Chapter 12 Scarlett
CHAPTER 12
SCARLETT
“L et’s go shopping,” Juliette said to Scarlett, looking up from her book. The girls were lounging in Juliette’s room on her bed, each with their noses in books. Scarlett was stretched out, her feet propped across Juliette’s lap.
“It’s the middle of summer, and it’s sweltering outside. I do not feel like walking around the Syndicate fully hooded and masked in stifling heat,” Scarlett grumbled, turning the page of her book.
“When was the last time you were out of the Fellowship for something other than a job?” Juliette asked with a glare, toying with the Spirit Amulet around her neck. It was for the goddess of health and healing, Reselda. Ironic considering their profession, but her mother was a healer, and it had been hers. She had insisted Juliette have it.
“I went to see your mother yesterday,” Scarlett replied with a shrug.
“The Healer’s Compound doesn’t count.”
“I can’t help it that I’m sequestered here for who knows how long,” Scarlett replied, not even looking up from her book this time.
“We’re the most feared executioners in the kingdoms, and you are…who you are,” Juliette muttered, returning her attention to her own book. “One would think we’d be able to go and do whatever we wish at this point.”
“Maybe someday we’ll actually just disappear into the shadows and not return,” Scarlett mused. “We can find somewhere no one has ever heard of the Wraiths of Death.”
Nuri breezed into the room, her ashy-blond hair flowing behind her. She chucked a small stack of papers at them. “Job requests,” she said by way of explanation as she plopped into an armchair near the bed.
The other girls both shut their books, and Scarlett sat up. Juliette handed her half of the small stack, and they began rifling through them as Nuri said, “Have either of you seen Gracelynn lately?”
“The little orphan?” Juliette asked, her eyes skimming the job prospects.
“Yes. I haven’t seen her around in a few days.”
“Madam Jayana probably finally found a way to get her into her clutches,” Scarlett offered.
“For her sake, I hope not,” Nuri said darkly. “I made it perfectly clear what would happen if she put her whoring paws on that little girl.”
“I’ll help you look for her later today,” Scarlett said, setting down the papers she had skimmed. “None of these seem to require all of us. Does he want us on any of these?”
“No. He said Ridgely or Kade could handle them if one of us didn’t want them,” Nuri answered. She pulled a dagger from her boot, grabbed a nearby whetting stone, and began sharpening it.
Juliette snorted. “That’s about all they’re good for these days.”
Nuri grinned. “I could not agree more.”
“Gross,” Scarlett said with disgust. “Please do not tell me you have allowed either one of them in this bed that I am sitting on.”
Juliette gave her a mischievous grin. “The sheets were washed.”
“Just gross,” Scarlett said, her nose wrinkling in disgust.
“Let’s go out today. I’m bored with them,” Nuri whined.
“My point exactly,” Juliette said with a pointed look at Scarlett.
“First of all, you wanted to go shopping,” Scarlett replied.
“Yes, I did,” Juliette answered with a wry grin. Scarlett rolled her eyes.
“There’s a party at the Pier tonight,” Nuri interjected.
“You know I cannot go to a party at the Pier,” Scarlett replied blandly.
But oh, she wanted to. Last year there had been a masked party at the Pier, and they had snuck out to attend. It had been one of the best nights of her life. A night of blissful freedom.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Nuri said, her face going contemplative. “We could dye your hair for the night. Margo has all sorts of dye blocks.”
Juliette sat up straight. “Yes! Yes, we could! No one knows you. They haven’t seen you since you were nine. Your hair is your most recognizable feature and would be easy to cover up with any color dye,” she said excitedly. “We can use cosmetics, too!”
Scarlett felt a spark of excitement in her chest. “Then I suppose we should indeed go shopping,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’m going to need a new dress.”
Juliette’s violet eyes twinkled, “I know just the place.”
Scarlett slept for two days straight until that dream tugged her awake. She could smell herself from the sweat of that night two days ago. She bathed, soaking in the warmth of the water, and dressed in a simple green and white gown that grazed the floor before she padded barefoot down the stairs to the kitchens. It was early afternoon, but after not eating for two days, she was famished.
“Miss Scarlett,” a cook greeted her with a slight incline of her head. Her beautiful red-gold hair was pulled back from her neck into a tight bun. The soup she was stirring smelled divine. “What can I get for you?”
“Anything,” Scarlett said, her stomach grumbling loudly.
“Go. Sit. Tell me where you’ll be, and I’ll bring you something wonderful.”
“Thank you so much…” Scarlett usually knew the names of all the help in the manor, but this cook was new. From her slight accent, Scarlett wondered if she was from another kingdom.
“Alia,” she answered.
“Thank you, Alia. I’ll be in the sunroom if it’s not too much trouble,” Scarlett said, smiling at the woman.
“None at all. Go, go. I’ll be along shortly,” she said, shooing Scarlett out of the kitchens.
Scarlett went back to her room to grab the book she had been reading. The book she had thought was full of myths and stories. If Sorin wouldn’t give her answers, she’d find them herself in that damn book he claimed was full of truths. She already knew he was Fae and from the Fire Court. Maybe she could figure out who this woman was. She stilled for a moment. Maybe she could figure out how to find and kill the Prince of Fire. Then the Assassin Lord could take his assignment and go to hell.
She searched her room quickly but couldn’t find the book. She could have sworn she carried it with her to her room that day, but maybe she had left it in the sunroom.
She hurried down the stairs and along the hall that led to the sunroom. She reached the room just as Alia rounded the corner with a tray. The tray was piled high with cheese, fruits, roasted chicken, and bread. Scarlett’s stomach growled at the smell of the food that wafted towards her. Alia followed Scarlett into the sunroom, where Scarlett quickly cleared a table so Alia could set the tray down.
“Will this do?” she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
“This is more than enough, Alia. Thank you,” Scarlett said.
“Send word if you need anything else,” Alia replied, looking her over carefully as she left the room.
Scarlett grabbed a piece of bread from the tray and scanned the room for the book. Where had she put it? She began lifting books and papers, wondering if it had gotten buried in the two days she’d slept.
“Looking for something?” said an amused voice from the doorway. Scarlett jumped and turned to find Cassius. “You’re looking much better,” he added, scanning her from head to toe. “No dreams?”
Scarlett shook her head. “It was the most refreshing sleep I’ve had in weeks,” she admitted, popping a few grapes into her mouth. Until the dream that had woken her, she supposed.
“Good,” Cassius said, striding into the room. He grabbed a piece of bread for himself and plopped into a chair near the small table.
“What are you doing here in the middle of the day?” Scarlett asked, moving to a small desk to continue her search for the missing book.
“I came to check on you. I’ve done so multiple times these past few days,” he answered, biting off a large piece of bread.
“Well, aren’t you sweet,” Scarlett crooned, letting some papers fall back to the desk. “You can report back that I am indeed fine.”
Cassius chuckled. “The Assassin Lord will be pleased to hear it. What are you searching for?”
“A book I’ve been reading,” Scarlett said, moving to another shelf to see if it had been placed there. Maybe someone had taken it back to the library where she’d originally found it?
“Ah,” Cassius said knowingly, finishing off his bread and leaning back in his chair.
“Why do you say it like that?” Scarlett asked, pausing her searching to look over her shoulder at him.
“Well, I’m going to assume the book you’re searching for would interest a certain someone you’re not currently speaking to,” Cassius said, raising a brow at her.
“It would,” she agreed, her lips forming a thin line.
“In that case, you will not find it here. He took it with him two nights ago.”
“What?” Scarlett said incredulously. “Why?”
“I delivered your very articulate message as you requested,” Cassius said, spearing a piece of roasted chicken with a fork, “and it was not…well received. He left his own message for you upon leaving, and I quote, ‘Tell her when she’s done acting like a spoiled Lady, I expect to see her back in the training ring. Until then, I’m taking this book to fill my suddenly free time.’”
Scarlett seethed. “What a prick,” she muttered under her breath.
“He most certainly is,” Cassius said with a laugh. “Although it will be quite entertaining to see which of you gives in first,” he added thoughtfully. “You are both equally…”
“Patient?” Scarlett suggested, plopping into a chair to pout.
“I was going to say stubborn asses, but sure, patient,” Cassius said with a roll of his eyes.
Scarlett stuck out her tongue at him and took the fork from his hand to get her own bite of chicken. She ate a few bites of various items, then said, “Have you talked to him at all about his claim?”
She didn’t want to say it aloud. All the servants here reported everything they saw and heard to Lord Tyndell. If Sorin truly was Fae, it was information that could cause quite the stir around the manor.
Cassius seemed to squirm slightly. “No, but I haven’t seen him much. My assignments have been more intense as of late, and his promotion to general keeps him just as busy.”
“Hmm,” Scarlett mused, stabbing a piece of melon. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“What?”
“You’re keeping something from me. I’ve hardly seen you these past few months. When you are around, you avoid times like these, where we can talk.”
Cassius wouldn’t look her in the eye. “Lord Tyndell has kept me busy.”
“Cassius,” she said gently. “We’re one and the same, you and I. This thing we have only works because of that.”
“You know I can’t share details of my assignments, Scarlett,” he sighed. “Lord Tyndell has done just as much for me as he has for you. More so even. It would be a betrayal of his trust to disclose—”
“I understand, Cassius,” she interjected. “Just…don’t actively push me away.”
“You need to check on Tava,” Cassius replied after a moment of silence. “She hasn’t been the same. Ryker’s news has her a little shook up.”
The fake name grated on her ears, but she couldn’t tell Cassius his real name here for the same reason they couldn’t openly discuss him being Fae.
“And you?”
“It makes a lot of damn sense,” he said, shrugging. “I mean, he showed up out of nowhere two years ago. He’s very aloof about his past. His fighting skills are unparalleled.”
“What does he do for the king’s armies?” she asked, contemplating.
“Well, now he’s the general of the High Force. They’re elite soldiers he’s been training since Lord Tyndell recruited him. Other than that, no one knows anything about the High Force or what they are trained in,” Cassius answered.
“It seems the Lord and King like to keep many parts of their forces secret,” Scarlett said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
“Scarlett,” Cassius warned.
Scarlett waved her hand in dismissal, indicating she’d drop the subject, and set her fork down, finally full. Her mind wandered to magic. Sorin had said there was always a work around when it came to accessing magic in the mortal lands. She had begun to suspect as much. She had seen too many strange things these last few years to not at least entertain the idea.
“So how long are you going to hang the poor guy out to dry?” Cassius asked after a moment, the twinkle returning to his eyes.
“Until he can grow up,” she answered in annoyance. “Did you find her that night?”
Cassius’s face turned grim. “I did. Two have gone missing. She wants you to try to find a way to talk to Callan.”
“I can’t do that. She knows that,” Scarlett said coolly.
“I know, but she’s insistent.” He sighed. “She knows the risks.”
“I’ve only seen Callan in passing twice in the last year. It will not be a quick meeting if I find my way into the castle to see him.”
“I know, Scarlett. I’m just relaying the message. I told her you would come to her as soon as you could,” Cassius replied.
“I’ll go as soon as we’re done here.”
“Maybe you should take the rest of the day to—”
“Commander? What are you doing here?”
Scarlett and Cassius both started at the sound of the gruff voice. Lord Tyndell stood in the doorway, his body somehow filling the entire space.
Cassius shot to his feet and bowed. “My apologies, my Lord. I came to inquire about Miss Scarlett. I was here the night she fell ill, and I wanted to see how she was faring.”
Scarlett made to rise herself, but Lord Tyndell stopped her, his voice softening slightly. “Stay seated, my dear. You do appear to be feeling better?”
“Thank you, my Lord. I am, yes,” Scarlett answered, inclining her head.
“Tava informed me it was your usual ailment?”
“It was.”
“Ah. I am glad you are indeed doing well then. You will be at dinner this evening? I’ve rather missed your delightful dinner conversation.” His voice held amusement as he winked at her.
Scarlett felt herself flush slightly, and she laughed softly under her breath. “I shall be there, my Lord.”
“Good, good,” the Lord said. Then turning to Cassius, he added, “I am heading to the castle. Ride with me, and we can discuss a few things.”
“Of course, my Lord,” Cassius said. He turned his gaze to Scarlett and asked, “Do you need anything before I take leave?”
“I am fine, Commander. Thank you for coming by.”
“I hope you find what you’re looking for,” Cassius said. “Do not discount the most obvious resource.”
Scarlett waited until Lord Tyndell had turned to leave the room, then she threw Cassius a vulgar gesture. Cassius returned it lovingly, his shoulders shaking as he held in his laughter.