Scarlet Assassin

by Isabella

  “The others should be rousing soon, come here.” A voice somewhere behind her whispered.

  Great, I roll right into a sex scene, wonder if they’d be interested in a three-way? Sarcasm was the only way AJ could handle the situation as she tried to block out the sounds of flesh slapping.

  A scream broke the silence, rousing vampires from their waning sleep. It was only a matter of time before the coven became active again and her cover would be blown. Reaching for the nearest door handle she opened it, hoping it didn’t lead to another den of vampires. The darkness while inviting came with the fear of not knowing what was inside. Her eyesight weakened just like her body, impaired her ability to see any great depth. Pounding footsteps made her rush inside. She’d take her chances with a few over the many that would respond to the blood curdling scream. Obviously, someone had found Butch and now they would mount a full-scale effort to find his killer and the only person supposed to be in that cell: AJ.

  A coat closet, she was in a damn closet. She fumbled around, searching around for something more than fabric, something she could use to protect herself. Riffling through pockets, she was coming up empty. Pushing the coats aside, she searched deeper into the bowels of the closet. The space didn’t end. She moved deeper and deeper behind the jackets. Was this a passageway? Darkness enveloped her the farther she moved into the closet. Dank musty air pricked her nostrils, wetness sloshed around her feet. I hope that isn’t something other than water. The floor sloped downward into a void. She kept moving. The unknown was better than staring down the barrel of a rifle. She just had no way of knowing where it did end up, but she’d rather take her chances in the blackness of the tunnel, as long as it led her away from the coven and to freedom.

  Inching further into the darkness, all she wanted to do right now was rest. Her body ached as it tried to replenish the blood she’d lost. Her enhanced capsules were working, but she was just this side of death and escaping its clutches her body started to swell. Her muscles were finally becoming engorged with her own blood and the fog her mind mingled in was slowly starting to clear. She’d need to give Dr. Swartz a pay raise for the improved formula. Sliding down against the wall she squatted, trying to rest. AJ cradled her pounding head in her hands and slowed her breathing. She didn’t want to waste valuable energy overtaxing her heart and spending what she didn’t have to lose. Closing her eyes, she focused her other senses to engage her surroundings—no movement anywhere. In fact, it seemed even her mouse had deserted her, too. Her mind drifted to Clarissa, the last time they cradled each other in bed. The pillow talk moments kept them wound tighter together than anything else they could do. Often times they shared bits and pieces of their past. They could spend eternity in cuddle mode and never cover all that had happened in their lives.

  Leaning her head against the damp cement wall, she dozed quietly for a few minutes. She faced a dilemma–take another concentrated capsule or find someone to feed on. Blood from someone would heal her more efficiently than waiting for the concentrate to work, but it would have lingering affects to her mentally. The mental orgasm a vampire received when they fed off a body was like playing with fire for her. She’d abstained for so long and yet in one day she had swallowed more blood than she had in years and she could feel the craving rising again in the pit of her soul.

  Dangerous.

  Startled awake by the phone in her hand, she looked down at the number pushing across the screen. Thankfully, its former owner set it to vibrate, not ring or she was sure it would bring the coven running. One bar for a signal meant there was no chance she could call out. She was amazed she’d gotten the call to Selene out tucked away in the cell. Fates were on her side, finally. Clutching it like a lifeline. she thanked whoever was watching over her right now for giving her the peace of mind to hold on to it. Standing, she wobbled a little, but felt a bit stronger, at least. A left turn would take her back into the heart of the coven. Looking right, she had no idea where it led, but she’d take her chances and the opportunity for more time to gain her strength back. Holding the wall to keep her steady, she moved further into the hallway. Suddenly she was standing at the junction of three paths. Turning in a circle, she saw only darkness in each direction. No landmarks, no directions and no visible markings gave AJ no idea which way led her out and home to Clarissa. Peering into each hallway, a cool breeze lightly caressed her face, blowing wisps of hair out of her face. That meant an open door or window down the hallway to the left and she hurried in that direction, hoping she was making the right choice.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  The last few minutes sitting in front of the club were silent. Selene and Clarissa were lost in their own thoughts. Selene knew Clarissa worried about AJ and she contemplated the darkness that seemed to be invading her. Selene would need to make a drastic change and soon or she would be relegated to the darkness forever.

  “That was AJ on the phone earlier,” Selene dropped the bomb, waiting for the explosion she knew would follow.

  “What?”

  “She said she tried to call your phone and left a message.”

  “Why didn’t she ask to talk to me?”

  “She’s on her way home. She didn’t sound good, but she said De Marcus is on his way to find you and I should take you to the club.”

  “What do you mean she didn’t sound good? Is she hurt?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “Well why the fuck didn’t you ask?”

  “Calm down, Clarissa. You and I both know that AJ does what she wants. She was at the coven.”

  “What? Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “This is why she didn’t want to talk to you. I’m sure she’ll explain things when she gets back.”

  “You lied to me, Selene. You said it was a friend.” Clarissa yanked her phone from the charging unit.

  “Sometimes you have to lie to protect.” Selene was unapologetic. Clarissa would have to understand that to protect her, Selene would do whatever it took to keep her safe. It wasn’t negotiable. She owed it to AJ.

  Selene could hear the message AJ left Clarissa. The instructions were different than what AJ had told her, so there might be a fight when they got to the club.

  “AJ said I should go to the penthouse–”

  “We’re not going to the penthouse, Clarissa. She told me to take you to the club, it’s much safer there than trying to get you inside the penthouse.”

  “Why would she say to go to the penthouse then?” Clarissa listened to the message again.

  “The situation obviously changed. You heard her on the phone with me, I know you did.”

  Clarissa was quiet. She touched the face of the phone with AJ’s picture as the background image.

  “Look, I know you want me to take you to the penthouse, but AJ wants us to go the club. Besides, I can protect you better there.” Selene knew there wasn’t a choice in the matter and even if it had been up to her, she still wouldn’t let Clarissa go to the penthouse.

  “Fine, then we go to the club. That’s where she’ll be looking for us.” Clarissa acquiesced.

  “Thanks.”

  “For what?” Clarissa looked out the window.

  “For not making me be the bad guy.”

  “Oh, you don’t need my help for that. You have a lock on bad girl, trust me you’ve got it down pat.”

  “You might be right.” All Selene wanted was a drink, a shower and quiet. At least until AJ got there and then the shit could hit the proverbial fan. Tapping the button for the garage door, she waited until it was just high enough to clear her coup and then slowly drove through, watching her rearview mirror for any strays that might try to follow her in. She wouldn’t put it past De Marcus to case her place and AJ’s, but Selene had patrols on the perimeter around the clock.

  “I want to sit here for a few minutes and catch my breath.” Selene tilted the steering wheel up and leaned against the head rest. “I’m tired, Clar. I’m so tired.”

  “I know you are
, honey.” She felt Clarissa pat her hand, just as she dozed off.

  ****

  Jerking, Selene sat up. “How long have I been out? Christ, why did you let me fall a sleep?”

  “You need to rest. You’re practically walking in your sleep.”

  “We can’t sit in the car. It isn’t safe.” Selene rubbed her eyes and tried to stretch in the cramped space.

  “Who would think to look for us sitting in a car, in the parking lot, Selene? I can’t think of a safer place.”

  “We’re like sitting ducks here.”

  “Relax, we’re fine.” Clarissa rubbed Selene’s hand reassuringly.

  Selene was pretty sure Clarissa had been watching the parking lot for AJ. Yet, she hadn’t showed up. Selene hoped that wasn’t bad news, considering AJ had admitted to being at the coven. Butch was a bastard and if De Marcus was involved, it wasn’t good.

  Selene pushed her door open and practically spilled onto the floor. Her long frame made it difficult to unfold out of the car. Why don’t I drive an SUV like everyone else? She thought as she stretched to her full length.

  She held the elevator door for Clarissa. “After you.”

  Clarissa’s thin smile let her know she wasn’t thrilled with the change in plans. A few more minutes and she would be sipping a drink, planning how to get De Marcus, and waiting for AJ. Even she didn’t know how long that would take, so best to settle in for the next few hours.

  “Boss,” Jax said when he spotted her exiting the elevator.

  “Shit.” She realized she’d pushed the club button and not the button for her private floor. It was habit to hit the club first to check things out. “Jax.”

  “Clarissa, how are you? You look beautiful.” Jax walked casually to Selene and Clarissa.

  “Hello again, Jax.” Clarissa started to take the offered hand, but it was quickly withdrawn.

  Jax opted instead for a kiss to the cheek. “Great to see you again, Love. To what do we owe this visit so soon?

  Selene watched the exchange between the two, and if she didn’t know better she would say Jax had a crush on Clarissa. Good thing AJ wasn’t there, he’d be carrying his head in his hands right about now.

  “Jax, I want you to take Clarissa downstairs and make sure she stays safe.”

  “Is there a problem?” Concern laced his voice.

  “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “You got it.” He turned to Clarissa and said, “It would be my pleasure to watch over this delicate little flower.”

  “Hold up there, Don Juan.” Selene whispered in his ear. “If you lay a finger on her, you’ll lose it and probably the hand that it’s attached to, so don’t touch.”

  “No worries,” Jax said. Before he left he tossed his head towards the club. “I think you better check out the club, got a few visitors you might want to see.”

  Selene surveyed the crowded room, the men were three thick at the bar and the testosterone was flying as each of the guys tried to outdo the rest with his leather, his pocket swag, or the variety of metal accoutrements sticking out in various places, be it face, clothing or skin.

  “Who are you talking about?” Selene turned only to find Jax and Clarissa gone. “Great.”

  Selene felt like she’d lost a day somewhere finding herself exactly where she was only the day before. She and Clarissa had talked in the car for hours, debating where they should wait for AJ and then there was the meeting Ian and now back to the club. Time, while fleeting always seemed to slip past Selene. She need to sleep, rest her mind and meditate on what she would do next.

  Selene walked to the bar and held up two fingers to the bartender who nodded in acknowledgement. Her mind was with Clarissa and Jax as she took a sip of her drink. While she knew she didn’t have anything to worry about, being on guard wasn’t something she could turn off. She knew if De Marcus wanted to enter the club, he’d find a way or send in a patsy to case the place. Maybe he already had. She had no way of knowing but better to assume it had happened than be surprised.

  She hated nights like this, the smell of sweaty men looking to get lucky with either gender made for a rougher than normal crowd sometimes. Not necessarily physically rough, but the peacock are pruning, she thought as she watched the men jockey for positions around the available women in the bar. The show had ended over an hour ago, but the effects were lasting.

  The Bears in leather harnesses and pants, stalked the room. Tops looking for bottoms. Patrons flagging their particular fetish, mixed with vanilla’s just in the club to see what all the fuss was about. Fewer women populated the regular nights, opting for the newbie and ladies nights. Selene had constructed the ladies nights as a safe zone where women could experience the scene without the hawkish nature men brought to the club. A huge success she was proud of deep down inside, though she wouldn’t voice it to anyone.

  Making her way upstairs to a better vantage point, she pushed through the stinky, sweating leathers with hard-ons. A man who didn’t know better slapped her ass as she passed by. In a flash she turned with a growl, grabbed him by the throat, and pushed his up against another man.

  “If you put your hands on another woman without her permission, I’ll rip your throat out. Got it?” Selene let her fingers dig gently into his soft skin. The urge to snap his neck had to be controlled, so she pushed him back against his buddies. They stared in amazement watching Selene pick him up off his feet just a few inches. “Understand?”

  Her grip barely allowed him to nod his acceptance.

  “Good, now get the fuck out of my club.”

  Setting him down, her eyes could’ve bored a hole right through him. Selene smiled at the hum surrounding him when she walked away. She liked it when men underestimated her. She liked it even more when she could put them in their place. It wasn’t men she hated, just assholes and she hadn’t met many who weren’t.

  Climbing the stairs to her lair, she passed couples in various stages of intimacy. Finally, she had to tap one couple who would get her license revoked if they went much further.

  “Get a room, this isn’t going to happen out here in the hall,” Selene whispered in the man’s ear.

  He turned and glared at her, then his eyes went wide in the realization of who told her to move on. He was a regular, who knew her by reputation and he did exactly as he was instructed. Grabbing his liaison’s hand, he pulled her with him so fast the poor woman practically stumbled in his haste to get away from the menace Selene imposed. Closing the door to her private vantage point, she turned her attention to the floor below. She hated babysitting the crowd, but Jax had alluded that someone she knew was out there. Craning her neck through the window that enclosed the office she looked to her left across the floor–nothing. Turning right—still nothing. Just before pulling herself back into the office, she caught sight of platinum blond hair.

  Francesca danced below her. A brunette swayed around her and then turned and flirted with a dark haired man positioned so close their bodies shared a passing glance. The brunette turned back around and let her body flirt with Francesca again.

  Something inside Selene wanted to possess Francesca again, but if she did Francesca would never experience life the same, see it the same way or live it alive as she knew it today. She owned Francesca, or did Francesca own her? Selene wished she’d hadn’t taken Francesca’s virginity. They would forever be linked through blood, a weaker, but similar bond to what Clarissa and AJ shared. Virginal blood was that potent. Staying her distance would keep Francesca an innocent heart. Selene detached from her emotions, it was better that way for both of them.

  Friendship wasn’t an option either. Selene’s friendships were all superficial, surface level and nothing beyond skin deep. She didn’t have intimate, lingering moments. This was her creed. The heart attaches to nothing leaving no room for pain. She’d live long past those relationships. Filling the void with a temporary fix filled the void just long enough to stop the cravings. But all cravings returned. So did the void.


  The crowded room pulsed with the music, the thumping, pounding vibrations became almost primal as the dancers swayed against each other. Without knowing, someone watching the experience for the first time would assume it was a ritualistic, cultural dance culminating in a mass mating cabal. Selene’s palms were sweating, her heart raced, but she couldn’t turn away from the vision. Francesca was throwing off pheromones like crazy. Anyone in the vicinity was being hit with them and Selene was hyper-sensitive to Francesca after their last experience together. That sacred virginal blood had sealed their fates. Selene scanned the crowd and picked up something from a man standing off on the periphery of the crowd. He was laser-focused on Francesca and started to thread his way through the crowd straight for her. The hair on the back of Selene’s neck stood. Danger. She didn’t pick up any vampire vibes off the guy. He was a drunk with one thing on his mind, her Francesca. He stood behind an unsuspecting Francesca, grabbed her arm, and spun her around. He wrapped her in an embrace and tried to kiss her. The crowd eased back, sensing a moment was about to happen. They clapped, egging the man on, as his hands traveled around Francesca’s body. Kiss, kiss, kiss. Francesca tried to push him off, but in his drunken state, it was like pushing pudding around with a spoon.

  Selene launched herself through the window, landing behind the man. The crowd widened, giving her more room to work on the asshole. As she grabbed his arm, she kicked him behind the knee to knock him backwards. Wrapping her arm around his neck as he fell, she choked him out and dropped him to the floor. At the snap of her fingers, a giant of a man quickly ran to her and slung the drunk over his shoulder.

  “Get his ass out of here.”

  “You got it boss.” He lumbered off the dance floor and out the front door.

  “Selene,” Francesca whispered, rubbing her arm.

  “Are you hurt?”

  Selene’s gaze roamed over Francesca, looking for any sign of a bruise. Her mind raced in Francesca’s presence. Every thought consumed by doing exactly what the drunk had done, only with a little more finesse.