Once Upon A Midnight

by Stephanie Rowe

  Orthon nodded furiously. “Certainly. I’ll get right on it.”

  Basilius halted him. “Did you deal with the mess in my room?”

  “Yes.” Orthon lowered his head, cowering before him.

  “Good.” Basilius tapped his chin, deep in thought and it was several moments before he realized Orthon still stood before him. “Go, you dimwit! Do what I ordered.”

  Orthon darted out, closing the door quickly as Basilius smirked. “I’ll get you right inside Black Rose, then it’s up to you.”

  His disgust for Cassius was deep and his plans didn’t involve the Vampire. He needed someone more malleable in the role of leader of the blood-drinkers. Someone he could use to his advantage and he was going to get that person elected as soon as possible. After The Black Rose fulfilled her mission. She better not fail him because if she did she’d see a side to him that few were permitted to witness: his Demon form in all its glory.

  *****

  “What do you say we break out the barbecue and have some steaks tonight?” Seth panted as he wiped the sweat from his face. “I think we deserve it after the day we’ve put in.”

  Rose bent over, her hands on her knees as she gasped for breath. She raised her hand, shaking it around for a moment before she could speak. “Yeah,” was all she managed, her lungs feeling as if they were on fire. Her clothes totally soaked through and every muscle in her body hurt.

  “You okay, Flower?” Seth asked, a grin on his face.

  Throwing him a filthy look, she nodded before standing upright again. She fought to walk without her legs shaking, hoping a shower would help her aches and pains. “I’m fine,” she snapped as she tried her best not to let him see just how bad she felt.

  His laughter stopped her dead, spinning around to see him shaking his head. “Damn! I’m in trouble. At no time in history is a woman okay when she says ‘I’m fine.’ That’s code for a host of stuff but none of it means she’s fine.”

  Rose snorted, cocking her head to the side and glaring at him. “I’m fine.”

  Seth started to laugh again as he walked toward his room. “I’ll take a couple of steaks out to thaw and then I’m hitting the shower.”

  Usually she would be following, eager to join him in the hot water. Not today. She wasn’t even sure if she’d make it back to her room without collapsing, but she wasn’t going to let him see that. No way, no how, was she going to admit just how badly she hurt. Damn! Even her tongue was sore. How was that even possible?

  “Hmm mm,” she mumbled as she mustered the last remaining dregs of strength from deep inside and went towards her room. When she got inside she almost fell to the floor, hoping her weakness hadn’t shown.

  Who the hell was she kidding? Seth knew her better than she knew herself and he was sure to have seen the signs. At least he hadn’t teased her. Rose stripped as she went, her bathroom almost calling to her as she turned on the water. Grateful once again for the power they garnered from the many solar panels they were lucky enough to have.

  As the steam started to fill the stall she removed her panties and stepped inside. A soft groan of pleasure falling from her lips as the water eased her painful body. Seth had worked her so hard she’d thought she was going to collapse. Only her steely determination getting her through to the end.

  It’d been the first time she’d seen him just as fucked as she’d been by the end. He was taking her upcoming mission deadly serious. Far more than any other she’d taken and that had her over-thinking things. Shaking her head under the water she puffed out a long sigh. “I’m The Black Rose. I can do anything, anything I fucking want,” she spoke aloud, her voice filled with feeling, grit and purpose.

  “Indeed.” A voice caused her to jerk around, grabbing a towel to drape over her body as she looked for a weapon.

  “Who the fuck’s there?” she snarled, her anger rising at the intrusion, steam all around she snaked her hand to the side of the sink vanity, pulling free a short sword from the sheath taped there.

  “Did I scare you?” The deep voice said with amusement and she knew who it was.

  “Basilius, get the fuck outta my bathroom. Now.” She kept hold of the sword as she grabbed a robe, pulling it on quickly and striding through to her room.

  “Out.” She motioned with the sword toward the sliding doors as Basilius looked her over with what looked to be hunger in his eyes.

  “Now,” she reiterated, her anger flaring again.

  As the Demon stepped outside, she heard Seth’s feet running down the hall. “What’s going on?” he shouted as he skidded to a stop just inside her room, a large katana in his hand.

  “Seems Basilius decided to drop by again.” She inclined her head to the Demon now standing on the patio.

  Seth jogged over, outside, then stood before the Demon. “What the fuck do you think you’re playing at? You don’t just appear here whenever you want and you definitely do not enter Rose’s room.”

  Basilius looked Seth over, his face impassive as he shrugged. “I’ve got news and it couldn’t wait.”

  Rose tugged her robe tighter around her as she joined them. “What news?”

  “First, let me ask, do you have any experience with technology? Specifically computers, laptops, that sort of thing.”

  She and Seth looked at each other and then she nodded. “Yes.”

  “Yes. That’s your answer? How much experience do you have?” Basilius frowned, looking unhappy at her one word reply.

  “I’ve got experience with both, quite extensive actually. Why?”

  “Why?” Basilius grinned widely but it was only his mouth that smiled. His eyes still looked at her with hunger. “Allarde is looking to employ someone to start documenting Vampires and to expand his IT department. So, little Rose, I can get you there and you can get in before anyone else.”

  The Demon held out a folder to her, a smirk on his face. “Here, this is the information that’s been added to his search for someone. You need to read it over and make sure you know who your references are. I’ve arranged for any queries regarding your past employment to go to my assistant. He will, of course, give glowing reports of you and your talents.”

  Rose took a step forward, snagging the file quickly. “I see. But, back up, you said you can get me there? I don’t understand. Seth and I were going to make our way up there once the fee deposit has been paid.”

  “No.” Basilius shook his head, glaring at her. “We leave in a few hours. I can transport you and whatever means of transportation you were going to use. I’ll put you a few streets away from the hotel he’s using. You can get in first and dazzle him with your experience and that beautiful smile of yours.”

  Rose almost snarled up at him. “I’m not sure about this. Seth was supposed to be coming with me in case of any problems. Will you ‘transport’ him too?”

  Basilius looked at Seth quickly then turned his eyes back to hers. “No. He can make his own way there. I’m too busy to be darting back and forth. You, Rose, are the person that needs to get there as quickly as possible and ensure you get the job. That way you are inside and can infiltrate Allarde’s business and files. Anything you pass on will gain a larger fee for your troubles. Once you’ve gotten everything you think you can and send it to me, well, then you get to carry out your original assignment.”

  Seth shook his head as he growled. “That wasn’t the mission. She was to go in and carry out her task and leave. Now you want her to hang around and spy for you.”

  “That’s exactly what I want.” Basilius didn’t even bother to look at Seth. “I’ll double your payment. Think of that, two full trucks filled with food and water, as well as the gas. It’ll keep you two going for years.”

  Rose thought about their stocks which were severely depleted and nodded. “Okay. Come back here in four hours.”

  Basilius grinned, again the smile not reaching his eyes. “I’ll see you then.”

  With that he disappeared as Seth stalked over to her, grabbing he
r shoulders and shaking her. “What the fuck? Rose, what are you thinking? This is too dangerous, you have to say no.”

  “Seth, I’m not saying no. We need supplies and this is going to make it much easier, safer even, for me. If I get in under the pretense of working there, then I’ll be able to move around freely. It’ll make it simpler for me to do what I gotta do and get out in one piece. Please don’t argue with me. I want us to have a nice meal and relax a bit before I have to leave. You can make your way up to New York as we’d planned and contact me when you’ve arrived. I’ll try and get out to see you but if I can’t then we’ll still be in contact.”

  “I don’t like it, Flower. I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this. Had it from the start and now it’s even worse.”

  Rose shrugged. “We’ve had bad vibes before and got through it. This time will be no different. I’ll have one of the long range walkie talkies as well as my satellite phone so we can keep in touch once you arrive.”

  Seth shook his head as he turned away. “If anything happens to you, I’ll hunt that bastard down and send him right back to Hell.”

  Rose laughed as Seth stormed away. “That’s it, get all that anger out.”

  He turned to throw her a filthy look before disappearing inside. “Guess I better pack,” she said to herself as she returned to her room.

  Tugging her long hair up into a messy knot she stuck a couple of ornate silver sticks through it to hold it in place. They weren’t just for decoration, a present from Seth, she’d spent hours sharpening the points to make them deadly in the right hands, her hands. She would definitely be taking them with her. If she was going to be living within a horde of Vampires they may just come in handy.

  She grabbed her travel backpack and started to fold clothes into it, mostly jeans and casual t-shirts, underwear and thick, fluffy socks she wore with her biker boots. A couple of old and comfortable baggy tees to wear in bed joined the clothes along with a pair of brand new sneakers. The only jacket she’d worn for more than two years lay on a chair, the one she wore while riding her motorbike, leather, softened by use and feeling like a second skin.

  The last thing she put in was her toiletries and she hoped that if she got inside Allarde’s hotel that she’d have a room with hot running water. She always missed her showers when away on a mission, as most places had no power, far less the luxury of bathing. A simple pleasure that she craved whenever it was unavailable.

  Picking up her walkie talkie and phone she went to the bathroom and pulled out a large box of tampons, emptying it and placing them in first before packing the tampons back inside. She’d been searched far too many times to count when out on an assignment, but never had a man actually opened her tampons and looked inside. Usually they would pass over it as quickly as possible, sometimes blushing as they did.

  Men. So easy to manipulate.

  Once she’d packed the tampons inside her pack, pushing it down so it lay about halfway, she looked around to pack one of her prized possessions. A book. A real book and one she’d started before the last mission. Reading was her escape, a way to wind down after taking the life of yet another despicable being. This particular book she’d found the previous year while sleeping in an apartment in a small mid-west town. The person who’d lived there obviously loved reading and there were several books still in good condition so Rose swiped a couple to bring home. This one had drawn her attention because of its title—Halfbreeds. Exactly what Rose was. She vaguely wondered if the author, someone called Eden Elsworth, was even still alive.

  She hoped so because she would hate to think of someone so talented no longer being in this fucked up world. The only problem was that this was book one in a series and so far Rose was loving it and dreaded reaching the end because she wasn’t sure how, or if, she would be able to get her hands on the next one. Damn. She’d need to keep that in mind and see if she could find a library. One that hadn’t been looted or burned to the ground. Maybe, just maybe, she’d get lucky and find the rest in the series.

  Once she’d placed the treasured book into her bag she started to dress. Comfy jeans, sleeveless tee, then a plain black shirt, her favorite socks on her feet as she pulled on her boots. Her critical eye seeing how scuffed they were and knew she’d need to replace them soon. That would be a trip with Seth to attempt to locate a pair and that could take days. It wasn’t as if she could pop online and get ‘em delivered, even if Seth said that’s what folks used to do.

  Damn, but that would be great if she could!

  Lastly, she put on some mascara and lip gloss before putting her small make-up bag on the top of the clothes, pulling the top closed with the drawstrings. “Just a couple more things,” she spoke aloud as she retrieved two short swords from her closet and tied them to the side of her bag. Her longer katana would be where it always was—at her back.

  She was sure she’d be able to get away with having it when she explained how dangerous her imaginary journey to New York was. Nobody in their right mind travelled in this war ravaged world without weapons of some sort. Not if they were sane and wanted to stay alive.

  Picking up her jacket, bag and katana, she made her way outside, leaving them lying on the table. She saw the barbecue already aflame but no sign of Seth. Sitting down to relax for a few moments to give him time to calm down. He’d been angry and upset and she hated to see him like that. He was usually cold, calm and collected in just about every situation, but this job had him on edge and she didn’t like that at all.

  His past training in what he’d called “Special Ops” was where he’d gained a lot of his experience, in fighting, electronics, explosives and a ton of other things that he’d passed on to her. His martial arts training was a mix of just about every one out there but she enjoyed the Krav Maga most. He’d explained his mastery of the fighting technique and how he’d become an expert. Staying in a place called Israel and learning from the Master himself, Imi Lichenstein. The meaning of Krav Maga quite literally meant Contact Combat in Hebrew and Seth made her study everything about it that he had.

  She’d spent many hours reading about the man that Seth was so fond of and their training regimes were hard and brutal. Seth taught her well, the first rule being: if safe to do so run like hell and get out of the situation. If that wasn’t possible, and let’s face it most of the times, for her, it wasn’t, then you deal with any and all threats with lethal force. The emphasis being on lethal. She was a package of lethal from head to toe.

  Rose shook her head, focusing on the here and now and not on thinking back to times gone by. Sighing, she got up and went in search of Seth. She could sense his unease, his worry, and she would try and ease that as best she could in the time they had before she left. He was her rock, her lover, and she didn’t want to leave on a bad note. If she had her way, he’d be a happy man by the time she was finished with him.

  Seth had other ideas. Refusing to allow her to soothe him and being surly and uncommunicative for the next few hours. He made their steaks but his usual care while cooking wasn’t there, which left the meat overdone and tough. She ate it though, every last bite, as she tried again and again to get him to talk. Unfortunately, his responses were usually one word and he refused to look her in the face.

  She finally snapped, snarling out across the table, “What the fuck is wrong with you? I’ll be leaving soon and I don’t want to leave things like this, Seth.”

  His eyes raised and she could see the worry in them as he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Flower. I’m worried about you and this assignment. I’ve got a weird feeling about it and I feel as if I’m going to lose you.”

  Rose gasped, knowing he sometimes got visions of future happenings. They were rare but when he had one it usually was right. “You think I’m gonna die?”

  “No.” Seth moved his head to the side, cracking it, then did the same the other way, before he carried on, “It’s not death I feel. It’s something else but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

  �
�That’s good to know.” She tried to laugh but it came out weird as she almost choked. “I mean, that I’m not gonna die.”

  “I can’t see clearly enough to give more information, but I’ll be leaving as soon as you go, to start the journey up there.” Seth sighed heavily, his shoulders drooping. “I don’t like this plan of you going up there alone. Won’t you change your mind?”

  “I need to take advantage of this opening.” She reached over, her hand covering his. “You know it makes sense to push this easy way inside.”

  “I know it makes good tactical sense, but I still don’t like it. Something feels ‘off’ about this but I’m not sure what.”

  “I understand, Seth.” Rose tried to placate him. “I think it’s because that Demon’s just been appearing here whenever he feels like it. I don’t trust him, but he is the new Head of the Council so we’ll have to deal with him.”

  “I just think we need to find out more regarding this so called ‘plot’ he says Allarde’s got cooking before we decide anything further.” Seth looked deep into her eyes. “The fact that Basilius has seen you here, in your true form, also means you can’t use magic to change your appearance.”

  “I know, that’s something that’s annoyed the hell outta me. I hate carrying out a mission like this.” She waved a hand up and down in front of her. “I like the anonymity of looking like someone else but if I can get inside the target’s home under the pretense of working for him it’ll make things much easier for me.”

  “Promise me.” Seth rose coming around and hauling her up into his arms. “Promise you’ll be careful and on alert at all times.”

  “I promise.” She smiled up at him, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss him softly. “When am I not?” she mumbled as his fingers pinched her ass.

  “Don’t get me started, Flower.” Seth bit her bottom lip, tugging it gently as a cough pulled them apart.