My eyes flicker open and I take in my surroundings with my brows furrowed. "Uh, who's that?" I ask, rather rudely pointing at a teenage guy at the foot of the bed next to Satan.

Hunter snorts a laugh. "That's the healer."

I purse my lips. "Oh. Um, hi. Thanks for healing me," I say awkwardly, making everyone in the room chuckle.

The guy nods and smiles. "Hi, and you're welcome."

"Well, Mercy, it's my understanding that you were set to duel with the spies of the Order?" Satan asks.

"Yes."

"Even though Payne is gone, you are not being held to that duel unless you wish it so. Do you wish to fight with them before dinner?"

"No." He almost looks disappointed by my answer. "However, I would like to speak to them. I have questions."

"After dinner," he allows. "I'm starving. Let's go take advantage of the feast that Payne had prepared, shall we?"

"Of course, father," Hunter says as he helps me off the bed.

It's an extra hour after dinner is finished before Satan has his guards lead Ada and Aiden into the sitting room after we're seated.

I look up and meet Talon's eyes when he grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. I'm sure my confusion is written plainly on my face.

Talon brings my hand to his mouth and brushes his lips against my skin, sending tingles of awareness creeping up my arm. "I'll explain everything to you later," he promises.

"O-okay." I lick my suddenly dry lips. The doors opening at the other end of the room draw my attention as Ada and Aiden walk through.

The guards have a firm grip on their arms as they lead them into the room and I narrow my eyes when I see their vacant expressions. I wasn't paying too much attention to Aiden's face or eyes when he came into the room with Payne earlier so I didn't notice how... wrong he looked.

I walk to them, rolling my eyes as Talon and Hunter stiffen slightly at my actions. Thankfully they don't follow me, otherwise, they'd be getting chewed out. I study Ada and I don't see any of the fire in her gaze that was burning when we fought my first night at the Order. Turning my attention to Aiden I notice that the spark of curiosity and friendliness in his eyes is gone as well.

The lights are on for both of them, but it's like there's no one home.

I turn to face Satan and ask. "What's wrong with them?" Silence greets my question. I grind my teeth and try again. "What is wrong with them?"

Hunter sighs. "If a someone's mind has been controlled for too long or too much by my brother or my father, they have a tendency to turn into something that resembles a zombie."

"Meaning what exactly?"

"They're essentially just vegetables, Mercy," he explains. "Sure, they can move but that doesn't mean they're there mentally."

"How can we fix this?" I ask.

Satan laughs hard. "You can't fix it, girl. The only way to free them from that state is by killing them."

I balk and snap, "Are you fu-"

He interrupts me, his voice hard. "They're practically dead anyway. They already betrayed you guys right? So won't they be dead anyways? I know my son doesn't tolerate betrayal anymore than I do."

I stalk over to him to object but Hunter and Talon each grab an arm, halting me in my tracks.

The devil chuckles darkly. "You're too soft," he says a split second before lifting a hand and pointing his finger at the two beings behind us. The blasting heat and smell of fire fill my nostrils mixed with burning flesh and it's not a pleasant smell in the least. "Take them out of here," he orders to the guards that had escorted Ada and Aiden into the room.

I turn to watch as the guards drag the bodies out into the hall and have to fight to keep myself from snapping at the devil for being such a dick. I know it won't take much for him to turn on me.

Satan wipes his hands together and relaxes back into a chair, holding his arms out. "Now, Mercy," he starts sounding chipper, "how would you like to know about why this stuff has been happening to you?"

I narrow my eyes at him. "Is that a trick question?"

He smirks. "No, not a trick question."

I feel Hunter's hand rest on the small of my back and it makes me feel a little bit better that I have his and Talon's support. Although it makes me wonder how everything is with the others. I plan to find out as soon as the demon in front of us tells us what he knows. "Okay. I guess it would be nice to know."

"Good," he says with a clap of his hands. "Take a seat and let me tell you a story."