Scarlet Assassin (16 page)

Success. Her purse had landed between the door and the seat and it was ringing off the hook again. Without looking at the number she slid it open and answered.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, you’re gone for hours and all you got is yeah?” The voice on the other end scolded.

“Daph, sorry. I was busy and I couldn’t get to the phone when you called.”

“Whadda ya mean, when I called?”

“You didn’t call me a second ago?”

“Nope, wasn’t me. But that doesn’t answer my question, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick. It’s late, there weren’t any lights on in the apartment, and you’ve been gone for hours. Where are you?”

“I…I…uhm, I worked late at the lab tonight. You know what a slave driver my boss is, phew. I’m glad today’s over,” Francesca lied, it killed her but she needed time to think about what happened tonight, digest everything and analyze it before she was given the third degree by Daphne. Once she’d told her roommate where she had been the grilling would start and she wasn’t ready, not yet.

“So are you coming home then?”

“On my way.”

“Good, can you pick-up Chinese on the way home?”

“Sure, the usual?”

“Sounds good to me, don’t forget the hot mustard and fortune cookies.”

“I wouldn’t think of it.”

“Good and be ready to talk about what really happened tonight,” Daphne said before ending the call.

“Shit.”

Francesca leaned against the headrest. Why did she have to hesitate with her answer? Daphne knew her better than anyone else. Her moods, her mannerisms and she knew Francesca stuttered when she was nervous.

“Problems?”

Francesca practically jumped out of her skin when the someone pulled the door handle, so engrossed in her replay of her phone conversation, she didn’t hear anyone walk up to her open car door. She should have closed it, but once again, her mind wasn’t where it should have been.

“No, no it’s fine thanks.” She tried to shut the car door but met resistance.
Oh god, please don’t let this be happening.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I just saw you sitting here while I walked my friend to her car. I thought I better check in and make sure you’re all right.”

Realization sunk in with the familiar voice. Selene.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Of all people she
didn’t
want to see. Shielding her eyes from the streetlight, she could barely make out Selene’s features. The woman who had passed her in the hallway parked a few cars over and was now leaving. Shit.

“I’m good, thanks.” Tucking her other leg into the car, Francesca wished to be anywhere but here with Selene.

Silence.

“I’m sorry about what happened back in there. I mean, you did all the right things and I took advantage of the power dynamic. That should never have happened. I hope you’ll accept my apology.”

“Nothing ttto apologize for…for…really. It’s all good, I…I…I’m…ffffine. Really.” Shit, she was stuttering again. She could keep it under control her whole life, but for some reason being around Selene made her lose all restraint. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, let it out slowly and opened them to find Selene kneeling down getting ready to touch her. Jerking away, Francesca cringed at her reaction when she saw Selene’s face. She doubted the woman ever showed any emotion, but the pained, apologetic expression practically sunk Francesca’s heart.

“Sorry. I’m just a little…I mean…I’m…oh fuck I don’t know what I mean.” Francesca offered a pathetic half smile and looked away. Shame was surely written all over her face. She was ashamed for liking what had happened back in the club, ashamed for wanted a replay of the events.  But most of all the shame that all Selene would have to do was invite her back in and she was certain she would follow like a puppy dog happily wagging its tail behind her owner. Did she just refer to Selene as her owner? Oh she was in worse shape than she thought. She shook her head.

“Would you like to come back in–”

“No, no I need to go pick up Chinese food for my roommate. She’s waiting at home for me, and I need to go, now.” Francesca mumbled as she fumbled for her keys.

“Oh, a roommate, I didn’t know.” Selene stood and reached for the car door.

Francesca could hear something in her voice that made her alarms go off. She’d misunderstood the roommate comment.

“Oh, she’s not a
roommate
, roommate. Daphne is just a roommate. I mean, we’ve been roommates since college and she has a boyfriend, but she’s not ready to get married or anything and well I don’t have anyone or anything, I just…” She was rambling again. Hitting her head against the steering wheel she paused, wishing this night would finally end. Or, at least the forces at work could make sure she would die from painful embarrassment, thus ending her torment in front of this beautiful woman.

“I understand, I think. Well, I tried to call you to apologize, so if you check you’re messages and don’t recognize the number that would be me.”

“Oh, that was you earlier. I thought it was Daphne. Sorry. I mean you’re nothing like her or anything like that, but I just thought that it was her, since she’s the only person whoever calls me.” Francesca slapped her hands over her mouth to stop the info dump she was spewing all over Selene. God, she was an idiot. Would this night never end?

“Well, I should let you go. If you…well I mean…I left you a message. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Just curious, how did you get my number?”

“Your application.” Selene looked down at her, then gave her a lopsided grin. “Well you better get going, Daphne wants Chinese food.”

“Oh right, yeah, I…” Francesca pointed to her phone. “Yeah, I better get going. She gets cranky when she hasn’t eaten.”

“I know the feeling,” Selene said in a low sultry tone that made Francesca’s toes curl. “I know the feeling.”

Chapter Twenty-one

AJ slipped in and out of consciousness. She struggled to focus on the shaft of light that slid under the door into her dark cell.

AJ, get up, baby.

“I can’t, Clarissa. I want to, but I can’t.” AJ could barely whisper her answer.

Baby, you need to do something.

“
What?”

Your pocket. Remember the pills Doctor Swartz gave you?

Her body was so dehydrated that she couldn’t produce tears as she started to cry. The tin container had spilled out all over the floor, rubbing salt into the wound of her death. Her hand slid across her pants and abs, searching for just one of the pills that could mean the difference between life and death. If she could push herself back on to the floor, maybe she would find at least one. Trying to push to one side, she grabbed at the edge of the bench, trying to pull herself over. Her muscles shook with strain the harder she pulled on the bench. She held on desperately, sliding along the edge, until her grip gave out and she collapsed onto her back.

Get the fuck up, AJ Fight! Fight for us damnit.

AJ clenched her jaw. Her throat was almost closed tight, signaling how close she was to dying. She relaxed her body and with one final heave, she tossed herself on the floor. Hitting so hard she blacked out for a moment, the pain sliced across her skull from the point of impact to her forehead. Hematoma might be a problem if she had any blood in her body. Lucky for her she wasn’t going anywhere soon. The cold cement floor only added to her deathly discomfort. Searching the floor closest to her, she spotted something. Could it be one of her tablets? Stretching forward in desperation, she tried to reach the tiny red capsule. Her fingertips barely touched it enough to push it further away. Fuck.

She gasped for breath, the strain on her body evident as sweat coated her skin, cold and clammy. The beat of her heart barely registered, her breathing became labored, each effort strained beyond its limits. Staring straight ahead she lost focus, the sliver of light that seeped under the door was starting to dim. Her mind wandered to what it would be like to die. Would it hurt? She’s killed so many that taking a life without thought never crossed her mind. What did they think about when she drained them of life? Did they lie there wondering, why them? Perhaps, they thought of moments they lost, loves they’d miss, or the life they’d had. Her life wasn’t flashing before her eyes. In fact, she could scarcely keep a coherent thought, outside of trying to stay alive. She’d heard of people floating above themselves when they were in the throes of death and yet, here she sat on the cold, wet floor of a cell. No floating. Clarissa, she would miss Clarissa. What would Clarissa do without her? De Marcus had made it clear he would take her back, exert his master position over her. Everything she enjoyed would be taken from her and she would be his slave again. Her life would…her life…would end.

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.