The Black Rose Chronicles: Deceit and Lies

by Michaels, A K

  “Just what the hell are you thinking? This job is too dangerous, Rose. I would prefer if you didn’t do it.”

  Rose grinned and punched him in the arm. “Hey, I’m The Black Rose. I can handle this.”

  “I fucking hope so.” Seth scowled at her. “I don’t want to have to come rescue your beautiful ass, baby. Or, better still, I should come with you. Yeah, that sounds much better. We’re tag-teaming this time, Flower.”

  “You don’t need to and I don’t want you coming when I’m infiltrating this Plaza place. If you must, then you can come as far as the outside of Manhattan, but you are not coming in with me.”

  “Fine.” Seth glared at her. “I’ve heard there’s still power and cell signals there, so we can keep in touch via phone. If you don’t, then I’m coming in.”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake. All right, Seth, this once, you can come with me.”

  “Don’t make it sound as if you’re allowing me to come, Rose.” Seth growled. “I’m coming, plain and simple.”

  Shrugging, she started to tug off her clothes. “I need a shower.”

  Seth followed her, the flat of his blade hitting her ass. “Good idea.” He smirked as she jogged away from him.

  “I know that look,” she threw over her shoulder, her skin already tingling in expectation of his touch.

  “Yes, Flower, you do.” Seth grinned as he stalked after her.

  Basilius stood at the large window in his office as looked out over the lush green lawn that was in front of the building the Council now operated from. The White House no longer white and the President no longer in charge. The human still lived here with his family, now head of the humans, but he wielded little to no power. No. That power was now held within Basilius’ grasp. His orders alone being the ones that were followed.

  Although the other species had a presence upon the Council, his was the last word in any decisions taken. The order to take out Cassius Allarde wasn’t one he’d put before the other members. They would never have agreed. Not when Allarde appeared to be cleaning house within the Vampires and spoke only of peace.

  Peace wasn’t something Basilius wanted. Not now. Not before he’d gained complete control over this new world. He had plans and they didn’t include Allarde messing things up by advocating an end to interspecies conflict. The sooner the Vampire was eliminated the better.

  His lips tugged up into a smile as he thought on Rose. An enigma he hoped to understand real soon. What was she? He wasn’t sure, but he vowed to find out. Her eyes like deep pools as he’d stared into them. His cock hardening with each second he looked. At one point, his mind had completely wandered to what she’d look like lying beneath him, panting and crying out in ecstasy.

  That had never happened before. His mind was always, always on the job at hand. What was it about this young woman that drew him to her? He knew she’d felt it, too, saw her struggle with the pull towards him, and he looked forward to seeing her again. He’d make sure it was sooner rather than later.

  His curiosity piqued and he always slaked his curiosity. Whether that was seeing how long a Vampire could survive chained with silver, drained of his own blood, and denied any new nourishment (quite a while actually). Or testing a human far beyond their endurance of pain and injury before they finally lost their fight to live. He found out about anything he found interesting, and Rose was no different.

  Basilius vowed to uncover whatever it was she was hiding from him and possibly have some fun at the same time. He could picture her in his bed as he sank deep within her warmth, and shuddered at the thought. “I think I’ll have you in my bed, little Rose,” he whispered, straightening his pants in the front to relieve the pressure of his stiff manhood. “Oh, yes. I think that’ll happen before too long.”

  The only part he was sure of was he’d make sure she came willingly. Not usually a prerequisite for his bedroom antics, but with her, he was going to make an exception.

  A soft knock on the door interrupted his musings, annoying him, so he barked, “What?”

  Orthon opened the door slightly, sticking his head around it nervously. “Just wanted to let you know that Cassius Allarde has asked for a meeting with you. He’d like a face to face and said he’ll come here if you want him to.”

  Basilius frowned, thinking for a moment before replying. “Tell him I’ll go there. Tomorrow afternoon, but don’t give him a time. I want him to lose sleep while he waits for me.”

  “Okay.” Orthon grinned. “He won’t like that.”

  “Exactly.” Basilius smirked. “Now go. I’ve a lot of things to think about and I don’t need you interrupting me.”

  “Master.” Orthon didn’t disappear, which surprised Basilius. Usually, his little assistant left his presence as quickly as possible.

  “What is it?” Basilius snapped.

  “Do you want me to leave the female in your room?”

  Basilius tapped his chin with a finger for a moment. “I’m surprised she’s still alive,” he admitted. “Leave her. I’ll finish her off later and then you can dispose of what’s left.”

  “As you wish.” Orthon dipped his head before closing the door quickly as he vanished.

  “She’s stronger than I thought,” Basilius mused aloud as he remembered the punishment he’d inflicted on her weak human body. “They’re so fragile, but fight so fucking hard to live. Even when it’s hopeless.”

  His thoughts wandered back to the assassin, his heart picking up speed as he pictured her eyes, so beautiful. As was the rest of her, using his imagination to undress her and see the splendor he knew was there. Maybe, just maybe, she’d come to him willingly.

  * * *

  “I wish you hadn’t agreed to take this job on.” Seth’s hand trailed down her side, his fingers gentle as he caressed her skin.

  “It’ll be fine.” Rose turned to face him, to look into his eyes as she spoke. “Seth, if this Cassius guy is planning for the Vamps to take over, then we need to stop him. I need to stop him. We agreed when I started this that we’d only take on work where the target was deserving of the sentence. This Vampire certainly seems to be that. It's not as if we can just lock wrongdoers up, like in the old days.”

  “I know that, Flower, you don’t need to remind me how bad it is out there.” Seth turned onto his back, sighing as his arm moved under his head. He stared up at the ceiling. “This guy is powerful. I think he’s the strongest you’ve ever gone up against, Rose Marie, and I’m scared. For you, for me, hell, just scared through and through.”

  Rose leaned up on her elbow, knowing he was really upset if he used her full name. He usually only did that when he was really angry with her. “I promise I’ll be careful and I won’t take any unnecessary risks.”

  His eyes sought hers, a look of disbelief on his face. “Really? You’re gonna try and get that past me? You thrive on risks, Flower, you know it, I know it. So don’t try and give me any bull.”

  “You’re my teacher. If I get that high from taking risks, then I must’ve learned it somewhere.”

  “Not from me.” Seth shook his head. “I’ve taught you how to do things, how to get out of things, but I’ve not taught you that unnecessary risks are okay, because they’re not. They put the mission in jeopardy, not to mention putting your very life at risk. I’d go crazy if anything happened to you, Rose.”

  “Okay, okay, it’s my own, shit, I’ve no idea what, but it’s something inside me that urges me to take risks. I’m sorry, and I promise I’ll try and not do it this time.”

  “Please, for me, be extra careful.” Seth’s free hand reached over to stroke her face gently. “I’m still hoping I can talk you out of this. Hell, I may even call your old man to come and knock some sense into you.”

  “Don’t you dare!” Rose glared down at Seth, anger flaring inside her. “I’ve not seen him in, fuck, how long? It’s so long I’ve forgotten. If he can’t be bothered to come see me, then he sure as hell has no right to interfere in any decisions I make.”<
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  Rose flounced out of the bed, hot rage causing her to pace furiously. Seth sat up, his back against the wall. “Rose Marie O’Connell! Don’t you talk about Brendan like that. He stays away for a reason, you know that.”

  “So you and he say.” Rose pouted, and she could feel the heat flushing up onto her face. “So they, whoever that may be, can’t find me. So what if they do? I’ll take them out, simple, problem solved.”

  “If it were that simple, don’t you think Brendan and I would’ve already done that?” Seth shook his head at her. “You’re too cocky, Flower, and that can get you killed. If it was easy to kill the Witch Hunters, then don’t you think your mother would’ve done that? She would’ve done anything in her power to get back to you, baby, anything. So don’t act like a spoiled brat and cuss out your father because it kills him not to see you.”

  Rose glared at Seth for a moment before her anger deflated, her shoulders drooping as she looked over at him, sadness on her face. “Why? Seth, I still don’t understand all this? The species warring is one thing, but for all the other species to hunt Witches to damn near extinction is just . . . fuck, I don’t know what it is, but it’s weird. Why would they do that?”

  “That’s what your father and I have been trying to find out for the past twenty years, since the killings started.” Seth patted the bed next to him. “Come back to bed, Flower.”

  “You never talk to me about it, or what you and Dad found out. Why?”

  Seth shrugged as she climbed back onto the bed, kneeling before him. “Because we haven’t found out much. We keep hitting dead ends and the few times when we’ve managed to capture one of the hunters, well, we don’t get a hell of a lot from them. Again and again they talk about some legend about a Witch bringing death and destruction to all. Utter rubbish, but it’s all we’ve managed to get.”

  “How many?” Rose asked softly. “How many have they killed and how many of us are left?”

  “I don’t have numbers, baby.” Seth opened his arms and she fell into them willingly. “All I can say is your dad’s found a few scattered around, but only a handful. How many others are there? Hell if I know. It’s why we have to make sure we have our shield in place at all times. Never let it fall, Flower, ever.”

  “I won’t,” she mumbled against his bare chest. “I hate portraying that I’m something else, though. I don’t mind having Wolf in my DNA, but I’m not a full Wolf, never have been. I can’t even transform. I must be a big disappointment to Dad.”

  Seth hugged her closer, his strong arms giving her the comfort she needed. “Don’t say that. Your dad loves you and is proud of you. He may not like what you decided to do for a living, but he understands you have to do what’s best for you. He’s never, not once, even mentioned you not morphing.”

  “I wish I could, though.” Rose looked up at him sadly. “I’d love to run free as a Wolf, but I’ve never felt that part of me inside.”

  “You could just be a late bloomer in the Wolf department.” Seth was obviously trying to appease her. “It might happen one day.”

  “Seth.” She pinched him hard. “A Wolf morphs for the first time at puberty. That’s years ago for me and I’ve never even felt my inner beast. So I’ve come to terms that there isn’t one. I obviously have more of my mother’s DNA than my dad’s.”

  “You can see, hear, smell, and track like a Wolf, so you’ve got that in you, baby.” Seth hugged her again. “What do I say – never say never – because you just don’t know what the future holds.”

  Seth chuckled and placed a kiss on the top of her head. “I didn’t see myself taking care of a child, but I did. May not have been the most conventional of upbringings, but we muddled through. Didn’t we?”

  “We did.” Rose smirked. “And who would’ve thought we’d end up, well, like this?” Her hand waved around, taking in the bed and their nudity.

  “Certainly not me.” Seth shook his head. “I fought it for so long.”

  “I know.” She teased his skin with her fingers. “You were driving me fucking nuts! Do you have any idea of the amount of times I got off in my bed while thinking about you?”

  “Flower!” Seth groaned. “Don’t talk like that or we’re never going to get out of bed.”

  “I was kinda hoping we could spend the day here.”

  “No.” Seth disentangled himself and left her pouting on the covers. “If you’re determined to take on this assignment, then we train, train, and train some more. We’ll do physical and magical exercises. I want you at the absolute top of your game before you go anywhere near Allarde.”

  “Are you sure?” She cocked an eyebrow, smirking towards his erection. “Don’t you want to come back to bed?”

  “Yes, I do,” Seth hissed. “But I’d rather keep you alive, so move that delectable ass outta my bed and get dressed. Work starts in five.”

  Rose watched as he pulled on fatigues, huffing in disappointment, she got up. “I’ll meet you outside,” she grumbled as she made her way to her own room to get dressed.

  “Stop shaking that ass at me, Flower,” Seth ordered as she sashayed away.

  “Damn,” she cursed as his laughter followed her down the hall.

  Cassius’ face was completely impassive as his guards stood over the body of one of the Vampires they’d caught.

  “You were told, oh, I think it was two weeks ago, about either towing the line and living by my rules or you’d face the consequences. Am I right?”

  “Fuck you,” the bloodied Vamp spat out, scarlet dribbling from various injuries inflicted on his capture.

  “Sorry.” Cassius shook his head. “I prefer ladies. Never been drawn to a man, not even one as handsome as you.” Sarcasm dripped from every word as he glared down at the defiant rogue.

  Val snickered and he was rewarded by a filthy snarl from the man on his knees before them.

  “You refused. Still attacking anything and anyone who moved around your little nest. I hate doing this, however, your little pack is made up of your progeny and you’ve taught them your ways, so there’s only one solution.”

  “Don’t touch them!” The Vamp tried to get up, but the guards knocked him back down.

  “This is your fault. Nobody else’s. You refused to listen, conform to the new laws for Manhattan. All of Manhattan. No packs, no gangs, no deaths. I am in charge, and we will not continue on like wild animals. You were given a chance to join our community, but you not only refused, you threw it back in my face when you murdered those two Wolves who were on their way here to give me a message from their Alpha.”

  “They were fucking Wolves. Dirty, damn Wolves.”

  “I know that, you moron.” Cassius felt his anger rising at the stupidity of this Vampire. “They were going to ally their Pack with us. Now? I have some serious damage control to do to appease them. You, my friend, are the first step.”

  “You’re taking the side of a Wolf over one of your own?” The man only now seemed to realize his predicament.

  “You are not one of my own.” Cassius snarled down at him before ordering, “Pick him up.”

  The guards hauled him to his feet, kicking and shouting, but keeping him firmly in their grasp. Cassius stepped forward, his face almost touching the Vampire’s. “The nest you set up is being dealt with as we speak, and now I’ll deal with you. Your body will be strung up in the street as a warning to others.”

  “No!”

  Cassius’ movement was a blur as his hand punched through the sternum, a scream echoed around them as his fingers closed over the beating heart. “Please,” the man whimpered.

  “Too late,” Cassius replied as he wrenched the heart from its safe haven within the man’s body, crushing it with ease and letting the mangled mess fall to the floor.

  The body slumped, only the guards’ grip holding it upward. “String him up,” he commanded coldly as he pulled a hankie from his top pocket and started to wipe his hands clean.

  Valentine stepped forward, handing Cassiu
s a wet cloth. “I came prepared.” His friend shrugged as Cassius took it.

  “Thank you.” He motioned to the bloody mess on the floor. “Get someone to clean that up, will you?”

  “Sure.” Val turned and snapped his fingers at one of the lower ranked Vampires.

  “What else you got planned for today?”

  “I’ve got Basilius, the new Demon in charge of the Council, coming to see me some time in the afternoon.”

  “It’s almost dawn. I know you’re stronger than most of the rest of us and can go out in daylight, but you’ve been up for twenty hours straight so far. You need to get some rest, Cassius.”

  “I’ll rest after he leaves.” Cassius patted Valentine on the shoulder. “Before you retire for the day, can you tell me if you have any new information on that little task I set you?”

  Val shrugged. “Not a lot. Same old, same old, ‘bout a Witch who can cause havoc and destruction. Why are you so interested all of a sudden?”

  Cassius looked his friend straight in the eye. “Because I don’t believe all that shit. There’s a reason, a good reason, why the humans and Wolves started to hunt down Witches. I know a lot of Vampires became involved in the hunt, too. What I don’t know is why, and that is something that intrigues me. A whole species doesn’t get hunted to extinction for no good reason, Valentine. I need you to find out what that reason is. Okay?”

  “I’ll keep on it, boss.” Val yawned, his hand shooting up to cover his mouth. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. Go rest. I’ll see you at dusk.” Cassius waved Val away. “I’ve got paperwork I need to take care of and even more arrangements for the Dominum gathering. Valeria has decided it’s to be a Masquerade Ball.”

  “Shit.” Val stopped, turning back around to face Cassius. “I don’t need to wear a mask, do I? I hate masks.”

  “Yes, everyone will be wearing one, including staff and caterers.” Cassius saw Valentine stifle another yawn. “Go to bed, Val. You’re no good to me when you’re dead on your feet.”