say. Before she could leave, I reached out and grabbed her wrist, gently but firm enough to stop her. “Hold on. You remind me of someone.” Laura rolled her eyes and made a face, trying to pull
Chapter Twenty One.John's POV. The memories were sharp as blades, slicing through the present. Even after all these years, I could still feel the memories of that night pressing down on my chest like it had just happened. Fifteen years. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes, letting the past pull me back, even though I knew better than to relive it. Some wounds never heal. Some promises never let you forget.--Flashback.- The night was cold, and the sky overhead was a deep shade of black, no stars, no moon. Just darkness. The clash of swords echoed in the distance, a sound I had come to know too well. I ran, heart pounding in my chest, my breath coming in sharp bursts. The king was just behind me, struggling to keep up, but I couldn't slow down. If I did, they would catch us. “Keep moving!” I shouted, turning to glance at him. His face was pale, covered in sweat, his eyes wide with fear. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Kings weren’t supposed to look like this. But
Chapter Twenty.Mercy's POV. The cold, hard ground met my back with a thud, and I winced as pain shot through my body. Laura stood over me, panting heavily but still with that smug, triumphant look on her face. She had the upper hand, again. I groaned and rolled onto my side, pushing myself up to a sitting position. “Getting slow, Mercy.” Laura said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. “Maybe next time you’ll land a hit.” I bit my lip, refusing to respond. Instead, I focused on catching my breath. My body ached, but there was something different this time. My movements were smoother, more controlled. Despite being thrown to the ground, I didn’t feel defeated. I knew I was getting better. Slowly, but surely. We were sparring again, just like we had countless times before. But this time, something was changing inside me. I could feel it. Each punch, each block, felt more natural. My body was adjusting, learning. Laura, on the other hand, was clearly enjoying herself. She wiped t
Chapter Nineteen.Mercy’s POV. I paced my room, my heart hammering in my chest. John had just gotten back, and I knew he’d hear about what happened with Laura. Every second that passed felt like a countdown to some kind of punishment. Would he yell? Would he make me pay for it in some twisted way? I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t about to sit there and wait for him to call me out. Taking a deep breath, I decided to face it head on. I left my room and headed to the living room where I knew he’d be. As I rounded the corner, my stomach dropped. Laura was standing there, leaning against the doorframe with that smug little smirk I’d come to hate. Her lip was still swollen from earlier, and the sight of her made the guilt in my chest twist a little tighter. “John...” I started, but I didn’t get far. John held up a hand, cutting me off before I could explain. “Laura.” He said calmly, looking at her. “You want to tell me what happened?” Of course, she jumped at the chance. Laura straig
Chapter Eighteen.Mercy’s POV. I stayed on the ground for what felt like forever, staring at the dirt. My knuckles throbbed, and my back ached, but it was nothing compared to the guilt churning in my gut. What the hell had I done? I had let my anger get the best of me, and now Laura… Laura had every reason to hate me more than she already did. I heard her footsteps behind me, the crunch of leaves as she shifted, but she didn’t say anything. Slowly, I forced myself to get up. My body felt heavy, weighed down by shame. When I turned around, Laura was still holding her lip, the blood now dried in the corner of her mouth. Her eyes flicked to mine for a second, and I saw a flash of anger and pain, and maybe even confusion, but she quickly looked away, wiping at her lip again. “Laura.” I started, my voice barely above a whisper, “I’m so sorry.” She didn’t answer. Instead, she just kept rubbing her shoulder, twisting away from me as I stepped closer. “I said I’m sorry!” I repeat
Chapter Seventeen. John had left early that morning, giving both Laura and me a list of chores to keep us busy. I’d overheard him talking about heading into town for some supplies, leaving the two of us alone at the house. It wasn't unusual for him to leave, but the timing felt off, especially after last night. “Make sure you chop the dry wood by the shed and clear out the leaves in the front yard.” John had said in his usual calm, authoritative tone. He looked at Laura and me with the same stern expression. “I expect everything to be done by the time I get back.” I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral, but I could already feel the tension bubbling beneath the surface. Laura, on the other hand, had smiled sweetly, like she always did whenever John was around. As soon as he left, I could already tell this was going to be a long day. “Well…” Laura said, stretching her arms over her head as she walked out into the yard. “It looks like it's just you and me, Mercy. How exciti
Chapter Sixteen.Mercy's POV. Lunch was awkward. I sat there, chewing on my food, barely tasting anything, while Laura, of course, was the centre of attention. She was sitting there, all perfect and polished, showing off her manners like she was some kind of princess. Every time she smiled, my stomach twisted in knots and I looked at her, hoping my jealousy didn’t show on my face. Marion was laughing… laughing like I'd never seen her do before. Even John, who hardly ever showed any real emotion, had this steady smile on his face. It was like they were all under Laura's spell. I hated it. Was I the problem? I picked at the food on my plate, trying to ignore the flutter of jealousy burning in my chest, but it was impossible. I wasn't just jealous. I was livid. I could barely look at her without feeling like I might explode. The memory of her wiping the floor with me during that sparring session two days ago was still fresh in my mind, and even worse, I had the proof on my body, ever