Scarlet Assassin

by Isabella

  “Hello, if you’d like to leave me a message, you know what to do.”

  Clarissa’s voice sounded so good right now, if only it was really her, AJ thought. She knew if Clarissa didn’t recognize the number she wouldn’t answer the phone.

  “Baby, it’s me. I’m all right. I had some business at the coven and I’m on my way home. I should be there in about two hours. Keep dinner warm for me and make sure the alarm is set and you’ve locked down the elevator. I’ll call you when I get to the garage and then you can unlock it. Okay? See you soon. I love you.”

  Fuck!

  Selene.

  Selene would recognize the number and take her call.

  ****

  Look, I’m sure AJ will call,” Selene said, trying to calm Clarissa’s fears. “She’s just probably tied-up with work or something.”

  Selene slid her shades on, shielding her eyes from the light of the sunset. She wished her meeting with Ian had been somewhat productive, but she hadn’t really expected much from him. She rarely agreed to meet with clients, but she wanted to look Ian in the face when she played him. He’d done exactly what Selene expected, flirt her up, give her some information and left out the most important part–how he knew so much about De Marcus. Who was he protecting?

  “It’s the or something I’m worried about.”

  “She’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. Besides, you two are so connected to each other you’d know if something was wrong, right?” Selene knew Clarissa had every reason to worry. AJ took too many risks to get De Marcus, her anger clouded her judgment. If she wasn’t careful those risks would catch up to her, eventually.

  “That’s exactly why I’m worried. I hear her calling out to me and I can’t honestly tell you it wasn’t just a dream. I just need to talk to her, that would put my mind at ease and then I’ll kick her ass when I see her.”

  Selene’s phone vibrated against her chest. Looking down at her screen, she didn’t recognize the number, but the area code was the same as the one she called when she made the appointment at the coven with Butch. Hesitating, she thought about letting it go to the voicemail. She rarely picked up numbers she didn’t recognize, but something about the coven calling her made her suspicious.

  “Yeah?”

  After a beat of silence, she heard a wheezing breath.

  “Selene.” Selene could barely recognize the haggard voice on the other end. AJ sounded like death was knocking. Another staggering breath and then she said, “If Clarissa is with you don’t say my name, I don’t want her to panic…”

  “Okay…what’s up?” Selene switched the phone to the other side hoping Clarissa couldn’t recognize the voice. “I’m on my way to the club. Can I call you back at this number?”

  “No, I’m…I’m on my way home, but I wanted to give you a heads up, De Marcus is on his way there.”

  Selene turned her head and whispered into the phone. “How do you know that? You don’t sound so good.”

  “It’s a long story, but I should be fine in a few hours. Don’t send Clarissa to the penthouse. Take her somewhere safe until I get there. In fact, take her back to the club. I’ll meet you there and explain everything.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “Tell her to check her messages. I tried to call but it went to voicemail.”

  “Okay.”

  “Selene, De Marcus has associates working with him, so keep an eye out for them.”

  “I think I might have run into a mutual friend already.”

  “Shit, is Clarissa okay?”

  “Just fine, thanks for asking.”

  “Thanks buddy, I owe you one.”

  “Oh, I think you owe me more than one.” Selene said, trying to sound as casual as possible. “Okay travel safe and see you when you get here.”

  “Will do.”

  The line went silent before she could ask any more questions. Probably just as well considering Clarissa was sitting next to her, straining to listen.

  “So who was that?”

  “An old friend coming into town.” Selene’s answer was truthful as far as she was concerned.

  “Sounds like he’s sick.”

  “Yeah, he said he’s fighting a cold.”

  “Ah, so he isn’t one of us. Interesting, Selene. I didn’t figure you for having human friends.”

  Vampires didn’t get sick, one of the perks of being quick, self-healers. They also didn’t suffer the normal living human frailties, but their burden was in how long they could live. An easier life was often small comfort for the loss and heartache endured over the centuries of a vampire’s existence

  “Really? Why would you think I didn’t have any friends who weren’t vampires?” Selene’s droll tone almost confirming Clarissa’s statement she was sure.

  “I guess I’ve always thought of you as a loner. My mistake, we all change, it’s inevitable. I just thought you were the one constant in all of this.”

  “Really?” Selene couldn’t dispute the analysis, because change wasn’t something she was comfortable with. She liked routine, the daily rhythm of life and for her it kept her somewhat stable, at least she liked to think it did The life of an assassin was off-kilter, nomadic at times, but her routine of tea at six every morning, training at seven and then equipment checks and maintenance forced her to try and maintain a schedule, of sorts.

  “Is that all you can say?”

  “Have you checked your phone lately? Maybe AJ has called.”

  Patting her purse, she pulled it out and showed Selene the phone face. “It’s dead. My charger is in my car, so I guess I’ll just–”

  “Try mine, looks like we have the same phone.” She pointed to the built in charger on the dash. Any distraction to get Clarissa off her back and off the subject of friends would be welcome.

  “Oh, nice.”

  “Yeah, they do custom work at this shop. Got a few other gadgets installed for emergencies.”

  “Like?”

  “Not important,” Selene said, pulling on to the highway towards the club.

  Selene was a pro at diversion and if she could take Clarissa’s mind off AJ until the phone charged she’d work it. Lucky for her Clarissa had just taken the bait.

  “So who was on the phone?”

  Well, maybe not.

  ****

  An arm over her eyes shielded her from the bright sunlight peeking through the thin drapes. Her body rebelled against the thought of getting up, but her bladder demanded action. Swinging her legs off the bed the sweet sting of pain laced her back.

  “Hey, you up in there?” A light tapping followed the inquiry.

  Fuck, Daphne.

  “Yeah, give me a minute. I gotta go to the bathroom.” She’d only be able to stall for so long, and then the walk of shame was inevitable.

  Why shame? They were two consenting adults. They didn’t do anything wrong, but for some reason she a little shame mixed with her pleasure. Her face flushed as the image of Selene buried between her legs flashed. God, I want more.

  After washing her hands and brushing her teeth she slipped a T-shirt over her head. The friction of the fabric against the raised pink lash marks made her flinch. She pulled open the door and Daphne practically fell at her feet.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Listening to make sure you’re all right?” Daphne cocked a lopsided grin.

  “Seriously?”

  “No, not serious. Can I come in for some girl time?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think so.” Francesca walked to the bed.

  “Oh my god, do those hurt?” Daphne pointed to the bruises peeking out from under her T-shirt bottom.

  Blushing, she slipped back under the covers, pulling them up to her chin as if they would protect her from Daphne’s exploring nature.

  “Those look just like in that book.”

  “What book?”

  “You know that book with that Grey guy,” D
aphne said, climbing in on the other side of the bed. “You know, those bondage books all the women at work are talking about.” She snuggled closer to Francesca.

  “Hey can I have some real estate here? This is my bed.” Francesca reminded Daphne.

  “Oh, sorry.”

  “So, what was it like? I mean…I wanna go.”

  “You can go anytime you want.”

  “No, I want you to take me.” Daphne snuggled closer again. “Can, I touch them?”

  Daphne was never going away until she got what she wanted. Just ask her boyfriend. Francesca rolled onto her side and slipped her T-shirt up, exposing. A cool touch traced a line across her backside and then another and another. She felt warm breath on her back. Daphne had moved in for a closer inspection.

  “I can see the outline of the crop or whatever they used. Does it hurt?”

  “No, I’m good. It was....I don’t know…I guess it was—”

  “Hot.”

  Francesca smiled. Oh yeah, she’s hot all right.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  The silence in the car left Selene to struggle with the impending darkness, gnashing its teeth at the periphery of her soul. Its frayed edges signaling the impending fall into blackness. She didn’t fear it. Like life, it was an inevitability that if unanswered it couldn’t be avoided. She feared the loss of control that came with the darkness more. In light she could do anything, be anyone. In the dark abyss she could only be one thing, the one thing she most dreaded, an animal.

  Then there were the sacred memories secluded in the catacombs of her mind. The well-lit paths were starting to dim with each successive kill. How would she get back to those treasures of her family if she continued on this path? There was no redemption for her, only pain, and she squelched that path each time she took a life. Hence the conundrum she found herself in.

  There was Francesca. Without knowing why, she would find herself drawn to Selene, like a moth pulled to a glowing light, it was instinct that would pull Francesca. Selene would burn from the bright light that emanated from such an innocent and Francesca had unwillingly found herself bound to Selene when she’d given her virginity. Selene would have—no must have acted differently had she known Francesca was a virgin. The sacrificial virgin wasn’t a myth in the vampire lore. It was fact. The bond of virginal blood was rare, even in modern times, but it was a bond, a pull, Selene couldn’t ignore. Their bond was forged in that blood forever. Francesca belonged to her alone. It would only be a matter of time before Francesca came to her, not knowing what possessed her to seek out Selene. Was Selene ready for that?

  Selene doubted she could be what Francesca required in a mate. A lover, a protector, yes, but she doubted her own mating ability. She was no AJ or Clarissa, bonded for an eternity. Francesca had no way of knowing what she had gotten herself into when she gave herself to Selene. It would be Selene’s responsibility to decide Francesca’s fate. Francesca wouldn’t be able to decide for herself, biology would take over her logical mind and body.

  “Earth to Selene.” Clarissa snapped her fingers in front of Selene’s face. “Hey, did you hear what I said?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Selene lied.

  “Really, I think you were on the blonde planet. So, what’s up between you two?”

  “Nothing.” Selene’s terse tone sending a signal she didn’t want to talk about Francesca.

  “Well that’s not the vibe that cute little thing gave off when she passed me in the hall,” Clarissa said, rubbing at the maroon polish on her fingernails. “Her body was humming as she practically ran past me. Only one thing does that to a woman…Selene.” Selene saw Clarissa piercing her with a no bullshit look.

  Selene kept her eyes on the road refusing to acknowledge Clarissa’s statement. But like a dog with a bone, Clarissa continued.

  “Selene.” Clarissa covered Selene’s hand resting on the shifter. “You’ve been on this path too long and I worry you’ll retract into the darkness if you stay on it much longer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It takes decades for those of us who are day walkers to get here in the light. But no one knows how long it would take to lose it when we decide to embrace that finger of darkness that threads its way into our soul.”

  If Selene didn’t know better, she would have thought Clarissa had peered into her thoughts a moment ago. Selene had perfected the ability to prevent someone from intruding on her mentally. AJ, at two hundred years her senior, was the only one old enough in Selene’s circle of friends who could penetrate her mind. Clarissa, while older than Selene, had been a slave too long and a submissive had baggage to overcome before she could even get close to Selene. Clarissa could connect to AJ, their bond as lovers connected them deeper than a vampire to vampire connection.

  “I’m fine, trust me.” She patted Clarissa’s hand reassuringly and gave her a half-hearted smile. “I can’t do this much longer. After De Marcus is caught or killed, I’m done.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  Looking to change the subject and get it off her, Selene quipped. “How about we just get back to the club and wait for AJ?”

  “Do you think she’s there?”

  “Probably.” Selene lied, but didn’t have the heart to tell her AJ was most likely running for her life. Her comment about being “fine in a few hours” didn’t sound encouraging. If she died, Selene would kick her ass. Metaphorically of course.

  “God, I can’t wait to put my arms around her.”

  “Hmm.”

  ****

  Francesca’s hand froze on the ornate brass handle on the massive door to the Dungeon. She wanted to turn and run. Her fight or flight response multiplied inside. She’d never been one to act irrationally, which is why she couldn’t seem to explain what her heart was telling her head. Her body ached for attention, to relive the experience from the night before, again.

  “Hey, wait up,” Daphne said, following behind. “Gosh, you’re in a hurry.”

  “Sorry, it looks like rain.”

  “Really?” Daphne raised her hands as if she was trying to catch a few phantom raindrops. “I don’t think so, are you okay? I know I can be pushy, so if this is a bad idea we can go home.”

  Francesca could hear the quiver in Daphne’s voice. She was all talk and little action and Francesca had called her bluff this afternoon. The taunts and chatter were driving her crazy. When she couldn’t take anymore, she threw it back in Daphne’s face and mounted the challenge.

  “If you want to go, fine. Let’s go tonight. I want you to experience this all first-hand.”

  Now, Francesca wished she’d kept her own mouth shut. Lately she’d felt bullied into things, like Dorothy and the night at the Dungeon. This afternoon Daphne’s taunts had been the final poke. So she poked back and here she was, her hand ready to pull the door to another peek into a different world she never thought she’d ever experience again.

  “Okay.” Daphne grabbed Francesca’s upper arm and gripped it tight. “Let’s go inside.”

  “Look, just one thing. Please don’t embarrass me. Okay?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just try and play it cool. Don’t freak out, don’t shout anything inappropriate, and please, please don’t touch anyone or volunteer. Okay?”

  “Damn, Frankie. You must think I’m some adolescent school boy, jeeze.”

  “In a word, yes.”

  “Seriously?”

  Francesca just rolled her eyes at Daphne.

  “Fine. Look but don’t touch and no inappropriate talking. Happy?”

  “We’ll see.”

  Ducking into the dark club, Francesca pulled Daphne through the doors and into an experience she was sure would change them both.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  AJ pulled the cell door closed and grabbed the keys she had fished out of the guard’s pocket. A locked door kept people out, just as easily as they kept people in and by the time anyone in the coven missed Butch, sh
e’d be long gone. Her knees shook with each step and it was clear she still needed time to rest. Hiding in the coven wasn’t an option. Without a leader or a direct successor the coven would be in instant turmoil and AJ didn’t need to be around when the shit hit the fan.

  AJ scanned the area, checking for cameras. The coven didn’t have them installed anywhere, which meant she might make it out without being seen. Slipping down the hall she listened to every sound, down to the mouse scrambling along the wall ahead of her. Her mouth watered at the thought of its warm blood pulsing through its tiny body. She hated thinking like an animal, but would do whatever it took to get back to Clarissa. Following the squeaks, she knew the mouse would lead her to an exit or at least to a dark hiding hole. Maybe not her size, but at this point she would take anything. The silence of the coven pretty much assured her that it was daylight, but she wasn’t sure for how much longer. She worried about Clarissa and the head start De Marcus had on her. One thing she knew, it was long enough for De Marcus to get back to the bay area and get to Clarissa. A sense of relief flooded her, she was lucky Selene had taken her call, Clarissa was safe and in good hands.

  Footfalls drawing closer made her scramble for cover. Slipping into a dark room, she waited just inside the door for the person to pass. She briefly contemplated pulling them into the room and draining them, but another body plus Butch’s disappearance would be hard to hide without alerting someone. The sound of a heartbeat stopped her, then another and another and…all pulsing in the room. She was in a den of sleeping vampires. Her heart raced with one thought running through her mind: Run!

  Slipping her head out the door, she watched another guard slowly make her way down the hallway. Peering towards her exit she waited until she thought the coast was clear and snuck quietly out of the room. Sweat slipped between her breasts and down her back. At least her body was starting to function. Now it was imperative to make her way to freedom and safety. Time wasn’t her friend, she needed to make a quick exit and return to Clarissa.