Thirty-One
SCARLETT
F or two weeks, Ace and I have paraded around the school, a full-on couple now, and everyone knows it. I’ve been deemed off-limits to all the catty bitches, and the guys have been ‘made aware’ to stay away. Ace is protective, demanding, and downright cynical, but I’ve played along.
Gone is the girl who had a rebuttal for everything, the one who challenged his every move. If I’m going to make him believe I’m all in, then he needs to believe he’s tamed me, made me conform to what he wants me to be. He craves submission, obedience, and I exude resistance.
But for this mission I must give in. I’m not sure if Agent Servite is aware of our relationship. I have yet to hear from him again since the masquerade ball, which only frightens me. He’s sure to make another demand any day now and this one I cannot mess up.
Drake has still been avoiding me, but I’ve talked to Kai a few times and he assures me he’s doing fine. Well, as fine as Drake can be. He said he’s back to smoking constantly and takes off some nights, but he doesn’t quite know where to. Maybe he’s found a lover in one of the many willing girls on campus. It pains me, envy - the jealous bitch that she is, flowing through me, but I have no right.
Things have been going oddly well between Ace and me. I have to admit he’s not as bad company as I’d first believed. We are similar in a way. Resentful to our parents for making us into what we are today. Both confused about what path we must take. Believing we were on our chosen, rightful path only to have that obliterated. We’ve hung out almost every night, usually I go over and stay at the beach house with him or he sneaks into the quarter and stays the night.
But as of last night, something’s changed.
Ace got a phone call at around midnight that clearly rattled him. He took off without saying a word and I haven’t heard from him since. I walk back to the Dahlia House Friday afternoon and see him sitting at the front steps of the house. His head hanging low between his knees, and hands fisted together. He looks up as my footsteps approach and he has a troubled look in his eyes. Standing as I reach him, he roughly drags me toward him, kissing me vigorously like he hasn’t in weeks. His mouth clashes down on mine swallowing me whole as he pushes me open with his tongue, our teeth crashing together as he claims my mouth. He pushes back as I gasp for air, missing him instantly as he frantically runs a hand through his now shaggy hair, as he paces back and forth along the steps.
“Ace, what’s wrong?” I ask, reaching my hand out to him. He pulls away, chuckling slightly.
“I need to do something tonight.”
“What is it?” I ask, catching my breath.
“Nothing that concerns you,” he sneers harshly, and it’s like a bucket of cold water tossed upon me.
“I just…”
“Look, I gotta go. Just stay out of my hair for a few days. I’ve got business to take care of, business that doesn’t concern you. I’ve been so caught up in all of this,” he says, motioning between us. “I’ve lost sight of my duties, discarded my responsibilities. I have to go,” he says, rushing away.
I stand there alone, confused and slightly disappointed. I don’t understand what’s caused this sudden change in mood. Things were going great between us; we were getting along, things felt real. A deep pain rushes through my chest sucking the air out of my lungs. His words were harsh and left a bitter taste in my mouth. Maybe he’s changed his mind, doesn’t want me anymore. Maybe he finally realized that I’m not at his level. I’m no queen worthy of standing at his side. I’m the poor orphan girl from the slums. The daughter of a criminal, a psychopath. And suddenly the realization hits me like another cold bucket of water.
I realize now I can’t let my feelings and emotions cloud my judgment. This relationship is fake, a convenience. I am using Ace to get what I really want. To help Jade find her father and Roman. This shouldn’t feel real to me. But as I stand here watching him walk away, with this ache in my chest, only one thought crosses my mind.
This is more real than anything I’ve ever felt.
I head up to the quarter, ignoring the throbbing pain inside of me and take a long cold shower before locking myself inside my bedroom. I need to regroup, to remember why I’m here, why I’m with Ace. Why I hurt Drake and asked him to stay away. I need to find my mother in order to keep my family safe. I need to help Jade locate her father in order to find out where Roman is. And to do all of this, I need to be with Ace. I need to figure out what I’m going to do to make sure I don’t lose him.
The loud ringing of my phone wakes me as I quickly reach over to silence it. Looking at the screen, Unknown flashes in bold letters across it sending a cold shiver through me. After a moment it stops vibrating only to flash, informing me I have a new message. My fingers tremble as I pry it open, gasping at what it says.
Unknown: Tonight, at midnight meet me behind the auditorium, by the bleachers at the far end of the lacrosse field. I have another task for you. Don’t be late.
I cringe at the words flickering across my screen when another message arrives, this one written in all caps.
Unknown: DON’T MAKE ME CALL AGAIN.
And so it goes. Looks like I have another date with the devil.
I quickly dress in jeans and a hoodie and walk over to the spot where Agent Servite demanded I meet him. It’s cold outside, the moon only a small crescent that barely casts any light in the night sky. After the message from him I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I figured I’d give myself a head start. I make it out onto the field, my body trembling not because of the cold, but because I’m terrified of seeing Agent Servite again. Terrified of whatever heinous plan he’s cooked up this time.
“Glad to see you know what’s best for you, sweetheart,” he says as he approaches behind me. The air around me suddenly feels cold. I stay facing toward the field, not wanting to look him in the eye. The bleachers creak as he steps closer to me, his body now at my back as he reaches a hand upon my shoulder.
“You act like you’ve given me any other choice, Servite,” I spit back at him, keeping my gaze forward.
“Careful, love,” he whispers against my neck. His fingers trail the exposed skin of my nape and my blood nearly freezes at his foreign touch.
“I’d do anything to keep my family safe,” I add, turning to him, now face to face. He towers over me, not as much as Ace, but still at least five inches. I tilt my head up meeting his petrifying gaze. “And those kids from the foster home you’ve threatened time and time again, are the only family I know.”
“You know, I thought you were just like her. Manipulative, narcissistic, incredulous. But I can see you’re nothing alike. Lilith would do anything in order to protect herself. She has not one selfless bone in her body. But you, my dear, are a rarity. A precious gem amid all these worthless, tainted stones. A true diamond in the rough.”
“Cut it with the phony compliments, Servite. You called me here for a reason, now spit it out. I have much better things to do on a Friday night.”
“Ah yes, my nephew being one of those things,” he says with a chuckle. “Ace has been acting suspiciously. He’s up to something and I have it on good authority he’s going to be somewhere tonight where Lilith’s rumored to make an appearance. He doesn’t know she’ll be there, and she doesn’t know I tracked her this time, so she won’t be expecting it.”
“An ambush,” I whisper.
“More or less. Two birds, one stone.”
“You want me to spy on Ace, or to corner my mother,” I sneer back at him.
“Ace can’t know you’ve followed him, and as for Lilith, I just need her to see you. That’ll be enough. I’ll worry about the rest.”
“And how am I going to manage that?”
“If you head down to the beach house right now, you’ll catch him before he leaves. You need to find a way to follow him without being seen. It is imperative he has no idea you’re following him or that I sent you.”
“And if I refuse? I am with Ace now. I don’t think it’s prudent to spy on him like a jealous girlfriend.”
“My sweet angel, I need not remind you of the consequences of your defiance. I am not a good man, but I am also not a violent one. Until pushed,” he says, clutching my chin harshly in his hand.
I bite down on my lip holding in the many nasty words I want to spit back at him but once again surrender to his demand.
“You have my word.”