Scarlet Masquerade (10 page)

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A.J. sat in the darkened room watching Clarissa on the monitor. Clarissa was still as beautiful as ever, and A.J. ached to touch her. A soft wisp of hair fell into Clarissa’s face. A.J. watched as a delicate hand reached up and flicked it behind her ear. It was a gesture she had witnessed often in the past. A.J.’s eyes then focused on Clarissa’s full lips. The seductive movement hypnotized her as Clarissa answered Kevin’s questions. At least it looked seductive to A.J.

The questions were just a rouse to keep Clarissa in the conference room so A.J. could see her up close, study her, make sure it was Clarissa. A mole on Clarissa’s neck caught A.J.’s attention. She remembered kissing that mole many times. The memory sent a shiver through her body. The curve of Clarissa’s face, the tiny gestures she made today, reminded A.J. of the nights she had spent watching Clarissa sleep. They had spent few intimate evenings together in the past and she had committed each one to memory, knowing she wouldn’t have forever with her lover.

It was Clarissa. A.J. had no doubts now. But the question now would be how to reconnect to someone she thought was dead. Someone who probably thought she was either dead or a blood-sucking seeker. The last thing Clarissa would remember about A.J. was clearly not the person she was today. Clarissa had seen a side of A.J. that no longer existed, a heartless nightwalker who lived off others.

It was all A.J. could do to stay in her seat and watch. She wanted to walk in the conference room and demand answers to all her questions. No, what she really wanted to do was to sweep Clarissa into her arms and kiss her. To tell her how she never stopped loving her, and she haunted her dreams still after all of these decades. Time didn’t have a way of making a person forget someone, it only added to the pain that already had taken up residence in A.J.’s heart. She just didn’t know how hard her heart had become, until she saw Clarissa again.

A.J. continued to watch Clarissa and noticed that Clarissa was starting to fidget more. In fact, she could feel Clarissa’s energy escalating. She was sure Clarissa was starting to feel her presence so close. A.J. recognized the signs of someone starting to turn and she knew Clarissa didn’t have long before she was in the throes of it. A.J. needed to act fast, for Clarissa’s sake. Pulling her phone, she dialed Kevin’s number.

“Kevin, get her out of here. She’s starting to turn, I can feel it,” A.J. whispered into the phone.

“What?”

“I said get her in a car and get her out of here. I’ll call a car around front. You can escort her down to the lobby. Make sure she gets into that car.” A.J.’s agitation was evident in her voice now.

“Yes Ma’am,” Kevin said, closing his phone.

A.J. watched as Kevin concluded the meeting with Clarissa. She wished it could have lasted a little longer, but she knew Clarissa was fighting hard to stay human. She watched as Kevin did exactly as he was ordered, escorting Clarissa to a waiting car. A.J. continued watching and listening as Kevin informed her that since it was late, he wouldn’t feel right if she took a cab back. Relieved that Kevin could think fast, A.J. relaxed a bit as she watched the car pull away from the building. Now that she was away from A.J. and Kevin, Clarissa would be able to control her demons. But the longer she stayed in the building, the greater the chance she would turn and then her secret would be out. She would lose Clarissa forever if that happened.

Movement on the camera caught A.J.’s eye, and she watched as Selene followed Clarissa’s car.
Damn, she’s already on the job,
thought A.J. when Selene disappeared. Well it was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Clarissa protected. A.J. wasn’t one to second guess herself, but she knew if Selene found out she was behind the protection order, no good would come from it. But where was Brax? He should have been right behind Clarissa.

Kevin walked into A.J.’s office, dropping onto the sofa he had been pinned to earlier. “God, I don’t know how much longer I could take that. She was throwing energy all over the place. I thought I was about to lose control. Thanks for picking up on her like that.” Kevin brushed his hands through his hair.

“Selene is already on her?” A.J.’s gaze raked Kevin. “Where’s Brax? I didn’t see him following Clarissa.”

“Brax is at the house. I figure if Clarissa’s here and Selene is here it’s all good. So I told Brax to stake out the house.” Kevin sat up when he realized he could feel A.J.’s anger peek.

“I don’t pay you to change the plans. I pay you to follow them. Understand?” Her was anger seething now.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t have time to consult you. I thought we needed him there, besides I got Selene on the case ASAP. Like you said.” Kevin pulled at his collar. “Look, A.J. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you’re really starting to lose control. This morning I thought you were—”

“Gonna kill you?” A.J. finished his sentence for him. She knew she needed to apologize for earlier, but she just hadn’t been able to. Her pride had gotten in the way. Now she needed to or she would lose Kevin as a confidant, a friend and her hider of secrets. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I guess the stress is getting to me.” Leaning her head back, she rubbed her temples.

Up until recently, she had led a boring life. However, in one week, she had learned that an old lover was still alive, she had changed into a vampire for the first time in years and she had a run-in with a seeker, which never happened to her. The fact that someone, possibly another vampire, was following Clarissa only added to the stress she was feeling.

Clarissa pushed herself into the seat of the car as she tried to control herself. She had fought hard not to change in front of Kevin Alexander. She couldn’t remember the last remnants of their conversation because of her fight, but she was sure she thought he had said Knight-Pharmaceutical could help her with a donation. If only she could remember how much he had promised.

She looked through the tinted back windows and watched as the street lights flickered past her. She was struggling to keep her sanity lately. The bar, the incident in the garage and now her meeting at Knight-Pharmaceutical made her wonder if she was changing somehow. She hadn’t had human blood in years so was her body telling her it needed to refresh? She had heard of vampires who had gone too long without it suddenly losing control and gorging on it for days, even weeks. Was that happening to her? Clarissa was starting to feel as if her life was spiraling out of control. She didn’t like thinking about what she might have to do to bring her life back to the center. It either involved a dark trip on the sexual side or a blood lust, neither of which she was ready for. Clarissa remembered the last time she had taken that dark trip for her lustful cravings.

“How can I help you, my petite flower?” a leather clad gentleman said, stroking his goatee. As he looked her up and down, she knew he was trying to assess her. “Perhaps a little spanking and then some tickling. Yes?”

Clarissa did her own assessment of the slender, fragile looking man. “Hmm, no, but I am interested in something a bit more physical.” Pulling an envelope out of her purse, “but...” waving a negative finger at him, “not with you.” Smiling, she set the envelope on the counter. “Please bring me…a female, taller than me and striking to look at. Do you have someone?” Clarissa looked around the darkened room and noticed there were several people lounging. Doors on either end of the room opened to barely lit corridors with more doors.

“Well, that depends.” Picking up the envelope and thumbing through the bills in it, he motioned at the bartender, and a drink was quickly deposited in front of Clarissa. “I think I have someone who can help, but she isn’t for the faint of heart, if you know what I mean.”

“Perfect,” was all Clarissa could say, her body tingling at the possibility of being released from her torture. Clarissa grabbed the man’s arm as he raised a hand to summon someone. “I make the rules. Understand?”

“For this amount of money, you can beat the shit out of Franco over there,” he said, motioning to a huge beast of a man.

“That won’t be necessary.” Downing the drink, she motioned for another. “Just make sure that this woman is beautiful and skilled, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, I know exact what you need. Follow me.” Clarissa was led into a plush room, ornate by dungeon standards. “This is for our exclusive guests. Please make yourself at home. I’ll send in Selene and if she doesn’t meet your standards, then you can pick someone else. Okay?”

“Thank you.” Clarissa laid her coat on the back of the over-sized sofa and tried to relax, but it was no use. She was primed and ready for release. If she didn’t find it this way, she would have to find it in a blood lust and she wasn’t ready to concede to that, not yet.

A soft knock on the door and a small woman came in with a bottle and two glasses. Quickly depositing them on a table in the corner, she bowed and whispered, “Compliments of the house.” Her quick exit was followed by another knock and then silence.

“Come in.” Clarissa was pouring the bubbly liquid into two glasses when she watched a delicate hand cover hers.

“Allow me.” Following the delicate fingers up her arm, she felt her skin tingle along the path the fingers had just traveled. “My name is Selene.”

Clarissa ran her tongue over her lip as she looked into slate grey eyes. Selene was beyond beautiful. In fact, she was breathtaking. For a moment, Clarissa was lost in the gaze of her soon to be torturer.

“I’m sorry?” quickly realizing she had been asked a question.

“I asked, what did you have in mind for tonight?” Selene’s low seductive voice mesmerized Clarissa immediately. She was exactly what Clarissa was looking for tonight. She could feel her body tighten with excitement, and she thought about the promise the night held for her. A quick appraisal of Selene, and Clarissa let a slow, seductive smile flash briefly.

“You’re perfect,” Clarissa said, then took a sip of champagne. The soft curves of Selene’s body caught Clarissa’s attention as she assessed her companion again. The robe she wore opened slightly and Clarissa caught a quick glimpse of a generous breast. She was sure the robe opening was no accident, but averted her eyes anyway. A quick glance back at Selene and she was sure the woman was flirting with her.

“So, Michael has told you that I am not for….” Moving a finger to her lips, Selene looked as though she were searching for something.

“You’re not for the faint of heart, I believe he said.” Clarissa let her gaze linger on Selene’s lips and then licked her own. “I’m sure I can handle you, but I have a few rules of my own. If we can’t agree, then I will be happy to have someone else see to my needs.” Clarissa knew she wanted Selene and she knew Selene wanted her. Clarissa explained what she wanted for the evening. The seductive banter between the two women was short lived as Selene rose and walked out of the room.

Another knock on the door and the same woman who delivered the champagne had a small bundle in her hands. Handing it to Clarissa, she informed her, “Selene said that you should undress and wear what you like out of these items.” Casting her eyes down, she retreated and closed the door again.

Clarissa felt herself starting to lose control. She needed to be released and soon or she was going to do something she didn’t want to do. She picked up each item, each one smaller than the last. Finally deciding on a small robe, a halter and a pair of panties, she heard the knock on the door again. This time, Selene didn’t wait to enter. Clarissa watched as she carried the items for the night and meticulously laid each one out on the sofa.”

“Are you ready?”

“I…I think I need to explain something before we start.” Clarissa looked at each item on the sofa and felt a chill run through her body. She could get this started soon enough but she had to warn Selene before they stared.

Putting a hand up, Selene stopped her, “Please, I know why you’re here and I know what you need.”

“But—”

“Trust me.” Clarissa noticed Selene had changed and wore the accoutrements of her job. Tall leather boots and a small, barely there outfit, left little to the imagination and yet it would be what Clarissa would fantasize about for years. Selene grabbed Clarissa’s hand and softly stroked it. “Trust me, I can handle you.”

Clarissa felt herself relax into Selene’s touch and nodded her agreement. Selene slowly disrobed Clarissa and made a show of picking up the blindfold she had brought in. Clarissa felt herself being assessed by Selene as she walked around her. The blindfold draped over Clarissa’s eyes and she felt it tugged tight against her head as Selene knotted it. Her mind and her body were on fire as her senses took over. She felt a hand glide up and down her arms and she tingled at the touch. Cuffs were closed around her wrists in the front and she was lead to her right, her arms then stretched over her head. Clarissa could smell Selene as she nuzzled her nose in Clarissa’s hair, then pulled it to the side and in front of her body.

A snap of leather echoed behind her as she felt the vibration of it in the air. Clarissa’s body tensed knowing she was about to find relief for her tortured mind. A firm whack against her backside surprised her.

“Relax. I want to get your body ready to accept my stroke.” A cool hand smoothed over the hot welt on her ass. “Besides, now is the time to relent if you want to change your mind.” Another whack against Clarissa’s ass, and she shook her head no. She hadn’t come this far to not find release, so she just stood there waiting for another. Sweat covered her body and she knew it would enhance her experience even further. This time leather slicing the air caught Clarissa’s attention followed by a stinging strike. She could feel her body responding to the torture and knew she would be able to ease her pain tonight. Each strike brought her closer and closer to release, and her soul started its journey to unraveling.