Scarlet Assassin

by Isabella

  Turning her head to the other side she studied the floor. The darkness under the bed showed nothing. She was without hope, without strength and would die alone, with no one to comfort her in her final hours. She needed Clarissa to know she was her last thought before she died. She punctured her finger with her razor sharp fang and squeezed the tip, a few drops of precious blood seeped out. What energy she had, she turned to her side and started to scrawl out, AJ loves Clarissa. Surrounding it with a heart was juvenile but she feared she didn’t have enough time for a letter. Pausing to catch her breath, she rested her head on her arm. She couldn’t see her artwork under the bed, but it would stay protected there, safe from prying eyes. Squeezing her finger again, the drops smaller now, she pushed her finger up making the side of the heart that would encapsulate her final thoughts. She felt something. Squinting in the darkness she tried to see what it was, but could only feel a slight tap as she pushed further. Probably a rat turd, she thought, all energy depleted. Death was moments away, she was sure. Lacking any more strength, her hand flopped to the floor and the foreign object under her palm popped. Rat shit didn’t pop, squish maybe, rock solid maybe, but not pop.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Francesca balanced the Chinese food against her hip as she tried to slip her key into the lock. The door swung wide, and Daphne stood with her hand on her hips, smiling.

  “Finally. I’m starving,” she said, grabbing the box of delectable food. “What took you so long? I thought maybe I would have to send a search party for you.”

  Daphne popped open each box of food, the steam escaping and filling the room with tantalizing aromas. Sliding a pair of cheap chopsticks out of their sleeve, she grabbed a carton and headed for the couch.

  “So, where were you all night? And…don’t give me that crap about work.” Daphne said around a mouth full of broccoli beef.

  “Didn’t you mother tell you it isn’t polite to talk with your mouth full?” Francesca schooled. She darted for the bathroom and a much needed shower. Hot water would exorcise her demons. It always did wonders to clear her head after her mental gymnastics from work and she suspected it would be her sanctuary now as well.

  Gently she peeled her slacks down. The red welts from the flogger were a soft pink now and didn’t smart as much as they had when she put her pants on. Her blouse, now that would be a different story. It stuck to her the moment she put it on and the patterned fabric hid the small trails of blood that dotted her back. Stepping into the shower with it on she let the hot water loosen the bloody contacts. Slipping it off her shoulder and to the floor, she hesitated to turn her back to the full spray of the hot shower. She knew the physics of the pressure from the pulsing hot water making contact with bruised skin would leave a less than desirable result.

  “What the fuck happened to you?”

  Francesca turned to hide her back and in the process jerked in pain as the water stream made contact with the lash marks.

  “Don’t you ever knock? I’m starting to think your mother didn’t teach you anything about manners did she, Daphne?” Pulling the curtain closed, she staggered against the cold tile of the shower. Too much cold, she jerked off the tiles. Fuck.

  “Who did that to you, Francesca? I’m calling the police.” Daphne’s voice faded as she marched into the living room, probably searching for her cell phone.

  Francesca grabbed a towel and ran after Daphne. She couldn’t let Daphne do anything that would hurt Selene, especially when she’d asked to be hurt.

  “You are not calling the police. Give me that.” Francesca reached for the phone.

  “What do you mean I’m not calling the police? Someone hurt you and you need medical attention. Look at your back and legs Francesca.” Daphne tried to get a peek around Francesca’s toweled body. “Who did that to you?”

  “Sit.” Francesca pointed to the couch. “Now.” Her tone left few options but to be followed.

  Daphne sat down, suddenly finding her broccoli beef more interesting as she poked around in the container. A blush covered her face and Francesca knew realization had suddenly set in. She’d been to the Dungeon.

  “I need a shower, can I trust you to sit still while I shower and then I can tell you all about it.” Francesca tapped her on her head, making Daphne look up.

  “Yes,” Daphne acquiesced, looking more like a child who’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar than a grown woman. “Promise you’ll tell me everything?” she asked, suddenly perking up.

  “Maybe.”

  “Well.” Daphne shooed her with her chopsticks. “Hurry, I want to hear all about it.”

  “Promise me you won’t call anyone, Daphne. No one.”

  She held up three fingers, then crossed her heart and promised.

  Francesca wished she could feel relieved, but knowing that she had to share the experience with Daphne gave her little time to think about what had happened between her and Selene. She wasn’t good at lying, it wasn’t something she had practice with, and to be a good liar you had to do it regularly. What exactly had happened between her and Selene? A dominate/submissive relationship in the beginning, but then something else had taken over when she went to Selene’s office. The ache between her legs was proof of that experience.

  The shower was quick, efficient and hot. Wrapping herself in her fluffy robe, she slipped her feet into her fuzzy pink slippers and wiggled her toes in their softness. A quick glance at her image in the mirror and she was about as ready as she could be to relay the events of the evening.

  “Any food left?”

  “Of course, I put together a plate for you. It’s in the microwave.”

  Daphne had made her own quick change and was the epitome of comfort, yet stylish. Her designer yoga pants, topped with a silky camisole, and hotel quality robe made Francesca feel like Daphne was slumming, sitting with Francesca. The only thing missing was a pair of red-soled designer slippers. They made ‘em, Daphne just didn’t want to get them dirty walking around their apartment.

  “Thanks.” Francesca pulled the hot plate from the microwave. She found a fork and was ready to do damage to the steaming meal. Before she could sit down, Daphne stood and made room for her on the couch.

  “Sit, wait…but before you do…show me.” Daphne nodded at Francesca’s back.

  “I need to eat first.” Gingerly, Francesca sat on the sofa, shifting to find a comfortable spot on her body. Daphne didn’t say anything, she just watched Francesca with a smile that could only be described as Cheshire at best. The silence that passed between them was weird for someone like Daphne, who was used to talking the peel off a banana.

  “So, let me guess. You went to the Dungeon. You sly fox, you. I didn’t think you had it in you. What was it like? Was it as exciting as watching? Who put those marks on you? What did he look like? Was he–”

  “Stop.” Francesca put her food on the coffee table and cupped her hands around the hot tea. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and sighed. This was going to be tougher than she thought. It was like sharing your most intimate thoughts, but you didn’t want too. Francesca hadn’t even had time to process what happened earlier and now all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. She was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open. Her emotions had gone from one extreme to another, sexually heightened to shame and doubt. “I’m too tired for this, Daphne. Can we do this in the morning? Please?”

  Daphne slid over and wrapped her arms around Francesca and suddenly she was crying. She didn’t know why, but it felt good, a release of all the pent up energy she had experienced came out in a rush of emotion.

  “It’ll be okay,” Daphne said, gently rocking Francesca back and forth.

  “It’s not that, really. It’s just…I don’t know…it’s just been a roller coast of a day.” Wiping at her eyes she stood and brushed her robe. “I think I just need to go to bed, Daph. Can we please talk about this in the morning?”

  “Sure sweetie, but you have to promise you’ll tell
me all the gory details. Promise?”

  “Thanks.” Francesca grabbed her cell phone off the table and shut her bedroom door, leaning her head against it. Her mind was a mash-up of images, all rolling through like a silent movie. Looking at her cell phone she noticed someone had called before Daphne and left a message. She didn’t recognize the number, so she scrolled through the list of missed calls. She remembered Selene had told her earlier that she’d left her a message. That was the only time the number came in. Sitting on the bed, she hit voice mail and waited. She had to make sure it wasn’t someone from work that she just didn’t recognize their number.

  The low, sultry voice made her feel weak, and brought a flush of heat to her face as she recognized Selene’s voice. “Francesca, this is Selene. I…um, well I just wanted to–”

  Francesca snapped the phone shut. She didn’t want to hear how sorry Selene was for what happened tonight. She wasn’t sorry. She’d signed up for the session knowing what she was getting herself into. Anything beyond that was between two consenting adults. The vision of Selene’s head between her legs made her tingle. Closing her eyes and leaning back, she slid her hand between the folds of her robe, touching herself. The slick, wet lips parted for her just like they had when Selene had stroked her with her tongue. She jerked as her finger flicked across her clit. Her body wasn’t alien to her, but it was rare that she explored it for pleasure. Spreading the robe wider, Francesca let her hands roam over her body, following the curves and contours. Her lips hardened with barely a touch and her mind remembered Selene’s warm tongue laving over the peaks that pebbled and tightened. Francesca couldn’t help herself, she hit her voice mail again and waited for the low rumble of Selene’s voice to come on.

  “Francesca, this is Selene. I…um, well I just wanted to talk to you. I…it’s…well what I’m trying to say is it’s been a while since a woman has made me lose control like that and I wish I could say I was sorry, but to be honest, I’ve been thinking about you since you came in with your group. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful when I asked about your being a virgin. I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t hurt you. If I’d have known I probably wouldn’t have…scratch that, I would have still made love to you, but maybe it would have been different.” The message paused and then Selene spoke again. “Look, I have an errand to run, but I wonder if you might like to have lunch, well maybe coffee would be better. Just to talk, of course. Call me if you’re interested. No sex, I promise.”

  The call ended with the usual instructions for deleting, saving or ending the call.

  Just listening to Selene’s voice had been enough to send Francesca over the edge as she worked herself into a frenzy. She felt like she was being thrown against the breaking waves as her orgasm crashed around her. Shuddering, she squeezed her legs together, bit her lip and tasted blood.

  “No sex, I promise,” she remembered Selene saying. “But what if I need you to touch me again, Selene?” Her name hung on her lips as she drifted into the arms of sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Selene waited for Ian at the coffee shop near the club. She’d changed the meeting place when a little bastard had shown up at Clarissa’s office. Marshal was still tucked away nicely in her basement where he belonged, at least for now. He wasn’t important enough to be a pawn, maybe a small fish in a big pond, but she knew he was connected to this whole thing in some way.

  Clarissa was positioned on the other side of the barrier, where she could listen to the whole exchange with Ian. While he was a vampire too, he wouldn’t be able to pickup on Clarissa as easily as if she fed on human blood. It left a scent trail a blind hound dog could follow. Selene’s own recent human feeding would trigger Ian’s olfactory nerves, knocking them off the charts. She still wore the same clothes she had worn earlier when she fucked Francesca, all in an effort to bring Ian to his senses, so to speak. He’d have a hard time not letting it trigger his own change. This should be interesting, she thought as she sipped her tea.

  Selene?

  Clarissa?

  Selene, I’m having a hard time sitting here with that woman’s scent all over you. Can’t you change your shirt at least?

  It’s all part of the plan, Clarissa. If you’re having a hard time and you don’t feed on human blood, imagine the hell Ian is going to go through when he sits down. It’s all part of the plan. He knows where AJ is and we need him to talk. I don’t have time to play his game, so be patient and let me do what I’m good at.

  I hope you’re right. I can feel AJ’s in danger and I don’t think we have much time.

  I know, I know.

  “Selene, there ya are girl. How’ve ya been?”

  Selene stood and just as she thought, Ian wrapped her in a bear hug pulling her off her feet. Giving her a peck on the cheek, he leaned back and leered at her. “You’ve been busy,” he said, sitting her down.

  She hadn’t washed her face, barely wiped the wetness off, so she knew Francesca was all over where he had just placed his lips. Target located. He might tag on her scent, but he would never get close enough to Francesca for Selene to worry. Sitting down across from him, she noticed the instant glassy-eyed look on his face, he was reveling in the array of scents that she was giving off.

  “Thanks for meeting me here, Ian. Sorry, I had an emergency come up here making it impossible to get to the low valley.”

  “No problem, girl. Next time you can come over to me gaff and we’ll get a couple of gingernuts, that is if you favor the reds.”

  Disgusting, all Ian thought about was feeding his dick and money, and if the two went hand in hand, he was a happy camper. Part him from one of those things and he became the demon you never wanted as an enemy.

  “Did you bring the money?”

  Before he could answer a waitress interrupted them. Fuck, she just wanted to part him from his money, get the information she needed and be on her way. Luck was never on her side.

  “Calm down Selene, we’ll take care of business, but in the meantime this beautiful woman needs to make a living, dontcha girl?” Ian said, wrapping his arm around her hips, pulling her closer. Poor thing never knew what hit her as she giggled and stared at his baby blues. “I’ll have a dark ale. You do have those here dontcha? Selene, what’ll you have? One of those prissy drinks with an umbrella?”

  “I have my tea,” she said rocking the mug in her hand.

  “Bring her a prissy drink with one of those umbrellas and two cherries. She likes fruit in her drink, if you know what I mean.” He slapped her ass as she walked away still giggling. “So Selene, I have this problem as you know. I need you to take care of it as soon as possible.”

  “Money?”

  Patting his chest, he said, “Right here. I’ll pass it to ya as soon as we work out the details.”

  “We worked out the details, Ian. This meeting is just a formality.” She pointed back and forth between them. “You just need to tell me where De Marcus is and pass me the ball.”

  “Ah, here we are, a dark ale for your sir,” the waitress said, placing the frosty glass in front of Ian. “And here we go for you, ma’am.” Smiling, she placed a tall glass with brightly colored liquid in front of Selene.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s called Sex with Jennifer. It’s my favorite.” She winked at Selene.

  “Really, well thank you, Jennifer.”

  “Oh that’s not my name, it’s the name of the drink.” The waitress giggled.

  “I kinda figured.”

  “Oh, you were being funny. I’m sorry.” Turning towards Ian, she asked, “Is there anything else?”

  “Not yet, my sweet, but check back in about ten minutes and I’ll be ordering another one of these if I like it.”

  Walking away the waitress giggled some more and Selene just shook her head. Ian was beyond unbelievable. No doubt he’d have the waitress bedded before the night was over.

  “So Selene, where were we?”

  “De Marcus. Where is he?”


  Stroking his chin, Selene could hear the coarse stubble sanding his fingers as he slid them back and forth. He was stalling, but why? Either he was here on De Marcus’ behalf or he really wanted De Marcus dead.

  “You didn’t hear this from me, get it?” His gaze shifted around the room as he leaned in and sniffed in Selene’s direction. He stalled again, letting the smell of her last feeding envelop him.

  “Ian.”

  “You smell divine, my girl. Male or female?”

  “What?”

  “The person you feed on, I can smell them on you. Young, nubile and fresh. Virgin?”

  Selene sat back in her seat, trying to put some distance between them. Ian was starting to freak her out. Their business needed to conclude as soon as possible or he would be her next entree.

  “I haven’t heard the answer to my question, Ian. Spill.” Her voice was menacing as she reached down into her boot and fingered the stiletto nested safely.

  “I heard that De Marcus was at the coven today. Something about taking care of some business there. I figured he pinched Butch, but the bastard called me today about something else, so he’s alive and well.”

  “So where’s De Marcus? Is he still there?”

  “Naw, he finished his work there and now he’s here, searching for some property that belongs to him.”

  “Property?” Clarissa.

  “Yeah, I don’t know what that means. The bastard has his fingers in a lot of crap, that’s why I want him gone. Some of that is my crap, and I ain’t sharin’, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I’m reading you all right.”

  “Good, now when will you have the job done?”

  “I need a little more information than, he’s here. Who’s at the coven?”