“mercury, dear, i have a task for you.” salem’s voice pulled mercury out of his reverie, head snapping up in surprise. she beckoned him over, and though he did not like the look in her eye, he could not disobey her so openly. swallowing back his apprehension, mercury rose to his feet and followed salem out into the hall. “how would you define your relationship with our beloved prisoner?”
mercury hesitated, eyes widening a fraction -- grateful salem’s back was to him. “what do you mean? she’s a prisoner. i don’t have much of a relationship with her at all.
“do not lie to me, mercury.” salem warned, tossing a glance over her shoulder. “i am no fool. i know you care for her, deeply. if you thought you had hidden this from me, you’re less intelligent than i thought. your fondness for her -- and her care for you are assets to me. that is the only reason i have not stopped you.”
salem led him down the stairs towards summer’s cell, and mercury felt his heart begin to speed up. “however, it seems that your relationship has still yielded no results about the whereabouts of the maidens and the entrances to the vaults. it seems stronger methods are in order.”
she tossed open the door to summer’s cell, and mercury felt the breath be ripped from his lungs. for a brief moment, he considered running, to put as much space between himself and summer as possible to avoid what he knew was coming. it wouldn’t work -- salem would only punish her more severely.
“it won’t work.” mercury said immediately, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. he refused to meet summer’s gaze, afraid of what he might find there. “give me more time. this isn’t the way we --”
“enough.” salem commanded, voice ice-like. “it has not worked because her resolve was unhindered by emotional attachments. the same cannot be said now. do as i expect of you, mercury. retrieve the information we require -- or do i need to demonstrate on dear emerald, here.”
the door opened once more, and emerald was shoved through by one of salem’s grimm. mercury’s heart went cold, dread swelling within him as he locked eyes with emerald. “no... no don’t.”
“then do as i command.” salem said, this time her voice far harsher than before. “or are you a traitor to our cause?”
“no.” mercury said through grit teeth, glaring up at salem with all the hatred he could muster. panic filled his throat, and he turned towards summer with heavy heart. disobeying salem now would only mean something worse for all of them in the end. “summer, please. you have to know something about the maidens -- about ozpin’s plan. just tell me, now.”