Without Mercy (Mercy 1)

“She’s been here, what, ten months?”

Ten months? No way! Shaylee shriveled inside. She would die if she had to stay here that long.

“Almost eleven,” Nona corrected, fingering a slim silver cross dangling from a chain around her neck. Though she had a shy way of turning her head, there was something in her expression at odds with her meekness, a glint in her eyes that bespoke of a strong person beneath the church-mouse facade.

Shay asked, “So why are you still with a roommate? I thought everyone here moved up to a private room. Isn’t that what you told me?” Shay turned her gaze from Nona to their counselor.

“Nona’s considering staying on as a TA after she graduates,” Dr. Williams said proudly.

“Why?” Shay could not imagine staying on campus one millisecond more than required.

“Opportunity,” Nona answered. “Here at Blue Rock Academy, I’ve found incredible opportunities, a new way of life. A new faith in God and country.” Her mouth curved into a smile, as if she’d been filled with the divine truth.

Or brainwashed.

Shay felt nauseated. Nona was a puppet performing a well-rehearsed act. The whole place was surreal, so out of touch. “You don’t want to go home?”

“Not until I’m ready.”

“I’m ready now,” Shay announced, and Dr. Williams laughed a little, a knowing laugh that bugged Shay. The conversation went on, meaningless small talk meant to draw Shay out of her shell and make her feel all warm and fuzzy and secure. Fat chance!

Dr. Williams beamed. “We have to run now, Shaylee, but tomorrow, I think you’ll be in your own room with Nona!”

“Wow. Like a slumber party? From the fifties? And I didn’t pack my poodle skirt!”

“Ouch,” Dr. Williams said, but laughed.

Nona the Pious stared at her. Was it Shay’s imagination or did Nona work hard to swallow a smile?

Shay watched them leave and felt as if something was out of whack with Nona Vickers. Though her new roommate didn’t show a hint of resistance to the program here, Shaylee sensed there was more to the girl than silver crosses and meek obedience.

Beneath her malleable, mousy exterior, Nona Vickers might just be a force to be reckoned with.

From his hiding spot in the loft of the chapel, the Leader waited for another glimpse of her, the new girl, another student added to the ever-growing enrollment of Blue Rock Academy. Watching from the soaring window of the chapel, he stared into the windows of the nurse’s station, hoping to see her.

His intrigue with her was insane. He should have learned his lesson with the last one and knew deep down that women were his weakness. From the time he’d hit puberty, his fascination with the opposite sex had become his blessing as well as his curse.

Lauren Conway had tempted him.

In a quicksilver memory, he saw her: tall, athletic girl, a beautiful girl just on the threshold of womanhood, or so he’d thought. But, of course, he’d been wrong. Her treachery had been so disguised in innocence he’d come to trust her.

And that had been his fatal flaw.

So why now would he even be tempted by this new one?

Getting close to her would be a mistake.

He knew it.

The problems with Lauren were testament to his lapse in judgment. Her beauty had bewitched him, and he’d let down his guard. Smart and sassy, she’d caught his eye from the first second he’d seen her. With eyes as blue and seductive as a mountain lake, sculpted cheekbones, and a small pouty mouth that promised the most intimate of favors, she’d been a seductress. Her hair was brown, thick and dark, almost black, as it had waved past her shoulders.

He’d been a fool.

Forgotten his mission while entranced.

He couldn’t make the same mistake twice. Besides, he had enough disciples, didn’t he? Another would make the group too large, would increase the chance of exposure.

Or would it? Wasn’t there always room for another, more beautiful and seductive initiate?