Bliss of Reentry: Part IV

“And what the hell are you all supposed to be?  The fucking Mafia?” Mercer said, as she opened her front door, frowning. 

 “Good Evening, Ms. Rye. Looking gorgeous as usual,” Nyxon said, ignoring her comment.  “You remember my associates, Mr. John Levin,” he motioned to the man who had taken residence in the door frame, “and Mr. Garcia Hazard,” he waved to the man who remained in the corridor.   

“Oh, yes, your cronies who seem to be always trying to kill me. How can I forget?” Mercer said irritably. 

 Nyxon smiled cordially. “They mean nothing by it. Only following direction. Don’t take it personally, Mercer.” 

“Bite me, Nyxon.”  

“Hey, now. Mercer, be nice. Don’t make this harder than it has to be, okay?” Nyxon cooed.  “I suppose I should do the same, and get to the point of our visit.  Which I’m sure you sensed?” 

“Garcia’s aura is deafening.  It was impossible not to know you were coming.” 

“Well, Mr. Hazard’s boisterous aura is the consequence of him being such a powerful telepath.  I thank you for remaining here so as not to turn this into our usual cat and mouse.” Nyxon allowed his smile to relax, and took on a more serious tone. “I have it on good authority that you have something… or someone rather, that we want.  And if you’d kindly give him up willingly, we can leave you in relative peace, and I will be sure to put a good word in for you with Rowanne.” 

“Go screw yourself and your good word.” Mercer spat. “You can go screw Rowanne too.” 

“Uh-oh. Am I sensing a hint of jealously?”  

“Last time I checked, Nyxon, you weren’t an Empath or an Intuit. So I’m going to assume that what you’re sensing is just a little bit of gas.” 

“You were always quite feisty, Mercer. I’ve always loved that about you,” Nyxon said, leaning against Mercer’s door. Noticing the stack of suitcases behind her, he sighed. “We weren’t interrupting anything were we? You weren’t planning on going anywhere?” 

Mercer turned to glance at the suitcases that she had hastily stacked in front of her staircase and scoffed.  “Frankly, its none of your business if I was going around the corner. But you should know that people of our kind don’t ever remain in one place for an extended period of time, Mr. Alexander,” she replied, emphasizing Nyxon’s last name disdainfully. 

“I supposed you’re right,” Nyxon said. “But all the same. Just wanted to make sure we weren’t intruding on an impending depature.” 

“If I wanted to leave, you most certainly wouldn’t be the one to stop me. And besides, you’re always an intrusion, Nyxon.” 

“Hmph. You didn’t always think so.” 

“Nyxon, what the fuck do you want?!” Mercer exclaimed. Nyxon’s comments were beginning to enflame her.  She wanted more than anything to rip Nyxon’s aura into shreds, his very presence testing her self-control.  

“I think I’ve already made that clear,” Nyxon said, leaning against Mercer’s door. “And I believe you told me to go screw myself.  Clearly, not the response I wanted.”

Mercer watched in anger as Nyxon and his associate, John, began to scan the lower floor of her apartment. “This is a very nice place, Mercer,” Nyxon said, smiling. “Who’d you have to sleep with to get it?” 

“Excuse me?” 

“Siren to siren,” Nyxon said, still scanning, “You can never learn enough tips on the art beguilement. Being alluring is my favorite thing to be. I’m sure you understand, being the master of charms –”  

“Nyxon, it’s time for you to go.” 

At the tone of her voice, both Nyxon and John stopped their scanning to look at her. “I was just making friendly conversation,” Nyxon replied. “All I want right now is your cooperation.  And I’m willing to get that, even if it is by force.” 

“Don’t you dare threaten me. And with that condescending smile! I could take your aura and turn it inside out. I could throw your very existence into a black hole –” 

“Mercer, I am a level 3 psychokinetic –” 

“And I’m an empathic level 6 dickhead!” 

“Mercer, that is true, and very admirable, but if you’d let me finish,” Nyxon said calmly. “I am a level 3 psychokinetic, and while your abilities in energy movement and manipulation clearly trump mine, you forget that I am flanked not only by a telepathic level 3 pyrokinetic, but also very powerful astral projector. I really wouldn’t want you to get hurt. Especially not burned. You’re much too pretty.” 

Mercer, an exceptionally strong psychokinetic, had the ability to move and manipulate energy, particularly psychic energy. Auras were made of pure energy, and unless heavily and skillfully protected, Mercer could very easily gain control off, destroy, and even remove auroric energy from her target. More than anything she wanted to destroy Nyxon’s aura. But Nyxon himself was a very skilled psychic, not to mention his partners, and such an act could not be executed so simply. However, she had just about reached her limit.

“You pretentious asshole.  I go up against these two incompetent mouth-breathers every other month. Or whenever your girlfriend Rowanne gets it into her head that I should die that day.  You really think you can go up against me?” 

 

“Rowanne and I share a completely spiritual relationship that can’t be labeled, especially not in such insignificant terms like girlfriend and boyfriend. And her reasons for occasionally wanting you dead are usually well-founded.  But you’ve survived her attempts so far, and that deserves a pat on the back.”

 “Are you –” Mercer started, and then broke into a chuckle. “I can’t believe it, but you’re serious.” Mercer smiled condescendingly. “You know what, if you want to risk your life –” 

“Look, I don’t want to fight you, Mercer. Especially not with jealousy clouding your judgment. What we had before was wonderful. Fun even.  And the sex was amazing –”  

“Are you CLUELESS?!” Mercer said, recoiling.  

Nyxon continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “But you must get over me. Two psychics of our standing and abilities, two sirens at that, cannot possibly maintain a long-term relationship. How could we ever know if it was real love, or if one was just using their abilities to hypnotize the other? Can’t you see that? ” 

“You disgust me,” Mercer spat. “Absolutely disgusting.”  

Nyxon seemed about to continue when a slight telepathic wave jolted the air, causing him to turn away from her.  John turned around from his comfortable stance in the doorway toward the source of the jolt. Mercer was somewhat surpised upon sensing the wave, having attempted to hinder her own psychic energy lest she attempt to literally explode Nyxon’s aura.  She peaked over Nyxon’s shoulder at Garcia’s broad frame in the corridor.

Suddenly, almost as clear as if someone was speaking, Mercer heard a voice in her head. “I do apologize for disrupting you two as your conversation does seem quite significant, and is endlessly entertaining,” the voice said, “but I do believe we have a schedule to maintain, and a package to be delivered to our employer.” 

Mercer squinted and folded her arms, annoyed at the figure taking up space in the hallway. “You know, Garcia, talking never hurt anyone,” she said, derisively. “You drama queens are irritating beyond belief.” 

“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Hazard,” Nyxon said. “I apologize for the overindulgence.” Nyxon turned coolly to Mercer. “My dear Mercer, what have you done with Hadrian Faye?”  

“I haven’t the slightest idea of what you are talking about, Nyxon,” Mercer said, putting her hands on her hips. “What I do know, is that it’s been time for you to leave. We don’t want this to get ugly. And you know I can make this ugly.” 

“That’s the last thing I want.  As I said before, I want only your cooperation. And you will give it to me.” He looked at her defensive stance with confusion. ”This man is nothing to you. Why risk a fire fight, Mercer? This is so unladylike.”  

“Don’t push me, Nyxon.” 

“Mercer, your resistance is clearly not necessary or helpful in this situation.” Nyxon frowned. “We know that Mr. Faye is currently in your possession, and unfortunately, that puts us, once again, at odds. I beg you Mercer, for your sake, let this be easy. It would be the ultimate pain for me to have to hurt you. That’s why I usually send Garcia and John to do it, instead of coming myself.” 

Mercer stared with incredulous anger at Nyxon. “If this is to be a fire fight, it would be the ultimate pleasure for me to have to hurt you. You can’t fathom the destruction that I will inflict on your psyche.” 

Nyxon sighed heavily. “Fine Mercer, if this is what you want.” He gestured to his colleagues. “Gentlemen, if we may.”