Playing in Shadow (7 page)

Is that what I am, Bryce wondered blearily. “I doubt I am after tonight,” she said. “I’m being sick on her precious time. That’s a huge black mark against me.”

Eric chuckled softly. “Yeah, I hear that. She’s a ball breaker. No offense, Bryce, but you can find nicer. Hey, don’t you live off Anderson Street? We’re heading out that way and can give you a lift.” The man leaned in to speak more privately. “This party sucks. There’s too much ass kissing going on in there for us. We can’t climb high enough on the corporate ladder for those guys to even acknowledge us.”

Bryce understood. She’d seen Gerri at work; it wasn’t a pretty sight. “I know what you mean.” She let herself be steered toward a waiting sports car. The others were already climbing inside.

“I call shotgun for Bryce here. We’re dropping her off as we escape this hellhole of sycophants.”

Bryce mumbled hello and thank you to the two other men and a woman who introduced themselves while they all piled into the backseat. Bryce got in, fastened her seat belt, and let her head fall back against the headrest.

“You look terrible,” Eric told her.

“I feel ten times worse, believe me. Guess that flu bug finally found me.” She closed her eyes and felt the car pull away from the curb.

“There’s a lot of that sickness going around,” Christine said from behind Bryce. “It wiped out most of our team last week. Alan here got it and he looked like death warmed up for days. I hope you feel better soon.”

Bryce smiled at her words. The kindness from a stranger soothed her when her so-called girlfriend hadn’t shown any at all.

“We’ll soon have you home and then you can relax without worrying that you’re cramping someone’s party style,” Eric said.

Bryce was already relaxed, the air conditioning was cool against her fevered brow, her eyes were closed against the streetlights’ bright glare, and within seconds, she was fast asleep.

It was the unearthly, thunderous noise that first disturbed Bryce’s slumber, but it wasn’t until a burning bright light pierced her eyelids that she was forced awake. She opened her eyes in time to see a semi-truck loom large in the windshield mere seconds before it hit the car with an almighty crash. The impact blew out the glass from the car windows. Bryce felt something stab into her forehead and blood began to pour down her face. All she could hear was the horrendous sound of metal being crushed and the terrified screams of the others in the car with her. The car spun as the truck showed no sign of stopping in its path. It plowed right through them, forcing them to slam into the partial divide in the middle of the road that finally flipped the car up and over to rest on its roof.

Furiously blinking through the blood blinding her, Bryce tried to get her bearings. She was trapped upside down in the seat, held in place only by her seat belt. Her shoulder hurt, her ribs were screaming, and she couldn’t raise a hand to clear her eyes. She could hear the rumble of the truck as it continued down the street, and she wondered how it managed to still drive after such an impact.

Cautiously, she turned her head to see how everyone else was doing. At first she couldn’t comprehend what she saw when she sought out Eric who had been in the driver’s seat. That side of the car was totally obliterated, a twisted ruin of destroyed metal covered in blood that revealed only part of Eric’s remains in what was left of the seat. Bryce lost the contents of her stomach, throwing up until there was nothing left and she was shaking with the dry heaves. She realized Eric was long gone. Moans came from behind her, but Bryce couldn’t turn around from her precarious position to see.

“Hey, are you okay? Christine? Alan? Justin? Hang in there. Someone’s got to have seen this and called for help. Someone’s coming for us, okay? Someone’s coming.”

Please God, let someone come.

She strained her ears to hear those behind her. Whimpers and painful gasps could be heard, and Bryce kept on talking, reassuring them someone would help them. She was quiet a moment when she heard the sound of sirens in the distance.

“There are sirens coming. We’re going to be rescued.” She listened but couldn’t hear anything but her own labored breathing. “Hey, no sleeping back there. They’ll have us out in no time.”

Her words were met by silence. She tried again to turn around, but the seat belt kept her pinned and her body protested at the movement. The pain in her shoulder alone made her want to vomit again so she stayed still.

“Guys?” Bryce could hear the siren’s wail. “Someone’s coming for us.” She peered through the ruined shell of the windshield. “Someone’s here. Please let someone be here,” she whispered, more to comfort herself. She had the terrible feeling she was the only one in the car who was still breathing.

*

“Hey, Bryce?
Bryce
?”

Bryce opened her eyes. She stared up into the face of an angel. Vibrant red hair was highlighted by the sun behind her, but there was no halo in sight, just hair resembling a living flame. Bryce slowly came back to wakefulness. A dark angel knelt before her. She was dressed all in black. Old-fashioned intricate lace covered her breasts but let the curves show through. Bryce stared at her dumbly then reached out a hand to the angel’s face. The skin was warm to her touch and so soft.

“Did I die?” Bryce asked hesitantly.

“Oh no, sweetie, you are very much alive.” The angel’s voice hitched with emotion.

Bryce finally recognized Scarlet’s voice, and she snapped to full alertness. She blinked to clear her grit-filled eyes until she could see Scarlet beneath the elaborate makeup she had on. Her hazel eyes were emphasized with a skillfully applied black liner, and her lips were a deep blood red. Bryce was mesmerized by her. She really was stunning.

“Scarlet?”

Scarlet smiled with relief and puffed out a breath. “It’s okay. I just came in to say good-bye and you were asleep. You didn’t exactly look comfortable so I figured I should wake you up. It’s time to go home, Bryce.”

Bryce ran her hands over her face. “Thank you. I just sat down for a minute to write up my want list for tomorrow and I must have crashed.”

“It didn’t look like a restful nap.”

Bryce grimaced at the understatement. “I was having a bad dream,” she admitted, surprising herself.

“Do you get those often?”

“Only when I sleep,” Bryce replied dryly. She got to her feet unsteadily and Scarlet hurried to help her. Once standing, Bryce could take in the full effect of Scarlet’s transformation out of her work clothes. Bryce was struck dumb. She just hoped to God her mouth hadn’t fallen open.

Scarlet ran a hand over her long-skirted dress. “I’m going out tonight right after work so I changed here for quickness. Do you like my dress? Monica made it for me.”

“You look…spectacular,” Bryce said. The word was woefully inadequate to describe how Scarlet looked. The dress was strikingly romantic; the design cinched the material in at the waist, making Scarlet look elegant and otherworldly. “Beautiful.” Bryce swallowed hard. “Not that you don’t cut a fine figure in your work clothes either,” she added to lessen the heightened sexual tension swirling between them.

“Thank you. It’s nice to know I scrub up well.” Scarlet grasped her skirt to hold the train up a little. “My contribution to the Goth lifestyle is inspired by the Goth/metal bands, the ones that use symphonic rock to sell their songs.”

“Like the music you rock your walls with while you paint?”

“Exactly. Monica loves everything Gothic, but I lean heavily toward the musical side.”

“So no vampire fetish for you then?”

“Oh, believe me, Goth is so much more than just a love of Dracula and his ilk.” Scarlet smiled at her sweetly. “You’ll have to come along to one of our music nights. You might be pleasantly surprised by the types of people it calls to.”

Bryce didn’t make a comment as she hastily began gathering her gear. She couldn’t believe she’d fallen asleep on the job.

“Are you going to stay here much longer?” Scarlet asked, watching her closely.

“No, I had intended to be gone by now, but obviously I fell asleep. I can assure you that was the first time it’s happened.”

“I’m not in here counting your time, Bryce. I came to see that you were okay. I’m not going to tell my dad I found you asleep. Yes, I’m the boss’s daughter, but if you’re having a problem you’re the one who will have to tell him. I certainly won’t. You have my word on that.”

Bryce just nodded her thanks. “There’s no problem, I must have just relaxed too much and dozed off. It won’t happen again.”

“Are you existing on no sleep at all? Because, honestly? You never look rested. Didn’t the hospital give you anything to help you?”

“They did. It doesn’t work,” she said shortly.

“Maybe you should go back and tell your doctors that.”

“Maybe I should just finish clearing up here so I can go home and you can go show off that dress.” The conversation was over for Bryce.

Scarlet didn’t move. Bryce could tell that beneath that beautiful surface Scarlet was bristling to argue about this with her.

“If you need me…” Scarlet began.

“I know where you are.” Bryce gave her a smile. “Now get out of here. Go start your weekend. I’m fine. I’ll let the security guys know I’m the last one out.”

“Do you want a lift home?”

Bryce shook her head. “No, thank you. I think a bit of fresh air might clear my head.” She shooed Scarlet out ahead of her and gathered up her belongings. “Let’s go. I’m sure you have someone waiting on you.”

“Just my friends.”

“Well, I’ll see you on Monday and you can tell me all about it.” Bryce hoped she was sounding cheerful enough to distract Scarlet’s concerned looks.

Scarlet halted before they were even halfway down the stairs. “Try and get some proper rest this weekend, please. Those shadows under your eyes are worrying me.”

Bryce nodded distractedly and shouldered her messenger bag. She hoped Scarlet hadn’t seen the flash of pain that made her have to hold her breath. She didn’t want to give her anything else to worry over. “Have a good weekend yourself.”

She headed down the driveway, waving to the guards who were looking after the houses while they were still being worked on. Bryce was thankful for their presence because it meant she could leave her tools behind and not have to have someone else carry them for her. She didn’t want the hassle of having to explain why she wouldn’t drive the work van or her own vehicle.

She waved as Scarlet drove past her heading out into the early evening traffic. Bryce took a slow walk toward her bus stop.
God help me, but Scarlet looked so breathtakingly beautiful. I wanted to kiss her so bad when she leaned over me, waking me up
. Bryce all but ground her teeth as this new complication struck home.
She’s the boss’s daughter, she’s just caught me sleeping on the job, and I have a face that resembles a fucking zombie because I don’t dare to fall asleep anymore. Because every time I do, I’m back in that car with everyone dead and dying around me again
. She let out a ragged sigh.
Gerri was right. No one in their right mind would want to put up with who I am now.
She hastened across the road to flag down the oncoming bus to take her home. She jammed her cap on over her forehead. She wasn’t in the mood for prying eyes and pitying looks tonight.

The next morning dawned bright and sunny. Juliet awoke slowly, savoring the lassitude she felt, basking in the knowledge she was working from home today and that Trent was working an evening shift. She turned her head on the pillow to seek out Trent. She was surprised to find the other pillow empty. Juliet lifted her head and spotted an added lump under the bed sheet that signified more than just her belly was under the covers. She listened intently to the soft low voice of her beloved who was obviously in mid flow.

“Link shifted into his wolf form, and Midna leapt onto his back. She spurred him on as they raced toward Hyrule’s castle to face Ganondorf.”

Juliet’s eyebrows rose. She carefully lifted up the sheet to reveal Trent curled up beside her. “What are you doing?”

Trent looked up at her, her sleep-tousled hair falling rakishly across her forehead. “I’m telling the baby a story of heroes and villains and the return of a princess to the Twilight Realm.”

“You’re telling the baby the story from one of your games.” Juliet had recognized the names. “What happened to good old-fashioned fairy tales?”

Trent favored her with an incredulous look. “Fairy tales aren’t
real
.”

“Of course they aren’t,” Juliet conceded dryly at Trent’s utter seriousness. “So how long have you been telling your tale?”

“Not long, but I can save the finale for next time.” Trent started to move back up the bed.

Juliet gasped as she felt the baby kick. “I think the baby wants to hear the rest of the story now.” Juliet placed Trent’s hand over where the baby could be felt moving.

“That’s so cool.” Trent shifted under the sheet to place a kiss on Juliet’s belly. “Hey, baby. How about you calm down with the calisthenics before you make your mommy dizzy? I’ll finish the story for you.”

Juliet laughed as the restlessness calmed. “I hope to God you can settle the baby down as easily out of the womb as you can in it.”

Trent grinned and smoothed her hand over Juliet’s taut skin. “You’re up too early, Jule. Why don’t you just lay back and rest some more and then I’ll make you breakfast in a little while.”

Juliet stroked Trent’s hair gently, brushing it back from her forehead. “You’re too good to me.”

“You’re worth it.” She cupped her hand under Juliet’s breast and then down over her stomach. “Every beautiful inch of you.”

Juliet languished under Trent’s soft caresses. “Finish your story before you wake up my libido.” Juliet ran her thumb over Trent’s lips and shivered when a warm tongue slipped out to taste her. “The baby wants to hear more about the wolf and his Twilight Princess.” She was captivated by the joy in Trent’s answering smile. “What?”

“You remembered the game.” Trent scrambled up the bed and planted a loud, smacking kiss on Juliet’s lips. “You are perfection.”