29. Scarlett
Chapter twenty-nine
Scarlett
I t’s showtime.
The massive, imposing doors swing open, and Alina and I enter the banquet hall, my lips parting in awe as my eyes take in the fully decorated space.
There are hundreds of carved pumpkins, servers dressed as skeletons, ghost silhouettes dancing across the walls, and at least a thousand candles burning brightly amid the extravagant space. The DJ in the corner is dressed as a vampire, blasting music from his speakers. And there’s a ten-foot-tall cake depicting a different horror movie on each tier.
The Alaries sure know how to throw a party.
“Isn’t this something else?” Alina beams, clutching my arm, careful not to get in the way of my wings. Her eyes trail down my white dress. “I love that you went as Juliet from the nineteen-ninety-six version. It’s so romantic. We just need your Romeo to get here.”
I chuckle. “Leo and his brothers had some work to do in the city, but hopefully, they’ll return before the party ends. He said it was going to be a quick job. In and out.” I give a half shrug, having no idea what tonight’s job for them entailed.
Knowing there’s a chance Leo might not make it to the party, I sampled my costume for him last night. To say he was pleased would be an understatement. A blush forms on my cheeks, just thinking about his reaction.
But he also insisted that I wear a holster strapped around my thigh under my dress to keep my knife in—the one I’ve been practicing using with Mauro in my self-defense classes and the same one Leo made me come all over…
God. I internally shake my head, tightening my thighs. This is not the time to think about that.
My eyes land on Alina beside me, who is dressed as, well, I don’t exactly know.
“What are you again?” I ask, taking in her ensemble from top to bottom. She’s wearing a black mini dress with tiny purple and pink balls attached all over her body and the word Nerds stitched across her chest.
She pushes her thick, black-framed glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I’m a box of Nerds.” She tugs the top of her dress up, ensuring she doesn’t spill out over the top. “But a sexy box of Nerds.”
“Ahh, now I see.”
“No, you don’t.
“No, I don’t.”
We laugh as she reaches for my hand and leads us farther into the crowded room.
Without warning, Eli steps in front of us, pausing our movements. “Stay close tonight and keep your eyes open.”
I frown. “We’re on the Alarie Estate… This is the safest place in the world.”
He nods. “Yes, I just…”
I cross my arms over my chest, drawing my brows together. “Is something going on, Eli?”
He glances around the room. “Nothing is going on.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just doing my job to guarantee your safety is all.”
Eli’s never once lied to me, as far as I know. But right now, I know he’s hiding something from me. Something that has him on edge. And if my bodyguard is on edge, so am I.
“Of course,” I answer, subtly feeling the outline of my knife beneath my dress, which calms me. “We’ll stay together.”
He grins. “Enjoy yourself tonight. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just want to ensure you’re aware of your surroundings.” He points to the entrance. “The only way in and out of this room is through those doors, so I’ll post up there for the night to keep an eye on things.”
Alina’s arm tangles with mine. “I won’t let her out of my sight, soldier.” She gives him a mock salute and a wink before she pulls me along toward the bar.
Sidling up to the dark oak counter, Alina waves at the bartender, who quickly saunters over. His eyes are noticeably positioned on her chest before leisurely traveling to her face.
“What can I get you ladies?” He shows a harmless smile, but somehow, it feels off to me. Not right.
She looks over tonight’s drink specials and says, “Two cranberry Moscow mules, please.”
He winks. “Coming right up.”
Leaning against the bar as we wait, I scan my eyes around the whole room, taking in everyone’s costumes for the evening. There’s a bit of everything from monsters and superheroes to movie characters.
I glance across the bar, noting the bartender on the other end, scooping ice into a shaker. His eyes catch with mine, a smirk appearing on his face, and I quickly look away. “Is it just me, or does something feel off with the bartender?”
Alina looks over her shoulder at the man making our drinks and then back at me. “He seems normal to me. Maybe a little extra friendly.” She plucks an appetizer off one of the passing server’s trays. “Should we get Eli?”
I shake my head. “No, you’re probably right.” I face her, giving a slight shrug. “I guess I’m not really a good judge of character anymore, seeing that all men give me the heebie-jeebies.”
“All men except your husband.” She waggles her brows as her shoulder playfully bumps into mine.
A slight heat spreads over my cheeks. “He definitely does not.”
“You guys are so cute.” She pretends to swoon. “I hope to someday find a guy who looks at me the way Leo looks at you.”
I roll my eyes and smile. “Please, do tell, how does he look at me?”
She sighs dramatically. “Like you’re his whole world.”
A flush creeps up my neck. “Enough about me.” I push my hair over my shoulder, suddenly feeling warm. “What about you and—”
“Here you are, ladies.” We turn just in time as the bartender slides our drinks near us. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks,” Alina murmurs as she reaches for one, passes it to me, and then goes for her own. She grabs my free hand and starts leading us away from the bar. She takes a small sip, her lips curving up. “Damn, he makes a good drink.”
I take a few sips of mine, savoring the sweetness. “Wow, this is good.”
“Where’s Maddy?” Alina asks, standing on her tiptoes to look over the crowd. But even in her heels, she’s not tall enough to see much of anything. Her shoulders slump as her feet land firmly on the ground. “She said she’d be here by now.”
I bite my bottom lip, worry gnawing inside me. Something’s not right. Maddy’s never late. “Maybe we should go find Eli?” I take a few more hefty sips of my drink as my eyes scan the room before placing the glass on the table beside us.
Alina reaches inside the top of her dress and pulls out her phone that’s been hiding nestled in her cleavage. “Never mind. All good. She texted me ten minutes ago.”
She turns her phone toward me, displaying the text.
Madeleine
Running late.
My brows furrow. Running late? Maddy’s the type to put a thousand emojis in her text, along with countless exclamation points.
“Come on! Let’s dance!” Alina places her drink on the table along with her phone and drags me to the center of the dance floor, where we sway our hips and move our arms in the air to the beat of the music.
We laugh as we jump up and down, shaking our hair around like we’re groupies at a rock concert.
And it feels like two normal girls enjoying themselves.
Ten minutes into our dance, Alina grabs my hand. “Let’s go to the bathroom. I have to pee so bad!” We just make it to the restroom door, down a quiet and empty hallway, when she abruptly stops. “Shit. I left my phone on the table.” She looks in the table’s direction and then back at me. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back!”
She takes off as fast as she can in her heels as I relax beside the wall. “I’ll be right here,” I say to no one, sliding down the wall and giving my feet a break as I sit on the floor. Searching my pocket for my phone, I curse when I realize I left it in my room.
My head rests against the wall, and my eyes close.
I’m having fun tonight, but there’s one thing that would make this night even better.
“Hurry up, husband,” I whisper into the air. “I’m waiting for you.”
Suddenly, my attention moves to the main room, where the music cuts off, and the lights go out. Screams echo in the space as people panic, the candlelight not enough for them to see.
We must have lost power. But why hasn’t the generator kicked on?
I brace the wall for support as I stand, about to step toward the room, when a spotlight turns on, aiming directly at the back wall, highlighting…
All the blood drains from my face.
Always mine is splashed across the wall.
Not with paint.
But with fresh crimson blood dripping down the wall toward its owner, a guard who’s wearing the Alarie seal on his shirt.
I cover my mouth, my breaths coming out faster.
Blood-curdling screams happen all at once as others in the room finally see the lifeless body lying on the floor.
My throat dries up as my heart races beneath my chest.
“He’s…here,” I breathe, unable to hear my own words through my heart pounding.
My body trembles, curling in on itself as fear paralyzes me.
I knew this day would come.
But lately, I’ve been so delusional in my own little happy bubble with Leo that I thought maybe I could escape him.
I internally shake my head, trying to get a grip on myself.
Maybe this is just a bad dream.
But the image of chaos before me doesn’t disappear.
And he’s here.
For me.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Gunshots from a military assault rifle fire off toward the ceiling, shattering chandeliers. Screams and shouts echo in the room, turning into pure madness.
“Nobody is to leave!” A Russian accent comes from a tall, muscular man who enters the room with a group of heavily armed men. Their eyes travel around the room as if looking for something or…
Someone.
Tears trail down my cheeks, knowing who.
Me.
“The Alarie Estate is under new management,” the man says through a dark fit of laughter. “And our first task is to retrieve one person. Perhaps you know her.” An audible silence takes over the room, everyone waiting for the name of this mysterious person to be said. But I already know the five syllables that are about to leave his lips before he says them. “Scarlett Alarie.”
Alarming gasps leave a few people, hushed whispers swarming the air.
“Bring her to me and no one will get hurt.” The man stands powerfully before everyone with a broad, sinful grin while the men with him begin combing the room, searching for me.
Cowering behind the corner, I search for any sign that it might be him, Le Diable. But his build doesn’t match the man I became well acquainted with. He’s too tall. Too muscular.
As I take a shaky step behind the closest column, a hand locks around my forearm, halting me. Before I can let out a scream, a second hand firmly clasps over my mouth.
“Relax. It’s just me,” Eli murmurs against my ear.
“Oh, thank God,” I breathe into his palm before he drops his hand.
Eli towers over me, searching the area as he blocks me from being seen. His eyes darken with something new crossing over his irises. Fear. “We need to get you out of here.” He doesn’t hesitate as he tucks me into his side, dragging me down the hall.
But where are we going? Eli said it himself that there’s only one entrance. One way in. And one way out. We’re imprisoned in here.
“Eli, Alina went to get her phone,” I rush out. “I don’t know where she is—”
“I’ll come back for her,” he promises. “But we need to get you out of here. This was a trap.”
“A trap?” I ask, my mind racing with this information.
He pauses, listening for any noise before we continue moving. “Leo and his brothers were trying to capture Le Diable tonight in the city.”
“W-what?” My heart falters, and my breathing becomes difficult.
“I don’t know what happened, but Leo called,” he says. “So I tried to get to a space where I could hear him better, but his words were coming in muffled right as the lights cut out, and then his call disconnected. I tried calling him back, but there’s no service.” We come upon a small window hidden behind a pillar. “I’m going to help push you up and over. And then I need you to run to Dolion’s house. It’s the closest house nearby and has all the same safety features as the others. Get inside and lock the door.”
“But…but what about you?” Pure fear causes me to stammer my words. “Won’t you come with me?”
I can’t do this alone.
He shakes his head, his chin jerking toward the window. “I can’t fit. But I’ll come find you as soon as I can.” His hand clutches my shoulder. “You can do this, Scarlett.”
I peer up at the window, taking a deep breath. “O-okay.” I step out of my high heels, knowing I won’t make it very far in these things.
Eli places his hands low and clasped together, waiting for me to step on them. I bunch the fabric of my dress around my knees as I lift my leg high enough so that my barefoot reaches the palm of his hand. My hand grips his shoulder as my other hand splays against the wall for balance.
“One, two, three.” Eli guides me higher until I reach the ledge and pull myself up the rest of the way. I gaze out the window, ensuring no one is around, before I twist my body, angling my feet outside.
“There’s going to be a slight drop. Relax your body and try to land on your side. Roll into the impact,” Eli instructs me.
I nod as I inch out, the ledge of the window pressing against my stomach. Sliding out, I grasp the ledge with all my strength as I hang outside. I peek over my shoulder, noting the high drop.
Shit.
“You can do this,” I say through tears. “Relax your body. Land on your side. Roll into the impact.” I let out a rush of air, a chill sweeping over my shoulders.
Without taking a second to think about my predicament any longer, I release my clutch from the window and fall to the ground, landing on my ass and tumbling down the slight slope.
“Ow.” I wince as I rub my thigh. That’s for sure going to leave a mark.
“Scarlett, are you okay?”
“Yes,” I whisper-shout, fearful that someone might hear me.
“Go to Dolion’s. I’ll find Alina and meet you there.”
“Be safe, Eli.”
“You too.”
Quickly, I dash to the closest tree, hiding behind it. I peek around it, spotting Dolion’s cottage nearby.
Relief fills me.
I’ll be safe. I just need to make it there, and I’ll be okay.
Inspecting my surroundings, I’m thankful to find I’m the only one on this side of the property.
Picking up the hem of my dress, I make a mad dash across the dark field, praying no one sees me. I hear men shouting in the distance and more bullets being fired, which pushes me to run faster. With every step I take in the cold grass, I feel a slight weight lift off my chest.
I’m almost there.
As I reach the steps to Dolion’s house, I take two at a time and then pound on the metal door. “Dolion, it’s Scarlett! Let me in!”
I grab for the doorknob, finding it unlocked, and quickly open and close it behind me, clasping the deadbolt in place.
“I’m safe.” I close my eyes and rest my sweaty forehead against the door. My panting is the only thing I hear for the first few seconds as I wait for my heart rate to slow to a more acceptable rhythm.
Everything will be okay.
A deep mumbling noise catches my attention, and my eyes open wide. Standing perfectly still, I wait. And wait. Until suddenly, the sound occurs again, and dread fills me.
Because I know this noise.
Fear spreads through me as I gradually turn around, a gasp of horror leaving me as my eyes take in the sight in front of me.
“Maddy,” I whisper.
Illuminated by only candlelight, she’s tied to a chair in the center of the room with her hands and feet bound, her mouth covered in duct tape, and tears dribbling down her face.
Quickly, I rush to her. “It’s…it’s going to be okay.” I kneel, reaching for the rope, trying to untie it. But with the tremor in my fingers, I’m struggling. Without a knife, I won’t be able—
My knife.
"Don't worry." I stand on shaky legs, starting to raise my dress in search of my knife. “I have a knife I can use to…”
My eyes catch on a line of perfectly placed candles on the far side of the room, and my movements still.
I blink, praying that what I’m seeing is a hallucination.
Or maybe this is all just a bad dream I’m stuck in, and I need to wait for Leo to wake me up.
I close my eyes with a strong force before I open them again.
But the image before me is still present.
In a daze, I walk up to the wall, covered in printed photos, and reach for the one closest to me, bringing it inches away from my face.
It’s…me.
Me when I was probably sixteen years old, sitting in a garden on the Alarie Estate with a book in my lap. The photo had to have been taken by someone watching me. I let the photo tumble from my fingers as I reach for another one. Except this one is of me when I was in college, wearing my school sweatshirt and studying in a library. I remember that night, but I thought… I thought I was the only one in there.
I let the picture fall from between my fingers as my eyes scan the entire wall, a tightness strangling my chest. There must be hundreds of photos of me—pictures of me as a child, me as a teenager, and me as a grown woman.
I’m staring at a shrine created for me.
I clasp my hands over my mouth.
No. No. No.
A lightheadedness takes over me as I sway on my feet, nausea invading me. Reaching for the closest hard surface beside me, my eyes flutter as my head drops forward, exhaustion swiftly weighing down on me.
“I don’t… I don’t feel…too good.”
But why…?
Alina’s words from earlier float through my mind. Damn, he makes a good drink.
The drink.
We were drugged.
My fingers seize the table’s edge as I lean against it, trying everything I can not to fall to the ground, my muscles weakening with each passing second. My eyelids become heavy, and drift closed, but before they do, I spot a familiar object.
The final piece of the puzzle.
With a force of terror I’ve never felt before, I clumsily reach for the black devil’s mask on the center of the table. “No…it can’t…be.” An unbridled fear overtakes every inch of my body, mind, and soul.
We need to get out of here.
Now.
“Maddy.” I struggle to turn toward her, one hand clutching the mask to my stomach while the other uses all of my strength to keep me standing upright against the table. “We need…to get out…of here.”
Her eyes widen as she screams against the tape, and I already know it’s too late.
“Always mine,” is whispered into my ear as fingers thread through my hair.
Blackness descends around me as my angel wings weigh me down, the devil’s mask dropping to the floor beside me.
Le Diable won.
And I lost.